The Prophet Joseph stated concerning the Book of Mormon,
“…the Book of Mormon was (is) the most correct of any book on earth, and the keystone of our religion, and a man would (will) get nearer to God by abiding by its precepts, than by any other book.”
I would like to share what I have learned from a few verses in the Book of Mormon Helaman 5:9 - 12.
In my opinion, the three verses 9, 10, and 11 are closely related to and supporting of the statement made in verse 12, that Christ our Redeemer is a sure foundation and that whosoever builds upon Him and Him alone will not be dragged down to the gulf of misery and endless wo by the shafts, whirlwinds, and mighty storms of the adversary.
in verse 9 we read, "...remember...the words which king Benjamin spake unto his people;"
The words king Benjamin spake to his people, as recorded in the book of Mosiah chapters 2 - 5, were given to him the night before by an angel of God. Therefore, we know of a certainty that the words he spake were God's words. We also know from the record what effect the words of God had on king Benjamin's people.
It was what we would call negative effect. Such a sermon today would drive congregations from the buildings because the words were not positive and reassuring.
The initial response was one of exceeding sorrow and possibly fear.
King Benjamin told his people that they were less than the dust of the earth in spite of his previous statement to his son Mosiah that "...they have been a diligent people in keeping the commandments of the Lord." ( Mosiah 1:11)
The message caused them all to fall to the ground and cry out for mercy.
There are a multitude of events in the Book of Mormon where a message from God was negative and caused fear and trembling and sorrow and even anger. (1 Nephi 1:4, 1 Nephi 1:18-20, 1 Nephi 1:14, 1 Nephi 15:1-2, 1 Nephi 16:26-29, 1 Nephi 17:23-55, this is just 1 Nephi) There is a reason for this. We will come back to this.
Continuing in verse 9 of Helaman 5 we also read, "yea, remember that there is no other way nor means whereby man can be saved, only through the atoning blood of Jesus Christ, who shall come;"
When God commands that a statement be made (ie "...there is no other way nor means whereby man can be saved...") would it be a good thing to find out if that statement or a similar statement has been made in scripture anywhere else?
That way there might be more information given as to how the atoning blood of Jesus Christ will save an individual because God has declared that it is the only way for a person to receive salvation so, what is the way?
How or what must be done for an individual to be saved by the atoning blood of Jesus Christ?
One place this statement occurs again in the Book of Mormon is in the Book of 2 Nephi chapter 31.
I would invite a very careful perusal of both 2 Nephi 31, and 2 Nephi 32 with particular attention to verses 1 - 6 of chapter 32.
These two chapters are talking about the doctrine of Christ; the how for any individual to be redeemed by the atoning blood of Christ.
Nephi's statement as he is concluding his record of his personal conversation between himself, The Father, and The Son together is, "...this is the way; and there is none other way nor name given under heaven whereby man can be saved in the kingdom of God." (2 Nephi 31:21)
I would consider that any recorded conversation held between the Prophet Nephi, God, and Christ together in person ought to have our serious attention; especially when it deals with the only way to be saved.
Continuing in Verse 10 of Helaman 5 the invitation is given to Lehi and Nephi to,"...remember the words which Amulek spake unto Zeezrom,...that the Lord surely should come to redeem his people, but that he should not come to redeem them in their sins, but to redeem them from their sins."
Alma and Amulek were prophets witnessing of Christ to a wicked people in the land of Ammoniha. The account of their witness is found in the Book of Mormon in the book of Alma chapters 9 - 14.
Alma and Amulek were prophets witnessing of Christ to a wicked people in the land of Ammoniha. The account of their witness is found in the Book of Mormon in the book of Alma chapters 9 - 14.
What would be the fate of any individual appearing before God who is not redeemed from their sins? Alma the younger gives us a glimpse.
