(11) - Student Choice #2: David Anointed King

King David's Accomplishments

• Slays Amalekite who said he killed Saul
• Annointed King over house of Judah
• Anointed King over all Israel
• Conquers Philistines
• Defeats many other nations

The Lord did not want David to build a temple because the Lord said that he had shed too much blood.  He had also started many wars.

If I were in a situation similar to David's, I would feel very overwhelmed.  There is a lot of responsibility on his plate and he needs to figure out how to handle it all.  2 Samuel 7: 16 is a Messianic prophesy because David is being told that his kingdom will be established and last forever.  He receives revelation from the Lord.  David's response is that he believes the Lord and has a testimony.  He also says that the Lord's name would be remembered in his kingdom.

(10) - Student Choice #2: Every Man Did That Which Was Right in His Own Eyes

In Judges 17-21, Micah has a house of gods and consecrates his own priests.  The Danites seek inheritance and take Micah's images and priest, burn Laish, and set up idolatry.  A Levite's concubine's husband takes her back, but the men of Gibeah abuse her and she dies.  The Levite husband sends her in 12 pieces to the tribes of Israel.  Israel rises against the Benjamites, who are smitten and destroyed when they refuse to deliver up the men of Gibeah.  People then lament the desolation of Benjamin and the inhabitants of Jabesh-gilead are destroyed because they did not war with Benjamin.  Wives are then provided for those who remain of Benjamin.

Judges 21: 25 describes so accurately why this was such a terrible time in Israel's history because there was no one to set rules or laws.  The scripture tells us that there was no king and people did as they saw was right.  People thought they knew better what was right for them than the Lord did.  John 14: 6 tells us that the only way to the Father is through Christ.  We need to do things as He would because He is the truth.  2 Nephi 9: 28-29 says that just because we have learned something or are smart does not mean that we can stop listening to God.  Our wisdom is basically wasted if we don't also listen to God and do what He would have us do.  Isaiah 55: 8-9 says that the Lords ways are higher than our ways.  He knows better and knows what we need.  We need to trust Him and follow Him.

(09) - Student Choice #1: Choose You This Day Whom Ye Will Serve

After reading Joshua 10: 12-14, I can see why someone would say that the sun staying still would be a contradiction to science.  But I would tell them that there new and crazy things happening in science every day.  Just because someone has never seen something happen, doesn't mean it doesn't happen.  The way our planet and solar system works so perfectly for us must be the work of someone watching out for us.  The Lord had to have created this universe, and if he can do that, then He can certainly tell the sun and moon to stand still if He wanted.

Israel's Successes

• Joshua takes Ai
• Joshua makes Gibeonites servants to Israel
• Defeats Ammorites
• Conquer whole land
• Conquer kings of east and west of Jordan
• Children on Joseph receive inheritances

Israel's Failures

• Defeated by people of Ai

I think the main theme of Joshua's address is to follow the Lord's example.  He talks about many things that the Lord has asked the people to do and the blessings that will come as a result of living that way.  I think Joshua chose this topic as a final address because it covered a wide range of things that the people should be doing.  It is also important that the people decide individually who they will serve.  That is so important because no one can serve God and man.  That will determine most of our decisions in life, so it is really important that we decide now who we will dedicate our lives to.

(08) - Student Choice #1: Israel Commanded to Destroy the Wicked

In Deuteronomy 20:17, the Lord identified the nations of the Hittites, the Amorites, the Canaanites, the Perizzites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites.  The Lord commanded Israel to destroy these nations, make no covenant with them, and show them no mercy.  He also told them to destroy their altars, pillars, groves, and graven images of their Gods.  The Lord wanted these nations destroyed because they were wicked and not keeping His commandments.  It was also so that the word of the Lord would be carried out.

I think we can protect ourselves from sins, particularly the sins that we have in common with the Canaanites, by deciding early that we will not commit them, especially the serious sins.  If we make a commitment early on in life that we won't do certain things, we will be more inclined to keep the commandments.  I think this is the most important way to not commit sins and be the best we can be.

(07) - Student Choice #1: Why is this Book Called "Numbers?"

I believe that this book is called Numbers because it explains a lot of amounts.  It describes so many things using exact numbers.  I like this because I can get a more realistic and modern idea about how things were in those times.  The book covers the time period of the children of Israel moving from Mount Sinai to Mount Pisgah.

At the beginning of the children of Israel's sojourn in the wilderness, there were 603, 550 males age 20 and over.  After 40 years, there were 601, 730.  I'm not quite sure why this number would have gone down.  My best guess would be that delivering so many babies while traveling in the wilderness would have cause some to die shortly after birth.  It must have been hard to keep babies away from disease or sickness when so many people are around and the environment was constantly changing.

(06) - Student Choice #1: Clean versus Unclean

Clean Animals - Leviticus

• Clovenfooted
• Animals with fins and scales

Unclean Animals - Leviticus

• Camel
• Coney
• Hare
• Swine
• Animals that live in the water without fins and scales
• Vulture
• Raven
• Owl
• Night hawk
• Cuckow
• Hawk
• Cormorant
• Swan
• Stork
• Heron
• Lapwing
• Bat
• Carcases of beasts that divided the hoof
• Ferret, chameleon, lizard, snail, and mole

The Lord had these ancient dietary laws because he wanted the people to learn how to be obedient.  He wanted them to grow spiritually and remember the ultimate goal of salvation.  The Lord also had practical reasons for these laws.  He wanted the people to be as healthy and sanitary as possible.  People also were able to exercise self-discipline when preparing a meal.

 Clean Foods - D&C

• Wholesome herbs
• Fruit
• Meat, sparingly
• Grain

Unclean Foods - D&C

• Wine or strong drink
• Tobacco
• Hot drinks

I think the Lord has declared some things clean and unclean because He knows more than we do, and we are probably not supposed to eat or drink certain things for reasons that we don't know yet and maybe never will in this life.  The Word of Wisdom is part of the sanctification process because it helps us be obedient and we get to stay as healthy as possible like the Lord would like us to be.  To be more clean in my life, I could be more balanced in my meals and make sure I eat the things the Lord tells us are good to eat.

(05): Student Choice #7 - The Law of Sacrifice

Offerings required in the Law of Moses...
 *Burnt offering, male without blemish
*Meat offering, with fine flour, oil, and frankincense
*Peace offering
*Sin offering, young bullock without blemish
*Trespass offering, ram without blemish
*Heave offering

Six important acts of each sacrifice...
*Presentation of sacrifice
*Laying on of hands (dedicating)
*Slaughtering of the animal
*Pouring out or sprinkling of the blood
*Burning sacrifice on altar
*Sacrificial meal (peace offering only)

The three major offerings are sin offerings, burnt offerings, and peace offerings.  Sin offerings come as a result of someone doing a wrong, or committing a sin.  Burnt offerings are done generally twice a day, morning and night.  Peace offerings indicated being at peace with God and they showed that the person wanted to keep enjoying that peace.

We do not continue blood sacrifices and offerings today because we instead come unto God with a broken heart and contrite spirit.  God said He would no longer accept those offerings and we should instead offer the sacrifice of a broken heart and contrite spirit.  We can continue to live the law of sacrifice today without blood sacrifices by always putting God and our faith first.  There are going to be things that we have to sacrifice for our relationship with God and a strong testimony.  This is mainly how we live the law of sacrifice today.  We give up temporal pleasures to have eternal happiness.