Moroni 1-6
It is interesting to note there seems to be two reasons these additional chapters are added when Moroni believed he had competed the record. They are 1- they testify of the need for a formal church organization and 2- they witness of the unchanging nature of Jesus Christ- and as an extension- His church.
Moroni Chapter 1
Moroni has been wandering and hiding in an attempt to protect his life from his brethren the Lamanites. He believed after completing the abridgment of the Jaredite record (the Book of Ether), he would have been done adding to the record we now know as the Book of Mormon. “Now I, Moroni, after having made an end of abridging the account of the people of Jared, I had supposed not to have written more, but I have not as yet perished; and I make not myself known to the Lamanites lest they should destroy me.” (Moroni 1:1) Imagine yourself living as he has lived year after year. Fearing the Lamanites locate him and demand he “deny the Christ”. Moroni wrote the Lamanites “because of their hatred they put to death every Nephite that will not deny the Christ. And I, Moroni, will not deny the Christ; wherefore, I wander whithersoever I can for the safety of mine own life.” (Moroni 1:2-3)
Moroni was a man of God but a man who knew war. He stood for things which were right, as did his father, Mormon. Yet he still had charity. Concerning these additional writings he hoped “perhaps they may be of worth unto my brethren, the Lamanites, in some future day, according to the will of the Lord.” (Moroni 1:4) It is interesting how often we hear this same type request of the Lord from his servants writing the record. They had an understanding of the purpose of the record. Remember Enos? He prayed “that if it should so be, that my people, the Nephites, should fall into transgression, and by any means be destroyed, and the Lamanites should not be destroyed, that the Lord God would preserve a record of my people, the Nephites; even if it so be by the power of his holy arm, that it might be brought forth at some future day unto the Lamanites, that, perhaps, they might be brought unto salvation” (Enos 1:13) and the Lord responded. “I had faith, and I did cry unto God that he would preserve the records; and he covenanted with me that he would bring them forth unto the Lamanites in his own due time.” (Enos 1:16) Also remember the title page from the Book of Mormon, penned by the hand of Moroni. This record is “written to the Lamanites”. The Lord in latter-day revelation has repeated this as one of the purposes of the Book of Mormon record. In Doctrine and Covenants 3:19-20, we read: “And for this very purpose are these plates preserved, which contain these records—that the promises of the Lord might be fulfilled, which he made to his people; And that the Lamanites might come to the knowledge of their fathers, and that they might know the promises of the Lord, and that they may believe the gospel and rely upon the merits of Jesus Christ, and be glorified through faith in his name, and that through their repentance they might be saved.”
Moroni Chapter 2
The church set up on the American continent by the Resurrected Jesus Christ was operated under the authority of the Melchizedek Priesthood. The apostles had the authority to confer the gift of the Holy Ghost. Christ gave this authority to the apostles. He ordained them in the same manner as it is done today. He “called them by name” (verse 2) and gave them the authority. He further indicated the authority of power to do this would be when they “call on the Father in my name, in mighty prayer” (verse 2). This brings up the importance of personal worthiness and priesthood power.
The power and authority to act in the name of God is not obtained solely by a desire to serve God. It is not obtained by achieving an ecclesiastical degree from a seminary or college. It is based upon personal worthiness and only when prophesy, revelation and the laying on of hands by one who has the authority has ordained the priesthood upon another male. Doctrine and Covenants 121:36 reads: “the rights of the priesthood are inseparably connected with the powers of heaven, and that the powers of heaven cannot be controlled nor handled only upon the principles of righteousness.”
In verse 3, Moroni writes, concerning the apostles conferring the gift of the Holy Ghost: “on as many as they laid their hands, fell the Holy Ghost”. This testifies they had actual authority to bestow this gift and teaches of the importance of the role of the Holy Ghost as it relates to the functioning of the priesthood of God. The prophet Joseph Smith said: “We believe in the gift of the Holy Ghost being enjoyed now, as much as it was in the Apostles’ days. We believe that it [the gift of the Holy Ghost] is necessary to make and organize the Priesthood, that no man can be called to fill any office in the ministry without it; we also believe in prophecy, in tongues, in visions, and in revelations, in gifts, and in healings; and that these things cannot be enjoyed without the gift of the Holy Ghost.” (Teaching of the Prophet Joseph Smith pg 243) The role of the third member of the Godhead is underestimated all too often. It is the function of the Holy Ghost to allow us to benefit from all blessings from God and most importantly the function of His priesthood and church upon the Kingdom of God on earth.
Moroni Chapter 3
The teachers and priests ordained in the church were done so in the same manner as today. Interesting to note is the admonition and priesthood responsibility “to preach repentace and remossion of sins through Jesus Christ, by the endurance of faith on his name to the end” (verse 3).
Moroni Chapters 4 and 5The Savior instituted the sacrament among the church here in America after his glorious resurrection. Moroni’s father, Mormon, had already addressed the symbolism of the sacrament emblems. Moroni and the Lord felt it important for there to be a record of the exact ordinance of the sacrament. He testifies this was the way the ordinance was performed when he starts both chapters with “The manner…” This was the manner the sacrament was both instituted by Jesus Christ and performed by the church. It is the same today. We received latter-day revelation which is consistent with “this manner” (see Doctrine and Covenants 20:76-79).
I was impacted by the sacrament prayers that we “witness unto thee, O God, the Eternal Father”. When we witness we “covenant”. It also came out in Gospel Doctrine class that the ordinance prayers refer to the “souls of all those who partake”. This connotes the eternal nature of the sacrament ordinance.
The sacred ordinance and covenant is that if we take upon us the name of Jesus Christ, always remember Him and keep the commandments, we will have His spirit, the Holy Ghost, to be with us always. See above comments from chapter 2 concerning the importance of the Holy Ghost.
Moroni Chapter 6
In this chapter Moroni begins by discussing baptism and the qualifications for entering the waters of baptism. Candidates were to bring “forth fruit” (verse 1) which were a “broken heart and a contrite spirit” and “witness unto the church that they truly repented of all their sins” (verse 2).
He then discusses the importance and purpose of record keeping. When a person was baptized “they were numbered among the people of the church of Christ”. This was so they can be “remembered and nourished by the good word of God”. This is to “keep them in the right way”, “continually watchful unto prayer” and “relying alone upon the merits of Christ” (verse 4).
This is considerably important in light of the direction given to us by President Gordon B. Hinckley in the April 1997 general conference: “With the ever-increasing number of converts, we must make an increasingly substantial effort to assist them as they find their way. Every one of them needs three things: a friend, a responsibility, and nurturing with “the good word of God” (Moroni 6:4). It is our duty and opportunity to provide these things.”
Moroni provides direction as to why we have our church meetings. The church met “together oft to fast and to pray, and to speak one with another concerning the welfare of their souls” and “to partake of bread and wine”. (verses 5-6) There was additional instruction and guidance given concerning church meetings in verse 9. The meetings of the church were “after the manner of the workings of the Spirit”. This directs us that all instruction, the topics of sacrament talks, the hymns we sing, the choice of who speaks, all should be the result of inspiration and direction from the Holy Ghost.
Moroni discussed the need of the church as a whole to “observe that there should be no iniquity among” the members. There are conditions set forth for the church to ensure the church as an institution. Rooting out evil has always been one of the responsibilities of the elders of the church in each dispensation. Those who misunderstand the role of discipline in the church fulfilling its three fold mission (perfecting the saints, proclaiming the gospel and redeeming the dead) may view excommunication, disfellowshipment, or other formal disciplinary efforts as unfair or punitive. Elder Theodore M. Burton noted that “the most loving action the Church can take at times is to disfellowship or excommunicate a person” (To Forgive Is Divine, Ensign May 1983, page 70). When deemed necessary through inspiration and direction from the Lord, these repentance processes can help the sinner fully realize the gravity of their sin. Imagine if there were no consequences for the sin? Could the sinner feel the repentance process and by extension the Atonement of Christ has been cheapened? This process also lifts the weight and responsibility of covenants they have made with God which they are having difficulty keeping. When they have partaken of the fruits of the Atonement, and tasted the sweet forgiveness available, they are changed- through the assistance of their priesthood leader, they can find their way back to the covenants they made.
Monday, December 22, 2008
Saturday, December 20, 2008
Book of Mormon Lesson 46: “By Faith All Things Are Fulfilled”
Ether 7-15
This Sunday School lesson presented many challenges in preparing for a discussion which would only be forty minutes. One reason for this was the amount of spiritual and historical information covered over the nine chapters for this week. Over the past year, we have spent week after week reading and studying the spiritual and complete eventual decay of the Nephite nation. We will cover in this one lesson the decline of the Jaredite nation. For brevity’s sake, I chose upon seven topics which cover highlights from chapters 7 through 11. These topics cover lessons we can learn from the Jaredite nation, remember, we are to “liken all scripture unto us… for our profit and learning” (1 Nephi 19:23) and don’t forget, Moroni saw our day and abridged this record for our benefit.
The Effects of a Wicked King upon the People
We have already learned this lesson. It has been taught to us again and again. In Mosiah chapter 29, Mosiah proposed that judges be chosen in place of a king. Unrighteous kings lead their people into sin. It was bright in the people’s mind after King Noah had ruled over them. More recently for the Jaredites, soon after arriving in the Promised Land, they wanted a king to be chosen to rule over them. The brother of Jared knew this would lead to problems. He said, speaking of having a king, “Surely this thing leadeth into captivity” (Ether 6:23) But Jared said unto his brother: Suffer them that they may have a king. And therefore he said unto them: Choose ye out from among our sons a king, even whom ye will” (Ether 6:24). Is there any doubt as to how this lead to problems for the Jaredites? We only have to look as far ahead as Riplakish, who “did not do that which was right in the sight of the Lord”. (Ether 10:5) Riplakish taxed and imprisoned the people. When they would not work he had them put to death. When they were in prison he required them to labor “for fine work, yea, even his fine gold he did cause to be refined in prison; and all manner of fine workmanship did he cause to be wrought in prison”. (Ether 10:7) Riplakish afflicted the “people with his whoredoms and abominations”. (Ether 10:8)
The Effects of a People who uphold Secret Combinations
Here again is another lesson we have already learned from the Nephites. Remember where the secret combinations originated. They have been since the beginning (2 Nephi 9:9) and have been a part of Lucifer’s plan and attack since Eden. These oaths and combinations are to get gain and to subvert the ways of the Lord. They found their way with the Jaredites with the daughter of Jared (not to be confused with the Jared who arrived in the Promised Land in the barges). This Jared is a descendant. He was the son of Omer, a Jaredite king. Jared began to “flatter many people” with “his cunning words”. (Ether 8:2) He gained half the kingdom from his father, Omer, and then gave battle to him. He captured Omer and placed him in captivity. Omer had more sons, Esrom and Coriantumr. They were upset that their father, Omer, was a slave to their brother Jared. They attacked Jared and won. When they were about to slay him, Jared plead for his life. Omer was set free and Jared “became exceedingly sorrowful” for losing the kingdom he had built up. (Ether 8:7) Jared’s daughter (unknown name) was dangerous. She was exceedingly expert, ie smart (Ether 8:8) and exceedingly fair, ie beautiful. (Ether 8:9) She saw that her father, Jared, was upset over losing the kingdom and brought his attention to the “secret plans” used to “obtain kingdoms and great glory”. (Ether 8:9) She devised a plan to get Akish to want to marry her. She planned to wile him with her ways (this is a spin of a quote from Ernest T. Bass of The Andy Griffith Show- my favorite show on television- email me if you can guess the episode it is from… it’s not hard, Ernest T. Bass was only in five episodes…sorry, back to the Jaredites) Akish was convinced he wanted to marry Jared’s daughter. The deal was however, she would only marry him if he killed and beheaded his friend the king, Omer. Where this becomes more obviously wicked is in the following explanation. This is Omer’s granddaughter and his son (Jared) plotting his death with his “friend”, Akish. How wicked were these people? Moroni speaks to us about secret combinations, calling them “most abominable and wicked above all, in the sight of God”. (Ether 8:18) He continues “And whatsoever nation shall uphold such secret combinations, to get power and gain, until they shall spread over the nation, behold, they shall be destroyed; for the Lord will not suffer that the blood of his saints, which shall be shed by them, shall always cry unto him from the ground for vengeance upon them and yet he avenge them not. Wherefore, O ye Gentiles, it is wisdom in God that these things should be shown unto you, that thereby ye may repent of your sins, and suffer not that these murderous combinations shall get above you, which are built up to get power and gain—and the work, yea, even the work of destruction come upon you, yea, even the sword of the justice of the Eternal God shall fall upon you, to your overthrow and destruction if ye shall suffer these things to be. Wherefore, the Lord commandeth you, when ye shall see these things come among you that ye shall awake to a sense of your awful situation, because of this secret combination which shall be among you; or wo be unto it, because of the blood of them who have been slain; for they cry from the dust for vengeance upon it, and also upon those who built it up. For it cometh to pass that whoso buildeth it up seeketh to overthrow the freedom of all lands, nations, and countries; and it bringeth to pass the destruction of all people, for it is built up by the devil, who is the father of all lies; even that same liar who beguiled our first parents, yea, even that same liar who hath caused man to commit murder from the beginning; who hath hardened the hearts of men that they have murdered the prophets, and stoned them, and cast them out from the beginning. Wherefore, I, Moroni, am commanded to write these things that evil may be done away, and that the time may come that Satan may have no power upon the hearts of the children of men, but that they may be persuaded to do good continually, that they may come unto the fountain of all righteousness and be saved”. (Ether 8:22-26) How can we recognize and protect ourselves from secret combinations in our day? President Ezra Taft Benson said : "...Moroni speaks to us in this day and says, 'Wherefore, the Lord commandeth you, when ye shall see these things come among you that ye shall awake to a sense of your awful situation, because of this secret combination which shall be among you....'
"The Book of Mormon further warns that 'whatsoever nation shall uphold such secret combinations, to get power and gain, until they shall spread over the nation, behold they shall be destroyed....'
"This scripture should alert us to what is ahead unless we repent, because there is no question but that as people of the free world, we are increasingly upholding any of the evils of the adversary today. By court edict godless conspirators can run for government office, teach in our schools, hold office in labor unions, work in our defense plans, serve in our merchant marines, etc. As a nation, we are helping to underwrite many evil revolutionaries in our country.
"Now we are assured that the Church will remain on the earth until the Lord comes again--but at what price? The Saints in the early days were assured that Zion would be established in Jackson County, but look at what their unfaithfulness cost them in bloodshed and delay.
"President [J. Reuben] Clark [Jr.] warned us that 'we stand in danger of losing our liberties, and that once lost, only blood will bring them back; and once lost, we of this church will, in order to keep the Church going forward, have more sacrifices to make and more persecutions to endure than we have yet known....' And he stated that if the conspiracy 'comes here it will probably come in its full vigor and there will be a lot of vacant places among those who guide and direct, not only this government, but also this Church of ours." (CR, Apr 1972)
America- a choice and Promised Land above all others
We read again and again of the conditional promises of the Lord to those nations who occupy this land. It is repeated in these chapters and we see the destruction of a nation who becomes ripe in iniquity. “And thus the Lord did pour out his blessings upon this land, which was choice above all other lands; and he commanded that whoso should possess the land should possess it unto the Lord, or they should be destroyed when they were ripened in iniquity; for upon such, saith the Lord: I will pour out the fulness of my wrath.” (Ether 9:20)
Power of Living a Righteous Life
Although we do read of the wicked kings of the Jaredites, there are some who are striving to follow the commandments. Emer and Coriantum are fine examples. “And Emer did execute judgment in righteousness all his days, and he begat many sons and daughters; and he begat Coriantum, and he anointed Coriantum to reign in his stead. And after he had anointed Coriantum to reign in his stead he lived four years, and he saw peace in the land; yea, and he even saw the Son of Righteousness, and did rejoice and glory in his day; and he died in peace.” (Ether 9:21-22) Is there any more of a reward available to us in this life than to receive the Second Comforter, even the Son of Righteousness, Jesus Christ and have Him appear to us?
