The Plan How to Discover in a Line Activities to
Activities to Teach Symbolism Bo ok ! 2 Gospel Principles in Simple Shapes How to Discover How to Discover The Plan The Plan ! ! ! ! ! in a Line in a Line ! Featuring the number 2, duality, the vesica pisces shape and more by Tresta Neil 1 Activities to Teach Symbolism and Gospel Principles in Simple Shapes How to Discover The Plan ! ! in a Line Bo Featuring the the number 2, duality, the vesica pisces shape, the line and more. ok ! 2 by Tresta Neil ! © 2013 Tresta Neil! ! ! ! www.KeystoneEd.com! ! ! ! ! i © 2013, Center Point Press! All rights reserved.! ! ! No part of the work may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying and recording, or by any information storage or retrieval system without prior written permission of the copyright owner unless it complies with the Photocopying and Distribution Policy below.! ! Address requests for permissions to make copies [email protected]! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! PHOTOCOPYING AND DISTRIBUTION POLICY! ! You may make as many photocopies of the activities as you need for use WITHIN YOUR OWN FAMILY ONLY. Schools and co-ops may not photocopy any portion of the Activity Book. © 2013 Tresta Neil! ! ! ! www.KeystoneEd.com! ! ! ! ! ii Acknowledgments ! Many thanks to my husband, Thom, who spent many hours listening to my new discoveries and plans and also for his help with design, editing and suggestions. And to my wonderful eight children. ! Thanks to my great support team: my sister, Telsie Graziano and brother, Ty Garrett for editing and contributing to the book. Thanks also for the many wonderful classes and seminars offered on these subjects, especially, John Young’s class on “Rituals and Symbolism.” Thanks also goes to my many students who have helped me discover these truths during my symbolism classes these books are dedicated to you! © 2013 Tresta Neil! ! ! www.KeystoneEd.com! ! ! ! ! ! iii © 2013 Tresta Neil! ! ! www.KeystoneEd.com! ! ! ! ! ! iv Table of Contents Introduction .................................................................................1 Why Symbolism? ........................................................................2 Shapes for each Number .............................................................3 “His” Story in Shapes ..................................................................4 ! The Line What is a Line? ...........................................................................6 The Strait Path .........................................................................10 First Line of Defense ................................................................12 Our Life Line ............................................................................14 Line upon Line ............................................................................15 Sticks and Standards ................................................................17 The Iron Rod/Fellowship ...........................................................19 Staying within the Lines............................................................20 Plum Line ..................................................................................23 Line in Art .................................................................................24 Discover the Plan in a Line .......................................................25 ! The Vesica Pieces What is a Vesica Pieces? ............................................................27 Almond Shape ............................................................................29 Vesica Pieces in Space ...............................................................30 The Secret Shape .......................................................................32 The Doorway..............................................................................34 The Octaves ..............................................................................36 ! The Law of Opposites Opposites ...................................................................................38 Separating and Uniting.............................................................39 The Law of Polarity ....................................................................41 The Law of Duality ...................................................................43 Types and Shadows ...................................................................45 ! The Number Two 2, 20, 200, 2000 ........................................................................48 The Fall, the second pillar .........................................................50 The Mother of ALL Living .........................................................51 Story: Joseph of Egypt ..............................................................52 Hebrew letter and number 2, Beit.............................................53 The Scales, the second constellation .........................................54 Balance and Equalization ..........................................................55 Article: Direct and Indirect Wisdom .......................................56 ! List of symbols ...........................................................................57 ! These symbols in other core subjects .......................................58 ! Other Available Books ...............................................................59 © 2013 Tresta Neil! ! ! www.KeystoneEd.com! ! ! ! ! ! v ! ! ! Activities Within this Book The Line Draw a Line String Art activity Straight Balloon Activity First Line of Defense Activity Listen to the song Line upon Line Stick Pull Activity Staying within the Lines Activity Watch a video pyramids Art Activities with Lines 7 8-9 11 13 16 18 21-22 23 24 The Vesica Pisces Draw the Vesica Pisces Replicate Almond designs Create a Vesica Pisces art design Divide any line segment in half Guitar string or Octave Activity 27 31 31 33 36 The Law of Opposites Collecting Leaves Activity Balloon Rockets Paper Weaving Activity Types and Shadow Activity 40 42 44 46 The Number 2 Activities with the number two 49 © 2013 Tresta Neil! ! ! www.KeystoneEd.com! ! ! ! ! ! vi Introduction Isaiah, an Old Testament Prophet, had a mission on earth to convert not only those around him in his time period but those in our day also. His mission was to speak and write down prophesies so that “they [may] see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and converted, and be healed” (Isaiah 6:10). This is a wonderful pattern for us to follow in our learning and conversion process. May you read this book that you may see with your spiritual eyes, hear with you spiritual ears and understand with your heart. Then as you read through the pages you may be healed of your struggles and increase in your conversion process. How to Use this Book This book is intended for all ages! It is designed to teach at different levels at the same time. Young children will enjoy doing the activities (see the hand symbol), youth will enjoy learning the story of creation in a new light and adults of all ages will enjoy seeing the great messages that are found in this simple shape. You may read this book straight through, choose a lesson and study it alone or in random order or you can dig in, mark it up, doodle on it, it is yours! Take time to think about each question, do the activities and ponder the concepts and you’ll discover the world of symbolism and your learning will be rich! This volume uses the simple shape of a line and the vesica pisces to guide you in learning the language of symbolism through activities and thought provoking questions. ! ! Tools to Enhance Your Experience: Paper and Pencil (eternal ideas put into symbols we can see) Math Compass (symbolic for the eye of God, the legs represent the rays of light and grace shining from heaven to earth, when you open your compass you are opening up light, awareness and potential) Straight Edge (the way we rule lines between points, revealing paths of energy, motion and force between them. Symbolically the strait and narrow path) ! Each activities will have a list of other everyday household items you’ll need. © 2013 Tresta K. Neil! www.KeystoneEd.com ! 1 Why Symbolism? WHEN TO TEACH SYMBOLS ! 0 - 8 = I AM A CHILD OF GOD 8-12 = SPIRITUAL FLUENCY; TEACH THEM TO FOLLOW THE SPIRIT BY TEACHING THEM SYMBOLISM, OBJECT LESSONS, ETC. 12-18 = INDIVIDUAL MISSION 18-DEATH = SHARE MISSION TO LIFT AND BUILD UP OTHERS HOW TO DEFINE A SYMBOL LOOK FOR PATTERNS (HORIZONTALLY) AND THEN LIKEN THEM UNTO SOMETHING SPIRITUAL (VERTICAL). The Lord takes something mortal, earthly, physical (horizontal) and parallels it with something spiritual, godly, above, “mountain of the Lord”, below, devil, evil (vertical) to teach us spiritual things. This is how we can learn to define a symbol. Practice making and interpreting symbols so you can gain confidence. You will be more comfortable with the teaching of the spirit. The scriptures use patterns and principles (horizontal views to teach spiritual ideas) . This symbol ‘+’ reminds us to always find the “horizontal” or mortal representation and then look for the corresponding “vertical” or spiritual meaning. Metaphors Find the commonality between two seemingly different things. Snow is like the coming together of physical (dust) and spiritual (water). Metaphors /symbols teach all the logic without missing the meaning. ! WHY SYMBOLISM 1. Teaches by suggestion, a train of thought. There is always a logical progression from the symbol to its representation. Ask, “Is it logical?” 