David J. Ridges > Quotes

“We see one of the major principles of our welfare system today at work as Joseph distributes food supplies in Egypt. Rather than merely giving the grain out, which promotes waste, he still had the people pay for it, which helps eliminate waste and lack of appreciation”
― David J. Ridges, The Old Testament Made Easier Part 1

“Sometimes we find ourselves thinking that since the call comes from the Lord, everything ought to work out smoothly, with every potential obstacle removed. We forget sometimes that life is a "schooling" provided for our growth and development, and that if every time we went on the Lord's errand, things were to go perfectly well because of the Lord's blessing, we would be deprived of much of our education. {re 1 Nephi 3:7}”
― David J. Ridges

“Major Message Women can be given the gift of prophecy. Certainly, one of the most valuable uses of this gift, in addition to fulfilling callings in the Church, would be within the family, knowing by the power of the Spirit what the needs of family members are and will be. We understand that woman’s intuition is a form of this gift of the Spirit.”
― David J. Ridges, The Old Testament Made Easier Part 2

“And the LORD heard the voice of your words, when ye spake unto me; and the LORD said unto me, I have heard the voice of the words of this people, which they have spoken unto thee: they have well said all that they have spoken. 29 O that there were such an heart in them, that they would fear me, and keep all my commandments always, that it might be well with them, and with their children for ever!”
― David J. Ridges, The Old Testament Made Easier Part 2

“And Aaron said, Let not the anger of my lord [a respectful term used by Aaron to address his younger brother, Moses] wax hot [don’t get mad at me]: thou knowest the people, that they are set on mischief [you know how prone these people are to do evil].”
― David J. Ridges, The Old Testament Made Easier Part 2

“Isaiah warns the women against the spiritual dangers that confront them. 9 ¶ Rise up, ye women [German: proud women] that are at ease [overconfident about their safety; see 2 Nephi 28:24]; hear my voice, ye careless daughters [overconfident, complacent, too secure to change your ways]; give ear unto my speech [message]. 10 Many days and years shall ye be troubled, ye careless women: for the vintage [vineyard] shall fail [not produce], the gathering [harvest] shall not come [ famine]. 11 Tremble, ye women that are at ease; be troubled, ye careless ones: strip you [of pride], and make you bare, and gird sackcloth upon your loins [humble yourselves].”
― David J. Ridges, Your Study of Isaiah Made Easier in the Bible and the Book of Mormon

“Faith is also a principle by which the powers of heaven are activated in our behalf, as illustrated by Moroni, next.”
― David J. Ridges, The Book of Mormon Made Easier: Part 3

“I am the first, and I am the last [Jesus was chosen at the first, in the premortal existence, to be our Redeemer, and He will be around at the last, to be our Judge—see John 5:22]; and beside me there is no God [there are”
― David J. Ridges, Your Study of Isaiah Made Easier in the Bible and the Book of Mormon

“There are times in our lives when we must move forward with faith, and actually take some steps into the dark, before the promised blessings come.”
― David J. Ridges, The Old Testament Made Easier Part 2

“ONE THING YOU will see much of in Judges is the cycle of apostasy. In this chapter, we see it especially in verses 6–23. This cycle, well-known also in the Book of Mormon, basically begins with prosperity. When things go well, the people become prideful and begin to forget the Lord. The ensuing apostasy leads to destruction, which leads to humility in the hearts of the survivors. When humbled, the people repent and return to the Lord. As a result, they are blessed and delivered from their enemies. With the blessings of the Lord and their kind treatment of each other, they prosper, and the cycle starts all over again. The cycle does not need to continue. By remaining humble and keeping covenants, individuals and society can remain prosperous (such as was the case with the Nephites for two hundred years after the Savior’s visit to them) without forgetting the Lord.”
― David J. Ridges, The Old Testament Made Easier Part 2

“There is symbolism here. When we ignore God or cast Him out of our lives, spiritual darkness fills in where His light was. This darkness can be felt. In fact, no doubt you have literally “felt” evil, when you have approached it, considering participating in it, or while it was being practiced by others, or when approached by individuals and groups engaged in gross evil.”
― David J. Ridges, The Old Testament Made Easier Part 1

