46: “I Will Love Them Freely” (Hosea 1–6; 10–14; Joel)

Tammy 0:00

Oh gosh, who out there has ever had their heart broken? And can you describe how it felt? Listen to this quote: "The shattering of a heart when being broken is the loudest quiet ever." Today's study of Hosea and Joel addresses the pain of heartbreak that comes by way of betrayal, and probably the most brutal of heartbreaks out there. And I dare say many of us have experienced the loudest quiet ever.

Tammy 0:29

Welcome to the Sunday on Monday Study Group, a Deseret Bookshelf Plus original brought to you by LDS Living where we take the Come, Follow Me lesson for the week, and we really dig into the scriptures together. I'm your host, Tammy Uzelac Hall. Now if you're new to our study group, we want to make sure you know how to use this podcast, so follow the link in our description and it's going to explain how you can best use this podcast to enhance your Come, Follow Me study just like my friend, Kim Strupp and her daughter Brittany Meacham that I met at Education Week. Hi friends. Thanks for coming to hear me teach. I was so nervous and I loved having you there. Now here's my favorite thing about the study group is each week we're joined by two of my friends. So it's a little bit different each time and it's different today. Today we have, okay, original, OG Becky Farley. Hi, Far.

Becky Farley 1:10

Hey, hi, everybody.

Tammy 1:12

And then we have a new friend, DeAnn Hansen. Hello, DeAnn.

DeAnn 1:16

Hello.

Tammy 1:17

Now some of you might be listening to this episode today and go, DeAnn's voice is so familiar. So if you've ever called the Deseret Book Help Desk to talk about the app., she's the beautiful voice behind the phone. Hi, sis. (laughter) How long have you been at Deseret Book?

DeAnn 1:34

You know, I am, in November, I hit my 30 consecutive years.

Tammy 1:39

WHAT?

Becky Farley 1:39

Whoa!

DeAnn 1:39

I started working at Deseret Book, going to college, just at the Downtown Salt Lake Store. And at that time, our corporate offices was above the store in the old ZCMI Center. And I remember the corporate people come down to cash their checks. Remember when you used to write checks? And I remember me and the other friends that I had there were like, Man, I'm never going to be a lifer like they are. I'll never be a lifer. And now here I am 30 years later.

Tammy 1:40

Oh, you're a lifer, sister.

Becky Farley 2:17

You're a lifer.

Tammy 2:19

Do you get something for 30 years at Deseret Book?

DeAnn 2:22

Hope so.

Tammy 2:23

Boy, I hope you get more than a pen.

DeAnn 2:25

I hope so too. Yeah, it's been, it's been a wonderful, a wonderful thing to be part of a wonderful mission.

Tammy 2:35

That is awesome. You guys are gonna love DeAnn, I love DeAnn. And it's interesting, because like a year ago, I said, I want you on the podcast for Old Testament year. And you're like, I don't know, I don't know. And I said, No, I do know you're supposed to be on it. And immediately it was this book. It was like, DeAnn's supposed to be on Hosea and Joel, which was so crazy, because it was going to be, I don't know why, like, that's weird. And here we are the three of us. And before we even started pressing 'record' and doing any of this, all three of us have talked about how difficult the last week has been for us, right?

DeAnn 3:08

Yes.

Becky Farley 3:10

Um-hmm.

Tammy 3:11

Wow. And I don't think that that is coincidence, because there's some heavy deep stuff in these books. You ready to do this with me, you guys?

Becky Farley 3:20

Let's do it.

Tammy 3:21

Okay. So if you want to know more about my friends, you can read their bios which are in our show notes at LDS living.com/sunday on Monday. So let's do this. Grab your scriptures, something to write with and your scripture journals. And boy are we going to dig in. Okay, so have either one of you had your heart broken, can you tell me how it feels?

DeAnn 3:39

Yes, yes.

Tammy 3:40

Tell me about it, DeAnn.

DeAnn 3:42

It's a deep sadness. And it's an ache. Heart ache is is very descriptive. The best way I can describe it for me was feeling like I've lost a part of myself. There's a hole that feels so empty, that can't be filled. That's what that ache feels like, a real emptiness.

Tammy 4:07

Are you willing to tell a story about your heartache?

DeAnn 4:10

I, sure. I will. Um, I am 56 and I've never been married. So I've never had children. And most of my adult life I just assumed one day I'd just get married and have kids and that was part of the plan. And it didn't happen and it didn't happen and things didn't work out that I thought would work out and, but there was always that glimmer of hope that I would have children. And then for some reason, when I hit 43 - and why it happened at 43 I do not know. I remember I came home from seeing my really sweet friend in my ward had just given birth to her sixth baby. And as I got ready to kneel down to pray it hit me like a ton of bricks: You will never give birth in this life. And it hit me, it was never going to happen. And I just fell to my knees and cried to the Lord. And knew that that was a real heartbreak. And I really had to mourn that loss. And it took a long time. And I went back to my cute friend's a little while later and just held her baby and cried, and she was a good soul and didn't try and make me feel better. And she just let me hold her baby and cry. And it was, it was very healing. But that was, that was a heart, not just a break, but a heartache.

Tammy 5:45

That is a heartache. Thank you, DeAnn, I appreciate you being willing to share that heartache. That is heartache. What about you, Becky? Have you ever experienced heartbreak?

Becky Farley 5:57

Oh, yeah. But for me, I, you know, the first thing that I thought of when I read that question\ when you sent it out to us, I thought of the first high school boyfriend that I had, and that I broke up with. And it was, it's kind of more of a simple, like I listened to DeAnn's story. And, you know, there's, you have your little heartbreaks, and then you have your big heartbreaks. And this is more of like a little heartbreak. But I do remember feeling so much sorrow. And that that quote, at the beginning, where the loudest quiet ever. I remember sitting out in front of the high school under the tree, and just feeling so alone. And wondering. And I was kind of the one that broke it off. But I loved him. And he just was kind of, you know, he wasn't, he wasn't a member of the church. And he was starting to drink and kind of starting to do some stuff that I didn't feel like I, I could even stay dating him, the, you know, with it.

Becky Farley 7:11

And so I had to break up with him. And still, I felt so in love with him. And I was so sad knowing that I was giving up this love, you know who I just, he was the coolest. I loved him, he was so funny and good-looking, to follow God, in my mind. That I was leaving him in order to, you know, follow a different path. And I'm sure it made all the difference. But it was still a heartbreak because I had to make a decision that, you know, pick the bigger thing over the smaller thing, you know.

Tammy 7:50

Wow, thank you Beck.

Becky Farley 7:51

and just sitting, sitting under that tree, being sad,

Tammy 7:55

sitting under that tree, indeed.

Becky Farley 7:57

and wondering if, wondering if I'd ever find anyone ever, you know? 17!

DeAnn 8:03

You know how some of those memories are just meant to like, where you're at and around you.

Becky Farley 8:10

Yeah. But there is the big heartbreak and the little heartbreak, right? I mean, I could tell stories about the big heartbreak to like, just wow, that what I thought was going to be in my life is now not in my life. And it's never going to be and that's a heartbreak. Like giving up your youth, giving up, you know, what, what you thought your life was going to be.

Tammy 8:35

I mean, I think I think that's the core of every heartbreak is giving up and mourning the loss of what you thought it was going to be. And so I'm so grateful that both of you shared that because that's the one thread you have in common and your stories are so different. But you both have had to give up what you thought it would be. And you have so much in common with Hosea, because many people are like, Why are we talking about heartbreak? What does this have to do with the Old Testament? Boy, does it have a lot to do with with the Book of Hosea? Let's turn to Hosea, because I'm gonna tell you a couple things about this book before we really dive into it. So it's written by the Prophet Hosea, and he's in the northern kingdom of Israel. He would have been alive at the same time as Isaiah, Amos, Jonah, and Micah.

