W. Cleon Skousen Insights

Text: Exodus 14 - 18 Supplemental Text: The Third Thousand Years chapter 13 BYU Lecture 19 summary: Today, there are many inaccurate doctrines taught throughout the church regarding the Law of Moses, the Law of the Covenant and the Carnal Commandments. The restored gospel compels us to teach the correct doctrine as restored by the Lord. When the Israelites were finally released by Pharoah, they were sent out laden with Egyption gold, silver and wealth, just as promised by God. The people are led to the shores of the Red Sea where it appears to Pharoah they were trapped and vulnerable to attack. The Red Sea is miraculously divided and the Israelites escape on dry land, while the avenging Egyption army is drowned. Having been rescued by God, Moses leads the people toward Mount Sinai while teaching the people the gospel of Jesus Christ. During this 2-month trek the people witness the miracles of quail for meat, manna for bread and sweet water springing from rock. The family of Moses arrive from Midian. Jethro teaches Moses the proper priesthood administration over the vast number of Israelites, as commanded by God. This same administrative procedure is used in the church today.

Title: OT 13 Moses Returns to Egypt – Plagues and Miracles Text: Exodus 7-13 Supplemental Text: The Third Thousand Years chapter 12 BYU Lecture 18: At the age of 80, Moses crosses the desert back into Egypt. He and his brother Aaron meet with the leaders of Israel with the message from God – liberation! Moses demonstrates his authority from God by displaying the miracles of the staff and leprous hand, just as Jehovah had done with Moses on Mount Sinai. The demand for liberation is made to Pharoah, who mocks it and in spite, increases the burdens of the Israelites. The ten plagues commence – water to blood, frogs, lice, death of cattle, boils, hail, locusts, darkness and finally the slaying of the first-born. Each plague is reviewed. The modern feast of the Passover is explained by a Jewish guest who is a convert to the church (unfortunately, the audio is very difficult to hear as the discussion came from the classroom floor and not from the microphone. If you have access to closed caption it is easier to follow).

Written by W. Cleon Skousen and narrated by Francis Urry, this professionally dramatized story of Easter was produced by KSL radio in Salt Lake City and was widely broadcast on radio stations during the 1960's and 1970's. Journey through the Easter events beginning with the burial of Jesus Christ and concluding with His ascension. In the stillness of pre-dawn Jerusalem, a group of devoted women, including Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of Jesus, and Joanna, among others, embark on a poignant mission to anoint the body of Jesus with sweet spices. Their story unfolds with dramatic encounters at the tomb, where they are greeted by angelic figures announcing Jesus' resurrection. Powerful moments of disbelief, followed by a wonderous realization by Jesus’ closest followers, including Mary and the apostles, the emotional transitions from fear and sorrow to amazement and renewal of faith as the resurrected Christ appears first to Mary and later to the broader group of disciples. The moving account of Jesus’ 40-day ministry after His resurrection, filled with miraculous appearances and profound teachings. Culminating in Jesus’ ascension, the saints launch and ignite a global Christian movement of faith, testimony and hope.

Text: Exodus 1-6 Supplemental Text: The Third Thousand Years chapters 10-11 BYU Lecture 17: Moses, the grandson of Levi, is born. The Israelites had now been in Egypt for 215 years (a total of 430 years since Abraham arrived in Canaan). Moses was born while the Israelites were in slavery due to a previous dynasty change in Egyption leadership. At this time, the Pharoah required the Israelite male babies, as soon as they were born, to be killed by drowning. The purpose of this was two-fold: One, to limit the Hebrew population growth, and Two, to diminished the ability and opportunity for a military uprising and rebellion by Israel. Baby Moses is hidden for 3 months and finally placed in a basket, set out on the Nile River, and then miraculously rescued by the daughter of Pharoah. As she could have no children, she convinced Pharoah to accept this Hebrew baby as her child and the future heir to the throne. He accepts the baby as a rightful grandson, much to the jealousy and hatred of the Pharoah priests. At the age of 40, Moses, the crown prince, desired to be with his people, the Israelites. After killing a cruel Egyptian taskmaster, Moses was exiled from Egypt and he fled to Midian, hundreds of miles away. Moses meets Jethro, receives the Melchizedek Priesthood from him, and marries one of his daughters. At the age of 80, while feeding his flocks, Moses sees and investigates a burning bush on Mount Sinai. He is told to remove his shoes (leave behind worldly things) and talks with God. Moses is called to return to Egypt and go to Pharoah, demanding the release of the Israelites. In a follow up revelation, Moses see’s the history of the world and the Lord dictates to Moses what he records as the book of Genesis. The law of circumcision is given, and Moses leaves Midian, Jethro and his family as he departs to Egypt. To his joy and amazement, his brother Aaron finds Moses and accompanies him back across the desert into Egypt.

