Clothing, Covering, and Linen in the Scriptures #2. Coats of Skin

Genesis 3:21 (Moses 4:27) “Unto Adam and to his wife did the Lord God make coats of skin, and clothed them.”

Notice who clothed Adam and Eve in their coats of skin? While Satan left Adam and Eve to make their fig leaves apron by themselves, God personally clothed them. In order to clothe a person in coats of skin (presumably) an animal sacrifice would have had to be made. There is tremendous symbolism in this with regards to our Savior, Jesus Christ. He would perform the ultimate sacrifice and inevitably die for our sins. His atonement is the only thing that will be able to truly "cover" our sins/mistakes.

Atonement means to cover. "Each of us can be covered through the atonement of the Savior. A covering that provides warmth, comfort, and blots out our sins." (YouTube video - Aprons of Fig Leaves and Coats of Skins.)

The coats of skin is evidence of God's wisdom being superior to man's. (Wikipedia) I love the scripture found in Abraham 2:8, "My name is Jehovah, and I know the end from the beginning; therefore, my hand shall be over thee." It helps to illustrate why God's wisdom is superior to mine. I also love that just because he knows the end from the beginning doesn't mean that we are on our own. He will be with us on our journey and can help guide us through, if we ask.

Likewise, Adam and Eve were not banished from the Garden of Eden without any support. The coats of skin is evidence, for me, of God's love and care. The coats of skin would provide warmth, comfort, and be durable and sustainable enough to withstand the hardships of life. They would become a constant reminder of their God and what he did for them in their moment of need.

The coats of skin would be a temporal and spiritual blessing. They would also become the pattern for which Adam and Eve would be able to make other coats of skin. This makes me think about the importance of patterning our lives on the Savior, and following his example.

“What happened to the garment in which the Lord  covered Adam and Eve?

No further specific mention of it is made in scripture, but many curious parallels

emerge. Noah’s sons recognized the seriousness of their father being uncovered

on one occasion (Genesis 9:20-23). Rebekah covered Isaac in Esau’s “goodly raiment.”

Genesis 27:15  Joseph was given a coat that his brothers envied (Genesis 37:3-4).

Elijah and John the Baptist also wore animal skins (2 Kings 2:8; Matthew 3:4) "

Camille Fronk Olson 

“Women of the Old Testament” (pages 15 & 60)

What does our clothing represent today?

Do we any reminders about our covenants?

to print simply click on the image - right click - save as

Clothing, Covering, and Linen in the Scriptures #1. Fig Leaves

 I have always been fascinated with the scripture, "And I did cause that the women should spin, and toil, and work, and work all manner of fine linen, yea, and cloth of every kind, that we might clothe our nakedness; and thus we did prosper in the land - thus we did have continual peace in the land. . . " found in Mosiah 10:5. What did women making clothes have to do with prosperity and peace? I did a mini study on this verse and similar verses which I will share later; however, today, I would like to share my thoughts on a couple verses found in Genesis 4. One talks about Adam and Eve covering themselves with fig leaves and the other mentions God covering Adam and Eve with coats of skin. This is what I learned:

At the end of each post, there will be a free printable to use for your own study.

Fig Leaves

Genesis 3:7 (Moses 4:13) - And the eyes of them both were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together, and made themselves aprons.

What did Adam and Eve’s nakedness represent? - that they were innocent and free of sin. My baby loves when we get her ready for the bath or when we change her clothes. She yells with such excitement, "NAKED BABY!!" To her being naked is not inappropriate but rather funny. Like Adam and Eve, she is not prepared for this world yet. She relies on my care to prepare her. Adam and Eve, in their state of innocence, were not ready to leave the Garden of Eden. They also relied on the protection and teachings of Heavenly Father.

Why did they care that they were naked after partaking of the fruit? My thoughts - the realization that they had willingly disobeyed God - guilt - aware of what they had done and the gravity of that choice - they became the “natural man.”  