Tammy 9:16

We don't know exactly when or where it was written, but this book is unique because it uses extensive metaphors and symbolism to illustrate the depths of God's love for His people. So you're gonna want to make sure you know that, in fact, somewhere on the page, I would put next to Hosea: "The depth of God's love for His people is found in this book". And that's what's important for us to know. And then we have to define Hosea's name in Hebrew. It's Hoshea. And it means 'salvation'. And I'm curious to know, how does the word salvation connect to our heartbreaks?

Becky Farley 9:51

Well, there's no way, there's no way to work through them without knowing that there is salvation, that there is a moment that you will feel like it's okay. Even though you've lost, you're going to gain something. I don't know what it is, I don't you know. I don't know. I mean, for me, I could see quite quickly what I was gaining. I was gaining a larger testimony of Jesus Christ for following what the Spirit told me, you know, whatever. But I feel like that salvation peace, gosh, if you don't have that, then you're just in a bucket, in a mess. It can just be sadness without knowing that the heartbreak would be for your benefit one day.

Tammy 10:41

Good answer. What about you, DeAnn?

DeAnn 10:44

I think it, hope. Ultimate hope that that it's going to work out the way God intended, even if it wasn't the way I intended. I keep going back to "His grace is sufficient." It's enough; His salvation is enough.

Tammy 11:07

Oh, I like that. I like so much what both of you said and shared about that word salvation. And so in the next segment, we're going to see how it fits in with the story of Hosea.

Segment 2 11:18

.....

Tammy 11:24

All right, so let's jump into the book of Hosea. And before we can talk about Hosea and heartbreak, the one thing we have to absolutely get sure is this word. What is a metaphor? it's a pretty big english word, isn't it? Oh my gosh. Okay. I'm gonna give some examples of a metaphor. And as I say these, I want you guys to tell me what I'm trying to convey with this metaphor. Here we go. Here's an example of a metaphor. "Quiet as a mouse".

DeAnn 11:49

Reverence

Tammy 11:51

Oh, yeah. Perfect. Great example. Okay, Becky, when I say "my knight in shining armor", how's that a metaphor for what?

Becky Farley 11:57

Oh, that that person is saving you from something.

Tammy 12:01

Very good. Okay. Now, here's one I use on my own. I don't think ever learned it anywhere. But I use it to talk about people, specifically my kids when they do something really good. "Oh, she's totally peacocking it."

Becky Farley 12:14

That's a good one. Yeah. I'm gonna remember that one.

Tammy 12:17

What am I trying to say by that?

Becky Farley 12:20

When I think of a peacock, it's like they've got all their feathers out. They're trying to impress, they're trying to, like be the, be the big cheese, you know? Oh, there's one - "be the big cheese".

Tammy 12:31

Be the big cheese. That's another great metaphor. DeAnn, you got a metaphor you use?

DeAnn 12:37

You know, what? I don't use this one enough, but it's my favorite one that I heard for the first time years ago on my mission. I served in West Virginia, and I sat down for dinner at this member's house and it was delicious. And he said, Oh, this is so good. "It would make a hare hug a houndog."

Becky Farley 12:56

Laughters Ah, that's a good one! I love a southern metaphor.

DeAnn 13:02

You're right!

Tammy 13:05

In fact, that'd be a good question to ask on social media. What's your favorite metaphor? Because

Becky Farley 13:10

and maybe get some southern metaphors.

Tammy 13:12

Oh, please. People from the south.

Becky Farley 13:14

Those are the best.

Tammy 13:16

Yes. Listen, we have to understand metaphors. Turn with me to Hosea 12:10. It even says in Hosea 12:10 that we need to understand this. And Farley when we get there will you please read Hosea 12:10. This is the Savior speaking to us about the book of Hosea. Hit it.

Becky Farley 13:37

12:10 "I have also spoken by the prophets, and I have multiplied visions, and used similitudes, by the ministry of the prophets."

Tammy 13:45

Thank you, Farley for reading it. Highlight the word similitude, because the Lord does use similitudes and He also uses metaphors. So we have this way that the Lord speaks to us. He uses parables, He uses proverbs. And so we have a really important metaphor in the book of Hosea, and probably one of the weirdest ones in all of the Old Testament. Wouldn't you two agree?

DeAnn 14:05

Hmm.

Becky Farley 14:06

Totally weird.

Tammy 14:08

Yeah, totally weird,

Becky Farley 14:10

A little bit uncomfortable, a little bit uncomfortable, or maybe a lot uncomfortable, depending on, you know,

Tammy 14:17

What about you, DeAnn? Any words for you?

DeAnn 14:20

I read through the first chapter and I went, This is a soap opera. I do not, I do not get it because this is just weird,

Tammy 14:28

Right? It's so weird. Okay, let's find out how weird it is. Let's turn to Hosea chapter 2:5 and this is the major metaphor of the book. Here we go.

DeAnn 14:38

2:5 "For their mother hath played the harlot: she that conceived them hath done shamefully: for she said, I will go after my lrsovers, that give me my bread and my water, my wool and my flax, mine oil and my drink."

Tammy 14:52

Set up the metaphor for us, you guys. What is the metaphor in Hosea? Overall, who's he, what is he talking about?

Becky Farley 14:59

He's talking about us. We are the harlot.

Tammy 15:04

Oh, so there's a lot of harlot talk, right?

Becky Farley 15:07

There's a lot of harlot talk. And harlot, meaning that he's the husband and we're the ones that are leaving him. And we think that all of the like, the world is gonna bring us everything that we need. And I just think about all of your study with Hebrew and these words, specifically, Tam, you know. "My wool, my flax, my oil". All of those words have so much more depth than just that. But when you look at it, it's just all my salvation. That I'm gonna go after these other lovers that are going to bring me - and lovers meaning, I don't know, maybe it's, you know, your football obsession, or, you know, I don't know, whatever it is, that obsession. Maybe it's your Tiktok obsession or maybe it's, you know - that that's going to bring me my salvation, that's going to bring me what I need to make me happy, to make me feel secure. And all it is, is just a big facade. And we just keep doing it. We're so stupid. I mean, okay, I shouldn't say we.......

Becky Farley 16:20

Me, I'm so stupid. I just keep, I don't remember who it is. It's Jesus Christ. He's the one that's going to save me. And I just this, I love the book of Hosea. I really love it, because of this metaphor, that we can keep coming back. We make these terrible choices. And it's uncomfortable for a reason, because it, we make stupid choices and it, and yet He still, His arm is outstretched still to us. You could go after your other lovers. That's uncomfortable. Like that feels bizarre, but yet we can come and He accepts us back time after time after time. It doesn't matter how many times we believe that, Oh, we're gonna get it from all these other lovers. But He's, that He's the real, He's the real husband who will just keep, you know, bringing us back in.

Tammy 17:20

DeAnn, tell me why it made you uncomfortable as you read Hosea.

DeAnn 17:24

I think probably the same thing. Their mother has played the harlot. I mean, who calls, you know, who calls out that their mother is a harlot? I mean, that's uncomfortable thing to talk about and, but the words are really powerful here because they've done shamefully. Shame is a very powerful word. But as Farley was talking, I was thinking about this is true. We go away from the things that are true looking to fill those, those, those holes and spaces in our hearts. And what is it that that she was going after? My lovers. That, you know, that's exciting, and also a place where you think you will belong. The basics of life: bread, water, wool, clothing, warmth. All of those things are just our basic needs. And we leave the comfort of the Lord thinking we're going to find them in these these other places. And Satan's crafty that he tells us, Yeah, you're gonna find them here. And it's gonna be great.

Tammy 18:36

Yeah

DeAnn 18:38

That he plays, I think, into our heartaches and our heartbreaks, because we have that empty space that really only the Lord can fill. He says, Oh, you're gonna find that out here.

