Lesson 4 – Abraham 3

When was Abraham?

When was Abraham?

How Did Church Obtain Book of Abraham?

• 3 July 1835 – Michael Chandler brought four Egyptian mummies and several papyrus scrolls to Kirtland, OH.

• Sold to the church at the urging of Joseph Smith• “I commenced the translation of some of the

characters or hieroglyphics, and much to our joy found that one of the rolls contained the writings of Abraham. . . . Truly we can say, the Lord is beginning to reveal the abundance of peace and truth”

Abraham 3:11-12

• Heat• Light• Color• Size• Lifetime• Distance

Abr. 3:16

Kolob (Abr 3:2-16)

• Kolob is the first creation• Nearest to the Celestial, or residence of God• Governing Star• Greatest of all the Stars• One Day = Thousand Years (time is different)• Closer to Kolob, brighter/greater the star.• (Stars don’t technically work like that)• What does Kolob symbolize? (Christ)

Why was Abraham shown the stars?What was Abraham shown next?

• Abr 3:22-23• What are the

“Intelligences”?

“At first glance, it may appear that Abraham is dealing with two separate ideas, each deserving a chapter of its own. A more careful reading, however, reveals that the second part of the chapter is a deliberate restatement of the first. Each principle describing the relationship of one star or planet to another proves to be equally descriptive of the nature and relationship of pre-earth spirits one to another. The revelation on planets ends in the eighteenth verse where the revelation on pre-earth spirits begins. The two parts of the revelation are welded at that point with the words ‘as, also,’ which is simply to say what is true of the stars is ‘also’ true of the spirits”

- Joseph F. McConkie

“God himself, finding he was in the midst of spirits and glory, because he was more intelligent, saw proper to institute laws whereby the rest could have a privilege to advance like himself. The relationship we have with God places us in a situation to advance in knowledge. He has power to institute laws to instruct the weaker intelligences, that they may be exalted with Himself, so that they might have one glory upon another, and all that knowledge, power, glory, and intelligence, which is requisite in order to save them in the world of spirits” (Joseph Smith, History of the Church, 6:312).

“Admittedly we do not now understand all the implications of the words, ‘spirits . . . have no beginning; they existed before . . . for they are . . . eternal’ (Abraham 3:18). Yet we surely understand enough to see a loving and redeeming God at work, striving to help us become as He is—a cause for our deep gratitude and joy, instead of despair and doubt, and for a willing submission to whatever He perceives will further that purpose”

-Neal A. Maxwell

“Noble and Great Ones”

• Abr. 3: 18-19• Just like the stars, intelligences are each

different• Intelligences are eternal, have no beginning

and no end• “Thou wast chosen before thou wast born”

President Ezra Taft Benson (quoted by Marvin J. Ashton)

http://broadcast.lds.org/visual-resources/old-testament/2011-03-002-god-has-held-you-in-reserve-1000k-eng.mp4

D&C 132:30

“and as touching Abraham and his seed, out of the world they should continue; both in the world and out of the world should they continue as innumerable as the stars”

• We are like the stars

Notebook Ideas

• What does it mean to you to be one of the “noble and great ones”?

• What do you believe you were chosen to do on this Earth to do?

• Think about and describe the infinite and eternal nature of the universe, the stars, God, yourself.