I find it interesting that the scripture says that Adam and Eve sewed fig leaves. Notice that it was Satan that tempted them, yet, he quickly left them on their own to face their consequences. A reminder that Satan DOES NOT care about us. "Wherefore, men are free according to the flesh; and call things are given them which are expedient unto man. And they are free to choose liberty and eternal life, through the great Mediator of all men, or to choose captivity and death, according to the captivity and power of the devil; for he seeketh that all men might be miserable like unto himself." 2nd Nephi 2:27

Why use fig leaves? Since we were still in the Garden of Eden animal sacrifice was not a thing yet. They would have had to use what was available or what they knew could work.

What do fig leaves represent? - our attempt at covering ourselves, our sins, our embarrassment . . .

Some other thoughts on fig leaves and the connection to us:

* Fig leaves would have also been a temporary solution because over time the leaves would wilt and die. Similarly, our attempts at "covering" our mistakes will only be a quick fix if we do not properly repent. Ultimately, each of us will have to account for our sins at the judgment day. 

* Fig leaves, though useful in the moment, would not have been sufficient to withstand the hardships of life. Think about it, what would happen if the wind blew too hard? We also must prepare for the hardships of life. Our lives must be centered on our Savior, Jesus Christ.

“In coming days, it will not be possible to survive spiritually without the guiding, directing, comforting, and constant influence of the Holy Ghost.” 

• President Russell M. Nelson

“Revelation for the Church, Revelation for Our Lives.”

I read this while doing my research and found it to be particular interesting. "Fruit of the tree is important if a tree isn’t producing fruit then there are only leaves left.

What are we producing (fruit) for God?"

• Daniel Esparza 3/24/19 aleteia.org

“What is it with fig leaves and trees in the bible?”

I had never thought about the fact, in this context, that the purpose of a fruit tree is to produce fruit. In wearing fig leaves, there was no fruit producing. Fruit in the scriptures is often symbolic of our works. When Daniel Esparza asked the question, "What are we producing for God?" I really had to think and digest that question. Remember, a fruit produces fruit after its kind. We can also produce good or bad fruit. . .

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance; against such there is no law.”

Galatians 5:22-23

We can not become like God if we focus on the leaves. We must develop Christlike attributes in order to "produce fruit" like he did.

Free Fig Leaves Mini Study filled with questions to ponder

to print simply click on the image - right click - save as

One last thought - This is not the only time we read about a fig tree. Matthew 21:17-32 = The parable of the Fig Tree.

Family Home Evening Idea : Listening

prep: clips of different sounds

listening ear headbands

treats

song

prayer

scripture: James 1:19 - Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath:

activity: have the kids put on their "listening ears" (link to the printable down below) and have them see if they can guess the different sounds. I played 10 sound clips from my computer (5 seconds long) chickens, car horn, cuckoo clock, glass breaking, page turning, phone ringing, video game etc. I tried to find more difficult sounds for my older child and easier sounds for my middle child. 

We talked about how we were able to guess the sounds because we were listening. We weren't distracted with other things like toys or books. We were giving the activity our full attention.

lesson: I read a story from the book, Devotions for Girls (ages 2-5,) called Listen to Me! We then used the discussion questions to talk about the importance of listening (found on page 112.) 

We talked about who we should be listening to. The girls answered with parents, teachers, friends, each other. 

We then talked about the importance of listening to the Holy Ghost. Heavenly Father uses the Holy Ghost to talk to us. We mentioned the different ways we could feel the Holy Ghost and what things he does for us - comforts us, testifies truth etc.

weekly challenge: be better listeners

game: Simon says

prayer

treat 

I have a seven year old, three year old and two year old, so our family home evenings are very simple. You can use this plan and adapt it to fit your family and their needs.

devotions for girls link click here (not affiliated)

link to the listening ears printable

How to Create a Spiritual Environment in your Home

"The most important work you will ever do will be within the walls of your own home."

- President Harold B. Lee

With the hustle and bustle of day to day life, it can sometimes be hard to feel the spirit. My house often becomes a dumping ground for mail, shoes, and an endless array of toys. My sweet little two year old  leaves a trial of cars all around the house. I can only laugh when I find them next to my bed, in the bathroom, or in the pantry (I have usually found them because I have stepped on them.) I love my boy!
As we juggle cleaning the house, running errands and getting kids to and from school, we can forget to simply stop and take a breath. Usually I have found that it is in these quiet moments that I feel the spirit more pronounced. We need his companionship with us always.

