Feast of Trumpets

Most of us know and recognize that the early harvest which occurs in the springtime along with Passover represents the Lord’s first coming, his death, crucifixion and resurrection. But a good friend of mine this week pointed out something significant about the fall harvest to members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Ancient Israel and those of the Jewish faith today celebrate three holy days or “holidays” in the fall, the Feast of Trumpets (Rosh Hashanah), the Day of Atonement (Yom Kippur), and the Feast of Tabernacles (Sukkot). Together they are called by Jews the “High Holy Days.” These holy days have an important relationship to the Lord’s spiritual gathering in the latter days. “For behold the field is white already to harvest; and lo, he that thrusteth in his sickle with his might, the same layeth up in store that he perisheth not” (D&C 4:4).

Many Jewish scholars believe that the final spiritual gathering of Israel would begin with the Feast of Trumpets also known as the Day of Remembrance. The Lord commanded Israel to blow trumpets on this day so Israel would remember that their God delivered them out of bondage from Egypt, and ultimately that their God the Great Jehovah would deliver them from the bondage of sin and for God to remember his ancient covenants with Israel. The sound of the “shofar, ”or ram’s horn calls for Israel to repent and prepare for the King’s coming, for new revelation and for the beginning of Israel’s final harvest.

It is not by coincidence that the golden plates were delivered to Joseph Smith early in the morning of 22 September 1827 the same day as the Jewish people celebrated The Feast of Trumpets. Israel’s trumpets sounded throughout the world with prayers pleading for God to remember his people, a call for new revelation and the beginning of the gathering of Israel.

“Unknown to Judah, all that those horns represented was now to be fulfilled. For on that day, God remembered His people and set in motion His plan to regather them. On that day, God’s final harvest began. On that day, new revelation was granted which would bring a return to renewed covenants. From that day onward, Israel would be called to repentance in preparation for Christ’s return and reign. The Book of Mormon exists to serve these ends. Today, Moroni’s image trumpets from temple spires around the world a final call to awaken, repent, and prepare. For Latter-day Saints, knowing this is the final harvest with an ever-shortening time to labor should further motivate us to thrust in our sickles with our might. In that spirit, as we feel joy in that harvest we should make known the marvelous work that the Lord has brought forth in these latter days (see D&C 65:4).” Lenet Hadley Read, “The Golden Plates and the Feast of Trumpets,” Ensign, Jan 2000, 25
(picture of angel moroni on dallas temple)

Just another reason to love the fall!! here are some other reasons why the follett's love the fall!

Blessings of a Fall Harvest

1. A busy house becomes quiet for at least a few hours of the day while the children are at school

2. Watching jackson play soccer!

3. Reaping the blessing of your daughter studying the scriptures every morning at seminary.

4. Emma's Enormous Energy being channeled into reading, writing, and math!

5. Nicholas' excitment over playing football

6. Kenny having the time to play on a softball league (emma did ask, "I thought softball was for
girls?")

7. General Conference

8. snuggle naps with lily, she loves to lay next to me and rub my arm! nothing sweeter!

9. A little chill in the air after a long hot summer!

10. the pumpkin patch

11. MLB games that are so fun we forget about bedtime!

12. the leaves changing color, we look for that every day!

13. BYU Football Games (Go Cougars)

14. Beef Stew and Cornbread

BYU!!!

I can't believe i just dropped my daughter off at the Y to start her freshmen year! We had a great time together preparing for the school year and it was really fun for it to be just kelsi and I. We went to the bookstore and bought her books, OK we went twice, i don't think you are able to get everything your first try, we interviewed for a job, OK i did a lot of encouraging and pleading for her to get a job, we ate in the cougar eat, shopped for BYU memorabilia for the family at home, got her checked in and moved in the Chipman Hall, 3rd floor, corner room, we finalized her schedule and got her checked in to the freshman orientation, walked around campus looking for her classes, all in all it was very fun and we were exhausted. Kelsi of course was not sad, i on the other hand gave her a hug goodbye and cried all the way home! what a blessing she has been for kenny and I and what a blessing it is for her to be there at the greatest school ever!
I have begged her for some pictures and she is just too busy to send some, she says to check her facebook out! i think i need to think about getting a facebook!

so here is a slide show of the first day of school, that will give you a feel for what she is experiencing. (just copy the link and paste it) http://photo.byu.edu/video.php?cat1=Slide%20Shows&cat2=General&cat3=2008&cat4=First%20Day%20of%20Class

here are some highlights!
the roomate- heidi is a darling strawberry blonde who has a great sense of style and kelsi just adores her, they have lots of fun! kelsi has a lot of fun with all the girls on her floor!

the job-kelsi got a job as a ticket taker for all the home football games! when she showed up for orientation they asked what she wanted to do and she told them she would do anything so they put her in the president's box. this means she stands in the hallway where the President of BYU or his guests or the general authorities watch the game. apparently President Uchtdorf is a big fan and comes to the games. At the last home game he smiled and said hi to kelsi and then at half time he came out and told kelsi that he didn't think it was fair for her to be out in the hallway without anyway to watch the game, and he was going to write a letter and get her a TV! kelsi just smiled and was in complete ahhhh! (good thing she listened to her mom and got a job!)

BYU Culture- kelsi is enjoying the BYU culture, she has already witnessed a marriage proposal in front of thousands, tunnel singing on Sunday nights, devotionals on Tuesdays, joined the swing club, loves her family home evening group, was called to serve as the relief society music director, calls her book of Mormon class, seminary on steroids, i don't think she has hiked the Y yet, i think a really cute boy will have to talk her into that one! she told us yesterday her and her friends went over to Helaman Fields and they had covered the entire field in blue foam and they slid around and had a great time!

Boys-every time we talk to kelsi there is another boy in the background. i call them boys because she has promised me to only date freshmen her freshmen year! she is having lots of fun going on dates and was just asked to homecoming by a boy throwing a rock at her window and then reading a poem asking her to the dance. kelsi, ashley and i all wonder why boys wait till they are at byu to be so cute, poor ashley she has three more years to wait for such fun!

Favorite Class- intro to film is kelsi's favorite class and his held in the Varsity Theatre. she loves it, most of her homework is watching old movies and writing papers on it. she is definitely in her element.