Judges 3 - 8

As the children of Israel had again turned from the covenants they had made with the Lord, they again fell captive to their enemies. In this condition -

"...the children of Israel cried unto the LORD: for he had nine hundred chariots of iron; and twenty years he mightily oppressed the children of Israel." (Old Testament Judges 4:3)

In this condition, they great lacked righteous leadership. It is then -

"...Deborah, a prophetess, the wife of Lapidoth, she judged Israel at that time..." (Old Testament Judges 4:4)

To say a woman could not have the Spirit of Prophecy would be untrue for John records -

"...for the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy." (New Testament Revelation 19:10)

We learn that one of the gifts of the Spirit is -

"..that he may prophesy concerning all things..." (Book of Mormon Moroni 10:13)

We see with the sons of Mosiah that -

"...they had given themselves to much prayer, and fasting; therefore they had the spirit of prophecy, and the spirit of revelation, and when they taught, they taught with power and authority of God..." (Book of Mormon Alma 17:3)

I believe these verses apply to both men and women and are not necessarily connected to just the priesthood - for it was Deborah that -

"...sent and called Barak...and said unto him, Hath not the LORD God of Israel commanded, saying, Go and draw toward mount Tabor, and take with thee ten thousand men of the children of Naphtali and of the children of Zebulun?
7 And I will draw unto thee to the river Kishon Sisera, the captain of Jabin's army, with his chariots and his multitude; and I will deliver him into thine hand." (Old Testament Judges 4:6 - 7)

You can tell the strength and leadership of Deborah as Barak responds -

"...If thou wilt go with me, then I will go: but if thou wilt not go with me, then I will not go.
9 And she said, I will surely go with thee: notwithstanding the journey that thou takest shall not be for thine honour..." (Old Testament Judges 4:8 - 9)

And in doing so she prophesizes -

"...for the LORD shall sell Sisera into the hand of a woman." (Old Testament Judges 4:9)

It is not necessarily clear how -

"...the LORD discomfited Sisera, and all his chariots, and all his host, with the edge of the sword before Barak..." (Old Testament Judges 4:15)

But a song of praise by Doborah and Barak, it suggests the river had over flown its banks and the chariots were weighed down in mud with the somwhat poetic verse -

"...Have they not sped? have they not divided the prey; to every man a damsel or two; to Sisera a prey of divers colours, a prey of divers colours of needlework, of divers colours of needlework on both sides, meet for the necks of them that take the spoil?" (Old Testament Judges 5:30)

We do know that after -

"...all the host of Sisera fell upon the edge of the sword; and there was not a man left." (Old Testament Judges 4:16)

That -

"...Sisera fled away on his feet to the tent of Jael the wife of Heber the Kenite..." (Old Testament Judges 4:17)

Sisera plead with Jael -

"...Stand in the door of the tent, and it shall be, when any man doth come and enquire of thee, and say, Is there any man here? that thou shalt say, No." (Old Testament Judges 4:20)

And after Jael had hid and covered him, she -

"...took a nail of the tent, and took an hammer in her hand, and went softly unto him, and smote the nail into his temples, and fastened it into the ground: for he was fast asleep and weary. So he died." (Old Testament Judges 4:21)

And when Barak came, Jael said -

"...Come, and I will shew thee the man whom thou seekest. And when he came into her tent, behold, Sisera lay dead, and the nail was in his temples...." (Old Testament Judges 4:22)

All fulfilling the prophecy of Deborah that -

"...the LORD shall sell Sisera into the hand of a woman..." (Old Testament Judges 4:9)

Deborah is a great example of the great impact they can have as they are obedient to their covenants.

Joshua 23 - Judges 2

Mormon reminds us -

"O how foolish, and how vain, and how evil, and devilish, and how quick to do iniquity, and how slow to do good, are the children of men; yea, how quick to hearken unto the words of the evil one, and to set their hearts upon the vain things of the world!
5 Yea, how quick to be lifted up in pride; yea, how quick to boast, and do all manner of that which is iniquity; and how slow are they to remember the Lord their God, and to give ear unto his counsels, yea, how slow to walk in wisdom's paths!" (Book of Mormon Helaman 12:4 - 5)

As Joshua is very close to the end of his life, he calls all the children of Israel to come together so he can speak to them. Maybe he felt the same as Jacob where he wrote -

"...we did magnify our office unto the Lord, taking upon us the responsibility, answering the sins of the people upon our own heads if we did not teach them the word of God with all diligence; wherefore, by laboring with our might their blood might not come upon our garments; otherwise their blood would come upon our garments, and we would not be found spotless at the last day." (Book of Mormon Jacob 1:19)

His final words are -

"Now therefore fear the LORD, and serve him in sincerity and in truth: and put away the gods which your fathers served on the other side of the flood, and in Egypt; and serve ye the LORD" (Old Testament Joshua 24:14)

"...choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD." (Old Testament Joshua 24:15)

The people all agreed -

"...The LORD our God will we serve, and his voice will we obey." (Old Testament Joshua 24:24)

And this generation did for -

"...Israel served the LORD all the days of Joshua, and all the days of the elders that overlived Joshua, and which had known all the works of the LORD, that he had done for Israel." (Old Testament Joshua 24:31)

But their childen did not for -

"...there arose another generation after them, which knew not the LORD, nor yet the works which he had done for Israel...And they forsook the LORD God of their fathers, which brought them out of the land of Egypt, and followed other gods, of the gods of the people that were round about them, and bowed themselves unto them, and provoked the LORD to anger." (Old Testament Judges 2:10 - 12)

And because the Lord was not with them, the cleansing of the land of their inheritance ceased and -

"...an angel of the LORD came ...and said, I made you to go up out of Egypt, and have brought you unto the land which I sware unto your fathers; and I said, I will never break my covenant with you.
2 And ye shall make no league with the inhabitants of this land; ye shall throw down their altars: but ye have not obeyed my voice: why have ye done this?
3 Wherefore I also said, I will not drive them out from before you; but they shall be as thorns in your sides, and their gods shall be a snare unto you.
4 And it came to pass, when the angel of the LORD spake these words unto all the children of Israel, that the people lifted up their voice, and wept." (Old Testament Judges 2:1 - 4)

But -

"...their sorrowing was not unto repentance..." (Book of Mormon Mormon 2:13)

I'm grateful for the rising generation of this last dispensation that seem to have the desire to know God and are part of what Daniel describes -

"...a stone was cut out without hands...and filled the whole earth." (Old Testament Daniel 2:34 - 35)

Joshua 17 - 22

As the valiant warriors of the tribes of Manasseh, Gad, and Rueben, have satisfied their promises to Moses to assist the children of Israel possess there land, Joshua dismisses them saying -

"...Ye have kept all that Moses the servant of the LORD commanded you, and have obeyed my voice in all that I commanded you:
3 Ye have not left your brethren these many days unto this day, but have kept the charge of the commandment of the LORD your God.
4 And now the LORD your God hath given rest unto your brethren, as he promised them: therefore now return ye, and get you unto your tents, and unto the land of your possession, which Moses the servant of the LORD gave you on the other side Jordan." (Old Testament Joshua 22:2 - 4)

Joshua blessed them and admonished them -

"...take diligent heed to do the commandment and the law, which Moses the servant of the LORD charged you, to love the LORD your God, and to walk in all his ways, and to keep his commandments, and to cleave unto him, and to serve him with all your heart and with all your soul..." (Old Testament Joshua 22:5)

What is interesting is that these valiant warriors with good intentions -

"...when they came unto the borders of Jordan, that are in the land of Canaan, the children of Reuben and the children of Gad and the half tribe of Manasseh built there an altar by Jordan, a great altar to see to." (Old Testament Joshua 22:10)

As a reminder to their people of what they had done and -

"...that it may be a witness between us, and you, and our generations after us, that we might do the service of the LORD before him..." (Old Testament Joshua 22:27)

