Lesson 149
Joel
---Sister
Patricia T. Holland, the wife of Elder Jeffrey R. Holland and
formerly of the Young Women general presidency:
“Recently we
experienced the worst windstorm Bountiful [in Utah] has seen in several
decades. … Just as I was hearing news reports of semi trucks—twenty of
them—being blown over on the roadside, I looked out my lovely back window down
toward our creek and saw one of our large trees go down with a crash. …
“For a
moment, I confess, I was truly fearful. It was very early in the morning, and
Jeff was just leaving for the office. I said to him, ‘Do you think this is the
end? Is it all over—or about to be?’” (A Quiet Heart [2000], 129).
---Discuss
the following questions:
How do you feel about the signs and events
that will accompany the Second Coming?
How do you think Elder Holland responded to
his wife?
---Read the
remainder of Sister Holland’s account:
“My husband,
who has deep faith and endless optimism, took me in his arms and said, ‘No, but
wouldn’t it be wonderful if it were? Wouldn’t it be wonderful if Christ really
did come and his children really were ready for him? Wouldn’t it be terrific if
evil was finally conquered, once and for all, and the Savior of the world came
down in the midst of the New Jerusalem to wipe away every tear from every eye?
Yes,’ my husband said, ‘in lots of ways I wish it were the end, but it’s not.
It is just a stiff windstorm in Bountiful. We have got more work to do’” (A Quiet
Heart, 129–30).
---What stands out to you about Elder
Holland’s thoughts and feelings concerning the Second Coming?
---Today we
will study the prophecies of the prophet Joel, who prophesied to the people of
Judah at a time when they were facing natural disasters and invading armies.
Many of Joel’s prophecies relate to the time preceding the Second Coming, which
will also be filled with natural disasters and wars. Although some events
associated with the Second Coming may cause people to feel afraid, Joel’s
prophecies contain principles that can help us prepare for them. Look for these
principles so they, like Elder Holland, can look forward to the Second Coming
of the Savior with joy and confidence.
---In Joel 1:1–13 Joel recounted the devastation
brought on by a plague of locusts. One interpretation of this passage is that
it symbolizes the destruction that would come from invading armies if the
people did not repent (see Joel 1:4,
footnote a).
(the phrase
“day of the Lord” [verse 15] refers to a point in time when
the Lord administers rewards and penalties.)
---What did Joel counsel the people to do?
---Why do you think Joel wanted the people to
gather into the temple when they were faced with danger?
---What kinds of danger are youth today faced
with?
---How can we be blessed as we gather into
the temple?
If we gather
into the temple, we can receive ___________________________________________________________.
---It may be
difficult for some people to attend the temple regularly. However, these people
can receive protection from spiritual danger by choosing to live worthy to
enter the temple. We can also participate in temple work by searching for our
ancestors and preparing their names for temple ordinances.
---Read the
following statement by Elder Richard G. Scott and listen for ways we can
gather to the temple and one of the blessings we can receive for doing so:
“Do you young
people want a sure way to eliminate the influence of the adversary in your
life? Immerse yourself in searching for your ancestors, prepare their names for
the sacred vicarious ordinances available in the temple, and then go to the
temple to stand as proxy for them to receive the ordinances of baptism and the gift of the Holy Ghost. As you grow older, you will be able to
participate in receiving the other ordinances as well. I can think of no
greater protection from the influence of the adversary in your life” (“The
Joy of Redeeming the Dead,” Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2012,
94).
---How did Elder Scott encourage us to gather
into the temple?
---How have you felt blessed and protected
from spiritual danger as you have participated in family history and temple work?
II. Joel 2
Joel prophesies of latter-day
calamities and of the Spirit of the Lord being poured out upon all flesh
---In Joel 2 the phrase “in the day of the
Lord” refers to the Second Coming of Jesus Christ and events preceding it.
---How did Joel described the day of the Lord?
---The
verses in Joel 2:3–10 describe the war and destruction
that will occur and the gloom that some people will experience before the
Savior’s Second Coming.
---What words describe the day of the Lord?
---According to this verse, what did the Lord
want the people to do?
---People in
Old Testament times often rent, or tore, their clothing as a symbol of their
grief and sorrow.
---Read Joel
2:13–14 and look at
Joseph Smith Translation, Joel 2:13 (in Joel 2:13,
footnote b) and Joseph
Smith Translation, Joel 2:14 (in Joel 2:14,
footnote a).
---What do you think Joel was teaching the
people when he told them to rend their hearts and not their garments?
---What do these verses teach about what the
Lord will do for us as we turn to Him by sincerely repenting?
As we turn
to the Lord with all our hearts by sincerely repenting, He will _____________________________________.
---How can we show God that our repentance is
sincere?
---How might knowing that God will show mercy
and kindness to those who repent influence your desire to repent?
---The
verses in Joel 2:15–32 describe some of the blessings
that the righteous will enjoy while preparing for the day of the Lord.
---What did Joel prophesy the Lord would do
in the latter days?
In the
latter days the Lord will _______________________________________________________________________.