2. Teaches at many levels at the same time 3. Helps to Ponder (ideas are what we know and feel, not words) Improves creativity and curiosity 4. Helps to Remember & Retain (Satan tries to get us to forget to think by taking away symbolism) 5. Veils things you are not ready for (prevents) 6. protects us from evil acts of men and the sacred truths we’re not ready for 7. personalization 8. they testify of God and his love for us 9. a way to help us work out our individual salvation ! INTERPRETING SYMBOLS ALWAYS LOOK FOR THE MEANING IN CONTEXT - The words don’t always mean the same thing all the time, some have many meanings, so watch for it. (For example: D&C 121:41 & 45 the word Virtue: v.41 = by reason; v. 45 = chastity). There’s lots of words have many meanings so watch for it! There is always meaning in a symbol: We need to try to figure out what the representation of a symbol is. For example: the word HORIZON Horizon / tal; horizon / like unto LOOK FOR PATTERNS: The symbol itself has no meaning, but as we look at patterns in the symbol to see and learn and teach about other things - earthly and eternal. Ancient idolatry is giving meaning to the symbol instead of using a pattern to arrive at the meaning. VOCABULARY: English articulate vocabulary is 20,000 words. Bible vocabulary or oriental thinking is only 8,000 words because they use symbols. An example: we use the verbs, make, enter, establish, honor a covenant, where Hebrew only use “cut” a covenant. ASK QUESTIONS: What do we know and what do we know from what we know? Always compare it to the 3 sacrifices and the plan of Salvation REMEMBER: 1)"No Person Can Completely Define A Symbol". Elder Packer. 2)always look for more. ! IMPROVE YOUR SKILL Take an educational journey: Think of a place, then think about all the pieces of that place then come up with symbolism for each piece. For example: Doorway: way past obstacle, method to open, stand at door, knocking, standing at veil, knock, ask, seek; what made of size, shape, opens in or out, etc. Inside a room: Protection, room within rooms, purpose, bricks (line upon line) 4 walls, foundation (wise and foolish man) house, family protects against Satan with tithe, testimonies. 2! www.KeystoneEd.com! © 2013 Tresta K. Neil Shapes for each Number This book is all about the number 2 ! 1 - point and circle ! 2 - line and vesica pisces ! 3 - plane and triangle ! 4 - square ! 5 - pentagon ! 6 - hexagon ! 7 - heptagon ! 8 - octagon ! 9 - nonagon ! 10 decagon ! Each additional shape coming closer and closer to the circle © 2013 Tresta K. Neil! ! ! ! ! www.KeystoneEd.com ! ! ! ! 3 “His” Story in Shapes ! ! An overview of the book series with a focus on this book The Story Continues… We began with a point and created the Circle or Universe Symbols: God the Father, Heaven and Creation (see book 1: Discovering God in a Circle) ! The Creation Point ! Book 2: When Adam and Eve partook of the forbidden fruit in the Garden of Eden they were cast out and were separated from the presence of God - The Fall (represented by the Line). The Fall ! Line A new point or place was created where they could live out their lives and have a family. This new place is represented by another circle drawn around the new point. It is also a symbol of opposition in all things: life. ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! Heaven ! ! Great Plan of Happiness Earth The shared radius or line between the two circles represents God’s Plan of Happiness or a path of return. The line now unites the two circles. These two circles together are called the Vesica Pisces and is the shape for the number 2. ! The shared area between the two circles creates an almond shape, where heaven and earth meet. This represents a doorway between heaven and earth. ! © 2013 Tresta K. Neil! ! ! ! ! To Be Continued… in book 3: Discovering Christ in the Triangle www.KeystoneEd.com ! ! ! ! 4 The Line © 2013 Tresta K. Neil! ! ! ! ! www.KeystoneEd.com ! ! ! ! 5 What is a Line? Definition of a Line "The line is the first species of quantity, which has only one dimension, length, without any width nor depth, and is nothing else than the flow or run of the point [...] The straight line is that which is equally extended between its points". ! Examples of Lines ! Line Shapes: Side walks, roads and streets, sides of buildings and houses, a path, edges, level foundations, straight and narrow way, rod, Bering Strait, frames, walls, table, train track, light (traveling in a straight line), timelines, bridge, diaphragm, bones, esophagus, alliance, string ! “When you pray, you have a right to expect an answer to that prayer, providing your conviction is in line with the nature of God.” (Robert A. Russell, God Works Through Faith, pg. 8) ! ! Words with ‘line’: roof line, plum line, linear, tree line, a line, reseeding hair line, time line, story line, “in line”, align, timberline, linebacker, “line up”, borderline, “straight through”, “get in line”, front line, flat line, water line, outline, “line upon line”, “draw the line!”, “cross the line”, “grab the line”, phone line, “life line”, “online”, “off line”, “on the line”, stream line, phone line, “down the line”, “dead line”, shore line, zip line, ridge line, fishing line, “hook, line and sinker”, clothes line, airline, railway line, red line, finish line, “taxing the line”, straight line, double yellow lines, white line (on the road), “the shortest distance between two points is a straight line.” “back of the line”, “line of Authority”, “wedding line”, “the bottom line”, “finish line”, horizon line ... © 2013 Tresta K. Neil! ! ! ! ! www.KeystoneEd.com ! ! ! ! 6 The Line ! ! Line is the First Dimension A line has only one dimension, length. It begins with a point that has no dimensions and flows or runs in one direction creating the first dimension. ! Lines Represent Strength The line is the representation of a stem in a geometric plant. The stem grows straight up out of the ground as a straight line. It is a part of the complete plant, providing strength and length. See the other shapes to learn more about the geometric plant from a seed (point) to a stem (line, length), leaves (triangle, surface), flower (square, volume), etc. ! ! ! ! ! ! ! Draw a Line You’ll need a pencil and a straight edge. Place the tip of your pencil in the center of the center point of the circle. Slide the straight edge up to your pencil and line up the opposite side with the second point on the outside of the circle. Now draw a straight line from the center point to the outer point. © 2013 Tresta K. Neil! ! ! ! ! www.KeystoneEd.com ! ! ! ! 7 String (line) Art Activity ! Supplies: Foam Board (cut into 10×10 inch square) short straight pins yarn sheet of paper scissors pencil ! Directions: 1. Cut your piece of foam board into a 10 inch by 10 inch square. 2. Next, find something circular and trace a circle onto your sheet of paper. I used a small plate. 3. Cut out the circle that you just traced. Then fold the circle in half, four times. 4. Take the circle you just created and mark each of the folds. Then place it onto your 10 x 10 piece of foam board and make a dots on the foam board where you have marked the folds. Or you can use the template on the next page. 5. Place on straight pin on each dot, until your circle is complete. 6. Using your string make a slip knot and place it on one of the pins and tighten the knot. 7. Now it is time to decide how many pins to skip as you move the string around the circle. Taking the string, skip the desired number of pins and then from the inside of the circle, wrap the string around the desired pin in a circle and then move to the next pin. © 2013 Tresta K. Neil! ! ! ! ! www.KeystoneEd.com ! ! ! ! 8 String (line) Art Template © 2013 Tresta K. Neil! ! ! ! ! www.KeystoneEd.com ! ! ! ! 9 The Strait Path Definition of Strait 1) Narrow; close; not broad. 2) Close; intimate; as a strait degree of favor. 3) Strict; rigorous. 4) Difficult; distressful. God’s view Linear Time Line God sees the whole line we see only a small portion. My view The Line Can Represent Our Individual Path The straight and narrow path is your individual path to or from salvation. There are an infinite number of lines (radii) within a circle just as there are in infinite number of people. The Plan of Happiness is our Ultimate Line or Path. God created a plan for us to return to Him and gave us the agency to choose to go toward Him or away from Him. “And I also beheld a strait and narrow path, which came along by the rod of iron, even to the tree by which I stood;” (1 Nephi 8:20) “Strait is the gate, and narrow is the way that leadeth to life, and few there be that find it.” (Matthew 7) ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ☼ Spirit World PreLife ☽ Resurrection / Judgement Earth Life Grave “There is one framework that fits every course you teach… The Plan of Happiness (Alma 42:16)... Design it as a framework on which your students can organize the truths you will share with them...The plan in its fullness encompasses every gospel truth.” (Boyd K. Packer, “The Great Plan of Happiness”, 1993 Doctrine and Covenants/Church History Symposium) © 2013 Tresta K. Neil! ! ! ! ! www.KeystoneEd.com ! ! ! ! 