But -

"...when the children of Israel heard of it, the whole congregation of the children of Israel gathered themselves together at Shiloh, to go up to war against them..." (Old Testament Joshua 22:12)

For they had thought that that these men had -

"...turn this day from following the LORD, to build an altar for burnt offerings, for meat offerings, or for sacrifices, beside the altar of the LORD our God that is before his tabernacle." (Old Testament Joshua 22:29)

You can sense the concern of the the children of Israel as they remembered the women of Moab asking -

"...Is the iniquity of Peor too little for us, from which we are not cleansed until this day, although there was a plague in the congregation of the LORD..." (Old Testament Joshua 22:17)

And again -

"...Did not Achan the son of Zerah commit a trespass in the accursed thing, and wrath fell on all the congregation of Israel? and that man perished not alone in his iniquity..." (Old Testament Joshua 22:20)

It seems to go along with the old adage the "no good deed goes unpunished". But thankfully -

"...when Phinehas the priest, and the princes of the congregation and heads of the thousands of Israel which were with him, heard the words that the children of Reuben and the children of Gad and the children of Manasseh spake, it pleased them..." (Old Testament Joshua 22:30)

And with a little bit of explanation from the priest -

"...the thing pleased the children of Israel; and the children of Israel blessed God, and did not intend to go up against them in battle, to destroy the land wherein the children of Reuben and Gad dwelt.
34 And the children of Reuben and the children of Gad called the altar Ed: for it shall be a witness between us that the LORD is God."(Old Testament Joshua 22:33 - 34)

Sometimes we are so worried about following the letter of the law, that we misunderstand the spiritual intent of the law.

Joshua 10 - 16

The second article of faith says -

"We believe that men will be punished for their own sins, and not for Adam's transgression." (Pearl of Great Price Articles of Faith 1:2)

Though this scripture is true, it does not mean than others are not affected by our sins. Individual sin and transgressions can have far reaching impact on family, posterity, fellow citizens, communities, and even nations. Adam's transgression affected all mankind. This becomes even more evident as we study the story of Achan.

Moses had specifically told the children of Israel as they would take possession of the land of their inheritance -

"...thou shalt save alive nothing that breatheth:
17 But thou shalt utterly destroy them...as the LORD thy God hath commanded thee:
18 That they teach you not to do after all their abominations, which they have done unto their gods; so should ye sin against the LORD your God..." (Old Testament Deuteronomy 20:16 - 18)

And even as they are about to take the city of Jericho, Joshua again tells the people with a warning -

"...the city shall be accursed, even it, and all that are therein, to the LORD: only Rahab the harlot shall live, she and all that are with her in the house, because she hid the messengers that we sent.
18 And ye, in any wise keep yourselves from the accursed thing, lest ye make yourselves accursed, when ye take of the accursed thing, and make the camp of Israel a curse, and trouble it.
19 But all the silver, and gold, and vessels of brass and iron, are consecrated unto the LORD: they shall come into the treasury of the LORD..." (Old Testament Joshua 6:17 - 19)

All of Israel did as they were commanded -

And they utterly destroyed all that was in the city, both man and woman, young and old, and ox, and sheep, and ass, with the edge of the sword...And they burnt the city with fire, and all that was therein: only the silver, and the gold, and the vessels of brass and of iron, they put into the treasury of the house of the LORD." (Old Testament Joshua 6:21 - 24)

But yet all of Israel was affected for -

"...the children of Israel committed a trespass in the accursed thing: for Achan...of the tribe of Judah, took of the accursed thing: and the anger of the LORD was kindled against the children of Israel." (Old Testament Joshua 7:1)

Not aware of this -

"...Joshua sent men from Jericho to Ai...and spake unto them, saying, Go up and view the country. And the men went up and viewed Ai.
3 And they returned to Joshua, and said unto him, Let not all the people go up; but let about two or three thousand men go up and smite Ai; and make not all the people to labour thither; for they are but few.
4 So there went up thither of the people about three thousand men: and they fled before the men of Ai.
5 And the men of Ai smote of them about thirty and six men..." (Old Testament Joshua 7:2 - 5)

Joshua couldn't understand why the Lord hadn't sustained them in this event and he -

rent his clothes, and fell to the earth upon his face before the ark of the LORD until the eventide, he and the elders of Israel, and put dust upon their heads.
7 And Joshua said, Alas, O Lord GOD, wherefore hast thou at all brought this people over Jordan, to deliver us into the hand of the Amorites, to destroy us? would to God we had been content, and dwelt on the other side Jordan!
8 O Lord, what shall I say, when Israel turneth their backs before their enemies!" (Old Testament Joshua 7:6 - 8)

And the Lord responded sternly -

"Joshua, Get thee up; wherefore liest thou thus upon thy face?
11 Israel hath sinned, and they have also transgressed my covenant which I commanded them: for they have even taken of the accursed thing, and have also stolen, and dissembled also, and they have put it even among their own stuff.
12 Therefore the children of Israel could not stand before their enemies, but turned their backs before their enemies, because they were accursed: neither will I be with you any more, except ye destroy the accursed from among you." (Old Testament Joshua 7:10 - 12)

You can't say Achan's sin affected himself only. His greed had cost the lives of 36 men. The Lord tells Joshua that unless the people are sanctified or cleansed of that evil which is in the midst of them that -

"...Israel, thou canst not stand before thine enemies, until ye take away the accursed thing from among you." (Old Testament Joshua 7:13)

After searching the tribe of Judah, Joshua confronts Achan -

"...Achan, My son, give, I pray thee, glory to the LORD God of Israel, and make confession unto him; and tell me now what thou hast done; hide it not from me." (Old Testament Joshua 7:19)

And Achan confesses -

"Indeed I have sinned against the LORD God of Israel, and thus and thus have I done:
21 When I saw among the spoils a goodly Babylonish garment, and two hundred shekels of silver, and a wedge of gold of fifty shekels weight, then I coveted them, and took them; and, behold, they are hid in the earth in the midst of my tent, and the silver under it." (Old Testament Joshua 7:20 - 21)

Achan understood the consequences of his transgression but it continued to affect others as Joshua cleansed Israel as commanded and -

"...Joshua, and all Israel with him, took Achan the son of Zerah, and the silver, and the garment, and the wedge of gold, and his sons, and his daughters, and his oxen, and his asses, and his sheep, and his tent, and all that he had: and they brought them unto the valley of Achor.
25 And Joshua said, Why hast thou troubled us? the LORD shall trouble thee this day. And all Israel stoned him with stones, and burned them with fire, after they had stoned them with stones..." (Old Testament Joshua 7:24 - 25)

And -

"...the LORD turned from the fierceness of his anger." (Old Testament Joshua 7:26)

Sin can have it's great impact on future generations. Elder David B. Haight said -

"...In saving our youth, we save generations..."

