Sweet Rewards...

Thanks so much to everyone who offered positive feedback on the blog. Thanks also to those who did not offer any negative remarks. :)

The discussion in class today was, as always, great. Many thanks for the insightful comments and participation. It makes such a difference. I truly feel blessed to have been called to teach. While it can be intimidating, it offers me the opportunity to study and learn.

I especially appreciate the sweetness of the spirit and the peace that I feel as we talk about the gospel. It is even better than the cupcakes that blog readers who made comments received. Stay tuned and keep reading the blog so you'll know when another TREAT opportunity comes along. Anyone who knows me, knows that I love to bake so let's keep learning together and occasionally our discussion will be accompanied by a delicious dessert.

A note for readers...

I've been thinking about starting a blog for our Sunday School class for the last couple of months and have finally decided that I will give it a try. What could it hurt, right?!?! On the first Sunday in January, when I introduced the curriculum for this year, I asked if there were things that I could do to help you learn. I must be the most amazing teacher because no one really said anything. I am kidding, of course.

All jokes aside, I feel like the dynamic in our class is one that encourages participation and learning and that makes me happy. It is my intention to start this as a pilot. If it is useful, I will keep updating it. If it is not, then I'll shut it down. If class members have the opportunity to review the scriptures before class and ponder them, it has the potential to enrich the discussion and edify those in attendance.

I am open to any comments and feedback that you may have and hope that our study and class discussion this year is one that brings peace and great joy.

The guide for our study this week and lesson Sunday is below...check it out!

Lesson 5: "If Thou Doest Well, Thou Shalt be Accepted"

Moses 5-7

(We will study/discuss this lesson on Sunday, January 31, 2010)

The purpose of this lesson is to understand that choices to follow Jesus Christ lead to liberty, happiness, and eternal life, while choices to follow Satan lead to misery and captivity.

Watch this little clip, Elder Eyring, "Choose This Day"

I found a story like account in the Liahona (July 1984), of the story of Cain and Abel. I am including that text for those who may appreciate a succinct and easy to understand description of those events.

The first man and woman to live on the earth were Adam and Eve. God taught them the gospel, and they taught it to their children. But Satan tempted their children saying, "Believe it not." Many listened to Satan.

Two of the sons of Adam and Eve were named Cain and Abel. As Cain grew, he rebelled against his parents' teachings. He refused to obey God, and chose to follow Satan. Cain's rebelliousness made Adam and Eve very unhappy. They loved Cain very much and hoped he would become a righteous man. Adam had been given the priesthood and had passed this great blessing onto Cain. But Cain did not honor the priesthood.

Abel, however, was obedient. He followed the teachings and example of his parents. He received the priesthood and used it righteously.

When the two boys were older, Abel became a keeper of sheep, and Cain became a farmer. God spoke to Abel, and Abel loved God and kept his commandments.

God spoke to Cain, but Cain mocked God, saying, "Who is the Lord that I should know him?" Cain loved Satan more than God.

Abel obediently brought the new born lambs of his sheep and offered them as a sacrifice to the Lord. Abel had faith in God; he believed that God's son, Jesus Christ, would one day sacrifice his life for all mankind.

Satan commanded Cain, "Make an offering unto the Lord." For his sacrifice Cain brought crops from his field. God could not accept Cain's offering because Cain did not have faith in God. In giving his sacrifice, Cain was obeying Satan, not God. Satan knew Cain's offering would not be accepted, and he was pleased that he had led someone to do wrong.

Cain was angry because his offering was not accepted, but the Lord still loved him. The Lord told Cain that if he would make the right kind of offering, he would accept it. The Lord warned Cain that Satan wanted him and he would come under Satan's power if he did not obey the Lord's commandments.

Cain became even more angry and refused to listen to the Lord. This brought Adam and Eve greater sorrow, for Cain had chosen wickedness instead of righteousness.

Cain was jealous that Abel's offering had been accepted, but his had not. He was so jealous of Abel's sheep and wanted them. The more he thought about his brother, the more Cain's hatred and anger grew.

