What a Great Article. If I can learn as much from all that is taught in the remainder of this year in Sunday School, I will be well rewarded. I may have read more into this article than was intended by the author, but it supported many of my own opinions. It certainly clarified many of the questions I have about the Old Testament.
Cheri MeinersJanuary 15, 2018
I agree that many stories in the Old Testament are difficult to understand from a contemporary perspective. I find great exception though in your analysis that we should have fun and be entertained by gory stories such as a man being graphically killed in his outhouse. As in the Book of Mormon, I think we should take heed from the folly or wickedness depicted, as well as from the doctrine and accounts of how we might become closer to God by becoming more like those who were righteous.
Sharon L ProctorJanuary 10, 2018
One thing we LDS have an advantage in is having the Book of Mormon. God does not seem quite so anti the people Joshua was told to destroy when you read II Nephi 17:33-35, which tells us that the people in Canaan had been given opportunities to repent, but did not do so, and so they were "ripe in iniquity"as verse 35 says. They had priesthood leaders to preach to them. We know the Priesthood was found in other groups besides the children of Israel; after all, Moses received his from his father-in-law Jethro, who was probably a descent of Abraham but not of Israel. This knowledge makes God to seem less vindictive, I feel.
Tom JohnsonJanuary 10, 2018
David, one of the "literary genres" in the Old Testament is revelation. In the Old Testament God reveals himself to humans, including His power, love, treatment of those who are obedient and those who are disobedient, His mercy and justice, His omniscience, and His unchangeableness. This is of immense value and is a sufficient reason to study the Old Testament.
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Kendell H HydeJanuary 19, 2018
What a Great Article. If I can learn as much from all that is taught in the remainder of this year in Sunday School, I will be well rewarded. I may have read more into this article than was intended by the author, but it supported many of my own opinions. It certainly clarified many of the questions I have about the Old Testament.
Cheri MeinersJanuary 15, 2018
I agree that many stories in the Old Testament are difficult to understand from a contemporary perspective. I find great exception though in your analysis that we should have fun and be entertained by gory stories such as a man being graphically killed in his outhouse. As in the Book of Mormon, I think we should take heed from the folly or wickedness depicted, as well as from the doctrine and accounts of how we might become closer to God by becoming more like those who were righteous.
Sharon L ProctorJanuary 10, 2018
One thing we LDS have an advantage in is having the Book of Mormon. God does not seem quite so anti the people Joshua was told to destroy when you read II Nephi 17:33-35, which tells us that the people in Canaan had been given opportunities to repent, but did not do so, and so they were "ripe in iniquity"as verse 35 says. They had priesthood leaders to preach to them. We know the Priesthood was found in other groups besides the children of Israel; after all, Moses received his from his father-in-law Jethro, who was probably a descent of Abraham but not of Israel. This knowledge makes God to seem less vindictive, I feel.
Tom JohnsonJanuary 10, 2018
David, one of the "literary genres" in the Old Testament is revelation. In the Old Testament God reveals himself to humans, including His power, love, treatment of those who are obedient and those who are disobedient, His mercy and justice, His omniscience, and His unchangeableness. This is of immense value and is a sufficient reason to study the Old Testament.
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