Primary 56 - Noah and the city of Babylon

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Brothers and sisters, 

The world is full of fakes. Mimicry is the best form of flattery but when it comes to happiness and the gospel of Christ it is so dangerous that it can warp the spirits of men and women to believe that the way to God is on a path that is more or less than the prophet or the scriptures. Like jewelry, fakes are deceptive and misleading and can cost us dearly when used to deceive us. The path to heaven is no different. Satan would have us follow ideas and people that may be well-intentioned but who follow the intentions of their hearts. This is dangerous and can lead to paths that Nephi saw that could take us away from the precious fruit of the gospel.

When Noah (whose name means rest and spelled backward means grace in Hebrew) was asked to teach the gospel, he was also commanded to build a ship, a vessel of curious workmanship. The giants (or kings, we are not sure what that meant; giant) sought to both kill him and dissuade him through intermarriage with his daughters. He was promised all the temptations of Christ money, power, safety. Heavenly Father asked Noah to do a hard thing like the prophets before him and after him. Because of his obedience and endurance to the end, we are the children of Noah, like Adam and Abraham. Heaven would create and keep covenants with us because of his faithfulness. Because of his obedience, he is Gabriel who gave a message to Mary of a son who would save the entire creation of our Heavenly Father. 

Alas, the children saved from the flood that baptized the whole earth, did not help the children of Noah to keep covenants. The token (a physical reminder) of the bow in the sky was not enough because the children wanted more it less than plain and simple truths. They, the children of Babylon, built towers to reach heaven and then they would create rules and conditions for God. They put a temple at the bottom of the tower so that God would come down and dwell with men on men's conditions, buildings that would never be occupied.

Brothers and sisters, Heavenly Father and Jesus do not work that way. We make covenants to be called the sons and daughters of God. He calls us this not us calling ourselves. We build temples to learn about God and what He wants of us. We don't make buildings and boats to do God's will our way. Everything we do in Christ's church is His way, with His council and guidence. It does mean that we need to stick to the fundamentals, faith, repentance, renewal of our covenants, and enduring to the end. 

Brothers and sisters, prepare yourselves daily for the storms of temptation and sin. You are not asked to build boats but prepare for times that the Holy Ghost will need us to do things for our Heavenly Father. Clean hearts and minds will help us to be ready. Support and sustain righteous people and ideals. Heaven will guide us daily.

Challenges 

1) Read Genesis 12-17, Abraham 1-2
2) How do you know what is true? Make a goal this week to develop your communication with the Lord. Open your heart with daily prayer, scripture study, and time to ponder and listen. This is the only way to truly know the truth. Record your experiences.

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