The Importance and Place of the Lord’s Prophets and Their Counsel
What place do we give in our lives for the prophets and their counsel? The Jaredites did not open their hearts or accept the counsel. We read in Ether 9:28-29, “And there came prophets in the land again, crying repentance unto them—that they must prepare the way of the Lord or there should come a curse upon the face of the land; yea, even there should be a great famine, in which they should be destroyed if they did not repent. But the people believed not the words of the prophets, but they cast them out; and some of them they cast into pits and left them to perish. And it came to pass that they did all these things according to the commandment of the king, Heth.” This type of rejection continued in Ether 11:1-7, “And there came also in the days of Com many prophets, and prophesied of the destruction of that great people except they should repent, and turn unto the Lord, and forsake their murders and wickedness. And it came to pass that the prophets were rejected by the people, and they fled unto Com for protection, for the people sought to destroy them. And they prophesied unto Com many things; and he was blessed in all the remainder of his days. And he lived to a good old age, and begat Shiblom; and Shiblom reigned in his stead. And the brother of Shiblom rebelled against him, and there began to be an exceedingly great war in all the land. And it came to pass that the brother of Shiblom caused that all the prophets who prophesied of the destruction of the people should be put to death; And there was great calamity in all the land, for they had testified that a great curse should come upon the land, and also upon the people, and that there should be a great destruction among them, such an one as never had been upon the face of the earth, and their bones should become as heaps of earth upon the face of the land except they should repent of their wickedness. And they hearkened not unto the voice of the Lord, because of their wicked combinations; wherefore, there began to be wars and contentions in all the land, and also many famines and pestilences, insomuch that there was a great destruction, such an one as never had been known upon the face of the earth; and all this came to pass in the days of Shiblom.” Is there any question about the importance of following the Lord’s servants, the prophets, while in this sojourn on earth?
The Lord Sends Natural Disasters to Humble His People
Ether 9:30-35 reads: “And it came to pass that there began to be a great dearth upon the land, and the inhabitants began to be destroyed exceedingly fast because of the dearth, for there was no rain upon the face of the earth. And there came forth poisonous serpents also upon the face of the land, and did poison many people. And it came to pass that their flocks began to flee before the poisonous serpents, towards the land southward, which was called by the Nephites Zarahemla. And it came to pass that there were many of them which did perish by the way; nevertheless, there were some which fled into the land southward. And it came to pass that the Lord did cause the serpents that they should pursue them no more, but that they should hedge up the way that the people could not pass, that whoso should attempt to pass might fall by the poisonous serpents. And it came to pass that the people did follow the course of the beasts, and did devour the carcasses of them which fell by the way, until they had devoured them all. Now when the people saw that they must perish they began to repent of their iniquities and cry unto the Lord. And it came to pass that when they had humbled themselves sufficiently before the Lord he did send rain upon the face of the earth; and the people began to revive again, and there began to be fruit in the north countries, and in all the countries round about. And the Lord did show forth his power unto them in preserving them from famine.” Consider Moses and the plagues sent to the Pharaoh and his people. This does not mean bad things do not happen to good people. In contrast, sometimes good things happen to bad people who need to be humbled.
Ether 12
Moroni teaches us several things about faith. Faith is things which are hoped for and not seen (verse 6). Dispute not because you have not seen. The witness shall not be given until after the trial of your faith (verse 6). It was by faith that Christ appeared unto the people on this continent after his resurrection (verse 7). If there is no faith, God cannot do his miracles among men (verse 12).
It is interesting how Moroni cautions us to “Dispute not because you have not seen”. In the previous verse, he tells us why the people did not believe Ether and the great prophesying and marvelous things done for the people. It was because they “saw them not”. The world today is stuck with the saying “seeing is believing”. Is this the case? Is it more true that “believing is seeing”? I remember a quote from the movie, The Polar Express where the Conductor says, “Seeing is believing, but sometimes the most real things in the world are the things we can't see”. This is especially true when applied to faith. It is the most real and important things in the world that we can’t see.
This Sunday School lesson presented many challenges in preparing for a discussion which would only be forty minutes. One reason for this was the amount of spiritual and historical information covered over the nine chapters for this week. Over the past year, we have spent week after week reading and studying the spiritual and complete eventual decay of the Nephite nation. We will cover in this one lesson the decline of the Jaredite nation. For brevity’s sake, I chose upon seven topics which cover highlights from chapters 7 through 11. These topics cover lessons we can learn from the Jaredite nation, remember, we are to “liken all scripture unto us… for our profit and learning” (1 Nephi 19:23) and don’t forget, Moroni saw our day and abridged this record for our benefit.
The Effects of a Wicked King upon the People
We have already learned this lesson. It has been taught to us again and again. In Mosiah chapter 29, Mosiah proposed that judges be chosen in place of a king. Unrighteous kings lead their people into sin. It was bright in the people’s mind after King Noah had ruled over them. More recently for the Jaredites, soon after arriving in the Promised Land, they wanted a king to be chosen to rule over them. The brother of Jared knew this would lead to problems. He said, speaking of having a king, “Surely this thing leadeth into captivity” (Ether 6:23) But Jared said unto his brother: Suffer them that they may have a king. And therefore he said unto them: Choose ye out from among our sons a king, even whom ye will” (Ether 6:24). Is there any doubt as to how this lead to problems for the Jaredites? We only have to look as far ahead as Riplakish, who “did not do that which was right in the sight of the Lord”. (Ether 10:5) Riplakish taxed and imprisoned the people. When they would not work he had them put to death. When they were in prison he required them to labor “for fine work, yea, even his fine gold he did cause to be refined in prison; and all manner of fine workmanship did he cause to be wrought in prison”. (Ether 10:7) Riplakish afflicted the “people with his whoredoms and abominations”. (Ether 10:8)
The Effects of a People who uphold Secret Combinations
Here again is another lesson we have already learned from the Nephites. Remember where the secret combinations originated. They have been since the beginning (2 Nephi 9:9) and have been a part of Lucifer’s plan and attack since Eden. These oaths and combinations are to get gain and to subvert the ways of the Lord. They found their way with the Jaredites with the daughter of Jared (not to be confused with the Jared who arrived in the Promised Land in the barges). This Jared is a descendant. He was the son of Omer, a Jaredite king. Jared began to “flatter many people” with “his cunning words”. (Ether 8:2) He gained half the kingdom from his father, Omer, and then gave battle to him. He captured Omer and placed him in captivity. Omer had more sons, Esrom and Coriantumr. They were upset that their father, Omer, was a slave to their brother Jared. They attacked Jared and won. When they were about to slay him, Jared plead for his life. Omer was set free and Jared “became exceedingly sorrowful” for losing the kingdom he had built up. (Ether 8:7) Jared’s daughter (unknown name) was dangerous. She was exceedingly expert, ie smart (Ether 8:8) and exceedingly fair, ie beautiful. (Ether 8:9) She saw that her father, Jared, was upset over losing the kingdom and brought his attention to the “secret plans” used to “obtain kingdoms and great glory”. (Ether 8:9) She devised a plan to get Akish to want to marry her. She planned to wile him with her ways (this is a spin of a quote from Ernest T. Bass of The Andy Griffith Show- my favorite show on television- email me if you can guess the episode it is from… it’s not hard, Ernest T. Bass was only in five episodes…sorry, back to the Jaredites) Akish was convinced he wanted to marry Jared’s daughter. The deal was however, she would only marry him if he killed and beheaded his friend the king, Omer. Where this becomes more obviously wicked is in the following explanation. This is Omer’s granddaughter and his son (Jared) plotting his death with his “friend”, Akish. How wicked were these people? Moroni speaks to us about secret combinations, calling them “most abominable and wicked above all, in the sight of God”. (Ether 8:18) He continues “And whatsoever nation shall uphold such secret combinations, to get power and gain, until they shall spread over the nation, behold, they shall be destroyed; for the Lord will not suffer that the blood of his saints, which shall be shed by them, shall always cry unto him from the ground for vengeance upon them and yet he avenge them not. Wherefore, O ye Gentiles, it is wisdom in God that these things should be shown unto you, that thereby ye may repent of your sins, and suffer not that these murderous combinations shall get above you, which are built up to get power and gain—and the work, yea, even the work of destruction come upon you, yea, even the sword of the justice of the Eternal God shall fall upon you, to your overthrow and destruction if ye shall suffer these things to be. Wherefore, the Lord commandeth you, when ye shall see these things come among you that ye shall awake to a sense of your awful situation, because of this secret combination which shall be among you; or wo be unto it, because of the blood of them who have been slain; for they cry from the dust for vengeance upon it, and also upon those who built it up. For it cometh to pass that whoso buildeth it up seeketh to overthrow the freedom of all lands, nations, and countries; and it bringeth to pass the destruction of all people, for it is built up by the devil, who is the father of all lies; even that same liar who beguiled our first parents, yea, even that same liar who hath caused man to commit murder from the beginning; who hath hardened the hearts of men that they have murdered the prophets, and stoned them, and cast them out from the beginning. Wherefore, I, Moroni, am commanded to write these things that evil may be done away, and that the time may come that Satan may have no power upon the hearts of the children of men, but that they may be persuaded to do good continually, that they may come unto the fountain of all righteousness and be saved”. (Ether 8:22-26) How can we recognize and protect ourselves from secret combinations in our day? President Ezra Taft Benson said : "...Moroni speaks to us in this day and says, 'Wherefore, the Lord commandeth you, when ye shall see these things come among you that ye shall awake to a sense of your awful situation, because of this secret combination which shall be among you....'
"The Book of Mormon further warns that 'whatsoever nation shall uphold such secret combinations, to get power and gain, until they shall spread over the nation, behold they shall be destroyed....'
"This scripture should alert us to what is ahead unless we repent, because there is no question but that as people of the free world, we are increasingly upholding any of the evils of the adversary today. By court edict godless conspirators can run for government office, teach in our schools, hold office in labor unions, work in our defense plans, serve in our merchant marines, etc. As a nation, we are helping to underwrite many evil revolutionaries in our country.
"Now we are assured that the Church will remain on the earth until the Lord comes again--but at what price? The Saints in the early days were assured that Zion would be established in Jackson County, but look at what their unfaithfulness cost them in bloodshed and delay.
"President [J. Reuben] Clark [Jr.] warned us that 'we stand in danger of losing our liberties, and that once lost, only blood will bring them back; and once lost, we of this church will, in order to keep the Church going forward, have more sacrifices to make and more persecutions to endure than we have yet known....' And he stated that if the conspiracy 'comes here it will probably come in its full vigor and there will be a lot of vacant places among those who guide and direct, not only this government, but also this Church of ours." (CR, Apr 1972)
America- a choice and Promised Land above all others
We read again and again of the conditional promises of the Lord to those nations who occupy this land. It is repeated in these chapters and we see the destruction of a nation who becomes ripe in iniquity. “And thus the Lord did pour out his blessings upon this land, which was choice above all other lands; and he commanded that whoso should possess the land should possess it unto the Lord, or they should be destroyed when they were ripened in iniquity; for upon such, saith the Lord: I will pour out the fulness of my wrath.” (Ether 9:20)
Power of Living a Righteous Life
Although we do read of the wicked kings of the Jaredites, there are some who are striving to follow the commandments. Emer and Coriantum are fine examples. “And Emer did execute judgment in righteousness all his days, and he begat many sons and daughters; and he begat Coriantum, and he anointed Coriantum to reign in his stead. And after he had anointed Coriantum to reign in his stead he lived four years, and he saw peace in the land; yea, and he even saw the Son of Righteousness, and did rejoice and glory in his day; and he died in peace.” (Ether 9:21-22) Is there any more of a reward available to us in this life than to receive the Second Comforter, even the Son of Righteousness, Jesus Christ and have Him appear to us?
The Importance and Place of the Lord’s Prophets and Their Counsel
What place do we give in our lives for the prophets and their counsel? The Jaredites did not open their hearts or accept the counsel. We read in Ether 9:28-29, “And there came prophets in the land again, crying repentance unto them—that they must prepare the way of the Lord or there should come a curse upon the face of the land; yea, even there should be a great famine, in which they should be destroyed if they did not repent. But the people believed not the words of the prophets, but they cast them out; and some of them they cast into pits and left them to perish. And it came to pass that they did all these things according to the commandment of the king, Heth.” This type of rejection continued in Ether 11:1-7, “And there came also in the days of Com many prophets, and prophesied of the destruction of that great people except they should repent, and turn unto the Lord, and forsake their murders and wickedness. And it came to pass that the prophets were rejected by the people, and they fled unto Com for protection, for the people sought to destroy them. And they prophesied unto Com many things; and he was blessed in all the remainder of his days. And he lived to a good old age, and begat Shiblom; and Shiblom reigned in his stead. And the brother of Shiblom rebelled against him, and there began to be an exceedingly great war in all the land. And it came to pass that the brother of Shiblom caused that all the prophets who prophesied of the destruction of the people should be put to death; And there was great calamity in all the land, for they had testified that a great curse should come upon the land, and also upon the people, and that there should be a great destruction among them, such an one as never had been upon the face of the earth, and their bones should become as heaps of earth upon the face of the land except they should repent of their wickedness. And they hearkened not unto the voice of the Lord, because of their wicked combinations; wherefore, there began to be wars and contentions in all the land, and also many famines and pestilences, insomuch that there was a great destruction, such an one as never had been known upon the face of the earth; and all this came to pass in the days of Shiblom.” Is there any question about the importance of following the Lord’s servants, the prophets, while in this sojourn on earth?
The Lord Sends Natural Disasters to Humble His People
Ether 9:30-35 reads: “And it came to pass that there began to be a great dearth upon the land, and the inhabitants began to be destroyed exceedingly fast because of the dearth, for there was no rain upon the face of the earth. And there came forth poisonous serpents also upon the face of the land, and did poison many people. And it came to pass that their flocks began to flee before the poisonous serpents, towards the land southward, which was called by the Nephites Zarahemla. And it came to pass that there were many of them which did perish by the way; nevertheless, there were some which fled into the land southward. And it came to pass that the Lord did cause the serpents that they should pursue them no more, but that they should hedge up the way that the people could not pass, that whoso should attempt to pass might fall by the poisonous serpents. And it came to pass that the people did follow the course of the beasts, and did devour the carcasses of them which fell by the way, until they had devoured them all. Now when the people saw that they must perish they began to repent of their iniquities and cry unto the Lord. And it came to pass that when they had humbled themselves sufficiently before the Lord he did send rain upon the face of the earth; and the people began to revive again, and there began to be fruit in the north countries, and in all the countries round about. And the Lord did show forth his power unto them in preserving them from famine.” Consider Moses and the plagues sent to the Pharaoh and his people. This does not mean bad things do not happen to good people. In contrast, sometimes good things happen to bad people who need to be humbled.
