The Old Testament is a lot like the time capsules that we've been talking about--a record of a former day that the Lord has preserved in the Bible for us today. And just like any other time capsule, when we see what's inside, we're going to find a lot of great and exciting discoveries. A good place to start is to see how the book is organized, get a better feel for how this time capsule is put together. So if you will please turn with me to the front of your Bible to your table of contents. Look at the size of this book. Hey, we're talking about 1,200 pages here. No way I'm going to read all this.

Ha, the Old Testament is like a time capsule. Sounds kind of fun. Mom said that this would be my hardest year in seminary. Nobody understands the Old Testament. You get out of seminary just what you put into it. I don't know a lot about the Old Testament, but I'm going to give it my best shot this year. I always wanted to study the Old Testament. I'll bet this year's going to be all right. The books on this page contain a collection of histories, revelations, poetry, laws, and other things-- things which can really help us. For those of us who really make the effort, there are a lot of great discoveries and experiences, if we'll just liken the situations and the people of the Old Testament to our day. One of the things that we're going to find in the Old Testament are a lot of stories, many of which you and I are already familiar with; for example, the story of Noah and the ark. Let's go ahead and take a look at that one. It's in Genesis, chapter six.

Julie, will you begin reading that for us please, in verse number 13? "And God said unto Noah, The end of all flesh is come before me; for the earth is filled with violence through them; and, behold, I will destroy them with the earth. Make thee an ark of gopher wood; rooms shalt thou make in the ark, and shalt pitch it within and without with pitch. … And, behold, I, even I, do bring a flood of waters upon the earth, to destroy all flesh, wherein is the breath of life, from under heaven; and every thing that is in the earth shall die." You know, this story is thousands of years old. And yet it's my feeling that the Lord has provided us with arks of today, opportunities for you and me to escape the flood of evil that we have to face. Another important part of the Old Testament are the prophecies. As we study them carefully, we're going to find that a lot of them have to do with the last days. Let's look at one of those on page 1135 in your Bible. This is by the prophet Joel. Margaret, will you read that for us please? Verses 28 through 31. "And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions: … And I will shew wonders in the heavens and in the earth, blood, and fire, and pillars of smoke. The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the great and the terrible day of the Lord come."

Don't be too surprised if you find some things in the Old Testament that you usually don't find in scripture. For example, in the book 1 Kings, we read about the great construction of Solomon's temple.

"And the length is threescore cubits, and the breadth thereof is 20 cubits, and the height thereof, 30 cubits." "So Solomon built the house and finished it." Stories, prophecies, building plans--they're all part of the Old Testament. What I'd like to do now is hand out to you some more references. Take a few minutes and read through those. I think it will give you a better picture of exactly what the Old Testament has to offer.

"And the Lord said unto Joshua, See, I have given into thine hand Jericho, and the king thereof, and the mighty men of valour. And ye shall compass the city, all ye men of war, and go round about the city once." [HORN BLOWING] "And take thou unto thee thy brother, and his sons with them, from among the children of Israel, that he may minister unto me in the priest's office, even Aaron, Nadab and Abihu, Eleazar and Ithamar, Aaron's sons." The office of a priest in the Aaronic Priesthood and bestow upon you the rights pertaining to this office. Alan, we charge you to be faithful in fulfilling your duties. And we promise you that you will feel the influence … "And he laid his hands upon him and gave him a charge, as the Lord commanded by the hand of Moses." "And offer him there for a burnt offering upon one of the mountains, which I shall tell thee of. And Abraham rose up early in the morning, and went into the place of which God had told. And Abraham built an altar there and laid the wood in order, and bound Issac his son, and laid him on the altar upon the wood. And Abraham stretched forth his hand, and took the knife to slay his son. An angel of the Lord called on him and said, Lay not thy hand upon the lad, for now I know that thou fearest God." The last scriptural reference you read dealt with Abraham and Isaac. Like many things in the Old Testament, it helps point us toward the Savior and better understand His Atonement. You'll see the Savior this year in the Old Testament. And you'll come to know Him better than ever before. [BELL RINGING] [CHATTERING] [BLEATING]