10 Straight Balloon Activity ! ! Instructions: • Obtain some long straight balloons and blow them up. • Hang up a large paper on the wall with a target draw on it. • Have each child take a balloon. • Have them take turns aiming for the bulls eye by holding the balloon in their left hand and pushing their pointer finger of their right hand into the end of the balloon with the tied piece. • Have them aim at the target and let go with their left hand and the balloon will shoot toward the target. ! Notice it does not always go in a straight line! Have them keep trying until they can shoot it in a straight line toward the target. ! ! ! ! ! Reflection: What did it take to get the balloon to shoot in a straight line? How close did you have to get in order for you to always get the target? How can you liken this to your own individual path? How does the balloon represent our path? (line is a symbol for our plan/path) How does the target represent Heaven? (circle is a symbol for God and Heaven) What could you do to guarantee of hitting the target? ! Variations: Have the children shoot their balloons outside aiming at different objects see if they can get their target each time. Have several children line up and shoot the balloons, see how far they can shoot them. © 2013 Tresta K. Neil! ! ! ! ! www.KeystoneEd.com ! ! ! ! 11 ! ! ! First LINE of Defense The Shield is our first line of defense. It can be used to ward off the blows of the enemy even when you don’t have any body armor. The shield is Christ’s power and strength. “The Lord’s light can surround us and put up a protective shield between us and the darkness of the adversary.”(Elder Robert D. Hales) God is our shield and will protect us and lead us to safer ground or to spiritual attention. Faith in Jesus Christ is the first principle of the gospel which strengthens our shield. Just as faith is action (see Bible Dictionary) the shield is placed on the forearm implying action. ! ! Scriptures: For the Lord God is a sun and shield: the Lord will give grace and glory: no good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly. (Psalms 84:11) ! The God of my rock; in him will I trust: he is my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my high tower, and my refuge, my savior; thou savest me from violence. (2 Samuel 22:3) ! © 2013 Tresta K. Neil! ! ! ! ! www.KeystoneEd.com ! ! ! ! 12 First Line of Defense Activity Design a family or personal shield. Use symbols to represent you © 2013 Tresta K. Neil! ! ! ! ! and who you want to be. www.KeystoneEd.com ! ! ! ! 13 Our Life Line As we Reach up to God God Reaches Down to Us Linking and Connecting us ! As we step back and try to understand this love of God, we are astounded by its profound impact. At its center is the reality of a literal Father in Heaven whose love for His children knows no bounds. All truths, wisdom, power, goodness, and love He desires to share with His children, whom He created and sent to earth. He would have us reach up and know Him as a Father, as one who forgives, as a helper, as friend, as lawgiver—as one anxious to grant to every man the full opportunity of His love and potential and ultimately the blessing to one day become like Him. This love from Father in Heaven and its effects upon one of His children or the whole world is miraculous and contagious. He is constantly and everlastingly watching over us to lovingly and gently nudge us along. He reaches down, through His Son; through prayer, His spirit, His prophets; and through His commandments to express His love and concern and provide His guidance and discipline to everyone who will listen. As the Psalmist said, “The earth is full of the goodness of the Lord.” (Psalms 33:5) (James M. Paramore, Love One Another, Ensign, June 1981). © 2013 Tresta Neil www.KeystoneEd.com 14 ! Line Upon Line a pattern for learning ! “I will give unto the children of men line upon line, precept upon precept, here a little and there a little; and blessed are those who hearken unto my precepts, and lend an ear unto my counsel, for they shall learn wisdom; for unto him that receiveth I will give more; and from them that shall say, we have enough, from them shall be taken away even that which they have.“ (2 Nephi 28:30) Definitions: Precept - The greater law or doctrine giving direction and order and a call of action. It answers the question “why?” There are few doctrines and they only come from God, His word (scriptures) and His servants (prophets). The first three Articles of Faith include the basic doctrines of the church. ! Line - The lesser law or principle, a general truth that leads to righteous action. answers the question “what?” Principles flow from doctrine and there are many. ! ! ! Here a little: The personal or individual law, application of the law. question “how?” It It answers the Example Lesson: ! ! * Teach the commandment “Thou shalt not Kill.” This is a principle of the gospel. * Ask, “Why should we not kill? The answer (ie. life is sacred) will be the doctrine of the gospel. * Ask, “What can you do now to not kill?” or “How can you show God today, that you will obey this commandment?” The answer (ie. I will not loose my temper) is the application of the principle and doctrine. Warning: allow the learner to come up with his own answers to the questions. This allows the spirit to flow into their heart and helps them to come up with their own answers that will directly be for their own personal life. © 2013 Tresta Neil www.KeystoneEd.com 15 ! Line Upon Line Activity Listen to the song “Line upon Line”: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9yQkz77CngI ! ! "Line upon Line" ! (Saturday’s Warrior, lyrics by Doug Stewart music by Lex DeAzevedo) (verse 1) Line upon line precept on precept That is how He lifts us That is He teaches His children ! (verse 2) Line upon line precept on precept Like a summer shower Giving us each hour His wisdom ! (Chorus) If we are patient we shall see How the pieces fit together in harmony We’ll know who we are in this big universe And then we’ll live with Him forever But until it happens (repeat verse 2) Line upon line upon line Line upon line upon Line upon line upon Line upon line upon line! erse by v d a e R , pray. passage, y d u t s , y “Read sage b by s a p , e hapter c , vers e m by the line, n o p theme u r, line ittle.” iah) l a chapte e r e a little th referring to Is a e r e h ie cConk (Bruce © 2013 Tresta Neil R. M www.KeystoneEd.com 16 ! Stick and Standards as lines Standard: “That which is established by sovereign power as a rule or measure by which others are to be adjusted.” (1828 Dictionary) ! ! “Where do we obtain the guidance we need? We turn to Him who knows us best—our Creator. He allowed us to come to earth with freedom to choose our own course. In His great love, He did not leave us alone. He provided a guide—a spiritual road map—to help us achieve success in our journey. We call that guide the standard works, so named because they—the Holy Bible the Book of Mormon, the Doctrine and Covenants, and the Pearl of Great Price—constitute the standard by which we should live. They serve as a standard of reference, as are standards of time, weights, and measures that are kept in national bureaus of standards. “To reach our objective of eternal life, we need to follow teachings in the standard works and other revelations received from prophets of God. Our loving Lord foresaw our need for guidance: “For strait is the gate,” He said, “and narrow the way that leadeth unto the exaltation and continuation of the lives, and few there be that find it.”” (Russell M. Nelson, Living by Spiritual Guidance, October 2000) © 2013 Tresta Neil www.KeystoneEd.com 17 Stick and Standard Activity ! ! Stick Pull This is one of Joseph Smith’s favorite games. He was very good at it and often won. ! Object: To pull the other person up off the ground ! Materials Needed: Stick ! Instructions: For each two children have one stick Each child will sit down facing each other with the stick between them. Each child holds both hands onto the stick. One is in the center and the other has his hands on the outside. Their feet are together with the soles of their feet touching. Begin pulling against each other. ! Reflection: • What did it take to win? • What advantage does a larger person have over a smaller person? • What worked best for you, holding the pole on the inside or the outside? • What happened when both opponents were of equal strength? • How could the stick symbolize the scriptures? • How could you play the game without the stick? Come up with other refection questions © 2013 Tresta Neil www.KeystoneEd.com 18 The Iron Rod The IRON ROD is the word of God, light and knowledge, revelation, that keep you on the PATH, Principles and Ordinances, etc. Christ is the TREE - the Source of Light and Life and all the blessings of the spirit, revelation and spiritual gifts of God are the FRUITS. Peter, James, John The PATH is the strait and narrow way, the Gospel Plan, the only way to the tree, it is Jacob’s ladder, the covenants we must make and keep. As we all come together in FELLOWSHIP with one another; as we join hands and help each other, we are forming an IRON ROD. Influence of the Holy Ghost Prophets of Old Priesthood Leaders Family & Friends Home Other Teachers Missionaries Teachers & Leaders The MAN in the white robe (suit) that led Lehi through the mists represents a leader along our own personal PATH. The prophets, scriptures, and all messengers by which the Holy Ghost brings you the words of Christ (2 Nephi 32:2-3, 5) are part of your own personal IRON ROD that keeps you on the PATH and teaches you how to keep covenants (tokens & key words). “Lift up the hands that hang down, and strengthen the feeble knees.” Hebrew 12:12 © 2013 Tresta Neil www.KeystoneEd.com 19 Stay Within ! the Lines that God has Marked ! Joseph B. Wirthlin shares a personal story about lines ! The Straight Way is the Safest Path “I perceive that it has been made known unto you, by the testimony of his word, that He cannot walk in crooked paths; neither doth he vary from that which he hath said; neither hath he a shadow of turning from the right to the left, or from that which is right to that which is wrong; therefore, His course is one eternal round.” (Alma 7:20) ! “While traveling along a mountainous