A Test-Yourself Quiz on Scriptural Repeats

by John A. Tvedtnes

Many learned persons claim that history repeats itself. This is an interesting idea for many reasons, but it really becomes interesting when one realizes that in the scriptures there are many examples of identical or similar circumstances occurring two or more times.

See if you can remember two or more instances recorded in the standard works for each of the conditions suggested below.

See if you can find one for each clue given, you’ve done some reading—or you remember those Sunday School lessons very well.

If you can come up with two for each condition cited, have you ever thought about teaching seminary or institute?

If you can’t list more than five total—have you ever thought about a daily reading of the scriptures?

If you can respond to all of the situations with three or more examples, have you ever thought about applying for a job at the New Era?

I. A small amount of food becomes a very large amount.

1. __________ 2.__________ 3.__________

II. The waters are parted to allow people to pass.

1. __________ 2.__________ 3.__________

III. A boy who had died is brought back to life.

1. __________ 2.__________ 3.__________

IV. A man, in order to save his life, says that his wife is his sister.

1. __________ 2.__________ 3.__________

V. Three days of thick darkness cover the earth.

1. __________ 2.__________ 3.__________

VI. A pillar of light appears to a prophet.

1. __________ 2.__________ 3.__________

VII. Elijah and Moses return to confer their keys.

1. __________ 2.__________ 3.__________

VIII. An ocean is crossed to reach the promised land.

1. __________ 2.__________ 3.__________

IX. Travelers descend into Egypt to find relief from a famine.

1. __________ 2.__________ 3.__________

X. An Israelite called upon to interpret the king’s dream is made a counselor in a foreign government.

1. __________ 2.__________ 3.__________

XI. Paralysis and a vision cause the conversion of an unbeliever.

1. __________ 2.__________ 3.__________

[Answers]

Answers to Quiz on A Test-Yourself Quiz on Scriptural Repeats: There may be other scriptural events having some similarity to those listed here.

I. Elijah multiplied the oil and meal of a widow in Zarephath. (1 Kgs. 17:10–16.) His successor, Elisha, multiplied bread and grain to feed a hundred people (2 Kgs. 4:42–44). In much the same manner as Jesus multiplied fish and bread to feed 5,000 (Matt. 14:13–21; Mark 6:30–44; Luke 9:10–17; John 6:1–14).

II. This happened twice to the Israelites on their way to Canaan: at the Red Sea (Ex. 14:21–30), and at the Jordan River (Josh. 3; Josh. 4).

III. Elijah performed such a miracle (1 Kgs. 17:17–24), as did his successor Elisha (2 Kgs. 4:18–37).

IV. Abraham twice used this method of saving his life (Gen. 12:10–20; Gen. 20:1–18), and his son Isaac followed his example (Gen. 26:1–11).

V. One of the plagues of Egypt at the time of the Exodus was darkness. (Ex. 10:21–23.) There were also three days of darkness in the New World at the time of Christ’s crucifixion. (3 Ne. 8:1–3 Ne. 10:9.) The darkness in the Old World at the time of the crucifixion lasted but three hours. (Matt. 27:45; Luke 23:44–45.)

VI. The pillar of fire that appeared to Moses on many occasions (Num. 9:15–17; Ex. 33:7–11, etc.) is the first such example in scripture. Other appearances of a column of light or fire were to Lehi (1 Ne. 1:6) and to Joseph Smith (JS—H 1:16–17, 30, 43).

VII. This happened once to Peter, James, and John on the Mount of Transfiguration (Matt. 17:1–4) and once to Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery in the Kirtland Temple (D&C 110:11, 13–16).

VIII. Noah left the New World for the Old (Gen. 7; Gen. 8); whereas Jared (Ether 6), Mulek (Omni 1:14, 16; Mosiah 25:2), and Lehi (1 Ne. 17; 1 Ne. 18) went in the opposite direction.

IX. Both Abraham (Gen. 12:9–10) and his grandson Jacob (Gen. 42; Gen. 43) were forced to flee to Egypt because of a famine.

X. This happened to both Joseph (Gen. 41) and to Daniel (Dan. 2–4).

XI. This is what happened to Alma the Younger (Mosiah 27:10–32). It also happened to King Lamoni and his queen (Alma 19:1–29; Alma 36:6–10), as well as to Lamoni’s father and his servants (Alma 22:17–26).

See chapters and verses for further details.