Theology Tree Curriculum Archives - Called to Learn

Epiphany

Tresta Neil — Mon, 08 Jan 2024 14:00:04 +0000

For many Christians in America, Epiphany is the forgotten holiday, yet it still celebrated in many countries around the world and in some southern cities.

This feast day is celebrated on the sixth day of January, twelve days after Christmas.

The day is set aside to commemorate the visit of the Wise Men to the young Christ child.

Epiphany is a Greek word meaning appearance of a divine being. In Eastern Christian tradition they call it “Theophany.”

Some cultures take January 6th very seriously. In Italy, for instance, Epiphany begins with a visit from the “Befana”. Befana is an old woman with a broom who seeks Jesus and rewards children on her way. In Mexico, The Three Kings bring goodies on that day.

Jerome and John Chrysostom, leading theoreticians in late ancient Christendom, take the date of epiphany to also be the day of Jesus’ baptism and the day of the wedding at Cana.

In the 1828 Dictionary we learn that, “The Greek fathers use the word for the appearance of Christ in the world, the sense in which Paul used the word in 2 Timothy 1:10.”The Christmas song “The Twelve Days of Christmas” is about Epiphany. There are 12 days between Christmas Day, when the Catholic celebrated the birth of Christ and Epiphany, when the Orthodoxy celebrated His birth. The traditional meaning for this song include: “My true love” as God the Father who gave to us a partridge – Jesus, His Son, in a pear tree – the cross. (see blog on 12 day of Christmas)

In Matthew 2 we read, “Wise men from the East came to Jerusalem, saying, ‘Where is He who has been born King of the Jews? For we have seen His star in the East and have come to worship Him.”

Dr. Ron Bartholomew, a BYU professor, commented on the wise men coming from Persia-Babylonia, where there was a large community of Jews and where Daniel, centuries earlier, was visited by angel Gabriel and prophesied of the Birth and Death of Christ.

Astronomer Johannes Kepler, in 1614, speculated that a conjunction between stars and planets might possibly have been the Star of Bethlehem which the Wise Men saw.

We now have equipment that can reenact the sky at the time of Christ’s birth. Months before Christ was born the King Planet, Jupiter made its retrograde motion in the King Constellation, Leo. This allowed the king planet to come in contact with the King Star, Regulus – the star at the heart of the lion, three times within several months.

All this appeared at the feet of the next constellation, Virgo, the Virgin. When the astronomers or wise Jewish men in Persia saw this they knew the prophesy of Daniel had happened – the King of the Jews was to soon be born.

Once the wise men got to Jerusalem they inquired as to where the King of the Jews was and were told, Bethlehem – the prophesied city of the birth of the King. As they walked south toward Bethlehem they saw Jupiter once again in its retrograde motion stand still above Bethlehem and they knew they were in the right place.

AND, what was the date?

Wading through several different calendars (Julian, Jewish and Gregorian) the date, according to our current calendar was January 6th exactly nine months after the birth of our Savior. No wonder many used this date to celebrate the appearance of the King, our Messiah to the world. (see my Bethlehem Star video for more details and/or see BethlehemStar.com)

I believe Epiphany is a monumental Christian holiday more because of the word “epiphany” itself.

Over the years, the term “epiphany” has come to mean any experience where searching ends and we find true enlightenment.

Any search or journey that ends with illumination from God (a bright star) is a day of epiphany.

The apostle Paul had an epiphany on the road to Damascus. There, like the Wise Men, he discovered Christ and laid his worldly treasures at his feet.

Joan of Arc, St. Francis, and Mother Teresa had epiphanies.

Joseph Smith had the ultimate epiphany when he knelt to pray in the grove of trees.

In his book “Surprised by Joy,” Christian writer C.S. Lewis remembers boarding a city bus as a nonbeliever but getting off the bus totally converted to Christ.

During the bus ride he found Christianity.

His journey of searching ended. He saw the star. He found Christ.

He laid his worldly life before Jesus and stepped down onto the curb.

Epiphanies, of course, aren’t limited to one per customer, either. My guess is the people I see as spiritual heroes have epiphanies as often I go shopping.

Today is January 6th and Christians everywhere have the chance to remember the journey of the Wise Men and the event that changed the course of history.

And, you will have a chance to recall the personal spiritual experiences that changed the course of your life as well.

In his poem, “Journey of the Magi,” T.S. Eliot tells how the Wise Men felt blessed, as they rode away from Bethlehem, as though their former lives had come to an end and a new one replaced the old.

This is how Paul, Joseph Smith, C.S. Lewis and so many others must have felt after their “personal epiphanies.”

This is why Epiphany will always be more than a minor holiday. When was your last personal spiritual experience? Have you written then down? Do you recall them often?

Epiphanies change our course and alters the way we see the world. They help us become more like God.

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Twelve Tribes, Twelve Constellations

Tresta Neil — Sun, 08 Jan 2023 17:21:19 +0000

(written for Millennial Press, Gathering of Israel edition, 2019, not published)

Have you witnessed the majesty and power of God? Did you know that “the Heaven’s Declare the Glory of God?"1 When we look into the heavens on a beautiful clear night there is much more than twinkling stars. With “eyes to see”2 we will recognize how “all the planets which move in their regular form do witness that there is a Supreme Creator”3 and the “stars also give their light, as they roll upon their wings in their glory, in the midst of the power of God.”4 In the book of Moses, we read that “all things are created and made to bear record of [God], . . . things which are in the heavens above, and things which are on the earth . . . : all things bear record of [Christ] ”5 The stars are no exception.