Satan continued to teach and tempt Cain in the ways of wickedness, saying "Swear that thou wilt obey me and shalt tell no one, and I will deliver thy brother Abel into thine hands."

When Cain heard these word, he exclaimed proudly, "Truly I am Mahan, the master of this great secret, that I may murder and get gain." Then Cain went out into the field to find his brother. While they talked Cain killed Abel. Cain believed Satan. He thought not one would find out that he had murdered his brother. But the Lord came to Cain and said, "where is Abel, thy brother?" Cain lied: "I know not. Am I my brother's keeper?" The Lord spoke again: "What has thou done? The voice of thy brother's blood crieth unto me from the ground. And now thou shalt be cursed."

Satan had lied to Cain. When Cain realized that the Lord knew what he had done, he tried to blame someone else; he said, "Satan tempted me."

The Lord told Cain that because he had rebelled and had killed Abel, he would be shut out from the presence of God. He would be hunted and chased and would never have a home upon the earth.

Cain said unto the Lord, "My punishment is greater than I can bear. From thy face shall I be hid, and it shall come to pass, that every one that findeth me will slay me."

But the Lord did not want Cain to be killed. He set a mark upon Cain so that any people who saw him would know that they must not harm him.

Cain was punished by being shut out from the presence of the Lord. He, his wife, and many of his brothers left Adam and Eve and went to live in the land of Nod.

Enoch

(Gospel Art Kit 19 picture summary)
Enoch was a great prophet in ancient times. When he was young the Lord called him to preach repentance to the people. Enoch did not feel qualified for this great work, and he bowed himself before the Lord and asked, "Why is it that I have found favor in thy sight, and am but a lad, and all the people hate me; for I am slow of speech?" The Lord blessed Enoch and promised to protect him and give him the words he should speak if Enoch would go forth and obey.

Enoch taught his people as the Savior instructed. He was so obedient and faithful that he was blessed to see the Lord and talk with Him face to face. Enoch's faith was so great that even the mountains and the rivers moved according to his command.

Many of the people Enoch preached to believed his words and repented. They kept the commandments of God and lived so righteously that "the Lord came and dwelt with them." Enoch and his people received great blessings because of their faithfulness. They built a city called the City of Holiness, or Zion, where the people lived in peace, unity, and prosperity. As the people of Enoch followed the Lord, they became more like Him. They grew so righteous that they were taken up to heaven without tasting death to live forever in the presence of God.

Study the following scriptures:
Moses 5:16-41. Cain loves Satan more than God and obeys Satan's command to make an offering to the Lord (5:16-19). The Lord rejects Cain's offering and commands Cain to repent (5:20-25). Cain covenants with Satan and kills Abel (5:26-33). The Lord curses Cain, and Cain is shut out from the presence of the Lord (5:34-41).

1. Moses 6:26-63. Enoch, a forth great-grandson of Adam, is called by the Lord to preach repentance (6:26-36). Enoch obeys the Lords command (6:37-63).


2. Moses 7:13, 17-21, 23-47, 68-69. The faith of Enoch is so great that mountains are removed, rivers change course, and all nations fear (7:13, 17). The Lord and Enoch weep over the wickedness of the people on the earth (7:23-47). The people in the city of Enoch are of one heart and one mind with the Lord, and the entire city is taken to heaven (7:18-21, 68-69).

Questions to consider:

• How did Cain respond when the Lord asked where Abel was? (See Moses 5:34.)


• What does it mean to be our brother's keeper? (See 1 John 3:11, 17,18)


• Why did the Lord Call Enoch and his people Zion? (See Moses 7:18.)


• What does it mean to be "of one heart and one mind"?


• What can we do to become of one heart and one mind with the Lord (in our families, in the church?
• If you leave a comment below this post indicating that you have read the blog and are prepared to participate Sunday, you will be rewarded with a YUMMY treat which will be given out in class! Feel free to pass the word along...I don't want anyone to be excluded.