"Strong eternal families and spirit filled homes don't just happen. They take great effort."

- Cheryl A. Esplin

here are some helpful tips that have been working for me

1. embrace the chaos - My house isn't going to look clean all the time (or most of the time) and that is fine. I am going to have kids running around and being loud, so I'm just going to enjoy it!
One thing that I do, however, is I wake up an hour before my kids. I use this time to pray and study the scriptures. This one habit ensures that my day begins with the spirit. I can take my time and really listen to what Heavenly Father is trying to teach me. When I had a newborn, a toddler and a 5 year old, I was not waking up any earlier then needed. During this time, I would have quiet time in the afternoon. Baby would be sleeping, toddler would be napping (hopefully) and big sister would be playing quietly with some toys. I would then have time to study my scriptures and/or the words of the prophets. Some days it was just ten minutes and other days it was a good 30 minutes. What ever your situation, make the time to pray and study the scriptures. 

2. clean at night - says the girl who is done with the day once dinner is on the table. I don't know about you but I am much more productive in the morning then I am in the evening; however, I love waking up to a clean house. In order for that to happen, I muster up whatever energy I have left and get that dishwasher loaded and turned on before heading to bed. I quickly pick up whatever random things were left in the living room and wipe down the dining room table. It always feels so good to get those things done and, if I am honest, it never really takes that long to do. When morning comes around, I am able to pray and study the scriptures at my table without my mind going crazy about the mess around me. I find, for me, it is easier to feel the spirit when my house is clean and organized.  

3. play some music - It does not have to be LDS music! I will definitely put in a plug for The City of Enoch here because their music is beautiful, but I also love listening to piano or violin music as well. In the morning, Hannah (my oldest) really enjoys listening to a playlist called deep focus (you can find it on Spotify.) She calls it her calming music.
I also really enjoy listening to podcasts and General Conference talks. The church has a podcast/YouTube video series called gospel solutions for family on the mormon channel (you can click here to read my blog post on it.) One podcast they did talked about was how we can teach our children to feel the spirit. I would highly recommend you listen to or watch that one.

4. put pictures of the temple and savior EVERYWHERE -  I love having pictures of the temple and the Savior in my home. It makes me feel good. I love when my kids point to Christ and call him Jesus. It melts me. The pictures on the left are in my children's bedroom. They are of the Provo City Center Temple and the Salt Lake Temple by Kelsey Carlson art. I love the gold outline and how they get brighter as the light touches them. My girls keep them right next to their beds so they can see them often. My dream is to have a house filled with beautiful artwork. I love the feeling art brings into our home.

5. have a place to go - in my old apartment, where space was limited, this was my kitchen counter. I made sure it was kept clean so I could focus solely on my scriptures or whatever conference talk I was studying. Now that we are in a townhouse with lots more room, I set up a little nook in my bedroom with a desk and  bookcase. This nook is where I think, write, and set my goals. Even though my main scripture study is done at the table (so I don't disturb my sleeping husband,) I will do any additional studying or lesson prep here. I love having a place that is all my own to be on my own. I encourage you to find a similar place to escape (even for just a little bit.)

"Every home is different, but every home where even one individual seeks for truth can make a difference."

- Cheryl A. Esplin

I hope you liked these ideas. Please let me know what you do to create a spiritual environment in your home, car, or work.

Remember, the Lord knows your hearts and will bless any effort you make in creating a spiritual environment. He understands our crazy lives because he knows and loves us individually. He is aware of our circumstances and our struggles. Stay close to him and the spirit will stay close to you. 

Spritual Slumps and How to Navigate your way out

"Let today be the day you give up who you've been for who you can become."

- Hal Elrod

I'm not entirely sure how I ended up in my "spiritual slump." It probably was the result of not praying or not reading my scriptures enough, but, if I am completely honest with myself it was the fact that I chose not to do those things. Ultimately, I made the choice to lay down in bed without praying first. I made the choice to NOT read my scriptures because (insert any excuse here, too busy, too tired, can't remember where I left finished the last time.)