The study of astronomy dates back to the ancient prophets.6 Abraham kept a record of “the fathers, even the patriarchs, concerning . . . the creation, and also of the planets, and of the stars, as they were made known unto the fathers.”7 Studying the position of the stars and planets in conjunction with the holy scriptures is a key that can help us understand the “signs” of the Second coming. However, we must remember that everything God creates Satan has a counterfeit which he clearly has with the zodiac signs through astrology. This has caused fear and many avoid the subject all together.

This article focuses on evidence discovered and provided to us by the research of Frances Rolleston8, the books of E.W. Bullinger9 and J.A. Seiss10 and the articles of John Pratt.11 These works through the names of the stars tell us a story - the story of Christ and the births of the twelve sons of Israel.

What is a Constellation?

The constellations were not made up from what they looked like in the sky, on the contrary, they were given to us through the names of the stars, the images are to remind us of the stars. Think of it as a pneumonic to help you remember the image so you can remember the story.

A constellation is a group of stars, the image and its meaning is given to us by the names of the brightest to the least brightest stars.

There are twelve main constellations that the sun follows and each of those twelve have three decan or companion constellations that help tell their story. Making a total of forty eight constellations in the sky.

Pratt explains the rotation of the stars like a clock.

“The sun, moon, and planets are like the hands on a huge clock, with the twelve zodiac constellations through which they move being the twelve numbers on the clock face. The Lord uses his clock to time key events in world history.”12

What is a Zodiac?

The sun only travels through or “touches” twelve constellations. The Hebrews called them “mazzaroth”13 or “a garland of crowns.”We call them “zodiac” from the Greeks meaning “animal path,” probably because there are six animal figures within the zodiac. The sun is “in” a constellation if the constellation is in the east as the sun rises in the morning. These twelve constellations approximately correlate with our twelves months of the year. It takes the sun three to five weeks to go through one zodiac constellation.

Pratt references the apocalyptic book of Enoch14 that tells us that he received the constellations from God, passed them to Noah who handed them to his children until Abraham. He studied them and shared them with his people and the Egyptians who shared them with the Greeks. Through the years the stories have changed, but the star names have not.

The Bible and the Stars

The Bible and the stars stand as witnesses of God. They both testify of the existence of God and they are forms of communication. They also reveal knowledge. Psalms 19:1-4 compares the heavens to the scriptures.

The heavens declare the glory of God,

and the sky above proclaims his handiwork.

Day to day pours out speech,

and night to night reveals knowledge.

There is no speech, nor are there words,

whose voice is not heard.

Their voice goes out through all the earth,

and their words to the end of the world.

Only the heavens have been available to all people. They covey messages and information to the world. God created the heavens to communicate his “signs.” Notice how he worded it, “Let there be lights in the expanse of the heavens to separate the day from the night. And let them be for signs and for seasons, and for days and years…” (Genesis 1:14) The first reason God created the heavens was for “signs.” Signs provide guidance, information and warn us. The stars and scriptures are witnesses of God’s existence and ways he communicates messages to us.

The Twelve Tribes and the Constellations

In the Hebrew tradition each of the twelve tribes are associated with the twelve constellations of the zodiac.15 In the Old Testament, Joseph dreamed of the sun, moon and eleven stars bowing down to him.16 The eleven stars were understood to be his brothers. Could not these stars actually be constellations? There are three ways this connection is made.

First, many of the meanings of the son’s names give us clues as to their symbol which often that correlates with a constellation.

Second, the blessing each son received from their father, Jacob, give us clues as to what their symbol or the meaning of their associated constellation.

Lastly, the work of John Pratt with the Mayan Sacred Round, Enoch calendar and the Hebrew Calendar17 shows the importance of the holy days. He discovered that each of the twelve were born on holy days. He shows how each of these holy days correlate with a constellation. Let’s explore four examples.

The “Cornerstone” Constellations

Ezekiel and John had a vision describing the four headed figure, one head of a man, another a lion, an ox, and a head of an eagle. Each head matches the four principal tribes and the four "cornerstone" constellations.18 The principle tribes in Israels camp are: Reuben, Judah, Dan and Joseph which correspond with the gemstones on the high priests breastplate.19

Reuben is compared to a man and to water which matches up with the Water Bearer (Aquarius).20 Judah is compared to a lion.21 His name means “praised” referencing the “Lion of the Tribe of Judah”22 or King of Kings. Dan is said to be a serpent (counterpart of an eagle) like the Scorpion (Scorpius).23 His name means “judge.” Moses compared Joseph’s twin sons, Ephraim and Manasseh, to the two horns of the wild ox or Bull (Taurus), and it was Joseph that would “push the people together from the ends of the earth”24 referring to the gathering in the last days. These four sons are the leaders assigned to the four directions25 and these four constellations are evenly spaced around the circle as are the four points of a compass.26

The constellations themselves tell of Christ, His Story from the pre-existence and creation of the world to His second coming. Are we reading and understanding the language of the stars? Are we seeing the “signs” in the heavens? Neal A. Maxwell asked, “God is giving away the spiritual secrets of the universe, but are we listening?”27 Much can be learned through the study of the stars and the scriptures together especially about the gathering of Israel and the preparation for the Second Coming.

