Come Follow Me 19: Exodus 35-40; Leviticus 1; 16, 19

 Come Follow Me Lesson 19: Exodus 35-40; Leviticus 1; 16; 19

Introduction:

What is God’s greatest desire for us? Where is His promised land ultimately? What does he desire for us now, so that we may receive Eternal Life later?

He want us to become holy, or even as He is. (see Leviticus 19:2).

The ancient Israelites were commanded to create the Tabernacle, a place of holiness.

How do our temples help us in the process of becoming holy, or like our Heavenly Father?

God gave the ancient Israelites covenants and laws to guide their actions and change their hearts.

What covenants have you made in the temple? How does striving to keep your covenants influence you do better and to become more like the Lord? How does renewing all your covenants by performing sacred ordinances for others bless you to remember and keep your covenants? How does renewing your covenants every time you take the sacrament bless you? How our you empowered to bless others?

When the ancient Israelites fell short, animal sacrifices were made to symbolize Jesus Christ’s atonement for their sins. What are we asked to sacrifice today?

How do the sacrifices we make, partaking of the sacrament, and attending the temple point us to the Savior and keep us well-grounded on the covenant path?

The symbolism offered in the temple is meant to point our minds, hearts, and lives toward the Savior and the redemption He offers. He is our true path to holiness; our way back to our Father.

As we repent, we have the promise that Jesus can and will make us holy. (See Doctrine and Covenants 60:7).

Personal Study: Exodus 35-40

Our Father Wants Us to Become Like Him, Children of Holiness

Sacred covenants and ordinances found in the temple allow us to become the Lord’s chosen and holy people.

Review table list as you read the chapters to understand the important of the items found inside the Tabernacle.

What object did you find?	What can this represent?
Ark of the covenant (Exodus 37:1–9; 40:20–21)	God’s presence; His covenants and commandments
Altar of incense (Exodus 40:26–27; see also Exodus 30:1, 6–8)	Prayers rising to the Lord
Candlestick or lampstand (Exodus 37:17–24)
Altar of sacrifice (Exodus 38:1–7; see also Exodus 27:1; 29:10–14)
Laver (basin) of water (Exodus 30:17–21)

How do your temple covenants help you to become more like Jesus and our Heavenly Father?

Watch video

The Lord Requires that We Have a Willing Heart

We can few the inconsistencies of the ancient Israelites. Do we see our own inconsistencies?

What do you learn from the Israelites willingness to build a Tabernacle

Why and how are your own offerings important?

“Each member should know how much he or she is needed. Each person has something important to contribute and has unique talents and abilities that help move this important work along” (Sister Bonnie L. Oscarson).

What gifts has the Lord given you so that you can participate in His great work and aid its progress (see Exodus 36:1–4)? Read your Patriarchal blessing, and ask the Lord for His inspiration so that you know what to do currently and have His Spirit to help you do it. Set goals and work on your personal progress. Minister to others and help them on their path to realizing their potential.

How does a desire and a willing heart qualify us for the work (See D&C ? and Exodus 35:5)?

Family Study: Exodus 35-40

How did Israelites respond to commandment to build a tabernacle (Exodus 36:1–7)?

How has the Lord invited us to participate in His work? Think of the many service, teaching, ministering opportunities that you are blessed with. What about family history and temple work? Self-reliance? Fast offerings? Fasting for many purposes? Etc.
As a child, I was able to make a contribution to the temple that I later was married in. What a privilege to be a part of the work.

In Exodus 40, we read this phrase many times: “As the Lord commanded.” Do we accept the words of the prophets as if from the Lord’s own voice. Do we try to justify ourselves (in not following the word of the Lord) by differentiating between commandments, council, and/or dismissal?

How important is obedience to the Lord?

Readings: Exodus 35: https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/scriptures/ot/ex/35?lang=eng

Why is it important for believers to gather together? Why is it important to hear the word of the Lord through His prophets? Are we quick to gather? Do we have a willing heart and a desire to follow after greater rigtheousness (see vs 1).

vs 2 How often should we gather together?

5 Take ye from among you an offering unto the Lord: whosoever is of a willing heart, let him bring it, an offering of the Lord….

Do we offer what He asks of us, what He requires?

