1 Nephi 2:5-7
And he came down by the borders near the shore of the Red Sea; and he traveled in the wilderness in the borders which are nearer the Red Sea; and he did travel in the wilderness with his family, which consisted of my mother, Sariah, and my elder brothers, who were Laman, Lemuel, and Sam. And it came to pass that when he had traveled three days in the wilderness, he pitched his tent in a valley by the side of a river of water. And it came to pass that he built an altar of stones, and made an offering unto the Lord, and gave thanks unto the Lord our God.
When the children of Israel were wandering in the wilderness before entering into the land of Canaan the Lord gave them a law referred to as the Law of Moses which required them to offer sacrifices according to a strict order and He also commanded them to build a tabernacle.
When the tabernacle was complete there were priests ordained to offer sacrifice unto the Lord.
"And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying, Speak unto Aaron, and unto his sons, and unto all the children of Israel, and say unto them; This is the thing which the Lord hath commanded, saying, What man soever there be of the house of Israel, that killeth and ox, or lamb, or goat, in the camp, or that killeth it out of the camp, and bringeth it not unto the door of the tabernacle of the congregation, to offer an offering unto the Lord before the tabernacle of the Lord; blood shall be imputed unto that man; he hath shed blood; and that man shall be cut off from among his people: To the end that the children of Israel may bring their sacrifices, which they offer in the open field, even that they may bring them unto the Lord, unto the door of the tabernacle of the congregation, unto the priest, and offer them for peace offerings unto the Lord. And the priest shall sprinkle the blood upon the altar of the Lord at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation, and burn the fat for a sweet savor unto the Lord....This shall be a statute for ever unto them throughout their generations." (Leviticus 17:1 - 7)
The Lord established at this point that if any sacrifices were made according to the Law of Moses it had to be done in the proper place (at this time the tabernacle) and the priests were the ones who had authority to sprinkle the blood and burn the fat.
The Lord was clear that if this order was not followed the person violating this order was to be "cut off from among his people."
This is a serious offense. The Lord was not fooling around.
To be cut off from his people at a minimum would entail an excommunication or being cast out from among his people. In other parts of the scriptures this terminology is also used to signify that they would be killed.
This statute was to be observed by the children of Israel "for ever unto them throughout their generations."
When the children of Israel were about to enter into the land of Canaan the Lord commanded them as follows.
"These are the statutes and judgements, which ye shall observe to do in the land, which the Lord God of thy fathers giveth thee to possess it, all the days that ye live upon the earth. Ye shall utterly destroy all the places, wherein the nations which ye shall possess served their gods, upon the high mountains, and upon the hills, and under every green tree: And ye shall overthrow their altars, and break their pillars, and burn their groves with fire; and ye shall hew down the graven images of their gods, and destroy the names of them out of that place. Ye shall not do so unto the Lord your God. But unto the place which the Lord your God shall choose out of all your tribes to put his name there, even unto his habitation shall ye seek, and thither thou shalt come: And thither ye shall bring your burnt offerings, and your sacrifices, and your tithes, and heave offerings of your hand, and your vows, and your freewill offerings, and the firstlings of your herds and of your flocks: And there ye shall eat before the Lord your God, and ye shall rejoice in all that ye put your hands unto, ye and your households, wherein the Lord the God hath blessed thee....But when ye go over Jordan, and dwell in the land which the Lord your God giveth you to inherit, and when he giveth you rest from all your enemies round about, so that ye dwell in safety; then there shall be a place which the Lord your God shall choose to cause his name to dwell there; thither shall ye bring all that I command you; your burnt offerings, and your sacrifices, your tithes, and the heave offerings of your hand, and all your choice vows which ye vow unto the Lord. And ye shall rejoice before the Lord your God, ye, and your sons, and your daughters, and your menservants, and your maidservants, and the Levite that is within your gates; forasmuch as he hath no part nor inheritance with you. Take heed to thyself that thou offer not thy burnt offerings in every place that thou seest." (Deuteronomy 12:1 - 13)
As we read further in this chapter we can see that provision was given for sacrificing in the several cities of Israel until the Lord appointed a place out of all the tribes to put His name there.
The Levites had no land inheritance because their inheritance was the priesthood or right to officiate in the sacrifices and they were to be supported in all of the several cities of Israel by the the sacrifices that were brought before the Lord.
The provision for offering sacrifice in the several cities continued up to the time that the temple built by King Solomon was completed and dedicated.
"Only the people sacrificed in high places, because there was no house built unto the name of the Lord, until those days. And Solomon loved the Lord, walking in the statutes of David his father: only he sacrificed and burnt incense in high places. And the king went to Gibeon to sacrifice there; for there was the great high place: a thousand burnt offerings did Solomon offer upon that altar. In Gibeon the Lord appeared to Solomon in a dream by night:..." (1 Kings 3:2 - 5)
We can see from the record that up to this point offering of sacrifices in one of the high places was acceptable because when Solomon offered sacrifice there the Lord appeared unto him in a dream.
After this time it was only appropriate, according to the statutes the Lord had given to the children of Israel, to offer sacrifice to the Lord in His appointed house or temple under the authority of the duly ordained priests which came from the tribe of Levi.
Those who offered sacrifices in the "high places" or some place outside the temple or without the attending authorized priests were in violation of these statutes unless, as the Lord provided in Deuteronomy 12, they were unable because of distance to come and sacrifice there. But they still had to have the authorized priests officiate.
Even when the Lord was on the earth, He too was strict to observe the statute to offer up sacrifices at the temple. We have no record that He nor those who believed on Him offered sacrifice anywhere else.
One of the reasons the Jews hated the Samaritans so badly at the time the Lord was on the earth, in addition to being of mixed blood, was because they had offered sacrifice upon the high places instead of in the temple. The Jews had cut the Samaritans off from their people.
The Samaritan woman speaking to Jesus, who she knew was a Jew, said,
"Our fathers worshipped in this mountain; and ye say, that in Jerusalem is the place where men ought to worship." (John 4:20)
All of this is put forward to show that what Lehi (who was only three days journey from Jerusalem and was from the tribe of Manasseh; which tribe had no priesthood authority to officiate in offering sacrifice according to the Law of Moses) is doing by building an altar and offering sacrifice to the Lord is exceedingly inappropriate, according to the Lord's own voice.
Lehi is violating the statutes given by the Lord's own voice in a "high place" UNLESS, unless there is something going on here that would be very important for us look at and maybe come to some understanding.
What could be important for our day to learn from Lehi officiating in building an altar to the Lord in a high place and making an offering unto the Lord?
What is Lehi showing us or rather what is Nephi showing us by inscribing in his record concerning his father officiating in a physical ordinance?
We as a group have taken into serious consideration, a principle the Lord declares in the Book of Mormon that is applicable in this situation and we suppose many more.
"Know ye not that there are more nations than one? Know ye not that I, the Lord your God, have created all men, and that I remember those who are upon the isles of the sea; and that I rule in the heavens above and in the earth beneath; and I bring forth my word unto the children of men, yea, even upon all nations of the earth? Wherefore murmur ye, because that ye shall receive more of my word? Know ye not that the testimony of two nations is a witness unto you that I am God, that I remember one nation like unto another? Wherefore, I speak the same words unto one nation like unto another. And when the two nations shall run together the testimony of the two nations shall run together also. And I do this that I may prove unto many that I am the same yesterday, today, and forever; and that I speak forth my words according to mine own pleasure. And because that I have spoken one word ye need not suppose that I can not speak another; for my work is not yet finished; neither shall it be until the end of man, neither from that time henceforth and forever...For I command all men, both in the east and in the west, and in the north, and in the south, and in the islands of the sea, that they shall write the words which I speak unto them;...For behold, I shall speak unto the Jews and they shall write it; and I shall speak unto the Nephites and they shall write it; and I shall also speak unto the other tribes fo the house of Israel, which I have led away, and they shall write it; and I shall also speak unto all nations of the earth and they shall write it." (2 Nephi 29:7 - 12)
According to the Lord's own words, He is able to speak His words, which we consider also means that He is able to do a work, among many peoples independently and simultaneously.
Just because He has spoken to one people does not mean that He cannot nor will not speak to another people as well.
As Gentiles we are arrogant.
We assume that if the Lord is talking to us He cannot nor will not speak to or do a work with another group of people.
Just like the Jews, we as Gentiles, consider that whatever the Lord has given to us that is all that there is for Him to give.
We consider that we are preeminent in His sight and we cannot nor will not fail to be faithful to Him because we have it all. (Just like the Jews)
We declare that if anyone is going to get anything from the Lord it has to come through us. (Just like the Jews)
Lehi's experience is just one of many examples that the Lord can and does speak to and perform a work with independent people and nations and He can and will do so right in the midst of His words and work with another people.
