The Lord Is My Shepherd

Kingship, Democracy, and the Message of the Book of Mormon

Gregory Steven Dundas

BYU Studies Quarterly 56, no. 2 (2017)

This article discusses kingship in the Old Testament and Book of Mormon. Tradition sees kings in both a positive light because they bring stability to society and a negative light because they can cause great damage when they are sinful. We can understand people’s desire for a king who would be a protector of his people. Samuel resisted people’s demands at first, but the Lord instructed Samuel to grant the people’s wish for a king (1 Samuel 8).

The Israelite Roots of Atonement Terminology

T. Benjamin Spackman

BYU Studies Quarterly 55, no. 1 (2016)

This article studies three English terms, atonement, salvation, and redemption, in relation to their Hebrew equivalents and their associated concepts within the Hebrew Bible.

The Israelite Roots of Atonement Terminology

T. Benjamin Spackman

BYU Studies Quarterly 55, no. 1 (2016)

This article studies three English terms, atonement, salvation, and redemption, in relation to their Hebrew equivalents and their associated concepts within the Hebrew Bible.

“My God, My God, Why Hast Thou Forsaken Me?”: Psalm 22 and the Mission of Christ

Shon D. Hopkin

BYU Studies Quarterly 52, no. 4 (2013)

Psalm 22 is a prophecy of the events of Christ’s suffering and Crucifixion in detail, including his statement spoken from the cross. Words in this psalm show that Christ fulfilled his mission of redeeming humankind with his worthiness and authority from the Father intact.

A Precious and Powerful Witness of Jesus Christ

John M. Madsen

Sperry Symposium Classics: The Old Testament (2005)

“The Living Christ” is a powerful summary of the identity and role of Jesus Christ. All scripture and all prophets testify of Christ; salvation comes only through Christ; Jehovah of the Old Testament is Jesus Christ.

The Psalm 22:16 Controversy: New Evidence from the Dead Sea Scrolls

Shon Hopkin

BYU Studies 44, no. 3 (2005)

Few verses in the Bible have produced as much debate and commentary as Psalm 22:16: “For dogs have compassed me: the assembly of the wicked have inclosed me: they pierced my hands and my feet.” The discussions center on the last character (reading right to left) of the Hebrew ka’aru (“pierced/dug”), assumed to be the word from which the Septuagint Greek oruxsan (“they have pierced”) was translated—assumed because the original Hebrew texts from which the Septuagint was translated are no longer extant. If the last character of the Hebrew word was a waw (ו), as the Greek seems to indicate, then the translation “pierced” is tenable. But a later Hebrew text called the Masoretic text has a yod (‘) instead of a waw, making the word ka’ari, which translated into English reads “like a lion my hands and my feet.” Thus, two divergent possibilities have existed side by side for centuries, causing much speculation and debate.

The Psalms Sung: The Power of Music in Sacred Worship

J. Arden Hopkin, Shon D. Hopkin

Ascending the Mountain of the Lord: Temple, Praise, and Worship in the Old Testament, Sidney B. Sperry Symposium 53 (2013)

Psalms were often used in early Israelite practice in the context of worship. Psalms were set to music in order to enhance worship and to help draw the worshipper into a state in which she or he was prepared to commune with God. Psalms were designed to mirror important functions of the sacrificial ritual. Understanding the temple tradition of psalms can enhance sacrament and temple worship for Latter-day Saints.

Alma 5: The Song of Redeeming Love

LeGrand L. Baker, Stephen D. Ricks

Who Shall Ascend into the Hill of the Lord?: The Psalms in Israel’s Temple Worship in the Old Testament and in the Book of Mormon (2011)

Baker and Ricks explore Alma’s sermon in context of the biblical psalms and ancient temple ritual. Alma’s reference to the “song of redeeming love” likely refers to a particular psalm that would be sung accompanying temple rituals. The article also suggests that having the image of God engraven on one’s countenance may be a reference to being clothed in sacred vestments for temple worship.

How the Psalms Were Prepared for King James

Margaret Tuttle Sanchez

Ensign 4, no. 3 (Mar. 1974)

A committee of scholars worked diligently to present the Psalms in flowing poetry that preserved dignified and beautiful messages of previous versions of the texts.

Jesus, the Great Shepherd-King

Dana M. Pike

Celebrating Easter (2007)

John 10 teaches how the Lord’s flock consists of his covenant people.

