Ancient Prophecies

The final Old Testament lesson of 2006 (Lesson 48) discusses the latter-day prophecies of two ancient prophets, Malachi and Zechariah. Zechariah’s prophecies are the more dramatic. Among other things, he saw the restoration of Israel, the great war that precedes the second coming, and the appearance of the Savior on the Mount of Olives.

Since I was a child, I have been fascinated by prophecies about the Last Days. I recall finding on my parent’s bookshelves a little green book titled The Last Days. Published in 1942, this book was a compilation of latter-day prophecies from many of our early church leaders, including Joseph Smith, Brigham Young, Parley Pratt, Heber J. Grant, and others. As I read through the prophetic utterances, I wondered if I would live to see the Lord’s second coming.

As I grew older, I began to think more and more that; perhaps, I would not live to see that glorious day. World conditions seemed to change. The Cold War ended. We began sending missionaries to Eastern Europe and the former Soviet Union. It seemed like the dawn of a great new day when the good news of the gospel would spread throughout the earth.

In the midst of those changes, we were not paying attention to the growing threat in the Middle East. As the 90s progressed, there were a series of attacks from Islamic fundamentalists, the most dramatic being the events of September 11th. My wife and I were in London on July 7th, 2005, when the London Underground and a bus were attacked. We see the growing struggle in Iraq fueled, in part, by Syria and Iran. We hear the threats of the Iranian president about the destruction of Israel. Indeed, we hear of wars and rumors of wars.

Regardless of the timetable, we are indeed living in the last days. The Savior counseled his ancient disciples to, “Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come“ (Matthew 24:42). I think the counsel to “watch” means more than just observing latter-day events. As I am writing, I am watching a fierce winter storm literally bury the Denver area. I am an avid weather watcher and saw this storm develop over the past few days. When we began to see the potential for this storm grow, we did a number of things in preparation, including making sure we had sufficient groceries and other supplies. Part of our watching included active preparation. We do not know the day or the hour of the Savior’s second coming; however I know that we need to be actively watching and preparing no matter when the great latter-day events lead to the return of the Master.

Old Testament - New Insights

In my Old Testament – Lesson 1 outline I wrote that much of my study of this ancient volume of scripture had been guided by A Missionary Study Guide which I received while on my mission in 1971. Published by the Quorum of the Twelve, it stated,

“Ordinarily the greatest value will accrue if the Standard Works are studied in this order: Book of Mormon, New Testament, Pearl of Great Price, Doctrine & Covenants, the book of Genesis and those portions of the Old Testament which relate to subjects being studied."

I believe I used that statement as an excuse for failing to seriously study the Old Testament in subsequent years. When I was first called to teach the Gospel Doctrine class, I was relieved that the course of study was the Book of Mormon, to be followed by the Doctrine and Covenants/Church History. However, the day of reckoning finally arrived and I had to begin preparing and teaching lessons about the Old Testament. Though the Old Testament was more challenging to read and understand, to my surprise I was delighted to find that the stories and doctrines were as relevant today as they were thousands of years ago. I placed new value on the Old Testament and have since approached it with new enthusiasm.

We are about to conclude another year of study of this great volume of scripture. It has been for myself a year of new and renewed insights. Here are a few:

• The days before the great flood were similar to those of our time. As stated by Elder McConkie, “The coming of the flood of Noah, and with it the ‘end of the world’ for the carnal civilization of that day, is a perfect type of the coming of the Lord, and the end of the world for the wicked of the latter-days.” A clear reminder that we need to heed the words of the living prophet.
• After rescuing Lot from his Elamite captors, Abraham was offered the spoils of war by the king of Sodom. Abraham responded by saying that he would take not even a “thread” of the bounty. He wanted nothing of the wicked king’s possessions. In today’s world we are often tempted to accept a “thread” of wickedness. Like the bounty offered to Abraham, these threads look tempting. We need to realize that by accepting a “thread” of unrighteousness we may be taking the first step towards embracing unrighteous behavior.
• I have reviewed the story of Joseph many times over the years, but continue to be impressed with his steadfast faithfulness in spite of persistent challenges.
• In contrast to the story of Joseph, we find the continued murmuring of Israel after escaping bondage in Egypt. They complain about hunger; the Lord provides food. They Lord provides food; they complain about the lack of variety. In the face of miracles, the Israelites complained. Joseph, faced with challenge after challenge, keeps turning adversity into opportunities. Joseph teaches us the value of great faith. The Israelites teach us that murmuring accomplishes nothing.
• The story of Eli’s sons, Hophni and Phinehas, warn us about the evil of seeking to honor ourselves. Are we ever guilty of honoring ourselves by the music we listen to, the movies we watch, indulging in inappropriate Sabbath activities, or going into debt for that which is not necessary? How may such activities affect our spirituality? Who do we honor?

This list could go on for pages. Though the Old Testament is an ancient work, it is rich with stories, insights, and teachings that can guide us today.

As you conclude your study of the Old Testament, what stories or teachings have touched your soul and changed your life for the better? I would like to add your thoughts to future Old Testament lesson outlines.