W. Cleon Skousen Insights

OT 11 Joseph Rescues His Family and Israel Settles in Egypt

This week, we have 2 lectures to keep pace for those following the Come Follow Me schedule.

Text: Genesis 42-50

Supplemental Text: The Third Thousand Years chapters 6-8

BYU Lecture 14: Joseph marries Asenath and has two sons, Manasseh and Ephraim. He prepares Egypt for the upcoming famine by taxing the people by 20%. During the hardship of this famine, Joseph’s brothers come to Egypt desperate for food and were directed to the Prime Minister Joseph. It had been 20 years and they did not recognize Joseph, but Joseph recognized them. Joseph sets out a plan to bring Jacob and Benjamin to Egypt. Finally, Joseph reveals himself to his brothers and all rejoice together.

Jacob is overcome when he is told his son Joseph is alive. He is reluctant to go down to Egypt because of an earlier prophecy that his seed would then become slaves, but God revealed to him that he should go. The whole family comes to Egypt and settles in Goshen.

 

BYU Lecture 15: As discussed previously, Joseph is now married and has two sons, Manasseh and Ephraim. Due to impropriety of Jacob’s oldest two sons, Rueban (guilty of incest) and Simeon (guilty of murder), Jacob adopts Joseph’s two sons as replacement heirs. Jacob blesses Ephraim to be the principal heir to the Priesthood.

Prior to his death, Jacob gives his final blessings to all his children. Reuben and Simeon receive nothing, although their descendants will receive some land inheritance. Judah is promised to be the political leader and through his seed the Messiah will be born. Joseph was given the coveted birthright blessing, which would then be passed on to Ephraim.

Near the end of Joseph’s life, he receives some amazing prophecies – many of which were lost or intentionally removed from the modern Bible. Apparently, these prophecies were preserved in the Brass Plates. In the latter days, Joseph Smith was able to restore some of these prophesies which can be found in Genesis 50 and others can be found in 2^nd Nephi.

Jewish scholar Dr. Joseph Klausner refers to the latter-day coming of “Messiah ben Joseph” who will precede “Messiah ben Judah” and who will be martyred. What he did not know is “Messiah ben Joseph” has already come, known to us as Joseph Smith.

OT 10: Young Joseph - A Shepherd, a Seer and a Slave

Text: Genesis 37-41

Supplemental Text: The Third Thousand Years chapters 5-6

BYU Lecture 13: Joseph spent his youth in Beersheba. He was a devoted son to Jacob and to God. When he witnessed evil doings by his brothers, Joseph faithfully reported it to his father. This created a trusted bond between father and son, but caused hatred between Joseph and his brothers. At the age of 17, Joseph receives revelations from the Lord through dreams, prophesying that Jacob and Joseph’s brothers will bow down to Joseph. This angers his brothers and they plot to kill him. They throw Joseph into a dry well and he is inadvertently captured and sold into slavery for 20 pieces of silver and taken to Egypt. Jacob is told that Joseph is dead and he mourns terribly. Adding to the tragedy, Jacob's father Isaac dies.

Joseph is sold to Potiphar, Egypt’s chief executioner, but after 11 years in faithful servitude he is imprisoned after being falsely accused by Potiphar’s wife. Joseph interprets the dreams of 2 fellow prisoners, a butcher and a baker. He later interprets the dream of Pharoah, who is so impressed with Joseph, he promotes him to be Prime Minister of all Egypt.

OT 9 - Let God Prevail

This week, we have 2 lectures to keep pace for those following the Come Follow Me schedule.

Text: Genesis 24-33

Supplemental Text: The Third Thousand Years chapters 1-5

 

BYU Lecture 11: One of the purposes of a college education is to learn how to think and not to be deceived; what is true and what is false, and what is good and what is evil.

Who are God’s chosen people? Just one word describes them – Obedience! God is no respecter of persons and chooses those who are obedient, and they become “the seed of Abraham” and recipients of the Abrahamic Covenant. If you are born in the covenant you have a tremendous responsibility to be a soldier of God. The characteristics of obedient children of God are reviewed.

Abraham and Isaac are quickly reviewed, with the introduction of Esau and Jacob.