Ether 12
Moroni teaches us several things about faith. Faith is things which are hoped for and not seen (verse 6). Dispute not because you have not seen. The witness shall not be given until after the trial of your faith (verse 6). It was by faith that Christ appeared unto the people on this continent after his resurrection (verse 7). If there is no faith, God cannot do his miracles among men (verse 12).
It is interesting how Moroni cautions us to “Dispute not because you have not seen”. In the previous verse, he tells us why the people did not believe Ether and the great prophesying and marvelous things done for the people. It was because they “saw them not”. The world today is stuck with the saying “seeing is believing”. Is this the case? Is it more true that “believing is seeing”? I remember a quote from the movie, The Polar Express where the Conductor says, “Seeing is believing, but sometimes the most real things in the world are the things we can't see”. This is especially true when applied to faith. It is the most real and important things in the world that we can’t see.
Sunday, December 7, 2008
Book of Mormon Lesson 45: “Never Has Man Believed in Me As Thou Hast”
Ether 1-6
Where did the book of Ether come from? Ether wrote the record of the Jaredites, a people who left Babylon when the Lord confounded the language of the people attempting to build the tower Babel (Ether 1:33-43) and (Genesis 11:1-9). Ether wrote this record on 24 gold plates, which were later found by the people of Limhi (Mosiah 8:7-11). The book of Ether contains Moroni’s abridgment of Ether’s record.
We read in Mosiah 28:19, “this account (the book of Ether) shall be written hereafter; for behold, it is expedient that all people should know the things which are written in this account". Mormon however did not include the record prior to his death. His son, Moroni added the book of Ether to the record, "And now I, Moroni, proceed to give an account of those ancient inhabitants who were destroyed by the hand of the Lord upon the face of this north country. And I take mine account from the twenty and four plates which were found by the people of Limhi, which is called the Book of Ether" (Ether 1:1-2).
Why do you think God preserved the book of Ether for our day? There are warnings to those who occupy the promised land, there is a promise of forthcoming scripture and another powerful witness of the decline and eventual destruction of a nation who turned from God.
Before we start, the book of Ether never refers to the people as the Jaredites. There is only a single reference to that name by Mormon in Moroni 9:23. This is why we call the people of the book of Ether, those who descended from Jared, the Jaredite nation.
Ether 1
Here we are privileged to the genealogy from Ether back to Jared. Interesting to note, the record lists those who are “sons” and those who “descended”, making it complete in some fashion but not all.
Interesting to note, we learn about Jared and the brother of Jared. There is never any mention of the second other than “the brother of Jared”. There is a lot of speculation as to why his name is never written in the record. It is similar to how John omits his name during his writings in the New Testament.
We do know the brother of Jared’s name thanks to the Prophet Joseph Smith. Here is the account related by George Reynolds: "While residing in Kirtland Elder Reynolds Cahoon had a son born to him. One day when President Joseph Smith was passing his door he called the Prophet in and asked him to bless and name the baby. Joseph did so and gave the boy the name of Mahonri Moriancumer. When he had finished the blessing he laid the child on the bed, and turning to Elder Cahoon he said, the name I have given your son is the name of the brother of Jared; the Lord has just shown it to me. Elder William F. Cahoon, who was standing near heard the Prophet make this statement to his father; and this was the first time the name of the brother of Jared was known in the Church in this dispensation." (Discourses of the Prophet Joseph Smith, p264)
What else do we know about Mahonri Moriancumer? He was a large and mighty man, highly favored of the Lord (verse 34). His brother, Jared, had great faith in his faith and came to him asking for assistance from the Lord that their language would not be confounded (verse 35). He was a man well versed in prayer and had built a relationship with the Lord though communicating with prayer (verses 35-43).
What do you think the difference is between “crying unto the Lord” and merely saying prayers? What can we do to make our prayers more effective? (See Alma 34:17–28.)
Ether 2
The brother of Jared, Jared, their friends and families (all those who did not have their language confounded) did as the Lord commanded. They went to the valley northward named Nimrod. (verse 1) There they gathered together their flocks, caught birds and fish to carry with them. They gathered seeds of every kind and deseret (honey bees) (verse 3). The Lord spoke with the brother of Jared from a cloud (verse 5). Just as Jehovah appeared to and conversed with Moses and led the children of Israel in the wilderness in a cloud by day and in a pillar of fire at night (Exodus 13:21 Numbers 11:25 Numbers 12:5), so did he lead the Jaredites as they were in the wilderness. The Lord commanded them to continue in the wilderness to that "quarter" where there never had been man. It has been suggested that they traveled through central Asia. Whether this was their path or not, they eventually came to the great sea. Here they rested on their laurels. For four years, they parked themselves at the sea shore.
Before we get to this four year span and the Lord chastening them, Moroni puts in a discourse about the promised land (verses 7-12). The Lord preserved the American continent as a “choice land” to which he could lead a righteous people and they could prosper by following Him (1 Nephi 17:38). This same land was promised to the brother of Jared and the Jaredites. This promise of being prosperous, free from bondage and captivity and possessing the land altogether, is a conditional promise. It is conditioned upon the righteousness of the people the Lord brings here. A wicked people who will not serve and love God will be swept of the land and have the wrath of God (is there any doubt? Look to the Jaredites and the Nephites)
President Joseph Fielding Smith said: “These passages of scripture from the Book of Mormon are true; this nation is not exempt, and the people , if they continue to pursue the course of evil and ungodliness that they are now treading, shall eventually be punished. If they continue to disregard the warning voice of the Lord, deny their Redeemer, turn from His gospel unto fables and false theories, and rebel against all that he has through his servants in this day declared for the salvation of man; and if they increase in the practice of iniquity, I want to say to you, that if they do these things, the judgments of the Lord will come upon this land, and this nation will not be saved; we will not be spared from war, from famine, from pestilence and finally from destruction as a nation. Therefore, I call upon the people, not only Latter-day Saints but to all throughout the whole land, to repent of their sins and to accept the Lord Jesus Christ, who is our Redeemer and the God of this land. Turn from your evil ways, repent of your sins and receive the fullness of the gospel through the waters of baptism and obedience, that the judgments which shall be poured out upon the ungodly may pass you by” (Doctrines of Salvation 3:321-322)
President Ezra Taft Benson: “ ‘Righteousness exalteth a nation” (Proverbs 14:34). This is the key to understanding our heritage and this is the key to maintaining it. The foundations of America are spiritual. That must never be forgotten nor doubted….. “there are some in this land, among whom I count myself, whose faith it is that this land is reserved only for a righteous people, and we remain here as tenants only as we remain in the favor of the Lord, for He is the landlord as far as this earth is concerned. If we are to remain under heaven’s benign protection and care, we must return to those principles which have brought us our peace, liberty and prosperity. Our problems today are essentially problems of the Spirit. “The solution is not more wealth, more food, more technology, more government, or instruments of destruction- the solution is personal and national reformation. In short, it is to bring our national character ahead of our technological and material advances. Repentance is the sovereign remedy to our problems” (The Teachings of Ezra Taft Benson, page 569 and 580)
Is there any doubt without changes and the gospel reaching and touching more people’s lives we are headed for a collapse of a nation?
They then prepared to cross the sea. The people of Jared built barges following the instructions of the Lord. The brother of Jared called upon the Lord to report that he had prepared the boats as the Lord had commanded. He went on to say, "...and behold there is no light in them. Behold, O Lord, wilt thou suffer that we shall cross this great water in darkness?" (verse 22). The Lord responds to the brother of Jared. (verses 23-25) President Harold B. Lee: "It was as though the Lord were saying to [the brother of Jared], 'Look, I gave you a mind to think with, and I gave you agency to use it. Now you do all you can to help yourself with this problem; and then, after you've done all you can, I'll step in to help you'." (Stand Ye In Holy Places, p243)
Elder Russell M. Nelson stated that he has often heard President Gordon B. Hinckley say, "I don't know how to get anything done except getting on my knees and pleading for help and then getting on my feet and going to work." (Ensign, Nov 1997, p16)
What did Mahonri Moriancumer do? (Ether 3:1-5) Ask yourself, “What can I learn from this?” and “How has the Lord worked in my life this way?”.
Ether 3
The brother of Jared provided stones and prayed to the Lord,
"And I know, O Lord, that thou hast all power, and can do whatsoever thou wilt for the benefit of man; therefore touch these stones, O Lord, with thy finger, and prepare them that they may shine forth in darkness; and they shall shine forth unto us in the vessels which we have prepared, that we may have light while we shall cross the sea" (verse 4).
He sees the finger of the Lord. How would I feel to have this experience? The brother of Jared fell down before the Lord, for he was struck with fear (verse 6). Nothing was better established in the minds of the ancients than the necessity of holiness- the certain knowledge that unholy man would be unprepared to see God. How often do we read “no unclean thing”? It is the entire purpose for the Atonement. The brother of Jared sees the finger of Christ and cannot be held from within the veil. It is based on his great faith. We read “never has man believed in me as thou hast” (verse 15). It is then made clear the Lord still only has a spirit body, he would not come to earth to receive his physical body for another 2000 years.
Moroni explains he “could not make a full account of these things which are written” in the Jaredite record (verse 17). Interesting is his comments in verse 19,”And because of the knowledge of this man he could not be kept from beholding within the veil; and he saw the finger of Jesus, which, when he saw, he fell with fear; for he knew that it was the finger of the Lord; and he had faith no longer, for he knew, nothing doubting.” From an eternal perspective, knowledge and faith work together. Here we see a culmination of faith, which led to knowledge.
Elder Bruce R. McConkie wrote: “In the eternal sense, because faith is the power of God himself, it embraces within its fold a knowledge of all things. This measure of faith, the faith by which the worlds are and were created and which sustains and upholds all things, is found only among resurrected persons. It is faith of saved beings. But mortals are in process, through faith, of gaining eternal salvation. Their faith is based on knowledge of truth, within the meaning of Alma’s statement “faith is not to have a perfect knowledge of things,’ but that men have faith when the ‘hope for things which are not seen, which are true.’ In this sense faith is both preceded and supplanted by knowledge, and when any person gains a perfect knowledge on any given matter, then, as pertaining to that thing, he has faith no longer; or, rather, his faith is dormant; it has been supplanted by pure knowledge… the brother of Jared stands out as a good illustration of how the knowledge of God is gained by faith, and also of how that perfect knowledge, from a mortal perspective, replaces faith.” (A New Witness for the Articles of Faith, pages 209-210, 211)
The brother of Jared then has a vision of all things from before the creation of the world to the end. It is in the sealed portion of the Book of Mormon and promised to those who believe in God and his word. See comments for chapter 4.
Ether 4
In verse 7 we read, "And in that day that they shall exercise faith in me, saith the Lord, even as the brother of Jared did, that they may become sanctified in me, then will I manifest unto them the things which the brother of Jared saw, even to the unfolding unto them all my revelations, saith Jesus Christ, the Son of God, the Father of the heavens and of the earth, and all things that in them are."
In verses 13-15 we learn more about this knowledge: "Come unto me, O ye Gentiles, and I will show unto you the greater things, the knowledge which is hid up because of unbelief. Come unto me, O ye house of Israel, and it shall be made manifest unto you how great things the Father hath laid up for you, from the foundation of the world; and it hath not come unto you, because of unbelief. Behold, when ye shall rend that veil of unbelief which doth cause you to remain in your awful state of wickedness, and hardness of heart, and blindness of mind, then shall the great and marvelous things which have been hid up from the foundation of the world from you--yea, when ye shall call upon the Father in my name, with a broken heart and a contrite spirit, then shall ye know that the Father hath remembered the covenant which he made unto your fathers, O house of Israel."
This knowledge is promised to us with conditions. If we are faithful, believing and prayerful we can know them. There is no room for wavering. This is a tremendous vision and amount of knowledge which has been shared with many faithful servants of the Lord. It is not a secret, but only kept sacred from those not prepared to receive it. In addition, it is a protection from those not spiritually prepared to receive the greater knowledge.
Ether 5
This chapter has direct instruction for the Prophet Joseph Smith and includes the calling of three witnesses of the truthfulness of the ancient record. See and read the testimony of the three witnesses.
Ether 6
After 344 days being driven by the winds and sea, the Jaredites arrive at the Promised Land, on the American continent. They are preserved by the goodness of God and by their preparations of following God’s counsel and directions. There was light and air in the barges, just as the Lord promised there would be. When they arrive, they sing praises to the Lord. They shed tears of joy before the Lord, because of the multitude of his tender mercies over them (verse 12).
After their arrival in the Promised Land the sons and daughters of Jared, his brother, and their friends began to multiply in the land, wax strong, and prosper. In time, as many families developed, there arose desires for a King. They asked many until finally, Orihah, a son of Jared, agreed to be king. The brother of Jared knew what would happen when a king rules. In verse 23, he said “Surely this thing leadeth to captivity. When they requested a king, the brother of Jared resisted. He recognized, as Mosiah would, a king’s righteousness determines the righteousness of the people (see Mosiah 29:13-32). This concern of the brother of Jared came true as subsequent Jaredite kings turned from righteousness to wickedness and idolatry and the spiritual decline of another fallen nation in the record of the Book of Mormon.
Where did the book of Ether come from? Ether wrote the record of the Jaredites, a people who left Babylon when the Lord confounded the language of the people attempting to build the tower Babel (Ether 1:33-43) and (Genesis 11:1-9). Ether wrote this record on 24 gold plates, which were later found by the people of Limhi (Mosiah 8:7-11). The book of Ether contains Moroni’s abridgment of Ether’s record.
We read in Mosiah 28:19, “this account (the book of Ether) shall be written hereafter; for behold, it is expedient that all people should know the things which are written in this account". Mormon however did not include the record prior to his death. His son, Moroni added the book of Ether to the record, "And now I, Moroni, proceed to give an account of those ancient inhabitants who were destroyed by the hand of the Lord upon the face of this north country. And I take mine account from the twenty and four plates which were found by the people of Limhi, which is called the Book of Ether" (Ether 1:1-2).
Why do you think God preserved the book of Ether for our day? There are warnings to those who occupy the promised land, there is a promise of forthcoming scripture and another powerful witness of the decline and eventual destruction of a nation who turned from God.
Before we start, the book of Ether never refers to the people as the Jaredites. There is only a single reference to that name by Mormon in Moroni 9:23. This is why we call the people of the book of Ether, those who descended from Jared, the Jaredite nation.
Ether 1
Here we are privileged to the genealogy from Ether back to Jared. Interesting to note, the record lists those who are “sons” and those who “descended”, making it complete in some fashion but not all.
Interesting to note, we learn about Jared and the brother of Jared. There is never any mention of the second other than “the brother of Jared”. There is a lot of speculation as to why his name is never written in the record. It is similar to how John omits his name during his writings in the New Testament.
We do know the brother of Jared’s name thanks to the Prophet Joseph Smith. Here is the account related by George Reynolds: "While residing in Kirtland Elder Reynolds Cahoon had a son born to him. One day when President Joseph Smith was passing his door he called the Prophet in and asked him to bless and name the baby. Joseph did so and gave the boy the name of Mahonri Moriancumer. When he had finished the blessing he laid the child on the bed, and turning to Elder Cahoon he said, the name I have given your son is the name of the brother of Jared; the Lord has just shown it to me. Elder William F. Cahoon, who was standing near heard the Prophet make this statement to his father; and this was the first time the name of the brother of Jared was known in the Church in this dispensation." (Discourses of the Prophet Joseph Smith, p264)
What else do we know about Mahonri Moriancumer? He was a large and mighty man, highly favored of the Lord (verse 34). His brother, Jared, had great faith in his faith and came to him asking for assistance from the Lord that their language would not be confounded (verse 35). He was a man well versed in prayer and had built a relationship with the Lord though communicating with prayer (verses 35-43).
