March 23, 2015 - Covenants, Land, and Sacrifice

1. The King Follet Discourse was compiled from many people's notes, and was reported to have lasted 2 1/2 hours long. The amalgamated version of the talk would be no longer than 45 minutes long. Lesson: There is missing material! This is likewise true of our scriptures, and many of the prophetic experiences prophets have held. Though we certainly have what we need, we can definitely ascertain that there is missing material.
2. Verbless sentences (See NOTE 49B in Workbook)
3. When translating, stick as close to the word order as possible
4. *COVENANTS: Always include two things; 1) Cutting 2) Blood. In Genesis 15:12, Lucifer attempts to stop the covenant Abraham was about to enter into, which would establish this very critical covenant that would bind the Lord to the House of Israel. NOTE: This is similar to Joseph Smith's experience with the adversary just before offering his prayer in the Hill Cumorah. 
5. *Abraham and his posterity (at different times) both lived in Egypt to gain posessions/substance before passing into the promised land of Canaan, which is essentially a desolate place (no resources). 
6. *Abraham's covenant included receiving a promised land. Lehi also made a covenant similar to Abraham's. We don't have an account of the experience, but we have Lehi's testimony: "But behold, I have obtained a land of promise" (see 1 Ne 5:5). His confidence in the Lord was sure, many years before (and on a different continent) he even received it! He knew God does not break his promises.
7. *ALTARS - Altars are commonly understood in Hebrew as "Places of slaughtering" - a connotation that totally doesn't exist in English. But understanding this when we visit modern day temples can deepen the experience if we bring a part of ourselves to slaughter there upon the altar.  Furthermore, in ancient times the animal was cut up, washed, annointed, and then offered up to God. This pattern still exists in temples today, but not with regard to animal slaughtering. Therefore, what do we slaughter on our altars?