This week, we have 2 lectures to keep pace for those following the Come Follow Me schedule. Text: Genesis 42-50 Supplemental Text: The Third Thousand Years chapters 6-8 BYU Lecture 14: Joseph marries Asenath and has two sons, Manasseh and Ephraim. He prepares Egypt for the upcoming famine by taxing the people by 20%. During the hardship of this famine, Joseph’s brothers come to Egypt desperate for food and were directed to the Prime Minister Joseph. It had been 20 years and they did not recognize Joseph, but Joseph recognized them. Joseph sets out a plan to bring Jacob and Benjamin to Egypt. Finally, Joseph reveals himself to his brothers and all rejoice together. Jacob is overcome when he is told his son Joseph is alive. He is reluctant to go down to Egypt because of an earlier prophecy that his seed would then become slaves, but God revealed to him that he should go. The whole family comes to Egypt and settles in Goshen. BYU Lecture 15: As discussed previously, Joseph is now married and has two sons, Manasseh and Ephraim. Due to impropriety of Jacob’s oldest two sons, Rueban (guilty of incest) and Simeon (guilty of murder), Jacob adopts Joseph’s two sons as replacement heirs. Jacob blesses Ephraim to be the principal heir to the Priesthood. Prior to his death, Jacob gives his final blessings to all his children. Reuben and Simeon receive nothing, although their descendants will receive some land inheritance. Judah is promised to be the political leader and through his seed the Messiah will be born. Joseph was given the coveted birthright blessing, which would then be passed on to Ephraim. Near the end of Joseph’s life, he receives some amazing prophecies – many of which were lost or intentionally removed from the modern Bible. Apparently, these prophecies were preserved in the Brass Plates. In the latter days, Joseph Smith was able to restore some of these prophesies which can be found in Genesis 50 and others can be found in 2nd Nephi. Jewish scholar Dr. Joseph Klausner refers to the latter-day coming of “Messiah ben Joseph” who will precede “Messiah ben Judah” and who will be martyred. What he did not know is “Messiah ben Joseph” has already come, known to us as Joseph Smith.

Text: Genesis 37-41 Supplemental Text: The Third Thousand Years chapters 5-6 BYU Lecture 13: Joseph spent his youth in Beersheba. He was a devoted son to Jacob and to God. When he witnessed evil doings by his brothers, Joseph faithfully reported it to his father. This created a trusted bond between father and son, but caused hatred between Joseph and his brothers. At the age of 17, Joseph receives revelations from the Lord through dreams, prophesying that Jacob and Joseph’s brothers will bow down to Joseph. This angers his brothers and they plot to kill him. They throw Joseph into a dry well and he is inadvertently captured and sold into slavery for 20 pieces of silver and taken to Egypt. Jacob is told that Joseph is dead and he mourns terribly. Adding to the tragedy, Jacob's father Isaac dies. Joseph is sold to Potiphar, Egypt’s chief executioner, but after 11 years in faithful servitude he is imprisoned after being falsely accused by Potiphar’s wife. Joseph interprets the dreams of 2 fellow prisoners, a butcher and a baker. He later interprets the dream of Pharoah, who is so impressed with Joseph, he promotes him to be Prime Minister of all Egypt.

This week, we have 2 lectures to keep pace for those following the Come Follow Me schedule. Text: Genesis 24-33 Supplemental Text: The Third Thousand Years chapters 1-5 BYU Lecture 11: One of the purposes of a college education is to learn how to think and not to be deceived; what is true and what is false, and what is good and what is evil. Who are God’s chosen people? Just one word describes them – Obedience! God is no respecter of persons and chooses those who are obedient, and they become “the seed of Abraham” and recipients of the Abrahamic Covenant. If you are born in the covenant you have a tremendous responsibility to be a soldier of God. The characteristics of obedient children of God are reviewed. Abraham and Isaac are quickly reviewed, with the introduction of Esau and Jacob. BYU Lecture 12: Rebekah leaves her family and home for Isaac, but is unable to bear him children. This becomes a great trial for her. She receives a priesthood blessing and a revelation. She then conceives and bares twins, Esau and Jacob. Abraham dies and is buried. Esau, the elder and farmer, marries a Canaanite against his father’s desire. He is careless with his rights and sells his birthright to Jacob, the shepherd. Isaac gives Jacob the covenant blessing. A priesthood blessing cannot be given by deception, as Isaac confirms the blessing he gave to Jacob and commands him not to marry a Canaanite woman as Esau did. He instructs Jacob to travel to Haran, Rebekah’s homeland, to find a Shemetic wife. On the way, Jacob has a visitation from the Lord who promises a continuation of the Abrahamic Covenant through Jacob’s posterity. Jacob arrives in Haran and meets Rachel. He promises to work for her father Laban 7 years for her hand in marriage. By deception, Laban weds Jacob to his oldest daughter Leah instead of Rachel. After a week, Jacob then marries Rachel and works another 7 years for Laban. Children are born to Jacob through Leah, Bilhah (Rachel’s handmaid), Zilpah (Leah’s handmaid), and finally Rachel conceives and has a son named Joseph.