It was fairly soon after we moved into the townhouse we are currently renting that I started thinking about how easy it would be to not go to church. People get lost in the shuffle of moving all the time (or so I assume.) That one (quite scary) thought made me reflect about my own spirituality. I honestly couldn't remember feeling the Holy Ghost ,very prominent, in my life lately. It felt like a piece of me was missing. A light had gone out inside me and now I needed to decide if I wanted to turn it back on.

"Prayer does not change God, but it changes him who prays."

- Soren Kierkegaard

I immediately got down on my knees and offered a heartfelt prayer to my Heavenly Father. I asked to simply feel the sweet feeling of the Holy Ghost again. Later that day, we arrived at our brand new ward. In Relief Society, I was asked to read this quote. "Sometimes we can't hear heaven's signals because we are not worthy. Repentance and obedience are the way to achieve clear communication again. The Old Testament word for repent means "to turn" or "turn around." When you feel far from God, you need only make the decision to turn from sin and face the Savior, where you will find Him waiting for you, His arms outstretched. He is eager to guide you, and you are just one prayer away from receiving that guidance again." 
Are you kidding me!? Seriously, that is the quote I was asked to read! What was more shocking was there were no comments that followed. The instructor moved on with the lesson while I sat there completely speechless and enveloped in my Heavenly Father's love.
 Anyone in the class could have been asked to read that quote, but it was given to me. The girl who was desperately seeking to feel the spirit again.

"It will not be possible to survive spiritually without the guiding, directing, and comforting influence of the Holy Ghost."

- President Russell M. Nelson


I went home from church that day feeling excited and motivated to make some changes.
 Of course the obvious answers came to mind; such as, putting my phone down more, watching less TV, and being more present. However, I had this nagging feeling that it was bigger than just simply not checking social media randomly throughout the day. It had to be an inner (more spiritual) change. I had be more intentional with choosing to fill my day with spiritual things.

Here are the steps I took (am still taking) to get (and keep) me out of this "spiritual slump."

• Prayer - It sounds so simple to get down on your knees and pray, yet, it can be the most difficult thing to do. However, if we want to feel spiritually connected to our Heavenly Father and Savior, Jesus Christ this is the perfect place to start. 

• Scripture Study - I committed to read my scriptures everyday that upcoming week and I did it. I focused on reading 2nd Nephi 9 and also the reading assignment for Sunday School. I was blown away by the things that I learned and all the precious things the spirit whispered to me. 

This was my notebook after a week of studying 2nd Nephi 9. I had to stick more pieces of paper on the page because I kept running out of space. It is such a beautiful chapter about the atonement, Christ's love for us, and what we need to do to return to live with God again. 

• Invest in a good book - I am currently reading, Living Your Covenants Everyday by Jennifer Brinkerhoff Platt. This is where the challenge to read 2nd Nephi 9 everyday for a month came from (although I just did a week.) It has been such a great aid in my journey to feel the Holy Ghost more. It is all about intentionally living our covenants everyday.  I have several other books I purchased from the church bookstore which I am excited to start reading soon. 

• Change what you are listening to - This was a big one for me, but one that I know has helped me tremendously to feel more spiritually anchored. Some of the things I did was no electronics in the morning; instead, I play uplifting (or calming) music while my oldest is getting ready for school (and now she asks for the calming music.) I also decided no radio in the car when it is me and the kids. This way we can talk and I can find out about their day or things that are on their mind etc. I also get to listen to them talk with each other which is always entertaining (most of the time.) Surprisingly, I haven't missed blaring and dancing to my playlists on spotify (although I agree there is a time to do this. For our family it is when we are cleaning.) Lastly, I listen to inspiring podcasts throughout the day - mostly when I'm getting ready or making dinner. My favorite is gospel solutions for families, but I also enjoy some fitness, mom, and goal oriented ones as well. 

• Get Outside - It is amazing what some fresh air can do for us. Go for a walk, sit on the porch, or take your kids to the playground. Being outside is refreshing and the change of environment could be just what our soul needs to reflect and  make any necessary readjustments. 

