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MY PERSONAL LIAHONA

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Page 26 : Words Exercise

When studying the words you chose from your blessing, use a variety of resources that might help you find clarity or deeper, more complex meaning.

Dictionary

1828 Dictionary

Oxford English Dictionary

Oxford Learners Dictionary 

Thesaurus

Conference talks, scriptures, hymns on the church website

Bible Dictionary

Topical Guide

Index to the Triple Combination

BYU Speeches

Page 62 : Missing Pieces

There may be a topic that you wished was discussed in your blessing. This is a chance to find additional counsel already given in scripture or conference talk that can serve as an addition to your blessing. Here are some good places to start:

Doctrine and Covenants 25, 4, 6, 9, 121, 122.

Search a topic on the church website to find additional counsel about it.

Search it in the bible dictionary or topical guide to find a scripture story or person to whom you can relate.

The Articles of Faith

The Family Proclamation

Are there things you have learned through experience that you feel are part of you now, that would be a helpful addition to your blessing. What has experience taught you that can continue to teach you? How can you help your future self?

As you add counsel to help guide your way, you may just add a scripture or quote, but you can also be more direct. Rather than add 1 Nephi 3:7 and the encouragement to “go and do,” you may find it more powerful to say, “Melissa, I bless you to be faithful and courageous like Nephi in following the counsel of the Lord.” Use the method that is the most powerful to you.

Page 80 : Word Cloud Exercise

Page 93 : More Than a List—Amanda Smith Story

Page 112 : Gift of Prophecy

Page 120 : How to Study Spiritual Gifts

Study

Search in scripture, bible dictionary, topical guide, conference talks, BYU speeches, books for the spiritual gifts you seek. Are there people in scripture or church history, or in your life that exude these gifts or likely have them? Do not limit yourself to just our church or your circle of influence. Spiritual gifts are given to every person. I personally believe that those who have invented things or made great impact are likely calling on their spiritual gifts. For example, my study of Harriet Tubman leads me to believe she likely had the gift of prophecy, which allowed her to save many of her people and earned her the nickname, “She Moses.” (see “She Came to Slay: The Life of Harriet Tubman” by Erica Armstrong Dunbar.)

Prayer - Saints Volume One 

P. 347–49
P. 353–55
P. 378–79

Study and Pondering

The power of cross referencing cannot be understated. As I sought to understand the gift of healing, I simply began in the topical guide under Heal, Healed. I looked at the “see also” which included several things of interest, like conversion, restore, save and laying on of hands. Save also lead me to deliver and redeem. I studied these as well. Then I went back to look at the verses under Heal to gain more insight and see where this idea appeared in the scriptures. The study took me to the word Annoint, which is to apply oil to the head of a person for spiritual or secular reasons. I found accounts of this. Kings were also anointed to their office by the prophet. Jesus was annointed by the Holy Ghost with power. Anointing oil is for a specific purpose. Christ from Greek meant “annointed” or the Messiah. Christ was anointed for the specific purpose of saving mankind. This took me to Isaiah 61:1-3. As I pondered all I had studied and found, I asked myself, if I have the gift of healing, am I anointed to heal in a specific way or for someone specific? Spiritual gifts are to benefit others. How might my gift be used to help others? The more I study the scriptural accounts of this, the more depth my understanding has, and I can ask better questions as I study and pray to find the way to develop and use my spiritual gifts. Letting things sink in and permeate my heart can aid as I ponder these things over time.

Page 150 : Your Tribe

The bible dictionary and church website has a great number of resources to study on the tribes. Here are a few places to start for each tribe. Do not be afraid to branch out to other Christian resources or Jewish resources. As an Abrahamic religion, we are not alone in wanting to understand the Tribes of Israel. There is also an entry for each tribe under “The Tribe of ____” on wikipedia with helpful information. We will update this list as we gather more resources.

 

Tribe Specific Study:

Reuben, firstborn of Leah and Jacob, lost his birthright because of his wickedness. He did not receive the double portion, and his second portion went to Joseph and then to the sons of Joseph and Asenath, Ephraim and Manessah.

Birth Scripture: Genesis 29:32

Patriarchal Blessing (from Moses and Jacob): Deuteronomy 33:6; Genesis 30:14, 49:3

Simeon was the second son of Leah and Jacob. He slaughtered the Schemites with Levi (see Genesis 34:25-30) and remained bound in Egypt, by Joseph, while his brother went back to get Benjamin.

“That hears”

Birth Scripture: Genesis 29:33

Patriarchal Blessing (from Moses and Jacob): Genesis 49:5-7, 34:25

Levi, the third son of Leah and Jacob, slaughtered the Schemites with Simeon (see Genesis 34:25-30). The tribe of Levi was assigned to hold the Priesthood after everyone became wicked. They were not given land of their own, and a member of the tribe of Levi resided with each of the other 11 tribes.