“nurturing and teaching the infant Savior of the world.”
― David J. Ridges, Born to the Virgin Mary

“8 Fear ye not, neither be afraid [trust in me]: have not I told thee from that time [ from the ancient times from the beginning; see verse 7], and have declared it? ye are even my witnesses [Israel’s calling, stewardship]. Is there a God beside me [is there an idol that is a God like Me]? yea, there is no God; I know not any.”
― David J. Ridges, Your Study of Isaiah Made Easier in the Bible and the Book of Mormon

“This chapter continues the comparison of Jehovah with the false gods and idols worshiped by so many people in Isaiah’s day. The point is that there is no comparison! Verse 1 introduces us to two prominent false gods in Isaiah’s day. Bel and Nebo were chief gods in Babylon. Ancient cultures such as Babylon believed that each “god” had a territory, and when a city or country was defeated in battle by enemies, it meant that their gods (such as Bel and Nebo) had been defeated by the enemy’s gods. Chapter 46 ties in with chapters 13 and 14 concerning Babylon’s downfall, and with chapters 40–45 concerning Jehovah’s power as compared to the lack of power of idols. 1 Bel boweth down [German: has been defeated], Nebo stoopeth, their idols were upon the beasts, and upon the cattle [the idols are powerless; they can’t move by themselves and have to be transported upon beasts of burden]: your carriages were heavy loaden; they [the idols] are a burden to the weary beast [the message, by implication, is that Bel and Nebo are burdens to those who “created” them, in contrast to the true God of Israel, who lightens the burdens of those He created, who worship Him]. 2 They [Bel and Nebo] stoop, they bow down together [German: they are both defeated]; they could not deliver [German: remove] the burden[they couldn’t do the job],but themselves are gone into captivity [they have failed their worshippers and couldn’t even save themselves]. 3 Hearken unto me, O house of Jacob, and all the remnant of the house of Israel, which are borne by me [note that I the Lord carry you, help you, am not a burden] from the belly [ from the womb, or from the beginning], which are carried from the womb [I have carried you from the beginning, contrasted to idol worshipers who have to transport their “gods”]: 4 And even to your old age [throughout your entire life] I am he [the true God]; and even to hoar[gray]hairs will I carry you: I have made [German: I want to do it], and I will [German: desire to] bear; even I will carry, and will deliver you [I want to help, support and bless you throughout your entire life; I want to be your Redeemer!]. 5 To whom will ye liken me, and make me equal, and compare me, that we may be like [who among your false gods can compare to Me]? [Same question as in 40:18, 25.]”
― David J. Ridges, Your Study of Isaiah Made Easier in the Bible and the Book of Mormon

“ISAIAH 50 Background This chapter can be compared with 2 Nephi 7. As with many other portions of Isaiah, this chapter speaks of the future as if it had already taken place. A major question here is who has left whom when people apostatize and find themselves far away from God spiritually. Another question that Isaiah asks is, essentially, “Why don't you come unto Christ? Has He lost His power to save you?” It is in this chapter that we learn that one of the terrible tortures inflicted upon the Savior during His trial and crucifixion was the pulling out of His whiskers (see verse 6). At the beginning of verse 1, the Lord asks, in effect, “Did I leave you, or did you leave me?”
― David J. Ridges, Your Study of Isaiah Made Easier in the Bible and the Book of Mormon

“5. DEATH OF EGYPTIAN CATTLE. Exodus 9:3 and 6 6. BOILS AND BLAINS. Exodus 9:8–12 Boils and blains seem to go together. Blains were blisters, small inflammations of the skin that were filled with pus. 7. HAIL AND FIRE. Exodus 9:13–35 8. LOCUSTS. Exodus 10:1–20 9. THICK DARKNESS. Exodus 10:21–29”
― David J. Ridges, The Old Testament Made Easier Part 1

“I say unto you, be one [live in harmony; be united in righteousness; avoid contention]; and if ye are not one ye are not mine.”
― David J. Ridges, Doctrine and Covenants Made Easier Volume 1