"Don't you quit. You keep walking. You keep trying. There is help and happiness ahead - a lot of it."

- Jeffrey R. Holland

It isn't always the easiest thing to do but it is so worth it. I have been a lot happier during the day since doing these things because I have been spiritually feed first.

Motivational Monday #43

This week I am putting the finishing touches on my relief society lesson. It is based on the talk, Be Ye Therefore Perfect - Eventually, by Elder Jeffrey R. Holland. 

As I have been reading and rereading the talk, I keep thinking about this quote. Strive for progress not perfection. Sometimes we get so caught up (or at least I do) in trying to do and be perfect that we neglect noticing the tremendous progress we have made. 

Life isn't suppose to be perfect and neither are we; but we should be continually striving to be better than the person we were yesterday, last week, month, year. 

1976

this year I am reading all the talks President Monson gave in General Conference 

here are my thoughts on the talks he gave in 1976

April 1976

Hopeless Dawn - Joyful Morning

Another talk (and I don't mean that to sound disappointed) about man living after death. President Monson had spoke about this before in another talk. It must have been something he felt needed to be repeated until we finally understood the gravity of what he was saying. Death is not the end. We will live again with those we love, if we are worthy. The resurrection of Jesus Christ made this possible. Prophets through time have testified of this. Joseph Smith, in my opinion, has the most powerful testimony of this when he said, "That he lives!

“For we saw him, even on the right hand of God; and we heard the voice bearing record that he is the Only Begotten of the Father—

“That by him, and through him, and of him, the worlds are and were created, and the inhabitants thereof are begotten sons and daughters unto God.” (D&C 76:22–24.)

"Immortality isn't just a dream - it can be our reality."

October 1976

Which Road Will You Travel?

Think about it, "The road to anywhere, is the road to nowhere and the road to nowhere leads to dreams sacrificed, opportunities squandered, and a life unfulfilled." Just like the Cheshire Cat said, "if you don't know where you are going, any road will take you there."

So where am I going? 

What do I need to do to get there?

President Monson said we are in "the race of life" and "we have been provided divine attributes to guide our destiny." But, it will take "individual effort." Nothing ever comes easy. 

Here are three things we can do to help us

1. Visualize our objective

2. Make a continuous effort

3. Don't detour from our determined course

4. Be willing to pay the price 

"There will be inevitable trials of our faith and the temptations of our times. We simply cannot afford the luxury of a detour, for certain detours lead to destruction and spiritual death." I have found that other detours may not lead to such drastic consequences; however, they can keep us from receiving blessings a lot sooner. 

We can find safety and security by sticking to God's teachings.

to read Hopeless Dawn - Joyful Morning click here

to read Which Road Will You Travel? click here

1975

this year I am reading all the talks President Monson gave in General Conference 

here are my thoughts on the talks he gave in 1975

April 1975

The Way Home

This talk reminded me of a talk I had just read from the latest session of conference entitled, Bearers of Heavenly Light by President Dieter F. Uchtdorf. Both talks touch on the truth that light will always replace darkness. 

With the first vision, the restoration of the gospel dispelled the gloom. 

If we follow Christ, then we can dispel any darkness that may be in our lives. 

"Open your minds to the word of God. Open your hearts, even your very souls, to the sound of that still, small voice which testifies of truth."

October 1975

The Faith of a Child

I would encourage everyone to go and read this talk because it is so sweet. President Monson ditched the talk he had prepared and felt inspired to talk about the faith of a child instead. 

As I learn to teach in the savior's way, my relief society president told me not to be afraid to put my lesson aside if the spirit is pulling in a different direction. That terrifies me, but I know that President Monson was inspired to do so and maybe we will be too. 

to read the way home click here

to read the faith of a child click here

1974

this year I am reading all the talks President Monson gave in General Conference 

here are my thoughts on the talks he gave in 1974

April 1974

The Paths Jesus Walked

just a quick side note - President Harold B. Lee had passed away and President Spencer W. Kimball was called 

"keep the commandments of God. 

Follow the pathway of the Lord.