Even though the Lord led Lehi out of Jerusalem He did not cease to send prophets and invite those in the Holy Land to repent and return to Christ.
The Lord simultaneously did a work and sent His words to Lehi and his family as well as to the Jews.
Among how many kindreds and nations and peoples in the north and in the south and in the east and in the west has and does the Lord now do a work and send His words?
Is the Lord capable of doing many works on the earth simultaneously, even now, that we do not know of?
We believe that when all of the records are brought together from the many many nations the Lord has spoken to, where He has accomplished a work, we will all be astounded at our ignorance of the ability of the Lord to speak to and work among all men simultaneously.
We believe that one of the failings of any group of people that can and does contribute to their apostacy from the Lord is their insistance that they possess all that the Lord can and will give to any people and no one else can or does possess what the Lord has to give.
Therefore, they are special and better than all others and if anyone desires to approach the Lord they must do so through them.
Another principle we must look at in this situation with Lehi is authority.
How does one obtain authority to officiate in ordinances that the Lord has established for the learning and blessing of His children on the earth.
The scriptures are very clear that in order for ordinances to be attended to in righteousness before God, so that they do not prove a cursing, the individuals performing the ordinances must be properly authorized by God to perform them.
How does that happen?
Also, once the authority is given how can that authority be perpetuated?
Lastly, even with authority present does that guarantee that there will be power present from heaven for the ordinance to valid before God?
We have studied all of these things as a group and as this post would be way to long if I shared some of the things we have studied right now I will wait to share on this subject until the next post.
Saturday, February 23, 2019
Saturday, February 16, 2019
God's Mighty Power to Deliver
1 Nephi 1:20 - 1 Nephi 2:4
And when the Jews heard these things they were angry with him; yea, even as with the prophets of old, whom they had cast out, and stoned, and slain; and they also sought his life, that they might take it away. But behold, I, Nephi will show unto you that the tender mercies of the Lord are over all those whom he hath chosen, because of their faith, to make them mighty even unto the power of deliverance. For behold, it came to pass that the Lord spake unto my father, yea, even in a dream, and said unto him; Blessed art thou Lehi, because of the things which thou hast done; and because thou hast been faithful and declared unto this people the things, which I commanded thee, behold they seek to take away thy life. And it came to pass that the Lord commanded my father, even in a dream, that he should take his family and depart into the wilderness And it came to pass that he was obedient unto the word of the Lord, wherefore he did as the Lord commanded him. And it came to pass that he departed into the wilderness. And he left his house, and the land of his inheritance, and his gold, and his silver, and his precious things, and took nothing with him, save it were his family, and provisions, and tents, and departed into the wilderness.
As a group we have studied the Lectures on Faith together.
We believe that the Lectures on Faith were prepared by the Prophet Joseph to teach any believing individual “how great things” the Lord can and will accomplish for and through any individual who will rise up and exercise faith unshaken.
We believe that when the 1835 Doctrine and Covenants was sustained by the members of Church of Jesus Christ as scripture that the Lectures on Faith constituted the “Doctrine” accepted by those who sought to approach the Lord.
Lehi is a marvelous example of the application of the doctrine taught in the Lectures on Faith.
We will only be able to look at one part of the Lectures as it applies to Lehi in this post but we, as a group, would encourage everyone to seriously and prayerfully study and apply the doctrine in the Lectures on Faith in order to be able to walk the same path that Lehi walked.
To begin:
The record states that the Jews, “sought his (Lehi’s) life, that they might take it away.”
Lehi has already lost any reputation he might have had among the people because he had testified to them of their wickedness and abominations which caused them to “mock” him. He was crazy in their eyes.
Now because of his witness of Christ, Lehi’s very life is on the line.
Do we read of Lehi backpedalling or acquiescing or ceasing to speak what the Lord commanded him to speak?
Do we read of Lehi, of his own desire, preparing to leave and get out to save his own life?
If Lehi lost his reputation could that have affected other areas of his life like his livelihood?
Could Lehi have lost the association of friends and neighbors and even the love and association of family?
The principles taught in the Lectures on Faith give us an understanding of what Lehi is going through here.
“Let us here observe that three things are necessary in order that any rational and intelligent being may exercise faith in God unto life and salvation. First, the idea that he actually exists. Secondly, a correct idea of his character, perfections, and attributes. Thirdly, an actual knowledge that the course of life which he is pursuing is according to His will. For without an acquaintance with these three important facts, the faith of every rational being must be imperfect and unproductive, but with this understanding it can become perfect and fruitful, abounding in righteousness unto the praise and glory of God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.” (Lectures on Faith, “Lecture Second,” pars. 2-5)
In the previous posts we touched very briefly on the fact that Lehi had an idea that God actually exists and we talked about how Lehi came to have a correct idea of God’s character, perfections, and attributes.
Now we will treat Lehi’s actual knowledge that the course of life which he was pursuing was according to God’s will.
The Lectures on Faith, “Lecture Sixth” teaches the following.
“An actual knowledge to any person that the course of life which he is pursues is according to the will of God is essentially necessary to enable him to have that confidence in God, without which no person can obtain Eternal life.”
This is astounding! If an individual does not possess this knowledge they cannot have Eternal life.
How does one obtain such knowledge?
“It was this that enabled the ancient saints to endure all their afflictions and persecutions and to take joyfully the spoiling of their goods, knowing (not believing merely) that they had a more enduring substance. Heb. 10:34 [Heb.1:34]”
This is beginning to get a little uncomfortable because now the Prophet Joseph is associating this “knowledge” or “knowing” with persecutions and the spoiling of goods.
“Having the assurance that they were pursuing a course which was agreeable to the will of God, they were enabled to take not only the spoiling of their goods and the wasting of their substance joyfully, but also to suffer death in its most horrid forms, knowing (not merely believing) that when this earthly house of their tabernacle was dissolved, they had a building of God, a house not made with hands, Eternal in the heavens. 2 Corinthians 5:1 [2Cor.1:15]”
This is getting worse! Now he is associating this “knowing” with death in all its horrid forms.
What about observance of religious rituals and ordinances?
Don’t they guarantee us “knowledge” of our course of life before God?
Why is this “knowledge” associated with persecution and death? That is all so negative. Surely that can’t come from God because it doesn’t make me “feel” good. It puts me below my peers because they make fun of me and persecute me.
Now, obtaining this “knowledge” by observance of religious rituals and ordinances, that would be much easier for me; much more positive. That would make me “feel” good. That would give me a higher standing than my peers. That would put me above them.
I could pray, “thou hast elected us (me) to be thy holy children (child); …thou hast elected us (me) that we (I) shall be saved, whilst all around us (me)are elected to be cast by thy wrath down to hell; for which holiness, O God, we (I) thank thee;…” (Alma 31:16 – 17)
To our little group it would appear that Joseph is talking about much more than participation in religious rituals and ordinances to gain this “knowledge”.
“Such was and always will be the situation of the saints of God, that unless they have an actual knowledge that the course that they are pursuing is according to the will of God, they will grow weary in their minds and faint, for such has been and always will be the opposition in the hearts of unbelievers and those that know not God, against the pure and unadulterated religion of heaven (the only thing which ensures Eternal life), that they will persecute to the uttermost all that worship God according to his revelations, receive the truth in the love of it, and submit themselves to be guided and directed by his will, and drive them to such extremities that nothing short of an actual knowledge of their being the favorites of heaven and of their having embraced that order of things which God has established for the redemption of man, will enable them to exercise that confidence in him necessary for them to overcome the world and obtain that crown of glory which is laid up for them that fear God.”
If I am practicing the pure and unadulterated religion of heaven what can I expect from this world?
Can I expect to receive worldly acclaim?
And when the Jews heard these things they were angry with him; yea, even as with the prophets of old, whom they had cast out, and stoned, and slain; and they also sought his life, that they might take it away. But behold, I, Nephi will show unto you that the tender mercies of the Lord are over all those whom he hath chosen, because of their faith, to make them mighty even unto the power of deliverance. For behold, it came to pass that the Lord spake unto my father, yea, even in a dream, and said unto him; Blessed art thou Lehi, because of the things which thou hast done; and because thou hast been faithful and declared unto this people the things, which I commanded thee, behold they seek to take away thy life. And it came to pass that the Lord commanded my father, even in a dream, that he should take his family and depart into the wilderness And it came to pass that he was obedient unto the word of the Lord, wherefore he did as the Lord commanded him. And it came to pass that he departed into the wilderness. And he left his house, and the land of his inheritance, and his gold, and his silver, and his precious things, and took nothing with him, save it were his family, and provisions, and tents, and departed into the wilderness.