Tammy 18:50

Oh, my gosh. I really liked, DeAnn, when you went into verse 5, you said the things that we need everyday: bread, water, wool, flax, and oil. And Farley you brought this up because in Hebrew, those are things we need on a daily basis. And, they're also monikers for the Savior, Jesus Christ. He is the bread of life. He is the living water. Wool and flax are clothing used in temple ceremonies. And then the oil is where we get the name "Gethsemane". "Get shamen" is is oil press. And oil is a symbol of the Savior and the Holy Ghost. And so Satan has this thinking, this woman's like, Oh, my lovers can give me all of this anyway, I don't need it from the Savior. I get it in from this space until she realizes, Oh, wait. It's not doing what I thought it would do. It's fascinating to me. Let's go back to Hosea 1:1. Sorry, let's

Becky Farley 19:41

Can I say one more thing Tam on what DeAnn said. I really liked how she said that, something about how she's going back to where she feels like she belongs.

Tammy 19:53

Oh, yes.

Becky Farley 19:54

And and I think so with this, I mean, there's just such a deeper parallel with this that, why is she going back to her lovers? She feels shame. She doesn't feel like she belongs with someone like this husband in this metaphor, you know. She feels like, Oh, I'm just a harlot. I'm just, I'm just this, I don't deserve something better, maybe. I just deserve, and then you know a few, a few verses later, it gets even better. I gave her corn and went and multiplied, in verse 8, multiplied her silver and gold. So it's not just the basics, but He's going to give you more. And I just think that it's interesting that so often we think, well, we don't deserve the Lord, and what the Lord could give us. We only deserve our lovers, whatever that may be.

DeAnn 20:52

I just had a big aha when you talked about, which I didn't even connect it, but those are the things that are the Savior, is going back to what we learned about the serpent. Satan is this, this false Christ; he set himself up to be this false Christ. And this is exactly what it is where he's, he's like, you know, the, all of these things that aren't real, but he sets them up to be the false Christ again. I can give you all these things you need.

Tammy 21:28

Fantastic connection DeAnn.

Becky Farley 21:30

Yeah. Yeah. Love that.

Tammy 21:31

That's cool. Well, Becky, you said, you said when you were talking that this harlot is married to this husband. Who is the harlot married to in this story?

Becky Farley 21:41

She is married to Hosea.

Tammy 21:43

A prophet - what? You're totally right now, this is crazy. Go with me to Hosea 1:2, we're going to mark a couple of names. So here's what we want to know about the names. Yeah, this is crazy. DeAnn, read for us verse 2.

DeAnn 21:57

1:2 "The beginning of the word of the LORD by Hosea. And the Lord said to Hosea, Go and take thee a wife of whoredoms and children of whoredoms; and the land hath committed great whoredom, departing from the Lord."

Tammy 22:11

Okay, that's the craziest thing ever. Why would the Lord tell a prophet to marry a harlot, to marry a woman of whoredoms? And so the whole point and purpose of this really uncomfortable story is what you said at the very beginning, Becky. It's about us. It is about a relationship that the Savior, who is the husband, has with us, who is, we are the harlot, who we go after all of these false gods. And there is so much cool imagery in what the names mean. So let's go to verse 3. I want you to highlight the name Gomer, that's the name of the wife. And in Hebrew, Gomer means 'to come to an end', 'to be completed or done'.

Tammy 22:48

Then let's go to the name of the children that they have together. So we're going to go into chapter 1:4. "The LORD said unto him, Call his name Jezreel." The name Jezreel in Hebrew means 'God shall scatter abroad'. So he's gonna scatter all the wicked. Then go into verse 6, the other child, they call it says, And God said unto him, "Call her name, Lo-ruhama. And her name means: Lo means 'no' or 'not' in Hebrew. So this actually says in the verse 4 'I will no more have mercy'. Her name means 'no mercy'. And then we go to the name of their other child in verse nine, then God said, call his name Lo, me, for ye are not my people. That's what that name means. 'Not my people.' So here we have the name of the wife 'to come, to complete' or 'end'. Then we have another child that God will then scatter abroad, and the next child is he will have no mercy. And the next child is 'for any of my people'. Because they all have gone a whoring. They all have chosen other lovers. Isn't that profound and deep?

Becky Farley 23:55

Yeah,

DeAnn 23:55

It is profound and deep and that's why I hope this really is a metaphor because if not, those are just really mean parents.

Tammy 24:01

Yeah. (laughters)

DeAnn 24:04

And maybe, and I'm sorry, my Andy Griffith just can't get over Gomer.

Tammy 24:10

Oh, for sure.

DeAnn 24:11

And I'm going, Of course, she's gonna give her this bad name, she grew up with Gomer, so

Tammy 24:19

Totally, 100%. That's funny, I love that. Oh, that's good.

Becky Farley 24:24

That's funny. Andy Griffith, then. Yeah.

Tammy 24:26

Okay, so we have this imagery I'm so grateful for we set up this metaphor. This is so awesome. And it is super uncomfortable and it's supposed to be uncomfortable. We all should be squirming. We all should be thinking, 'No, not me. I would that, I am not a harlot. I would never go after other lovers. That's crazy.' But there's something really important to understand with this metaphor and we're going to show you what it is in the next segment.

Segment 3 24:49

.......

DeAnn 24:54

Okay, so now I have a very interesting question because I know you guys have some very good friends, some best friend groups. So if you found out that your best friend's husband cheated, what would be the typical best friend knee jerk reaction? What would your advice be to her?

Becky Farley 25:10

Oh, leave him. Just, like we got to take care of that you know what.

Tammy 25:19

Yeah. (laughs)

Becky Farley 25:19

You know,

Tammy 25:19

Oh, yeah. You're out, get out, I'm showin up with a U-Haul.

Becky Farley 25:25

We're gonna like, yeah, we're gonna figure this out. We're going to make sure you're on top and he's on the, you know, out!

Tammy 25:33

Total human response.

DeAnn 25:34

Oh, anger, anger. This did happen to a friend of mine. I was so angry in her behalf that someone would betray someone I cared about so deeply. This anger.

Tammy 25:51

Okay, perfect reactions and it should be, yes. We would be so angry. So you will find the Lord's response to Hosea so surprising. Go to Hosea 3:1. And please everyone, take the time now that you know the metaphor, read Hosea 1, 2, like just dive into it. It is so awesome. And I love it. We don't have time, so we're just going to jump to 3:1 Look what the Lord's advice is to Hosea. Farley, will you read verse 1 for us.

Becky Farley 26:20

3:1 "Then said the Lord unto me, go yet, love a woman beloved of her friend, yet an adulteress, according to the love of the LORD toward the children of Israel, who look to other gods, and love flagons of wine."

Tammy 26:37

Oh, and verse 2.

Becky Farley 26:38

2: "So I bought her to me for 15 pieces of silver, and for an homer of barley, and an half homer of barley."

Tammy 26:48

Okay, now he says, Go, love the woman beloved of her friend. So that's like, talking about 'the best friend'. And he's telling, He's telling Hosea, take her back.. Go back and love the woman. All of her best friends are around her. They're super angry, and you're going to take her back, you're going to buy her back. So verse 2, "so I bought her to me for 15 pieces of silver." That's actually interesting. Love is half the price of a slave, that he's going to just pay to get her back. And he doesn't kick her out. What do you think the Lord wants us to feel with this?

Becky Farley 27:23

I'm still trying, I'm still slightly confused, Tam. "Then the LORD said unto me go yet, love a woman beloved of her friend

Tammy 27:31

So pause right there, "beloved of her friend". So I asked, What would you do if you found out your best friend's husband cheated? So here she is, but she's loved by a lot of women. She's the cheater. Now that's the interesting spin on this.

Becky Farley 27:45

We're talking about Gomer in this verse.

Tammy 27:47

Uh huh. Gomer is the woman who's loved of her friends, yet she's an adulteress according to the love of the Lord toward the children of Israel, who looked to other gods and love flagons of wine. So He's using the metaphor in that verse with this woman.

Becky Farley 28:01

Okay,

Tammy 28:02

Go, go buy her back. So He's not saying you should leave her. He's like, Take her back. Super uncomfortable. What does the Lord want us to learn from that?