road one evening through a driving rainstorm punctuate with frequent claps of thunder and flashes of lightning, Sister Wirthlin and I could barely see the road, either in front of us or to the right and the left. I watched the white lines on that road more intently than ever before. Staying within the lines kept us from going onto the shoulder and into the deep canyon on one side and helped us avoid a head-on collision on the other. To wander over either line could have been very dangerous. Then I thought, “Would a right-thinking person deviate to the left or the right of a traffic lane if he knew the result would be fatal? If he valued his mortal life, certainly he would stay between these lines.” ! “That experience traveling on this mountain road is so like life. If we stay within the lines [paths] that God has marked, he will protect us, and we can arrive safely at our destination.” (Joseph B. Wirthlin, “The Straight and Narrow Way”, Ensign, Nov. 1990, 64) © 2013 Tresta Neil www.KeystoneEd.com 20 Staying Within the Lines Activity ! ! ! Object: Stay within the lines ! Materials: • A coloring page that is scribbled with many different colors • A coloring page (the same as above) that is colored within the lines • A coloring page (the same as above) for each child that is not colored ! Instructions: • Talk to the children about how a young child would color a picture. Never staying in the lines and the choice of color would not be consistent with the objects. Look at the scribbled picture. • Talk to the children about how they colored when they got older. They began to stay in the lines and their color choices were much better too. Look at the colored page colored within the lines. • Have them color their own picture. ! Reflection: • What did it take to color within the lines? • How did you choose your colors? • When you choose not to stay within the lines how does picture turn out? Is it easy to see and is it natural? • God gave us the ten commandments as guide lines to live by. How does staying within the lines symbolize the ten commandments? • How is your life like staying within the lines? Is your life a big mess or beautiful picture? • Does your drawing represent your current life? © 2013 Tresta Neil www.KeystoneEd.com 21 Staying Within the Lines Activity Moses gave us Guidelines to live by Color the picture within the lines and then cut it out. Use the pictures to tell the story of Moses. © 2013 Tresta Neil www.KeystoneEd.com 22 The Plum Line Definition of a Plum Line “a line with a plumb attached to it, used for finding the depth of water or determining the vertical on an upright surface.” The vertical line is found by holding up a string. The horizontal line is found using the level of water. The pyramid were exactly horizontally even because they built a trench around the whole pyramid and filled it with water. They then measured each horizontal layer from the height of water in the trench. ! Scripture “Thus he shewed me: and, behold, the Lord stood upon a wall made by a plumb line, with a plumb line in his hand. And the Lord said unto me, Amos, what seest thou? And I said, A plumb line. Then said the Lord, Behold, I will set a plumb line in the midst of my people.” (Amos 7:7-8) ! “Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD, Behold, [because you are with Satan] I lay in Zion for a foundation a stone [precious cornerstone a sure foundation], ... he that believeth shall not make haste. Judgment [because you made a covenant with death/Satan (see verse 15) also will I lay to the line, and righteousness to the plummet...And your covenant with death shall be disannulled [be of no effect], and your agreement with hell shall not stand;” (Isaiah 28:16-18) ! Righteousness are the weights by which we are weighed in the balance of the Atonement ! Justice will be the measurement of which He shall measure; the plum line, the absolute measure, from what all else is measured, the perfect measure ! ! The Atonement and Repentance balances out our sins. How was the diagonal line created on each side of the pyramids? Watch: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dGH93mt81BA © 2013 Tresta Neil www.KeystoneEd.com 23 Line in Art A straight extended mark; contour; outline can suggest movement, mood or emotion Definition of Line: 1. Contour; outline; exterior limit of a figure. 2. A straight extended mark. 3. Course; direction. (1828 dictionary) ! Lines can be used to describe the contour of an object. There are many different ways to create a line: ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! straight or curved; delicate or bold; vertical or horizontal; left diagonal or right diagonal; thick or thin; light or dark; broken or solid; directional or implied Activity Ideas: * Create a toothpick (straight line) sculpture * Trace your hand and draw different lines (see above) in each finger * Choose a coloring page and fill it in with only straight lines A Symbol for Line Paths can be curved or straight; broken or forked; horizontal or vertical and they are all moving. The Path of learning may fall within a time frame as in a school semester. They may be the growth within a family or the individual growth from baby to adult. © 2013 Tresta Neil www.KeystoneEd.com 24 ! Discover the Plan in a Line God ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! Me The center point represents God, the source of true light and the second end point and new center point represents an individual. ! There are an infinite number of radii in the circle just as there are an infinite number of souls finding their way back to God. ! The line represents the fall and the plan to return to God. It both separates and unites. ! No matter how far I move away from God, his love and presence is always near. (Law of the Circle) ! As I walk closer to God our circles unite until we become ONE. ! As I move closer to God all other radii move closer to God. We are all interconnected. ! I am the center of my universe, no one else has my exact perspective. I am in control of which direction I am going - farther or closer. ! The word “repentance” means to change direction or to turn. The sacrament reminds us to keep our feet pointing toward God and if they are not to turn around. See “shod with the preparation of the Gospel.” ! Uchdorft’s talk states that if we are in darkness and cannot see or feel light we must: 1. Start where we are 2. Turn to the light 3. Walk toward the light ! There is both belief and unbelief, faith and fear or love and hate within and around us. What makes the difference is to which one are we turned toward? If we turn to God we will have, see and feel more belief, faith, and love. If we turn away from God unbelief, doubt and fear fills our life. © 2013 Tresta Neil www.KeystoneEd.com 25 The Vesica Pisces © 2013 Tresta Neil www.KeystoneEd.com 26 What is a Vesica Pisces? Definition of Vesica Pisces The vesica pisces is a shape that is the intersection of two circles with the same radius, intersecting in such a way that the center of each circle lies on the perimeter of the other. Draw a Vesica Pisces 1 - Make a point on the paper and turn a Circle with your compass. ! 2 - Lift the compass and reverse it, placing its point anywhere on the Circle. Any point is fine. ! 3 - Turn another Circle the same size. ! Each Circle should touch the others’ center and create the Almond between them. ! Create the Almond below: © 2013 Tresta Neil www.KeystoneEd.com 27 ! ! ! ! Examples of Vesica Pisces A straight extended mark; contour; outline can suggest movement, mood or emotion ! These examples all have dual jobs Botany: pair of guard cells form an almond shape called a stomata for the exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide; inhale and exhale. They stay closed at night and open in the morning. ! ! Humanology: Our Senses SIGHT = two eye lids to keep foreign objects from entering and keeps eyes moist, two sets of eyes. ! ! ! ! HEARING = two ears to hear on the left and on the right, help with balance TASTE = two lips for protection, inhale and exhale; intake and out take, SMELL = two nostrils, exhale and inhale, smell ! TOUCH = nerves that sense touch are called Meissner’s corpuscles involved in two-point discrimination ! ! Examples in Business Logos: © 2013 Tresta Neil www.KeystoneEd.com 28 The Almond Shape Definition of the Almond Shape Many great geometric constructions grow from this simple Almond. ! In India and Italy, the almond nut and the geometric construction are both called a Mandorla. This often found in Medieval Art surrounding Christ. ! Throughout Europe this construction was called a Vesica Pisces, Latin for the “fish’s bladder” it resembles. © 2013 Tresta Neil www.KeystoneEd.com 29 ! ! The Vesica Pisces in Space The Hubble Space Telescope photo of the ineptly named Hourglass Nebula, is clearly a Vesica Pisces. In the center of which is a dramatic, colorful object, supposedly the remnants of a dying star (one about the size of our Sun). The green spot, in fact, is larger than the size of our solar system! The photograph is so dramatic, in fact, that it has appeared on the cover of National Geographic [April 1997]. Clearly, there is power within the Vesica Pisces! This is just a hint of the underlying, incredible significance of the Vesica Pisces, which carries a message which can never be put into words. There is a recent book showing some of the more stunning photographs from the Hubble Space Telescope, entitled The Hand of God, edited by Michael Reagan, Templeton Foundation Press, Philadelphia and London, 1999. ! © 2013 Tresta Neil www.KeystoneEd.com 30 Vesica Pisces Activity Replicate these Almond designs using only your