Welcome to the Old Testament!

I graduated with a bachelor's degree in Ancient Near Eastern Studies from BYU in 2007. I first got into the major when I read a historical fiction novel that took place during the time of the Gospels. I loved learning about the history and culture of the Jews. It helped me understand the Gospels so much more. I then took a religion class at BYU that actually made me learn. Like, there was homework and studying and tests! Hard tests! This wasn't Seminary anymore, my friends. And in that class I learned SO MUCH! (Ben S., if you're reading this, you may gloat at proving me wrong about BYU religion teachers, specifically the one you made me take NT from.) I was shocked and amazed at how much more alive the New Testament was to me after learning little tidbits about the culture. So I became a Jewish Studies minor.

After a few semesters I realized that I disliked my major and loved my minor. And then they opened the Ancient Near Eastern Studies major. I debated and debated switching majors. The one I was in would actually make money, while ANES would not. I had already switched majors WAY too many times. But I was already pretty much convinced that my bachelor's degree was simply going to be a piece of paper to enable me to have a bigger paycheck later. It didn't matter what it was in. And honestly? The topic intrigued me like no other.

The ANES major is split into two emphases: Greek (New Testament) and Biblical Hebrew (Old Testament). I was torn. Greek sounded way too hard, but the New Testament was what I had fallen in love with! Besides, the Old Testament is just intimidating. I had already started taking Biblical Hebrew for my Jewish Studies minor and I really liked it, so I decided to stick with that route. So while I studied both the Old and New Testament, their respective histories, cultures, geography, etc., my focus and my language studies were in the Old Testament.

In 2007 I went to the Jerusalem Center. I had already finished all of my required classes, but I put off graduation to do a study abroad. I did a Spring term, and let me tell you, those classes were tough! There was a lot of reading and studying required. I had two advantages above most of the other students at the center: 1) I had been focused on the Bible for over two years so a lot of the classes were a review and 2) Even if I failed all of the classes there, I knew I'd still be able to graduate. So I spent a lot more time enjoying the experience. I did, however, do my homework and tried to get the best grades I could. I just decided it wasn't worth losing a lot of sleep or tourism over. I mean, I was in Jerusalem! I wanted to enjoy it.

I wasn't surprised when I remembered the stories in detail (especially since I had the same religion teacher that got me started) and reviewed more than learned. What I hadn't expected was how well I explained the stories to others. Many of my classmates would seek me out, asking me to tell them some of the stories they were expected to know. Somehow my brand of storytelling helped them to remember and understand the stories more than they had on their own. I loved it. Even when I'd tell the same story over and over to different people, I got a thrill out of helping other people understand the stories that I already loved.

Recently I've been in a position to help explain these stories again. Twice I've done so in writing (one was in college, but I've been sharing it with people again lately) and much more often I've actually told the stories. I've had many people express interest in learning more. Enough that I decided to write this blog. I partially do so selfishly. I want to remember the things I've learned. I want an excuse to put these back in the forefront of my mind. I want to be able to teach my children. I don't want them to reach an age where I can teach them and realize that I've forgotten it all. I've already found myself forgetting things. And I do get a thrill when I help people understand a story. I love it when people tell me that a story that has never made sense to them suddenly is clear. Amidst all of my selfishness in writing this blog, I hope that I help someone else along the way.

Because of my current calling* in the Primary (and because many of the people interested are Primary teachers), I've decided to base this blog on the current Senior Primary lesson (they're studying the Old Testament this year). Unfortunately, I realize that people may be on different lessons. Ward and Stake conferences can put different wards in different lessons and the optional Easter lesson can put even different classes in the same Primary on different lessons. I will start with the lesson that the class I just finished teaching is on. If your class is ahead of me, leave me a comment. If I get enough people one lesson ahead, I'll jump ahead to that lesson.

I also reserve the right to tell any other stories I want along the way or to even skip one if I have good reason. (But if I skip one, I'll tell you. You retain the right to whine and complain if you really wanted to hear that particular story.)

Oh, and if you haven't noticed, I tend to write a lot. Get used to it. That's my style and most of my stories will be long. I apologize. But I'm not sorry enough to change my ways.

*I am a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. All of my stories will be biased towards the LDS religion and geared towards an LDS audience. However, I do welcome readers of other religions. If I ever say anything that doesn't make sense to you, please comment so that I can explain myself.