Satan’s plan – Keep the people too busy to focus on important things. (Taken from CS Lewis the Screwtape Letters)

TV VIEWING HABITS OF AMERICANS:

• Those younger than 12 watch 28 hours/week or four hours a day.
• 12 – 18 watch 40 hours a week.
• This is robbing us of good time to use to focus on important things.

March 1994 Ensign, Oakes – Another Testament of Jesus Christ. He says we are not teaching or focusing enough on the Savior in our meetings or in our homes.

Pres. Hinckley – We wear ourselves out in thoughtless pursuits. Instead of so much TV, we should read, think and ponder (See 10-21-97 Church News)

Sterling W. Sill – April 1955, Conf. Report: “That which holds our attention determines our reaction and sometimes we are focusing on the wrong things.”

Multiple distractions in our lives are not good vs. evil, but good things. They are not good, however, if they keep us from focusing on Christ.

LESSONS FROM THE BRAZEN SERPENT – NUMBERS 21:4-9
He acted out the story with a role play with props and students.

VERSUS	OT ACCOUNT	SYMBOLS	APPLICATION
5-Apr	Physical suffering	mortal life	pain/adversity
5	speaking against Moses	not follow prophet apostasy
5	manna		God’s daily miracles insensitivity
6	Fiery serpents	adversity/sin	spiritual problems
7	Israelites ask for help	take away opposition solve problems
9-Aug	fiery serpent on pole	Christ	Christ’s healing
9	must look	Turn to Christ	Faith

Fiery serpents meant poisonous
SYMBOL OF THE SERPENT
In many cultures and from the beginning, the serpent has been used as a sign of Christ. When Satan deceived in the garden of Eden, he was using a symbol that represented Christ.
Supporting verses and commentary on Numbers 21

• 2 King 18:4 – The brazen serpent became an idol they worshiped. 4 He removed the high places, and brake the images, and cut down the groves, and brake in pieces the brazen serpent that Moses had made: for unto those days the children of Israel did burn incense to it: and he called it Nehushtan.
• John 3:14-15 – Symbol of Christ to be lifted up. 14 And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up: 15 That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life.
• 1 Cor. 10:9 Neither let us tempt Christ, as some of them also tempted, and were destroyed of serpents.
• 1 Nephi 17:41-42 - Simple solution but hardened hearts 41 And he did straiten them in the wilderness with his rod; for they hardened their hearts, even as ye have; and the Lord straitened them because of their iniquity. He sent fiery flying serpents among them; and after they were bitten he prepared a way that they might be healed; and the labor which they had to perform was to look; and because of the simpleness of the way, or the easiness of it, there were many who perished. 42 And they did harden their hearts from time to time, and they did revile against Moses, and also against God; nevertheless, ye know that they were led forth by his matchless power into the land of promise.
• 2 Nephi 25:20 - The Lord opened the way And now, my brethren, I have spoken plainly that ye cannot err. And as the Lord God liveth that brought Israel up out of the land of Egypt, and gave unto Moses power that he should heal the nations after they had been bitten by the poisonous serpents, if they would cast their eyes unto the serpent which he did raise up before them, and also gave him power that he should smite the rock and the water should come forth; yea, behold I say unto you, that as these things are true, and as the Lord God liveth, there is none other name given under heaven save it be this Jesus Christ, of which I have spoken, whereby man can be saved.
• Alma 33:19-22 19 Behold, he was spoken of by Moses; yea, and behold a type was raised up in the wilderness, that whosoever would look upon it might live. And many did look and live. 20 But few understood the meaning of those things, and this because of the hardness of their hearts. But there were many who were so hardened that they would not look, therefore they perished. Now the reason they would not look is because they did not believe that it would heal them.
• Alma 37:46-47 – Look to God and live 46 O my son, do not let us be slothful because of the easiness of the way; for so was it with our fathers; for so was it prepared for them, that if they would look they might live; even so it is with us. The way is prepared, and if we will look we may live forever. 47 And now, my son, see that ye take care of these sacred things, yea, see that ye look to God and live. Go unto this people and declare the word, and be sober. My son, farewell.
• Helaman 8:14-15 – Eternal life if we look to the Savior 14 Yea, did he not bear record that the Son of God should come? And as he lifted up the brazen serpent in the wilderness, even so shall he be lifted up who should come. 15 And as many as should look upon that serpent should live, even so as many as should look upon the Son of God with faith, having a contrite spirit, might live, even unto that life which is eternal.

APPLICATION – HOLD OUR FOCUS ON THE SAVIOR EVEN IN ADVERSITY
Examples:

• Joseph Smith (JSH 1:28-29) focused on the scripture over and over and repented from distractions as a youth.
• Christ with Peter – Matt. 14:22-33 (Walking on the water, left his focus on the Savior and sank)
• Story of Jedediah M. Grant in Our Pioneer Heritage vol. 20 p. 193
• Christopher Columbus – His records felt he was being led by divinity to find the new world and kept his focus when his med were about to mutiny.

Linda