“19 For the people shall dwell in Zion at Jerusalem: thou shalt weep no more: he will be very gracious unto thee at the voice of thy cry; when he shall hear it, he will answer thee. 20 And though the Lord give you the bread of adversity, and the water of affliction [even though you go through some trying times], yet shall not thy teachers [thy teacher, the Lord] be removed into a corner any more, but thine eyes shall see thy teachers: 21 And thine ears shall hear a word behind thee, saying, This is the way, walk ye in it, when ye turn to the right hand, and when ye turn to the left [you will be surrounded with guidance and truth]. 22 Ye shall defile [cease to worship] also the covering of thy graven images of silver [your graven images covered with silver], and the ornament of thy molten images of gold: thou shalt cast them away as a menstruous cloth [they will be totally repulsive to you]; thou shalt say unto it, Get thee hence [you will shudder at the thought of idol worship]. 23 Then shall he give the rain of thy seed, that thou shalt sow the ground withal [you will prosper]; and bread of the increase of the earth, and it shall be fat and plenteous: in that day shall thy cattle feed in large pastures [things will go well when Israel repents and is gathered]. 24 The oxen likewise and the young asses that ear the ground [work the ground in agriculture] shall eat clean provender [hay], which hath been winnowed with the shovel and with the fan. 25 And there shall be upon every high mountain, and upon every high hill, rivers and streams of waters in the day of the great slaughter, when the towers fall [when your enemies have been destroyed]. 26 Moreover the light of the moon shall be as the light of the sun, and the light of the sun shall be sevenfold, as the light of seven days [everything will be better than you can imagine], in the day that the LORD bindeth up the breach of his people, and healeth the stroke of their wound [Christ heals when people repent].”
― David J. Ridges, Your Study of Isaiah Made Easier in the Bible and the Book of Mormon

“healing all manner of sickness, and all manner of diseases among the people which believed on his name. In a significant way, the Savior’s”
― David J. Ridges, The New Testament Made Easier, 3rd Ed. Boxed Set: Study Guide for the Full Text of the New Testament

“Then said I, Lord, how long [will people be like this]? And he answered, Until the cities be wasted without inhabitant, and the houses without man, and the land be utterly desolate [in other words, as long as people are around],”
― David J. Ridges, The Old Testament Made Easier Part 3

“13 The carpenter stretcheth out his rule; he marketh it [the idol he is making] out with a line; he fitteth it with planes, and he marketh it out with the compass [your craftsmen exercise great care and skill in manufacturing your idols], and maketh it after the figure of a man, according to the beauty of a man; that it may remain in the house [your craftsmen put great care into making your idols; implication: if you were as careful worshipping God as you are in making idols . . .]. 14 He heweth him down cedars, and taketh the cypress and the oak, which he strengtheneth [cultivates and grows] for himself among the trees of the forest: he planteth an ash [tree], and the rain doth nourish it. 15 Then shall it be for a man to burn: for he will take thereof, and warm himself; yea, he kindleth it, and baketh bread; yea, he maketh a god, and worshippeth it [you use most of the tree’s wood for normal daily needs; how can you possibly turn around and worship wood from the same tree in the form of idols!]; he maketh it a graven image, and falleth down thereto. 16 He burneth part thereof in the fire; with part thereof he eateth flesh; he roasteth roast, and is satisfied: yea, he warmeth himself, and saith, Aha, I am warm, I have seen the fire [normal uses]: 17 And the residue thereof [with the rest of the tree] he maketh a god, even his graven image: he falleth down unto it, and worshippeth it, and prayeth unto it, and saith, Deliver [save] me; for thou art my god [Isaiah is saying how utterly ridiculous it is to assign part of a tree to have powers over yourselves]. 18 They [idol worshipers; see 45:20] have not known [German: know nothing] nor understood [German: understand nothing]: for he hath shut their eyes [German: they are blind], that they cannot see [are spiritually blind]; and their hearts, that they cannot understand [they are as blind and unfeeling, insensitive, as the idols they make and worship]. 19 And none considereth in his heart [if idol worshipers would just stop and think], neither is there knowledge nor understanding [they don’t have enough common sense] to say, I have burned part of it [the tree spoken of in verse 44] in the fire; yea, also I have baked bread upon the coals thereof; I have roasted flesh, and eaten it: and shall I make the residue thereof an abomination [is it reasonable to make the leftover portion into an abominable idol]? shall I fall down to the stock of a tree [is it rational to worship a chunk of wood]? 20 He [the idol worshiper] feedeth on ashes [German: takes pleasure in ashes, perhaps referring to ashes left over from some forms of idol worship]: a [German: his own] deceived heart hath turned him aside [German: leads him astray], that he cannot deliver [save] his soul, nor say [wake up and think], Is there not a lie in my right hand [covenant hand—am I not making covenants with false gods]? 21 ¶ Remember these, O Jacob and Israel; for thou art my servant: I have formed thee [the exact opposite of idol worshipers who form their gods]; thou art my servant: O Israel, thou shalt not be forgotten of me.”
― David J. Ridges, Your Study of Isaiah Made Easier in the Bible and the Book of Mormon

