ON CONSECRATION
A Ward Leadership Lesson
STERLING PARK WARD
ASHBURN, VA STAKE
18 November 2005
[Note to readers: This is the text version of the powerpoint briefing. Thus the narrative and transitions
in this version are a little jerky. Please bear with me.]
I. INTRODUCTION
The following lesson is an expanded version of a lesson given by the Stake President at the recent Bishop's retreat. Please get out your scriptures and marking pencils. In a few minutes I will pass out copies of these slides upon which you can take some notes.
II. MOSES ON SINAI
Moses was preparing the people to see God, as he had seen God -- in short, he wanted to create a Zion society.
- Exodus 19:3-6 -- Lord's offer
- Exodus 19:7-8 -- people's acceptance
- Exodus 19:10-11 -- Lord to meet people
- Exodus 19:16-17 -- people come
- Exodus 19:21 -- something not right
The people needed more preparation.
- Exodus chapters 20, 21, 22, 23 -- Lord gives preparatory laws to sanctify the people so they will be ready to receive the fullness of the Gospel
- Exodus 24:4-8 -- People accept all the preparatory laws and Moses sprinkles them with blood as a token of the covenant
- Exodus 24:9-12 -- Leaders go up to receive the fullness of the gospel of Christ, to be recorded on stone tablets
In the meantime.
- Exodus chapters 25-31 -- While Moses is receiving the fullness of the Gospel, Aaron builds the physical tabernacle and creates the human governing organization (Priesthood)
- Exodus 24:18 & 31:18 -- Takes forty days to get the fullness of the Gospel on to the tablets
Whoops!
- Exodus 32:1 -- The people just could not wait
- Exodus 32:9-10 -- The Lord wants to do the "Noah thing" and kill all the people and start over with Moses and his family
- Exodus 32:13-14 -- Moses wants to give the people another chance, for Abraham's sake
Reality hits.
- Exodus 32:19 -- Party was worse than Moses imagined and so broke the plates containing the fullness of the gospel
- Exodus 32:26-28 -- Levites killed all who would not repent (a partial "Noah thing")
- Exodus 32:31-32 -- Moses offered himself as a ransom for his people
Getting serious -- (JST) Exodus 34:1-2
- New tablets contain the preparatory law ("law as at first") which we have come to know as the Law of Moses
- Moses failed in his quest to bring his people into the presence of the Lord
- Because of their unfaithfulness, the people gave up their chance to be Zion society for 1500 years
(pass out handouts)
III. ENOCH AND THE CITY OF ZION
- Moses 7:4 -- Enoch sees Lord's face
- Moses 7:10-12 -- Enoch preaches the gospel
- Moses 7:16 -- Lord dwells with people
- Moses 7:18 -- No poor among them
- Moses 7:19,21 -- City built and taken
Moses had seen Enoch's success in a vision, which example Moses followed unsuccessfully
IV. ALMA AND THE PRE-CHRIST CHURCH
- Mosiah 18:3 -- Alma preached gospel
- Mosiah 18:16-17 -- People baptized and church formed
- Mosiah 18:27-29 -- No poor among them
V. PETER AND THE EASTERN CHURCH
- Acts 2:41-42 -- Baptism and obedience
- Acts 2:44-45 -- All things in common
- Acts 4:31-35 -- One heart, one mind, one accounting
(Example of Annanias and Sophronia)
VI. NEPHI AND THE WESTERN CHURCH
- 3 Ne 26:17 -- Teach and baptize
- 3 Ne 26:19 -- All things in common
- 3 Ne 26:20-21 -- Obedient, church
VII. JOSEPH AND THE RESTORED CHURCH
- DC 51:3 -- (Ohio) Appoint portions to wants and needs
- DC 78:3-6 -- (Ohio) Equal in heavenly and earthly things
- DC 82:14-20 -- (Jackson County/Zion) Equal claim on property
- DC 101:1-7 -- Wickedness among Saints
- DC 105:1-6 -- Zion's Camp fails because people not united in Celestial law
- DC 105:9 -- Like Moses' people had to live a lesser law, Joseph's people have to live a lesser law
VIII. COMMENTS
- Every time a prophet tries to establish the church, he implements the "all things in common" social order
- Why?
- So when will we once again have all things in common?
- Will we be ready?
- (Jacob 5:62-66 -- Not everyone gathered at once)
IX. PRIVATE EXERCISE
- What do I need to change in my life to be ready to have all things in common?
- What does my family need to change to be ready to have all things in common?
X. PUBLIC EXERCISE
- How do we help those in our respective organizations become ready to have all things in common?
- Each organization to report one thing
XI. ASSIGNMENT
- Each organization is to have a leadership meeting where you
- Teach this same lesson
- Do the same exercises
XII. QUESTIONS?
In the name of Jesus Christ, amen.
[Return to List of Talks]