Text: Genesis 18-23 Supplemental Text: The First 2,000 Years chapters 28-32 BYU Lecture 10: Amazingly, Noah witnessed 10 generation of his descendants before he died, Abraham being his 10th generation, at 2,000 BC. The life of Abraham is discussed, including his ordination of the priesthood in his youth by Melchizedek, who is also discussed. Abraham’s father tries to kill Abraham through idol worship and sacrifice. He is saved by an angel. A terrible famine inflicts the land and Abraham leaves and travels to Egypt, teaching them mathmatics, astronomy and Christianity. Abraham returns to the land Canaan and settles there. Circumcision is introduced, signifying baptism. Sodom and Gomorrah is destroyed. Sarah finally conceives and Isaac is born. Abraham’s greatest test to sacrifice his beloved son, Isaac.

Text: Genesis 12-17; Abraham 1-2 Supplemental Text: The First 2,000 Years chapters 23-27 BYU Lecture 9: The church will not save the Constitution – it will be saved by the Elders of Israel. Political education is crucial by the members of the church because the Church itself cannot get involved in the fight. Stay close to the prophet as the Lord is beginning to hasten His work. After Noah came to the new world, God reaffirmed His commandments. Note that murder is punishable by death. Nimrod abandoned the priesthood culture and formed his own community called Babel. He convinced his followers to begin idolatry, astrology and fertility worship. To defy God, or avoid the punishments of God, he commenced the building of the tower of Babel. After the confusion of tongues, the land divided and people began to spread across the world. The seed of Ham, or Hamites, settled in Egypt; the seed of Shem, or shemites, settled in the middle East and Mesopotamia with their capital in Salem (Jerusalem); the seed of Japeth settled north and east of the Mediterranean Sea clear to the areas of India and China. Brother Skousen promises to get caught up to Abraham and Isaac in the next lecture.

This week, we have 2 lectures to keep pace for those following the Come Follow Me program. Text: Genesis 6-11; Moses 8 Supplemental Text: The First 2,000 Years chapters 20-22 BYU Lecture 7: The Great Universal Flood Due to the wickedness of the people, similar to the wickedness of today, God cleanses the Human race by using a universal Flood. Noah obeys the Lord and builds an enormous ark, but only he, his wife, and 3 of his sons along with their wives survive. Has the ark been discovered on Mt. Ararat? Discussion of the need for a righteous government to govern a righteous people. There is a great need to conserve the Constitution. A good student will solve problems by using Constitutional principles. He must study in fairness all sides of important issues and make intelligent decisions that build a righteous people. The Law of Consecration must be restored among a righteous people but only under the direction of the priesthood. God’s work will prevail. BYU Lecture 8: Mankind Expands Across the Land After the Flood. After the flood and the ark settles, the family of Noah enters the new world. As they descend from the mount, the families of Japheth, Shem and Ham go their separate ways and begin again to populate the earth. Different races across the world can be traced to the three sons of Noah; Slavic and Orientals traced to Japheth, Arabic, Jewish and Caucasian traced to Shem, and Blacks traced to Ham. Egypt means “black” and it’s evident from the mummy discoveries that Egypt had many different dynasties from both Ham and Shem. This concludes the First 2,000 Years and the supplemental text now begins in The Third Thousand Years.

This week we have combined 2 lectures, #5 for the first 35 minutes and #6 for the next 41 minutes. This is necessary for those following the Come Follow Me study program of the Old Testament. Text: Moses 7 Supplemental Text: The First 2,000 Years chapters 17-19 BYU Lecture #5: The Children of Adam and Eve Reject God Brother Skousen recaps the Fall along with its effects on the world. Adam and Eve were not abandoned, but were taught many things for their survival, including the Atonement of Christ and Plan of Salvation. Their children and grandchildren are not receptive to these spiritual teachings and they reject God. Instead, they accept and follow the more enticing words of Satan. The tragic events of Cain and Abel are discussed. Seth is then born as an answer to prayer. He is a faithful servant of the Lord. Enoch is introduced. BYU Lecture #6: Enoch is Called by God Enoch is born, called to be a prophet as a youth, and is miraculously healed from his stuttering speech. Over a 365 year period, Enoch prepares the church to live the laws of God, including the Law of Consecration, and to become sanctified as a people. They become eligible spiritually to see the Lord. The Law of Consecration is clarified and beautifully explained. It is compared with its ugly counterfeit called communism, whose objective is the same but their methodology is evil and anti-Christ. The Lord's Law of Consecration is based on love and free agency, whereas communism is based on corruption, worldly power and compulsion.