DeAnn 28:13

I think it depends on where you are in it. Because if you're, if you're Gomer, then you've been extended some mercy. If you're the friend of Hosea, your like, What are you thinkin dude?

Tammy 28:30

Right?

Becky Farley 28:32

Well, I also want to know what flagons of wine is.

Tammy 28:36

Ooo. Look down at the footnote.

Becky Farley 28:39

I just see raisin cakes.

Tammy 28:41

Yeah, raisin cakes

Becky Farley 28:42

used in fertility rites.

Tammy 28:44

Yes. Like you wouldn't, it's a weird, yeah. So when it says other gods there who looked to other gods and they love raisin cakes, they love these fertility gods. There was actually a God that people would worship their own children for fertility rights. It was such a horrible terrible time. Yes. So they're not even worshipping the right God or the Lord. Rasin cakes. How silly is that? Listen I love a nice Eclair, but it's not taking the place a Christ, right?

Tammy 28:49

Let alone a raisin cake!

Tammy 29:08

I hate raisins! I remember one time you made me eat a raisin for a meditation mindfulness thing. I'm like, can't I have a piece of chocolate, Farley?

Tammy 29:08

Why am I eating a raisin?

Becky Farley 29:20

No, I made you eat the raisin, Tammy.

DeAnn 29:26

No, my theory of raisin and baking is any place there is a raisin is where a chocolate chip should be.

Tammy 29:35

Thank you.

Becky Farley 29:36

Well, listen, I do love a oatmeal raisin cookie. But that's interesting. It's interesting that it's the, I mean that they specifically said that. So yeah,

Tammy 29:46

Well it definitely is. Well, let's go into this verse, then. Turn to Hosea 11:1-4, because what I think I like about this idea is that the Lord takes us back ,and why does He take us back? And I think these verses are beautiful what He says about us. So let's each take a verse in Hosea 11:1. I'll start and then DeAnn, and then Becky.

Tammy 30:09

11:1 "When Israel was a child, then I loved him, and called my son out of Egypt.

Tammy 30:10

2 "As they called them, so they went from them: they sacrificed unto Baalim, and burned incense to graven images.

Becky Farley 30:25

3 "I taught Ephraim also to go, taking them by their arms; but they knew not that I healed them.

Tammy 30:32

4 "I drew them with cords of a man, with bands of love: and I was to them as they that take off the yoke on their jaws, and I laid meat unto them."

Tammy 30:41

Now that seems like word weirding. But now, let me talk you through this. This is the wording that a parent would say to their child. First of all, I loved him and called him my son. Then we go to verse 3: 'also, to go taking them by their arms'. Think about when you have a little child walk, what are you holding?

Becky Farley 31:00

Their hands.

Tammy 31:01

Yeah, He's teaching them how, He's like, I've loved them since I taught them how to walk. And then I think it's interesting when He talks about how He healed them, and He fed them. Verse 4: 'I drew them with the cords of a man with with bands of love. I was to them as they took off the yoke on their jaws', like I taught them to eat. I taught them all of these things, like I have known Israel since birth. I have loved you. How could I not take you back? So when people were like, Why would you do that? How could I not ? Like I have loved them!

Becky Farley 31:31

I think it's interesting that we don't understand that the Lord knows us better than we know ourselves.

Tammy 31:38

Oh, yeah. Tell me a little bit about that.

Becky Farley 31:41

Well, just reading that, those verses and realizing that, you know, I can't remember what I was like when I was a little kid. I don't remember my inherent goodness. I don't remember my, my worth. And life just beats you down and beats you down and beats you down. But then when you gain this new heart that Christ gives to you, you remember your worth, because He knows it. He knows it before you will ever know it. And He's the only one that can give that to you. ,

Tammy 32:22

Oh Becky, you have to read this verse. Read Hosea 13:9. It's what you said.

Becky Farley 32:29

13:9 "O, Israel, thou has destroyed thyself; but in me is thine help." Yeah.

Tammy 32:37

He knows us better than we know ourselves. He knows what we're capable of, no matter how whoring we go, no matter how many lovers we have in our lifetime. e will always take us back. He will always pay the price. He has paid the price for us.

Becky Farley 32:54

And he'll always help us to know our inherent worth.

Tammy 32:57

Um hmm. No matter how deplorable we have become. Look at these next verses. DeAnnn, will you please read for us Hosea 14:4-7. And as DeAnnn reads these, here's my question to you. Because Farley, you set it up in the very beginning. We are all the harlots, we have all betrayed the Lord, every single one of us who's ever been living on this earth. That's just, it just is what it is. We're going to do it every time we sin, and we don't repent. Let's be clear. Everyone's going to sin, but it's when we don't repent that we have turned to our other gods or our other lovers. That's the sin. So I want you to think about this as one who's betrayed the Lord, what are these verses trying to teach us? So we're going to read Hosea 14:4-7 and I want you to mark anything that stands out to you.

DeAnn 33:44

14:4 "I will heal their backsliding, I will love them freely: for mine anger is turned away from him.

DeAnn 33:52

5 "I will be as the dew unto Israel: he shall grow as the lily, and cast forth his roots as Lebanon.

DeAnn 33:59

6 "His branches shall spread, and his beauty shall be as the olive tree, and his smell is Lebanon.

DeAnn 34:05

7 "They that dwell under his shadow shall return; they shall revive as the corn, and grow as the vine: the scent thereof shall be as the wine of Lebanon."

Tammy 34:16

Tell me what you marked, what stood out to you as, as a, as a harlot. As one who's betrayed the Lord.

DeAnn 34:23

I, the first verse is just so beautiful to me where He says, "I will heal their backsliding.", because, you know, I think ideally, it's like, Okay, I made a mistake, and then I repent and then I never ever did it again. Or I have a weakness and I'm trying to change that weakness and trying to use the Savior's grace, and He promises that He's going to heal that and "I will love them freely". And that's just so beautiful. All of these words are just so descriptive and so beautiful to me.

Tammy 35:08

Wow. How about you, Beck?

Becky Farley 35:11

I love that. Well, I mean, I, I'm like DeAnn: I love that verse, "I will heal they're backsliding". Because we always backslide. Like, we always say, oh, yeah, I'm gonna, I'm gonna do that. I'm gonna be so good. I'm gonna be so good. And then all of a sudden, oh, shoot, that didn't work out so well.

Tammy 35:31

That didn't last long.

Becky Farley 35:32

Yeah, that didn't last long. That diet didn't go so well. But I will say the verse that stood out to me the most was 7. "They that dwell under his shadow shall return. They shall revive as the corn". It feels like it's our family.

Tammy 35:52

Oh, I like that.

Becky Farley 35:53

I just think that, to me, that talks about we don't have to worry about judging others, that everyone dwells under His shadow and they're, we're all going to return. And we can just know that He, He has us despite our backsliding, despite our neighbor's backsliding, or our husband's backsliding, or our kids' backsliding. We can trust that He's, we're all under His shadow and we're all going to return, Like His shadow's big.

Tammy 36:29

It is big cuz I was just thinking when it talked about the harlot. Nowhere in here did it say, because I feel like everyone's a harlot. But it didn't say everyone's a harlot, "Well, except for Tammy Hall. I mean, she's not, 'cept for Becky Farley. Like we're all the harlot, every one of us had backslid, every one of us. And so I like that "under the shadow".

Becky Farley 36:51

Well, and it just reminds me of that talk in this last conference by Sister Dennis, and she says this at the end. She says, "The Savior does not condone sin, but offers us His love and extends forgiveness when we repent. To the woman caught in adultery He said, "Neither do I condemn thee. Go and sin no more." I just think, well, then it says those who touched "those He touched felt His love and the love healed and transformed them." That's the shadow. We're all under the shadow. We don't have to worry about anybody else besides us coming back, coming back continually coming back to Him. And He's going to accept us back.

Tammy 37:43

Oh, fantastic. Thank you, Becky. Thank you, DeAnn. That was excellent. So keep this in mind as we're thinking about this. And I love this idea that God has our back and He will love us freely. This is so cool. Because I remember when I asked you at the beginning when I told you what Hosea's name meant, and it means 'salvation.' We're going to connect that in the next segment to one of the most powerful and profound doctrines in the entire Book of Hosea.