Joshua 6 - 9

As much as we use stories of the children of Israel as an examples of disobedience and what not to do, we should also speak of many of their great virtues. One of those is their integrity when they make a commitment or vow and the seriousness of it when they break a vow or commitment. After Rahab, the harlot, had housed and protected the two spies sent by Joshua to view the land of Jericho -

"...the men answered her, Our life for yours, if ye utter not this our business. And it shall be, when the LORD hath given us the land, that we will deal kindly and truly with thee." (Old Testament Joshua 2:14)

And they told her -

"...when we come into the land, thou shalt bind this line of scarlet thread in the window which thou didst let us down by: and thou shalt bring thy father, and thy mother, and thy brethren, and all thy father's household, home unto thee.
19 And it shall be, that whosoever shall go out of the doors of thy house into the street, his blood shall be upon his head, and we will be guiltless: and whosoever shall be with thee in the house, his blood shall be on our head, if any hand be upon him." (Old Testament Joshua 2:18 - 19)

You can sense Joshua's integrity when upon hearing of this vow, he said to the warriors of Israel -

"...only Rahab the harlot shall live, she and all that are with her in the house, because she hid the messengers that we sent." (Old Testament Joshua 6:17)

After the walls of Jericho had fallen down flat and the city destroyed -

."..Joshua saved Rahab the harlot alive, and her father's household, and all that she had; and she dwelleth in Israel even unto this day; because she hid the messengers, which Joshua sent to spy out Jericho." (Old Testament Joshua 6:25)

We see another great example of integrity as the inhabitants of Gibeon -

"...did work wilily..." (Old Testament Joshua 9:4)

And deceptively represented themselves -

"...to Joshua unto the camp at Gilgal, and said unto him, and to the men of Israel, We be come from a far country: now therefore make ye a league with us..." (Old Testament Joshua 9:6)

And also represente to -

"...Joshua, We are thy servants. And Joshua said unto them, Who are ye? and from whence come ye?
9 And they said unto him, From a very far country thy servants are come because of the name of the LORD thy God: for we have heard the fame of him, and all that he did in Egypt..." (Old Testament Joshua 9:8 - 9)

Where being decieved -

"...Joshua made peace with them, and made a league with them, to let them live..." (Old Testament Joshua 9:15)

It is then -

"...at the end of three days after they had made a league with them, that they heard that they were their neighbours, and that they dwelt among them..." (Old Testament Joshua 9:16)

But nonetheless, even though they had been deceived -

"...the children of Israel smote them not, because the princes of the congregation had sworn unto them by the LORD God of Israel." (Old Testament Joshua 9:18)

"This we will do to them; we will even let them live, lest wrath be upon us, because of the oath which we sware unto them." (Old Testament Joshua 9:20)

And -

"...Joshua made them that day hewers of wood and drawers of water for the congregation, and for the altar of the LORD, even unto this day, in the place which he should choose...." (Old Testament Joshua 9:27)

The breaking of vows and covenants was just as serious. Achan broke his vow and kept some of the spoils of Jericho. This was serious to the Israelites in they lost 36 men to Ai as the Lord was angered with Achan and would not support them in there in there attack of Ai. Upon being approached by Joshua, Achan confessed -

"...Indeed I have sinned against the LORD God of Israel, and thus and thus have I done:
21 When I saw among the spoils a goodly Babylonish garment, and two hundred shekels of silver, and a wedge of gold of fifty shekels weight, then I coveted them, and took them; and, behold, they are hid in the earth in the midst of my tent, and the silver under it." (Old Testament Joshua 7:20 - 21)

And after all was confirmed -

"...Joshua, and all Israel with him, took Achan the son of Zerah, and the silver, and the garment, and the wedge of gold, and his sons, and his daughters, and his oxen, and his asses, and his sheep, and his tent, and all that he had: and they brought them unto the valley of Achor.
25 And Joshua said, Why hast thou troubled us? the LORD shall trouble thee this day. And all Israel stoned him with stones, and burned them with fire, after they had stoned them with stones.
26 And they raised over him a great heap of stones unto this day..." (Old Testament Joshua 7:24 - 26)

You have to appreciate the level of seriousness the Lord and the children of Israel took upon themselves with their vows and covenants.

Deuteronomy 34 - Joshua 5

Before Moses had left the people he had given priesthood authority to Joshua to lead the children of Israel -

"...for Moses had laid his hands upon him..." (Old Testament Deuteronomy 34:9)

And with that authority, Joshua became their Prophet and leaders -

"...And Joshua the son of Nun was full of the spirit of wisdom...and the children of Israel hearkened unto him, and did as the LORD commanded Moses..." (Old Testament Deuteronomy 34:9)

Joshua had been called as the successor of Moses, but it should be noted that the writer comments -

"...there arose not a prophet since in Israel like unto Moses, whom the LORD knew face to face..." (Old Testament Deuteronomy 34:10)

This is very much the same in modern day as Brigham Young was called to succeed Prophet after his martyred where the write comments -

"...Joseph Smith, the Prophet and Seer of the Lord, has done more, save Jesus only, for the salvation of men in this world, than any other man that ever lived in it..." (Doctrine and Covenants Section 135:3)

The burden must have been overwhelming for both Brigham Young and Joshua as they succeeded such great men. But Presiden Thomas S. Monson taught -

“Whom the Lord calls, the Lord qualifies.”

We see this as -

"...the LORD spake unto Joshua the son of Nun, Moses' minister, saying,
2 Moses my servant is dead; now therefore arise..." (Old Testament Joshua 1:1 - 2)

"...There shall not any man be able to stand before thee all the days of thy life: as I was with Moses, so I will be with thee: I will not fail thee, nor forsake thee..." (Old Testament Joshua 1:5)

But with that the Lord admonishes -

"...be thou strong and very courageous, that thou mayest observe to do according to all the law, which Moses my servant commanded thee: turn not from it to the right hand or to the left, that thou mayest prosper whithersoever thou goest..." (Old Testament Joshua 1:7)

Joshua is commanded to continue in valiant teaching such that -

"This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth..." (Old Testament Joshua 1:8)

And to continue in daily scripture study saying -

"...thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success." (Old Testament Joshua 1:8)

And as he does so, the Lord promises -

"Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the LORD thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest." (Old Testament Joshua 1:9)

What a wonderful promise the Lord gives which I believe applies to any saint who succeeds another in a calling.

And with the profound sustaining vote, the children of Israel promise their new leader -

"All that thou commandest us we will do, and whithersoever thou sendest us, we will go.
17 According as we hearkened unto Moses in all things, so will we hearken unto thee: only the LORD thy God be with thee, as he was with Moses." (Old Testament Joshua 1:16 - 17)

And as promised, the Lord was with Joshua and said to him -

"This day will I begin to magnify thee in the sight of all Israel, that they may know that, as I was with Moses, so I will be with thee." (Old Testament Joshua 3:7)

We see evidence of this promise fulfilled where Joshua was commanded to lead the people and -

"...as they that bare the ark were come unto Jordan, and the feet of the priests that bare the ark were dipped in the brim of the water, (for Jordan overfloweth all his banks all the time of harvest,)
16 That the waters which came down from above stood and rose up upon an heap very far from the city Adam, that is beside Zaretan: and those that came down toward the sea of the plain, even the salt sea, failed, and were cut off: and the people passed over right against Jericho.
17 And the priests that bare the ark of the covenant of the LORD stood firm on dry ground in the midst of Jordan, and all the Israelites passed over on dry ground, until all the people were passed clean over Jordan..." (Old Testament Joshua 3:15 - 17)

And as a result -

"On that day the LORD magnified Joshua in the sight of all Israel; and they feared him, as they feared Moses, all the days of his life." (Old Testament Joshua 4:14)

Deuteronomy 20 - 33

It is written several times in Deuteronomy, that the Lord commanded the children of Israel -

"...thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might..." (Old Testament Deuteronomy 6:5)

Moroni suggests this means -

"...having a determination to serve him to the end." (Book of Mormon Moroni 6:3)

Moses also suggests that this requires more than just serve him the end, for a the cursing of the children of Israel was -

"...Because thou servedst not the LORD thy God with joyfulness, and with gladness of heart, for the abundance of all things..." (Old Testament Deuteronomy 28:47)

As we love the Lord and -

"...embark in the service of God, see that ye serve him with all your heart, might, mind and strength, that ye may stand blameless before God at the last day..." (Doctrine and Covenants Section 4:2)

And do with with -

"...with joyfulness, and with gladness of heart..." (Old Testament Deuteronomy 28:47)

And also to -

"Remember faith, virtue, knowledge, temperance, patience, brotherly kindness, godliness, charity, humility, diligence..." (Doctrine and Covenants Section 4:6)

And with -

"...hope, charity and love, with an eye single to the glory of God..." (Doctrine and Covenants Section 4:5)