References:

Psalms 19:1
Isaiah 6:10
Alma 30:44
D&C 88:45
(Moses 6:63; emphasis added).
Seiss, Joseph A., “The Gospel in the Stars.” The author takes the ancient records of the Persians, Egyptians and Greeks and finds their origins to the gospel. Great study.
Abraham 1:31
Rolleston, Frances. “Mazzaroth: the Constellations.” She collected a mass of information and facts presented by Albumazar, the Arab astronomer to the Caliphs of Grenada, AD 850; and the Tables drawn up by Ulugh Beigh, the Tartar prince and astronomer, about AD 1450, who gives the Arabian astronomy as it had come down from the earliest times.
Bullinger, Ethelbert W., “The Witness of the Stars,” 1893. This work was an attempt to popularize the work of Frances Rolleston’s information, and to “use it in the interest of truth.”
Seiss, Joseph A., “The Gospel in the Stars,” 1882. He also wanted to popularize the works of Frances Rolleston.
Pratt, John. “The Constellations Testify of Christ,” http://johnpratt.com/items/docs/lds/meridian/2001/constellations.html
Pratt, John. “Twelve Sons, Twelve Constellations”, Reprinted from Meridian Magazine, 13 July 2005. https://www.johnpratt.com/items/docs/lds/meridian/2005/12sons.html
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mazzaroth
D&C 91:1-3 “The Apocrypha is mostly translated correctly.”
ibid
Genesis 37:9
Pratt, John. “God’s Perpetual Hebrew Calendar” written in 2017http://johnpratt.com/items/docs/2017/phc.html
Ezekiel 1:10, Revelations 4:7
Neil, Tresta. “Breastplate of Gemstones” The Millennial Instructor, Volume II, Millennial Standard Press, 2018, pages 88-89.
Genesis 49:4
Genesis 49:9
Revelation 5:5
Genesis 49:17
Deut. 33:17, D&C 58:45
Num 2:3, 10, 18, 25
“The Cornerstone Constellations” written in 2001 http://www.johnpratt.com/items/docs/lds/meridian/2001/4corners.html#2.7 and “The Lion and Unicorn Testify of Christ, Part I: The Cornerstone Constellations” written in 2001 http://johnpratt.com/items/docs/lds/meridian/2001/4corners.html
Neal A. Maxwell, “Our Creator’s Cosmos,” in By Study and by Faith: Selections from the Religious Educator, ed. Richard Neitzel Holzapfel and Kent P. Jackson (Provo, UT: Religious Studies Center, Brigham Young University, 2009), 37–50.https://rsc.byu.edu/archived/study-and-faith-selections-religious-educator/our-creators-cosmos

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A Principle Bee Activity

Tresta Neil — Sat, 07 Jan 2023 21:34:07 +0000

Learn about bees, their life, activities, relationships, duties, etc. There are some resources/links provided below or you can find other resources. Ask yourself, “What principles can be discovered with this knowledge?” Then write the principle in the shapes in the handout provided. Include an action you are willing to do to help you follow that principle better.

info	Bee Life	Resources
Difference between wasps and bees	Wasps make their nest out of paper, bees make strong wax homes. Wasps enter their nests from underneath and bees from the side. Bees make their honey comb pointing upwards and wasps point down. Bees only have one stinger that they give their life to use and wasps sting multiple times. Wasps eat bugs like aphids and rotten food while bees eat nectar from plants.	https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Characteristics_of_common_wasps_and_bees
Pollination	Bees have an instinct to go to only one type of flower. This is so that they can carry the right type of pollen to the same type of flower. Otherwise we would have mixed up flowers and fruits called cross breeds.	go to one type of flower. http://nativeplants.msu.edu/pollination and https://honeybeesuite.com/pollen-collection/
Beeswax	New wax is white and clean. Over time it becomes dark, stained and impure. Heat purifies the wax, but the only way to make it white again is to put it in the sun light.	bee hives and you https://www.lds.org/new-era/2011/11/bees-beehives-and-you?lang=eng
Honey Comb	The honey comb uses the hexagon shape which allows the least amount of wax for the maximum amount of space.	ted talk on bees and hexagons: https://youtu.be/QEzlsjAqADA hexagons and bees - http://www.npr.org/sections/krulwich/2013/05/13/183704091/what-is-it-about-bees-and-hexagons
Honey	A bee makes 1/12th of a teaspoon of honey in its lifetime.	https://www.lds.org/general-conference/2012/10/be-anxiously-engaged?lang=eng
Communi-cation	When bees find the nectar, they don’t selfishly keep it a secret. Rather, they hustle back home to tell their sisters, communicating the directions through an enthusiastic waggle dance to create a map.	http://www.huffingtonpost.com/maria-rodale/the-lessons-of-bees_b_8009026.html
Daily Action	The bees work together to find nectar, make and build beeswax and honey, raise the baby bees and organize work, sleep and feeding times.	bee hives and you https://www.lds.org/new-era/2011/11/bees-beehives-and-you?lang=eng
Statistics	the bees need 60 to 80 pounds of honey for food to survive the winter. it takes 8 ounces of honey to make 1 ounce of wax 1 1/2 ounces of wax hold 4 pounds of honey bees can travel 3 to 5 miles in search of nectar worker bees are female and live 4 - 6 weeks	http://www.npr.org/sections/krulwich/2013/05/13/183704091/what-is-it-about-bees-and-hexagons
future oriented	Bees are doing the work of making honey, not for themselves, but for their yet-to-emerge sisters and brothers and for the health of the colony.	http://www.huffingtonpost.com/maria-rodale/the-lessons-of-bees_b_8009026.html
honey	honey has many beneficial and healing qualities	http://visual.ly/50-benefits-raw-honey
anciently	Jaredites brought bees with them to promised land Egyptians used honey as medicine and embalming Hebrews put honey on their slates and have the young students lick it off to teach them that the word of God is sweet and should be internalized The Roman Christians used the beehive as a symbol of rebirth (octagonal baptismal fonts) on the path back to God.
beehive	used as a symbol within and without the temples. Also used as a symbol for industry, unity and hard work.
prophets words	“Bee anxiously engaged in a good cause.” Hinckley’s 6 B’s make a “to be” list never to be checked off