Segment 4 38:11

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Tammy 38:16

Andrew Skinner and D. Kelly Ogden call this verse in Hosea the most powerful and profound doctrine of the entire book. Let me show you what it is. Turn to Hosea 13:4. Mark this verse and we're gonna read it. What you need to know is in chapter 13:2, I thought it was interesting because it says, "and now they sin more and more." And then it goes on. They've "made molten images". Like 'they just have left me and gone after other gods.' And then we get to Hosea 13:4. Becky Farley, will you please read verse 4 for us.

Becky Farley 38:50

13:4 "Yet I am the Lord thy God from the land of Egypt, and thou shalt know no god but me: for there is no saviour beside me."

Tammy 39:03

Okay, now. Why would they call this the most profound doctrine in the book of Hosea, in light of what we've been discussing?

Becky Farley 39:12

Well, that last line "for there is no savior beside me." We, we just, I mean, all through Hosea, she's been running off to her lovers. And finally, there is no savior. It doesn't matter how, how shiny, how funny, how incredible, how beautiful according to the world's standards. There is no savior beside him. He is the only one that will save you from your heartbreak, from your feeling unworthy, from your maybe feeling like you, you, I don't know. All of the stuff, "there is no savior beside me." That is the doctrine. That's it.

Becky Farley 40:06

That IS the doctrine. Oh, I'm going to write that down.

DeAnn 40:09

I loved that. That is the core of the plan of salvation.

DeAnn 40:15

Umm. Wow, I like that. I'm writing THAT down.

Tammy 40:21

Let's do a scripture chain, shall we, with this verse of scripture. This is so cool because if anyone teaches seminary or Institute or gospel doctrine, teach this. Here we go. To the outside of verse 4, let's write this reference. Isaiah 43:11, and let's turn there.

DeAnn 40:38

ISA 43:11 "I, even I, am the Lord, and beside me there is no savior."

Tammy 40:44

Okay, next to that verse, let's put Doctrine and Covenants Section 76:1. And Becky, will you read that when we get there?

Becky Farley 40:53

D & C 76:1 "Hear, O ye heavens, and give ear, O earth, and rejoice ye inhabitants thereof, for the Lord is God, and beside him there is no savior."

Tammy 41:05

Okay, next to that verse. Let's put Mosiah 3:17.

Tammy 41:09

MOSIAH 3:17 "And moreover, I say unto you, that there shall be no other name given nor any other way nor means whereby salvation can come unto the children of men, only in and through the name of Christ, the Lord Omnipotent."

Tammy 41:26

Okay, now go to Mosiah 4:8, let's put that reference.

DeAnn 41:30

MOSIAH 4:8 "And this is the means whereby salvation cometh. And there is none other salvation save this which hath been spoken of; neither are there any conditions whereby man can be saved except the conditions which I have told you."

Tammy 41:44

Okay, now next to that verse, let's put Luke 2:11. Luke 2:11 and I will read that one. And here's what this verse says,

Tammy 41:58

LUKE 2:11 "For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord."

Tammy 42:06

Now we're gonna do - this is so cool - highlight the word Saviour right there. So the word savior in Hebrew is YASHA. And it means 'to deliver', or deliverer'. So now we're going to put another reference. Let's go to Luke 1:31. So you need to know the word YASHA for this to just really punch, because it's so cool. Becky, will you please read for us Luke 1:31. And this is the angel speaking to Mary.

Becky Farley 42:35

LUKE 1:31 "And behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name JESUS."

Tammy 42:44

K, now, this is so cool. Jesus's name is the Greek version of the Hebrew name, YESHUA. And we just learned that Yeshua in Hebrew means 'salvation'. So right there, Mary's being told you're going to name your son salvation. You will name Him Savior, He will be the deliverer, He will redeem us. Now this goes clear back to what we learned at the very beginning of the Old Testament year: the moment we enter into any covenant with Christ, we become married to Him. He is our divine kinsman, and He will deliver us, He becomes our Savior. And we promise our loyalty and fidelity to him when we become married to him as covenant-keepers. And in return, He promises these kinship privileges of safety, protection, redemption, debt's from sin, and our enslavement to Satan.

Tammy 43:37

And then you go back to Hosea - "there is no savior beside me". 'It's literally My name, there's no one else that can do this job but Me. And you will spend your life looking for other ways to do it that are a little bit easier, a little bit more comfortable, but that's not the goal.' And so I just think using this marriage metaphor, which is so cool. I like the idea of what it's teaching us. And then to become a Zion people is to bring people to Him, to bring people into His tent so that they can receive the blessings that the Savior offers them. Tell me what's going on in your brains. I love your faces right now.

DeAnn 44:19

I'm just taking it in. I'm just like, I love making all of these connections and everything coming full circle. And I love that it's the Savior is at the center of that circle. Love that.

Tammy 44:35

Well and going back to what you said about the name thing at the beginning, when you're like they just must have a really mean parents that name them these awful names. I mean how crazy, how incredible for Mary to have this angel say, O, and by the way, you're going to name your son, salvation. You're going to name your son, YESHUA.

DeAnn 44:54

But no pressure on you,

Tammy 44:55

Right. O, yeah, by the way, good luck raising Him. He will deliver His people. Well, I asked you guys this question ahead of time and I want to know if you have an answer: Is there a time in your life where you felt that the Savior had delivered you? where He was, where in your life there was no other Savior besides Him? that you could share with us?

DeAnn 45:20

Ohk, year. Umm, so when I had a stillborn baby, and I struggled with such terrible postpartum depression, and I just remember feeling like I was in the deepest, darkest pit, and that there was no way I was ever, I didn't, I didn't see any hope. Because I think that's what depression does. The depression talks. it does.You, you can no longer hear sense. You can't hear what's true or what's right because the mental illness is so, is just so deep, there's no way to find sense. And just all of the things that He brought. All of those Sister Yee talked about it in her talk, in conference, the calm compensatory blessings. I never really understood compensatory blessings until I looked back, and could see at that time the friends, the friends that God brought into my life, and the therapist, and the bravery that he gave me in taking the medication. The husband who was willing to get up in the middle of the night to do laundry just to keep up.

Becky Farley 47:22

And I couldn't appreciate them then, but now I look back and I see how the Savior really put all of those things, you know, when they talk about the thread, you know, and how you're going to look back on your tapestry. And you're gonna say, Wow, that was so beautiful. But you can't see it when you're in the middle of it.

Becky Farley 47:47

So I don't, I couldn't say, Well, the Savior's delivering me, because I was in too dark of a place. But now I look at it, and I can see how He had it all planned. Like, it was, it's all okay, even even the bad stuff is turned to good. It's all going to be okay. And I can trust that and know that He really is going to deliver me, despite the fact that I'm turning, I'm continually turning to these other lovers. Even, I mean, I hate to use, like, compare depression to a lover. That sounds so uncomfortable and terrible, but I didn't trust Him that He could do it. But He did. He still did. He still did. And now I can see all of those blessings that He was bringing to heal me, to bring me out of that, to deliver me. There's no other Savior besides Him.

Tammy 48:53

Amen. Okay, I'm a witness of that truth. Amen, Becky. Thank you for sharing that. What about you, DeAnn? Was there a time when the Savior delivered you?

DeAnn 49:05

Um, there have been multiple times when He has delivered me and I, and I love that He delivers. He delivers from the big things. And sometimes they're ongoing for years and years. And that delivery takes a long time. And then sometimes there's the little, the little deliverances. What comes to mind was a couple of years ago when we started into the pandemic and things were closing and all of our Deseret Bookstores were closing. And so that pushed all of the business to my team - were trying to get people working from home. It was so stressful and I was so tired. And I was so depleted, and then we had the earthquake,and then there were fires. And I kept praying, saying, Do you not see what's going on here? (laughter)

Tammy 50:03

right?

