Gospel Talktrine

Jonah is unique among the Prophetic books for being a story about a prophet, rather than the writings of a prophet. But it is unique for other reasons as well—the book of Jonah works even better as a parable than it does as a prophecy.

The book of Job was not written to show us an example of someone who dealt faithfully with loss, but to offer an ideal of how to think about suffering. Also, bonus track after the credits!

Why is the statement “All is vanity” actually an affirmation of God’s grace and goodness, rather than a denial of it?

As we study the links between the ancient Temple and each of us, we also examine the words of Christ as he taught how fully the Old Testament truly testifies of Him.

When Elisha took up Elijah’s discarded cloak, he put on more than an article of clothing—even more still than a prophetic mantle, as important as that was. He picked up a burden, the burden of advancing the grand metaphor of the history of the people of Israel, a history that is alive in each person who sets his feet on the path to Yahweh.

What makes Elijah so special, special enough to appear to Jesus Christ and Joseph Smith, and to have his coming announced in all five of the Standard Works?

When Jeroboam was made king over the newly divided Northern Kingdom of Israel, he was given a simple promise: Worship Yahweh and he would be sustained. Instead, he instituted idolatry among his people, thinking to consolidate his power. Thereafter, none of his successors ruled in righteousness. What happened to Israel as a result? What does this mean in my life?

Solomon was so wise, God told him there had never been one like him before, nor would there be after. So, how did his wisdom compare with Christ’s? What single verse in Deuteronomy could he have read that would have made all the difference?

The longest book in the Bible is also the one that spans the greatest portion of Jewish history, and one of the most quoted by New Testament prophets.

What were David’s small mistakes that led to his big one? How does the Sermon on the Mount apply to both David and Saul? Why is lust such a big deal?

How did Jonathan and Saul, though they had vastly different reactions to David’s kingly destiny, both love their “neighbor” as themselves? What made David so capable of forgiveness? Who is Abigail and what makes her one of the noblest characters in all of scripture?

The book of Samuel says “man looketh on the outward appearance.” What are some common ways we do this? What was Saul’s tragic flaw? How was David a man after God’s own heart? How do Goliath’s actions correspond with Satan’s temptations of Christ?

When Israel tried to use the Ark of the Covenant as a weapon, the Prophet Samuel taught them a valuable lesson about following Jehovah.

The stories of Ruth and Hannah don’t include any dramatic miracles or the words of prophets, so why did the ancient scribes include them in the Bible? What’s so important in these accounts that we can’t learn anywhere else?

The Judges of Israel serve as powerful likenesses of Christ, as the Israelites represent us, the (hopefully) repentant sinner.

Why did God let an entire generation of Israelites die in the wilderness? Why did he command his chosen people to utterly destroy their enemies? How hard was it to follow Joshua when you’d grown up with a prophet like Moses?

Through Moses, God lets us know remembering, like gratitude, is a choice, one that requires work.

The prophet Balaam is a study in contradictions, and we discuss his story on three levels: as a fable, as a tragic drama, and as a type of Christ.

Numbers 11-14, 21. Is it possible that the Israelites who were saved by looking at a brass serpent only knew they'd been saved in retrospect? What are the dangers of ingratitude?

What makes symbols so important in studying scripture, and in understanding the Exodus? What does the Golden Calf symbolize? How can I find hidden treasures of knowledge?