The Scripture Study Project

Gen 24-27 - Way

BYU professor and artist Anthony Sweat wrote in his recent book, Repicturing the Restoration, about the [in]famous conflict between founding father John Adams and painter John Trumbull. Adams criticized Trumbull for painting the signing of the Declaration of Independence without depicting the arguments and debates that took place and without which, Adams said, Trumbull's picture was a fiction" under pretense of poetical or graphical licenses." Lin Manual Miranda, in his smash hit Hamilton originally proposed starting with a song called, "No John Trumbull."
Our study this week places us right in the middle of one of many complicated stories of the Bible. Far from trying to simplify or streamline it, we want to sit with it this week and allow ourselves time to consider just how our own paths and experiences in life are a lot messier than we might like. In short, what you're about to read is "no John Trumbull."
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Music: "Beauty of Russia" by Steve Oxen

Gen 18-23 - Altar

When once asked why Abraham was required by the Lord to offer up son Isaac as a sacrifice, Elder Hugh B. Brown answered, "Abraham needed to learn something about Abraham." Of course we know the Lord doesn't test or try us so He can learn something; which brings up an interesting question: what did Abraham have to learn? In this episode we look at one possible (and powerful) lesson to be drawn from this account: how to create holy places for ourselves and those we love.
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Music: "Beauty of Russia" by Steve Oxen

Gen 12-17 - Blessing

This week we begin our study of the patriarch Abraham, and that word "patriarch" is an interesting one. In Gen 17:5 the Lord changes Abraham's name from Abram meaning "God is the exalted father" to Abraham meaning "father of multitudes". The change is subtle but significant: Abraham is expected and blessed to experience what it means to care for and lead a family. And what do parents do? They bless, or as it says in D&C 41:1, they "delight to bless" their children.  In this episode we look at the blessings our God gives to us and through us for our own benefit and the benefit of those we love.
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Music: "Beauty of Russia" by Steve Oxen

Genesis 6-11 - Protect

We all have memories as kids of trying to lie our way out of consequences. I remember scrambling through lies as a 10-year-old to try and prevent a grounding and, now as a parent, I can see my actions in almost a laughable light. However, we all have more recent and, thus, more painful memories of trying to cover our mistakes or escape their consequences as adults. This week we study two stories dealing with sin and consequence and both the wrong and right way to find protection and progress.
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Music: "Beauty of Russia" by Steve Oxen

Moses 7 - Zion

I recently asked a class how they would finish the prompt, "In a perfect world…" The answers were fun: in a perfect world stickers would always peel off clean, in a perfect world ketchup squeezes out perfectly, in a perfect world certain unnecessary sequels are never made. After a good laugh, we began talking about what we would truly want to experience in a perfect world. As we started describing heaven on earth our desire to live in such a place increased, but there was an unspoken sigh of "someday" included in that desire. Well, what if someday was today? What if, instead of waiting for heaven, we could start building it now? What if Zion wasn't as far away as we have always thought?
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Music: "Beauty of Russia" by Steve Oxen

Genesis 5, Moses 6 - Walk

In C. S. Lewis's Screwtape letters where a fictional devil gives instruction to his apprentice on how to tempt humans, the devil counsels, "Let him do anything but act. No amount of piety in his imagination and affections will harm us if we can keep it out of his will… The more often he feels without action, the less he will be able ever to act, and, in the long run, thee less he will be able to feel." In this week's episode we begin studying the powerful record of Enoch in search of foundation first steps to walking with God.
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Music: "Beauty of Russia" by Steve Oxen

Genesis 3-4 - Sacrifice

There's a story in John Bunyon's Pilgrim's Progress about a man who rakes muck and dirt. When an angel appears and offers him a celestial crown the man cannot give up what he has grown so accustomed to doing even for such a great reward. This week on The Scripture Study Project we study three stories of sacrifice and learn, not only why it's important, but what the Lord would have us sacrifice, how to do in a "respect" able way, and what results will come once we do.
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Music: "Beauty of Russia" by Steve Oxen

Genesis 1-2 - Creation

We're posting this episode, our study of Gen 1-2 and the accompanying chapters in the Pearl of Great Price, on January 1, 2022. It's a new year and, at least for me, new years bring a sense of possibility at what can (and what I want to) be created in the coming weeks and months. In this episode we study creation--how God does it, and how can we can do it to.
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Music: "Beauty of Russia" by Steve Oxen