As a group we have studied the Lectures on Faith together.
We believe that the Lectures on Faith were prepared by the Prophet Joseph to teach any believing individual “how great things” the Lord can and will accomplish for and through any individual who will rise up and exercise faith unshaken.
We believe that when the 1835 Doctrine and Covenants was sustained by the members of Church of Jesus Christ as scripture that the Lectures on Faith constituted the “Doctrine” accepted by those who sought to approach the Lord.
Lehi is a marvelous example of the application of the doctrine taught in the Lectures on Faith.
We will only be able to look at one part of the Lectures as it applies to Lehi in this post but we, as a group, would encourage everyone to seriously and prayerfully study and apply the doctrine in the Lectures on Faith in order to be able to walk the same path that Lehi walked.
To begin:
The record states that the Jews, “sought his (Lehi’s) life, that they might take it away.”
Lehi has already lost any reputation he might have had among the people because he had testified to them of their wickedness and abominations which caused them to “mock” him. He was crazy in their eyes.
Now because of his witness of Christ, Lehi’s very life is on the line.
Do we read of Lehi backpedalling or acquiescing or ceasing to speak what the Lord commanded him to speak?
Do we read of Lehi, of his own desire, preparing to leave and get out to save his own life?
If Lehi lost his reputation could that have affected other areas of his life like his livelihood?
Could Lehi have lost the association of friends and neighbors and even the love and association of family?
The principles taught in the Lectures on Faith give us an understanding of what Lehi is going through here.
“Let us here observe that three things are necessary in order that any rational and intelligent being may exercise faith in God unto life and salvation. First, the idea that he actually exists. Secondly, a correct idea of his character, perfections, and attributes. Thirdly, an actual knowledge that the course of life which he is pursuing is according to His will. For without an acquaintance with these three important facts, the faith of every rational being must be imperfect and unproductive, but with this understanding it can become perfect and fruitful, abounding in righteousness unto the praise and glory of God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.” (Lectures on Faith, “Lecture Second,” pars. 2-5)
In the previous posts we touched very briefly on the fact that Lehi had an idea that God actually exists and we talked about how Lehi came to have a correct idea of God’s character, perfections, and attributes.
Now we will treat Lehi’s actual knowledge that the course of life which he was pursuing was according to God’s will.
The Lectures on Faith, “Lecture Sixth” teaches the following.
“An actual knowledge to any person that the course of life which he is pursues is according to the will of God is essentially necessary to enable him to have that confidence in God, without which no person can obtain Eternal life.”
This is astounding! If an individual does not possess this knowledge they cannot have Eternal life.
That is a very sobering thing to hear.
How does one obtain such knowledge?
“It was this that enabled the ancient saints to endure all their afflictions and persecutions and to take joyfully the spoiling of their goods, knowing (not believing merely) that they had a more enduring substance. Heb. 10:34 [Heb.1:34]”
This is beginning to get a little uncomfortable because now the Prophet Joseph is associating this “knowledge” or “knowing” with persecutions and the spoiling of goods.
“Having the assurance that they were pursuing a course which was agreeable to the will of God, they were enabled to take not only the spoiling of their goods and the wasting of their substance joyfully, but also to suffer death in its most horrid forms, knowing (not merely believing) that when this earthly house of their tabernacle was dissolved, they had a building of God, a house not made with hands, Eternal in the heavens. 2 Corinthians 5:1 [2Cor.1:15]”
This is getting worse! Now he is associating this “knowing” with death in all its horrid forms.
What about observance of religious rituals and ordinances?
Don’t they guarantee us “knowledge” of our course of life before God?
Why is this “knowledge” associated with persecution and death? That is all so negative. Surely that can’t come from God because it doesn’t make me “feel” good. It puts me below my peers because they make fun of me and persecute me.
Now, obtaining this “knowledge” by observance of religious rituals and ordinances, that would be much easier for me; much more positive. That would make me “feel” good. That would give me a higher standing than my peers. That would put me above them.
I could pray, “thou hast elected us (me) to be thy holy children (child); …thou hast elected us (me) that we (I) shall be saved, whilst all around us (me)are elected to be cast by thy wrath down to hell; for which holiness, O God, we (I) thank thee;…” (Alma 31:16 – 17)
To our little group it would appear that Joseph is talking about much more than participation in religious rituals and ordinances to gain this “knowledge”.
“Such was and always will be the situation of the saints of God, that unless they have an actual knowledge that the course that they are pursuing is according to the will of God, they will grow weary in their minds and faint, for such has been and always will be the opposition in the hearts of unbelievers and those that know not God, against the pure and unadulterated religion of heaven (the only thing which ensures Eternal life), that they will persecute to the uttermost all that worship God according to his revelations, receive the truth in the love of it, and submit themselves to be guided and directed by his will, and drive them to such extremities that nothing short of an actual knowledge of their being the favorites of heaven and of their having embraced that order of things which God has established for the redemption of man, will enable them to exercise that confidence in him necessary for them to overcome the world and obtain that crown of glory which is laid up for them that fear God.”
If I am practicing the pure and unadulterated religion of heaven what can I expect from this world?
Can I expect to receive worldly acclaim?
Can I expect that this world will love me and point out my successes and seek to associate with me?
If I worship God according to His revelations, receive the truth in the love of it, and submit myself to be guided and directed by His will, if I embrace that order of things God has established for the redemption of man, what will always be my situation in this world?
“For a man to lay down his all, his character and reputation, his honor and applause, his good name among men, his houses, his lands, his brothers and sisters, his wife and children, and even his own life also, counting all things but filth and dross for the excellency of the knowledge of Jesus Christ, requires more than mere belief, or supposition that he is doing the will of God, but actual knowledge realizing that when these sufferings are ended he will enter into Eternal rest and be a partaker of the glory of God.”
Is Lehi doing any of these things?
Is he laying down his character, reputation, honor, applause, his good name among men, part of his family?
Is he willing to lay down his own life?
Will he be laying down his house and lands?
What then can we reasonably suppose that he will receive when these sufferings are ended?
“For unless a person does know that he is walking according to the will of God, it would be offering an insult to the dignity of the Creator were he to say that he would be a partaker of His glory when he should be done with the things of this life.”
If I declare that by virtue of participating in religious rituals or ordinances that I will be a partaker of His glory when I am done the things of this life am I offering an insult to the dignity of the Creator?
We believe that religious ordinances and rituals were originally established by God so that we could receive important symbols to teach us of the reality of things we must receive from heaven in order to embrace the redemption God has prepared for man.
If I worship God according to His revelations, receive the truth in the love of it, and submit myself to be guided and directed by His will, if I embrace that order of things God has established for the redemption of man, what will always be my situation in this world?
“For a man to lay down his all, his character and reputation, his honor and applause, his good name among men, his houses, his lands, his brothers and sisters, his wife and children, and even his own life also, counting all things but filth and dross for the excellency of the knowledge of Jesus Christ, requires more than mere belief, or supposition that he is doing the will of God, but actual knowledge realizing that when these sufferings are ended he will enter into Eternal rest and be a partaker of the glory of God.”
Is Lehi doing any of these things?
Is he laying down his character, reputation, honor, applause, his good name among men, part of his family?
Is he willing to lay down his own life?
Will he be laying down his house and lands?
What then can we reasonably suppose that he will receive when these sufferings are ended?
“For unless a person does know that he is walking according to the will of God, it would be offering an insult to the dignity of the Creator were he to say that he would be a partaker of His glory when he should be done with the things of this life.”
If I declare that by virtue of participating in religious rituals or ordinances that I will be a partaker of His glory when I am done the things of this life am I offering an insult to the dignity of the Creator?
We believe that religious ordinances and rituals were originally established by God so that we could receive important symbols to teach us of the reality of things we must receive from heaven in order to embrace the redemption God has prepared for man.
We believe that these ordinances should not be altered or they lose any power to teach about the realities that they symbolize.
We do not believe that these ordinances and rituals are in any way an end in themselves.
“Let us here observe that a religion that does not require the sacrifice of all things never has power sufficient to produce the faith necessary unto life and salvation. For from the first existence of man, faith necessary unto the enjoyment of life and salvation never could be obtained without the sacrifice of all earthly things: it was through this sacrifice, and this only, that God has ordained that men should enjoy Eternal life, and it is through the medium of the sacrifice of all earthly things that men do actually know that they are doing the things that are well pleasing in the sight of God.”
This appears to settle the issue.
If I desire to have faith necessary unto life and salvation then I must expect that at some point God will ordain situations for me in which I will be required to sacrifice all earthly things.
Abraham was laid on the altar himself for the truth’s sake and then he had to lay his own son on the altar.
It would appear from that that God may require such sacrifices more than once.