BYU Lecture #4 - Why was the Atonement necessary? Text: Genesis 5; Moses 6 Supplemental Text: The First 2,000 Years chapters 10-16 and Appendix: Atonement Probably no subject in scripture has aroused more questions or provoked more wonderment than the Atonement of Jesus Christ. Join W. Cleon Skousen in a live university lecture that unfolds like an epic journey from the beginning, starting with intelligence to spiritual creation, progression, and mortality; The critical moments in the Plan of Salvation, from the Garden of Gethsemane, the cruel cross and finally the literal resurrection. Learn how mercy is the key to overcome damning justice of the law. Skousen weaves personal experiences, scriptural insight, and theological discovery to reveal this beautiful, yet ‘lost doctrine’ of the church.

BYU Lecture #3: The Fall and Eviction from the Garden Text: Genesis 3-4; Moses 4-5 Supplemental Text: The First 2,000 Years chapters 6-9 After Adam and Eve’s arrival in the Garden, the Fall became a tremendous challenge, as it is on every Earth created for mankind. Essential as the Fall is, our first parents were required to deliberately and voluntarily take that step to bring about mortality. In this episode, Dr Skousen teaches a profound appreciation for the role of agency and the consequence of choice. Having chosen to disobey God, Adam and Eve are evicted from the Garden and begin human history at Adam-Ondi-Ahman. The Plan of Salvation takes on great significance as Christ and His sacrifice is introduced. This episode turns doctrine into living drama, inviting listeners to witness the human emotions, difficult decisions, and eternal consequences that affect you and your family today.

BYU Lecture #2 - The Creation; The Garden; Adam and Eve Text: Genesis 1-2; Moses 2-3; Abraham 4-5 Supplemental Text: The First 2,000 Years - Chapters 3-5 In this 2nd University lecture, we learn that Moses has a second opportunity to inquire of the Lord. This time he learns the importance of the Human race. He is taught from "the beginning" which was actually the spiritual creation of the earth, followed by the temporal or physical creation. During the lecture, an old dramatized, and somewhat comedic, recording is played depicting Adam and Eve in the Garden. So where was the Garden of Eden? And what are the purposes of this earth life? These and other questions are dicussed in this lesson.

Biblical Text: Moses 1 and Abraham 3 College Text: The First 2,000 Years chapters 1 and 2 W. Cleon Skousen narrates a series of lectures on the Old Testament that were recorded decades earlier at the university and recently recovered. He recounts his return to BYU at the request of President David O. McKay, and writing three Old Testament textbooks, namely The First 2,000 Years, The Third Thousand Years, and The Fourth Thousand Years. These works are available at bookstores or on his website skousenlibrary.com. Dr. Skousen brings the events and people of the Old Testament to life and relatable to us today. In this episode, listeners will learn key “hook” dates from Adam through Christ, lessons on the spirit vs. temporal creation accounts, Moses’ visions and prophetic experiences, and overviews of major prophets such as Enoch, Noah, Abraham, Moses, Isaiah, Jeremiah, Daniel, Ezekiel, Lehi, and others. He describes important timeline anchors to make it easier for the student to remember, and gives insights into early scriptural manuscripts and restored teachings—offering both historical context and doctrinal interpretation for students of the Old Testament.

In the great battle to take over the world, America is the number one target. Enemies of America, enemies of the Bible, enemies of goodness are almost always atheist, amoral, ruthless and power hungry. Knowledge is the only defense against our enemy’s deception. We must do our own homework and research to discover truth. Communists lie, cheat, misrepresent and do whatever is in their power to promote their godless agenda. They feel threatened by religion and particularly the bible - the things they fear most. They openly admit that in the coming struggle, “ideas will be more important than atomic bombs.” Messages from the Old Testament frighten communists. It strikes down their ideas and propaganda. This is why they devote their time, efforts, energy and resources to attack religion and the bible. We must understand our own role and perspective in this fight. Not only must we stay in the fight and avoid getting discouraged, we must remember there is a greater intelligence who has a more vested interest in truth than we do. He has been in this fight longer than we have. He is the one who created this - the first free people in modern times. So when we feel discouraged and overwhelmed, we must remember, this cause is in the hands of someone more powerful and more capable than all of us combined. Therefore, we must go forward in faith and confidence to be worthy of the upcoming miracle of victory.