Text Nehemiah, Ezra, Malachi

Text M

Nehemiah, Ezra, & Malachi in History Nehemiah rebuilds Jerusalem’s walls Zerubbabel’s Temple Dedicated Cyrus allows Jews to return to promised land Ezra’s Reforms Babylonian invasion #2 Esther’s Story 587 B.C. 537 B.C. 516 B.C. 440 B.C. 575 B.C. 550 B.C. 525 B.C. 500 B.C. 475 B.C. 450 B.C. Zechariah & Haggai Prophesy Malachi’s Message

Chronological Integration The Ezra-Nehemiah Chronological Integration Nehemiah 1-7 Nehemiah 8-10 Ezra 1-6 Ezra 7-8 Ezra 9-10

Ezra 1-6 These are introductory chapters which recount the historical events 60-80 years prior to the arrival of Ezra in Jerusalem, such as: Cyrus’ decree in 537 B.C. The return of the Jews under Zerubbabel Their attempt to build a temple and opposition faced by the Samaritans The preaching of the prophets Zechariah and Haggai urging their temple building The completion of the temple in 516 B.C.

Chronological Integration The Ezra-Nehemiah Chronological Integration Nehemiah 1-7 Nehemiah 8-10 Ezra 1-6 Ezra 7-8 Ezra 9-10

Nehemiah 1-7

Nehemiah 2:1-6

Nehemiah 2:12-17

Why Build Walls?

Building Walls What are your sacred things? How are they under attack? What are you doing to build walls?

Building Walls What to Expect How to Respond Nehemiah 2:19

Text Nehemiah 4:13-18

Building Walls What to Expect How to Respond Nehemiah 2:19

Alma 47 Parallel vs. Amalickiah Lehonti

The Hill Antipas

The Hill Antipas

The Hill Antipas

The Hill Antipas

(“We Are Doing a Great Work and Cannot Come Down,” Ensign May 2009) Click picture for his “Doing a great work and cannot come down” clip. Dieter F. Uchtdorf First Presidency (“We Are Doing a Great Work and Cannot Come Down,” Ensign May 2009)

Chronological Integration The Ezra-Nehemiah Chronological Integration Nehemiah 1-7 Nehemiah 8-10 Ezra 1-6 Ezra 7-8 Ezra 9-10

Ezra, the Scribe Scribe: a teacher of the Law (scriptures) Ezra 7-8

Chronological Integration The Ezra-Nehemiah Chronological Integration Nehemiah 1-7 Nehemiah 8-10 Ezra 1-6 Ezra 7-8 Ezra 9-10

Nehemiah 8

(CES Symposium on the New Testament, 17 August 1984) “[T]he Jews in the days of Jesus spoke Aramaic and not Hebrew, but their scriptures were written in Hebrew. Hence, it was the practice in their synagogue worship for one teacher to read texts from the Hebrew and for another to translate or paraphrase these passages into Aramaic—or as they said, make these passages targums—so they could be understood by the people. Bruce R. McConkie Quorum of the Twelve (CES Symposium on the New Testament, 17 August 1984)

(CES Symposium on the New Testament, 17 August 1984) “When these Targums were made by Jesus and the Apostles, all of whom taught regularly and consistently in the synagogues, they were inspired and hence throw great floods of light upon whatever scripture is involved. Many Old Testament passages take on new meanings because of the way they are quoted in the New Testament…. Bruce R. McConkie Quorum of the Twelve (CES Symposium on the New Testament, 17 August 1984)

(CES Symposium on the New Testament, 17 August 1984) “As a matter of fact, Moroni did this same thing in his 1823 appearances to Joseph Smith. For instance, he so improved upon the promise of Elijah’s return that it is like stepping from a pleasant twilight into the brilliance of the noonday sun. And yet years later, with a full knowledge of the more perfect translation, Joseph Smith retained the King James language in the Book of Mormon and the Doctrine and Covenants and his inspired rendition of the Bible. Bruce R. McConkie Quorum of the Twelve (CES Symposium on the New Testament, 17 August 1984)

(CES Symposium on the New Testament, 17 August 1984) “Surely there is a message here. For one thing, it means that the same passage of scripture can be translated correctly in more ways than one and that the translation used depends upon the spiritual maturity of the people.” Bruce R. McConkie Quorum of the Twelve (CES Symposium on the New Testament, 17 August 1984)

Do the prophets still “targum” today?