Remember a correct principle is a true statement that can lead to an action, it is not a single word or the action itself.

File your work in your zoology notebooks under the class: Insecta, phylum: Arthropoda and genus: Apis

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Music Everyone Should Know

Tresta Neil — Mon, 02 Jan 2023 14:45:19 +0000

Music has been important throughout history. Here is a music list you and your children can get to know at just the sound of the piece.

While attending a Humanities class in college I learned to really love classical music and its many facets. Enjoy.

Title	Author	Period
Prelude to Lohengrin	Wagner	Romantic
Four Seasons	Vivaldi	Baroque
Nutcracker suite – sugar Plum Fairy	Tchaikovsky	Romantic
Nutcracker suite – Russian Dance	Tchaikovsky	Romantic
Surprise symphony	Haydn	Classical
Piano concerto #21	Mozart	Classical
Women are fickle	Verdi	Romantic
1812 Overture	Tchaikovsky	Romantic
William Tell Overture	Rossini	Romantic
Revolutionary Etude	Chopin	Romantic
Pilgrims chorus	Wagner	Romantic
Adgio for strings	Barber	Romantic
Rhapsody on the theme of Paganini	Rachmaninov	Romantic
Invention	Bach	Baroque

Mars from Planet Suite	Gustav Holst, 1915	20th century
Violin concerto in D major	Tchaikovsky	Romantic
Toccata and Fugue in D minor	Bach	Baroque
Piano Concerto no. 2 in C minor	Rachmaninov	Romantic
Caprice No. 24 in A minor	Niccolò Paganini	Romantic
Aria of the Queen of the Night from The Magic Flute	Mozart	Classical
Cello Sonata No. 1 in E minor	Brahms	Romantic
Symphonie No. 9 in D minor	Beethoven	Romantic
Christe Redemptor omnium, a Christmas Hymn sung at Vespers on Christmas Day	Gregorian Chant	Medieval
Symphony No. 2 in C Minor or ‘Resurrection’ Symphony	Gustav Mahler, 1895	Romantic
Don Juan Op. 20	Richard Strauss	Romantic
Ride of the Valkyries	Richard Wagner	Romantic

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Hebrew Thought Pattern

Tresta Neil — Sun, 01 Jan 2023 22:26:52 +0000

(written by Tresta Neil taken from notes from Thomas L. Tyler's CES classes)

Receiving greater understanding from “the virtue of the word” by being aware of common Hebrew literary styles found in the scriptures. There are seven characteristics:

Clear Statements of Truth from the Lord - often given in the context of the prophet’s personal experience, with the expectation that the truth will be learned and applied.
The Broader Context - the verses before and after, as well as the circumstances.
Contrasts describing good and evil or obedient and rebellious.
Repetition of ideas are used to help define, clarify, emphasize and expand understanding. This repetition is called “parallelisms.”
Lists are common in individual verses as well as whole chapters like the Ten Commandments.
Cause-and-Effect Statements are used to stress the importance of responsibility to obey. They show the positive and the negative consequences of choice. Example: “if ye keep the commandments, ye shall prosper in the land.”
Words with significant symbolism, literal and figurative meanings as well as for their poetic beauty. Example: “Feast upon the words of Christ.”

Benefits of using and applying the Hebrew Thought Patterns

Recognize the Savior’s loving kindness in teaching us truth and warning us of Satan’s destructive influences.
Retain passages in a broader context
Receive Clearer ideas and cross-references between passages
Remember Meaningful imagery, words and symbols
Increased ability to liken or apply the scripture to your own life
“Mental hooks” to “hang” doctrinal insights and ideas onto to help you remember more
Memorize Scripture passages with ease

The Hebrew Thought Patterns are usually not lost in translation because they are concepts and not rhythmical or rhyming. When seeking out this pattern write the principle thought or Statement of Truth on its own line. Indented below write the repetitions, parallelisms, contrasts or lists. This format helps the reader visually and readily see the relationship of thoughts and ideas. Isaiah 1:16-20 is an example of all of them together.

Isaiah 1:16-20 Uses many patterns:

Wash you,

make you clean;

put away the evil of your doings

from before mine eyes;

cease to do evil;

learn to do well;

Seek judgment,

relieve the oppressed,

judge the fatherless,

plead from the widow.