The Lord is mindful that at times we may stumble and fall, but promises that if we -

"...return unto the LORD thy God, and shalt obey his voice according to all that I command thee ...thou and thy children, with all thine heart, and with all thy soul..." (Old Testament Deuteronomy 30:2)

He will -

"...the LORD thy God will circumcise thine heart, and the heart of thy seed, to love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, that thou mayest live..." (Old Testament Deuteronomy 30:6)

Deuteronomy 14 - 19

As the priests of Noah began to question Abinadi, he asks -

"...Are you priests, and pretend to teach this people..." (Book of Mormon Mosiah 12:25)

"Ye have not applied your hearts to understanding; therefore, ye have not been wise. Therefore, what teach ye this people?" (Book of Mormon Mosiah 12:27)

And the priests answer -

"...We teach the law of Moses." (Book of Mormon Mosiah 12:28)

To which Abinadi challenges -

"...If ye teach the law of Moses why do ye not keep it?..." (Book of Mormon Mosiah 12:29)

I thought of King Noah this morning as I read the instructions of Moses that -

"When thou art come unto the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee, and shalt possess it, and shalt dwell therein, and shalt say, I will set a king over me, like as all the nations that are about me" (Old Testament Deuteronomy 17:14)

And if they desired a king -

"Thou shalt in any wise set him king over thee, whom the LORD thy God shall choose: one from among thy brethren shalt thou set king over thee..." (Old Testament Deuteronomy 17:15)

"That his heart be not lifted up above his brethren, and that he turn not aside from the commandment..." (Old Testament Deuteronomy 17:20)

And he -

"...shall not multiply horses to himself, nor cause the people to return to Egypt, to the end that he should multiply horses: forasmuch as the LORD hath said unto you, Ye shall henceforth return no more that way." (Old Testament Deuteronomy 17:16)

Multiple horses to me would mean power and maybe the desire to go to war against other nations. Return to "Egypt" would mean the lifestyles and worship that was once had there.

"Neither shall he multiply wives to himself, that his heart turn not away: neither shall he greatly multiply to himself silver and gold." (Old Testament Deuteronomy 17:17)

We know that King Noah -

"...did not keep the commandments of God, but he did walk after the desires of his own heart. And he had many wives and concubines..." (Book of Mormon Mosiah 11:2)

He -

"...laid a tax of one fifth part of all they possessed, a fifth part of their gold and of their silver, and a fifth part of their ziff, and of their copper, and of their brass and their iron; and a fifth part of their fatlings; and also a fifth part of all their grain.
4 And all this did he take to support himself, and his wives and his concubines; and also his priests, and their wives and their concubines..." (Book of Mormon Mosiah 11:3 - 4)

He also -

"...built many elegant and spacious buildings; and he ornamented them with fine work of wood, and of all manner of precious things, of gold, and of silver, and of iron, and of brass, and of ziff, and of copper;
9 And he also built him a spacious palace, and a throne in the midst thereof, all of which was of fine wood and was ornamented with gold and silver and with precious things...." (Book of Mormon Mosiah 11:8 - 9)

And King Noah -

"...king Noah sent his armies against [the Lamanites], and they were driven back, or they drove them back for a time; therefore, they returned rejoicing in their spoil.
19 And now, because of this great victory they were lifted up in the pride of their hearts; they did boast in their own strength, saying that their fifty could stand against thousands of the Lamanites; and thus they did boast, and did delight in blood, and the shedding of the blood of their brethren..." (Book of Mormon Mosiah 11:18 - 19)

As the wicked priests of King Noah questioned Abinadi, it becomes obvious that they possessed the scriptures and the law of Moses. Which also means they possessed these very directions on the manner in which a King of Israel should rule.

I couldn't help but think of King Noah as I read these verses this morning.

Deuteronomy 8 - 13

As Moses addresses his people again, he again reiterates much of the same doctrine asking-

"...Israel, what doth the LORD thy God require of thee, but to fear the LORD thy God, to walk in all his ways, and to love him, and to serve the LORD thy God with all thy heart and with all thy soul..." (Old Testament Deuteronomy 10:12)

"THEREFORE thou shalt love the LORD thy God, and keep his charge, and his statutes, and his judgments, and his commandments, alway[s]." (Old Testament Deuteronomy 11:1)

Moses asks a great question -

"To keep the commandments of the LORD, and his statutes, which I command thee this day [is it] for thy good?? (Old Testament Deuteronomy 10:13)

He answers -

"...if ye shall hearken diligently unto my commandments which I command you this day, to love the LORD your God, and to serve him with all your heart and with all your soul,
14 That I will give you the rain of your land in his due season, the first rain and the latter rain, that thou mayest gather in thy corn, and thy wine, and thine oil.
15 And I will send grass in thy fields for thy cattle, that thou mayest eat and be full." (Old Testament Deuteronomy 11:13 - 15)

What a wonderful blessing. Moses tells them also -

"Behold, I set before you this day a blessing and a curse;
27 A blessing, if ye obey the commandments of the LORD your God, which I command you this day:
28 And a curse, if ye will not obey the commandments of the LORD your God, but turn aside out of the way which I command you this day..." (Old Testament Deuteronomy 11:26 - 28)

The cursing being in opposition to the blessing where -

"...the LORD's wrath be kindled against you, and he shut up the heaven, that there be no rain, and that the land yield not her fruit; and lest ye perish quickly from off the good land..." (Old Testament Deuteronomy 11:17)

"Therefore shall ye lay up these my words in your heart and in your soul, ...And ye shall teach them your children, speaking of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, when thou liest down, and when thou risest up." (Old Testament Deuteronomy 11:18 - 19)

Elder Faust said -

"The Lord has directed, 'Bring up your children in light and truth.' To me, there is no more important human effort. Being a father or a mother is not only a great challenge; it is a divine calling. It is an effort requiring consecration. President David O. McKay (1873-1970) stated that being parents is 'the greatest trust that has been given to human beings.' " ( "A Thousand Threads of Love," Ensign, Oct. 2005, 3)

In great wisdom, Moses instructs his people which would apply to all people -

"Circumcise therefore the foreskin of your heart, and be no more stiffnecked." (Old Testament Deuteronomy 10:16)

Deuteronomy 4 - 7

As the children of Israel are about to go across Jordan and possess the land promised to them, Moses tells them -

"Take heed unto yourselves, lest ye forget the covenant of the LORD your God, which he made with you..." (Old Testament Deuteronomy 4:23)

And that they will possess this land of promise as long as they keep the covenants they have made, that is -

"...When thou shalt beget children, and children's children, and ye shall have remained long in the land, and shall corrupt yourselves, and make a graven image, or the likeness of any thing, and shall do evil in the sight of the LORD thy God, to provoke him to anger:
26 I call heaven and earth to witness against you this day, that ye shall soon utterly perish from off the land whereunto ye go over Jordan to possess it; ye shall not prolong your days upon it, but shall utterly be destroyed.
27 And the LORD shall scatter you among the nations, and ye shall be left few in number among the heathen..." (Old Testament Deuteronomy 4:25 - 27)

This blessing and warning isn't much different than that to which was given to Lehi where he states -

"I, Lehi, prophesy according to the workings of the Spirit which is in me, that there shall none come into this land save they shall be brought by the hand of the Lord.
7 Wherefore, this land is consecrated unto him whom he shall bring. And if it so be that they shall serve him according to the commandments which he hath given, it shall be a land of liberty unto them; wherefore, they shall never be brought down into captivity; if so, it shall be because of iniquity; for if iniquity shall abound cursed shall be the land for their sakes, but unto the righteous it shall be blessed forever." (Book of Mormon 2 Nephi 1:6 - 7)