DeAnn 50:00

Because I'm like, see?! And I decided to go into work this one Saturday and try and catch up on some, some things and I, I also do some shopping therapy and so I stopped - before I went into work, I stopped at Trader Joe's and picked up flowers because they always have beautiful flowers there and I love their Gerber daisies. And I'm like, I deserve flowers, that is all there is to it and I buy myself some flowers. And when we got in, and when I got into the store they had some peach-colored Gerber daisies. They were, I have never seen them there before. I've only seen them twice since. But I've never seen that. I'm like, this is a sign that I deserve flowers. So I bought these flowers. And I left and then I stopped at another store before I went into work.

DeAnn 50:30

And when I was coming back out, I saw this cute little older lady. I'm assuming she was with her daughter walking in the parking lot. And she was walking really slow, pushing her little, her little cart. And she had on her coat lapel, it looked like a crocheted flower that was a little orangey peach. And the feeling came to me, Give her those flowers. And this is me going, Those are my flowers. I deserve 'em. Do you know how many hours I've worked? So I have this argument with myself. Like, those are my flowers. I was feeling pretty selfish. And no, Give her the flowers, give her the flowers, give her the flowers. So I finally went, Fine! I will give her the flowers!

DeAnn 51:47

I got them out of my car and I walked over to her and I said, I just think that you should have these. I want you to have these. And she looked so shocked and surprised. Are you sure? And I'm like, Yes, I just really would like you to have these today. And as I was walking back to my car, I heard her say, "They're even my favorite color." And I got in the door and I shut the door to my car and I started tearing up. And instead of arguing with myself, I realized I've been arguing with the Lord. And I literally just said, 'And WHAT was that all about?' And the Spirit came to me as clear as day and said, 'Because I see her.' And I, and I knew He saw her and He sees me and He saw people scared of the earthquake and the pandemic and the fires. And he saw a little lady who loves peach-colored Gerber daisies. And I felt delivered at that moment, from feeling so unseen and unheard and exhausted. And, and so when my big things aren't answered and there, believe me, there still are a few, I have to keep being reminded that He sees me.

Becky Farley 53:17

Wow, I love that.

Tammy 53:20

Wow, thank you so much. I can't stop crying. Wow, thank you, both of you for sharing your experiences. And for reminding me that there, "there is no Savior beside me." Like He'll deliver all of us in all of our mess. It doesn't matter what it looks like, no one's exempt from, just the deliverance of the Savior, no one's exempt from Yeshua from salvation. And going back to that question I started with what does it look like in your life or in the life of this woman? And it's everything. Salvation is everything when it comes to heartbreak; it's the only thing that will deliver us from that heartbreak is Christ. So t,hank you so much for sharing that and for that experience, that was awesome. Okay, so in the next segment, we're going to jump into Joel. Let's see what he has to teach us. Here we go.

Segment 5 54:06

.....

Tammy 54:12

Okay, turn to the Book of Joel, and we're just gonna mark what his name in Hebrew means, because there are two really cool meanings. First of all, some scholars believe that his nae Yo el means 'God is willing'. And then here's another thing it could mean. J-O, Jo, corresponds with the sound 'yo' and is a contraction of the divine name of Jehovah. And E is a common Semitic singular for God. Therefore other scholars think his name means 'Jehovah is God'. And in light of everything we've been discussing as 'a deliverer' here we have a prophet now Joel: either 'God is willing', or 'Jehovah is God'. So tell me, either one of you, how does knowing that Jehovah is God, or that He is willing? How does that help encourage us in our moments when we needao deliverer?

DeAnn 55:01

Okay, so thinking about what you shared, Becky, with, with your depession in those, those dark, there's dark moments, I also have had to battle depression and mental illness. I too. I was, yeah, I too have, I have obsessive compulsive disorder. And I don't list with religious connotations, to script philosphy, even before we were talking about it. I didn't get diagnosed till after my mission and that was a deliverance. But there are dark hours. And I think unless you're in that pit, it's so

Becky Farley 55:42

you don't understand it.

DeAnn 55:43

You don't, until you feel so dark. And I remember that darkest hour because I was, I was pretty mad at God, because -and this is where you know you're in trouble - because suicide wasn't an option to me because I knew I would still be me. And it made me mad. And I thought that was so unfair because I didn't want to exist. And that's dark.

Tammy 56:16

That is dark.

Becky Farley 56:17

Well, and I just wish that that this message could get to everybody. That this, "there is no savior beside me."

DeAnn 56:28

Absolutely.

Becky Farley 56:30

I mean, and it's not just about like, obviously it's about the prayer. It's about, but it's about accepting all of those compensatory blessings that He brings, whatever that is. And who knows what that is, you know? It's the right person. It's the right medication, it's the right therapist, it's the right day - that perfect sunshine and you look up at the mountains and you know that He sees you. And I'm going to be that person that's going to give that, those flowers to you. He sees you.

Tammy 57:12

Because, I'm just gonna put this in there: God is willing, and Jehovah is God. Oh my gosh, thank you, both of you. So let's go into Joel then, let's go into Jo el or Joel, however you want to say it.

Tammy 57:23

How do you say it?

Tammy 57:23

I would just say Joel, but it is Yoel, that's how you'd say it Hebrew, Yoel. I think that is so awesome. The overall message of Yoel is, "Get ready, because Jesus is coming." That's what we're talking about here. It is entirely about the Second Coming. It is entirely about him getting ready to deliver his people who are ready when He comes again. Let's go into Joel chapter 2. Okay, so we're gonna go ahead before we go back. Go to Joel chapter 2, and just in verses 1-11. I want to know, did either one of you highlight or mark anything about the Second Coming? The signs of the Second Coming or what it says in there? Because at the end of verse 1 it says, "For it is nigh at hand." I really like how this verse starts in 2:1 it says, "Blow ye the trumpet in Zion, and sound an alarm in my holy mountain: let all the inhabitants of the land tremble: for the day of the LORD cometh, for it is nigh at hand;" Like, Jesus is coming. Did either one of you mark any verses in chapter 2 about what it will be like when He comes or before He comes?

Becky Farley 57:26

Well, just verse 2. I mean, I think verse 2 is very important.

Tammy 58:33

Read it.

Becky Farley 58:34

So verse 2 of chapter 2 of Joel says, "A day of darkness and of gloominess, a day of clouds and of thick darkness, as the morning spread upon the mountains: a great people and a strong; there hath not been ever the like, neither shall there be any more after it, even to the years of many generations."

Tammy 59:00

Why? Tell me why marked that?

Becky Farley 59:02

Well, it is. It's grey. It's kind of gloomy time. I mean it's a little, a day of clouds and thick darkness, there's a lot of confusion. There's a lot of sadness. And unless you recognize who is the Savior, you could get caught up with a lot of gloomy gloominess and sadness. I talk, you know, with with my business of teaching mindfulness and self-compassion, I talk to a lot of sad people trying to find a way out, a way to help themselves feel better. I mean, I would say much more than even 10 years ago.

Tammy 59:51

Yeah.

Becky Farley 59:52

It's a day; it's, there's a lot of darkness. But as long as you remember the Savior and trust in that.

Tammy 1:00:02

What you described looks like verse 6 to me: "Before their face the people shall be much pained: all faces shall gather blackness."

Becky Farley 1:00:10

Yeah,

Tammy 1:00:11

because they don't have the Savior. We're not saying mental illness people are that We're saying people who have, like Hosea, left the Savior. That is, they are pained. Ohhh.

Becky Farley 1:00:23

And gather blackness. "All faces shall gather blackness."

Tammy 1:00:27

without Jesus. How about you, DeAnn. Any verses?

DeAnn 1:00:33

I didn't highlight any. But I was thinking about how some of these things are on different levels as we find in the scriptures, because we see this on that spiritual level and mental levels and spiritual levels, but also physical levels. As you look at, if you've watched some of the videos of the hurricane coming into Florida, you see how dark and gloomy and cloudy and thick. And pictures of the fires during the summer, and there are so many levels, or layers to this, that are profound physically. We have the spiritually, we have mentally and emotionally. I mean, there's, there's just so many layers to this before the Savior comes. And I think all of us at one time or another will find ourselves in one of these, one of these layers.