Statement of truth using symbol of baptism

(a) clarify repetition of first idea

(b) Restated in contrast for clarity

Emphasizes the Lord’s awareness of us

(b) contrast is repeated and expanded

(a) 4th repetition. Return to the positive meaning

Second statement of truth. Judgment

(a) List of basic righteous functions stated in

(b) three clarifying

Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD

though your sins be as scarlet,

they shall be as white as snow

though they be red like crimson,

they call be as wool.

If ye be willing and obedient,

ye shall eat the good of the land:

But if ye refuse and rebel,

ye shall be devoured with the sword:

For the mouth of the LORD hath spoken it.

Statement of truth

(a) contrasting symbols - color fast dyes

(b) can be removed

(a) repeated contrast - sins stain

(b) the Savior washes then clean

Cause and Effect statement another blessing

Listed in the larger context of above verses.

Cause and Effect statement repeated in contrast

Statements of truth are reaffirmed in the

spirit of testimony.

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Fighting the British with Bees

Tresta Neil — Sun, 01 Jan 2023 16:50:45 +0000

On the southern edge of North Carolina stands the little city of Charlotte. The people of this section were full of the love of liberty. In less than one month after the Battle of Lexington they began to talk in favor of declaring independence from England. Five years afterwards, when Lord Cornwallis, the commander-in-chief of the British during the Revolution, came to Charlotte with his army, he found the people so eager to fight for their freedom, that he always called this little town the hornets’ nest of the rebellion.

Early inhale fall of 1780 these hornets were buzzing. The patriots had been defeated in the Battle of Camden. Lord Cornwallis now felt sure of success in North Carolina, and was marching toward the Old North State, with the intention of making his first stop at Charlotte.

The British soldiers robbed the patriots of their sheep and cattle, burned their houses and their crops, stole their horses, and drove their women and children into the woods.

“I wil protect your property and pay you for everything my army need,” declared Lord Cornwallis, “but you must take the oath of allegiance to King George.”

“Never!” was the determined answer of the bold North Carolina patriots. “We have pledged our lives, our fortunes, and our honor to the cause of freedom, and we will not break our oaths. We will fight you to the bitter end.”

And fight they did, men, women, an children, and with a will. They made things so lively for the redcoats that they dreaded to be sent into the country for supplies. No matter if a whole regiment went out, it was certain to lose some of its men before it got back to Charlotte. From behind trees, bushes, barns, and fences the deal fire of the patriots thinned the ranks of the hated British.

One morning, while Cornwallis and his army were at Charlotte, a boy named John Clarke was at work in the field on his father’s farm, about seven miles from town. The boy’s father and brother were in the patriot army. John was left at home to take care of his mother and sisters.

He suddenly heard a great clatter down the road. he looked up and saw British soldiers coming into sight, round the bend in the road. He ran into the house with a shout.

“The redcoats are here. The whole army is coming up the road!”

In a few moments the British were riding up the lane.

Now John Clarke’s mother had already had experience with British officers an knew what they were. She sent the girls upstairs and seated herself on the piazza with John, to await the coming of the soldiers.

The leader of the redcoats halted his men near the house, leaped from his horse, and came up to the piazza.

“We are in need of supplies, and must search this place.”

“As you please,” replied Mrs Clarke, quietly. “You have already stolen everything, and you will find nothing.”

The soldiers now began to search the house. Some went to the barn. Others ransacked the shed. They could not find much.

“I say, boy,” growled the British leader, returning to the piazza, “we can’t find anything here; you must have hidden something somewhere.”

“Of course,” grinned John. “We have one poor cow left; but you can’t get her for she’s out in the woods, over a mile away.”

The officer was angry.

“One cow isn’t much, but it’s better than nothing. Take one of the horses and drive her in; and be quick about it, you young rebel!”

John leaped on one of the horses, which had been tied to the rail fence. Some of the men tried to stop him.

“That’s all right!” shouted the British captain; “he’s going on a errand for me.”

Trotting his horse be a row of beehives, John leaned over and upset several of them. He then struck is horse a sharp blow with a switch and away went horse and rider out of the lane and into the road. They were soon lost to sight in the woods.

The yard was now worse then a hornets’ nest. The angry bees swarmed out of the hives till the air seemed full of them. The horse, maddened by the sting of the bees, began to plunge and kick. With oaths the redcoats ran here and there to escape. It was of no use. The bees made it so hot for them that they went heat-skelter down the road.

John had looked back as he rode out of the lane. It was a sight that he never forgot. As soon as he was in the shelter of the woods he jumped off the horse and lay of the ground and laughed, while the British troopers went riding pell-mell past.

The road was soon clear of the redcoats, and John went back to the house to tell his mother and sisters.

“It was a funny sight, “ he said. “You never saw anything like it. Some of those chaps had their eyes shut tight. Some of their noses looked like powder horns. And they swore like troopers. I think I had better write General Washington about it; it is better than powder and balls.”

