ON CONSECRATION A Lesson for the Ward Leadership D. Calvin Andrus Sterling Park Ward 18 November 2005

2 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

18 November Moses on Sinai, part 1 Moses was preparing the people to see God, as he had seen God -- in short, he wanted to create a Zion society –Exodus 19: Lord’s offer –Exodus 19: people’s acceptance –Exodus 19: Lord to meet people –Exodus 19: people come –Exodus 19:21 -- something not right

18 November Moses on Sinai, part 2 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 –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

18 November Moses on Sinai, part 3 Exodus chapters –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

18 November Moses on Sinai, part 4 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 Adoration of the Golden Calf ( ) Detail by Nicolas Poussin, National Gallery London

18 November Moses on Sinai, part 5 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

18 November Moses on Sinai, part 6 (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 unfaith- fulness, the people gave up their chance to be Zion society for 1500 years

18 November 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 The Voyage of Life: Youth (1842) Detail by Thomas Cole, National Gallery of Art Moses had seen Enoch’s success in a vision, which example Moses followed unsuccessfully

18 November 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

18 November 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 Annanias and Sophronia

18 November Nephi and the Western Church 3 Ne 26:17 -- Teach and baptize 3 Ne 26:19 -- All things in common 3 Ne 26: Obedient, church

18 November Joseph and the Restored Church, part 1 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

18 November Joseph and the Restored Church, part 2 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 Fishing River, Mo From Google Maps

18 November 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) From

18 November 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?

18 November 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

18 November Assignment Each organization is to have a leadership meeting where you –Teach this same lesson –Do the same exercises

18 November Questions?