Lehi is being asked to sacrifice every earthly thing for the truth’s sake.
It is only by having the situations arrive where God requires such sacrifice (all earthly things) from me that I may know that my life is being lived by me according to His will; that I am doing the things that are well pleasing in His sight.
We do not believe that these ordinances and rituals are in any way an end in themselves.
“Let us here observe that a religion that does not require the sacrifice of all things never has power sufficient to produce the faith necessary unto life and salvation. For from the first existence of man, faith necessary unto the enjoyment of life and salvation never could be obtained without the sacrifice of all earthly things: it was through this sacrifice, and this only, that God has ordained that men should enjoy Eternal life, and it is through the medium of the sacrifice of all earthly things that men do actually know that they are doing the things that are well pleasing in the sight of God.”
This appears to settle the issue.
If I desire to have faith necessary unto life and salvation then I must expect that at some point God will ordain situations for me in which I will be required to sacrifice all earthly things.
Abraham was laid on the altar himself for the truth’s sake and then he had to lay his own son on the altar.
It would appear from that that God may require such sacrifices more than once.
Lehi is being asked to sacrifice every earthly thing for the truth’s sake.
It is only by having the situations arrive where God requires such sacrifice (all earthly things) from me that I may know that my life is being lived by me according to His will; that I am doing the things that are well pleasing in His sight.
Because if my life is being lived according to His will He will require such sacrifice from me.
“When a man has offered in sacrifice all that he has for the truth’s sake, not even withholding his life, and believing before God that he has been called to make this sacrifice because he seeks to do His will, he does know most assuredly that God does and will accept his sacrifice & offering, and that he has not now will not seek his face in vain. Under these circumstances, then, he can obtain the faith necessary for him to lay hold on Eternal life.”
If we truly live the pure and unadulterated religion of heaven, the "god of this world" always has and always will cause the unbelieving to persecute us.
This will naturally, eventually lead to the sacrifice of all earthly things in order to continue to live that pure religion.
God will allow the persecution to bring about the necessity of sacrifice, thereby proving our faithfulness to Him and not to this world.
“When a man has offered in sacrifice all that he has for the truth’s sake, not even withholding his life, and believing before God that he has been called to make this sacrifice because he seeks to do His will, he does know most assuredly that God does and will accept his sacrifice & offering, and that he has not now will not seek his face in vain. Under these circumstances, then, he can obtain the faith necessary for him to lay hold on Eternal life.”
If we truly live the pure and unadulterated religion of heaven, the "god of this world" always has and always will cause the unbelieving to persecute us.
This will naturally, eventually lead to the sacrifice of all earthly things in order to continue to live that pure religion.
God will allow the persecution to bring about the necessity of sacrifice, thereby proving our faithfulness to Him and not to this world.
This is what has been ordained from the beginning.
It is the only way to fruitfully seek the face of God and obtain faith necessary to lay hold on Eternal life.
This is the path Lehi is following.
"It is vain for persons to fancy to themselves that they are heirs with those, or can be heirs with them, who have offered their all in sacrifice and by this means obtained faith in God and favor with him so as to obtain Eternal life, unless they in like manner offer unto Him the same sacrifice, and through that offering obtain the knowledge that they are accepted of him...And in the last days before the Lord comes, he is to gather together His saints who have made a covenant with Him by sacrifice.
It is only through offering this sacrifice that I may be gathered in the last days with those who are His saints.
God's covenant with those who are His saints will come because they have offered this sacrifice.
It comes in no other way.
The record continues.
It is the only way to fruitfully seek the face of God and obtain faith necessary to lay hold on Eternal life.
This is the path Lehi is following.
"It is vain for persons to fancy to themselves that they are heirs with those, or can be heirs with them, who have offered their all in sacrifice and by this means obtained faith in God and favor with him so as to obtain Eternal life, unless they in like manner offer unto Him the same sacrifice, and through that offering obtain the knowledge that they are accepted of him...And in the last days before the Lord comes, he is to gather together His saints who have made a covenant with Him by sacrifice.
It is only through offering this sacrifice that I may be gathered in the last days with those who are His saints.
God's covenant with those who are His saints will come because they have offered this sacrifice.
It comes in no other way.
The record continues.
"But behold, I, Nephi, will show unto you that the tender mercies of the Lord are over those whom he hath chosen, because of their faith, to make them mighty even unto the power of deliverance." (1 Nephi 1:20)
This is interesting.
We have talked about being "chosen" before.
We came to an understanding that those who had heard the call, which are many, but were not "chosen", which are few; they were not chosen, "Because their hearts are set so much upon the things of this world and aspire to the honors of men." (D&C 121:34 - 35)
Now we see clearly that those who are "chosen" are so designated because of their faith, as Nephi declared.
And in order to obtain faith one must be willing to sacrifice all the honors of men and all the things of this world.
This is incredible!
The Book of Mormon is teaching us things that were taught by the Prophet Joseph.
We talked a little bit before about "deliverance" as we talked about "perishing" in the post The Language of Lehi's Praising conclusion.
We are about to be given an example of mighty deliverance temporaly but we believe this declaration applies to much much more.
Lehi's mighty deliverance comes in heeding the words of the Lord in a dream telling him to leave.
What!!!???
A dream, telling him to leave is mighty deliverance?
Not only that!!!
He has to leave everything behind!!!?
How in the hell is this "deliverance" let alone "mighty deliverance"!!:(?
Lehi is not even vindicated in the eyes of his countrymen!
His legacy is destroyed! It possible that to his fellow Jews it appears that this mad man has slinked away in shame and cowardice.
Do we have any other examples in the Book of Mormon of this type of "deliverance?"
"And it came to pass that the Lord did warn me, that I, Nephi, should depart from them and flee into the wilderness, and all those who would go with me. Wherefore, it came to pass that I, Nephi, did take my family, and also Zoram and his family, and Sam, mine elder brother and his family, and Jacob and Joseph, my younger brethren, and also my sisters, and all those who would go with me were those who believed in the warnings and the revelations of God; wherefore, they did hearken unto my words. And we did take our tents and whatsoever things were possible for us, and did journey in the wilderness for the space of many days."(2 Nephi 5:6 - 7)
"Behold, I am Amaleki, the son of Abinadom. Behold, I will speak unto you somewhat concerning Mosiah, who was made king over the land of Zarahemla; for behold, he being warned of the Lord that he should flee out of the land of Nephi, and as many as would hearken unto the voice of the Lord should also depart out of the land with him, into the wilderness -- And it came to pass that he did according as the Lord had commanded him. And they departed out of the land into the wilderness..." (Omni 1:12 - 13)
"And it came to pass that Alma and the people of the Lord were apprised of the coming of the king's army; therefore they took their tents and their families and departed into the wilderness."(Mosiah 18:34)
There are more examples of this type of deliverance in the Book of Mormon but here are three that match Lehi's deliverance.
These examples are cited to show a pattern.
God's mighty deliverance of those who have exceeding faith involves leaving, not fighting. (A full discussion of this is a post for a future time.)
God's mighty deliverance is considered failure in a worldly sense.
God's mighty deliverance requires that sacrifice be made.
Let's take the last first.
"And it came to pass that he departed into the wilderness. And he left his house, and the land of his inheritance, and his gold, and his silver, and his precious things, and took nothing with him, save it were his family, and provisions, and tents, and departed into the wilderness." (2Nephi 2:4)
Lehi sacrificed everything worldly to obtain mighty deliverance. So did those who were delivered in the other examples.
The greatest act of God's deliverance of mankind required the infinite sacrifice of the Lord.
The Lord sacrificed infinitely to bring this deliverance about.
Lehi's mighty deliverance would not be viewed by the world as deliverance at all. It would be considered a cowardly shameful retreat.
How many times has mighty deliverance by God been viewed as failure by the world?
"And, behold, two of them went that same day to a village called Emmaus, which was from Jerusalem about threescore furlongs. And they talked together of all these things which had happened. And it came to pass, that, while they communed together and reasoned, Jesus himself drew near, and went with them. But their eyes were holden that they should not know him. And he said unto them, What manner of communications are these that ye have one with another, as ye walk and are sad? And the one of them, whose name was Cleopas, answering said unto him, Art thous only a stranger in Jerusalem, and hast not known the things which are come to pass there in these days? And he said unto them, What things? And they said unto him, Concering Jesus of Nazareth, which was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people: And how the chief priests and our rulers delivered him to be condemned to death, and have crucified him. But we trusted that it had been he which should have redeemed Israel: and beside all this, today is the third day since these things were done. Yea, and certain women also of our company made us astonished, which were early at the sepulchre; And when they found not his body, they came, saying, that they had also seen a vision of angels, which said that he was alive...Then he said unto them, O fools, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken: Ought not Christ to have suffered these things, and to enter into his glory? And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself." (Luke 24:13 - 27)
Because of traditions, even these two who believed on Christ could not see the Lord's death as anything but failure to redeem Israel.