_______________________________

This is a story I found in:

Little Story Book About Big American Heroes

Darlene P. Stoker and B. Elaine Clegg

Reprinted from The American History Story book

by Albert F. Blaisdell and Francis K. Ball 1917

Illustrations by

W. Kay Clegg

Cover by

Todd K. Clegg

SC Enterprises

Idaho Falls, Idaho

The preface is written by Albert F. Baisdell and Francis K. Ball may, 1911

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The Scattering and Gathering of Israel

Tresta Neil — Sat, 31 Dec 2022 22:44:03 +0000

The First Shall be Last and the Last Shall be First

(taken from notes taken by Tresta Neil from a lecture by Victor Ludlow)

A - Lost Ten Tribes - 730s BCE

The twelve Tribes of Israel lived in harmony through the reign of King David and King Solomon. After that they split into two groups. Ten tribes went to the North and two to the South. In 730 BCE the Assyrians captured the northern ten tribes, they adopted the culture and religions of the region and quickly lost their identity as Israelites.

B - Lehites - 586 BCE and 600 BCE

Descendants of Lehi, Ishmael, Zoram, Mulek and others left Jerusalem area and settled in the Americas. Lehi called himself a Jew, like we call ourselves American, though he was not a direct descendant of Judah.

C - Jews - 586 BCE and 70 CE

All descendants of Judah, Benjamin, Levi residing in the kingdom of Judah. In 586 BCE Babylon conquered Judah and destroyed Solomon's temple. Some returned, built Herod's temple and grew. In 70 CE Rome subdued the Jews after their revolt and they dispersed among the nations of Asia, Africa and Europe.

D - Scattered Remnants - unknown dates

Various unidentified segments of Israel who migrated throughout the world. (see D&C 109:60-67, including footnotes, for some identifying terms and key promises of these 'scattered remnants'.) they lost their ancestry and language

D - Scattered Remnants - 1836

Various scattered remnants of Israelites, also known as 'Ephraim' or 'Gentiles' dedicated the newly built Kirtland Temple (see the dedicatory prayer D&C 109:60-67) Patriarchal blessings have helped identify many of these scattered remnants of Israel.

C - Jews - 1948

The Jews who were scattered in their 'Diaspora' among the nations of Asia, Africa, Europe and eventually into the Americas retained a hope of returning to their homeland. In 1841, Orson Hyde dedicated the Holy Land for their return. In 1948 the State of Israel was officially forms and hundreds of thousands of Jews gathered in Israel and were taught the Hebrew language and Jewish culture.

B - Lehites - 1970's

The descendants of the Book of Mormon were proselyted to throughout church history. Finally, in the 1970's, during the administration of President Spencer W. Kimball, the church began to grow among the Lamanites scattered among the indigenous and European peoples in Central and South America. In October 1975 President Kimball said, "now is the time of the Jew [Lamanite/Israelite]" and nine new LDS stakes were organized in Mexico city on a single weekend.

A - Lost Ten Tribes - Unknown? 2019?

Descendants of the Lost Ten Tribes are undoubtedly scattered into many parts of the world. They are probably lost to themselves, meaning they don't know they are literal descendants of Israel. Patriarchal Blessings are identifying these northern tribes. Further scriptural knowledge (2 Nephi 29:12-14) will help identify these people and their heritage.

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Breastplate of Gem Stones Upon His Heart

Tresta Neil — Sat, 31 Dec 2022 22:02:06 +0000

"He that is among you without sin, let him cast the first stone." These are the words Jesus used to warn those who accused a woman of adultery (a serious sin punishable by stoning). In the Mosaic Law stones symbolized judgment and justice. The Atonement of Christ fulfilled the demands of justice and allowed mercy to enter. Stones also represented mercy in ceremonial events in their tabernacle.

The High Priest, a type of Christ, wore four more pieces of clothing than the priests who wore four white linen clothes when they "[went] in before the Lord" (Ex. 28:29.) Namely:

Mitre, a gold headband with the words "Holiness to the Lord" (Exodus 39:30) engraved and tied onto the head over the turban with blue ribbons (Exodus 39:31.)
A dark blue robe with alternating gold bells and pomegranate ornaments hanging from the bottom.
The ephod, a very elaborate and ornate apron or waistcoat woven with blue, purple, scarlet and gold thread with two shoulder-pieces which held the breastplate of stones and a girdle or sash.
The breastplate, the same elaborate material holding twelve precious stones attached to the ephod.

No article of clothing was insignificant, each item was decorative, functional and symbolic.

The High Priest represents Christ as both divine and human. He wears spotless, white linen (priests clothing) representing Christ's perfect mortal life and gold representing his divinity and colors representing the varied perfections of his character (lectures on Faith).

Remembrance Stones

On each shoulder were two square stones made of black onyx, a semi precious stone with the same silica properties as quartz stones. Each of the 12 sons of Israel were inscribed on the stones, six on each side. It is believed they were listed in the same order as the scriptures list them, by family and then by birth (Genesis 35:23-26; Guide to the Scriptures, Israel; Exodus 28:9-10) therefore, on the right shoulder were Leah's six sons: Reuben, Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar, and Zebulon. On the left shoulder were Bilhah's sons, Dan and Naphtali, Zilpah's sons Gad and Asher, and Rachel's sons Joseph and Benjamin. (Exodus 28:9-10.)

These stones are called "remembrance stones" for the names of the children of Israel who were carried "before God on [the High Priest's] two shoulders as a remembrance" (Exodus 28:12) of bearing the judgment (burden) of their sins and is moved to have mercy upon them.

The stones were set in two square gold settings fixed on the shoulders of the ephod. Golden chains extended from these settings to the golden rings of the upper corners of the breastplate not to be "loosed from the ephod" (Exodus 39:21.) The lower corners were fastened to the girdle of the priest with blue ribbons.