compass. Create you own design. © 2013 Tresta Neil www.KeystoneEd.com 31 The Secret Symbol ! ! “This symbol, called the vesica pisces (piscis) or “Jesus fish,” has an unusual history. Used almost exclusively today to denote membership in the Christian religion, the symbol once held a very different meaning... The word usually found inscribed within, IXOYE (Ichthys), is Greek, meaning fish. The emblem became significant to Christians after St. Augustine, who extracted the word from the acrostic prophecy ... to reveal “Jesus Christ, God’s son, Savior.”” http://symboldictionary.net/?p=1127 ! The early Christians used a portion of this symbol to find other christians and to communicate with each other secretly so they wouldn’t get caught. Christianity was not accepted and if they were caught were taken away from heir families. This custom of drawing a portion of the symbol in the dust was carried over from the practice of the ancient Pythagoreans... ! ! “In earlier times, this glyph was associated with the Goddess Venus... Early depictions of Christ depict him as an infant within the vesica (In this context, it is usually referred to as a mandorla, meaning ‘almond shaped.’), which represented the womb of Mary, and often, the coming together of heaven and earth in the body of Jesus (part man, part god). As such, it is also a doorway or Concealed vesica pisces in portal between worlds, and symbolizes the intersection an Albrecht Durer engraving between the heavens and the material plane.” http://symboldictionary.net/?p=1127 © 2013 Tresta Neil www.KeystoneEd.com 32 Vesica Pisces Activity ! 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! Divide any line segment in half using the almond shape Draw a Line Open the compass so that its point and scribe touch the line segment’s two ends. Turn a semi-circle. Switch the compass point and scribe to the other ends of the line segment. Turn another semi-circle and create the Almond. Use your straightedge to daw a line connecting the points where the circles cross above and below the line. This divides the original line into two equal halves. Mid point 1 2&3 4&5 6 Divide this line in half. Then divide each half into halves. © 2013 Tresta Neil www.KeystoneEd.com 33 The Doorway or Passageway ! The Vesica Pisces represents a passage way. Where the two circles overlap represents a doorway or passage way between earth and heaven. It was closed to heaven when The Fall happened. Christ opened this door through the atonement and made it possible for us to all return to heaven. In ancient art Christ is often depicted in the center of the almond shape. ! Cathedral Doorways ! Many Cathedrals doors are constructed as portals or passageways between the physical world and spiritual life. The outside represented the world and through the doors, inside the cathedral, represented heaven. Doorways in Numbers: 1 & 2 are the parents to the “Many” numbers 1+1 > 1x1 greater than; the “Unique”; Father 2+2 = 2x2 equal; the “Doorway”; Mother 3+3 < 3x3 less than; All other numbers follow this less than pattern. The "Many" ! ! The Vesica Pisces is The Doorway to all other shapes. ! ! ! © 2013 Tresta Neil www.KeystoneEd.com 34 Other Doorways ! ! ! Chemistry: Hydrogen is the only known element that only has protons and electrons and no neutrons. Neutrons are built by fusing hydrogen atoms together. Hydrogen with two opposite charges represents the number one and two or the doorway to all other elements. ! ! ! ! ! Hydrogen Has only electrons and protons ! ! ! ! Helium has protons, electrons and neutrons All other elements have all three: protons electrons and neutrons Cell division: One single cell becomes two identical cells representing the number one and two (the Vesica Pisces) or the doorway to many other cells. Then those two become “many”,4, 8 ... © 2013 Tresta Neil www.KeystoneEd.com 35 ! ! The Octaves ! Within the Vesica Pisces you have two full octaves Draw a Vesica Pisces, like the one below, and tack a rubber band to the two ends then place your finger on the places where the notes are marked and strum the rubber band. You should hear the different notes. B C A E C G F The Musical Musical Octave fifth fourth ½ ⅔ ¾ D C One, in music, represents the starting point of resonance, the generative element. Two in music represents the reproductive element, it represents the octave. The octave is the interval which permits the same sound. It contains its own sound and encloses the seven note scale. © 2013 Tresta Neil www.KeystoneEd.com 36 The Law of Opposites © 2013 Tresta Neil www.KeystoneEd.com 37 Opposites The creation of the second circle represents the shadow or opposite Light / First Positive Charge Male Day/Light Spring & Summer Active Sun Logical Hot Hard Strong / Assertive ! Dark / Second Negative Charge Female Night/Dark Autumn & Winter Passive Moon Intuitive Cold Soft Recessive/Nurturing ! We each have both within us. By finding their common ground, their point of balance, we can pass between them without being pulled toward either side. Both sides are needed. Language hot/cold, up/down, laugh/cry, creature/creator, .... Neither word in any pair can exist alone. © 2013 Tresta Neil www.KeystoneEd.com 38 Separating and Uniting The Line both separates the two circles and units them together The line divides (separates into two circles) and unites (links to the first circle), repels and attracts, separates from unity and craves to return to it. Words indicating separating doubt dissent These are words with the prefix “di” or “du”: disgruntled diameter duet “Thou” distance diverge dichotomy Words indicating joining twopense twine two ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! twain These are words with the prefix “tw”: between Togetherness twice There are more “separation” words than there are “joining” words suggesting our alienation from unity. Let us ALL add more “joining” words to our vocabulary And increase our UNITY! © 2013 Tresta Neil www.KeystoneEd.com 39 Separating and Uniting Activity ! Venn Diagram ! Instructions: * Choose two different kinds of leaves * In the almond shape in the middle write down all the things that are the same about each leaf * In one circle describe how the first leaf is different than the second * In the second circle describe how the second leaf is different than the first ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! Reflection: * What other things can you create a Venn Diagram with? * What comparisons can you make? * Everything has something that is similar to it and different, what is similar to you? * What is different than you? * How can this apply to you personally both spiritually and physically? ! © 2013 Tresta Neil Make a Venn Diagram with You and God www.KeystoneEd.com 40 The Law of Polarity Everything in creation has its equal opposite! ! ✴ Every question has an equal answer. ! ✴ Every problem has an equal sized solution. ! ✴ Every idea has a way to carry out that idea! This is why anything you can think of is possible. If it weren't possible, you couldn't think it. Because all ideas come from God and so do the ways and means to manifest those ideas. (Ideas just "show up" therefore so does the way to make them happen). ! ✴ Energy, light and ideas have no form. You give it form by what you choose to think (gift of agency). However, it does have purpose! The purpose of All spirit, energy, light and ideas that flow to you is more life for you! ! ✴ The #1 Universal Rule is MORE LIFE. Negative images form more negative, for example drug addicts become more addicted. Positive images form more positive, for example a person who helps others helps others more. ! ✴ God is more anxious to give you what you want than you are to get it! ! ✴ Every idea has the means of becoming reality. Radio analogy: Radio waves are all around us. Having a radio transmitter helps us to hear it. We can change the dial and get a different tune. If we want something different in our lives we must imagine what you want, make a decision, and take action (a change). Just as we turn the dial to find a classical station (knowing that it is there) we must believe there actually is a personal station and a way to find it. Then as we work (turn the dial) toward that something different we will find it. ! ✴ Our ego (how we think about ourselves) gets in the way. Once you create an image in your mind from the idea, IMPRESS it upon our sub-conscience mind by staying emotionally involved with the image without wavering (staying positive). It is important to feel about what you think otherwise it has very little power in helping it become reality. © 2013 Tresta Neil www.KeystoneEd.com 41 Law of Polarity Activity Materials Needed: Straw Large long balloon String Tape Clothes pin ! ! Instructions: * Blow up the balloon, no not tie up * Use the clothes pin to hold the air in the balloon * Tape the straw onto the balloon as the picture shows * Thread the string through the straw * Tack up the string to where the string in tight * Remove the clothes pin and watch the balloon and straw shoot across the string ! ! Reflection: What was the force that pushed the balloon and straw? There is an equal and opposite actions to all things. What were the two actions in this experiment? How does this relate to polarity? opposition? What equal and opposite forces happen in your life on a daily basis? (walking - I life up, gravity pulls down, skating - I push backwards to go forward) How does this apply to your emotional and spiritual lives? (for every question there is an equal answer; for every problem there is an equal solution) © 2013 Tresta Neil www.KeystoneEd.com 42 The Law of Duality Law of Duality - Where two is no longer twine but one. Examples of opposites working together as one Cloth - has both horizontal threads as well as vertical woven together. Battery - has a positive and negative charge Guitar string - is held down at two ends in order to create sound as vibrations Chopstick - one is motionless without the other Zip line - held up on two ends and stretched in order to zip down Hurricane - waters above and below twist together More Examples Paper (front and back), coin (heads and tails), trampoline (up and down), door (in and out), blanket (on top and under), cards (back and face), switch (on and off), dial (high and low), cassette tape (rewind and fast forward), door knob (open and shut), marker (left and right), lock (locked and unlocked), zip line (beginning and end), thermometer, etc. © 2013 Tresta Neil www.KeystoneEd.com 43 Duality Activity Paper Weaving Teaching How Opposites Create a Whole ! Needed: * 2 pieces of paper of contrasting colors * Pair of scissors * Tape ! 