And if -

"...the time cometh that they shall dwindle in unbelief, after they have received so great blessings from the hand of the Lord...behold, the judgments of him that is just shall rest upon them.
11 Yea, he will bring other nations unto them, and he will give unto them power, and he will take away from them the lands of their possessions, and he will cause them to be scattered and smitten." (Book of Mormon 2 Nephi 1:10 - 11)

For as the Lord stated -

"For I am no respecter of persons..." (Doctrine and Covenants Section 1:35)

As Moses review the commandments they had received to prosper in the land, he says -

"NOW these are the commandments, the statutes, and the judgments, which the LORD your God commanded to teach you, that ye might do them in the land whither ye go to possess it..." (Old Testament Deuteronomy 6:1)

And with the commandments and statutes, Moses gives the first and great commandment -

"...And thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might." (Old Testament Deuteronomy 6:5)

With this commandment -

"...these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart" (Old Testament Deuteronomy 6:6)

Not just a mindful daily obedience but written in the desires of one heart. And just as modern day prophets have declared in the "The Family - A Proclamation to the World", Moses continues -

"...thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up." (Old Testament Deuteronomy 6:7)

Modern day instruction from the Lord's Prophets include -

"Husband and wife have a solemn responsibility to love and care for each other and for their children. “Children are an heritage of the Lord” (Psalms 127:3). Parents have a sacred duty to rear their children in love and righteousness, to provide for their physical and spiritual needs, to teach them to love and serve one another, to observe the commandments of God and to be law-abiding citizens wherever they live. Husbands and wives—mothers and fathers—will be held accountable before God for the discharge of these obligations." (The Family - A Proclamation to the World)

"...I am God...and I will show unto the world that I am the same yesterday, today, and forever..." (Book of Mormon 2 Nephi 27:23)

Numbers 35 - Deuteronomy 3

It may be disturbing to some that the children of Israel destroyed nations of people in their quest to obtain their promised lands. As they camped -

"On this side Jordan, in the land of Moab, began Moses to declare this law..." (Old Testament Deuteronomy 1:5)

Moses recounts their travels of the last forty years including recent conflicts when -

"...the LORD said unto me, Behold, I have begun to give Sihon and his land before thee: begin to possess, that thou mayest inherit his land.
32 Then Sihon came out against us, he and all his people, to fight at Jahaz.
33 And the LORD our God delivered him before us; and we smote him, and his sons, and all his people.
34 And we took all his cities at that time, and utterly destroyed the men, and the women, and the little ones, of every city, we left none to remain:
35 Only the cattle we took for a prey unto ourselves, and the spoil of the cities which we took." (Old Testament Deuteronomy 2:31 - 35)

This sounds very aggressive and un-Christlike. Even after that we read -

"THEN we turned, and went up the way to Bashan: and Og the king of Bashan came out against us, he and all his people, to battle at Edrei.
2 And the LORD said unto me, Fear him not: for I will deliver him, and all his people, and his land, into thy hand; and thou shalt do unto him as thou didst unto Sihon king of the Amorites, which dwelt at Heshbon.
3 So the LORD our God delivered into our hands Og also, the king of Bashan, and all his people: and we smote him until none was left to him remaining.
4 And we took all his cities at that time, there was not a city which we took not from them, threescore cities, all the region of Argob, the kingdom of Og in Bashan.
5 All these cities were fenced with high walls, gates, and bars; beside unwalled towns a great many.
6 And we utterly destroyed them, as we did unto Sihon king of Heshbon, utterly destroying the men, women, and children, of every city." (Old Testament Deuteronomy 3:1 - 6)

Why would a loving God do such a thing? We receive some insight with the words of Nephi. Speaking of the children of Israel and their travels in the wilderness -

"And it came to pass that according to his word he did destroy them; and according to his word he did lead them; and according to his word he did do all things for them; and there was not any thing done save it were by his word." (Book of Mormon 1 Nephi 17:31)

And then he explains -

"And after they had crossed the river Jordan he did make them mighty unto the driving out of the children of the land, yea, unto the scattering them to destruction.
33 And now, do ye suppose that the children of this land, who were in the land of promise, who were driven out by our fathers, do ye suppose that they were righteous? Behold, I say unto you, Nay.
34 Do ye suppose that our fathers would have been more choice than they if they had been righteous? I say unto you, Nay." (Book of Mormon 1 Nephi 17:32 - 34)

As we read the promises of the Lord in the 26th Chapter of Leviticus -

"If ye walk in my statutes, and keep my commandments, and do them..." (Old Testament Leviticus 26:3)

And also the consequences -

"...if ye will not hearken unto me, and will not do all these commandments;
15 And if ye shall despise my statutes, or if your soul abhor my judgments, so that ye will not do all my commandments, but that ye break my covenant..." (Old Testament Leviticus 26:14 - 15)

Nephi explains -

"Behold, the Lord esteemeth all flesh in one; he that is righteous is favored of God. But behold, this people had rejected every word of God, and they were ripe in iniquity; and the fulness of the wrath of God was upon them; and the Lord did curse the land against them, and bless it unto our fathers; yea, he did curse it against them unto their destruction, and he did bless it unto our fathers unto their obtaining power over it.
36 Behold, the Lord hath created the earth that it should be inhabited; and he hath created his children that they should possess it.
37 And he raiseth up a righteous nation, and destroyeth the nations of the wicked.
38 And he leadeth away the righteous into precious lands, and the wicked he destroyeth, and curseth the land unto them for their sakes." (Book of Mormon 1 Nephi 17:35 - 38)

As much as we are taught forgiveness, tolerance, and compassion, we must understand -

"...there is a law given, and a punishment affixed, and a repentance granted; which repentance, mercy claimeth; otherwise, justice claimeth the creature and executeth the law, and the law inflicteth the punishment..." (Book of Mormon Alma 42:22)

"...justice exerciseth all his demands, and also mercy claimeth all which is her own; and thus, none but the truly penitent are saved.
25 What, do ye suppose that mercy can rob justice? I say unto you, Nay; not one whit." (Book of Mormon Alma 42:24 - 25)

As we feast upon the word of Christ we begin to see -

"...that he is the same God yesterday, today, and forever..." (Doctrine and Covenants Section 20:12)

Numbers 25 - 34

Moses said to the Children of Israel -

"...This is the thing which the LORD hath commanded.
2 If a man vow a vow unto the LORD, or swear an oath to bind his soul with a bond; he shall not break his word, he shall do according to all that proceedeth out of his mouth." (Old Testament Numbers 30:1 - 2)

To the Lord, a vow, promise, or covenant is of a very serious nature. The Lord has promised great blessings to those who are willing to enter into a covenant with him, but with that, failure to keep those vows, promises, or covenants will reap his wrath. The Lord will not be mocked when extending such sacred promises and blessings.