What do you think the difference is between “crying unto the Lord” and merely saying prayers? What can we do to make our prayers more effective? (See Alma 34:17–28.)
Ether 2
The brother of Jared, Jared, their friends and families (all those who did not have their language confounded) did as the Lord commanded. They went to the valley northward named Nimrod. (verse 1) There they gathered together their flocks, caught birds and fish to carry with them. They gathered seeds of every kind and deseret (honey bees) (verse 3). The Lord spoke with the brother of Jared from a cloud (verse 5). Just as Jehovah appeared to and conversed with Moses and led the children of Israel in the wilderness in a cloud by day and in a pillar of fire at night (Exodus 13:21 Numbers 11:25 Numbers 12:5), so did he lead the Jaredites as they were in the wilderness. The Lord commanded them to continue in the wilderness to that "quarter" where there never had been man. It has been suggested that they traveled through central Asia. Whether this was their path or not, they eventually came to the great sea. Here they rested on their laurels. For four years, they parked themselves at the sea shore.
Before we get to this four year span and the Lord chastening them, Moroni puts in a discourse about the promised land (verses 7-12). The Lord preserved the American continent as a “choice land” to which he could lead a righteous people and they could prosper by following Him (1 Nephi 17:38). This same land was promised to the brother of Jared and the Jaredites. This promise of being prosperous, free from bondage and captivity and possessing the land altogether, is a conditional promise. It is conditioned upon the righteousness of the people the Lord brings here. A wicked people who will not serve and love God will be swept of the land and have the wrath of God (is there any doubt? Look to the Jaredites and the Nephites)
President Joseph Fielding Smith said: “These passages of scripture from the Book of Mormon are true; this nation is not exempt, and the people , if they continue to pursue the course of evil and ungodliness that they are now treading, shall eventually be punished. If they continue to disregard the warning voice of the Lord, deny their Redeemer, turn from His gospel unto fables and false theories, and rebel against all that he has through his servants in this day declared for the salvation of man; and if they increase in the practice of iniquity, I want to say to you, that if they do these things, the judgments of the Lord will come upon this land, and this nation will not be saved; we will not be spared from war, from famine, from pestilence and finally from destruction as a nation. Therefore, I call upon the people, not only Latter-day Saints but to all throughout the whole land, to repent of their sins and to accept the Lord Jesus Christ, who is our Redeemer and the God of this land. Turn from your evil ways, repent of your sins and receive the fullness of the gospel through the waters of baptism and obedience, that the judgments which shall be poured out upon the ungodly may pass you by” (Doctrines of Salvation 3:321-322)
President Ezra Taft Benson: “ ‘Righteousness exalteth a nation” (Proverbs 14:34). This is the key to understanding our heritage and this is the key to maintaining it. The foundations of America are spiritual. That must never be forgotten nor doubted….. “there are some in this land, among whom I count myself, whose faith it is that this land is reserved only for a righteous people, and we remain here as tenants only as we remain in the favor of the Lord, for He is the landlord as far as this earth is concerned. If we are to remain under heaven’s benign protection and care, we must return to those principles which have brought us our peace, liberty and prosperity. Our problems today are essentially problems of the Spirit. “The solution is not more wealth, more food, more technology, more government, or instruments of destruction- the solution is personal and national reformation. In short, it is to bring our national character ahead of our technological and material advances. Repentance is the sovereign remedy to our problems” (The Teachings of Ezra Taft Benson, page 569 and 580)
Is there any doubt without changes and the gospel reaching and touching more people’s lives we are headed for a collapse of a nation?
They then prepared to cross the sea. The people of Jared built barges following the instructions of the Lord. The brother of Jared called upon the Lord to report that he had prepared the boats as the Lord had commanded. He went on to say, "...and behold there is no light in them. Behold, O Lord, wilt thou suffer that we shall cross this great water in darkness?" (verse 22). The Lord responds to the brother of Jared. (verses 23-25) President Harold B. Lee: "It was as though the Lord were saying to [the brother of Jared], 'Look, I gave you a mind to think with, and I gave you agency to use it. Now you do all you can to help yourself with this problem; and then, after you've done all you can, I'll step in to help you'." (Stand Ye In Holy Places, p243)
Elder Russell M. Nelson stated that he has often heard President Gordon B. Hinckley say, "I don't know how to get anything done except getting on my knees and pleading for help and then getting on my feet and going to work." (Ensign, Nov 1997, p16)
What did Mahonri Moriancumer do? (Ether 3:1-5) Ask yourself, “What can I learn from this?” and “How has the Lord worked in my life this way?”.
Ether 3
The brother of Jared provided stones and prayed to the Lord,
"And I know, O Lord, that thou hast all power, and can do whatsoever thou wilt for the benefit of man; therefore touch these stones, O Lord, with thy finger, and prepare them that they may shine forth in darkness; and they shall shine forth unto us in the vessels which we have prepared, that we may have light while we shall cross the sea" (verse 4).He sees the finger of the Lord. How would I feel to have this experience? The brother of Jared fell down before the Lord, for he was struck with fear (verse 6). Nothing was better established in the minds of the ancients than the necessity of holiness- the certain knowledge that unholy man would be unprepared to see God. How often do we read “no unclean thing”? It is the entire purpose for the Atonement. The brother of Jared sees the finger of Christ and cannot be held from within the veil. It is based on his great faith. We read “never has man believed in me as thou hast” (verse 15). It is then made clear the Lord still only has a spirit body, he would not come to earth to receive his physical body for another 2000 years.
Moroni explains he “could not make a full account of these things which are written” in the Jaredite record (verse 17). Interesting is his comments in verse 19,”And because of the knowledge of this man he could not be kept from beholding within the veil; and he saw the finger of Jesus, which, when he saw, he fell with fear; for he knew that it was the finger of the Lord; and he had faith no longer, for he knew, nothing doubting.” From an eternal perspective, knowledge and faith work together. Here we see a culmination of faith, which led to knowledge.
Elder Bruce R. McConkie wrote: “In the eternal sense, because faith is the power of God himself, it embraces within its fold a knowledge of all things. This measure of faith, the faith by which the worlds are and were created and which sustains and upholds all things, is found only among resurrected persons. It is faith of saved beings. But mortals are in process, through faith, of gaining eternal salvation. Their faith is based on knowledge of truth, within the meaning of Alma’s statement “faith is not to have a perfect knowledge of things,’ but that men have faith when the ‘hope for things which are not seen, which are true.’ In this sense faith is both preceded and supplanted by knowledge, and when any person gains a perfect knowledge on any given matter, then, as pertaining to that thing, he has faith no longer; or, rather, his faith is dormant; it has been supplanted by pure knowledge… the brother of Jared stands out as a good illustration of how the knowledge of God is gained by faith, and also of how that perfect knowledge, from a mortal perspective, replaces faith.” (A New Witness for the Articles of Faith, pages 209-210, 211)
The brother of Jared then has a vision of all things from before the creation of the world to the end. It is in the sealed portion of the Book of Mormon and promised to those who believe in God and his word. See comments for chapter 4.
Ether 4
In verse 7 we read, "And in that day that they shall exercise faith in me, saith the Lord, even as the brother of Jared did, that they may become sanctified in me, then will I manifest unto them the things which the brother of Jared saw, even to the unfolding unto them all my revelations, saith Jesus Christ, the Son of God, the Father of the heavens and of the earth, and all things that in them are."
In verses 13-15 we learn more about this knowledge: "Come unto me, O ye Gentiles, and I will show unto you the greater things, the knowledge which is hid up because of unbelief. Come unto me, O ye house of Israel, and it shall be made manifest unto you how great things the Father hath laid up for you, from the foundation of the world; and it hath not come unto you, because of unbelief. Behold, when ye shall rend that veil of unbelief which doth cause you to remain in your awful state of wickedness, and hardness of heart, and blindness of mind, then shall the great and marvelous things which have been hid up from the foundation of the world from you--yea, when ye shall call upon the Father in my name, with a broken heart and a contrite spirit, then shall ye know that the Father hath remembered the covenant which he made unto your fathers, O house of Israel."
This knowledge is promised to us with conditions. If we are faithful, believing and prayerful we can know them. There is no room for wavering. This is a tremendous vision and amount of knowledge which has been shared with many faithful servants of the Lord. It is not a secret, but only kept sacred from those not prepared to receive it. In addition, it is a protection from those not spiritually prepared to receive the greater knowledge.
Ether 5
This chapter has direct instruction for the Prophet Joseph Smith and includes the calling of three witnesses of the truthfulness of the ancient record. See and read the testimony of the three witnesses.
Ether 6
After 344 days being driven by the winds and sea, the Jaredites arrive at the Promised Land, on the American continent. They are preserved by the goodness of God and by their preparations of following God’s counsel and directions. There was light and air in the barges, just as the Lord promised there would be. When they arrive, they sing praises to the Lord. They shed tears of joy before the Lord, because of the multitude of his tender mercies over them (verse 12).
After their arrival in the Promised Land the sons and daughters of Jared, his brother, and their friends began to multiply in the land, wax strong, and prosper. In time, as many families developed, there arose desires for a King. They asked many until finally, Orihah, a son of Jared, agreed to be king. The brother of Jared knew what would happen when a king rules. In verse 23, he said “Surely this thing leadeth to captivity. When they requested a king, the brother of Jared resisted. He recognized, as Mosiah would, a king’s righteousness determines the righteousness of the people (see Mosiah 29:13-32). This concern of the brother of Jared came true as subsequent Jaredite kings turned from righteousness to wickedness and idolatry and the spiritual decline of another fallen nation in the record of the Book of Mormon.
Tuesday, November 25, 2008
Book of Mormon Lesson 44: “I Speak unto You As If Ye Were Present”
Mormon 7-9
Mormon Chapter 7
Mormon begins by writing an address to the remaining Lamanites, in the hope they may receive these scriptures, and specifically calling latter-day Lamanites to repent, believe in Christ and be baptized. (verse 1) Here again we see the true love and charity he had for his brothers, the Lamanites. After having seen the Lamanites destroy the Nephite Nation, he still desired to bring them to the Lord. He was driven to preach the gospel to those who would listen.
He testifies they are of the House of Israel. (verse 2) How important is it for them to know their true identity? How has your identity helped in your life to remember who you are? When we have forefront in our perspective the understanding we are children of God and capable of being like Him, we are more successful in keeping our covenants. Here Mormon wishes to bring to the Lamanites this same strength. If they could only learn who they are, Mormon knew they would be more righteous. He knew they had to “repent”, “lay down their weapons of war”, “and come to the knowledge of (their) fathers”. (verses 2-5) It is interesting he points out their fathers had the requisite knowledge.
Mormon testifies of the role of the Savior and the need to come unto Him. He then expounds upon the purpose of the Book of Mormon. (verses 8-10) It is to testify of Jesus Christ, to bring us to believe in Him, to stand side by side with the Bible as a record of scripture and teach the remnant of the House of Israel (including the Lamanites) they are able to partake of the covenants promised their fathers.
As the Book of Mormon stands side by side with the Bible, Mormon teaches us we must “lay hold upon the gospel of Christ”, which is set forth in both. He explains the Book of Mormon is written “for the intent that ye believe that” (the Bible), he then correctly concludes “if ye believe that (the Bible) ye will believe this also (the Book of Mormon). (verses 8-9)
Elder Bruce R. McConkie wrote: "In this connection, it is worthy of note that anyone who believes the Bible will also believe the Book of Mormon. The great problem in the sectarian world is that people have the Bible but neither understand nor believe it, except in a casual and superficial way; and they know about Christ but neither accept nor believe in him in the full sense required to attain salvation with him and his Father." (The Promised Messiah, page 297)
President Brigham Young: "No man can say that this book (laying his hands on the Bible) is true...and at the same time say that the Book of Mormon is untrue.... There is not that person on the face of the earth who has had the privilege of learning the Gospel of Jesus Christ from these two books, that can say that one is true, and the other is false. No Latter-day Saint, no man or woman, can say the Book of Mormon is true, and at the same time say that the Bible is untrue. If one be true, both are." (Journal of Discourses 1:38)
Mormon Chapter 8
Moroni takes the record of his father, Mormon, and writes “a few things” to the plates as he has been commanded by Mormon. (verse 1) Moroni updates us on the conditions surrounding him. The Nephites which escaped to the south country were hunted by the Lamanites until they were all killed (verse 2), his father, Mormon, has been hunted and killed while Moroni is left to guess if the Lamanites will find and kill him. (verse 2-3) There is a sense of loneliness in the words of Moroni. As he records this remaining portion of the plates, there is a feeling and desperation in his tone. He is left alone. The last of a once great nation, a nation who at times was devoted to the Lord and at others turned away from Him. Moroni is the last to see “how great has been their fall”, and how “great and marvelous the destruction of his people” has been. (verse 7) Now the Lamanites are warring with each other. Moroni must be left to wonder if the Lamanites will now destroy themselves as he writes "...the whole face of this land is one continual round of murder and bloodshed" (verse 8)
Moroni faced a unique set of trials. He was completely alone and in reading these last words. you get a sense he had no idea how long he would be allowed to tarry here on the earth. There seems to several ending "farewells" in his recod. Consider how he must have spent his day. Were there worldly things which were no longer important to him? How would his day to day priorities have changed? What are the lessons for us to learn? Is it so important what our address is, what “so and so” thinks about us, what clothes we wear? I am sure Moroni spent his day doing those necessities for survival, but recognized the importance of spiritual things more than the day to day drudgery and weight of the world. Lessons from Moroni can help us in keeping our faith strong in the face of adversity.
Moroni sees the day when the record will come forth. He described the time in the following verses:
It will come forth “In a day when it shall be said that miracles are done away with” (verse 26), the blood of the saints shall cry unto the Lord because of secret combinations and the works of darkness (verse 27), a day when the power of God shall be denied and churches defiled and lifted up in their pride (verse 28), a day when there shall be fires, and tempests, and vapors of smoke in foreign lands (verse 29), a day with wars, rumors of wars, and earthquakes in divers places (verse 30), a day when there shall be great pollutions upon the face of the earth, murders, robbing, lying, deceivings, whoredoms, and all manner of abominations (verse 31), and a day when churches will say that you can be forgiven your sins by giving money to the church (verse 32).
Interesting to me in my line of work, Moroni saw our day as a day when there is a lack of responsibility for one's actions: "...there shall be many who will say, Do this, or do that, and it mattereth not, for the Lord will uphold such at the last day. But wo unto such for they are in the gall of bitterness and in the bonds of iniquity" (verse 31). If there is any doubt about the other descriptions, here is one for certain!
Do you think he included these descriptions to "show" or "prove" to us he actually did see OUR day?
Moroni said that he would speak to those of us in the last days “as if [we] were present” (verse 35). Then he said, “I know that ye do walk in the pride of your hearts” (verse 36) and discussed pride in the last days (verses 36-41). What a blessing to know Moroni has individual prophecy for you and me today!How does pride affect us? See President Ezra Taft Benson’s talk “Beware of Pride”.
