There is so much information, so many fabulous talks and topics that are touched in each lesson, to limit the material down to what we can cover in our 45 min time period is a super tough responsibility! So let's extend our learning into the week. Sorry I have been slow to get this out to you.
Last week's Gospel Doctrine lesson covered the marriage of Isaac to Rebecca and then the marriage of Jacob to Leah and Rachel. I love the story of the servant depending on the Lord for direction to find the mate for Isaac. In class I shared Sister Dalton's version of this story:
As this story unfolds, Abraham charges his servant with finding a worthy young woman to be his son Isaac’s wife. She must be one who qualifies for a covenant marriage—virtuous and pure and worthy. And so he sends his servant on a long and dangerous journey to a place called Haran. The reason he must go there is clear—holy men need holy women to stand by their sides. As the servant approached the city of Nahor, he stopped at a well to water his camels and he prayed that he would be led to the right young woman and that he would recognize her by her offer to get water for him and his 10 camels. Now, I have ridden a camel, and this much I know—camels drink a lot of water!
In Genesis we read that Rebekah not only went down to the well and got water, but she “hasted,”14 or hurried, to accomplish this task. The servant then placed bracelets and jewelry on Rebekah and asked if there was room in her father’s home for him to stay. I am sure the jewelry helped! The scripture reads, “And the damsel ran, and told them of her mother’s house these things.”15 Rebekah must have been a runner!
The servant told Rebekah’s family the purpose of his long journey, and Rebekah agreed to become Isaac’s wife. The servant desired to leave the very next day with Rebekah, but her family entreated her to stay with them at least 10 more days. Then they asked Rebekah what she wanted to do, and her response was simply “I will go.”16 Does that response sound familiar to the response of thousands who resolutely responded, “I will go; I will do”17 when our prophet, President Thomas S. Monson, announced the opportunity for young men and young women to serve missions at a younger age?
Now the moral and ending of this love story: Rebekah was prepared and worthy to make and keep sacred covenants and to become a covenant wife of Isaac. She did not have to wait and prepare herself. Prior to her departure from her family, she was given a blessing, and the words are stirring to me, for she was promised that she would become “the mother of thousands of millions.”18 But the best part of this love story is when Rebekah first saw Isaac and he first saw her. It doesn’t say this in the Bible, but I think it was love at first sight! For “virtue loveth virtue; [and] light cleaveth unto light.”19 When Isaac went out to meet the caravan, Rebekah “lighted off [her] camel.”20 And then it says, “And he loved her.”21This is where I sigh!
The Savior descended through Rebekah’s lineage. Did she know then that this would happen? No! Do your choices now matter? Yes!
...Generations are depending on the choices you make, your purity, and your worthy lives. Be not moved. You have a great destiny before you. This is your moment! I truly believe that one virtuous... woman, led by the Spirit, can change the world! (Sister Elaine Dalton, Be Not Moved General Conference, April 2013)
Sister Mary Ellen Smoot said: I love how Rebekah of old responded to Abraham’s servant who came in search of a wife for Isaac. Her answer was simple and direct, “I will go,” 3 she said.
Rebekah could have refused. She could have told the servant to wait until she had the proper send-off, a new wardrobe, until she lost a few pounds, or until the weather was more promising. She could have said, “What’s wrong with Isaac that he can’t find a wife in all of Canaan?” But she didn’t. She acted, and so should we.
The time for procrastination is over. Begin! Don’t be afraid. Do the best you can.
There is interesting information on camels and on the lessons to be learned from these stories in this great LDS Living article on this lesson.
Both of these stories testify of the importance of marriage.
I have loved studying Elder Russell M. Nelson's talk titled Nurturing Marriage (linked here for further study). He makes three suggestions to strengthening marriage: Appreciate, Communicate and Contemplate. These each are important topics worth a careful review and study.
Love this video on marriage by the LDS church:
In order to be guided in life’s journey and have the constant companionship of the Holy Ghost, we must have a “hearing ear” and a “seeing eye,” both directed upward.11 We must act on the direction we receive. We must look up and step up. And as we do, I know we will cheer up, for God wants us to be happy.
We are Heavenly Father’s children. He wants to be a part of our lives, to bless us, and to help us. He will heal our wounds, dry our tears, and help us along our path to return to His presence. As we look to Him, He will lead us. Elder Carl B. Cook November 2011 Ensign:
The Gospel Doctrine Lesson begins with a challenge to give class members the option of some popcorn to eat now or a promise of some fruit if they wait. Reminding me of the oft quoted study of kids and marshmellows (youtube linked here). I found it interesting and thought provoking to apply this to our marriage relationship, and then to my relationships with my kids. Also of note is the Revised Marshmellow experiment done by researchers at the University of Rochester (linked here).
Indeed life is like the ladder Jacob saw in vision (Genesis 28:10-19). We must keep climbing and reaching for the next level of understanding. Elder Marion G. Romney said of this dream: “Jacob realized that the covenants he made with the Lord … were the rungs on the ladder that he himself would have to climb in order to obtain the promised blessings—blessings that would entitle him to enter heaven and associate with the Lord” (“Temples—The Gates to Heaven,” Ensign, Mar. 1971, 16).I am so grateful for a great marriage! I know that it takes all three of those things that Elder Nelson counseled. I am grateful that early in our marriage, we had an opportunity to attend a Couples Communication Seminar. Brad's undergrad was in Communication, and the class was free so we took it. The knowledge and skills we gained in that class have proven priceless in our marriage! Indeed we always can improve, and learn more. I am grateful for the opportunity to focus on Love - a sincere concern for the spiritual well being of another (The Road Less Traveled by M. Scott Peck) and hope that we can always find ways to show the Love of God for all mankind. I hope we will each pay careful attention to detail as the servant of Abraham did, and be willing as Rebecca to say "I will go."
I look forward to new understanding as we travel the paths of the Old Testament together this year.