Another Book of Mormon prophet Moroni also states,"But I was racked with eternal torment, for my soul was harrowed up to the greatest degree and racked with all my sins. Yea, I did remember all my sins and iniquities, for which I was tormented with the pains of hell; yea, I saw that I had rebelled against my God, and that I had not kept his holy commandments. Yea, I had murdered many of his children, or rather led them away unto destruction; yea, and in fine so great had been my iniquities, that the very thought of coming into the presence of my God did rack my soul with inexpressible horror. Oh, thought I, that I could be banished and become extinct both soul and body, that I might not be brought to stand in the presence of my God, to be judged of my deeds."(Alma 36:12-15)
"Behold, I say unto you that ye would be more miserable to dwell with a holy and just God, under a consciousness of you filthiness before him, than ye would to dwell with the damned souls in hell. For behold, when ye shall see your nakedness before God, and also the glory of God, and the holiness of Jesus Christ, it will kindle a flame of unquenchable fire upon you." (Mormon 9:4-5)
When Isaiah was caught up to the heavenly temple and realized he was in the presence of God he declared,
"Wo is unto me! for I am undone; because I am a man of unclean lips; and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips; for mine eyes have seen the King, the Lord of Hosts." (2 Nephi 16:5)
This is the universal reality of all our situation before God. Our nakedness or shame before Him is so absolute that we would shrink before Him if we are not cleansed by the blood of His only Begotten Son.
Christ must redeem us from our sins if we are going to be able to stand before God's throne and not shrink.
We addressed messages from God causing a negative reaction. When we finally realize our real condition before God it will cause us to cry out for mercy. Seeing ourselves as we truly are in our fallen state feels negative. God's true messages, if received, will break our hearts and give us the desire to become contrite before Him. As king Benjamin declared, to become submissive like a child willing to submit to whatsoever the Father seeth fit to inflict upon us. True faith will always lead to contrition and a broken heart.
Why is this important?
Why is this important?
There is no giant scale of good works versus bad works. None of our actions will have any bearing except our faith in Him and Him alone.
It will only be His blood that matters.
"Listen to him who is the advocate with the Father, who is pleading your cause before him--- Saying; Father, behold the sufferings and death of him who did no sin, in whom thou wast well pleased; behold the blood of thy Son which was shed, the blood of him whom thou gavest that thyself might be glorified; Wherefore, Father, spare these my brethren that believe on my name, that they may come unto me and have everlasting life."(D&C 45:3-5)
For any individual who will be redeemed, the Father is looking only upon the works of His Son to let them come in to His kingdom.
When the Lord redeems an individual from their sins He is covering them with a robe of righteousness, His righteousness.
When the Lord redeems an individual from their sins He is covering them with a robe of righteousness, His righteousness.
"I will greatly rejoice in the Lord, my soul shall be joyful in God; for He hath clothed me with the garments of salvation, he hath covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decketh himself with ornaments, and as a bride adorneth herself with her jewels." (Isaiah 61:10)
As a type, to remember to look to the blood of Christ and what it will do, we learn in the temple that coats of skins (garments) were prepared to cover nakedness (or shame before God). Something had to die, being sacrificed, to supply the coats of skins; emphasizing that the coats of skins (garments) represent the sacrifice and death of Christ to cover the nakedness of an individual.
What the Father looks upon and sees covering an individual who is redeemed from sin is the righteousness of His Son, the sacrifice and blood of His Son, not the shame or nakedness of the individual. This is what enables an individual to have confidence in the presence of God. They see that Christ has covered their shame or nakedness. Christ lends them His righteousness so to speak.
In the parable of the wedding feast in Matthew 22:11-13 we see that each guest is supplied with a wedding garment (ie. robe of righteousness, the righteousness of Christ covers them). When the King enters he sees one who does not have on a wedding garment (ie. robe of righteousness). The King has His servants bind the guest and cast him out. The only way to be allowed into the wedding feast is to be wearing the wedding garment (ie. covered with the righteousness of Christ).
In the verses before we see who the guests are that are invited to the feast. Those invited guests are both bad and good.
Bad or good, they must be covered with the wedding garment. This is how important it is to have Christ redeem us from our sins.
This only happens through real faith which brings contrition and a willingness to submit to Christ.
Bad or good, they must be covered with the wedding garment. This is how important it is to have Christ redeem us from our sins.
This only happens through real faith which brings contrition and a willingness to submit to Christ.
Verse 11 of Helaman 5 continues "And he hath power given unto him from the Father to redeem them from their sins because of repentance; therefore he hath sent his angels to declare the tidings of the conditions of repentance, which bringeth unto the power of the Redeemer, unto the salvation of their souls."
Angels sent to declare repentance or tidings and conditions of repentance, ministering angels if you will, is a recurring theme in the Book of Mormon.