Mormon Chapter 9
Moroni begins this chapter by speaking to those who do not believe in Christ. He uses logic to lay out an argument trying to persuade the non-believer to believe. He then writes: “Behold, I say unto you that ye would be more miserable to dwell with a holy and just God, under a consciousness of your filthiness before him, than ye would to dwell with the damned souls in hell” (verse 4).
President Joseph Fielding Smith: "There can be no salvation without repentance. A man cannot enter into the kingdom of God in his sins. It would be a very inconsistent thing for a man to come into the presence of the Father and to dwell in God's presence in his sins....I think there are a great many people upon the earth, many of them perhaps in the Church--at least some in the Church--who have an idea they can go through this life doing as they please, violating the commandments of the Lord and yet eventually they are going to come into his presence. They think they are going to repent, perhaps in the spirit world…. They ought to read these words of Moroni: 'Do ye suppose that ye shall dwell with him under a consciousness of your guilt? Do ye suppose that ye could be happy to dwell with that holy Being, when your souls are racked with a consciousness of guilt that ye have ever abused his laws?'" (Doctrines of Salvation 2: 196)
Moroni testified that "God is the same yesterday, today, and forever" (verse 9) Why is this such an essential part of a testimony? Elder Bruce R. McConkie: "A Holy Being who was God yesterday remains as God today and will continue in the same exalted state tomorrow. The course of the Gods is one eternal round; it does not vary. They are now as they were then, and they shall yet be as they have ever been. If it were not so they would not be exalted, for exaltation consists in being the same unchangeable being from everlasting to everlasting." (The Mortal Messiah 1:27-28) This quote bears out why it is so important to our testimony. Eternal salvation is dependent upon God being unchangeable.
This understanding took Moroni (and now us) into the next question… If God is unchanging, why do miracles cease? "And the reason why he ceaseth to do miracles among the children of men is because that they dwindle in unbelief, and depart from the right way, and know not the God in whom they should trust" (verse 20) and continued into "Behold, I say unto you that whoso believeth in Christ, doubting nothing, whatsoever he shall ask the Father in the name of Christ it shall be granted him; and this promise is unto all, even unto the ends of the earth" (verse 21)
Elder Bruce R. McConkie: "It is by faith that miracles are wrought—not faith as an abstract, unembodied, vaporous nothingness, floating like a fog in the universe, but faith in the living Lord, faith centered in Christ our Head. The eternal law is: 'Whoso believeth in Christ, doubting nothing, whatsoever he shall ask the Father in the name of Christ it shall be granted him; and this promise is unto all, even unto the ends of the earth.' (Mormon 9:21) Accordingly, any person who has ever performed a miracle, in any age, has done it by faith in Christ. For the past, at the present, and in the future, all miracles are wrought by faith in that Lord who is Christ." (The Promised Messiah page 315)
From verse 21 to the end of the chapter, it is as though Moroni changes his audience to the believers and provides to us important teachings for our day, the day which he saw by the power and the gift of God. He then better understood our day than we do.
“Doubt not, but be believing” and “come unto the Lord with all your heart” (verse 27), “Strip yourselves of all uncleanness” and ask with a firmness unshaken to not yield to temptation (verse 28)
Then he expresses a caution to us: “…learn to be more wise than we have been”. (verse 31) We should learn from the record provided to us. It is written for our day. The Book of Mormon is vital to the sustainment of our testimonies. I have a testimony it is the word of God, the Lord is a God of miracles whose Atonement brings to pass the redemption of man.
Mormon Chapter 7
Mormon begins by writing an address to the remaining Lamanites, in the hope they may receive these scriptures, and specifically calling latter-day Lamanites to repent, believe in Christ and be baptized. (verse 1) Here again we see the true love and charity he had for his brothers, the Lamanites. After having seen the Lamanites destroy the Nephite Nation, he still desired to bring them to the Lord. He was driven to preach the gospel to those who would listen.
He testifies they are of the House of Israel. (verse 2) How important is it for them to know their true identity? How has your identity helped in your life to remember who you are? When we have forefront in our perspective the understanding we are children of God and capable of being like Him, we are more successful in keeping our covenants. Here Mormon wishes to bring to the Lamanites this same strength. If they could only learn who they are, Mormon knew they would be more righteous. He knew they had to “repent”, “lay down their weapons of war”, “and come to the knowledge of (their) fathers”. (verses 2-5) It is interesting he points out their fathers had the requisite knowledge.
Mormon testifies of the role of the Savior and the need to come unto Him. He then expounds upon the purpose of the Book of Mormon. (verses 8-10) It is to testify of Jesus Christ, to bring us to believe in Him, to stand side by side with the Bible as a record of scripture and teach the remnant of the House of Israel (including the Lamanites) they are able to partake of the covenants promised their fathers.
As the Book of Mormon stands side by side with the Bible, Mormon teaches us we must “lay hold upon the gospel of Christ”, which is set forth in both. He explains the Book of Mormon is written “for the intent that ye believe that” (the Bible), he then correctly concludes “if ye believe that (the Bible) ye will believe this also (the Book of Mormon). (verses 8-9)
Elder Bruce R. McConkie wrote: "In this connection, it is worthy of note that anyone who believes the Bible will also believe the Book of Mormon. The great problem in the sectarian world is that people have the Bible but neither understand nor believe it, except in a casual and superficial way; and they know about Christ but neither accept nor believe in him in the full sense required to attain salvation with him and his Father." (The Promised Messiah, page 297)
President Brigham Young: "No man can say that this book (laying his hands on the Bible) is true...and at the same time say that the Book of Mormon is untrue.... There is not that person on the face of the earth who has had the privilege of learning the Gospel of Jesus Christ from these two books, that can say that one is true, and the other is false. No Latter-day Saint, no man or woman, can say the Book of Mormon is true, and at the same time say that the Bible is untrue. If one be true, both are." (Journal of Discourses 1:38)
Mormon Chapter 8
Moroni takes the record of his father, Mormon, and writes “a few things” to the plates as he has been commanded by Mormon. (verse 1) Moroni updates us on the conditions surrounding him. The Nephites which escaped to the south country were hunted by the Lamanites until they were all killed (verse 2), his father, Mormon, has been hunted and killed while Moroni is left to guess if the Lamanites will find and kill him. (verse 2-3) There is a sense of loneliness in the words of Moroni. As he records this remaining portion of the plates, there is a feeling and desperation in his tone. He is left alone. The last of a once great nation, a nation who at times was devoted to the Lord and at others turned away from Him. Moroni is the last to see “how great has been their fall”, and how “great and marvelous the destruction of his people” has been. (verse 7) Now the Lamanites are warring with each other. Moroni must be left to wonder if the Lamanites will now destroy themselves as he writes "...the whole face of this land is one continual round of murder and bloodshed" (verse 8)
Moroni faced a unique set of trials. He was completely alone and in reading these last words. you get a sense he had no idea how long he would be allowed to tarry here on the earth. There seems to several ending "farewells" in his recod. Consider how he must have spent his day. Were there worldly things which were no longer important to him? How would his day to day priorities have changed? What are the lessons for us to learn? Is it so important what our address is, what “so and so” thinks about us, what clothes we wear? I am sure Moroni spent his day doing those necessities for survival, but recognized the importance of spiritual things more than the day to day drudgery and weight of the world. Lessons from Moroni can help us in keeping our faith strong in the face of adversity.
Moroni sees the day when the record will come forth. He described the time in the following verses:
It will come forth “In a day when it shall be said that miracles are done away with” (verse 26), the blood of the saints shall cry unto the Lord because of secret combinations and the works of darkness (verse 27), a day when the power of God shall be denied and churches defiled and lifted up in their pride (verse 28), a day when there shall be fires, and tempests, and vapors of smoke in foreign lands (verse 29), a day with wars, rumors of wars, and earthquakes in divers places (verse 30), a day when there shall be great pollutions upon the face of the earth, murders, robbing, lying, deceivings, whoredoms, and all manner of abominations (verse 31), and a day when churches will say that you can be forgiven your sins by giving money to the church (verse 32).
Interesting to me in my line of work, Moroni saw our day as a day when there is a lack of responsibility for one's actions: "...there shall be many who will say, Do this, or do that, and it mattereth not, for the Lord will uphold such at the last day. But wo unto such for they are in the gall of bitterness and in the bonds of iniquity" (verse 31). If there is any doubt about the other descriptions, here is one for certain!
Do you think he included these descriptions to "show" or "prove" to us he actually did see OUR day?Moroni said that he would speak to those of us in the last days “as if [we] were present” (verse 35). Then he said, “I know that ye do walk in the pride of your hearts” (verse 36) and discussed pride in the last days (verses 36-41). What a blessing to know Moroni has individual prophecy for you and me today!How does pride affect us? See President Ezra Taft Benson’s talk “Beware of Pride”.
Mormon Chapter 9
Moroni begins this chapter by speaking to those who do not believe in Christ. He uses logic to lay out an argument trying to persuade the non-believer to believe. He then writes: “Behold, I say unto you that ye would be more miserable to dwell with a holy and just God, under a consciousness of your filthiness before him, than ye would to dwell with the damned souls in hell” (verse 4).
President Joseph Fielding Smith: "There can be no salvation without repentance. A man cannot enter into the kingdom of God in his sins. It would be a very inconsistent thing for a man to come into the presence of the Father and to dwell in God's presence in his sins....I think there are a great many people upon the earth, many of them perhaps in the Church--at least some in the Church--who have an idea they can go through this life doing as they please, violating the commandments of the Lord and yet eventually they are going to come into his presence. They think they are going to repent, perhaps in the spirit world…. They ought to read these words of Moroni: 'Do ye suppose that ye shall dwell with him under a consciousness of your guilt? Do ye suppose that ye could be happy to dwell with that holy Being, when your souls are racked with a consciousness of guilt that ye have ever abused his laws?'" (Doctrines of Salvation 2: 196)
Moroni testified that "God is the same yesterday, today, and forever" (verse 9) Why is this such an essential part of a testimony? Elder Bruce R. McConkie: "A Holy Being who was God yesterday remains as God today and will continue in the same exalted state tomorrow. The course of the Gods is one eternal round; it does not vary. They are now as they were then, and they shall yet be as they have ever been. If it were not so they would not be exalted, for exaltation consists in being the same unchangeable being from everlasting to everlasting." (The Mortal Messiah 1:27-28) This quote bears out why it is so important to our testimony. Eternal salvation is dependent upon God being unchangeable.
This understanding took Moroni (and now us) into the next question… If God is unchanging, why do miracles cease? "And the reason why he ceaseth to do miracles among the children of men is because that they dwindle in unbelief, and depart from the right way, and know not the God in whom they should trust" (verse 20) and continued into "Behold, I say unto you that whoso believeth in Christ, doubting nothing, whatsoever he shall ask the Father in the name of Christ it shall be granted him; and this promise is unto all, even unto the ends of the earth" (verse 21)
Elder Bruce R. McConkie: "It is by faith that miracles are wrought—not faith as an abstract, unembodied, vaporous nothingness, floating like a fog in the universe, but faith in the living Lord, faith centered in Christ our Head. The eternal law is: 'Whoso believeth in Christ, doubting nothing, whatsoever he shall ask the Father in the name of Christ it shall be granted him; and this promise is unto all, even unto the ends of the earth.' (Mormon 9:21) Accordingly, any person who has ever performed a miracle, in any age, has done it by faith in Christ. For the past, at the present, and in the future, all miracles are wrought by faith in that Lord who is Christ." (The Promised Messiah page 315)
From verse 21 to the end of the chapter, it is as though Moroni changes his audience to the believers and provides to us important teachings for our day, the day which he saw by the power and the gift of God. He then better understood our day than we do.
“Doubt not, but be believing” and “come unto the Lord with all your heart” (verse 27), “Strip yourselves of all uncleanness” and ask with a firmness unshaken to not yield to temptation (verse 28)
Then he expresses a caution to us: “…learn to be more wise than we have been”. (verse 31) We should learn from the record provided to us. It is written for our day. The Book of Mormon is vital to the sustainment of our testimonies. I have a testimony it is the word of God, the Lord is a God of miracles whose Atonement brings to pass the redemption of man.
Saturday, November 22, 2008
Book of Mormon Lesson 43: “How Could Ye Have Departed from the Ways of the Lord?”
Mormon 1-6 & Moroni 9
As we begin this lesson, it is vital to remember the decline of spirituality and society the descendants of Lehi are in at this time. Mormon, who was responsible for abridging all of the plates into the record we know as the Book of Mormon, has begun to document the current events in his life. The record of his own time and people is contained in Mormon 1-6.
Mormon Chapter 1
Mormon begins in verse 1 with an explanation of who he is and his purposes to write his own record he calls the book of Mormon, not be confused with the entire abridgment of records with the same name. The inclusion of his own record was to be in compliance with the charge given him from Ammoron. (see verse 4)
Mormon was righteous throughout his life and recognized in his youth. He was only ten years old when Ammoron (who was charged with caring for the plates when his brother, Amos, died (see 4 Nephi 1:47) recognized him as a "sober child", "quick to observe" (verse 2) and began his education of the learning of his people. In addition to being educated in the secular things, Mormon was brought up and educated spiritually. At the age of fifteen he “was visited of the Lord, and tasted and knew of the goodness of Jesus” (verse 15), this spiritual understanding led him to want to teach the people and bring them to repentance, but he was forbidden (verse 16).
To accomplish writing his own record, Mormon was commanded that at twenty four years old he should retrieve and care for the plates which Ammoron had hidden up unto the Lord (verse 3). In a time when there was so much wickedness, Gadianton Robbers, sorceries and witchcraft (verse 19), there stood a young man named Mormon. This is his record.
Mormon Chapter 2
Mormon was not only recognized by the Lord, he was recognized by the people he lived with. At the age of sixteen, he is appointed leader and General over the Nephite armies (verse 2). Do you believe there was a significant lack of leadership in the society if a sixteen year old chosen to be their military leader?
Mormon leads the armies in a time with tremendous bloodshed, carnage and wickedness (verse 8). Despite the surroundings and experiences of Mormon he remained faithful. He wrote: "And wo is me because of their wickedness; for my heart has been filled with sorrow because of their wickedness, all my days; nevertheless, I know that I shall be lifted up at the last day" (verse 19). This faithfulness can be attributed to the testimony taught to him by his parents, the visitation from the Lord, and the perspective he had due to his detailed knowledge of the history and dealings of his ancestors with the Lord he obtained through the scriptures. He is a sharp contrast to the times he lived in. He saw and lived in a time of war almost all of his days. There is a lesson in his life for our day. The success of Mormon gives us guidance as to how to remain faithful. By using these same tools (our testimony and the testimonies of others, spiritual experiences and the scriptures) we can be islands of righteousness in the vast sea of wickedness.
All of Mormon’s efforts almost bring the people to understand. He describes it as "somewhat to vigor" which led to them having a successful campaign against the Lamanites. They made a treaty with the Lamanites and the Gadianton Robbers. Mormon wrote: "...nevertheless the strength of the Lord was not with us; yea, we were left to ourselves, that the Spirit of the Lord did not abide in us; therefore we had become weak like unto our brethren." (verse 26)
In this chapter, there is another glimmer of hope… almost. The “Nephites began to repent of their iniquity…” because “…no man could keep that which was his own, for the thieves, and the robbers, and the murderers, and the magic art, and the witchcraft which was in the land. Thus there began to be a mourning and a lamentation in all the land because of these things, and more especially among the people of Nephi.” (see verses 10-11) This mourning caused Mormon to also see this glimmer of hope and have some joy. But Mormon’s “joy was vain, for their (the Nephites') sorrowing was not unto repentance, because of the goodness of God; but it was rather the sorrowing of the damned, because the Lord would not always suffer them to take happiness in sin” (see verse 13). What a lesson we have here.