President
Joseph Fielding Smith:
“Now, my
brethren and sisters, I am not going to confine this prophecy to the members of
the Church. The Lord said he would pour out his Spirit upon all flesh. … [This
means that] the Lord would pour out his blessings and his Spirit upon all
people and use them to accomplish his purposes” (Doctrines of Salvation,
1:176).
---What evidence have you seen that the Lord
is pouring out His Spirit upon all flesh?
---Explain
that signs and wonders will precede and accompany the day of the Lord.
---Would any of these signs or wonders cause you
to feel afraid or concerned.?
---Scan Joel
2:32 looking for
what Joel taught that can help us when we feel afraid or concerned about signs
of the Second Coming.
---What can we do if we are fearful or
concerned about the signs and events of the last days?
---What can Heavenly Father do for those who
call on His name?
---In Joel 3 Joel prophesied of the battle of
Armageddon, which will occur just before the Second Coming. In this battle, all
the nations of the earth will fight against the Lord’s people.
---Why should the Lord’s people be hopeful
during this challenging time?
---Conclude
the lesson by inviting students to share their feelings about how they can
prepare to abide the day of the Lord with joy and optimism.
Commentary and Background
Information
Joel 1:14.
“Gather … into the house of the Lord”
Elder
David A. Bednar of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles taught about the
protection and other blessings youth receive as they participate in family history and temple work:
“I invite
the young people of the Church to learn about and experience the Spirit of
Elijah. …
“As you
respond in faith to this invitation, your hearts shall turn to the fathers. The
promises made to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob will be implanted in your hearts. …
Your love and gratitude for your ancestors will increase. Your
testimony of and conversion to the Savior will become deep and abiding. And I
promise you will be protected against the intensifying influence of the
adversary. As you participate in and love this holy work, you will be
safeguarded in your youth and throughout your lives” (“The Hearts of the
Children Shall Turn,” Ensign or
Liahona, Nov. 2011, 26–27).
Joel
2:28–32. “I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh”
President
Joseph Fielding Smith explained how the Lord would pour our His Spirit upon all
flesh:
“The
inspiration which was promised to all flesh by the Lord through the prophecy of
Joel, is not the promise of the Holy Ghost, but the promise of the guidance
of the Light of Christ, or Spirit of Truth, which is given to every man who
comes into the world” (Doctrines of Salvation, 3 vols., comp.
Bruce R. McConkie [1954–56], 1:53).
“There has
never has been a step taken … , in discovery or invention, where the
Spirit of the Lord … was not the prevailing force, resting upon the individual,
which caused him to make the discovery or the invention” (Doctrines of
Salvation, 1:178).
This
prophecy of Joel may have multiple meanings and fulfillments. On the day of
Pentecost in New Testament times, there was a great outpouring of the Spirit on
those gathered, which caused Peter to say, “But this is that which was spoken
by the prophet Joel; and it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I
will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters
shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall
dream dreams” (Acts 2:16–17).
Of the Prophet
Joseph Smith’s First Vision, President Howard W.
Hunter said: “As we think of the promise that young men shall see visions in
the latter days, we are reminded of the vision that came to a youth only
fourteen years of age which commenced a chain of events resulting in the
restoration of the gospel of Jesus [Christ] in its fulness in the preceding century.
The will of God was revealed and a youth saw the vision” (“Be Not Disobedient
unto the Heavenly Vision” [address at BYU baccalaureate exercises, June 2,
1960]; speeches.byu.edu).
Three years
after the First Vision, Moroni appeared to Joseph Smith and quoted Joel 2:28–32, explaining that these
prophecies would shortly be fulfilled (see Joseph Smith—History
1:41).
President
Gordon B. Hinckley said:
“The era in
which we live is the fulness of times spoken of in the scriptures, when God has
brought together all of the elements of previous dispensations. From the day
that He and His Beloved Son manifested themselves to the boy Joseph, there has
been a tremendous cascade of enlightenment poured out upon the world. … The
vision of Joel has been fulfilled [see Joel 2:28–32]” (“Living in the Fulness
of Times,” Ensign,
Nov. 2001, 4).
Joel 2:2. “A
day of darkness and of gloominess”
Elder
Neal A. Maxwell of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles spoke of the cause of
the gloominess related to the day of the Lord:
“We must not
underestimate, however, the difficulty of the last days. Joel and Zephaniah
both speak of the last days as being ‘a day of … gloominess.’ (Joel 2:2; Zeph. 1:15.) The coming decades will be
times of despair. Why? Because, as Moroni said, despair comes of iniquity. (See
Moro. 10:22.) The more iniquity, the more
despair. And unless there is widespread repentance, despair will both deepen
and spread—except among those who have gospel gladness” (“Be of Good Cheer,” Ensign, Nov. 1982, 67).
right margin extras:
This video includes many recent promises given by General Authorities about doing family history work and how it will bless us here on earth—not just our ancestors in the spirit world. Instead of having a student read Elder Scott's statement aloud, consider showing this video to help students understand and feel the importance of the following principle: If we gather to the temple, we can receive protection from spiritual danger.
No comments:
Post a Comment