Kingship, Democracy, and the Message of the Book of Mormon

Gregory Steven Dundas

BYU Studies Quarterly 56, no. 2 (2017)

This article discusses kingship in the Old Testament and Book of Mormon. Tradition sees kings in both a positive light because they bring stability to society and a negative light because they can cause great damage when they are sinful. We can understand people’s desire for a king who would be a protector of his people. Samuel resisted people’s demands at first, but the Lord instructed Samuel to grant the people’s wish for a king (1 Samuel 8).

Meeting Your Goliath

Thomas S. Monson

Ensign 17, no. 1 (Jan. 1987)

“There was one, however, who did not quake with fear nor run in alarm. Rather, he stiffened the spine of Israel’s soldiers by his piercing question of rebuke toward them: ‘Is there not a cause? . . . Let no man’s heart fail because of him; thy servant will go and fight with this Philistine’ (1 Sam. 17:19, 32.) David, the shepherd boy, had spoken. But he did not speak just as a shepherd boy. For the hands of the prophet Samuel had rested upon his head and anointed him; and the Spirit of the Lord had come upon him.”

Psalms: Messianic Prophecies in Psalms

Gerald E. Jones

Encyclopedia of Mormonism (1992)

This brief article quotes several psalms that are understood to prophecy of Christ.

Seeing God in His Temple: A Significant Theme in Israel’s Psalms

Andrew C. Skinner

Ascending the Mountain of the Lord: Temple, Praise, and Worship in the Old Testament, Sidney B. Sperry Symposium 52 (2013)

A significant theme in the Psalms is the idea that worshippers could come into the presence of God in his holy house in Jerusalem and see him face-to-face. Many Psalms were sung in connection with the Temple. In First Temple times, it seems that both the outward actions and the inward thoughts of the worshipper had to conform to a holy standard for the person to gain entrance into the temple precinct.

Temple Worship and a Possible Reference to a Prayer Circle in Psalm 24

Donald W. Parry

BYU Studies 32, no. 4 (1992)

Psalm 24, especially verse 6, implies a blessing to those who are worthy to visit the Lord’s temple. A circle of worshippers participates in the rites and ceremonies, including prayer, where the temple visitor inquires after the Lord and seeks his face. This article looks closely at translations of Psalm 24.

The Psalms Sung: The Power of Music in Sacred Worship

J. Arden Hopkin, Shon D. Hopkin

Ascending the Mountain of the Lord: Temple, Praise, and Worship in the Old Testament, Sidney B. Sperry Symposium 53 (2013)

Psalms were often used in early Israelite practice in the context of worship. Psalms were set to music in order to enhance worship and to help draw the worshipper into a state in which she or he was prepared to commune with God. Psalms were designed to mirror important functions of the sacrificial ritual. Understanding the temple tradition of psalms can enhance sacrament and temple worship for Latter-day Saints.

Parallels between Psalms 25–31 and the Psalm of Nephi

Kenneth L. Alford, D. Bryce Baker

Ascending the Mountain of the Lord: Temple, Praise, and Worship in the Old Testament, Sidney B. Sperry Symposium 51 (2013)

Nephi’s soul-searching introspection found in 2 Nephi 4:16–35 is a cherished and moving passage of scripture. Evidence in the writings of the prophets in the Book of Mormon who had access to the brass plates show that they were familiar with the Psalms.

Gestures of Praise: Lifting and Spreading the Hands in Biblical Prayer

David M. Calabro

Ascending the Mountain of the Lord: Temple, Praise, and Worship in the Old Testament, Sidney B. Sperry Symposium 54 (2013)

The ancient Israelite gesture of raising both hands in praise or supplication is mentioned in twenty-four scriptural passages, including several in Psalms. Psalms 134 and 141 mention lifting hands in a sacred place.

Parallels between Psalms 25–31 and the Psalm of Nephi

Kenneth L. Alford, D. Bryce Baker

Ascending the Mountain of the Lord: Temple, Praise, and Worship in the Old Testament, Sidney B. Sperry Symposium 51 (2013)

Nephi’s soul-searching introspection found in 2 Nephi 4:16–35 is a cherished and moving passage of scripture. Evidence in the writings of the prophets in the Book of Mormon who had access to the brass plates show that they were familiar with the Psalms.

Why the Psalms? How Were They Used, How Did They Come to Be?

Rodney Turner

Ensign 3, no. 11 (Nov. 1973)

Psalms in Hebrew is sefer tehillim, the Book of Praises. The psalms are intimate strugglings of the human spirit to find peace with man and God. Some of the psalms were part of Israel’s ancient temple ritual, but most psalms best apply to private contemplation and worship.