Tammy 1:01:38

Oh, I like that.

DeAnn 1:01:39

And if you're not in that layer right now, the Lord then uses us to reach out to somebody else who is in a different layer, where you ihave been.

Tammy 1:01:55

Wow, 'multi layered'. I wrote that in my scriptures next to that verse. DeAnnn, in chapter 2 will you please read verse 10, speaking of your layers.

DeAnn 1:02:04

2:10 "The earth shall quake before them; the heavens shall tremble: the sun and the moon shall be dark, and the stars shall withdraw their shining:"

Tammy 1:02:12

Now look at verse 11, do that for us.

Tammy 1:02:14

2:11 "And the Lord shall utter his voice before his army: for his camp is very great: for he is strong that executeth his word: for the day of the LORD is great and very terrible; and who can abide it?"

Tammy 1:02:27

Circle or highlight "who can abide it?" What is your answer to that? If you were just, if someone were to say, Who can abide the Second Coming of the Savior?, what would your answer be? Like your child or your niece comes to you and says, Who can even live through all of this? What would you tell them? What's your advice?

Becky Farley 1:02:44

Well, I think that my answer is verse 13. Can I

Becky Farley 1:02:48

Ohh, read that

Becky Farley 1:02:49

So verse 13 says "And rend your heart, and not your garments, and turn into the LORD your God: for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and repenteth him of the of the evil." I think about rending. That's like breaking your heart, tearing your heart, opening it, allowing the Savior to come in, and not your garments. So to me garments signifies my covenants. Like don't give my covenants up. Like hold on to my covenants. Don't rip those apart. Don't look at those and say, Why do I follow Jesus? Is He really even there? I don't really, like, don't question your covenant. Open your heart up and don't question your covenant. And turn to the Lord your God.

DeAnn 1:03:40

My first my first impulse was just who can abide it? You can abide it. And then you just so beautifully gave the why. That was so awesome to take that in verse 13. And that was, that was beautiful.

Tammy 1:04:03

I like that you said "you can". How, what if they were to say to you, "But how do I know I can? What, what should I do?" Because they if, well, they're older now but when they were younger, if they hadn't been through the temple and they don't have garments?

DeAnn 1:04:17

Well, I think if they ask now I would go back to Becky's because she's she talked about the covenants, they have made covenants that make that visible covenant

Tammy 1:04:27

very good.

DeAnn 1:04:28

They make sacrament covenants the, which is the the covenant we make more than once. - the only covenant we make more than once. Isn't that amazing?

Tammy 1:04:40

Oh, I like that. Tell me about that, what do you mean?

DeAnn 1:04:44

We get to this, every other ordinance if you're doing it again, it's for someone else. The sacrament is the covenant you make for yourself every single weel. that you can reach - I just love that you can reach out to the Savior and He reaches back through the sacrament.

Tammy 1:05:07

Oh my gosh, I love you just taught us that the sacrament is not vicarious. We're not doing it for somebody else. We're doing it for ourselves. Ahhh, DeAnn.

Becky Farley 1:05:16

Well, yeah. And I think that trusting, like, going back to opening your heart to the covenants, trusting those, instead of all of those other things that we keep backsliding with. Like, don't, don't focus on the backslide, focus on opening your heart to the covenants.

Tammy 1:05:42

Okay, wow, thank you, both of you, for what you shared and what you just taught us. So what we're gonna do is in the next segment, we're gonna see what Joel's answer is for who can abide the covenant and we're going to talk about that next.

Segment 6 1:05:54

.....

Tammy 1:06:00

All right, let's see what Joel's advice is. Turn with me to Joel 1:14, because he's talking about Jesus is coming and he's warning us to get ready, and to do all sorts of things. And then we get this verse, so I will read it. Here we go. Joel 1:14, and then we'll do a cross reference.

Tammy 1:06:19

Joel 1:14 "Sanctify ye a fast, call a solemn assembly, gather the elders and all the inhabitants of the land into the house of the LORD your God, and cry unto the LORD."

Tammy 1:06:30

We're gonna cross reference that with chapter 2:15. And verse 15, says, "Blow the trumpet in Zion, sanctify a fast, call a solemn assembly." Okay, what three things are we advised to do in those verses?

DeAnn 1:06:48

Blow a trumpet?

Tammy 1:06:48

(laughs) I love that play

Becky Farley 1:06:51

I play a trumpet, I really do.

Tammy 1:06:55

Blow a trumpet would be to give us a warning. You're totally right. Blow a trumpet. I love that so much. Great answer. Keep going.

Becky Farley 1:07:04

Well, sanctify a fast.

Tammy 1:07:06

Very good. Were are to fast

Becky Farley 1:07:08

Gather, gather and have a solemn assembly. So go to the temple. Right?

Tammy 1:07:13

Have a solemn assembly and then go to the temple.

Becky Farley 1:07:17

Okay, explain that. What's a, what's a solemn assembly? Like, what, like, like, what's the difference between that, between that and then church?

Tammy 1:07:26

Well I'm so glad you asked that question, Becky Farley. Okay, so here we, well write in your journals. Joel advises us first of all, fast as you're preparing for the Second Coming of Jesus Christ, which is right now, because guys, Jesus is coming. I mean, he was very clear in chapter 1, it's happening. So we need to know that. Fast, then he says call a solemn assembly. Now here's what we need to know about solemn assemblies. It's a very important sacred gathering. And it can be many different gatherings for different things. In the Old Testament, it was during the Passover. It was during the Feast of Tabernacles. It was at the dedication of temples and still is; every time we dedicate a temple that is a solemn assembly. A solemn assembly also happens when we're sustaining the new prophet. A solemn assembly happens when they dedicated the Conference Center in 2000. A solemn assembly happens when we sanction or add new scripture or new doctrine to the belief system or a new declaration is a solemn assembly.

Tammy 1:08:25

So basically, the bottom line is, a solemn assembly is any sacred gathering. But this specifically is kind of leading into this idea of the solemn assembly: call, gather - the gathering, because there will be a big ol gigantic solemn assembly at Adam ondi-Ahman before Christ comes again. The finality of the Second Coming, we're going to have a sacred solemn assembly there. And then he says to go to the temple; that's the third thing, to attend the temple, which goes back to the covenants Becky that you talked about. I think we've all - I think is so awesome - this idea of fasting, DeAnn. I mean, the sacrament and fasts, how they go together. And that solemn assembly could easily be sacrament, every Sunday, a sacred meeting. So now let's turn to Joel chapter 3, because here's the one last thing we have to do before the Savior comes. And this has just hit me like a ton of bricks, and it's weighing very heavily on my heart. Ho, I hope I can get through it. Okay. So Joel, 3. I want to first look at verse 11.

Tammy 1:09:27

3:11 "Assemble yourselves, and come, all ye heathen, and gather yourselves together around about:"

Tammy 1:09:33

Okay, we've talked about that. Gather yourselves, assemble yourselves. They he tells us to get busy and work in verse 13 "Put ye in the sickle, for the harvest is ripe: come, get you down; for the press is full," Like it's time, Jesus is coming. And then he says this in verse 14,

Tammy 1:09:49

14 "Multitudes, multitudes in the valley of decision: for the day of the LORD is near in the valley of decision." And that struck me because I think of how many of us and how many people that I love who were in that valley of decision where you have to make the choice? Like, are you going to pick Christ? Are you going to pick Yeshua, the deliverer, or not? And it couldn't be more succinct in that verse. How many of us and every one of us in our lives have been in that valley of decision and we've had to make a choice. And we'll be asked to do that. And when He comes again, at Adam ondi-Ahman, and judgment day, we will be in that valley of decision. Will it be a hard one or an easy one? Do you know which side you're going to choose? It's, it was just so profound to me, because I've been in that valley, and they're our loved ones in that valley right now. It's a hard place to be, right?

