REL. 301 Old Testament

Genesis- 2 Samuel

Fall 2011

Instructor: Kyle Black

E-Mail:

Taylor 234

Office Hours: MTWT As shown on office door.

Office Phone: 496-3931

Section 10 / MW / 3:15-4:15 P.M. / Taylor 249

Section 11 / MW / 4:30-5:30 P.M. / Taylor 249

Note: All Sections have the same assignments and requirements for this fall semester. Due dates for assignments may be divided by section. These will be noted on the syllabus and discussed in class beforehand. All Changes to the syllabus will be discussed in class before hand.

Course Objective:

Both the Old & New Testaments teach that the first great commandment is to love the Lord with all the energy of our souls. (Deuteronomy 6:5; Matt 22:36-39) When we love the Lord more than any other person or thing, we will be obedient to his commandments, live His standards, and keep our covenants with honesty. The objective of this class is to build our love for the Lord through abiding by the precepts we will learn in our study of the Old Testament. As we show our love for the Lord by our obedience to his commandments and by keeping the covenants we have entered into we fulfill the greatest of all commandments.

Required for Class:

  • The Standard Works (all of your scriptures every class—You are not prepared for class if you only have your Bible)
  • Old Testament Student Manual (purchase at the book store) [Recommended]
  • Talks from Church leaders. (All Talks will be placed on brainhoney)
  • Scripture study journal (Have on the first day with first journal assignment finished)

Attendance Requirements:

You & I are expected to be to class every day that it is scheduled. I will be here, so you be here! 20 points a day is given for class attendance. I do not have any make-up option, so attendance is crucial.  You may miss 2 days and still have the ability to receive an A grade. From absence 3-5 your grade begins to fall (because of lost points) unless you are on official campus release. (Bring me the official notice before you are gone, not after.) After 6 absences you will receive an (F) failing grade for class. Attendance and points will be determined with your syllabus. Do not attempt to sign the role then skip class. This is a lie and I will not tolerate it.

Learning Outcomes:

  • Knowledge: A student should be able to read the Old Testament and find the following in the doctrines, principles, insights, stories, and symbolism of the text:

1. The covenants of the Lord.

2. That Jesus is the Christ.

3. The Plan of Salvation: Specifically the Creation, the Fall, and the Atonement

4. The Melchizedek priesthood temple and its importance.

5. The need to marry in the covenant and raise a celestial family.

6. Prophecy about our time.

7. How the Law of Moses prefigured Christ and the Plan.

8. Truths. (Good old life living truths)

  • Skills:

1. A student should be able to identify and articulate vocally and in writing doctrines and principles found in their study of the Old Testament

2. Strive to understand the inspired intent of the writer.

3. A student should be able to understand some of the background cultural aspects of the

scriptures and the times/circumstances they were written in.

  • Becoming:

1. Gain and/or strengthen your testimony of the Lord and the Plan of Salvation.

2. A student should be closer to God by actually repenting and putting into practice those

doctrines, principles, and insights learned through their study.

______

Daily Reading/Journal Assignment:

Daily reading will be the largest portion of your grade in this class. There is no assigned number of pages; we simply have to much to cover to require you to read all of Genesis to 2 Samuel. I have decided that President Monson’s council to the church will guide our reading requirement for class. He said:

“Every holder of the priesthood should participate in daily scripture study. Crash courses are not nearly so effective as the day-to-day reading and application of the scriptures in our lives. Become acquainted with the lessons the scriptures teach. Learn the background and setting of …the prophets’ admonitions. Study them as though they were speaking to you, for such is the truth…

I promise you…that if you will study the scriptures diligently, your power to avoid temptation and to receive direction of the Holy Ghost in all you do will be increased. (“Be Your Best Self,” Ensign, May 2009, 67–70)

For this class I will require 30 minutes of scripture study each day. I will explain in class how this will be tracked by you along with reading the Old Testament. If you have special needs in reading, don’t worry. It is not how much you have read, but how consistent you are in your daily reading.

The 30 minutes a day will be worth 10 points every day. From September 12 – December 14 there are 94 days.