President Spencer W. Kimball: "The truly repentant man is sorry before he is apprehended. He is sorry even if his secret is never known.
He desires to make voluntary amends. The culprit has not 'godly sorrow' who must be found out by being reported or by chains of circumstances which finally bring the offense to light. The thief is not repentant who continues in grave offenses until he is caught. Repentance of the godly type means that one comes to recognize the sin and voluntarily and without pressure from outside sources begins his transformation." (The Miracle of Forgiveness, p 153)
There is a difference between 'godly sorrow' and the 'sorrow of the world'. "Now I rejoice, not that ye were made sorry, but that ye sorrowed to repentance: for ye were made sorry after a godly manner, that ye might receive damage by us in nothing. For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death." (2 Corinthians 7:9-10)
Mormon Chapter 3
Mormon is finally charged with crying repentance to the people (verse 2). Mormon says that the people hardened their hearts and refused to realize it was the Lord who spared them and "granted them a chance for repentance" (verse 3). Despite their unwillingness to repent, Mormon continued to protect them and caused them to make preparations “against the time of battle”.
In the following verses the Lamanites come to battle against them and lose. This causes the Nephites to “boast in their own strength” and they “began to swear before the heavens that they would avenge themselves of the blood of their brethren who had been slain by their enemies." (verse 9).
The people were not thankful in the least for the protection or the blessings of the Lord. This coming Thursday will be Thanksgiving. We are commanded to be thankful in our day and we see throughout the Book of Mormon it is part of the plan of salvation to be thankful (see Alma 34:38).
In addition to having a lack of gratitude to the Lord, the people of Mormon's time decided to act in vengeance against their enemies. Mormon sees this and refuses to be their leader (verse 11). He gives several reasons for not leading them any longer, they are: “because of their wickedness and abomination”, Mormon had “led them into battle” and “loved them despite this wickedness”, Mormon “prayed for them all the day long” and three times “delivered them out of the hands of their enemies and they have repented not of their sins” (verses 12-13).
On top of these reasons, the voice of the Lord came to Mormon and told him “Vengeance is mine, and I will repay; and because this people repented not after I had delivered them, behold, they shall be cut off from the face of the earth” (verse 15).
Elder Bruce R. McConkie: "Men are forbidden to execute vengeance upon their fellow men, unless by revelation (acting in the capacity of the Lord's agents) they are sent forth to do his appointed will. (Doctrine and Covenants 98:23-48.) Ancient Israel, for instance, was commanded to execute the Lord's vengeance upon the Amalekites. (1 Sam. 15:2-3.) Aside from such unusual and seldom-occurring situations, however, the decree is that vengeance, recompense, and judgment come from the Lord himself." (Mormon Doctrine, p 821)
Until the end of this chapter, Mormon explains the reason he writes the record.
Mormon Chapter 4
The battles continue between the Nephites and the Lamanites. We see the effects of the Nephites going to battle for vengeance in verse 4, “And it was because the armies of the Nephites went up unto the Lamanites that they began to be smitten; for were it not for that, the Lamanites could have had no power over them”. In verse 5 we learn about the outcome of wickedness and the fruits which come from living away from the ways of the Lord, "But, behold, the judgments of God will overtake the wicked; and it is by the wicked that the wicked are punished; for it is the wicked that stir up the hearts of the children of men unto bloodshed.”
Mormon attempts to paint a picture of how things are going in verse 11, "And it is impossible for the tongue to describe, or for man to write a perfect description of the horrible scene of the blood and carnage which was among the people, both of the Nephites and of the Lamanites; and every heart was hardened, so that they delighted in the shedding of blood continually". In the chapter we see the absolute baseness of the society with the sacrificing of women and children to idols.
The Lamanites came down to war and from this time forward the Nephites could have no power over the Lamanites, they "began to be swept off by them even as a dew before the sun" (verse 18).
Of interest here at the end of the chapter is Mormon sees the Lamanites are overtaking Nephite lands. He goes to the Hill Shim (where the records are deposited) and takes them so they can be preserved. The record is being prepared to come forth in the last days and nothing will stand in the way of the Lord accomplishing His design.
Mormon Chapter 5
Mormon returns to leading the armies but this time he is saddened and without hope for the Nephite Nation. We read in verse 2, “I was without hope, for I knew the judgments of the Lord which should come upon them; for they repented not of their iniquities, but did struggle for their lives without calling upon that Being who created them”. He then writes to us in our day and sees the coming forth of the Book of Mormon to the Gentiles, to teach us Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God. He writes about the Lamanites in the last days and how the gospel will be brought to them.
Mormon Chapter 6
Mormon writes an epistle to the King of the Lamanites and asks for the Nephites to be allowed to gather at Cumorah in preparation to go to battle against them. This battle is the end of the Nephite nation. Mormon is old (about 74 years old). Mormon hides the records in the Hill Cumorah, except for the few plates he delivers to his son, Moroni. In the great and last battle, all but twenty four of the Nephites are killed.
Mormon laments the loss of the nation in verses 8 through 22.
“And it came to pass that they came to battle against us, and every soul was filled with terror because of the greatness of their numbers.
9 And it came to pass that they did fall upon my people with the sword, and with the bow, and with the arrow, and with the ax, and with all manner of weapons of war.
10 And it came to pass that my men were hewn down, yea, even my ten thousand who were with me, and I fell wounded in the midst; and they passed by me that they did not put an end to my life.
11 And when they had gone through and hewn down all my people save it were twenty and four of us, (among whom was my son Moroni) and we having survived the dead of our people, did behold on the morrow, when the Lamanites had returned unto their camps, from the top of the hill Cumorah, the ten thousand of my people who were hewn down, being led in the front by me.
12 And we also beheld the ten thousand of my people who were led by my son Moroni.
13 And behold, the ten thousand of Gidgiddonah had fallen, and he also in the midst.
14 And Lamah had fallen with his ten thousand; and Gilgal had fallen with his ten thousand; and Limhah had fallen with his ten thousand; and Jeneum had fallen with his ten thousand; and Cumenihah, and Moronihah, and Antionum, and Shiblom, and Shem, and Josh, had fallen with their ten thousand each.
15 And it came to pass that there were ten more who did fall by the sword, with their ten thousand each; yea, even all my people, save it were those twenty and four who were with me, and also a few who had escaped into the south countries, and a few who had deserted over unto the Lamanites, had fallen; and their flesh, and bones, and blood lay upon the face of the earth, being left by the hands of those who slew them to molder upon the land, and to crumble and to return to their mother earth.
16 And my soul was rent with anguish, because of the slain of my people, and I cried:
17 O ye fair ones, how could ye have departed from the ways of the Lord! O ye fair ones, how could ye have rejected that Jesus, who stood with open arms to receive you!
18 Behold, if ye had not done this, ye would not have fallen. But behold, ye are fallen, and I mourn your loss.
19 O ye fair sons and daughters, ye fathers and mothers, ye husbands and wives, ye fair ones, how is it that ye could have fallen!
20 But behold, ye are gone, and my sorrows cannot bring your return.
21 And the day soon cometh that your mortal must put on immortality, and these bodies which are now moldering in corruption must soon become incorruptible bodies; and then ye must stand before the judgment-seat of Christ, to be judged according to your works; and if it so be that ye are righteous, then are ye blessed with your fathers who have gone before you.
22 O that ye had repented before this great destruction had come upon you. But behold, ye are gone, and the Father, yea, the Eternal Father of heaven, knoweth your state; and he doeth with you according to his justice and mercy. "
Moroni Chapter 9
This is the second epistle written by Mormon to his son, Moroni. The first is Moroni chapter 8.
There is great love and hope for his son expressed in the chapter. Mormon encourages his son to be optimistic. It is in Christ we will be saved. Do not be weighed down by the wickedness around you. Christ’s promise is sure, be diligent, be faithful, then “the grace of God the Father, whose throne is high in the heavens, and our Lord Jesus Christ, who sitteth on the right hand of his power, until all things shall become subject unto him, be, and abide with you forever” is the hope of the message.
As we begin this lesson, it is vital to remember the decline of spirituality and society the descendants of Lehi are in at this time. Mormon, who was responsible for abridging all of the plates into the record we know as the Book of Mormon, has begun to document the current events in his life. The record of his own time and people is contained in Mormon 1-6.
Mormon Chapter 1
Mormon begins in verse 1 with an explanation of who he is and his purposes to write his own record he calls the book of Mormon, not be confused with the entire abridgment of records with the same name. The inclusion of his own record was to be in compliance with the charge given him from Ammoron. (see verse 4)
Mormon was righteous throughout his life and recognized in his youth. He was only ten years old when Ammoron (who was charged with caring for the plates when his brother, Amos, died (see 4 Nephi 1:47) recognized him as a "sober child", "quick to observe" (verse 2) and began his education of the learning of his people. In addition to being educated in the secular things, Mormon was brought up and educated spiritually. At the age of fifteen he “was visited of the Lord, and tasted and knew of the goodness of Jesus” (verse 15), this spiritual understanding led him to want to teach the people and bring them to repentance, but he was forbidden (verse 16).
To accomplish writing his own record, Mormon was commanded that at twenty four years old he should retrieve and care for the plates which Ammoron had hidden up unto the Lord (verse 3). In a time when there was so much wickedness, Gadianton Robbers, sorceries and witchcraft (verse 19), there stood a young man named Mormon. This is his record.
Mormon Chapter 2
Mormon was not only recognized by the Lord, he was recognized by the people he lived with. At the age of sixteen, he is appointed leader and General over the Nephite armies (verse 2). Do you believe there was a significant lack of leadership in the society if a sixteen year old chosen to be their military leader?
Mormon leads the armies in a time with tremendous bloodshed, carnage and wickedness (verse 8). Despite the surroundings and experiences of Mormon he remained faithful. He wrote: "And wo is me because of their wickedness; for my heart has been filled with sorrow because of their wickedness, all my days; nevertheless, I know that I shall be lifted up at the last day" (verse 19). This faithfulness can be attributed to the testimony taught to him by his parents, the visitation from the Lord, and the perspective he had due to his detailed knowledge of the history and dealings of his ancestors with the Lord he obtained through the scriptures. He is a sharp contrast to the times he lived in. He saw and lived in a time of war almost all of his days. There is a lesson in his life for our day. The success of Mormon gives us guidance as to how to remain faithful. By using these same tools (our testimony and the testimonies of others, spiritual experiences and the scriptures) we can be islands of righteousness in the vast sea of wickedness.
All of Mormon’s efforts almost bring the people to understand. He describes it as "somewhat to vigor" which led to them having a successful campaign against the Lamanites. They made a treaty with the Lamanites and the Gadianton Robbers. Mormon wrote: "...nevertheless the strength of the Lord was not with us; yea, we were left to ourselves, that the Spirit of the Lord did not abide in us; therefore we had become weak like unto our brethren." (verse 26)
In this chapter, there is another glimmer of hope… almost. The “Nephites began to repent of their iniquity…” because “…no man could keep that which was his own, for the thieves, and the robbers, and the murderers, and the magic art, and the witchcraft which was in the land. Thus there began to be a mourning and a lamentation in all the land because of these things, and more especially among the people of Nephi.” (see verses 10-11) This mourning caused Mormon to also see this glimmer of hope and have some joy. But Mormon’s “joy was vain, for their (the Nephites') sorrowing was not unto repentance, because of the goodness of God; but it was rather the sorrowing of the damned, because the Lord would not always suffer them to take happiness in sin” (see verse 13). What a lesson we have here.
President Spencer W. Kimball: "The truly repentant man is sorry before he is apprehended. He is sorry even if his secret is never known.
He desires to make voluntary amends. The culprit has not 'godly sorrow' who must be found out by being reported or by chains of circumstances which finally bring the offense to light. The thief is not repentant who continues in grave offenses until he is caught. Repentance of the godly type means that one comes to recognize the sin and voluntarily and without pressure from outside sources begins his transformation." (The Miracle of Forgiveness, p 153)
There is a difference between 'godly sorrow' and the 'sorrow of the world'. "Now I rejoice, not that ye were made sorry, but that ye sorrowed to repentance: for ye were made sorry after a godly manner, that ye might receive damage by us in nothing. For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death." (2 Corinthians 7:9-10)
Mormon Chapter 3
Mormon is finally charged with crying repentance to the people (verse 2). Mormon says that the people hardened their hearts and refused to realize it was the Lord who spared them and "granted them a chance for repentance" (verse 3). Despite their unwillingness to repent, Mormon continued to protect them and caused them to make preparations “against the time of battle”.
In the following verses the Lamanites come to battle against them and lose. This causes the Nephites to “boast in their own strength” and they “began to swear before the heavens that they would avenge themselves of the blood of their brethren who had been slain by their enemies." (verse 9).
The people were not thankful in the least for the protection or the blessings of the Lord. This coming Thursday will be Thanksgiving. We are commanded to be thankful in our day and we see throughout the Book of Mormon it is part of the plan of salvation to be thankful (see Alma 34:38).
In addition to having a lack of gratitude to the Lord, the people of Mormon's time decided to act in vengeance against their enemies. Mormon sees this and refuses to be their leader (verse 11). He gives several reasons for not leading them any longer, they are: “because of their wickedness and abomination”, Mormon had “led them into battle” and “loved them despite this wickedness”, Mormon “prayed for them all the day long” and three times “delivered them out of the hands of their enemies and they have repented not of their sins” (verses 12-13).
On top of these reasons, the voice of the Lord came to Mormon and told him “Vengeance is mine, and I will repay; and because this people repented not after I had delivered them, behold, they shall be cut off from the face of the earth” (verse 15).
Elder Bruce R. McConkie: "Men are forbidden to execute vengeance upon their fellow men, unless by revelation (acting in the capacity of the Lord's agents) they are sent forth to do his appointed will. (Doctrine and Covenants 98:23-48.) Ancient Israel, for instance, was commanded to execute the Lord's vengeance upon the Amalekites. (1 Sam. 15:2-3.) Aside from such unusual and seldom-occurring situations, however, the decree is that vengeance, recompense, and judgment come from the Lord himself." (Mormon Doctrine, p 821)
Until the end of this chapter, Mormon explains the reason he writes the record.
Mormon Chapter 4
The battles continue between the Nephites and the Lamanites. We see the effects of the Nephites going to battle for vengeance in verse 4, “And it was because the armies of the Nephites went up unto the Lamanites that they began to be smitten; for were it not for that, the Lamanites could have had no power over them”. In verse 5 we learn about the outcome of wickedness and the fruits which come from living away from the ways of the Lord, "But, behold, the judgments of God will overtake the wicked; and it is by the wicked that the wicked are punished; for it is the wicked that stir up the hearts of the children of men unto bloodshed.”
Mormon attempts to paint a picture of how things are going in verse 11, "And it is impossible for the tongue to describe, or for man to write a perfect description of the horrible scene of the blood and carnage which was among the people, both of the Nephites and of the Lamanites; and every heart was hardened, so that they delighted in the shedding of blood continually". In the chapter we see the absolute baseness of the society with the sacrificing of women and children to idols.