The Breastplate

The breastplate is a ten inch square, embroidered ornamental cloth, covering the breast of the high priest. It is set with four rows of precious stones, three in each row. On each stone is engraved the name of one of the twelve sons of Israel.

The names were not simply written on the precious stones, but "engraved," never to be removed or forgotten. These names are symbolic of his people, all of us. Through the Atonement we are engraved upon Christ's heart and hands.

The breastplate is called both the memorial and the breastplate of judgment. The High Priest, acting as Jesus Christ, wears the breastplate that he might always remember his people (see Exodus 28:29) and "bear the judgment of the children of Israel upon his heart" (Exodus 28:30; Leviticus 8:8.)

Christ, as our Great High Priest (Hebrews 4:14), bears on his heart each of us, sustaining and presenting us, his blood-bought people before God. He presents us faultless (like precious gems) before God with exceeding joy. No one can separate us from his love nor pluck us from the Shepherd's heart.

The Twelve Stones

The twelve stones were arranged in four rows of three stones. They were arranged right to left. According to John Pratt, author of the article, Twelve Sons, Twelve Stones, the top row begins with Judah on a red sard or Odem stone (possibly ruby), Issachar on a tan topaz and Zebulon on a yellow green Chrysophrase (peridot). These three tribes were camped on the east of the temple. East is the sacred direction where the temple faced and from where Christ will return.

The next row is Dan on a red, black Jacinth (garnet), Naphtali on a light blue chalcedony (aquamarine) and Gad on an orange jasper (fire opal). These were the camps north of the temple or on the left hand of the priest who faced east at the head of the altar. On his right hand or south is Reuben on a royal blue Lapis Lazuli (sapphire), Simeon on a green Emerald quartz and Levi on a purple amethyst. The last row consisted of Asher on a yellow Chysolite (chrysoberyl), Joseph on a white beryl (diamond) and Benjamin on a red and white sardonyx, rose quartz (pink tourmaline). These tribes camped on the west of the temple or behind the priest.

When the Israelite set up camps in the promised land Levi's tribe became the priests, Gad and Asher moved up and Joseph's inheritance, as birthright son, split into two, Ephraim and Manasseh.

This left the four cornerstones or chief tribes as Judah, Dan, Reuben and Ephraim, the first in each row. Judah, the tribe from which Christ was born, being in the south east corner position or the chief cornerstone.

Christ is the "head stone of the corner" of Israel (Psalms 118:22; Matthew 21:42)

Each of these cornerstones represent Christ, Judah as the Chief cornerstone, Dan as the Judge, Reuben as the first born son and Joseph as the birthright son. Judah, Christ's own tribe, judged him in HIs life now, through the Atonement, he will judge them and the world.

Urim and Thummim

Two more stones appear on the High Priest's garment. A pocket behind the breastplate was made to hold the Urim and Thummim, “an instrument prepared of God to assist man in obtaining revelation from the Lord" (Bible Dictionary). Joseph Smith described it as "two transparent stones set in the rim of a [silver] bow" (HC 4:537; JS-H 1:35).

God asked the High Priest to "put in the breastplate of judgment the Urim and Thummim" (Exodus 28:30). They were to be worn on the heart of the High Priest that he may "bear the judgment of the children of Israel upon his heart before the Lord continually." (Exodus 28:30) just as Jesus bears all our judgment through the Atonement.

We are engraved upon the heart of Christ, the precious "living stone." He is the "headstone of the corner" (Psalms 118:22; Matthew 21:42) his kingdom on earth which is a stone "cut out without hands" (Daniel 2:34-5) He bears our names "upon his heart" (Exodus 28:29) we are forever “before him” (Luke 9:52). His love and "mercy extends to those who fear him" (Luke 1:50) When we accept his atoning act of bearing our sins we acknowledge his command to "go and sin no more." (John 8:11)

Resources

LDS Scriptures: Old Testament, New Testament, Book of Mormon, Doctrine and Covenants
Lenet Hadley Read, All Things Testify of Him, January 1981 https://www.lds.org/ensign/1981/01/all-things-testify-of-him-understanding-symbolism-in-the-scriptures?lang=eng&clang=ase
John P. Pratt, Twelve Sons, Twelve Stones, 3 August 2005, Meridian magazine http://www.johnpratt.com/items/docs/lds/meridian/2005/12stones.html

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Fossilized Hydrofountains

Tresta Neil — Sat, 31 Dec 2022 04:52:45 +0000

"The fountains of the great deep [were] broken up, ...

upon the earth forty days and forty nights.” (Genesis 7:11)

(written by Tresta Neil in 2018 for the Millennial Press, published in the Rock volume)

This quotation from the Book of Genesis is part of the familiar story of Noah and the Flood. This story is not just found in the Bible but in many cultures throughout the world including the Mesopotamian flood story in the epic of Gilgamesh, Bergelmir in Norse mythology and Manu in Hinduism. Non-religious scholars believe the deluge or global flood to a myth or an idea and not an actual occurrence. However, scientist, Dean Sessions has discovered evidence that may prove Noah's flood actually occurred. He shows, through rock formations, where the flood water came from. He named these startling discoveries “hydrofountains.”

