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This Week's Reading: Psalms 49-51; 61-66; 69-72; 77-78; 85-86
Come Follow Me Insight #1

This week’s reading in Psalms emphasizes the role of Jesus Christ and His atoning sacrifice in our lives. However, the name Jesus Christ is never used in the Old Testament! Why is that? “Jesus Christ is the English form of the Savior’s name in Greek—the language of the New Testament. . . The Hebrew equivalent of the word Christ—Messiah. . . appears in the Hebrew scriptures [the Old Testament]. . .” (Source)
Come Follow Me Insight #2
This brings up another question about David— did he really lose his chance for exaltation after the murder of Uriah (D&C 132:39)? This is a hard one to understand, but the Old Testament Institute Student Manual quotes Elder Spencer W. Kimball who explained why murder is so unforgivable: “As to crimes for which no adequate restoration is possible, I have suggested … that perhaps the reason murder is an unforgivable sin is that, once having taken a life—whether that life be innocent or reprobate—the life-taker cannot restore it. He may give his own life as payment, but this does not wholly undo the injury done by his crime. He might support the widow and children; he might do many other noble things; but a life is gone and the restitution of it in full is impossible. Repentance in the ordinary sense seems futile. Murder is so treacherous and so far-reaching! Those who lose their possessions may be able to recover their wealth. Those defamed may still be able to prove themselves above reproach. Even the loss of chastity leaves the soul in mortality with opportunity to recover and repent and to make amends to some degree. But to take a life, whether someone else’s or one’s own, cuts off the victim’s experiences of mortality and thus his opportunity to repent, to keep God’s commandments in this earth life. It interferes with his potential of having ‘glory added upon [his head] for ever and ever.’” (Abraham 3:26.)” (Miracle of Forgiveness, pp. 195–96.)

Come Follow Me Insight #3

So where is David now? It seems that David is still in hell paying for his sins. Elder Joseph Fielding Smith said, “David committed a dreadful crime, and all his life afterwards sought for forgiveness. Some of the Psalms portray the anguish of his soul; yet David is still paying for his sin. He did not receive the resurrection at the time of the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Peter declared that his body was still in the tomb, and the Prophet Joseph Smith has said, ‘David sought repentance at the hand of God carefully with tears, for the murder of Uriah; but he could only get it through hell: he got a promise that his soul should not be left in hell.’” (Answers to Gospel Questions, 1:74.) (Source)
My Favorite Scriptures for the Week
- Psalm 51:10
- Psalm 51:15-16
- Psalm 61:2
- Psalm 62:10
- Psalm 63:1
- Psalm 66:1-2
- Psalm 86:15