The Lord had to open the scriptures to show them that He had completed the victory.
To the world the Lord was a failure.
He was crucified and humiliated in the most public way possible so that no one entering or leaving Jerusalem could have missed seeing what they thought was a result of the Lord's folly.
Even this greatest and most powerful deliverance of man by God was viewed by the world at large as a complete and utter failure.
When God sets about delivering those who excercise exceeding great faith the scriptures show that He does so in a way that those trusting in Him never need to fight their enemies.
We have the above examples and many many more in scripture.
When Enoch and his people established Zion they had no need to fight their enemies either.
"And so great was the faith of Enoch that he led the people of God, and their enemies came to battle against them; and he spake the word of the Lord, and the earth trembled, and the mountains fled, even according to his command; and the rivers of water were turned out of their course; and the roar of the lion was heard out of the wilderness; and all nations feared greatly, so powerful was the word of Enoch, and so great was the power of the language which God had given him." (Moses 7:13)
Why would this be?
We even see among the converted Lamanites who had made a covenant with God that they were not called upon to fight. They even died to avoid fighting; which willing sacrifice caused that many of their enemies repented and were converted.
Does the Lord want a warlike people?
Wouldn't He prefer to protect those who exercise great faith in Him or allow them, like the converted Lamanites, to come home to Him?
We believe that this experience of Lehi or the experience of the converted Lamanites is what the Lord would desire.
We believe that God would prefer that there be no bloodshed among His children, the inhabitants of the earth.
"And Enoch said unto the Lord: How is it that thou canst weep seeing thou art holy, and from all eternity to all eternity?...The Lord said unto Enoch: Behold these thy brethren; they are the workmanship of mine own hands, and I gave them their knowledge, in the day I created them; and in the Garden of Eden gave I unto man hsi agency; And unto thy brethren have I said, and also given commandment, that they should love one another, and that they should choose me, their Father; but behold, they are without affection, and they hate their own flesh." (Moses 7:29 - 33)
Even at the beginning when Moses, at the command of God, led the nations of Israel from Egypt did the children of Israel have to fight the Egyptians?
After the children of Israel had provoked the Lord at Sinai did that change?
From that time were the children of Israel exposed to war and death?
Were there many times in the Book of Mormon where there were righteous people among the Nephites but as a whole they did not possess exceeding faith and so they were also exposed to war and death?
The temporal deliverance of Lehi and his family shows that through small, simple and peaceful means the Lord brings about great things.
In 1831 the Lord declared throught the Prophet Joseph,
"Go ye out from Babylon, Be ye clean that bear the vessels of the Lord...Yea, verily I say unto you again the time has come when the voice of the Lord is unto you: Go ye out of Babylon; gather ye out from among the nations, from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other...Go ye out from among the nations, even from Babylon, from the midst of wickedness, which is spiritual Babylon. But verily, thus saith the Lord, let not your flight be in haste, but let all things be prepared before you; and he that goeth, let him not look back lest sudden destruction shall come upon him." (D&C 133:5 - 15)
Is it important that three times in the above revelation the Lord urges us to leave Babylon?
Is this the voice of the Lord to any who will listen to depart, just like Lehi was commanded to depart?
If we begin the journey to depart Babylon, what will happen to us if we dilly dally or turn back?
The Lord declared,
"...No man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God." (Luke 9:62)
We believe that at some point, in the Lord's wisdom, He will physically lead a group of meek, repentant, humble followers, as diminutive in size as that group may be, out from among everyone else to a city of peace.
"Behold, I say unto you, the redemption of Zion must needs needs come by power; Therefore I will raise up unto my people a man, who shall lead them like as Moses led the children of Israel. For ye are the children of Israel, and of the seed of Abraham, and ye must needs be led out of bondage by power, and with a stretched out arm. And as your fathers were led at the first, even so shall the redemption of Zion be. Therefore, let not your hearts faint, for I say not unto you as I said unto your fathers; Mine angel shall go up before you, but not my presence. But I say unto you: Mine angels shall go up before you, and also my presence, and in time ye shall possess the goodly land." (D&C 103:15 - 20)
Will that group have already departed Babylon before being led out?
Will that group already have sacrificed all things in order to be designated as "chosen", to be led out from the nations?
Will they be led out peacefully?
Will the world look upon their physical deliverance and say "Wow that was amazing?"
Will they be led out posing no threat to those around them just like Lehi when he was led out?
Will this group of people come unto God even the Father because they have hearkened to the voice of the Spirit?
Will the Father teach them of the covenant and confirm and renew it upon them, each of them, for their sakes and for the sake of the whole world?
Is God still able to make those whom He has chosen because of their faith mighty even unto the power of deliverance?
In 1831 the Lord declared throught the Prophet Joseph,
"Go ye out from Babylon, Be ye clean that bear the vessels of the Lord...Yea, verily I say unto you again the time has come when the voice of the Lord is unto you: Go ye out of Babylon; gather ye out from among the nations, from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other...Go ye out from among the nations, even from Babylon, from the midst of wickedness, which is spiritual Babylon. But verily, thus saith the Lord, let not your flight be in haste, but let all things be prepared before you; and he that goeth, let him not look back lest sudden destruction shall come upon him." (D&C 133:5 - 15)
Is it important that three times in the above revelation the Lord urges us to leave Babylon?
Is this the voice of the Lord to any who will listen to depart, just like Lehi was commanded to depart?
If we begin the journey to depart Babylon, what will happen to us if we dilly dally or turn back?
The Lord declared,
"...No man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God." (Luke 9:62)
We believe that at some point, in the Lord's wisdom, He will physically lead a group of meek, repentant, humble followers, as diminutive in size as that group may be, out from among everyone else to a city of peace.
"Behold, I say unto you, the redemption of Zion must needs needs come by power; Therefore I will raise up unto my people a man, who shall lead them like as Moses led the children of Israel. For ye are the children of Israel, and of the seed of Abraham, and ye must needs be led out of bondage by power, and with a stretched out arm. And as your fathers were led at the first, even so shall the redemption of Zion be. Therefore, let not your hearts faint, for I say not unto you as I said unto your fathers; Mine angel shall go up before you, but not my presence. But I say unto you: Mine angels shall go up before you, and also my presence, and in time ye shall possess the goodly land." (D&C 103:15 - 20)
Will that group have already departed Babylon before being led out?
Will that group already have sacrificed all things in order to be designated as "chosen", to be led out from the nations?
Will they be led out peacefully?
Will the world look upon their physical deliverance and say "Wow that was amazing?"
Will they be led out posing no threat to those around them just like Lehi when he was led out?
Will this group of people come unto God even the Father because they have hearkened to the voice of the Spirit?
Will the Father teach them of the covenant and confirm and renew it upon them, each of them, for their sakes and for the sake of the whole world?
Is God still able to make those whom He has chosen because of their faith mighty even unto the power of deliverance?
Saturday, February 9, 2019
One of the Many Prophets that Came
1 Nephi 1:18 - 20
"Therefore, I would that ye should know, that after the Lord had shown so many marvelous things unto my father, Lehi, yea, concerning the destruction of Jerusalem, behold he went forth among the people, and began to prophesy and to declare unto them concerning the things which he had both seen and heard. And it came to pass that the Jews did mock him because of the things which he testified of them; for he truly testified of their wickedness and their abominations; and he testified that the things which he read in the book, manifested plainly of the coming of a Messiah, and also the redemption of the world. And when the Jews heard these things they were angry with him; yea, even as with the prophets old, whom they had cast out, and stoned, and slain; and they also sought his life, that they might take it away.
It is apparent from what the Book of Mormon states that Lehi was not, previous to this time, a "prophet" or even considered an authority among the people of Jerusalem because the record states that Lehi, "began to prophesy and to declare unto them concerning the things which he had both seen and heard."
He began here to prophesy to them. He was not continuing his prophesying from before.
Here again is the Lord's pattern in Lehi.
"Behold I sent you out to testify and warn the people, and it becometh every man who hath been warned to warn his neighbor." (D&C 88:81)
Lehi has been sent, having been given his message from the Lord, to warn his neighbors.
This is the pattern of all true prophets; they come into the presence of the Lord and of God the Father and they recieve His words and His promises from His own mouth; they are warned so to speak.
God, who loves all of the inhabitants on the earth, then sends these "warned" individuals to "warn" their neighbors; they are sent to deliver a specific message from God. (We talked about this at length in the post, "There Came Many Prophets.")
This message invites all to repent and come unto Christ who is mighty to save.