To the children of Israel who had entered into a covenant he tells them -

"If ye walk in my statutes, and keep my commandments, and do them..." (Old Testament Leviticus 26:3)

Great blessings are promised including -

"I will give you rain in due season, and the land shall yield her increase, and the trees of the field shall yield their fruit.
5 And your threshing shall reach unto the vintage, and the vintage shall reach unto the sowing time: and ye shall eat your bread to the full, and dwell in your land safely.
6 And I will give peace in the land, and ye shall lie down, and none shall make you afraid: and I will rid evil beasts out of the land, neither shall the sword go through your land.
7 And ye shall chase your enemies, and they shall fall before you by the sword.
8 And five of you shall chase an hundred, and an hundred of you shall put ten thousand to flight: and your enemies shall fall before you by the sword.
9 For I will have respect unto you, and make you fruitful, and multiply you, and establish my covenant with you.
10 And ye shall eat old store, and bring forth the old because of the new.
11 And I will set my tabernacle among you: and my soul shall not abhor you.
12 And I will walk among you, and will be your God, and ye shall be my people.
13 I am the LORD your God, which brought you forth out of the land of Egypt, that ye should not be their bondmen; and I have broken the bands of your yoke, and made you go upright."
(Old Testament Leviticus 26:4 - 13)

But if the Lord is mocked, that is -

"...if ye will not hearken unto me, and will not do all these commandments;
15 And if ye shall despise my statutes, or if your soul abhor my judgments, so that ye will not do all my commandments, but that ye break my covenant..." (Old Testament Leviticus 26:14 - 15)

And do not repent -

"I also will do this unto you; I will even appoint over you terror, consumption, and the burning ague, that shall consume the eyes, and cause sorrow of heart: and ye shall sow your seed in vain, for your enemies shall eat it.
17 And I will set my face against you, and ye shall be slain before your enemies: they that hate you shall reign over you; and ye shall flee when none pursueth you...I will punish you seven times more for your sins.
19 And I will break the pride of your power...your strength shall be spent in vain: for your land shall not yield her increase, neither shall the trees of the land yield their fruits....I will bring seven times more plagues upon you according to your sins.
22 I will also send wild beasts among you, which shall rob you of your children, and destroy your cattle, and make you few in number; and your high ways shall be desolate...I will send the pestilence among you; and ye shall be delivered into the hand of the enemy.
26 And when I have broken the staff of your bread, ten women shall bake your bread in one oven, and they shall deliver you your bread again by weight: and ye shall eat, and not be satisfied.
...ye shall eat the flesh of your sons, and the flesh of your daughters shall ye eat.
30 And I will destroy your high places, and cut down your images, and cast your carcases upon the carcases of your idols, and my soul shall abhor you.
31 And I will make your cities waste, and bring your sanctuaries unto desolation, ...And I will bring the land into desolation: and your enemies which dwell therein shall be astonished at it.
33 And I will scatter you among the heathen, and will draw out a sword after you: and your land shall be desolate, and your cities waste.
...and ye be in your enemies' land...And ye shall perish among the heathen, and the land of your enemies shall eat you up.
39 And they that are left of you shall pine away in their iniquity in your enemies' lands; and also in the iniquities of their fathers shall they pine away with them." (Old Testament Leviticus 26:16 - 39)

What more can be said!

Numbers 19 - 24

Nephi gives us a great definition of priestcraft in that -

"...priestcrafts are that men preach and set themselves up for a light unto the world, that they may get gain and praise of the world; but they seek not the welfare of Zion." (Book of Mormon 2 Nephi 26:29)

The story of Balaam is a very unusual story but also a great example of priestcraft. The scriptures are not clear whether he actually held the priesthood or not, but it is clear he exercised priestcraft for Balak sent men to tell Balaam that if he cursed the children of Israel -

"...I will promote thee unto very great honour, and I will do whatsoever thou sayest unto me: come therefore, I pray thee, curse me this people..." (Old Testament Numbers 22:17)

It becomes obvious that Balaam knew better and even resisted the tempation but finally -

"...Balaam rose up in the morning, and saddled his ass, and went with the princes of Moab..." (Old Testament Numbers 22:21)

What is unusual in this story is that an angel of the Lord with a sword in hand appears to the ass upon which Balaam is riding and turns the ass from his path three times - one time crushing his foot. And three times Balaam smites the ass. And after the third time -

"...the LORD opened the mouth of the ass, and she said unto Balaam, What have I done unto thee, that thou hast smitten me these three times?
29 And Balaam said unto the ass, Because thou hast mocked me: I would there were a sword in mine hand, for now would I kill thee.
30 And the ass said unto Balaam, Am not I thine ass, upon which thou hast ridden ever since I was thine unto this day? was I ever wont to do so unto thee? And he said, Nay." (Old Testament Numbers 22:28 - 30)

It is then Balaam sees the angel with his sword drawn and falls on his face. The angel explains why the ass turned three times and then commands Balaam -

"...only the word that I shall speak unto thee, that thou shalt speak..." (Old Testament Numbers 22:35)

Later, after again being promised riches to curse the children of Israel, it appears Balaam speaks the words of the angel for his words include prophecies of the Savior -

"I will advertise thee what this people shall do to thy people in the latter days....I shall see him, but not now: I shall behold him, but not nigh: there shall come a Star out of Jacob, and a Sceptre shall rise out of Israel, and shall smite the corners of Moab, and destroy all the children of Sheth...Out of Jacob shall come he that shall have dominion, and shall destroy him that remaineth of the city." (Old Testament Numbers 24:14 - 19)

Balaam is never able to curse the Israelites but probably in an effort to "get gain and the praise of the world" he tells the Moabites that the Lord will not bless them in their inquity. And as a result, the Moabite women -

"...caused the children of Israel, through the counsel of Balaam, to commit trespass against the LORD..." (Old Testament Numbers 31:16)

Balaam became a symbol of priestcraft as Peter described false teachers -

"...following the way of Balaam the son of Bosor, who loved the wages of unrighteousness..." (New Testament 2 Peter 2:15)

Even John talked of such men as -

"...them that hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balac to cast a stumblingblock before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed unto idols, and to commit fornication." (New Testament Revelation 2:14)

The Lord has made it very clear how his priesthood is to be exercised and -

"...commandeth that there shall be no priestcrafts..." (Book of Mormon 2 Nephi 26:29)

Numbers 15 - 18

The Lord taught Aaron -

"Therefore thou and thy sons with thee shall keep your priest's office...and ye shall serve: I have given your priest's office unto you as a service of gift..." (Old Testament Numbers 18:7)

The priesthood is given for the purpose of service, for -

"...every high priest taken from among men is ordained for men in things pertaining to God, that he may offer both gifts and sacrifices for sins..." (New Testament Hebrews 5:1)

"And no man taketh this honour unto himself, but he that is called of God, as was Aaron." (New Testament Hebrews 5:4)

It appears that Korah, Dathan, and Abiram and 250 renowned Israelites, wanted to take the priesthood, this "honour" unto themselves and -

"...they gathered themselves together against Moses and against Aaron, and said unto them, Ye take too much upon you, seeing all the congregation are holy, every one of them, and the LORD is among them..." (Old Testament Numbers 16:3)

Suggesting, that there are other holy men and what makes them think that they should be in charge, asking -

"...wherefore then lift ye up yourselves above the congregation of the LORD?" (Old Testament Numbers 16:3)

After all the miracles Lord and all that Moses had done, he couldn't believe it and -

"...when Moses heard it, he fell upon his face..." (Old Testament Numbers 16:4)

We see similar groups of people in the Book of Mormon that thought they were holy saying -

"...we believe that thou hast separated us from our brethren...we believe that thou hast elected us to be thy holy children; and also thou hast made it known unto us that there shall be no Christ....and thou hast elected us that we shall be saved, whilst all around us are elected to be cast by thy wrath down to hell..." (Book of Mormon Alma 31:16 - 17)

These men had already obtained the "Levitical" priesthood but not the higher authority to administer as "priests" as Aaron and his sons. You can sense Moses unbelief as he asks -

"...seek ye the priesthood also?" (Old Testament Numbers 16:10)

The prophet Joseph Smith translated these words to -

"...seek ye the high priesthood also?..." (JST Num. 16:10)

Suggesting these men were aggressive enough to want to take the honour of the Melchizedek Priesthood upon themselves as Moses. An unrighteous insurrection such as this could lead many astray so the Lord had Moses tell them -

"...Be thou and all thy company before the LORD, thou, and they, and Aaron, to morrow:
17 And take every man his censer, and put incense in them, and bring ye before the LORD every man his censer, two hundred and fifty censers; thou also, and Aaron, each of you his censer.
18 And they took every man his censer, and put fire in them, and laid incense thereon, and stood in the door of the tabernacle of the congregation with Moses and Aaron." (Old Testament Numbers 16:16 - 18)