“16 And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold [are not on this continent]: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd [all of my righteous followers will ultimately come together with me in celestial glory]. We know from 3 Nephi 15:21 that Jesus was referring to the Nephites on the American continent when He said, “Other sheep I have, which are not of this fold; them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice;” (verse 16 above). We know also that there were yet other sheep besides the Nephites. To the Nephites, Jesus said, “I say unto you that I have other sheep, which are not of this land, neither of the land of Jerusalem” (3 Nephi 16:1). As we read 3 Nephi 17:4, we are told that Jesus was referring to the lost ten tribes.”
― David J. Ridges, The New Testament Made Easier, Part 1: Mathew, Mark, Luke & John

“change, make mistakes, and recover. Consider this: Without practice, we could never grow to be more like Jesus. Practice requires that we make mistakes. The Atonement, therefore, provides the conditions for us to practice without fear of permanent failure since it can heal all things as we strive to become more like Jesus.”
― David J. Ridges, Learning at the Feet of the Savior: Additional Insights from New Testament Background, Culture, and Setting

“The Child grew, and with growth there came to Him expansion of mind, development of faculties, and progression in power and understanding. (Jesus the Christ, 111)”
― David J. Ridges, Born to the Virgin Mary

“13 And if ye shall say there is no law, ye shall also say there is no sin. (This is the root philosophy of atheism.) If ye shall say there is no sin, ye shall also say there is no righteousness. And if there be no righteousness there be no happiness. And if there be no righteousness nor happiness there be no punishment nor misery. And if these things are not there is no God. And if there is no God we are not (we don't exist) , neither the earth; for there could have been no creation of things, neither to act nor to be acted upon (there would be no opportunity for choice); wherefore, all things must have vanished away (there would be no existence at all!). Note: Having taught the vital roles of justice and mercy, agency and opposition, Lehi will now bear testimony of God and the system He set up for us in order that we might have”
― David J. Ridges, The Book of Mormon Made Easier, Part 1: 1 Nephi to Words of Mormon

“Major Message Bad attitudes and demands that the Lord give us what we want are unwise. The people had a bad and rebellious attitude. Rather than humbly requesting some meat to go with the manna, if it had been in harmony with the Lord’s will, they demanded meat and complained loudly to Moses, as if he were the Lord. Their prideful and strident approach is answered by the Lord with a severe lesson.”
― David J. Ridges, The Old Testament Made Easier Part 2

“Jeremiah was one of the few ancient prophets who prophesied destruction for the people and then saw the fulfillment of his prophecies during his own lifetime.”
― David J. Ridges, The Old Testament Made Easier Part 3

“For example, in the chiasmus used by Isaiah here in the first eight verses, the main message is found in verse 5, where he emphasizes that when a society collapses because of wickedness, everyone is persecuted and oppressed by everyone else.”
― David J. Ridges, The Old Testament Made Easier Part 3

“10. THE DEATH OF THE FIRSTBORN. Exodus 11:1–12:36”
― David J. Ridges, The Old Testament Made Easier Part 1

“JEREMIAH IS A well-known prophet in the Old Testament. There are at least sixty-two prophecies given in his writings. The book of Jeremiah has almost twenty-two thousand words, making it somewhat longer than Isaiah, and making it the second longest book in the Old Testament (only Psalms is longer).”
― David J. Ridges, The Old Testament Made Easier Part 3