DeAnn 1:10:49

We are in that valley. And as soon as you said that, and I don't know how in reading this, I missed this whole verse.

Tammy 1:10:59

Yeah, me, too.

DeAnn 1:11:01

I thought about our Prophet in General Conference, who, in his remarks, I remember him specifically blessing us to better know truth from error. He knows we are in this valley of decision right now as a world, as a people, and as members of the Church. Wow.

Becky Farley 1:11:25

Multitudes.

Tammy 1:11:28

Yeah.

Becky Farley 1:11:30

I mean, and that it's a comparison of Valley. You know, I just, it is a valley. You can go up this mountain, or you can go up this mountain, you know? And the day of the Lord is near in the valley of decision. Like, we're, we're here. I mean, you, and you do have to make the decision of your covenants and opening your heart. Or going to those other lovers. I, I hesitate to even say that, because I've been in this valley of decision. And you know, when you say that, it seems like, Well, it's simple. Just choose Jesus, you know? Or, or, you know, eat less and move more. It's just easy Becky. Eat less and move more. Just choose Jesus, you'll be fine. Like,

Tammy 1:12:40

It's so true. Just choose,

Becky Farley 1:12:43

Just choose. Why don't you just choose, just, you'll be fine. But really, you really have to just trust one way or the other. You have to trust and that, wow, that verse is just so where we're at right now. It is just so where we're at.

Tammy 1:13:04

Well, and then I was struck with this idea in verse 16. Because here's a little little story. When I was 13, 12? I wanted so badly to go deer hunting with my dad. He's like, All right, I'll let you come. And I was so excited. And we had to wake up at like 4 in the morning so that we could hike to get to the top of the mountains where we were going to sit and wait to shoot the deer. But what I didn't know, unbeknownst to me, was that my dad - I wasn't going to hike to the top. My job was to be in the valley and to scare the deer up to the sides. That was a lot of work, to walk up and down that valley, up and down the sides of the mountain to scare the deer. I'll never forget how hard it was, no matter what side of the mountain I wanted to go, it required work to get back to my dad, as I'm in that valley. And it requires work. Whatever decision you make, in that valley of decision, you're gonna have to work either way. So that's why the decision, you have to pick who you're going to follow. And look at verse 16.

Tammy 1:13:04

3:16 "The LORD also shall roar out of Zion, and utter his voice from Jerusalem; and the heavens and the earth shall shake: but the LORD will be the hope of his people, and the strength of the children of Israel."

Tammy 1:14:17

Like he's the only one offering us help up that mountain. You better believe that the adversary is going to sit and laugh as all the snicker candy bars fell out of your pocket just like they did to me. And nobody brought me any more treats. Like that's what truly happened. All the food is stuffed into my pockets - gone. Like the Lord is only one who will

Becky Farley 1:14:37

'Cuz you were running. You are running from both sides.

Tammy 1:14:40

So much work, yes.

Becky Farley 1:14:41

One side or the other side. And don't we do that and isn't it exhausting to keep running and running from one side to the other? And all your Snickers candy bars are gonna fall out of your pocket.

Tammy 1:14:56

Yeah. And so my, I just think for me, I need to stop where I am, make my decision, and then start walking upwards. And, and Don Perry taught us that, that we will flow to the temple. And remember he taught us that the word flow in Hebrew is 'River', and it's upward. Like it's gonna take effort to get up to the top of that mountain. But in this verse, He is our hope, and He is our strength, and He will help us get there, guaranteed. He will deliver us from that arduous hike. He's just going to help us.

Becky Farley 1:15:31

And it's possible to for the river to flow up hill, we can do it.

Tammy 1:15:36

We can.

Becky Farley 1:15:36

Even if, even if the things that you have in front of you seem completely impossible and just pure sadness and darkness ahead of you. He will flow you uphill. He will push you uphill.

DeAnn 1:15:53

I was just gonna say as you were reading verse 14 again. And I know grammatically it says "For the day of the Lord is near in the valley of decision." But as you're reading the other verses, I just kept looking at just part of that sentence, which was, "the Lord is near in the valley of decision." The Lord is near when you are in your valley of decision.

Becky Farley 1:16:15

Oooo, I love that.

Tammy 1:16:19

Thank you. That's it, that's the end of our discussion. Oh my gosh, that was so good. I love today. Now I get why it took so much work to get this one on the books you guys, and why we have such crappy weeks.

Becky Farley 1:16:34

Yeah,

DeAnn 1:16:34

You're both good for my soul. Thank you so much for it.

Tammy 1:16:37

Oh, ditto. I've been more weepy on this one than I think I have in a long time.

Becky Farley 1:16:41

Yeah, me too.

Tammy 1:16:43

Oh,wow. Thank you so much, you two. Okay. So just take a minute and look over everything we discussed. And what is your takeaway from today?

Becky Farley 1:16:50

Well, I, I mean, I have two that came from DeAnn. The first one was at the very beginning when we were talking about going, that Gomer going back to her lovers because she felt comfortable there. Because that's where she felt like her people were. And I just hope that I know who my people are. I want to always know that Jesus is my person, that He is my Savior, there is no other Savior beside him. And then obviously, that last one, that the Lord is near in the valley of decision. And if we can trust that,we can make it uphill and flow uphill like the river flowing to the temple.

DeAnn 1:17:42

Beautiful takeaways, thanks Beck.

DeAnn 1:17:45

There were so many good things. I just took so many notes, but I really loved me, you talked about don't focus on the backslide, open yourself to the covenant. And I think so many times, even my own weakness I get so focused on the backslide. And really, the covenant is what binds us to the Savior. And then just this last one: I really love what you talked about the solemn assembly is is a sacred gathering. And to me, I just kind of wrote that the sacrament can be my personal solemn assembly if I allow it to be. And that was, and then the Valley of Decision, keeping the covenant, opening the hearts. That, that I really, I really needed that.

Tammy 1:18:36

Me too. Boy, me too. Thank you for sharing that. Thank you, both of you. Because I learned so much from today. Becky, I loved it when we read there is no savior beside me and you summed it up perfectly by just saying, "That is the doctrine. There is no savior beside me." Then when you said "that is the doctrine in my heart", I'm like, Oh, that is the doctrine. And that DeAnn, you're like, that's the plan of salvation. I love that. And then DeAnn, loved your story where you, about the flowers. And you just said, "Because I saw her" Oh, I needed to be reminded of that. He sees me. There's a lot of days I need to be reminded of that. So thank you. Thank you to both of you. Beautiful, beautiful day. Wow,

Becky Farley 1:19:19

Beautiful day.

Tammy 1:19:20

Oh! I love you two so much. Wow. Okay, bye. I cannot wait to hear what your big takeaway was from this episode. Please share. I'm dying to know what everybody learned from this specific episode. So if you haven't already joined our Facebook or Instagram, go do it. It's so awesome, because I just want to know what you learned. And at the end of the week, on a Saturday, we do a post asking for what your big takeaway was. So comment on the post that relates to the specific lesson. You can get to both our Facebook and Instagram by going to the show notes for this episode on LDS living.com/sunday on Monday. And, go there anyway, because that's where we're gonna have links to the references, but we'll also have a complete transcript of this whole discussion which, I have a feeling I'm going to even want.

Tammy 1:19:59

The Sunday on Monday study group is a Deseret Bookshelf Plus original brought to you by LDS Living. It's written and hosted by me, Tammy Uzelac Hall ,and today our beautiful study group participants were DeAnn Hansen and Becky Farley. And you can find more information about these friends at LDS living.com/sunday on Monday. Our podcast is produced by Cole Wissinger and me; it is edited by Hailey Higham, and recorded and mixed by Mix at Six Studios. And our executive producer is Erin Hallstrom. Thanks for being here. We'll see you next week.

Tammy 1:20:25

And please remember: He sees you because you're His favorite.

Transcribed by https://otter.ai