Is it Kosher? December 11, 2007

Today we finished the video we began yesterday which dealt with the sacrifices required by the Law of Moses and the sacrifices we are required to make, as we repent and come worthily to the sacrament table.
We discussed the importance of the priesthood bearers being worthy as they bless and pass the sacrament, as well as the meaning of the blood which Moses put on the priest's right ear, finger, and toe. As we went into Chapter 9, we looked at verses 23 and 24. We then wondered what it meant when it said that the 'glory of the Lord appeared unto all of the people.' We took some time to really look at this and checked all of the cross references, and finally spent some time using the bible dictionary to figure out what is meant by this phrase. The students marked Leviticus 9:6 which contains a principle and a promise. If we do the things which the Lord asks and commands us to do, we too can be blessed similarly - as were the Saints when the Kirtland and Nauvoo temples were built, as was Lehi and the brother of Jared - however, these things only come after the trial of the faith. We do first, then we see.
I hadn't planned on specifically going this direction today - and verse 6 hadn't really stood out to me in my preparation - but it sort of took on its own direction today.
We went back and covered chapter 10 of Leviticus. At the beginning of class, I had asked what would happen if a priest was unworthy to bless the sacrament and did it anyways.. we discussed it for a moment, and a student quietly mumbled that they would be struck by lightening. As we read about Nadab and Abihu, we saw what the Lord DID when the priesthood ordinances were altered by men - we then talked about the exactness which the Lord demands regarding the administration of his ordinances - and the importance of even the sacramental prayers being offered correctly.
Finally, we wrapped up class discovering which foods were or weren't kosher.
We had a table laid with grasshoppers, worms, camels, fish, bunnies, beef, shrimp, chicken, and bacon. The students had to figure out which foods were kosher and could be eaten.
We discussed that these dietary laws served two purposes. First, it is likely that due to the lack of refrigeration etc, port and shellfish products would have had the tendency (as they do today) to spoil and cause sickness and disease. Secondly, however, and more importantly, EVERYONE needs to eat, and people RARELY forget to eat. In working to get Egypt out of the Israelites, by giving laws which dealt with their food (which they would not likely forget to eat), they could be reminded of the Lord and of their reliance upon him. Finally, it also helped keep them separate from their neighboring Canaanites.
Todays reading assignment is Leviticus 12-18.