 

BYU Lecture 12: Rebekah leaves her family and home for Isaac, but is unable to bear him children. This becomes a great trial for her. She receives a priesthood blessing and a revelation. She then conceives and bares twins, Esau and Jacob. Abraham dies and is buried. Esau, the elder and farmer, marries a Canaanite against his father’s desire. He is careless with his rights and sells his birthright to Jacob, the shepherd. Isaac gives Jacob the covenant blessing. A priesthood blessing cannot be given by deception, as Isaac confirms the blessing he gave to Jacob and commands him not to marry a Canaanite woman as Esau did. He instructs Jacob to travel to Haran, Rebekah’s homeland, to find a Shemetic wife. On the way, Jacob has a visitation from the Lord who promises a continuation of the Abrahamic Covenant through Jacob’s posterity. Jacob arrives in Haran and meets Rachel. He promises to work for her father Laban 7 years for her hand in marriage. By deception, Laban weds Jacob to his oldest daughter Leah instead of Rachel. After a week, Jacob then marries Rachel and works another 7 years for Laban. Children are born to Jacob through Leah, Bilhah (Rachel’s handmaid), Zilpah (Leah’s handmaid), and finally Rachel conceives and has a son named Joseph.

 

OT 8 Is Anything Too Hard for the Lord?

Text: Genesis 18-23

Supplemental Text: The First 2,000 Years chapters 28-32

BYU Lecture 10: Amazingly, Noah witnessed 10 generation of his descendants before he died, Abraham being his 10^th generation, at 2,000 BC. The life of Abraham is discussed, including his ordination of the priesthood in his youth by Melchizedek, who is also discussed. Abraham’s father tries to kill Abraham through idol worship and sacrifice. He is saved by an angel. A terrible famine inflicts the land and Abraham leaves and travels to Egypt, teaching them mathmatics, astronomy and Christianity. 

Abraham returns to the land Canaan and settles there. Circumcision is introduced, signifying baptism. Sodom and Gomorrah is destroyed.

Sarah finally conceives and Isaac is born. Abraham’s greatest test to sacrifice his beloved son, Isaac.

OT 7 - When Prophets Call: Stay Steady in Tumultuous Times

Text: Genesis 12-17; Abraham 1-2

Supplemental Text: The First 2,000 Years chapters 23-27

BYU Lecture 9: The church will not save the Constitution – it will be saved by the Elders of Israel. Political education is crucial by the members of the church because the Church itself cannot get involved in the fight.

Stay close to the prophet as the Lord is beginning to hasten His work.

After Noah came to the new world, God reaffirmed His commandments. Note that murder is punishable by death. Nimrod abandoned the priesthood culture and formed his own community called Babel. He convinced his followers to begin idolatry, astrology and fertility worship. To defy God, or avoid the punishments of God, he commenced the building of the tower of Babel.

After the confusion of tongues, the land divided and people began to spread across the world. The seed of Ham, or Hamites, settled in Egypt; the seed of Shem, or shemites, settled in the middle East and Mesopotamia with their capital in Salem (Jerusalem); the seed of Japeth settled north and east of the Mediterranean Sea clear to the areas of India and China.

Brother Skousen promises to get caught up to Abraham and Isaac in the next lecture.

OT 6 Noah Finds Grace in the Eyes of the Lord

This week, we have 2 lectures to keep pace for those following the Come Follow Me program.

Text: Genesis 6-11; Moses 8

Supplemental Text: The First 2,000 Years chapters 20-22

BYU Lecture 7: The Great Universal Flood

Due to the wickedness of the people, similar to the wickedness of today, God cleanses the Human race by using a universal Flood. Noah obeys the Lord and builds an enormous ark, but only he, his wife, and 3 of his sons along with their wives survive. Has the ark been discovered on Mt. Ararat?

Discussion of the need for a righteous government to govern a righteous people. There is a great need to conserve the Constitution. A good student will solve problems by using Constitutional principles. He must study in fairness all sides of important issues and make intelligent decisions that build a righteous people.  

The Law of Consecration must be restored among a righteous people but only under the direction of the priesthood. God’s work will prevail.

BYU Lecture 8: Mankind Expands Across the Land After the Flood.

After the flood and the ark settles, the family of Noah enters the new world. As they descend from the mount, the families of Japheth, Shem and Ham go their separate ways and begin again to populate the earth.

