Who Was Melchizedek?

 

The restoration of the Melchizedek priesthood to Joseph Smith.

~Read JST, Genesis 14:25-40; Alma 13:14-19; Doctrine and Covenants 84:14, 107:1-4; and the Institute Student Manual commentary for Genesis 14:18, “Who Was Melchizedek?” (pg. 67-68).

     Melchizedek was a righteous man of great faith that was approved of God and was ordained a high priest. He was called the Prince of peace and king of heaven by his people, or in other words he was called King of peace. He was a humble man that was king over the land of Salem and his people waxed strong in iniquity and abomination and had gone astray and were wicked. So, Melchizedek preached repentance to his people and he did establish peace in the land that he reigned in under his father. Abraham received the priesthood from Melchizedek. He was a great high priest (“none were greater”) so out of respect and reverence they named the high priesthood after Melchizedek. Melchizedek is a title meaning “king of righteousness.” He is often thought to be Shem, the son of Noah. A modern examiner researched to see is they could find out the truth but there is no sure evidence that proves he is or is not Shem, but he could very well or very well not be Shem.

Whom God Calls, He Qualifies

This post is for my Old Testament class.

~~Read Moses 6:26-31 and answer the following questions in writing:

-How did the Lord describe the people of Enoch’s day?

Their hearts are were waxed hard, ears dull of hearing, eyes that couldn’t see afar off, they went astray, denied God, sought their own counsels, devised murder, and didn’t keep the commandments.

-What did Enoch say about his calling from the Lord?

Enoch said, “Why is it that I have found favor in thy sight, and am but lad, and all the people hate me; for I am slow of speech; wherefore am I thy servant?”

~~From Moses 6:32-39, 47; 7:13-18, 69; describe in writing how the Lord strengthened and sustained Enoch. Write a paragraph or two on how you have seen the Lord do similar things for you or someone you know.

The Lord strengthened Enoch by counseling him to open his mouth so that it might be filled with the things that the Lord would have him say unto His people. He blessed Enoch with His Spirit and Enoch was obedient to all things that were asked of him. The people feared Enoch because he walked with God and so the people trembled is his presence. Enoch’s faith was so great that he was able to lead and teach the people and they became like unto Zion, of one heart and one mind.

The Lord has blessed me countless times in my life but Moses 6:32 where it says, “… Open thy mouth, and it shall be filled, and I will give thee utterance…” I’ve experience this a couple of times that really stick out in my mind right now. I’m sure it’s happened more than that but I’ll share one story. I was home from school for Christmas break and I was attending my YSA ward and one of the counselors is known for asking me to speak and so the last Sunday home I was surprised and relieved he hadn’t asked me to speak. I was joking with him in the hall way right before third hour, which that Sunday was combined since it was the fifth Sunday of the month. I think someone had failed to prepare a lesson to teach so they had an impromptu bearing of testimonies. They asked some of the people who had been away for some time and my name was on the list. If you know me you know that I’m the kind of person that prepares everything and so being put on the spot with only minutes to prepare what I was going to share really stressed me out. I remember thinking to myself- well heavenly Father, it’s up to you what I’m going to say up there, please guide my words.

Even being prepared for talks I’m not always so eloquent with my words and so being unprepared I was pretty scared. Once I started walking up to the pulpit I felt calm and I still wasn’t sure what I was going to say. When I turned to face the pulpit and congregation I opened my mouth and it was filled. I started talking and before I knew it I was telling my story and bearing testimony and was given every word I spoke that day. I remember thinking during it- where are these words coming from? I don’t normally speak with such ease and comfort. I was amazed! I always had a strong testimony of the Spirit but that experience solidified it that much more. I KNOW the Spirit is real!

~~The Bible does not say much about Enoch and his people — it contains 109 words about Enoch and his day. By contrast, the Joseph Smith Translation account of Enoch in the book of Moses contains 5,240 words about Enoch’s day. Read Genesis 5:22–24; Moses 6:27-29, 47; 7:1-21; and summarize, in writing, what you find.

Enoch walked with God after he begat Methuselah. He lived to be 365 years old and then God took him. God talked to Enoch telling him to prophesy unto His people to repent and why that was necessary. When Enoch spoke unto the people they trembled and couldn’t stand in his presence. He cried unto the Lord on mount Simeon and the heavens opened and he saw and talked with the Lord face to face. He told Enoch to prophesy and so he did and he said that the Lord would curse the land of Canaan and He did. The Lord commanded him to go to a certain people and command them to repent and to be baptized. All nations feared greatly the powerful word of Enoch for they were the words of the Lord.

I did it!

I  g r a d u a t e d !

Finals week was a stressful week and the weeks since graduation have been stressful too. In all honesty I wish I could go to school forever! I have a true love for learning and for BYU-Idaho. ;)

The pictures below are with a good friend that I made in my program, Cori.

Brother Gardner- he truly cares about his students. I miss him so much!

Brother Galbraith- he's willing to put his lunch on hold to help you!

Brother Williams- he has a true love and passion for what he does. He's a great example. I love him AND his wife. She was my RS adviser. They are a great example to me. I miss them!