“Joined”

Birth Scripture: Genesis 29:34

Patriarchal Blessing (from Moses and Jacob): Deuteronomy 33:8-11; Genesis 34:25

Descendents: Moses, Aaron, Malachi

Judah was the fourth son of Leah and Jacob.

Natural leader among the sons of Jacob. See bible dictionary for verses.

Birth Scripture: Genesis 29:35

Patriarchal Blessing (from Moses and Jacob): Deuteronomy 33:7; Genesis 49:9

Descendents: Jesus Christ, David, Solomon

Dan was Jacob’s fifth son. His mother was Bilhah, Rachel’s handmaiden.

“Judge”

Birth Scripture: Genesis 30:6

Patriarchal Blessing (from Moses and Jacob): Deuteronomy 33:22; Genesis 49:16-17

Descendents: Samson

Naphtali was Jacob’s sixth son, born of Bilhah, Rachel’s handmaiden.

“Wrestlings”

Birth Scripture: Genesis 30:8

Patriarchal Blessing (from Moses and Jacob): Deuteronomy 33:23; Genesis 49:21

Gad was Jacob’s seventh son, and the son of Zilpah, Leah’s handmaiden.

“Good Fortune”

Birth Scripture: Genesis 30:11

Patriarchal Blessing (from Moses and Jacob): Deuteronomy 33:20-21; Genesis 49:19

Asher was Jacob’s eighth son, and the son of Zilpah, Leah’s handmaiden.

“Happy”

Birth Scripture: Genesis 30:13

Patriarchal Blessing (from Moses and Jacob): Deuteronomy 33:24-25; Genesis 49:20

Issachar was the ninth son of Jacob, born of Leah.

Received the richest land in Canaan.

Birth Scripture: Genesis 30:17-18

Patriarchal Blessing (from Moses and Jacob): Genesis 49:14; 1 Chronicals 12:32

Zebulon was the tenth son of Jacob, born of Leah.

Birth Scripture: Genesis 30:32

Patriarchal Blessing (from Moses and Jacob): Deuteronomy 33:18-19; Genesis 49:13

Joseph was Jacob’s eleventh son, and the son of Rachel. He received the birthright after Reuben’s wickedness, symbolized through the colored coat.

Birth Scripture: Genesis 30:22-24

Patriarchal Blessing (from Moses and Jacob): Deuteronomy 33:13-17

Benjamin was the twelfth son of Joseph. His mother was Rachel, who died during birth.

“Son of the right hand”

Birth Scripture: Genesis 35:16-19

Patriarchal Blessing (from Moses and Jacob): Deuteronomy 33:12; Genesis 49:27

Descendents: Jeremiah, Paul

Manasseh was the first grandson of Jacob, son of Joseph and Asenath.

“Forgetting”

He was the first born but Ephraim received the blessing of the birthright. See Genesis 48.

Birth Scripture: Genesis 41:51

Patriarchal Blessing (from Moses and Jacob): Deuteronomy 33:13-17; See 2 Nephi 3

Descendents: Lehi and his family

Ephraim was the second grandson of Jacob, son of Joseph and Asenath. He was given the birthright, even though he is the second born. See Genesis 48, specifically versus 13-22.

Birth Scripture: Genesis 41:52

Patriarchal Blessing (from Moses and Jacob): Deuteronomy 33:13-17; Jeremiah 31:18; See 2 Nephi 3

Other Resources:

Born to Change the World by Brad Wilcox also has some deeper discussion about symbols surrounding each tribe.

The map of the tribe territories can be found the in the maps of the scriptures here.

Page 167 : Abrahamic Covenant Study

The study of the Abrahamic Covenant can be very complex, but start where you feel comfortable. We will continue to add to this list as we gather additional resources. This is also a place where searching information form other Christian sects or Jewish resources can be helpful.

Bible Dictionary, Abrahamic Covenant.

Gospel Principles Manual, Abrahamic Covenant, Gathering of Israel

Search: New and Everlasting Covenant, Covenant Israel, Gathering of Israel,

Page 183 : Enabling Power of the Atonement

“In the Strength of the Lord” by David A. Bednar.

Scripture stories that help us see we can be more when we call on Christ:

Nephi and the plates

Abinadi

Alma and Amulek as missionaries

Samuel the Lamanite

Captain Moroni

Job who always relies on Christ for strength

1 Peter 1

Abraham and Sarah

Moses and Aaron

Daniel and the word of wisdom

Daniel and the Lion’s Den

Are there church history stories like this? Family history stories? Stories in General Conference talks?