“Create in Me a Clean Heart”
In intimate, tragic detail these passages present the story of David’s greatest mistakes. This most fully described character provides opportunity to engage with difficult but unavoidably important topics.
This section includes:
- Careful reading of the assigned chapters
- Modesty
- Sexuality and consent
- Sexual transgression
- Repentance
Recurring Donation:
One Time Donation:
Class Member Reading: 2 Samuel 11, 12; Psalm 51
Additional Reading: 2 Samuel 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10
Other Reading: 2 Samuel 13-20 (Consequences of David’s personal failings)
Content Note: It should not surprise anyone that a story about adultery, sex without consent, and premeditated murder prompts discussion that may not be suitable for all listeners.
Jennifer and Rebecca contribute an important discussion.
You can access the Assigned Reading here (or PDF).
You can access the Lesson Notes here (or PDF).
Resources
- The Law of Chastity, Gospel Principles Manual
- To Heal the Shattering Consequences of Abuse, Elder Richard G. Scott
- Increase in Modesty discussion in Church Magazines, Zelophad’s Daughters
- Men and Modesty, BCC post by Jacob
- Yes Even Mormon Women, fMh
- On Being a Victim, fmH
- Yes All Men, Letters from the Vineyard
- LDS Female Sexuality, Jennifer Finlayson-Fife’s Mormon Stories interview
- Our Buggy Moral Code, Dan Ariely’s TED talk
- Article about beauty and grading, Chronicle of Higher Education (Physical Attractiveness Bias, not directly related but interesting)
Thanks to James Estrada for post-production, and as always to Steven Nelson for the beautiful bumper music.
Engaging Gospel Doctrine 
I also heard growing up that Bathsheba was complicit in the sexual sin b/c she was naked on the roof. Unfortunately, that is a common belief. It’s refreshing to hear it not portrayed that way. Thank you!
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What remains disturbing to me, and what was not discussed or challenged in the podcast discussion, is that in 2 Samuel 12:8-11 Nathan declares that the Lord tells David that He gave David wives (language that still depicts the women as property, coming even from the Lord), and that David’s evil was killing Uriah and taking his wife (murder and taking what is not yours). No mention from the Lord about the lust, coercion and rape of the woman being the evil. (Again, more language that depicts more a sin of murder to take property that isn’t rightly yours – not comforting to hear as a woman, especially supposedly coming from the Lord.) Then the Lord goes on in verse 11 to describe how He will take David’s wives and give them to his neighbor (again, property to be used for His own purposes, not cherished as we believe today), and the neighbor will lie with David’s wives openly. How about what the wives want or deserve? Again, disturbing language, coming even from the Lord in these verses, that promote the idea of women being no more than rightful property to the men to have taken away if they sin or given to if they are righteous. I hate it. But I can’t imagine a scenario where I could bring this up in class and challenge it to really be from the Lord without everyone feeling compelled to “correct” me and help me to “understand” that it IS as is written, just like they’ve done in the past when I’ve tried (the Lord commanding Abraham to sacrifice Isaac was one example).
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Or maybe you talk about this in 101.2?
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Stacie, you make such a good point. I did not even think of that. Coming from the Lord makes a difference and SHOULD signal to readers that the writers of the OT were not always inspired. That they were products of their own environments. And I have also felt the “corrections” when trying to challenge the words of the scriptures, such as when only Miriam is punished for speaking against Moses, when Aaron was speaking with her. In this case, the silence of Bathsheba and the subsequent silencing of all other women compels me to speak, even though I know the consequences. I won’t be silenced. I think of the comment Jared made about David being angry when he learns of Tamar’s rape. He was angry, but did nothing about it. I am angry about the current silencing of women, and all I have is my voice. As I’m sure you know, it is a tough line to walk. Making enough positive comments, so your critical one will not be dismissed. I give up multiple times a day, but the thought of my daughter brings me back. Thank you for your critical thinking!
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Also, this was an AWESOME podcast. In the most sincere way, I wish it could be broadcast around the world. It gave concrete examples of some of the less tangible feelings I have had for a long time, but was unable to fully articulate. Thank you.
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