O.T. Lesson 48: “The Great and Dreadful
Day of the Lord”
Malachi 3-4; Zechariah 10–14
Bruce Lott
Of what crime does Malachi 3:8 charge the people? How
so?
“One day a friend wanted me to go
with him to his ranch. He opened the door of a new automobile … and said, ‘How
do you like my new car?’ We rode in luxurious air-conditioned comfort through
the countryside to an elegant landscaped home, and he said with no little
pride, ‘This is my home.’
“He drove on to [an overlook]….
With a wide sweeping gesture, he boasted, ‘From the clump of trees, to the
lake, to the bluff, and to the ranch buildings and all between—all this is
mine. And the herd of cattle in the meadow—those are mine, too….
“My friend was proud that he had
developed his ranch from the desert with his own strength and toil, but where
had he obtained that strength and where had he obtained the land and the water
with which to make it productive, if not from the Lord?
“If the earth is the Lord's, then
we are merely tenants and owe our landlord an accounting…. There is no place in holy writ where God has said,
‘I give you title to this…’ It is not
ours to give, to have, to hold, to sell, despoil, exploit as we see fit.”
(President Spencer W. Kimball, Faith Precedes the Miracle, 283.)
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What is promised in Malachi 3:10?
“The
Lord was not promising material wealth … but that [the faithful] would prosper
in righteousness” (President Ezra Taft
Benson April 1986 CR). “[R]eal prosperity” is “growth in a knowledge of God,
and in a testimony, and in the power to live the gospel” (Teachings of
Presidents of the Church: Heber J. Grant; 124).
“Pay[ing]
tithes and offerings … will not ensure riches—indeed, there is no guarantee
that we will be free from economic problems —but it will … create a communion
with the Savior that will enhance a person’s inner core of strength and
stability” (President James E. Faust, First
Presidency Message, February 1998 Ensign,
3).
“Spiritual illumination and
perspective are poured out through the windows of heaven and into our lives as
we honor the law of tithing” (Elder David
A. Bednar, Oct 2013 CR; quoted in
online Old Testament Gospel Doctrine
Teacher’s Manual, www.lds.org).
How might God give us spiritual
illumination and perspective?
(See, e.g., Moses 1:1-10)
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What did God promise in Malachi 3:11?
“The
animal, vegetable, and mineral kingdoms, the whole earth and all things
pertaining to it, except man … abide the law of their Creator” (President Brigham Young, JD 9:246). In contrast, “the
world … has never been under [God’s] control” (Elder John Taylor, 1852, The Government
of God, 85). “This world … belongs to Satan. He created it; he is
its father and its god.… The earth itself is the Lord's, and He is its ruler;
but the world (the corrupt society on earth) is under the rule of him who is
the god of this world.” (Elder Bruce R.
McConkie, Mormon Doctrine, 324.)
What should be our motivation for paying tithes and
offerings?
“There
can be a distinct element of selfishness in [giving]—one may give, because to
do so makes [one feel proud or appear] religious. But the help given by the
[righteous] is wholly different.” (See President
Marion G. Romney, Oct 1977 CR.)
“Our
[obedience] should be for the love of God and [His children] rather than for …
any other lesser motive” including, “in ascending order,” “increase[d] income,”
“worldly honors, prominence, or power”, “fear of punishment”, “a sense of
duty”, or even “the hope of an eternal reward,” because all such “lesser”
motives are ultimately “selfish” (See Elder
Dallin H. Oaks, October 1984 CR).
Is that really possible?
“Our society is permeated with the suggestion that
selfishness [is] acceptable or even respectable” (President James E. Faust, Apr 1983 CR).
“[A]ll of us … are subtly and constantly
encouraged to believe . . . that living selfishly is natural and commendable” (President Susan L. Warner, Apr 1996 CR).
“Selfishness
is really self-destruction in slow motion” but “with the shedding of
selfishness … we see our luminous and true identity” (Elder Neal A. Maxwell, April 1999 and October 1990 CR).
“We torture our souls when we
focus on getting rather than giving” (President
James E. Faust, October 2002 CR).
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re Zechariah
12:10; 13:6) Why did Jesus let
those things happen to Him?
“[F]ollowing
the Savior means overcoming selfishness…. [T]he ultimate selfless act in all of
history [was] when the Savior gave His life … to atone for our sins…. [H]e did it without any thought of recompense
or recognition.”
(President James E. Faust, October 2002 CR.)
“Jesus
said His disciples must ‘love one another; as I have loved you…’ To the very end of his mortal life ... He was
anxiously attending to the present and future needs of [others]…. His entire
energies [were] directed toward their needs.”
(Elder Howard W. Hunter, April 1974 CR.)
“During this Christmas season and always,
may we give to Him by loving as He loves”
(President Dieter F. Uchtdorf, 1st Presidency
Message, Dec 2014 Ensign).
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