The Lamanites came down to war and from this time forward the Nephites could have no power over the Lamanites, they "began to be swept off by them even as a dew before the sun" (verse 18).
Of interest here at the end of the chapter is Mormon sees the Lamanites are overtaking Nephite lands. He goes to the Hill Shim (where the records are deposited) and takes them so they can be preserved. The record is being prepared to come forth in the last days and nothing will stand in the way of the Lord accomplishing His design.
Mormon Chapter 5
Mormon returns to leading the armies but this time he is saddened and without hope for the Nephite Nation. We read in verse 2, “I was without hope, for I knew the judgments of the Lord which should come upon them; for they repented not of their iniquities, but did struggle for their lives without calling upon that Being who created them”. He then writes to us in our day and sees the coming forth of the Book of Mormon to the Gentiles, to teach us Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God. He writes about the Lamanites in the last days and how the gospel will be brought to them.
Mormon Chapter 6
Mormon writes an epistle to the King of the Lamanites and asks for the Nephites to be allowed to gather at Cumorah in preparation to go to battle against them. This battle is the end of the Nephite nation. Mormon is old (about 74 years old). Mormon hides the records in the Hill Cumorah, except for the few plates he delivers to his son, Moroni. In the great and last battle, all but twenty four of the Nephites are killed.
Mormon laments the loss of the nation in verses 8 through 22.
“And it came to pass that they came to battle against us, and every soul was filled with terror because of the greatness of their numbers.
9 And it came to pass that they did fall upon my people with the sword, and with the bow, and with the arrow, and with the ax, and with all manner of weapons of war.
10 And it came to pass that my men were hewn down, yea, even my ten thousand who were with me, and I fell wounded in the midst; and they passed by me that they did not put an end to my life.
11 And when they had gone through and hewn down all my people save it were twenty and four of us, (among whom was my son Moroni) and we having survived the dead of our people, did behold on the morrow, when the Lamanites had returned unto their camps, from the top of the hill Cumorah, the ten thousand of my people who were hewn down, being led in the front by me.
12 And we also beheld the ten thousand of my people who were led by my son Moroni.
13 And behold, the ten thousand of Gidgiddonah had fallen, and he also in the midst.
14 And Lamah had fallen with his ten thousand; and Gilgal had fallen with his ten thousand; and Limhah had fallen with his ten thousand; and Jeneum had fallen with his ten thousand; and Cumenihah, and Moronihah, and Antionum, and Shiblom, and Shem, and Josh, had fallen with their ten thousand each.
15 And it came to pass that there were ten more who did fall by the sword, with their ten thousand each; yea, even all my people, save it were those twenty and four who were with me, and also a few who had escaped into the south countries, and a few who had deserted over unto the Lamanites, had fallen; and their flesh, and bones, and blood lay upon the face of the earth, being left by the hands of those who slew them to molder upon the land, and to crumble and to return to their mother earth.
16 And my soul was rent with anguish, because of the slain of my people, and I cried:
17 O ye fair ones, how could ye have departed from the ways of the Lord! O ye fair ones, how could ye have rejected that Jesus, who stood with open arms to receive you!
18 Behold, if ye had not done this, ye would not have fallen. But behold, ye are fallen, and I mourn your loss.
19 O ye fair sons and daughters, ye fathers and mothers, ye husbands and wives, ye fair ones, how is it that ye could have fallen!
20 But behold, ye are gone, and my sorrows cannot bring your return.
21 And the day soon cometh that your mortal must put on immortality, and these bodies which are now moldering in corruption must soon become incorruptible bodies; and then ye must stand before the judgment-seat of Christ, to be judged according to your works; and if it so be that ye are righteous, then are ye blessed with your fathers who have gone before you.
22 O that ye had repented before this great destruction had come upon you. But behold, ye are gone, and the Father, yea, the Eternal Father of heaven, knoweth your state; and he doeth with you according to his justice and mercy. "
Moroni Chapter 9
This is the second epistle written by Mormon to his son, Moroni. The first is Moroni chapter 8.
There is great love and hope for his son expressed in the chapter. Mormon encourages his son to be optimistic. It is in Christ we will be saved. Do not be weighed down by the wickedness around you. Christ’s promise is sure, be diligent, be faithful, then “the grace of God the Father, whose throne is high in the heavens, and our Lord Jesus Christ, who sitteth on the right hand of his power, until all things shall become subject unto him, be, and abide with you forever” is the hope of the message.
Monday, November 10, 2008
Book of Mormon Lesson 42: "This Is My Gospel"
3 Nephi 27-30 & 4 Nephi
3 Nephi Chapter 27
After the ministry of the Savior among the Nephites the disciples went about teaching and baptizing. They met together and "were united in mighty prayer and fasting" (verse 1) "And Jesus again showed himself unto them, for they were praying unto the Father in his name; and Jesus came and stood in the midst of them, and said unto them: What will ye that I shall give unto you?" (verse 2) The disciples asked, "Lord, we will that thou wouldst tell us the name whereby we shall call the church; for there are disputations among the people concerning the matter" (verse 3). The Lord responded with a simple explanation. For it to be His church it must be named after Him. He did qualify this answer though... it could not only bear His name to be His church, it must be "built upon His gospel" (verse 8).
Why is it so important that the church bear the Savior's name? In the New Testament we read how it is only by the name of Jesus Christ and "none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved". (Acts 4:10-12)
Here is a quote from President Spencer W. Kimball: "This is not a church. This is the Church of Jesus Christ. There are churches of men all over the land and they have great cathedrals, synagogues, and other houses of worship running into the hundreds of millions of dollars. They are the churches of men. They teach the doctrines of men, combined with the philosophies and ethics and other ideas and ideals that men have partly developed and partly found in sacred places and interpreted for themselves. But there is just one church which Jesus Christ, himself, organized by direct revelation; just one church that teaches all of his doctrines; just one church which has all of the keys and authorities which are necessary to carry on the work of Jesus Christ. And you would, of course, expect it to be the Church of Jesus Christ and not carry any other name." (Teachings of Spencer W. Kimball, p421)
We have latter-day revelation concerning the name of the church. Doctrine and Covenants 115:4 instructs us the name shall be The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. This settles the matter on what the name of the church should be.
The Savior continues in verse 6 He instructs us, with the fewest of words, "And whoso taketh upon him my name, and endureth to the end, the same shall be saved at the last day". This sounds simple but gets ever so complicated at times. It gets complicated when we lose our perspective on our eternal goal. Elder Neal A. Maxwell, one of my favorites, said "Patient endurance is to be distinguished from merely being 'acted upon.' Endurance is more than pacing up and down within the cell of our circumstance; it is not only acceptance of the things allotted to us, [it is] to 'act for ourselves' by magnifying what is allotted to us..."Therefore, true enduring represents no merely the passage of time, but the passage of soul....To endure in faith and do God's will therefore involves much more than putting up with a circumstance." (Men and Women of Christ, p69).
This quote helps us realize there is more to "enduring" than gritting our teeth and waiting out this life. There is a progression which should be taking place as we grow in the gospel and understanding our Father in heaven. We are always better served when we are serving others. My life has grown the most when I am engaged in serving and thinking of others before myself. This is the way the Savior spent his life and the example for all of us to follow. By giving this type of service, we are no longer just "gritting our teeth" but we are actively pushing forward to a day of reward.
Chapter 28
The three Nephites is one of my favorite parts of the Book of Mormon. There are many stories and lore which follow these three disciples. Large stories and legends abound with many descriptions surrounding their activities. The Sunday School Manual is plan in explaining we are not to discuss them in class. In keeping with this direction, there are no stories included in the blog. It is sufficient to say any stories or legends surrounding them is not church doctrine.
Chapter 29 & Chapter 30
Mormon gives insight and counsel relative to the coming forth of the Book of Mormon in the last days. It is important to value the scriptures, especially the Book of Mormon, in our lives by reading, studying and pondering it precepts in our actions and thoughts. How better to avoid the condemnation discussed in the 84th section of the Doctrine and Covenants, there the Lord decreed that the whole Church was under condemnation, even all the children of Zion, because of the way they treated the Book of Mormon. “And they shall remain under this condemnation until they repent,” said the Lord, “and remember the new covenant, even the Book of Mormon.” (Doctrine and Covenants 84:57)
4th Nephi
This is a special time in the history of the descendants of Lehi. A time of peace is established and the people as a whole strive to follow the gospel. This time period is a direct result of the Savior's personal ministry among the descendants of Lehi and a sharp contrast from the effect on those in Jerusalem. There are differences here to point out. This is by no means all the differences, but it is some of those we have discussed in Sunday School classes before. The most obvious to me is the difference between the perfect, yet mortal Savior in Jerusalem and the resurrected glorified Savior in America. Additionally, in America the "more righteous" were spared during the calamities before the Savior's appearance. (3 Nephi 9:13) This made the descendants of Lehi a better prepared people for the ministry of Christ.
This society was similiar to that of the City of Enoch. The key to this society is explained in verses 2 and 3. "And it came to pass in the thirty and sixth year, the people were all converted unto the Lord, upon all the face of the land, both Nephites and Lamanites, and there were no contentions and disputations among them, and every man did deal justly one with another. And they had all things common among them; therefore there were not rich and poor, bond and free, but they were all made free, and partakers of the heavenly gift." The key is they "did deal justly one with another". This would not and will not work if there is lying, stealing, greed and envy.
Yet, this society fell apart. How can such a wonderful set of people fall away? How could it happen? Mormon outlines the destuction of the society for us. Here they are:
A group of Nephites revolted from the Church and called themselves Lamanites (verse 20)
The people became proud of their exceeding prosperity and began wearing costly clothing and adornments (verse 24)
The law of consecration was abandoned (verse 25)
The people began to be divided into social classes (verse 26)
False churches are organized to get gain (verses 26-28)
Believers are persecuted (verses 29-34)
There is a great division among the people (verses 35-38)
The children are taught to reject the truths of the gospel (verses 38-39)
The wicked became more numerous than the righteous (verse 40)
Secret oaths and combinations are started again (How can they go back to this?) (verse 42)
The righteous people begin to be proud and seek the things of the world (verses 43-45)
The Gadianton conspiracy takes over the whole land (verse 46)
And here we go again... back to the society they had overcome. Mormon warns us. We should take his counsel to heart and remember these words were written for our day. This is a type of things to come.
3 Nephi Chapter 27
After the ministry of the Savior among the Nephites the disciples went about teaching and baptizing. They met together and "were united in mighty prayer and fasting" (verse 1) "And Jesus again showed himself unto them, for they were praying unto the Father in his name; and Jesus came and stood in the midst of them, and said unto them: What will ye that I shall give unto you?" (verse 2) The disciples asked, "Lord, we will that thou wouldst tell us the name whereby we shall call the church; for there are disputations among the people concerning the matter" (verse 3). The Lord responded with a simple explanation. For it to be His church it must be named after Him. He did qualify this answer though... it could not only bear His name to be His church, it must be "built upon His gospel" (verse 8).
Why is it so important that the church bear the Savior's name? In the New Testament we read how it is only by the name of Jesus Christ and "none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved". (Acts 4:10-12)
Here is a quote from President Spencer W. Kimball: "This is not a church. This is the Church of Jesus Christ. There are churches of men all over the land and they have great cathedrals, synagogues, and other houses of worship running into the hundreds of millions of dollars. They are the churches of men. They teach the doctrines of men, combined with the philosophies and ethics and other ideas and ideals that men have partly developed and partly found in sacred places and interpreted for themselves. But there is just one church which Jesus Christ, himself, organized by direct revelation; just one church that teaches all of his doctrines; just one church which has all of the keys and authorities which are necessary to carry on the work of Jesus Christ. And you would, of course, expect it to be the Church of Jesus Christ and not carry any other name." (Teachings of Spencer W. Kimball, p421)
We have latter-day revelation concerning the name of the church. Doctrine and Covenants 115:4 instructs us the name shall be The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. This settles the matter on what the name of the church should be.
The Savior continues in verse 6 He instructs us, with the fewest of words, "And whoso taketh upon him my name, and endureth to the end, the same shall be saved at the last day". This sounds simple but gets ever so complicated at times. It gets complicated when we lose our perspective on our eternal goal. Elder Neal A. Maxwell, one of my favorites, said "Patient endurance is to be distinguished from merely being 'acted upon.' Endurance is more than pacing up and down within the cell of our circumstance; it is not only acceptance of the things allotted to us, [it is] to 'act for ourselves' by magnifying what is allotted to us..."Therefore, true enduring represents no merely the passage of time, but the passage of soul....To endure in faith and do God's will therefore involves much more than putting up with a circumstance." (Men and Women of Christ, p69).
This quote helps us realize there is more to "enduring" than gritting our teeth and waiting out this life. There is a progression which should be taking place as we grow in the gospel and understanding our Father in heaven. We are always better served when we are serving others. My life has grown the most when I am engaged in serving and thinking of others before myself. This is the way the Savior spent his life and the example for all of us to follow. By giving this type of service, we are no longer just "gritting our teeth" but we are actively pushing forward to a day of reward.
Chapter 28
The three Nephites is one of my favorite parts of the Book of Mormon. There are many stories and lore which follow these three disciples. Large stories and legends abound with many descriptions surrounding their activities. The Sunday School Manual is plan in explaining we are not to discuss them in class. In keeping with this direction, there are no stories included in the blog. It is sufficient to say any stories or legends surrounding them is not church doctrine.
Chapter 29 & Chapter 30
Mormon gives insight and counsel relative to the coming forth of the Book of Mormon in the last days. It is important to value the scriptures, especially the Book of Mormon, in our lives by reading, studying and pondering it precepts in our actions and thoughts. How better to avoid the condemnation discussed in the 84th section of the Doctrine and Covenants, there the Lord decreed that the whole Church was under condemnation, even all the children of Zion, because of the way they treated the Book of Mormon. “And they shall remain under this condemnation until they repent,” said the Lord, “and remember the new covenant, even the Book of Mormon.” (Doctrine and Covenants 84:57)
4th Nephi
This is a special time in the history of the descendants of Lehi. A time of peace is established and the people as a whole strive to follow the gospel. This time period is a direct result of the Savior's personal ministry among the descendants of Lehi and a sharp contrast from the effect on those in Jerusalem. There are differences here to point out. This is by no means all the differences, but it is some of those we have discussed in Sunday School classes before. The most obvious to me is the difference between the perfect, yet mortal Savior in Jerusalem and the resurrected glorified Savior in America. Additionally, in America the "more righteous" were spared during the calamities before the Savior's appearance. (3 Nephi 9:13) This made the descendants of Lehi a better prepared people for the ministry of Christ.
This society was similiar to that of the City of Enoch. The key to this society is explained in verses 2 and 3. "And it came to pass in the thirty and sixth year, the people were all converted unto the Lord, upon all the face of the land, both Nephites and Lamanites, and there were no contentions and disputations among them, and every man did deal justly one with another. And they had all things common among them; therefore there were not rich and poor, bond and free, but they were all made free, and partakers of the heavenly gift." The key is they "did deal justly one with another". This would not and will not work if there is lying, stealing, greed and envy.