Journaling is not meant to be tedious, it is meant to help you be prepared for class with the ideas, thoughts, and questions that come to you as you read. Please do not take to much time in journaling that it becomes a chore. If you will simply jot down your thoughts and insights you will find that your effort has been worth while. Every Journal assignment for the block of scriptures is worth up to 10 points. You will grade your own effort on this. We will discuss it more on the first day of class.

An example journal page is attached to this syllabus.

  • Full Name
  • Chapters & talks you have read.
  • Doctrines & Principles that impressed your mind.
  • Goals on how these doctrines and principles will help you make needed changes in your life.
  • Thoughts & feelings from a story that you had never considered or felt before.

Class Participation:

Participation isn’t an option. Come prepared with questions, comments, quotes, thoughts and ideas ready to be shared. Please be alert in class. Note taking is participation. Sharing your testimony of a principle we are discussing, making an application to your life and helping the rest of us see how to apply the scriptures. This really is the point of the journal, so that you have something to share in class. Just be ready to help every day. Points are not earned; they are subtracted for not participating.

Class Rules:

  • Honor the honor code: Please be obedient. I will dismiss students who break the honor code from class that day. I get to determine what is modest & what isn’t, not you, so dress modest. No swearing or crude language. No beard facial hair, no hats, no flip-flops. All points will be lost for that day if the honor code is not followed.
  • No Cell phones: turn them off. Not down, not to vibrate, OFF.
  • No texting for any reason. If you are caught texting during class for any reason you will be given a failing grade in the class for the entire semester. Please don’t try to text in your pockets or under books. If another student informs me that you are texting in class, I will expect total honesty when I confront you about it. Signature ______
  • No handhelds or computer games. If I see them all points will be lost for the day!
  • Participate/ participate/ participate.

Old Testament/Law of Moses Paper/ Background Paper

This Paper/Project is very involved, and will not be able to be crammed. It is due on Friday October 31st. I expect your best work on this project. This project is to help you to become a better scripture scholar, to see more in the Old Testament than just surface understanding. I desire you to understand why having some background in the culture, geography, history, politics, and social structure matter in understanding why prophets did and said what they did in their time.

  • An Old Testament or Law of Moses background theme, that needs to be cleared with me before you begin.
  • Research from both LDS and secular scholarly sources. (Don’t limit yourself to the Ensign, put some effort in and learn from other sources).
  • Relevant cultural, economical, sociological and theological concepts about your topic.
  • 4-7 pages double spaced -1 inch margins, 12 font Times New Romans. (Don’t try to fudge the margins, I’ve been a student too)
  • No Footnotes, I want in-text Citations. (APA or MLA)
  • Every quote must be referenced.

Please read this rubric carefully and with some humor please.

An (A) Paper includes / A (B) Paper includes / A (C) paper includes
Proper understanding of the Old Testament culture, Ideas, and Theology that has come from study time and effort. / An average effort in understanding the Culture and background of your topic. You have done some research and are reasonably informed on the subject / A quick last minute effort to try and understand a topic that you only cleared with me the week before it was due
Using several (at least 5) different valid scholarly sources (Wikipedia is not a source)for gleaning ideas and knowledge. The Ensign can be used, but is not the only source. / You use a few sources and make the Ensign your main source. / You lack the sources that will expand your knowledge of the topic, and you don’t even know how to use the Ensign
Correct doctrine as taught and augmented by latter-day revelation. / Correct doctrine / Doctrine is less than correct
Clear paper that has been reviewed (the writing center is always a good idea) and edited for spelling, grammar, proper outline and clear ideas. This is college; I expect some skills in writing clearly. / You reviewed your own paper, and made sure that you understood it. / You printed the paper 10 minutes before class and have no idea if it really makes sense or not, your just glad its done and can be handed in.

Grading/Points

  • 40 pointseach day (cannot be made up, the reason is that it is all for class preparation. Why would I give points for being prepared for a past class?)