This message must necessarily point out that those who are receiving it are out of the right way; they have apostatised from the words of God and they are committing wickedness and practicing abominations.
Just like Alma the younger and king Benjamin's people, one would feel convicted and desire to cry out at hearing such a message.
" 'And if they be evil they are consigned to an awful view of their own guilt and abominations, which doth cause them to shrink from the presence of the Lord into a state of misery and endless torment, from whence they can not more return; therefore the have drunk damnation to their own souls.'
The angel now transitions the message to King Benjamin forward to the time of the final judgment. In that setting he suggests a scene of the unrepentant. Before looking at the words, however, why do you suppose the description is from the vantage point of the damned? Why not from the vantage point of the saved? The final three verses of the message are all viewed from failure, rather than from success. Why?
Is this "negative?"
Does this make you think the angel is offensive? He doesn't "have the Spirit" with him? That you "don't get a good feeling" when you listen to his words?
Do you think the angel should be ignored because he makes you "feel bad" by the things he speaks? Would you prefer to hear a "more positive message" Things like this just "can't be from God" because of how they make you "feel?"
If this is an angel from God speaking, and the above questions reflect your attitude about a message warning you to repent, then perhaps it is your attitude that is wrong - not the angel or his message. Perhaps the annoyance of being awakened from your deep sleep is worth the angel telling you in unmistakable and harsh terms that you are about to be lost if you do not repent. Perhaps the angel would prefer to deliver a hopeful, even lighthearted message, but the words originate from God. God's efforts are to bring you to immortality and eternal life. (Moses 1:39) Maybe God has a better view of our awful state than do we.
The angel speaks in terms of:
-"consigned to an awful view"
What does this suggest? What would be "awful" about failing to repent? Why is it a "view?"
What will we "see" in that day?
-"own guilt and abominations"
Why guilt? What "abominations" attach to every soul who does not repent? Why is religious error, pride in believing falsehoods, and failure to repent always an "abomination?"
-"doth cause them to shrink"
Isn't this the same agony Christ experienced in Gethsemany? (D&C 19:18) Why would you "shrink" from the presence of God? What does "shrink" mean?
-"into a state of misery"
Why would you want to withdraw into a state of misery? What is it about failing to repent that causes you to behave this way when judged by God?
-"endless torment from which there can be no return"
Why is this the formula to describe the reaction? (D&C 19:6 -12) What is it about this experience that will last forever in the mind of anyone who suffers it? (D&C 19:15 - 18) Why would this haunt the person forevermore? Even if it came to an end at some point, why are you "unable to return" from that experience? What trauma is caused by this that can be avoided by repenting?
-"drunk damnation to their souls"
Why this graphic description? What is it about this experience that makes the very soul be damned by the ordeal?
Is the angel overreacting? Is this terrible assortment of adjectives necessary? Why would God send an angel with this message to King Benjamin (and to us)?" (blog post, "Mosiah 3:25," denversnuffer.com)
This type of message is not a positive message that causes one to feel joy and peace.
If received, it causes one to sorrow and feel pain for their sins and iniquities. The scriptures show that all who received this message cried out to the Lord for mercy.
This must be or no individual would change course. No individual would turn to face God; the definition of repenting.
If not received the message causes anger because who enjoys being told they are out of the right way? Who enjoys being awakened from a deep slumber?
Here the Lord gives another example of this pattern Lehi is following.
"And now I give unto you a commandment to beware concerning yourselves, to give diligent heed to the words of eternal life. For you shall live by every word that proceedeth forth from the mouth of God. For the word of the Lord is truth, and whatsoever is truth is light, and whatsoever is light is Spirit, even the Spirit of Jesus Christ. (We talked about the Spirit in the post, "A Book", and we talked about the Spirit enlightening every man in the post, "The Language of Lehi's Praising part 3".) And the Spirit giveth light to every man that cometh into the world; and the Spirit enlighteneth every man through the world, that hearkeneth to the voice of the Spirit. And every one that hearkeneth to the voice of the Spirit cometh unto God, even the Father. And the Father teacheth him of the covenant which he has renewed and confirmed upon you, which is confirmed upon you for your sakes, and not for your sakes only, but for the sake of the whole world. And the whole world lieth in sin, and groaneth under darkness and under the bondage of sin. And by this you may know they are under the bondage of sin, because they come not unto me. For whoso cometh not unto me is under the bondage of sin. And whoso receiveth not my voice is not acquainted with my voice, and is not of me. And by this ye may know the righteous from the wicked, and that the whole world groaneth under sin and darkness even now." (D&C 84:43 - 53)
Lehi gave diligent heed to the "words of eternal life". He lived by "every word that proceedeth from the mouth of God" to him. He was "enlightened by the Spirit" because he "hearkened unto the voice of the Spirit."
Because Lehi "hearkened unto the voice of the Spirit" he "came unto God, even the Father". Lehi ascended to His throne and became a son of God in the family of God. (We discussed this in our post "The Family of God")
In the Father's presence "the Father teacheth (taught) him (Lehi) of the covenant" that exists between the Father and anyone who ascends to His presence ("this Gospel" as was explained to Abraham.) and the Father "renewed and confirmed" this covenant upon Lehi for Lehi's sake and also for the sake of Lehi's "whole world".
Is this the pattern that the Lord will use with anyone who approaches Him?
This scripture states "every man" which we interpret to mean every man or woman.
If any person does what Lehi did by following this pattern will they be brought unto God, even the Father?
Will the Father then teach them of the "covenant" and renew or confirm this covenant upon them for their benefit and for the benefit of their whole world?
Could we reasonably state that Lehi's "whole world"consisted of his family and the people at Jerusalem?
If we are not moving in this direction does that mean that we are under the bondage of sin and darkness?
The Lord declared,
"But Behold, verily I say unto you, that there are many among you, whom I have called but few of them are chosen. They who are not chosen have sinned a very grevious sin, in that they are walking in darkness at noon-day." (D&C 95:6) (We talked about being "chosen" in the post "There Came Many Prophets")
Lehi heard the "call" as he listened to the messages delivered by the many prophets and exercised faith in Christ. Now Lehi had been chosen. He was able to walk in the noon day sun and not be darkened.
If we have heard the call of God and do not exercise faith in order to be chosen, even as Lehi was chosen, are we sinning greviously?
Are we walking in darkness when we could come to God in the same way Lehi did and yet we choose not to do so?
Lehi is "sent" by God. Lehi is not on his own errand. What Lehi prophesies to his children and to the people at Jerusalem are what the Lord has commanded him to say, no more and no less.
"What I the Lord have spoken, I have spoken, and I excuse not myself; and though the heavens and the earth pass away, my word shall not pass away, but shall all be fulfilled, whether by mine own voice or by the voice of my servants it is the same." (D&C 1:38)
Lehi qualifies as as a "servant" because his commision is directly from God. Lehi's message is authoritative because Lehi is faithfully speaking only the words that God has given him.
It is God's message, His "voice" that ought to be heard by all listening to Lehi speak.
Lehi's words are binding upon both his family and upon the people at Jerusalem even if they do not believe the words Lehi is delivering because God has declared that His words, "shall not pass away, but shall all be fulfilled."
Lehi is acting in the capacity of an angel (one who is sent with a message from God) to the people at Jerusalem and to his own family.
As has always been the case, the message is one of repentance and faith on Christ.
"...for he truly testified of their wickedness and their abominations; and he testified that the things which he saw and heard, and also the things which he read in the book, manifested plainly of the coming of a Messiah, and also the redemption of the world." (1 Nephi 1:19)
As we look at the response of the people at Jerusalem to this message sent by God wouldn't it be very important to look at ourselves as well and see if we fit into the same category in order to avoid their fate?
"...for I did liken all scriptures unto us, that it might be for our profit and learning." (1 Nephi 19:23)
We are told that the Jews "mocked" or made fun of Lehi for testifying of their wickedness and abominations.
We are then told that they were "angry with him" when he testified that Christ should come.
Let's look at both responses.
Why would the Jews "mock" or make fun of Lehi when he testified of their wickedness and abominations?
Laman and Lemuel's views are very instructive of this response by the Jews at Jerusalem.
"And we know that the people who were in the land of Jerusalem were a righteous people; for they kept the statutes and judgments of the Lord, and all his commandments, according to the law of Moses; wherefore, we know that they are a righteous people; and our father hath judged them,..." (1 Nephi 17:22)
To consider that the Jewish church was in apostasy was lunacy.
What a preposterous thought.
They had the scriptures, they had a temple, they had synagogues (chapels), they had priests and leaders, they had priesthood, they had political authority, they were children of Abraham, they were actively engaged in religious rituals that they "knew" would save them.