Yet, this society fell apart. How can such a wonderful set of people fall away? How could it happen? Mormon outlines the destuction of the society for us. Here they are:
A group of Nephites revolted from the Church and called themselves Lamanites (verse 20)
The people became proud of their exceeding prosperity and began wearing costly clothing and adornments (verse 24)
The law of consecration was abandoned (verse 25)
The people began to be divided into social classes (verse 26)
False churches are organized to get gain (verses 26-28)
Believers are persecuted (verses 29-34)
There is a great division among the people (verses 35-38)
The children are taught to reject the truths of the gospel (verses 38-39)
The wicked became more numerous than the righteous (verse 40)
Secret oaths and combinations are started again (How can they go back to this?) (verse 42)
The righteous people begin to be proud and seek the things of the world (verses 43-45)
The Gadianton conspiracy takes over the whole land (verse 46)
And here we go again... back to the society they had overcome. Mormon warns us. We should take his counsel to heart and remember these words were written for our day. This is a type of things to come.
Saturday, November 8, 2008
Book of Mormon Lesson 41: “He Did Expound All Things unto Them”
3 Nephi Chapters 22- 26
Chapter 22
Here the Lord quotes Isaiah, speaking of a great day of restoration in a time to come. The remnants of the House of Israel will be reunited and brought home to the Lord and lands of inheritance. The Lord returns to a use of symbolism between the Bridegroom (the Lord of Hosts) and the bride (Israel).
The Lord promises his mercy will be extended still. This is in spite of times when His wrath is over the wicked and the righteous.
We are commanded to expand our borders of Zion. (verses 2 and 3) There is beautiful comparison to pitching the tent and lengthening our cords and strengthen our stakes. This is an appropriate comparison to our Stake. There are several way for us to strengthen our stake. We should begin with ourselves and families. By following more closely the guidance and direction given by our leaders we can be more like our Savior.
In verses 14-17 Israel’s pains and persecutions by enemies will end. Those who oppose the chosen people and the Lord’s work will be destroyed at the day. The chosen people will be protected and guided by the Lord. There is an underlying theme of the message presented by the Savior to the Nephites. It is one of come unto me and I will be merciful. This theme is consistent with the message of the gospel. It provides us with insight and thanksgiving that after all we can do, and despite shortcomings, our Savior will still be merciful to us.
Chapter 23
After having quoted the prophet Isaiah (what we know as Isaiah Chapter 54), the Savior gives us direction and a commandment. In verse 1 He commands us to search these things diligently. He tells us “great are the words of Isaiah”. You may wonder “why?”… I mean, Isaiah is difficult to understand and hard to read. Why should we spend our time trying to understand an ancient prophet who appears to be so confusing? The answer begins in verse 2, “For surely he spake as touching all things concerning my people which are of the house of Israel”. Isaiah saw the beginning from the end. He saw the Savior and the destiny and travels of Israel. Because Isaiah spake concerning all things he “must speak also to the Gentiles”. The gentiles are inseparably connected to Israel.
The Savior then validates the prophecies of Isaiah. In verse 3 He says “all things that he (Isaiah) spake have been and shall be, even according to the words which he spake. “ Here the Lord confirms Isaiah was moved to prophecy by the spirit. It also speaks to the duality of prophecy. Some prophecies will be fulfilled in many different ways and at different times. There are times when a prophecy appears to be fulfilled but is then applicable to another situation and dispensation. Many of Isaiah’s prophecies appear to be historical incidents in Israel’s journeys when they can just as easily be applied to our spiritual struggle to return to the Lord. For additional help into understanding Isaiah, see Bruce R. McConkie's article titled "Ten Keys to Understanding Isaiah".
Christ then asks for Nephi to bring the record (the scriptures) to Him. A review discovers Nephi has inadvertently left out the fulfillment of Samuel the Lamanite’s prophecy that some of the saints would arise from the dead and appear unto many and minister unto them (verse 9). After the saints confirmed to the Savior this did occur, He asked why it was not written in the record (verse 10)? Jesus commanded that it be written and it was. Why was this so important that the Savior would ensure its inclusion in the Book of Mormon? The account verifies the validity and actuality of the resurrection. There is record of this happening in the old world as written in the New Testament. It is vital that the record be in the Book of Mormon as another testament of the atonement and resurrection.
This also brings out a great point. The Savior himself is the author of the scriptures. He ensures what is recorded. Many times throughout the Book of Mormon the four principal writers, Nephi, Jacob, Mormon and Moroni, make reference to writing that which they have “been commanded”. It makes it plain how the modern day prophet, Joseph Smith, could say with ease the book was the most correct book on the face of the earth. When you have the insight that Jesus Christ himself was the “author” and “editor” this is a logical conclusion for the prophet Joseph to have made.
In verse 14, we read the Lord “expounded all the scriptures in one” and commanded them to teach to others the things He had taught. This verse is similar to the one found in Luke 24. When on the road to Emmaus the resurrected Lord is walking with the disciples as they discuss the earthly mission of Christ. The Lord then explains to them how they have not understood what the prophets have taught and beginning at Moses , he expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself. (verse 27). This provides us additional insight into “expounding the scriptures”. It is to teach the entire plan of salvation and the role of the Savior. "Expounding all scriptures in one" also involves making connections between verses throughout the scriptures. There are times when study of one part of the scriptures reminds us of other verses that we never have connected before as being related to each other. It is a matter of finding the same voice of the spirit throughout all the standard works and the central purpose of scripture being the instruction of the plan of salvation and the role of Jesus Christ in the plan. In regards to "expounding" we also read in chapter 26 verse 3, about the Savior teaching being described this way again.
Chapter 24
The Lord quotes Malachi. The Nephite record would not have had access to the words of Malachi due to Lehi and Nephi having already left Jerusalem before Malachi’s time. The prophecies of Malachi were given approximately 430 B.C., almost two hundred years from the time the Nephites left.
In verse 1, Malachi refers to a messenger, the Father tells Malachi- "Behold, I will send my messenger, and he shall prepare the way before me, and the Lord whom ye seek shall suddenly come to his temple, even the messenger of the covenant, whom ye delight in; behold, he shall come, saith the Lord of Hosts". We learn further about this messenger in Doctrine and Covenants 45:9, "And even so I have sent mine everlasting covenant into the world, to be a light to the world, and to be a standard for my people, and for the Gentiles to seek to it, and to be a messenger before my face to prepare the way before me". The restored gospel message is the messenger. There is also the possibility the "messenger" is spoken of as a singular "messenger", yet it is a combination of those heavenly messengers who were instrumental in the restoration of the keys and powers restored in this dispensation (Moroni, John the Baptist, Peter, James, John, Elijah, etc.)
Verses 8-12 are very familiar to us and refer to tithes and offerings. It is important to recognize the Lord taught tithing. Tithing is a commandment and essential to our spiritual growth and well being.
Chapter 25
The coming of the Prophet Elijah was essential to the restoration of all things in this dispensation. In verse 1, Malachi makes reference to the last day and the ushering in of the millennial reign of Christ. For this to take place, all wickedness will be removed from the earth. “To leave them without root nor branch” is that if the temple ordinances and genealogical work were not restored then when the day of burning happens mankind would be left without root (ancestry) or branch (posterity). When Elijah returned and restored the sealing power and keys this was avoided and there was no curse (verse 6). This curse would have been in effect due to the world not having reached it purpose in creation. The purpose was to provide a place for all the children of our Heavenly Father to come and recieve the opportunity and ordinances to bind the entire family together.
Chapter 26
Mormon comments on the Savior continuing to teach to the multitude and minister to them. In verse 2 He instructs them it was the will and wisdom of the Father that the scriptures of Isaiah, Malachi and understand the mission of Elijah be given unto future generations. He then explains the Plan of Salvation and how they will be judged and resurrected. In verse 4 we read about the people being judged of their works. The Lord told Nephi that out of the books He commanded that men should write- in other words, the scriptures- “I will judge the world, every man according to their works, according to that which is written” (2 Nephi 29:11-14). This testifies of the importance of the scriptures and their role in the judgment. For those who never had the scriptures they will be taught the principles and everlasting gospel as contained in the standard works. Then all will have the opportunity to accept and live or reject and die. Ultimately, all will be judged against that which the Lord has caused to be written. This only validates the need to study the scriptures and to know the words of the prophets.
Next week's Book of Mormon Sunday school lesson: “This Is My Gospel”, 3 Nephi 27–30 and 4th Nephi
Chapter 22
Here the Lord quotes Isaiah, speaking of a great day of restoration in a time to come. The remnants of the House of Israel will be reunited and brought home to the Lord and lands of inheritance. The Lord returns to a use of symbolism between the Bridegroom (the Lord of Hosts) and the bride (Israel).
The Lord promises his mercy will be extended still. This is in spite of times when His wrath is over the wicked and the righteous.
We are commanded to expand our borders of Zion. (verses 2 and 3) There is beautiful comparison to pitching the tent and lengthening our cords and strengthen our stakes. This is an appropriate comparison to our Stake. There are several way for us to strengthen our stake. We should begin with ourselves and families. By following more closely the guidance and direction given by our leaders we can be more like our Savior.
In verses 14-17 Israel’s pains and persecutions by enemies will end. Those who oppose the chosen people and the Lord’s work will be destroyed at the day. The chosen people will be protected and guided by the Lord. There is an underlying theme of the message presented by the Savior to the Nephites. It is one of come unto me and I will be merciful. This theme is consistent with the message of the gospel. It provides us with insight and thanksgiving that after all we can do, and despite shortcomings, our Savior will still be merciful to us.
Chapter 23
After having quoted the prophet Isaiah (what we know as Isaiah Chapter 54), the Savior gives us direction and a commandment. In verse 1 He commands us to search these things diligently. He tells us “great are the words of Isaiah”. You may wonder “why?”… I mean, Isaiah is difficult to understand and hard to read. Why should we spend our time trying to understand an ancient prophet who appears to be so confusing? The answer begins in verse 2, “For surely he spake as touching all things concerning my people which are of the house of Israel”. Isaiah saw the beginning from the end. He saw the Savior and the destiny and travels of Israel. Because Isaiah spake concerning all things he “must speak also to the Gentiles”. The gentiles are inseparably connected to Israel.
The Savior then validates the prophecies of Isaiah. In verse 3 He says “all things that he (Isaiah) spake have been and shall be, even according to the words which he spake. “ Here the Lord confirms Isaiah was moved to prophecy by the spirit. It also speaks to the duality of prophecy. Some prophecies will be fulfilled in many different ways and at different times. There are times when a prophecy appears to be fulfilled but is then applicable to another situation and dispensation. Many of Isaiah’s prophecies appear to be historical incidents in Israel’s journeys when they can just as easily be applied to our spiritual struggle to return to the Lord. For additional help into understanding Isaiah, see Bruce R. McConkie's article titled "Ten Keys to Understanding Isaiah".
Christ then asks for Nephi to bring the record (the scriptures) to Him. A review discovers Nephi has inadvertently left out the fulfillment of Samuel the Lamanite’s prophecy that some of the saints would arise from the dead and appear unto many and minister unto them (verse 9). After the saints confirmed to the Savior this did occur, He asked why it was not written in the record (verse 10)? Jesus commanded that it be written and it was. Why was this so important that the Savior would ensure its inclusion in the Book of Mormon? The account verifies the validity and actuality of the resurrection. There is record of this happening in the old world as written in the New Testament. It is vital that the record be in the Book of Mormon as another testament of the atonement and resurrection.
This also brings out a great point. The Savior himself is the author of the scriptures. He ensures what is recorded. Many times throughout the Book of Mormon the four principal writers, Nephi, Jacob, Mormon and Moroni, make reference to writing that which they have “been commanded”. It makes it plain how the modern day prophet, Joseph Smith, could say with ease the book was the most correct book on the face of the earth. When you have the insight that Jesus Christ himself was the “author” and “editor” this is a logical conclusion for the prophet Joseph to have made.
In verse 14, we read the Lord “expounded all the scriptures in one” and commanded them to teach to others the things He had taught. This verse is similar to the one found in Luke 24. When on the road to Emmaus the resurrected Lord is walking with the disciples as they discuss the earthly mission of Christ. The Lord then explains to them how they have not understood what the prophets have taught and beginning at Moses , he expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself. (verse 27). This provides us additional insight into “expounding the scriptures”. It is to teach the entire plan of salvation and the role of the Savior. "Expounding all scriptures in one" also involves making connections between verses throughout the scriptures. There are times when study of one part of the scriptures reminds us of other verses that we never have connected before as being related to each other. It is a matter of finding the same voice of the spirit throughout all the standard works and the central purpose of scripture being the instruction of the plan of salvation and the role of Jesus Christ in the plan. In regards to "expounding" we also read in chapter 26 verse 3, about the Savior teaching being described this way again.
Chapter 24
The Lord quotes Malachi. The Nephite record would not have had access to the words of Malachi due to Lehi and Nephi having already left Jerusalem before Malachi’s time. The prophecies of Malachi were given approximately 430 B.C., almost two hundred years from the time the Nephites left.
In verse 1, Malachi refers to a messenger, the Father tells Malachi- "Behold, I will send my messenger, and he shall prepare the way before me, and the Lord whom ye seek shall suddenly come to his temple, even the messenger of the covenant, whom ye delight in; behold, he shall come, saith the Lord of Hosts". We learn further about this messenger in Doctrine and Covenants 45:9, "And even so I have sent mine everlasting covenant into the world, to be a light to the world, and to be a standard for my people, and for the Gentiles to seek to it, and to be a messenger before my face to prepare the way before me". The restored gospel message is the messenger. There is also the possibility the "messenger" is spoken of as a singular "messenger", yet it is a combination of those heavenly messengers who were instrumental in the restoration of the keys and powers restored in this dispensation (Moroni, John the Baptist, Peter, James, John, Elijah, etc.)
Verses 8-12 are very familiar to us and refer to tithes and offerings. It is important to recognize the Lord taught tithing. Tithing is a commandment and essential to our spiritual growth and well being.
Chapter 25
The coming of the Prophet Elijah was essential to the restoration of all things in this dispensation. In verse 1, Malachi makes reference to the last day and the ushering in of the millennial reign of Christ. For this to take place, all wickedness will be removed from the earth. “To leave them without root nor branch” is that if the temple ordinances and genealogical work were not restored then when the day of burning happens mankind would be left without root (ancestry) or branch (posterity). When Elijah returned and restored the sealing power and keys this was avoided and there was no curse (verse 6). This curse would have been in effect due to the world not having reached it purpose in creation. The purpose was to provide a place for all the children of our Heavenly Father to come and recieve the opportunity and ordinances to bind the entire family together.
Chapter 26
Mormon comments on the Savior continuing to teach to the multitude and minister to them. In verse 2 He instructs them it was the will and wisdom of the Father that the scriptures of Isaiah, Malachi and understand the mission of Elijah be given unto future generations. He then explains the Plan of Salvation and how they will be judged and resurrected. In verse 4 we read about the people being judged of their works. The Lord told Nephi that out of the books He commanded that men should write- in other words, the scriptures- “I will judge the world, every man according to their works, according to that which is written” (2 Nephi 29:11-14). This testifies of the importance of the scriptures and their role in the judgment. For those who never had the scriptures they will be taught the principles and everlasting gospel as contained in the standard works. Then all will have the opportunity to accept and live or reject and die. Ultimately, all will be judged against that which the Lord has caused to be written. This only validates the need to study the scriptures and to know the words of the prophets.
Next week's Book of Mormon Sunday school lesson: “This Is My Gospel”, 3 Nephi 27–30 and 4th Nephi
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