And so the people would know of whom the Lord called, Moses tells the people -

"Hereby ye shall know that the LORD hath sent me to do all these works; for I have not done them of mine own mind.
29 If these men die the common death of all men, or if they be visited after the visitation of all men; then the LORD hath not sent me.
30 But if the LORD make a new thing, and the earth open her mouth, and swallow them up, with all that appertain unto them, and they go down quick into the pit; then ye shall understand that these men have provoked the LORD." (Old Testament Numbers 16:28 - 30)

"And as he had made an end of speaking all these words, that the ground clave asunder that was under them:
32 And the earth opened her mouth, and swallowed them up, and their houses, and all the men that appertained unto Korah, and all their goods.
33 They, and all that appertained to them, went down alive into the pit, and the earth closed upon them: and they perished from among the congregation." (Old Testament Numbers 16:31 - 33)

"And there came out a fire from the LORD, and consumed the two hundred and fifty men that offered incense." (Old Testament Numbers 16:35)

"And no man taketh this honour unto himself, but he that is called of God, as was Aaron." (New Testament Hebrews 5:4)

Numbers 10 - 14

"AND the LORD said unto Moses, Depart, and go up hence, thou and the people which thou hast brought up out of the land of Egypt, unto the land which I sware unto Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, saying, Unto thy seed will I give it..." (Old Testament Exodus 33:1)

Even -

"Unto a land flowing with milk and honey..." (Old Testament Exodus 33:3)

But the Lord's way of giving always seems to require faith and obedience.

"For all who will have a blessing at my hands shall abide the law which was appointed for that blessing, and the conditions thereof, as were instituted from before the foundation of the world." (Doctrine and Covenants Section 132:5)

So the Lord told Moses to -

"Send thou men, that they may search the land of Canaan, which I give unto the children of Israel..." (Old Testament Numbers 13:1 - 2)

So Moses sent these spies -

"...to spy out the land...And see the land, what it is; and the people that dwelleth therein, whether they be strong or weak, few or many;
19 And what the land is that they dwell in, whether it be good or bad; and what cities they be that they dwell in, whether in tents, or in strong holds;
20 And what the land is, whether it be fat or lean, whether there be wood therein, or not." (Old Testament Numbers 13:16 - 20)

And probably, as a testimony tot he people that the land is a land of milk and honey, to also -

"...bring of the fruit of the land." (Old Testament Numbers 13:20)

Which they did. But there report was of little faith exept for Caleb and Joshua. All these men had witnessed the miracles and the deliverance of the people from Pharaoh. But with little faith and confidence they reported -

"Nevertheless the people be strong that dwell in the land, and the cities are walled, and very great...We be not able to go up against the people; for they are stronger than we...The land, through which we have gone to search it, is a land that eateth up the inhabitants thereof; and all the people that we saw in it are men of a great stature...And there we saw the giants, the sons of Anak, which come of the giants: and we were in our own sight as grasshoppers, and so we were in their sight." (Old Testament Numbers 13:28 - 33)

But faithful Caleb -

"...stilled the people before Moses, and said, Let us go up at once, and possess it; for we are well able to overcome it." (Old Testament Numbers 13:30)

But even with all that the Lord had shown to the people were still of little faith -

"AND all the congregation lifted up their voice, and cried; and the people wept that night.
2 And all the children of Israel murmured against Moses and against Aaron: and the whole congregation said unto them, Would God that we had died in the land of Egypt! or would God we had died in this wilderness!" (Old Testament Numbers 14:1 - 2)

And they murmured -

"...wherefore hath the LORD brought us unto this land, to fall by the sword, that our wives and our children should be a prey? were it not better for us to return into Egypt?" (Old Testament Numbers 14:3)

This reaction is hard to believe. I'm sure what infuriated the Lord the most was the plan -

"Let us make a captain, and let us return into Egypt." (Old Testament Numbers 14:4)

And when they heard this -

"...Joshua the son of Nun, and Caleb the son of Jephunneh, which were of them that searched the land, rent their clothes:
7 And they spake unto all the company of the children of Israel, saying, The land, which we passed through to search it, is an exceeding good land.
8 If the LORD delight in us, then he will bring us into this land, and give it us; a land which floweth with milk and honey.
9 Only rebel not ye against the LORD, neither fear ye the people of the land; for they are bread for us: their defence is departed from them, and the LORD is with us: fear them not." (Old Testament Numbers 14:6 - 9)

And as they pleaded -

"...all the congregation bade stone them with stones." (Old Testament Numbers 14:10)

That was as much as the Lord could take and he said to Moses -

"....How long will this people provoke me? and how long will it be ere they believe me, for all the signs which I have shewed among them?" (Old Testament Numbers 14:11)

And the Lord tells Moses -

"Because all those men which have seen my glory, and my miracles, which I did in Egypt and in the wilderness, and have tempted me now these ten times, and have not hearkened to my voice;
23 Surely they shall not see the land which I sware unto their fathers, neither shall any of them that provoked me see it:
24 But my servant Caleb, because he had another spirit with him, and hath followed me fully, him will I bring into the land whereinto he went; and his seed shall possess it." (Old Testament Numbers 14:22 - 24)

When Moses tells the people, there remorse is not unto repentance -

"...for their sorrowing was not unto repentance, because of the goodness of God; but it was rather the sorrowing of the damned, because the Lord would not always suffer them to take happiness in sin." (Book of Mormon Mormon 2:13)

So then after Moses tells them it is now too late and to -

"...Go not up, for the LORD is not among you; that ye be not smitten before your enemies." (Old Testament Numbers 14:42)

In disobedience they do go up and -

"...the Amalekites came down, and the Canaanites which dwelt in that hill, and smote them, and discomfited them..." (Old Testament Numbers 14:45)

"O how foolish, and how vain, and how evil, and devilish, and how quick to do iniquity, and how slow to do good, are the children of men; yea, how quick to hearken unto the words of the evil one, and to set their hearts upon the vain things of the world!
5 Yea, how quick to be lifted up in pride; yea, how quick to boast, and do all manner of that which is iniquity; and how slow are they to remember the Lord their God, and to give ear unto his counsels, yea, how slow to walk in wisdom's paths!
6 Behold, they do not desire that the Lord their God, who hath created them, should rule and reign over them; notwithstanding his great goodness and his mercy towards them, they do set at naught his counsels, and they will not that he should be their guide." (Book of Mormon Helaman 12:4 - 6)

Numbers 5 - 9

In high school, I remember a song in choir that I really liked. It began something like "May the Lord bless you and keep you." As I read this morning, I noticed many of the lyrics of the song followed these verses -

"The LORD bless thee, and keep thee:
25 The LORD make his face shine upon thee, and be gracious unto thee:
26 The LORD lift up his countenance upon thee, and give thee peace." (Old Testament Numbers 6:24 - 26)

And with these verses are the following -

"And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,
23 Speak unto Aaron and unto his sons, saying, On this wise ye shall bless the children of Israel, saying unto them...they shall put my name upon the children of Israel; and I will bless them." (Old Testament Numbers 6:22 - 27)

After King Benjamin had taught his people that salvation comes by the atonement of Jesus Christ, the people cried with on voice -

"...we are willing to enter into a covenant with our God to do his will, and to be obedient to his commandments in all things that he shall command us, all the remainder of our days..." (Book of Mormon Mosiah 5:5)

And being thus willing, King Benjamin tells them -

"...now, because of the covenant which ye have made ye shall be called the children of Christ, his sons, and his daughters; for behold, this day he hath spiritually begotten you; for ye say that your hearts are changed through faith on his name; therefore, ye are born of him and have become his sons and his daughters." (Book of Mormon Mosiah 5:7)

And the Savior himself -

"...thus becoming the Father and Son..." (Book of Mormon Mosiah 15:3)

"And under this head ye are made free, and there is no other head whereby ye can be made free. There is no other name given whereby salvation cometh..." (Book of Mormon Mosiah 5:8)