All the physical appearances (what the world would look at) showed that they were successful and that God was on their side.
How ridiculous that this lowly fellow from the tribe of Manasseh with no connection to the Levites or the priests should come from outside the regularly constituted authority and declare that they were in apostasy.
What "foolish imaginations of his heart." (1 Nephi 17:20)
With the Lord it was the same.
Here was an outsider with no formal education, from Nazareth, who had not been ordained or inducted into the regularly constituted authority, declaring that those in the regularly constituted authority, those who officiated and had authority in the temple and the synagogues (chapels), those who held priesthood "keys" to perform ordinances of the temple, those who were educated in the greatest schools of the day, those who had political sway as well with the Sanhedrin, those who were financially successful, those who fasted much and were faithfully performing the religious rituals pertaining to their faith were in apostasy.
They declared that He, the Lord, was mad and possessed of an evil spirit.
In both examples it was laughable. It was very easy to dismiss the words of Lehi and the words of the Lord as "foolish imaginations" of their hearts. There was no beauty that they should desire them. (Mosiah 14:2-4)
Neither Lehi nor the Lord could be in their right minds to declare that these individuals so faithful to the religious rituals and possessing the temple, the synagogues, a religious hierarchy, priesthood and the scriptures were in the wrong path.
What a joke. If God wanted something revealed He would do it from within the regularly constituted authority. He would not send a nobody to declare anything. He would not send an outsider.
We as a group see a pattern of history here.
Maybe we all ought to carefully consider the Jew's response to the message Lehi was sent to deliver.
Can a pattern of history repeat?
Could this pattern re-occur again in our day?
When Lehi prophesies of Christ the Jews become angry and eventually seek his life.
Why?
Why is a true message of Christ and redemption through Him so inflammatory?
Who stirs up the hearts of men to anger one with another?
Who is the enemy of all righteousness?
Is the adversary, the enemy to our souls, more threatened by a declaration of apostasy or by a declaration that redemption comes by faith in Christ?
Would the adversary seek to harden the hearts of those hearing a message of Christ to the point that those hearing the message would seek to destroy or physically kill the one delivering the message?
All of the scriptural history points to the sad reality that what Lehi experienced with the anger of those at Jerusalem is to be expected.
Remember that even the Lord in His ministry was declaring salvation through Him, the Bread of Life, and they killed Him for it.
It is very easy to dismiss and/or discredit someone proclaiming against our apostasy. They can be written off as having "frenzied minds" and "foolish imaginations." They are "madmen." and "possessed" of evil spirits.
After all, we have sacred space (temples and chapels), we own property, we have ordained regularly constituted leaders, we have scriptures and teachings and schools and curriculums. We diligently attend to our religious rituals that we "know" will save us.
When it comes to the author of our salvation, however, the enemy of all righteousness seeks earnestly to destroy the "Word" of God or Jesus Christ.
When God sends a message of salvation in purity and it is faithfully delivered the adversary will work to twist or distort the message and/or he will work to have the one delivering the message killed to silence the message.
The scriptures and history both bear this out.
How should this apply to us?
"For behold, at that day shall he rage in the hearts of the children of men, and stir them up to anger against that which is good. And others will he pacify, and lull them away into carnal security, that they will say: All is well in Zion; yea, Zion prospereth, all is well - ...And in fine, wo unto all those who tremble, and are angry because of the truth of God! For behold, he that is built upon the rock receiveth it with gladness; and he that is built upon a sandy foundation trembleth lest he shall fall." (2 Nephi 28:20 - 28)
It is easy to look back through the record and see this among the Jews at Jersualem as Lehi was testifying to them, but Nephi was speaking to us in our day in the above verse.
Can we see this among us?
Are we angry because of the truth of God?
Do we tremble at the thought of receiving more of His truth?
Do we consider that we have "enough" and we need no more?
The Book of Mormon shows that the test always has been and always will be the same.
Will we receive God's message or will we be angry at what He sends?
If we are to take Lehi and the Lord as examples then we must consider that the Lord will not supply any earthly power or bona fides to show that the message delievered is His.
We are left to do as all who have come to God have had to do; Listen to see if His "voice" is in the message no, matter how unlikely the manner in which it has been delivered.
Clearly, the Book of Mormon was written for our day.
"Therefore, I would that ye should know, that after the Lord had shown so many marvelous things unto my father, Lehi, yea, concerning the destruction of Jerusalem, behold he went forth among the people, and began to prophesy and to declare unto them concerning the things which he had both seen and heard. And it came to pass that the Jews did mock him because of the things which he testified of them; for he truly testified of their wickedness and their abominations; and he testified that the things which he read in the book, manifested plainly of the coming of a Messiah, and also the redemption of the world. And when the Jews heard these things they were angry with him; yea, even as with the prophets old, whom they had cast out, and stoned, and slain; and they also sought his life, that they might take it away.
It is apparent from what the Book of Mormon states that Lehi was not, previous to this time, a "prophet" or even considered an authority among the people of Jerusalem because the record states that Lehi, "began to prophesy and to declare unto them concerning the things which he had both seen and heard."
He began here to prophesy to them. He was not continuing his prophesying from before.
Here again is the Lord's pattern in Lehi.
"Behold I sent you out to testify and warn the people, and it becometh every man who hath been warned to warn his neighbor." (D&C 88:81)
Lehi has been sent, having been given his message from the Lord, to warn his neighbors.
This is the pattern of all true prophets; they come into the presence of the Lord and of God the Father and they recieve His words and His promises from His own mouth; they are warned so to speak.
God, who loves all of the inhabitants on the earth, then sends these "warned" individuals to "warn" their neighbors; they are sent to deliver a specific message from God. (We talked about this at length in the post, "There Came Many Prophets.")
This message invites all to repent and come unto Christ who is mighty to save.
This message must necessarily point out that those who are receiving it are out of the right way; they have apostatised from the words of God and they are committing wickedness and practicing abominations.
Just like Alma the younger and king Benjamin's people, one would feel convicted and desire to cry out at hearing such a message.
" 'And if they be evil they are consigned to an awful view of their own guilt and abominations, which doth cause them to shrink from the presence of the Lord into a state of misery and endless torment, from whence they can not more return; therefore the have drunk damnation to their own souls.'
The angel now transitions the message to King Benjamin forward to the time of the final judgment. In that setting he suggests a scene of the unrepentant. Before looking at the words, however, why do you suppose the description is from the vantage point of the damned? Why not from the vantage point of the saved? The final three verses of the message are all viewed from failure, rather than from success. Why?
Is this "negative?"
Does this make you think the angel is offensive? He doesn't "have the Spirit" with him? That you "don't get a good feeling" when you listen to his words?
Do you think the angel should be ignored because he makes you "feel bad" by the things he speaks? Would you prefer to hear a "more positive message" Things like this just "can't be from God" because of how they make you "feel?"
If this is an angel from God speaking, and the above questions reflect your attitude about a message warning you to repent, then perhaps it is your attitude that is wrong - not the angel or his message. Perhaps the annoyance of being awakened from your deep sleep is worth the angel telling you in unmistakable and harsh terms that you are about to be lost if you do not repent. Perhaps the angel would prefer to deliver a hopeful, even lighthearted message, but the words originate from God. God's efforts are to bring you to immortality and eternal life. (Moses 1:39) Maybe God has a better view of our awful state than do we.
The angel speaks in terms of:
-"consigned to an awful view"
What does this suggest? What would be "awful" about failing to repent? Why is it a "view?"
What will we "see" in that day?
-"own guilt and abominations"
Why guilt? What "abominations" attach to every soul who does not repent? Why is religious error, pride in believing falsehoods, and failure to repent always an "abomination?"
-"doth cause them to shrink"
Isn't this the same agony Christ experienced in Gethsemany? (D&C 19:18) Why would you "shrink" from the presence of God? What does "shrink" mean?
-"into a state of misery"
Why would you want to withdraw into a state of misery? What is it about failing to repent that causes you to behave this way when judged by God?
-"endless torment from which there can be no return"
Why is this the formula to describe the reaction? (D&C 19:6 -12) What is it about this experience that will last forever in the mind of anyone who suffers it? (D&C 19:15 - 18) Why would this haunt the person forevermore? Even if it came to an end at some point, why are you "unable to return" from that experience? What trauma is caused by this that can be avoided by repenting?
-"drunk damnation to their souls"
Why this graphic description? What is it about this experience that makes the very soul be damned by the ordeal?
Is the angel overreacting? Is this terrible assortment of adjectives necessary? Why would God send an angel with this message to King Benjamin (and to us)?" (blog post, "Mosiah 3:25," denversnuffer.com)
This type of message is not a positive message that causes one to feel joy and peace.