Lehi was taught by angels and prepared to be caught up into the heavenly temple (1 Nephi 1). Nephi was also taught by angels (1 Nephi 11). Jacob was also taught by angels (2 Nephi 10). Amaleki exhorted us to believe in the ministering of angels (Omni 1:25). It was an angel who delivered the words to king Benjamin that king Benjamin should speak to his people (Mosiah 3). An angel came to Alma the Younger multiple times and to Amulek and his household (Alma 10). Alma told the people of Amonihah that angels were appearing unto many at that time (Alma 13:24) Nephi and Lehi as well as an army of nameless individuals (except for the Nephite dissenter Aminidab who was named) sent to kill them were all ministered to by angels (Helaman 5) Nephi son of Nephi had angels minister unto him daily (3 Nephi 7) and on and on.
Mormon states.
"Wherefore, by the ministering of angels, and by every word which proceeded forth out of the mouth of God, men began to exercise faith in Christ,..."(Moroni 7:25)
Mormon declared that the ministry of angels has not ceased and neither has God ceased to work by miracles. In fact Mormon declared that if the ministry of angels among men and miracles ceases, wo be unto them because of unbelief and they are in a situation as if no atonement had been made. (Moroni 7:35 - 38)"Wherefore, my beloved brethren, have miracles ceased because Christ hath ascended into heaven, and hath sat down on the right hand of God, to claim of the Father His rights of mercy which he hath upon the children of men?...And because he hath done this, my beloved brethren, have miracles ceased? Behold, I say unto you, Nay; neither have angels ceased to minister unto the children of men." (Moroni 7:27-29)
That is a serious statement because remember the Lord would plead unto the Father for those who believe on His name. If angels have ceased to minister to us then we are in a state of unbelief according to Mormon and we therefore do not believe on the name of Christ. We are in a state just as if the atonement had not been made for us.
So why do we need ministering angels?
Mormon declared,
"For behold they(the angels) are subject unto him(God), to minister according to the word of his(God's) command, showing themselves unto them of strong faith and a firm mind in every form of godliness. And the office of their ministry is to call men unto repentance..."
How can that be? Why would those of strong faith and a firm mind in every form of godliness need to repent? What is it that these faithful people receive from the angels? What does this have to do with repentance?
Adam and Eve, after being cast out of the garden, heard the voice of the Lord from the garden but they could not see him. Adam and Eve were obedient to the words of the Lord and offered sacrifice of the firstlings of their flocks and were obedient to the commandments of the Lord.(Moses 5:4-5)
Adam and Eve were seeking to re-enter the presence of God.
Who came first to these two righteous people? Angels (Moses 5:6-8)
If we go to what we are taught symbolically in the temple we learn that we are to consider ourselves respectively as if we were Adam and Eve. That means we are exhorted to do what they did.
What did they do? They sought for true messengers from the Father to teach them. (angels)
They were given signs and tokens to distinguish between true messengers and false ones.
D&C 129: 4-8 states
"When a messenger comes saying he has a message from God, offer him your hand and request him to shake hands with you ("How shall I know that you are true messengers from the Father?") If he be an angel he will do so, and you will feel his hand. If he be a spirit of a just man made perfect he will come in his glory; for that is the only way he can appear-- Ask him to shake hands with you, but he will not move, because it is contrary to the order of heaven for a just man to deceive; but he will still deliver his message. If it be the devil as an angel of light, when you ask him to shake hands he will offer you his hand, and you will not feel anything; you may therefore detect him.
George A Smith cousin to the Prophet Joseph and member of the quorum of the 12 stated in Provo in 1869, "There was no point upon which the Prophet Joseph dwelt more than the discerning of spirits." ("Minutes of Meetings held in Provo City," 28 November 1869, Church Archives)
Why would we be taught of the ministering of angels and exhorted to seek after them and given direction to detect false spirits?
What is to be gained from communication with angels?
How does that bring us to God? How does that cause us to repent?
How did Adam and Eve or anyone else for that matter gain anything important from communication with angels?