Walk in His footsteps."

this sounds really similar to what President Nelson said when he spoke to the members on Tuesday January 16th, 2018. He urged members to "Keep on the covenant path." I love that this church is lead by inspired men who worthily hold the priesthood. I love that themes keep coming back around. Clearly, I need reminding over and over.

"In a very real sense, all can walk where Jesus walked, with words on our lips, his spirit in our hearts, and his teaching in our lives, we journey through mortality." I love that. I love that we can walk where he walked by being as he is. This quote makes me think about the words I say and wonder would these be words the savior said - most of the time probably not. I know I have a lot to work on, but am excited to become more like the savior. 

I also loved the reminder that the savior, although perfect, did not walk perfect paths. "Jesus walked the path of disappointment, temptation, and pain." This is why he can ALWAYS relate to us. He knows exactly how we feel. 

However, he did walk the path of obedience, service, and prayer. We too can and should be walking these paths. 

I love the quote above, "Let us listen for the sound of sandaled feet, let us reach out for the carpenters hand, then we shall come to know him." 

My other favorite quote from this talk is this one, "Jesus changed men. He changed their habits, their opinions, their ambitions. He changed their tempers, their dispositions, their natures. He changed men's hearts." and he continues to do that today. We can become so much more with his help then we ever could on our own. 

October 1974

My Personal Hall of Fame

"We each have a personal hall of fame within us that is "reserved exclusively for the real leaders who have influenced our lives."

In our personal hall of fame should be people from the scriptures. Some of mine would be Esther, Mary (the mother of Jesus) Nephi, Ammon, Abish, Captain Moroni, Joseph Smith, the pioneers.

the list could go on and on

It would also include the savior, of course. Who is the perfect example for us to follow in all aspects of our lives. 

It would also include leaders that I had growing up that instilled in me a love for the gospel. Leaders who made me want to be better. 

If we follow these example we can have their "unwavering trust in an all wise Heavenly Father and an abiding testimony concerning the mission of a divine savior."

to read the paths Jesus walked click here

to read my personal hall of fame click here

1973

this year I am reading all the talks President Monson gave in General Conference 

here are my thoughts on the talks he gave in 1973

April 1973

Yellow Canaries with Grey on their Wings

President Monson opens his talk with a story about a childless widow who had passed away while he was serving as bishop. 

I love the quote that I chose to highlight on the left, "Our very business in life is not to get ahead of others, but to get ahead of ourselves." I needed to be reminded of that.

President Monson said, "To live greatly we must develop the capacity to face trouble with courage, disappointment with cheerfulness, and triumph with humility." I love that! I will point out now that I loved a lot of this talk. I felt like it was about who we are as children of God and what we can become. If we "come follow him" then "we can determine our personal destiny."

October 1973

Behold Thy Mother

I could tell, by this talk and many others, that President Monson thinks very highly of mothers. This talk was about four kinds of mothers - mother forgotten

mother remembered

mother blessed

and mother loved

The first one, mother forgotten, is absolutely heartbreaking. I could not imagine forgetting/neglecting my mother. President Monson, likewise, did not sound happy with those who do not make time for their mothers. 

Mothers are capable of extraordinary things. He gave the example of the 2000 stripling warriors

"And now I say unto you, my beloved brother Moroni, that never had I seen so great courage, nay, not amongst all the Nephites.

 For as I had ever called them my sons (for they were all of them very young) even so they said unto me: Father, behold our God is with us, and he will not suffer that we should fall. . . 

 Now they never had fought, yet they did not fear death. . .

yea, they had been taught by their mothers, that if they did not doubt, God would deliver them.

And they rehearsed unto me the words of their mothers, saying: We do not doubt our mothers knew it.

But behold, to my great joy, there had not one soul of them fallen to the earth; yea, and they had fought as if with the strength of God; yea, never were men known to have fought with such miraculous strength; and with such mighty power "

Alma 56:45-48, 56

These mothers inspire myself to do better at teaching the gospel to my children.

President Monson sums up his talk with this quote, "One cannot forget mother and remember God. One cannot remember mother and forget God. Why? Two sacred persons, partners in creation, in love, in sacrifice, in service are one."

to read yellow canaries with grey on their wings click here

to read Behold Thy Mother click here