And becoming His sons and His Daughters, King Benjamin tells them -

"...I would that ye should take upon you the name of Christ, all you that have entered into the covenant with God that ye should be obedient unto the end of your lives.
9 And it shall come to pass that whosoever doeth this shall be found at the right hand of God, for he shall know the name by which he is called; for he shall be called by the name of Christ.
(Book of Mormon Mosiah 5:8 - 9)

"And I would that ye should remember also, that this is the name that I said I should give unto you that never should be blotted out, except it be through transgression...I would that ye should remember to retain the name written always in your hearts...that ye hear and know the voice by which ye shall be called, and also, the name by which he shall call you." (Book of Mormon Mosiah 5:11 - 12)

For -

"...there shall be no other name given nor any other way nor means whereby salvation can come unto the children of men, only in and through the name of Christ, the Lord Omnipotent." (Book of Mormon Mosiah 3:17)

Numbers 1 - 4

The Lord commanded Moses and Aaron -

"Take ye the sum of all the congregation of the children of Israel, after their families, by the house of their fathers, with the number of their names, every male by their polls;
3 From twenty years old and upward, all that are able to go forth to war in Israel..." (Old Testament Numbers 1:2 - 3)

It becomes clear that it was important to the Lord that his people are numbered. Moroni tells us of his people that -

"...after they had been received unto baptism, and were wrought upon and cleansed by the power of the Holy Ghost, they were numbered among the people of the church of Christ..." (Book of Mormon Moroni 6:4)

But what I think is important is that in addition to the new members being numbered -

"...their names were taken, that they might be remembered and nourished by the good word of God, to keep them in the right way, to keep them continually watchful unto prayer, relying alone upon the merits of Christ, who was the author and the finisher of their faith." (Book of Mormon Moroni 6:4)

In what we have in the Book of Numbers, it does not necessarily say their names were taken. As much as we are concerned with numbers, more important is that each number has a name and the Lord loves them individually.
I think their is another item of significance in these verses has to do with numbering the firstborn of Israel. As the -

"....LORD said unto Moses, Number all the firstborn of the males of the children of Israel from a month old and upward, and take the number of their names.
41 And thou shalt take the Levites for me (I am the LORD) instead of all the firstborn among the children of Israel..." (Old Testament Numbers 3:40 - 41)

"...Because all the firstborn are mine; for on the day that I smote all the firstborn in the land of Egypt I hallowed unto me all the firstborn in Israel..." (Old Testament Numbers 3:13)

It seems to me that because the firstborn were in a sense symbolically saved by the blood of a lamb, they are the Lord's, and should be dedicated to his service.

"For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's..." (New Testament 1 Corinthians 6:20)

Therefore, Moroni tells us -

"...none were received unto baptism save they took upon them the name of Christ, having a determination to serve him to the end." (Book of Mormon Moroni 6:3)

And same being taught in the modern Church -

"All those who humble themselves before God, and desire to be baptized, and come forth with broken hearts and contrite spirits, and witness before the church that they have truly repented of all their sins, and are willing to take upon them the name of Jesus Christ, having a determination to serve him to the end..." (Doctrine and Covenants Section 20:37)

"Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood." (New Testament Acts 20:28)

Leviticus 24 - 27

After the Lord gave Moses his commandments and law -

"...Moses came and told the people all the words of the LORD, and all the judgments: and all the people answered with one voice, and said, All the words which the LORD hath said will we do." (Old Testament Exodus 24:3)

The Lords has declared -

"...of him unto whom much is given much is required; and he who sins against the greater light shall receive the greater condemnation." (Doctrine and Covenants Section 82:3)

The children of Israel had covenanted that they would do all the words of the Lord. In turn the Lord promised -

"...If ye walk in my statutes, and keep my commandments, and do them..." (Old Testament Leviticus 26:3)

"...I will give you rain in due season..." (Old Testament Leviticus 26:4)

"...I will give peace in the land..." (Old Testament Leviticus 26:6)

"...ye shall chase your enemies, and they shall fall before you by the sword." (Old Testament Leviticus 26:7)

"...I will have respect unto you, and make you fruitful, and multiply you, and establish my covenant with you...."Old Testament Leviticus 26:9)

"...And I will walk among you, and will be your God, and ye shall be my people..." (Old Testament Leviticus 26:12)

What a wonderful promise!

"But if ye will not hearken unto me, and will not do all these commandments;
15 And if ye shall despise my statutes, or if your soul abhor my judgments, so that ye will not do all my commandments, but that ye break my covenant:
16 I also will do this unto you..." (Old Testament Leviticus 26:14 - 16)

"...I will even appoint over you terror, consumption, and the burning ague, that shall consume the eyes, and cause sorrow of heart: and ye shall sow your seed in vain, for your enemies shall eat it..." (Old Testament Leviticus 26:16)

"...I will set my face against you, and ye shall be slain before your enemies: they that hate you shall reign over you; and ye shall flee when none pursueth you..." (Old Testament Leviticus 26:17)

"...I will punish you seven times more for your sins...." (Old Testament Leviticus 26:18)

"...I will bring seven times more plagues upon you according to your sins..." (Old Testament Leviticus 26:21)

"...I will also send wild beasts among you, which shall rob you of your children, and destroy your cattle, and make you few in number..." (Old Testament Leviticus 26:22)

"I will bring a sword upon you...I will send the pestilence among you; and ye shall be delivered into the hand of the enemy." (Old Testament Leviticus 26:25)

"...ye shall eat the flesh of your sons, and the flesh of your daughters shall ye eat." (Old Testament Leviticus 26:29)

And much more! And if this was the case and this people would repent in that -

"...they shall confess their iniquity... if then their uncircumcised hearts be humbled, and they then accept of the punishment of their iniquity:
42 Then will I remember my covenant with Jacob, and also my covenant with Isaac, and also my covenant with Abraham will I remember; and I will remember the land." (Old Testament Leviticus 26:40 - 42)

As I have studied the scriptures the promises and cursings are pretty much extended to all men. Again -

"...For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required..." (New Testament Luke 12:48)

Leviticus 19 - 23

As I began my reading this morning, the Lord's commandment was very specific -

"...Ye shall be holy: for I the LORD your God am holy." (Old Testament Leviticus 19:2)

The following are some of the Lord's instructions to be holy -

"Ye shall keep my sabbaths, and reverence my sanctuary..." (Old Testament Leviticus 19:30)

which means -

"...that thou mayest more fully keep thyself unspotted from the world, thou shalt go to the house of prayer and offer up thy sacraments upon my holy day;
10 For verily this is a day appointed unto you to rest from your labors, and to pay thy devotions unto the Most High...remember that on this, the Lord's day, thou shalt offer thine oblations and thy sacraments unto the Most High, confessing thy sins unto thy brethren, and before the Lord." (Doctrine and Covenants Section 59:9 - 12)

"Ye shall not steal, neither deal falsely, neither lie one to another.
12 ¶ And ye shall not swear by my name falsely..." (Old Testament Leviticus 19:11 - 12)

"Thou shalt not defraud thy neighbour, neither rob him..." (Old Testament Leviticus 19:13)

"Ye shall do no unrighteousness in judgment: thou shalt not respect the person of the poor, nor honour the person of the mighty: but in righteousness shalt thou judge thy neighbour.
16 ¶ Thou shalt not go up and down as a talebearer among thy people...Thou shalt not hate thy brother in thine heart: thou shalt in any wise rebuke thy neighbour, and not suffer sin upon him.
18 ¶ Thou shalt not avenge, nor bear any grudge against the children of thy people..." (Old Testament Leviticus 19:15 - 18)

All of these fall under the two great commandments -

"...thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might." (Old Testament Deuteronomy 6:5)

And that which was read today -

"...thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself..." (Old Testament Leviticus 19:18)

"On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets." (New Testament Matthew 22:40)