15 points for Attendance

5 Points for participation

15 points for daily reading

5 points for journal

  • Old Testament paper.Total= 300 pts

Attendance
Score
15 Pts
M W / Daily Reading/ Study Score
15 Pts a day / Reading Block Journal
Up to 10 Points / Class Participation
Up to 5 Pts
On time
Sing hymn enthusiastically
Make valuable comment
Ask thought provoking question
Participate in group work
Bring up journal comments
Active note taking
MON 9/12 / INTRO/ Moses 1
S M T W T F S
WED 9/14 / Genesis 1-2
Moses 1cont. & Moses 2-3
S M T W T F S
MON 9/19 / Genesis 3
Moses 3-4
S M T W T F S
WED 9/21 / Moses 3-4 cont. + Moses 5
Genesis 4
S M T W T F S
MON 9/26 / Genesis 5-11
S M T W T F S
WED 9/28 / Genesis 5-11 cont.
Moses 6-8
S M T W T F S
MON 10/3 / Genesis 12-17
Abraham 1-2
S M T W T F S
WED 10/5 / Genesis 18-23
S M T W T F S
MON 10/10 / Genesis 24-36
S M T W T F S
WED 10/12 / Genesis 37-50
JST 50 (behind the BD)
S M T W T F S
MON 10/17 / Exodus 1-4
S M T W T F S
WED 10/19 / Exodus 5-13
S M T W T F S
MON 10/24 / Exodus 13-20
S M T W T F S
WED 10/26 / Exodus 21-34
(Scan Chapters 35-40)
S M T W T F S
MON 10/31 / Leviticus 1-11
S M T W T F S
WED 11/2 / Leviticus 16-20; 25 (Scan the rest of Leviticus)
S M T W T F S
MON 11/7 / Numbers 1-12
S M T W T F S
WED 11/9 / Numbers 13-14; 16-17; 20-24, 27 (Scan the rest of Numbers)
S M T W T F S
MON 11/14 / Deuteronomy 1-16
S M T W T F S
WED 11/16 / Deuteronomy 17-33
S M T W T F S
MON 11/21 / Joshua 1-8; 10; 14; 23-24
(Scan the rest of Joshua)
S M T W T F S
WED 11/23 / NO CLASS
MON 11/28 / Judges 1-12
S M T W T F S
WED 11/30 / Judges 13-21, Ruth
S M T W T F S
MON 12/5 / 1 Samuel 1-15
S M T W T F S
WED 12/7 / 1 Samuel 16-31
S M T W T F S
MON 12/12 / 2 Samuel 1-12
S M T W T F S
WED 12/14 / 2 Samuel 13-24
S M T W T F S

Example Journal Page

Kyle Black

Rel. 301 Old Testament

Reading Assignment: Deuteronomy 25

Learning Outcomes / Skills/ Insights and Ideas

  • (Law of Moses - Doctrine)To punish with up to 40 stripes seems harsh, but it is never to exceed 40. There are bounds and conditions on punishments. -- God doesn’t over or under punish He is perfectly just.
  • (Life Truths)Verse 4 – A Person who labors should be able to enjoy the fruits of that labor. A muzzled ox cannot partake of the fruits it has done the labor for.
  • (Cultural Background)Verses 5-10 The duty of a brother to marry his brothers widow if she has no children. Sure sounds like an unexpected burden. What if she doesn’t like her husband’s brother? I wonder if it keeps land and goods in the family as well. Pretty humiliating process if the brother refuses.
  • (Life Tuths – Covenants -- Doctrine) Vss. 13-16 Being totally honest with weights and measures shows character and integrity. A covenant person would never rip off another person. If God is totally honest, shouldn’t we be in all that we do?
  • (History Background)I Think King Saul was given the order to complete the commandment given in verses 17-19 in 1Samuel 15.

Questions

  • What is the lesson that verses 11-12 have anything to do with? Chastity? Violence? Insult?
  • Why is posterity so important to the Lord. Why can’t a family line just die out?

Goals

I want to live some things with exactness, for example, I want to be totally honest in my dealings with others which is what verses 13-16 were about. Verse 16 says that to deceive a neighbor by ripping them off is an abomination to him. Those are pretty serious words. I will be honest with my fellow man.