Malachi Malachi = messenger

Nehemiah, Ezra, & Malachi in History Nehemiah rebuilds Jerusalem’s walls Zerubbabel’s Temple Dedicated Cyrus allows Jews to return to promised land Ezra’s Reforms Babylonian invasion #2 Esther’s Story 587 B.C. 537 B.C. 516 B.C. 440 B.C. 575 B.C. 550 B.C. 525 B.C. 500 B.C. 475 B.C. 450 B.C. Zechariah & Haggai Prophesy Malachi’s Message

The Q&A Format of Malachi The Lord Makes an Accusation The People ask Incredulous Questions The Lord Provides Evidence Examples: Malachi 1:6-8, 12-14 Malachi 2:11-16 Malachi 2:17

Malachi 3-4

Malachi 3:1

(Christ and the New Covenant, p. 293-294) “The most obvious messenger to come preparing the way before the Lord was John the Baptist. Not only did John serve as a forerunner to the Lord in New Testament times, but he has also played that role in these latter days. Jeffrey R. Holland Quorum of the Twelve (Christ and the New Covenant, p. 293-294)

(Christ and the New Covenant, p. 293-294) “On May 15, 1829, he appeared to Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery and restored the Aaronic Priesthood in preparation for greater priesthood powers to follow, including the keys and ordinances of the holy temple and the Savior's appearance there. Jeffrey R. Holland Quorum of the Twelve (Christ and the New Covenant, p. 293-294)

(Christ and the New Covenant, p. 293-294) “In a moment of great spiritual manifestation when many keys and dispensational powers were returned to the earth, Christ, who is the great ‘messenger of the covenant,’ did come to the first temple in this dispensation, in Kirtland, Ohio, on April 3, 1836. He has, of course, come to other temples and will yet do so—particularly in Jerusalem and Jackson County, Missouri—as part of the culmination of his majestic second coming.” Jeffrey R. Holland Quorum of the Twelve (Christ and the New Covenant, p. 293-294)

Malachi 3:1 “Behold, I will send my messenger and he shall prepare the way before me…” Elias #1 Elias #2

The Messengers Who Prepared the Messenger to Prepare for THE Messenger Moroni John the Baptist Peter, James, and John Moses Elias Elijah

Malachi 3:2-3

What is “the offering” which is to be made in righteousness by the sons of Levi? Animal Sacrifice A book of the “records of our dead”

(Christ and the New Covenant, p. 294-295) One of their "offerings," as taught by the Prophet Joseph Smith, is a book of remembrance, to be presented to the Lord "in his holy temple, ... a book containing the records of our dead, which shall be worthy of all acceptation" (D&C 128:24).   Jeffrey R. Holland Quorum of the Twelve (Christ and the New Covenant, p. 294-295)

(Christ and the New Covenant, p. 294-295) The Prophet also taught that these Levitical duties would include blood [animal] sacrifice as "an offering in righteousness" to the Lord in the temple of the New Jerusalem, perhaps as part of a final exercise in which the various elements and ordinances of all earlier dispensations will be brought together, at least symbolically, Jeffrey R. Holland Quorum of the Twelve (Christ and the New Covenant, p. 294-295)

(Christ and the New Covenant, p. 294-295) in this triumphant, concluding moment of the dispensation of the fulness of times in which the completion of this world and its work is presented to its rightful Lord of lords and King of kings.  Jeffrey R. Holland Quorum of the Twelve (Christ and the New Covenant, p. 294-295)

Malachi 3:5

Malachi 3:7-12

D&C 64:23-24  23 Behold, now it is called today until the coming of the Son of Man, and verily it is a day of sacrifice, and a day for the tithing of my people; for he that is tithed shall not be burned at his coming.  24 For after today cometh the burning—this is speaking after the manner of the Lord—for verily I say, tomorrow all the proud and they that do wickedly shall be as stubble; and I will burn them up, for I am the Lord of Hosts; and I will not spare any that remain in Babylon.

Whence the protective power of tithe-paying?

(Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Joseph F. Smith, 275) “No man will ever apostatize so long as he will pay his tithing. It is reasonable. Why? Because as long as he has faith to pay his tithing he has faith in the Church and in the principles of the Gospel, and there is some good in him, and there is some light in him. As long as he will do this the tempter will not overcome him and will not lead him astray.” Joseph F. Smith President (Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Joseph F. Smith, 275) 

A Challenging Dilemma for Many Malachi 3:13-15

("Believe, Obey, Endure," Ensign, May 2012) “Magazines and television shows portray the stars of the movie screen, the heroes of the athletic field—those whom many young people long to emulate—as disregarding the laws of God and flaunting sinful practices, seemingly with no ill effect. Don’t you believe it! There is a time of reckoning—even a balancing of the ledger. Every Cinderella has her midnight—if not in this life, then in the next. Judgment Day will come for all. Are you prepared?” Thomas S. Monson President ("Believe, Obey, Endure," Ensign, May 2012)