1. Take one piece of paper and fold it in half. Cut the folded paper in half but don’t cut all the way through. Leave the last inch or so uncut. ! 2. Next, cut the two halves in half again so you now have four equal cut sections. ! 3. Cut the sections in half again, so now there are eight equal sections. ! 4.Unfold the paper, you now have evenly spaced slots for weaving. ! 5. Take a second piece of paper and cut it in the same way as the first, but this time cut it all the way through so that you are left with eight strips of paper. ! 6.Weave the strips of paper through the slots in the first piece of paper. To achieve a checkerboard formation, start by weaving the first strip of paper under then over the slots. For the next strip of paper, alternate the pattern or start the second strip by weaving under then over. ! 7. When you have finished weaving fold the ends of the strips to the back and tape them down with tape. ! 8.Observe your design. Notice it has both vertical and horizontal lines. This is how cloth is made. Two opposites create a whole. ! What other patterns can you come up with? What other opposites create a whole? What other two things united become one? © 2013 Tresta Neil www.KeystoneEd.com ! r you can make plastic mats e O bags. Cut th t e g a rb a g g usin nd cu open it out a sides down, ve strips. Wea long plastic ture er as the pic them togeth ther. ch end toge a e g in ty s w sho as all or as big Make as sm you’d like. 44 Types and Shadows Definition of Type and Shadow 1. The mark of something; an emblem; that which represents something else. 2. A sign; a symbol; a figure of something to come; as, Abraham's sacrifice and the paschal lamb, were types of Christ. To this word is opposed antitype. Christ, in this case, is the antitype. ! The Bible is full of prophetic symbolism. Theologians call these prophetic symbols types or shadows. The word type has its origin in the Greek word “tupos” which means the mark left by a hit or blow. If you strike soft clay with your fist it will leave an impression or mark. That mark is a type of your fist. ! God, in his providence, arranged the lives of some people to give us some hints of what would happen in the future. Looking back we can see how events in the past are very much like later events. ! The story of Abraham and the sacrifice of his son is full of these types. Abraham is a type of god who also gave up his only son for us. The ram is a type of Christ acting as a substitute of Isaac. Isaac is a type of Christ, willingly submitting to the sacrifice he does not deserve at the hands of a father who loves him. ! A shadow is similar to type. A shadow gives us the outline of its owner, but no color or image. We can get some information about the object from it’s shadow, but it doesn’t compare with seeing the original. ! These types and shadows were designed to give clues about God’s plan and purpose to redeem mankind. God is and always will be in control of every detail of history. He is the God who causes the ram to be caught in the thicket, and he is the one who is able to save. ! Moses is another example of a type and shadow of Jesus Christ. © 2013 Tresta Neil www.KeystoneEd.com 45 Type and Shadow Activities ! ! Type Activity What you’ll need: * soft modeling clay * odds and ends that you can press into the clay to make images; e.g., a comb, a bolt, a paper clip ! Instructions: * roll the clay into ten alls and flatten them * press the different objects into the clay before the children see it * Ask the children to identify the object that was impressed on clay ! ! ! ! ! ! Shadow Activity What you’ll need: * sheet * flash light * Odds and ends objects used in the “Type Activity” ! Instructions: * Hold up the sheet between your children and you * Shine the flashlight at the sheet * Hold up an objects that the children could not identify in the previous activity between the light and the sheet so that the shadow of the object is seen on the sheet * Ask the children to identify the object * Ask them if it was easier to identify the object as a type or as a shadow ! ! Reflection What can we learn from an impression or type of an object? What can we learn from a shadow of an object? What can’t we learn? What is missing from what we see? ! Read Genesis 22:1-19 What is the type and shadows of Christ in these scriptures © 2013 Tresta Neil www.KeystoneEd.com 46 The Number 2 © 2013 Tresta Neil www.KeystoneEd.com 47 ! Two ! 2,20, 200, 2000 Scriptures with the Number Two ! ! No man can serve two masters (Matt. 6:24) For two shall be one flesh (1 Cor. 6:16) Tree of life and tree of good and evil (Genesis 2:9 & Moses 3:9) Rocks rent in twain (3 Nephi 8:18) The veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom (Matthew 27:51) Two talents turned into four (Matt. 25:22) Five loaves and two fishes Go out two by two, in my name (D&C 42:6) Went in two and two into the ark (Gen. 7:9) And now he translated them by the means of those two stones which were fastened into the two rims of a bow. (Mosiah 28:13) Mouth of two or three witnesses And the oracle in the forepart was twenty cubits in length, and twenty cubits in breadth, and twenty cubits in the height thereof: (1 Kings 6:20) And after this manner he did baptize every one that went forth to the place of Mormon; and they were in number about two hundred and four souls;(Mosiah 18:16) Helaman did march at the head of his two thousand stripling soldiers (Alma 53:22) Conference Talks with Two Two Lines of Communication by Dallin H. Oaks We must use both the personal line and the priesthood line in proper balance to achieve the growth that is the purpose of mortal life. Two Principles for Any Economy by DieterF. Uchtdorf It is often in the trial of adversity that we learn those most critical lessons that form our character and shape our destiny. Work and Learn Five Loaves and Two Fishes by James E. Faust “Isn’t it remarkable what people with five loaves and two fishes do to build up the kingdom of God.” How Two Witnesses Work Together “One of the most fundamental principles here is that the universe is God’s handiwork. Therefore, if the scriptures are God’s handiwork and the Universe is God’s handiwork then science and religion represent two independent witnesses of creation. We are told throughout the Old Testament that two or more independent witnesses are required in order to certify the truth. They are not opposites, but they are like the vision seen from your two eyes. If you close one eye and then the other, alternate back and forth, you don’t see the same thing with the two eyes. It is the combination that those two views which gives you three dementional perception and shows you a lot of things that neither eye by itself can see.” Dr. John Lewis, chemist of the Universe. He is a renowned scientist who advises the European and NASA space programs. See the video at https://www.lds.org/pages/we-lived-with-god?lang=eng © 2013 Tresta Neil www.KeystoneEd.com 48 ! Activities with Two ! ! Two color paper chain Cut out equal strips of construction paper in two different colors. Link the different strips together in a chain alternating the colors. ! Two piece puzzles Cut or print out several pictures and glue them onto different pieces of card stock. When the glue is dry cut the pictures in two. Rearrange all the pieces and have the children put them together again ! Crafts * Make binoculars out of toilet paper rolls * Make glasses out of pipe cleaners * Make and identify insects with two wings * Make and identify animals with two feet * Draw or make a bicycle ! ! Games * Any type of partner games like partner tag * Dancing in pairs * London Bridges * Play Matching or Concentration ! BELLS s. ITTLE TWO L bells in my hand stand. Two little g one, everyone at you do. in h When I r g two, here’s w our shoe! in r h I c u y Wh e n w and to Jean Warren lo n w o d Bend ! A Bicycle Build for Two! Nursery Rhymes and Songs * Two Little Blackbirds * Two Little Bells * A Bicycle Build for Two * Sequencing Songs: * “One, Two Buckle my Shoe” * “This Old Man” * “Ants Go Marching” * “The 12 Days of Christmas” Chorus:! Daisy, Daisy, give me your answer, do,! I'm half crazy all for the love of you.! It won't be a stylish marriage,! I can't afford a carriage,! But you'd look sweet upon the seat! Of a bicycle built for two. TWO LITTLE BLACKBIRDS Way up high in a big old tree, Two little black birds smiled at me. The first one said, “Let’s fly away.” The second one said, “I think I will stay” So the first flew off, way up high To look for rainbows in the sky. The second bird stayed and built a nest. She loved the tree. She thought it best. Each was happy in its own way. One chose to go, one chose to stay. Jean Warren © 2013 Tresta Neil www.KeystoneEd.com !! ! irds kie b ! c i d little wall Two ing on a e te r ! t t i s ed P ul! m a n One amed Pa ! r n Pete One way aul! a y l F P way r! Fly a ack Pete B l u e a Com Back P e m o C 49 The Fall The Second Pillar in the Plan of Happiness “We believe that man will be punished for his own sins and not for Adam’s transgression.” (The Second Article of Faith). The Atonement The Fall The Creation Salvation The Atonement by Russell M. Nelson, October 1996 General Conference The Creation The Creation culminated with Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden. They were created in the image of God, with bodies of flesh and bone. Created in the image of God and not yet mortal, they could not grow old and die. “And they would have had no children” nor experienced the trials of life. (Please forgive me for mentioning children and the trials of life in the same breath.) The creation of Adam and Eve was a paradisiacal creation, one that required a significant change before they could fulfill the commandment to have children and thus provide earthly bodies for premortal spirit sons and daughters of God. The Fall That brings us to the Fall. Scripture teaches that “Adam fell that men might be; and men are, that they might have joy.” The Fall of Adam (and Eve) constituted the mortal creation and brought about the required changes in their bodies, including the circulation of blood and other modifications as well. They were now able to have children. They and their posterity also became subject to injury, disease, and death. And a loving Creator blessed them with healing power by which the life and function of precious physical bodies could be preserved. . . But mortal life, glorious as it is, was never the ultimate objective of God’s plan. Life and death here on planet Earth were merely means to an end—not the end for which we were sent. The Atonement That brings us to the Atonement. Paul said, “As in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.” The Atonement of Jesus Christ became the immortal creation. He volunteered to answer the ends of a law previously transgressed. And by the shedding of His blood, His and our physical bodies could become perfected. They could again function without blood, just as Adam’s and Eve’s did in their paradisiacal form. Paul taught that “flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; … this mortal must put on immortality.” ... ! See also: The Fall of Adam and Eve in the Bible Dictionary © 2013 Tresta Neil www.KeystoneEd.com 50 The Mother of ALL ! ! ! The Second Human and Crowning Creation “When Eve was brought unto Adam, he became filled with the Holy Spirit, and gave her the most sanctified, the most glorious of appellations. He called her Eva—that is to say, the Mother of All. He did not style her wife, but simply mother—mother of all living creatures. In this consists the glory and the most precious ornament of woman.” --Martin Luther ! ! ! ! ! I had learned to call thee Father, Through thy Spirit from on high, But until the key of knowledge Was restored, I knew not why. In the heavens are parents single? No, the thought makes reason stare! Truth is reason, truth eternal Tells me I've a mother there. -- Eliza R. Snow When we understand the magnitude of motherhood, it becomes clear why prophets have been so protective of woman’s most sacred role. While we tend to equate motherhood solely with maternity, in the Lord’s language, the word mother has layers of meaning. Of all the words they could have chosen to define her role and her essence, both God the Father and Adam called Eve “the mother of all living” —and they did so before she ever bore a child. Like Eve, our motherhood began before we were born. Just as worthy men were foreordained to hold the priesthood in mortality, righteous women were endowed pre-mortally with the privilege of motherhood. Motherhood is more than bearing children, though it is certainly that. It is the essence of who we are as women. It defines our very identity, our divine stature and nature, and the unique traits our Father gave us. --Sheri Dew ! God was first (circle) and Goddess or Heavenly Mother was next (vesica pisces). Each complimenting each other, Father and Mother, Adam and Eve, Man and Woman, etc. © 2013 Tresta Neil www.KeystoneEd.com 51 of y r Sto wo T Joseph A Story with many Twos ! Two of the king’s servants were in prison with Joseph. They told Joseph about their dreams. Joseph told them what their dreams meant. One servant was killed. The other was let out of prison. Joseph stayed in prison for two years. (Genesis 40; 41:1) The king of Egypt had two dreams and he did not understand his dreams. No one could tell him Two’s in what they meant. The king’s servant remembered Joseph’s Life Joseph. He told the king about Joseph. He said ! Joseph would understand the king’s dreams. free / slave ! (Genesis 41:1–13) The king sent for Joseph. God accused / redeemed told Joseph what the king’s dreams meant. He ! said the people in Egypt would have more food top of house / bottom (jail) than they needed for seven years. Then there ! interpreted 2 dreams would be a famine for seven years. If the people ! must store food then they would have food when 2 years in prison the famine came. (Genesis 41:14–36) The king ! believed Joseph and made Joseph a leader of the 1 was killed / 1 lived ! people. The people did what Joseph told them to do. They stored food for seven years. (Genesis 7 yrs. plenty / 7 yrs. famine ! 41:37–49). saved food - saved people After seven years there was a famine. No food grew. People went to Joseph to buy food. Then the people had enough to eat. They were glad they obeyed Joseph. (Genesis 41:54–57) © 2013 Tresta Neil www.KeystoneEd.com ! had little / received much ! Slave / Ruler ! had two sons 52 Beit The Second Letter in Hebrew and number Two See Psalms 119:9-16 Opposites Temple, the House of God Male and female, mercy & justice, light & dark, head & heart, Human Nature & Divine Nature House dedicated to God above Duality walls doorway Red The first color in the rainbow, the Hebrew alphabet has 22 letters, each has its own color creating three complete rainbows. Spiritual symbols of red: foundation 1) Sin; conditions of mortals 2) Blood; Mortality; sacrifice 3) Emotion: Anger 4) Values: charity, love, life, courage 5) Commonly Associated with fire, heat, pain, danger, war, beauty 6)Examples: The Red Sea, The Red Cross ‘A’ Chord Home The lower mark is the foundation, the mark to the right is the walls or structure and the top is the roof pointing heavenward. The open left side is the doorway. Home is a safe place, a shelter both physical and emotional, a place of belonging. Where male and female, together, is complete and fulfilled. Geography Earth is the home for mankind. Physical bodies are the home for our spirit. Females are the home for babies. The Plan © 2013 Tresta K. Neil! Wisdom & Heart roof Where two is no longer twine but one. The Line 2 Mother, softness, parent, doorway Relationship with Family www.KeystoneEd.com ! 53 The Scales The Second Constellation http://www.johnpratt.com The Scales (Libra). Before there were coins, payments were made by weighing out commodities on a balance scale. Thus, the proposed meaning is that it represents the role of Christ as the Redeemer, who paid for our sins with his suffering, and who literally bought us with his blood. ! Represents the price of sin being paid by the suffering of Jesus Christ in his role as Redeemer (Isa. 41:14, 48:17). The word "redeem" means to pay the price to reclaim something, such as redeeming a coupon or paying the ransom to free someone from bondage. The scale is an ideal picture to convey this idea. Moreover, one can break the redemption process into three distinct steps: ! Consider the process of freeing a kidnapped hostage. The steps can be thought of as 1) pay the ransom price, the bail (sacrifice) 2) get the hostage and remove him from the prison, and finally (resurrection) 3) set the hostage free (deliver) ! Brightest star is Zubenelgenubi found on the left scale, which means “light” 2nd brightest star is Zubeneschamali on the right scale, which means “price”, “scale” ! Tribe - Asher Color -Tarshish or Yellow Gem - Beryl or Peridot 54! www.KeystoneEd.com ! © 2013 Tresta K. Neil ! ! ! Balance and Equalization The symbolic meaning of number Two is balance, kindness, duality, equalization, and tact. It reflects a quiet power of judgment, and the need for planning. It also deals with exchanges made with others, partnerships (both in harmony and rivalry), and communication. ! “Two urges us out of our indecision, calls us to unite with like-minds, and like-ideals. Two asks us to exert our natural flow of judgment to do what is best for our souls.” Whatisyoursign.com ! ! ! ! Notice the scale, it has two circles just like the shape for the number two. Both sides are needed, otherwise it would not be a scale or balanced. © 2013 Tresta K. Neil! www.KeystoneEd.com ! 