Dan

     The northern most city in Israel, Dan became a symbol of idolatry in the Old Testament. After the kingdom split, Jeroboam introduced incorrect worship of Jehovah to his northern kingdom. This was mostly done by using a golden calf to represent God. It is easy to read the scriptures and see how idolatrous the people were. I never realized though that they were still worshiping God, just in the wrong way. It is a lot harder to see how we are still idolatrous today. Because Spencer W. Kimball is a lot wiser than me, I'm going to let him remind us of all the gods we worship 

     "Modern idols or false gods can take such forms as clothes, homes, businesses, machines, automobiles, pleasure boats, and numerous other material deflectors from the path to godhood. What difference does it make that the item concerned is not shaped like an idol? Brigham Young said: "I would as soon see a man worshipping a little god made of brass or of wood as to see him worshipping his property." 

      Intangible things make just as ready gods. Degrees and letters and titles can become idols. Many young men decide to attend college when they should be on missions first. The degree, and the wealth and the security which come through it, appear so desirable that the mission takes second place. Some neglect Church service through their college years, feeling to give preference to the secular training and ignoring the spiritual covenants they have made. 

      Many people build and furnish a home and buy the automobile first--and then find they "cannot afford" to pay tithing. Whom do they worship? Certainly not the Lord of heaven and earth, for we serve whom we love and give first consideration to the object of our affection and desires. Young married couples who postpone parenthood until their degrees are attained might be shocked if their expressed preference were labeled idolatry. Their rationalization gives them degrees at the expense of children. Is it a justifiable exchange? Whom do they love and worship--themselves or God? Other couples, recognizing that life is not intended primarily for comforts, ease, and luxuries, complete their educations while they move forward with full lives, having their children and giving Church and community service. 

      Many worship the hunt, the fishing trip, the vacation, the weekend picnics and outings. Others have as their idols the games of sport, baseball, football, the bullfight, or golf. These pursuits more often than not interfere with the worship of the Lord and with giving service to the building up of the kingdom of God. To the participants this emphasis may not seem serious, yet it indicates where their allegiance and loyalty are. 

Still another image men worship is that of power and prestige. Many will trample underfoot the spiritual and often the ethical values in their climb to success. These gods of power, wealth, and influence are most demanding and are quite as real as the golden calves of the children of Israel in the wilderness." (The Miracle of Forgiveness, p.39)

We got to take a nature path back to the tel...and what's not to love about this picture

Where the altar of sacrifice was

Where the golden calf was placed

Just a little view into Lebanon

Walking through the bunkers on the Lebanese, Israeli border. 

As we were sitting having our lesson, we kept hearing big bangs and seeing large smoke clouds off in the distances. We watched this one explode on the mountain side. No worries, they were just rockets going off in Syria. 

Until my next adventure,

Lindy