The Prophet Joseph stated,
Nephi declared,"The Hebrew Church "came unto the spirits of just men made perfect, and unto an innumerable company of angels, unto God the Father of all, and to Jesus Christ the mediator of the new covenant." What did they learn by coming to the spirits of just men made perfect? Is it written? No. What they learned has not been and could not have been written. What object was gained by this communication with the spirits of the just? It was the established order of the kingdom of God: The keys of power and knowledge were with them to communicate to the Saints." (Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, p.325)
Who speaks the words of Christ? The angels"Angels speak by the power of the Holy Ghost; wherefore they speak the words of Christ. Wherefore, I said unto you, feast upon the words of Christ; for behold, the words of Christ will tell you all things what ye should do."(2 Nephi 32:3)
Who's words are we to feast on because they will tell us all things what ye should do? The angels who speak Christ's words
"And they who are not sanctified through the law which I have given unto you, even the law of Christ, must inherit another kingdom, even that of a terrestrial kingdom, or that of a telestial kingdom. He who is not able to abide the law of a celestial kingdom cannot abide a celestial glory." (D&C 88:21-22)
The established order of the kingdom of God (the law of Christ, the law which sanctifies), which any individual must have information about and live according to those principles in order to be saved in that kingdom, cannot be communicated mortal to mortal. The Prophet Joseph said they are not written. They must be communicated to the Saints (revealed) by the angels. They are the words of Christ we are to feast upon after entering into the way.
How many times in the scriptures do we read that it could not be written and it was unlawful for man to utter nor were they capable of uttering what they have received from heaven?
Jacob stated"But great and marvelous are the works of the Lord, and the mysteries of his kingdom (the established order of His kingdom, knowledge and power) which he showed unto us, which surpass all understanding in glory, and in might, and in dominion; Which He commanded us we should not write while we were yet in the Spirit, and are not lawful for man to utter; Neither is man capable to make them known, for they are only to be seen and understood by the power of the Holy Spirit, which God bestows on those who love him, and purify themselves before him; To whom he grants this privilege of seeing and knowing for themselves; That through the power and manifestation of the Spirit, while in the flesh (mortal), they may be able to bear his presence in the world of glory."(D&C 76:114-118)
"Behold, great and marvelous are the works of the Lord. How unsearchable are the depths of the mysteries of him; and it is impossible that man should find out all his ways. And no man knoweth of his ways (the established order of His kingdom, knowledge and power) save it be revealed unto him; wherefore, brethren despise not the revelations of God."(Jacob 4:8)
But how does what the angels have to give to good people of firm faith in Christ relate to those good people repenting?
Abraham speaks a little concerning himself at the beginning of the book of Abraham.
The Lord in the D&C states,"...having been myself a follower of righteousness, desiring also to be one who possessed great knowledge, and to be a greater follower of righteousness, and to possess a greater knowledge...and desiring to receive instructions, and to keep the commandments of God, I became a rightful heir,..."(Abraham 1:2)
Do you see a pattern between Abraham and how the Lord said He would prove us herewith?"for he will give unto the faithful line upon line, precept upon precept; and I will try you and prove you herewith"(D&C 98:12)
Now let's apply these things to the meaning of repentance.
The Hebrew word for repentance is "shuv" (I think pronounced shube). In Hebrew it literally means to turn around or face another direction or used in context to turn around and face God.
When an individual voluntarily submits to the will of the Lord in the scriptures are they repenting and turning to face God?
Do they become a follower of righteousness and receive knowledge at this point?
Once God has proven the individual faithful in the line and precept they have received from scripture God will begin to reveal His ways that cannot be written in scripture neither is it lawful for man to utter.
The ways of God or the order of God's kingdom cannot be written remember. Jacob declared that no man knoweth of the ways of the Lord but by revelation.
As an individual responds and follows what they are given by revelation from the angels are they repenting more?
Are they turning even more to face God to follow the established order of His kingdom?
Are they becoming greater followers of righteousness and desiring greater knowledge?
Does this line upon line given by the angels to an individual man, woman, or child prepare them to become a rightful heir?
Aren't they repenting all along the way according to the Hebrew definition because they are ever increasingly facing God until the perfect day when they are allowed in the flesh (mortality), to enter into His presence?
I would invite all to consider the symbolic progression through the endowment. As the true messengers impart a portion of the order of the Kingdom of heaven, knowledge and power, and as those who receive these portions are declared to be true and faithful to those portions, they receive more, line upon line. They begin to be clothed with robes and they are introduced into higher orders even the terrestrial kingdom ("we will now introduce you into the terrestrial world") until they arrive at the veil. The person on the other side represents Christ. Every individual participating in the endowment is given this invitation through symbolism to do what Adam and Eve did.
Now when is this all to be accomplished? Now? Or is this a future expectation after this mortal life?
Now when is this all to be accomplished? Now? Or is this a future expectation after this mortal life?
What article of clothing is put on very first in the endowment?
At what point is that article of clothing put on? At the point where the fall occurs.