10 And every wise hearted among you shall come, and make all that the Lord hath commanded;

How do we show wisdom when we follow the Lord’s invitation to serve and to sacrifice?

21 And they came, every one whose heart stirred him up, and every one whom his spirit made willing, and they brought the Lord’s offering to the work of the tabernacle of the congregation, and for all his service, and for the holy garments.

22 And they came, both men and women, as many as were willing hearted …

Everyone brought what they had and could bring. Everyone offered the gifts that they had and could offer.

25 And all the women that were wise hearted did spin with their hands, and brought that which they had spun,

26 And all the women whose heart stirred them up in wisdom spun

What am I spinning for the Lord?

29 The children of Israel brought a willing offering unto the Lord, every man and woman, whose heart made them willing to bring for all manner of work, which the Lord had commanded to be made by the hand of Moses.

30 ¶ And Moses said unto the children of Israel, See, the Lord hath called by name Bezaleel the son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah;

31 And he hath filled him with the spirit of God, in wisdom, in understanding, and in knowledge, and in all manner of workmanship;

34 And he hath put in his heart that he may teach, both he, and Aholiab, the son of Ahisamach, of the tribe of Dan.

35 Them hath he filled with wisdom of heart, to work all manner of work...

Readings: Exodus 36: https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/scriptures/ot/ex/36?lang=eng

So much is donated to the building of the temple, that Moses needs to ask the people not to give any more things.

1 Then wrought Bezaleel and Aholiab, and every wise hearted man, in whom the Lord put wisdom and understanding to know how to work all manner of work for the service of the sanctuary, according to all that the Lord had commanded.

2 And Moses called Bezaleel and Aholiab, and every wise hearted man, in whose heart the Lord had put wisdom, even every one whose heart stirred him up to come unto the work to do it:

vs 13 so it became one tabernacle.

It became one tabernacle as the people became one in supplying for it and building it and making it ready.

22 And Bezaleel the son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah, made all that the Lord commanded Moses.

Readings: Exodus 37 https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/scriptures/ot/ex/37?lang=eng

Bezaleel is an important man in the building of the tabernacle.

Readings: Exodus 38 https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/scriptures/ot/ex/38?lang=eng

22 And Bezaleel the son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah, made all that the Lord commanded Moses.

Beautiful things made for the temple. So much brass and silver and embroidery works. I was picturing visiting Aunt Mary, with all her brass ornaments. It was grand. But this is different. These were dedicated to the traveling temple of the Lord.

21 ¶ This is the sum of the tabernacle, even of the tabernacle of testimony, as it was counted, according to the commandment of Moses, for the service of the Levites, by the hand of Ithamar, son to Aaron the priest.

23 And with him was Aholiab, son of Ahisamach, of the tribe of Dan, an engraver, and a cunning workman, and an embroiderer in blue, and in purple, and in scarlet, and fine linen.

Readings: Exodus 39 https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/scriptures/ot/ex/39?lang=eng

Holy garments made for Aaron and his sons, the priests. Names of all the children (tribes) of Israel on the clothing.

The people made everything well and according to the Lord’s commandments for the temple.

42 According to all that the Lord commanded Moses, so the children of Israel made all the work.

43 And Moses did look upon all the work, and, behold, they had done it as the Lord had commanded, even so had they done it: and Moses blessed them.

Readings: Exodus 40 https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/scriptures/ot/ex/40?lang=eng

Like Aaron and his sons, I have been washed and anointed in the holy temple, and given power in the priesthood.

Everything in the temple was anointed and sanctified to make it a holy place for the people to worship in .

12 And thou shalt bring Aaron and his sons unto the door of the tabernacle of the congregation, and wash them with water.

13 And thou shalt put upon Aaron the holy garments, and anoint him, and sanctify him; that he may minister unto me in the priest’s office.

14 And thou shalt bring his sons, and clothe them with coats:

15 And thou shalt anoint them, as thou didst anoint their father, that they may minister unto me in the priest’s office: for their anointing shall surely be an everlasting priesthood throughout their generations.

36 And when the cloud was taken up from over the tabernacle, the children of Israel went onward in all their journeys:

37 But if the cloud were not taken up, then they journeyed not till the day that it was taken up.

38 For the cloud of the Lord was upon the tabernacle by day, and fire was on it by night, in the sight of all the house of Israel, throughout all their journeys.