(The Miracle of Forgiveness, p.133) “Some are deceived by the prosperity of the wicked. They argue that many people gain their riches through crime, and that by ignoring the Lord's commandments they show a constant profit. This concept wrongly focuses on the short-term. The wicked may appear to be temporarily triumphant, as those seemed who crucified the Master.” Spencer W. Kimball Quorum of the Twelve (The Miracle of Forgiveness, p.133)

What is the Lord’s promise to those who are faithful to Him? Malachi 3:17-18

How long will the wicked prosper? Malachi 4:1-3

Text Moroni’s Version “For behold, the day cometh that shall burn as an oven, and all the proud, yea, and all that do wickedly shall burn as stubble; for they that come shall burn them, saith the Lord of Hosts, that it shall leave them neither root nor branch.” (JS—H 1:37)

(Not My Will, But Thine, p.12) “It will take no faith to renounce worldly things when these are among the ashes of a melted planet.” Neal A. Maxwell Quorum of the Twelve (Not My Will, But Thine, p.12)

Malachi 4:5-6

Malachi 4:5-6 Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord: And he shall turn the heart of the fathers to the children, and the heart of the children to their fathers, lest I come and smite the earth with a curse. D&C 2:1-3 Behold, I will reveal unto you the Priesthood, by the hand of Elijah the prophet, before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord. And he shall plant in the hearts of the children the Promises made to the fathers, and the hearts of the children shall turn to their fathers. If it were not so, the whole earth would be utterly wasted at his coming

(History of the Church, 6:183-84) Now, the word turn here should be translated bind, or seal.  Joseph Smith President (History of the Church, 6:183-84)

What is this office and work of Elijah What is this office and work of Elijah? It is one of the greatest and most important subjects that God has revealed. He should send Elijah to seal the children to the fathers, and the fathers to the children. Joseph Smith President ("Elias, Elijah, Messiah," 10 March 1844, Messages of the First Presidency, 1:203-209)

 [I]n the end, [the earth] shall be burned and few men left—but before that, God shall send unto them Elijah the prophet, and he shall reveal unto them the covenants of the fathers with relation to the children, and the covenants of the children in relation to the Fathers, that they may have the priviledge of entering into the same in order to effect their mutual salvation.  Joseph Smith President (Words of Joseph Smith, 13 August 1843, p.240; punctuation modernized; see also History of the Church, 5:530)

How shall God come to the rescue of this generation How shall God come to the rescue of this generation? He will send Elijah the prophet.... Elijah shall reveal the covenants to seal the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the children to the fathers. Joseph Smith President (History of the Church, 5:555; see also "Three Orders of the Priesthood")

Sunday, April 3, 1836

Roots and Branches Text

Roots and Branches Text

Roots and Branches

Text

(Christ and the New Covenant, p. 297-298) “Elijah restored the sealing powers whereby ordinances that were sealed on earth were also sealed in heaven…. “[W]ithout that link no family ties would exist in the eternities, and indeed the family of man would have been left in eternity with ‘neither root [ancestors] nor branch [descendants].’” Jeffrey R. Holland Quorum of the Twelve (Christ and the New Covenant, p. 297-298)

“Through the restoration of the priesthood held by Elijah, knowledge has been given to the Church that each family unit, where the parents have been married for time and for eternity, shall remain intact through all eternity…. Joseph Fielding Smith Quorum of the Twelve (Doctrines of Salvation, 3 Vols., ed. Bruce R. McConkie [1954-56], 2:67)

“Moreover, each family unit is to be linked to the generation which went before, until all the faithful, who have proved their title to family membership through obedience to the gospel, shall be joined in one grand family from the beginning to the end of time, and shall find place in the celestial kingdom of God. In this way all who receive the exaltation become heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Jesus Christ in the possession of eternal family relationships.” Joseph Fielding Smith Quorum of the Twelve (Doctrines of Salvation, 3 Vols., ed. Bruce R. McConkie [1954-56], 2:67)

“Eventually, when this work is perfected, and Christ delivers up to his Father the keys and makes his report, and death is destroyed, then that great family from the days of Adam down, of all the righteous, those who have kept the commandments of God, will find that they are one family, the family of God, entitled to all the blessings that pertain to the exaltation.” Joseph Fielding Smith Quorum of the Twelve (Doctrines of Salvation, 3 Vols., ed. Bruce R. McConkie [1954-56], 2:67-68)

Malachi 4:5-6

Hearts are turning …

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