55 ! Direct and Indirect Wisdom ! ! By John Young ! “A wise child uses twice as much care with his father’s things as he does with his own.” “If you break anything with that hammer, you’re going to be in big trouble.” One of these is said by the father of a child of an eastern culture; the other by one of a western culture. Do you know which? Yes, the “wise child” statement is of eastern culture and the more specific “hammer” one is of western. Symbolism— the use of one idea to cause the mind to think for itself to comprehend a larger and possibly more complex idea. That may not be a dictionary definition, but it seems to serve well here. While the statement about the “wise child” may not be use of direct symbolism, it does follow my above definition. Why do two fathers see their son doing the same thing, yet use such different ways to let the child know that he’ll be in big trouble if anything is damaged? It’s a way of thinking. We who are of western culture would expect to hear the more direct “hammer” warning. Both work at getting the thought across, but the first does encompass a lot more than the hammer. The difficulty with the “wise child” warning is that the child must think, “I want to be a wise child, why would it be wise to be more careful with Dad’s things...I’ll be in big trouble if I’m not.” There is also difficulty with the “hammer” method. The child might just go out and start playing with a saw. Then after he’s cut all the legs of a table, he’ll wonder why he’s in trouble. The Lord uses both the direct and the indirect symbolism to get his point across. We, his children get to learn how to “decode” the symbolism. I think that most of the time it’s not that the “decoding” job is difficult, but rather we’re just not accustomed to thinking through such language. We tend to want everything to be in plain, straight forward, language. I suggest, however, that it’s in the really thinking out the symbolism that we internalize the principle taught and therefore can more efficiently act on it. Every symbol has a logical progression or connection: [For example the Promises in the Word of Wisdom concerning the physical body, D&C 89:18] “Health in the navel” ... the path through which life and strength are given/ received. —Thus a symbol of spiritual life and strength given/received. “Marrow in the bones” … inner source of life as it is where blood in manufactured. —Thus the source of inner strength, etc…. By pondering and learning through symbolism we can internalize each principle and as we study principle upon principle, we can begin to see the whole picture more clearly. Maybe a better way of putting it would be that the symbolism helps us see just how the principle fits in with others to complete the picture. 56! www.KeystoneEd.com ! © 2013 Tresta K. Neil List of Symbols of the number Two, The Line, and Vesica Pisces ! ! Scriptural The Plan of Happiness The Fall Witnesses Parents Balance Communication Choice (2 or more options) Opposition in ALL Things ! Examples of Two Two Covenant Peoples: Israel and Latter-day Saints Two Natures of Christ: Mortal and Divine Two missionaries Two of each animal into the ark ! Sequencing (1 to 2) God the Father - God the Mother The Creation - The Fall First - Second Man - Woman Husband - Wife Father - Mother Adam - Eve Unity (God is still with us)- Separation (we need a way back…) ! Continue to book three for the way back. © 2013 Tresta K. Neil! www.KeystoneEd.com ! 57 Symbols in other Core Subjects Language Opposites .....................................................................................................................................38-39 Article …. ...........................................................................................................................................56 Literature Poetry … .............................................................................................................................................49 Biography - Joseph ...........................................................................................................................52 Geography Earth as Home ..................................................................................................................................53 History Early Christians, Secret Symbols ......................................................................................................32 2000 Stripling Warriors ...................................................................................................................48 Mother Eve ........................................................................................................................................51 Joseph 52 Math Shapes . ................................................................................................................................................2 Draw the Vesica Pisces ......................................................................................................................27 Divide a Line in Half ..........................................................................................................................33 Add and Multiply ..............................................................................................................................34 Science Physics - line .......................................................................................................................................6 Botany ................................................................................................................................................7 Physics - Pyramids ............................................................................................................................23 Botany - Guard cells .........................................................................................................................28 Humanology - senses ........................................................................................................................28 Astronomy - nebulas ........................................................................................................................30 Chemistry & Cell Division..................................................................................................................35 Law of Polarity, Law of Duality ...................................................................................................41-44 Types & Shadows .........................................................................................................................45-46 Humanology - eyes ...........................................................................................................................48 Physics - color red .............................................................................................................................53 Astronomy - constellations ...............................................................................................................54 Physics - balance ...............................................................................................................................55 Music The Octaves .......................................................................................................................................36 Art Craft - String Art ..............................................................................................................................8-9 Armor … .............................................................................................................................................12 Line ……. ............................................................................................................................................24 Architecture ......................................................................................................................................34 Craft - Paper Weaving ......................................................................................................................44 Gospel Doctrine Plan of Happiness ........................................................................................................................10,25 Scriptures ...........................................................................................................................................17 Fellowship ..........................................................................................................................................19 The Fall .............................................................................................................................................50 Symbols .............................................................................................................................................57 58! www.KeystoneEd.com ! © 2013 Tresta K. Neil e Th ! n la P Th e ! e in L Other Available Books by Tresta: ! The Theology Tree, Gospel Centered Learning Guide books for Language, Literature, History, Geography, Science, Math, Music and Art Theology Tree Tools, learning tools for Gospel Centered Learning ! Mathematics in Creation (Workbook and Teachers Manual) ! How to Discover God in a Circle (symbolism of the #1 and the circle) ! ! ! ! Up Coming Books: ! Activities to Teach Symbolism, Gospel Principles in Simple Shapes ! How to Discover Jesus Christ in a Triangle ! How to Discover Mortality in the Square ! How to Discover Re-birth in the Pentagon ! How to Discover Organization in the Hexagon ! How to Discover Sanctification in the Heptagon ! How to Discover Restoration in the Octagon ! ! Available at: www.KeystoneEd.com © 2013 Tresta K. Neil! www.KeystoneEd.com ! 59 Do you know what shape represents the number two? What shape has only one dimension? ! Learn: • The almond shape represents a doorway from earth to heaven and is the shape or birth place of all other shapes. • How the line represents the fall. • The symbolic meanings of the color red ! How many things can you think of that are in the shape of a line? How many things can you find that are straight? Also learn about the color red, the Hebrew letter and number 2, Beth, the number two, and much much more about this amazing shape. ! The Plan The Line Created by Keystone Education www.KeystoneEd.com
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