Personal Study: Leviticus 1 (16)

see Sacrifice

In ancient days, sacrifice meant to make something or someone holy. It has now come to mean to give up or suffer the loss of worldly things for the Lord and His kingdom.

I have made covenants to be willing to sacrifice everything for the building up of the kingdom of God and the establishment of Zion.

Joseph Smith taught that “a religion that does not require the sacrifice of all things never has the power sufficient to produce the faith necessary unto life and salvation.”

Today we partake of the sacrament and seek repentance and forgiveness through the atonement of Jesus Christ. We are to offer up to Him a broken heart and a contrite spirit.

The worship of ancient Israel also directed them towards the Savior of the world.

Readings: Leviticus 1 https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/scriptures/ot/lev/1?lang=eng

vs 3, 10 offering was to be a male lamb or goat without blemish, offered of the person’s own free will.

Vs 14 or of turtledoves or young pigeons

Vs 4 the animal was blessed as the sacrifice to be an atonement for the persons sins

vs 5 then the animal was killed before the Lord.

Readings: Leviticus 16: https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/scriptures/ot/lev/15?lang=eng

How and when Aaron must enter the holy place is explained—Sacrifices are offered to reconcile Israel to God—The scapegoat carries away the sins of the people—The sins of all Israel are forgiven on the Day of Atonement.

The roll of the scapegoat:

21 And Aaron shall lay both his hands upon the head of the live goat, and confess over him all the iniquities of the children of Israel, and all their transgressions in all their sins, putting them upon the head of the goat, and shall send him away by the hand of a fit man into the wilderness:

22 And the goat shall bear upon him all their iniquities unto a land not inhabited: and he shall let go the goat in the wilderness.

Was it a honor to be a sacrificial animal or the scapegoat. They were blessed. They were placed in the role of a Savior and Redeemer for all the people. Of course, this was symbolic, looking forward to Jesus Christ as both our scapegoat and our sacrificial lamb without blemish.

29 ¶ And this shall be a statute for ever unto you: that in the seventh month, on the tenth day of the month, ye shall afflict your souls, and do no work at all, whether it be one of your own country, or a stranger that sojourneth among you:

30 For on that day shall the priest make an atonement for you, to cleanse you, that ye may be clean from all your sins before the Lord.

31 It shall be a sabbath of rest unto you, and ye shall afflict your souls, by a statute for ever.

Vs 32-34 The Priest was to make an atonement for the people once a year.

Family Section Leviticus 19:

Look for verses that teach you about becoming holy.

Readings: Leviticus 19

Israel is commanded: Be holy, live righteously, love your neighbor, and keep the commandments.

Vs 2 Ye shall be holy: for I the Lord your God am holy.

3 Honor father and mother; keep the Sabbath

4-8 Sacrifice to the Lord the way He asks you to do it.

9-10 Share your harvests with the poor, the needy, and strangers

11 Be honest and fair to everyone

12 Honor God and His name in all that you do.

13 Don’t defraud your neighbor. Be fair in your interactions.

14 Be courteous and help those who have disabilities that you do not.

15 Be kind and fair to everyone no matter their station or yours.

16 Don’t gossip and spread hurtful news.

17 Do not hold others in contempt

18 ¶ Thou shalt not avenge, nor bear any grudge against the children of thy people, but thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself: I am the Lord.

Don’t seek revenge; return good for evil.

19 Keep the Lord’s statutes and keep things pure. Don’t mix things that ought to remain separate.

26 Don’t eat or drink blood

27 Do not cut yourself or get tattoos.

28 Don’t prostitute your daughter or anyone else.

29 Keep the sabbath and be reverent in the Lord’s churches and temples.

31 Don’t seek after wizards or fortune tellers.

33 ¶ And if a stranger sojourn with thee in your land, ye shall not vex him.

34 But the stranger that dwelleth with you shall be unto you as one born among you, and thou shalt love him as thyself; for ye were strangers in the land of Egypt: I am the Lord your God.

35 Don’t try to cheat anyone in any business dealing.

37 Therefore shall ye observe all my statutes, and all my judgments, and do them: I am the Lord.