In his book, The Universal Model, The Earth System, Session shows how the earth could be a hydrosphere (filled with water) and that a universal flood could be explained by having the water from below or "the fountains of the great deep [breaking] up" along the fault lines with great amounts of force covering the earth with water. With such force from below and the weight of the water pushing down on the earth's crust many unique rock formations were created. Many of which can be recognized by their vertical lines.

Five of these fossilized, vertical formations include:

1. Rock Pillar Formations are sandstone conduits through which, Session claims, frictionally heated water from below the ground came up while the Earth was covered with flood waters. Generally these formations are of a different color than the rock around them, this is because the sand came from a different place and was cemented there with the pressure of the flood waters.

Example: Arizona Rock Pipes found in Monument Valley in Arizona/Utah.

2. Basalt Columns like Basalt is the main type of rock that comprises the crust under the oceans. Sessions claims these basalt columns were formed by water coming up from under the granite continents bringing with it basalt and other minerals that formed these amazing vertical formations.

Example: Devil's Tower in Wyoming.

3. Clastic Dikes are vertical rock formations within horizontal rocks. These formations have baffled scientist for years. Session says these are examples of the hydrofountain process (water coming from below the earth), which involves "hyprethermal" (water, pressure and heat) conditions with strong earthquakes.

Example: clastic dikes near the Dead Sea.

4. Deep Round Pits/Caves are large holes in the ground caused by heated water. Think about how a pancakes has circular holes pop open when on the skillet because the water heated and steam is released. The diamonds in the African Kimberley Diamond Mine were not formed from molten magma or melted rock, but, Session writes, from heated water and pressure when this hydrofountain was active during the Universal Flood.

Example: the African Kimberley Diamond Mine.

5. Salt Domes are pure salt found in underground pillars. They are vertical pillars sometimes as much as a mile wide. No one knows how deep they go. Session shows how salt can not be formed without water, heat and pressure. They were formed in the "deep" and pushed upward.

Example: Salt domes in Louisiana.

Of course, knowledge about fossilized hydrofountains showing how the flood came mostly from the "fountains of the great deep" is shallow without the possibility of this earth being a hydrosphere. What are your thoughts?

For more on the New Millennial Science Dean Sessions is bringing to the surface see UniversalModel.com.

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Discover Principles

Tresta Neil — Fri, 30 Dec 2022 16:09:30 +0000

Certainly we all want to instill in our children correct principles that will be anchors and guides for them throughout their lives and help them govern themselves. Understanding more about principles will help us to better teach them.

Principles are discovered NOT created or invented.

Do you know how to discover them?

There are two types of principles, causal and sequential. Causal principles are principles that cause change. They usually have multiple causes and/or multiple effects. Sequential principles follow a sequence of natural events.

Causal principles are discovered by looking for cause-and-effect relationships between two or more changes. You do this by analyzing the actions, attitudes, and behaviors of individuals or groups, and identifying the blessings or consequences that came as a result. Here is how:

Discover Causal Principles by:

Choose a whole concept from an inspiring story, poem, talk, piece of art, music, etc. something filled with light and truth and touches the heart. Research the context around the concept.
Discover the FACTS by asking questions like,
- “What is the moral or point of the story?”
- “Why do you think the writer included these events or passages?”
- “What did the author intend for us to learn?”
- “What are some of the fundamental truths taught?”
- “What does God want me to understand about this?”
- “Is there any consequences/blessing to an action or behavior?” “If so, what?”
Write a clear, believable, simple, "if-then" or cause and effect statement of principle. For example, "If I keep the commandments of the Lord, he will prosper me in the land." This helps us UNDERSTAND the message the Lord desires us to discover. In the introduction of "Eternal Marriage Student Manual" we read, "In a religious principle the if part is a statement of general counsel from the Lord. The then part is the promised results of obeying or disobeying that counsel. God determines the then part according to His wisdom."
For example:
- “If we choose to obey the Lord, He will be with us” (Shadrach , Meshach & Abednego in the furnace)
- “When we make and keep covenants with the Lord, He permits us to enter His Holy house.”

Sequential principles follow a sequence of natural events. It is a relationship between two or more changes in which one change does not cause the next, it just naturally precedes it. Don't get confused with a procedure which is a sequence of actions performed by a person. The growth of a plant follows sequential principles. Following a recipe is a procedure.

Sequential principles may be linear (with a beginning and an end) or cyclical (with no beginning or end).

Cyclical principles are sequential principle of natural events that repeat the same pattern, they have no beginning or end. An example is a seed grows into a plant, into a flower into more seeds and continues the cycle or the life cycle of a frog or our circulatory system.

Other cycles are the Agency Cycle or the Pride Cycle, these are cycles you can change, stop or “jump off” by the choices you make.

Linear principles are sequential principle of natural events that do not repeat, they have a beginning and an end. An example would be the history of the earth or the Plan of Salvation. One event does not “cause” the other, it naturally occurs.

Discover Sequential Principles by:

Looking for natural patterns, things that happen one after another naturally. Things that make a logical progression, that are natural links.
Looking for patterns that come after or before each other
Write out their order in a cycle or a line.
Ask yourself, "How does this principle APPLY to my life?" Make connections between this principle and your life. If this principle speaks to your SPIRIT, choose an action and commit to do it.

Teaching with principles is far more effective than teaching with procedure or concepts. For more see, The Principle Effect at CalledtoLearn.com/principle

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