PDF version of the lesson notes.

I. Entry Into Jerusalem

• The last few weeks, Luke has been our main text. Today, we switch back to Matthew as the main text of the lesson. Actually, it has been five lessons since Matthew was our main text. However, this lesson follows last week’s lesson closely in the sense that we read about the events leading up to Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem (from the Lukan perspective) and today we read about Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem (from the Matthean perspective). Read the rest of this entry »

PDF version of the lesson notes.

I. Pointless 19th Century Mormon Trivia?

• Once again it is time for totally pointless 19th century Mormon trivia. This part of the lesson also explains why I am so fun at parties.
• In 1920, James E. Talmage prepared the first new edition of the Book of Mormon since 1879. Elder Talmage removed some footnotes written by Orson Pratt who was responsible for the 1879 edition (the edition with the versification that we use today). What “super cool” speculative footnotes were removed?
• The 1879 edition includes footnotes where Orson Pratt opined about the geographic location of Book of Mormon places. For example, On page 155 (of a copy of the Book of Mormon printed in 1908) footnote g reads, “The land Nephi is supposed to have been near Ecuador, South America” and footnote h reads, “The land Zarahemla is supposed to have been north of the head waters of the Magdelena, its northern boundary being a few days’ journey south of the isthmus.” Read the rest of this entry »

PDF version of the lesson notes.

I. Introduction

• Last week’s lesson included the 14th chapter of Luke, but we didn’t quite make it to that part of the reading. In chapter 14, Jesus contends with the Pharisees over issues like healing on the Sabbath during a meal with Pharisees and the chapter deals specifically with table fellowship and who gets to eat at the feast in the Kingdom of God. Chapter 15 strikes me as a distinct literary unity from 14, but we do see a thematic continuation in terms of meals and table fellowship and their importance in the gospel of Luke. This is a theme that runs through Luke (lesson 10), and we will examine it further today. Read the rest of this entry »