Different races across the world can be traced to the three sons of Noah; Slavic and Orientals traced to Japheth, Arabic, Jewish and Caucasian traced to Shem, and Blacks traced to Ham.

Egypt means “black” and it’s evident from the mummy discoveries that Egypt had many different dynasties from both Ham and Shem.

This concludes the First 2,000 Years and the supplemental text now begins in The Third Thousand Years.

 

OT 5: Adam and Eve's Children Reject God; OT 6: Enoch is Called of God

This week we have combined 2 lectures, #5 for the first 35 minutes and #6 for the next 41 minutes. This is necessary for those following the Come Follow Me study program of the Old Testament.

Text: Moses 7

Supplemental Text: The First 2,000 Years chapters 17-19

BYU Lecture #5: The Children of Adam and Eve Reject God

Brother Skousen recaps the Fall along with its effects on the world. Adam and Eve were not abandoned, but were taught many things for their survival, including the Atonement of Christ and Plan of Salvation. Their children and grandchildren are not receptive to these spiritual teachings and they reject God. Instead, they accept and follow the more enticing words of Satan.  The tragic events of Cain and Abel are discussed. Seth is then born as an answer to prayer. He is a faithful servant of the Lord.

Enoch is introduced.

BYU Lecture #6: Enoch is Called by God

Enoch is born, called to be a prophet as a youth, and is miraculously healed from his stuttering speech. Over a 365 year period, Enoch prepares the church to live the laws of God, including the Law of Consecration, and to become sanctified as a people. They become eligible spiritually to see the Lord. The Law of Consecration is clarified and beautifully explained. It is compared with its ugly counterfeit called communism, whose objective is the same but their methodology is evil and anti-Christ. The Lord's Law of Consecration is based on love and free agency, whereas communism is based on corruption, worldly power and compulsion.

OT 4 - Atonement of Christ - Keystone to the Entire Plan of Salvation

BYU Lecture #4 - Why was the Atonement necessary?

Text: Genesis 5; Moses 6

Supplemental Text: The First 2,000 Years chapters 10-16 and Appendix: Atonement

Probably no subject in scripture has aroused more questions or provoked more wonderment than the Atonement of Jesus Christ.

Join W. Cleon Skousen in a live university lecture that unfolds like an epic journey from the beginning, starting with intelligence to spiritual creation, progression, and mortality; The critical moments in the Plan of Salvation, from the Garden of Gethsemane, the cruel cross and finally the literal resurrection. Learn how mercy is the key to overcome damning justice of the law. Skousen weaves personal experiences, scriptural insight, and theological discovery to reveal this beautiful, yet ‘lost doctrine’ of the church. 

OT 3 - Why the Fall of Adam and Eve was Difficult to Achieve

BYU Lecture #3: The Fall and Eviction from the Garden

Text: Genesis 3-4; Moses 4-5

Supplemental Text: The First 2,000 Years chapters 6-9

After Adam and Eve’s arrival in the Garden, the Fall became a tremendous challenge, as it is on every Earth created for mankind. Essential as the Fall is, our first parents were required to deliberately and voluntarily take that step to bring about mortality.

In this episode, Dr Skousen teaches a profound appreciation for the role of agency and the consequence of choice. Having chosen to disobey God, Adam and Eve are evicted from the Garden and begin human history at Adam-Ondi-Ahman. The Plan of Salvation takes on great significance as Christ and His sacrifice is introduced. This episode turns doctrine into living drama, inviting listeners to witness the human emotions, difficult decisions, and eternal consequences that affect you and your family today.

OT 2- The Lord Created All Things Spiritually Before Naturally

BYU Lecture #2 - The Creation; The Garden; Adam and Eve

Text: Genesis 1-2; Moses 2-3; Abraham 4-5

Supplemental Text: The First 2,000 Years - Chapters 3-5

In this 2nd University lecture, we learn that Moses has a second opportunity to inquire of the Lord. This time he learns the importance of the Human race. He is taught from "the beginning" which was actually the spiritual creation of the earth, followed by the temporal or physical creation. 

During the lecture, an old dramatized, and somewhat comedic, recording is played depicting Adam and Eve in the Garden. So where was the Garden of Eden? And what are the purposes of this earth life? These and other questions are dicussed in this lesson.