At what point is that article of clothing put on? At the point where the fall occurs.
Is that article of clothing ever discarded throughout the endowment even after other articles of clothing are added?
Is every individual wearing that article of clothing when they pass through the veil after proving themselves true and faithful in all things they have received from the true messengers of the Father?
That article of clothing symbolizes mortality and that these things are to be accomplished in mortality, a fallen state.
This is what saving faith in this life leads to.
This is what saving faith in this life leads to.
Remember what the Prophet Joseph declared.
The Book of Mormon contains account after account after account of normal everyday people in mortality exercising faith in Christ until they were taught by angels and then having proven faithful entered into the presence of the Lord. They followed the same pattern taught in the endowment. And they invite us to follow and do likewise that we may not be cut off at the last day."I told the brethren that the Book of Mormon was the most correct of any book on the earth, and the keystone of our religion, and a man would get nearer to God by abiding by its precepts, than by any other book." (Book of Mormon, Introduction page)
The beauty of this process is that it is wholly individual and completely controlled by the Lord who is no respecter of persons and who cannot be deceived.
"O then, my beloved brethren, come unto the Lord, the Holy One. Remember that His paths are righteous. Behold the way for man is narrow, but it lieth in a straight course before him, and the keeper of the gate is the Holy One of Israel; and He employeth no servant there; and there is none other way save it be by the gate; for he cannot be deceived, for the Lord God is his name."(2 Nephi 9:41)
The conclusion of verse 11 states concerning the angels,
"...which bringeth unto the power of the Redeemer, unto the salvation of their souls."
What does it mean to be brought unto the power of the Redeemer? What does that have to do or how is that connected to the salvation of anyone's soul?
Nephi states,
"Behold, this is the doctrine of Christ, and there will be no more doctrine given until after He (Christ) shall manifest himself unto you in the flesh (mortality). And when He (Christ) shall manifest himself unto you in the flesh (mortality), the things which he shall say unto you shall ye observe to do."(2 Nephi 32:6)
This process, the doctrine of Christ, the only way and name given under heaven whereby a man can be saved, is calculated to bring us into the presence of Christ who will introduce us to the Father.
Christ declared,
Joseph taught,"...I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. If ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also; and henceforth ye shall know Him."(John 14:6-7)
I would also invite you to read D&C 130:3"After a person has faith in Christ, and repents of his sins, and is baptized for the remission of sins and receives the Holy Ghost, (by the laying on of hands), which is the first Comforter, then let him continue to humble himself before God, hungering and thirsting after righteousness, and living by every word of God, and the Lord will soon say unto him, Son, thou shalt be exalted. When the Lord has thoroughly proved him, and finds the man is determined to serve Him at all hazards, then the man will find his calling and election made sure, then it will be his privilege to receive the other Comforter, which the Lord promised the Saints as is recorded in the testimony of St. John, in the 14th chapter, from the 12th to the 27th verses....Now what is the other Comforter? It is no more nor less than the Lord Jesus Christ Himself; and this is the sum and substance of the whole matter; than when any man obtains this last Comforter, he will have the personage of Jesus Christ to attend him, or appear unto him from time to time, and even He will manifest the Father unto him, and they will take up their abode with him, and the visions of heaven will be opened unto him, and the Lord will teach him face to face, and he may have a perfect knowledge of the mysteries of the Kingdom of God;..."(Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, 150-151)
When the Brother of Jared was brought through the veil and saw the Lord the Lord declared this unto him,
In Ether 3 the Lord defines redemption from the fall (salvation) as being brought back into His presence (bringing them unto the power of the Redeemer)."...Because thou knowest these things ye are redeemed from the fall; therefore ye are brought back into my presence;..."(Ether 3:13)
This whole process pointed to in Helaman 5:9-11 is what brings us to the point where we have built our foundation upon the rock of our Redeemer, who is Christ, the son of God.
The Lord in Moses declared,
He truly is the rock."...I am Messiah, the King of Zion, the Rock of Heaven, which is broad as eternity; whoso cometh in at the gate and climbeth up by me shall never fall;..."(Moses 7:53)
He stands at the gate for each individual who will enter.
He is the same from all eternity to all eternity.
His ways change not.
He loveth His children.
He inviteth all to come to Him and partake of his goodness; and He denieth none that come unto Him, black and white, bond and free, male and female; and He remembereth the heathen; and all are alike unto God.
Of this I testify in the name of Christ.
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