Brother Rarick- he helped me develop and strengthen my testimony of the family and learn how to fight for it.

My Dad and his girlfriend (of seven years), Julie, drove the looong journey to my favorite tiny town that goes by the name of Rexburg. They stayed in Idaho Falls and on game day (graduation day) they drove up to Rexburg. The experience was one of a kind. President Clark made mention that he hoped everyone in attendance would feel of the Holy Ghost during commencement and convocation. It was hard for me to hold back the tears, tears of gratitude and happiness. After the meetings my dad, Julie, and I walked back frantically to my apartment because it was snowing like crazy (typical Rexburg) and the first thing my dad asked was, "Did you feel the Holy Ghost?" I was delighted he asked this question!... Why you ask? I'm the only member in my family so I was hoping that he might have a taste of what it was like to feel of the Spirit. We had a short conversation about what the Holy Ghost is and what it feels like for different people. Not only did I graduate from college but my dad was asking my questions about the gospel! 

 Megan, Bradley, me, and Brian. We did it!

From the time I walked at convocation to the next morning when I was leaving my little humble abode forever it snowed at least EIGHT inches! My little car made it to pick up my friend and then Quinn and I were off on our 13 hour adventure back home. Usually it takes about 11-12 hours but the roads were extra bad from Rexburg to Idaho Falls. 

Only about seven more hours!

He would probably kill me if he knew I posted this...

 A welcome home sunset. If you don't know already, I'm obsessed with sunsets.

Eight days & 20 hours.

 A L U M N I.

That's what I'll be. What?! No way! I'm not ready for that title yet. I'm not old enough, educated enough, wise enough, ready enough.

As each day passes me by I try to enjoy the little things:

Starting class with a prayer.

The peace that comes with the snow (even though I complain about it often).

Professors that actually care.

Being surrounded by so many people strong in the gospel.

Learning both temporally and spiritually. 

My calling.

This beautiful gorgeous campus.

The Spirit that dwells here so strongly.

The temple just a stone's throw away.

...along with countless others.

I'm feeling like my readiness for this chapter of my life to come to a close is slowly creeping upon me. I'm already planning my next move, educationally, which makes this step even more sweet and less bitter.

These next eight days will be trying extremely trying! It will be nonstop but I'm trying to savor every. last. moment. 

I know I'll leave this place with tears in my eyes but they will be tears of joy rather than sorrow. I've done here all that I can and it's time. It's time to move on.

Rexburg & BYU-Idaho.

Words. I hate words. Words cannot express the feelings I'm feeling right now. Every emotion in the book!

Leaving to go to Rexburg, Idaho (a tiny town in the middle of nowhere, Idaho) January of 2011 all I could do was cry. I was so sad because of the life that I was leaving. Stepping out of my comfort zone and out of the car at my *new* home my nose felt funny. My nose, you ask? Yes, my nose. Something I had never experienced before... My nose hairs froze! That was a first, but no where near a last.

That first semester was rough. Maybe rough is an understatement. I really struggled.

I hated the snow. I hated the brown scenery. I hated being away from family and friends.

I loved BYU-Idaho. So, I was torn. To stay or to leave.

I decided to leave. Best decision of my life.

Really, you ask? YES! From the moment I stepped on campus at Mt. Hood Community College back home in Oregon I knew without a doubt that BYU-Idaho was where I needed to go back to. So, I finished out at MHCC and swallowed my pride and applied and went back to BYU-Idaho, where I belonged. Was it hard? Absolutely. Do I regret it? Heck no! Why was leaving BYU-Idaho the best decision of my life then? I didn't know what I had until I didn't have it anymore.

I went back April of 2012 and haven't left since. Rexburg has a special place in my heart. It always will. 

What changed? My attitude. My attitude changed to appreciate the now, to appreciate and look for the beauty in all things. Even though I was away from family and friends I could make new friends and Skype my family. Even though most of south eastern Idaho is brown, campus is green and beautiful. 

“Cultivate an attitude of happiness. Cultivate a spirit of optimism. Walk with faith, rejoicing in the beauties of nature, in the goodness of those you love, in the testimony which you carry in your heart concerning things divine.”

-Gordon B. Hinckley

Now, I graduate with a bachelor's degree in 28 days and I'm not ready to leave this little Rexburg safety bubble I've learned to love. 

Not to mention the spirit so strong on campus that I take for granted everyday of my life. In 29 days I'll be on my way back to Oregon, where things are unsure, where I don't have a safety bubble, where I have to leave this amazing life that I live here.

Here's to: growing up and moving on, to starting the next chapter or phase of my life, to trusting in the Lord with all my might, to having faith that He will provide a way for me to become the daughter that I need to become, to leaving what has become my own personal "sacred grove". 

I know that this experience will make me stronger, better, and closer to my Father in heaven but that doesn't make it easy. I'm taking what I've learned and who I've become here and shining forth my light. It won't be easy but it will be worth it.

To my hands down favorite place to be, I love you and I will miss you but I will never ever forget you.

I'm a Mormon. I know it. I live it. I love it.

Click here! :)

T-time

I went through the Portland temple in August AND IT WAS AMAZING! I'm legitimately obsessed with the temple. I love it!