If received, it causes one to sorrow and feel pain for their sins and iniquities. The scriptures show that all who received this message cried out to the Lord for mercy.
This must be or no individual would change course. No individual would turn to face God; the definition of repenting.
If not received the message causes anger because who enjoys being told they are out of the right way? Who enjoys being awakened from a deep slumber?
Here the Lord gives another example of this pattern Lehi is following.
"And now I give unto you a commandment to beware concerning yourselves, to give diligent heed to the words of eternal life. For you shall live by every word that proceedeth forth from the mouth of God. For the word of the Lord is truth, and whatsoever is truth is light, and whatsoever is light is Spirit, even the Spirit of Jesus Christ. (We talked about the Spirit in the post, "A Book", and we talked about the Spirit enlightening every man in the post, "The Language of Lehi's Praising part 3".) And the Spirit giveth light to every man that cometh into the world; and the Spirit enlighteneth every man through the world, that hearkeneth to the voice of the Spirit. And every one that hearkeneth to the voice of the Spirit cometh unto God, even the Father. And the Father teacheth him of the covenant which he has renewed and confirmed upon you, which is confirmed upon you for your sakes, and not for your sakes only, but for the sake of the whole world. And the whole world lieth in sin, and groaneth under darkness and under the bondage of sin. And by this you may know they are under the bondage of sin, because they come not unto me. For whoso cometh not unto me is under the bondage of sin. And whoso receiveth not my voice is not acquainted with my voice, and is not of me. And by this ye may know the righteous from the wicked, and that the whole world groaneth under sin and darkness even now." (D&C 84:43 - 53)
Lehi gave diligent heed to the "words of eternal life". He lived by "every word that proceedeth from the mouth of God" to him. He was "enlightened by the Spirit" because he "hearkened unto the voice of the Spirit."
Because Lehi "hearkened unto the voice of the Spirit" he "came unto God, even the Father". Lehi ascended to His throne and became a son of God in the family of God. (We discussed this in our post "The Family of God")
In the Father's presence "the Father teacheth (taught) him (Lehi) of the covenant" that exists between the Father and anyone who ascends to His presence ("this Gospel" as was explained to Abraham.) and the Father "renewed and confirmed" this covenant upon Lehi for Lehi's sake and also for the sake of Lehi's "whole world".
Is this the pattern that the Lord will use with anyone who approaches Him?
This scripture states "every man" which we interpret to mean every man or woman.
If any person does what Lehi did by following this pattern will they be brought unto God, even the Father?
Will the Father then teach them of the "covenant" and renew or confirm this covenant upon them for their benefit and for the benefit of their whole world?
Could we reasonably state that Lehi's "whole world"consisted of his family and the people at Jerusalem?
If we are not moving in this direction does that mean that we are under the bondage of sin and darkness?
The Lord declared,
"But Behold, verily I say unto you, that there are many among you, whom I have called but few of them are chosen. They who are not chosen have sinned a very grevious sin, in that they are walking in darkness at noon-day." (D&C 95:6) (We talked about being "chosen" in the post "There Came Many Prophets")
Lehi heard the "call" as he listened to the messages delivered by the many prophets and exercised faith in Christ. Now Lehi had been chosen. He was able to walk in the noon day sun and not be darkened.
If we have heard the call of God and do not exercise faith in order to be chosen, even as Lehi was chosen, are we sinning greviously?
Are we walking in darkness when we could come to God in the same way Lehi did and yet we choose not to do so?
Lehi is "sent" by God. Lehi is not on his own errand. What Lehi prophesies to his children and to the people at Jerusalem are what the Lord has commanded him to say, no more and no less.
"What I the Lord have spoken, I have spoken, and I excuse not myself; and though the heavens and the earth pass away, my word shall not pass away, but shall all be fulfilled, whether by mine own voice or by the voice of my servants it is the same." (D&C 1:38)
Lehi qualifies as as a "servant" because his commision is directly from God. Lehi's message is authoritative because Lehi is faithfully speaking only the words that God has given him.
It is God's message, His "voice" that ought to be heard by all listening to Lehi speak.
Lehi's words are binding upon both his family and upon the people at Jerusalem even if they do not believe the words Lehi is delivering because God has declared that His words, "shall not pass away, but shall all be fulfilled."
Lehi is acting in the capacity of an angel (one who is sent with a message from God) to the people at Jerusalem and to his own family.
As has always been the case, the message is one of repentance and faith on Christ.
"...for he truly testified of their wickedness and their abominations; and he testified that the things which he saw and heard, and also the things which he read in the book, manifested plainly of the coming of a Messiah, and also the redemption of the world." (1 Nephi 1:19)
As we look at the response of the people at Jerusalem to this message sent by God wouldn't it be very important to look at ourselves as well and see if we fit into the same category in order to avoid their fate?
"...for I did liken all scriptures unto us, that it might be for our profit and learning." (1 Nephi 19:23)
We are told that the Jews "mocked" or made fun of Lehi for testifying of their wickedness and abominations.
We are then told that they were "angry with him" when he testified that Christ should come.
Let's look at both responses.
Why would the Jews "mock" or make fun of Lehi when he testified of their wickedness and abominations?
Laman and Lemuel's views are very instructive of this response by the Jews at Jerusalem.
"And we know that the people who were in the land of Jerusalem were a righteous people; for they kept the statutes and judgments of the Lord, and all his commandments, according to the law of Moses; wherefore, we know that they are a righteous people; and our father hath judged them,..." (1 Nephi 17:22)
To consider that the Jewish church was in apostasy was lunacy.
What a preposterous thought.
They had the scriptures, they had a temple, they had synagogues (chapels), they had priests and leaders, they had priesthood, they had political authority, they were children of Abraham, they were actively engaged in religious rituals that they "knew" would save them.
All the physical appearances (what the world would look at) showed that they were successful and that God was on their side.
How ridiculous that this lowly fellow from the tribe of Manasseh with no connection to the Levites or the priests should come from outside the regularly constituted authority and declare that they were in apostasy.
What "foolish imaginations of his heart." (1 Nephi 17:20)
With the Lord it was the same.
Here was an outsider with no formal education, from Nazareth, who had not been ordained or inducted into the regularly constituted authority, declaring that those in the regularly constituted authority, those who officiated and had authority in the temple and the synagogues (chapels), those who held priesthood "keys" to perform ordinances of the temple, those who were educated in the greatest schools of the day, those who had political sway as well with the Sanhedrin, those who were financially successful, those who fasted much and were faithfully performing the religious rituals pertaining to their faith were in apostasy.
They declared that He, the Lord, was mad and possessed of an evil spirit.
In both examples it was laughable. It was very easy to dismiss the words of Lehi and the words of the Lord as "foolish imaginations" of their hearts. There was no beauty that they should desire them. (Mosiah 14:2-4)
Neither Lehi nor the Lord could be in their right minds to declare that these individuals so faithful to the religious rituals and possessing the temple, the synagogues, a religious hierarchy, priesthood and the scriptures were in the wrong path.
What a joke. If God wanted something revealed He would do it from within the regularly constituted authority. He would not send a nobody to declare anything. He would not send an outsider.
We as a group see a pattern of history here.
Maybe we all ought to carefully consider the Jew's response to the message Lehi was sent to deliver.
Can a pattern of history repeat?
Could this pattern re-occur again in our day?
When Lehi prophesies of Christ the Jews become angry and eventually seek his life.
Why?
Why is a true message of Christ and redemption through Him so inflammatory?
Who stirs up the hearts of men to anger one with another?
Who is the enemy of all righteousness?
Is the adversary, the enemy to our souls, more threatened by a declaration of apostasy or by a declaration that redemption comes by faith in Christ?
Would the adversary seek to harden the hearts of those hearing a message of Christ to the point that those hearing the message would seek to destroy or physically kill the one delivering the message?
All of the scriptural history points to the sad reality that what Lehi experienced with the anger of those at Jerusalem is to be expected.
Remember that even the Lord in His ministry was declaring salvation through Him, the Bread of Life, and they killed Him for it.
It is very easy to dismiss and/or discredit someone proclaiming against our apostasy. They can be written off as having "frenzied minds" and "foolish imaginations." They are "madmen." and "possessed" of evil spirits.
After all, we have sacred space (temples and chapels), we own property, we have ordained regularly constituted leaders, we have scriptures and teachings and schools and curriculums. We diligently attend to our religious rituals that we "know" will save us.
When it comes to the author of our salvation, however, the enemy of all righteousness seeks earnestly to destroy the "Word" of God or Jesus Christ.
When God sends a message of salvation in purity and it is faithfully delivered the adversary will work to twist or distort the message and/or he will work to have the one delivering the message killed to silence the message.
The scriptures and history both bear this out.
How should this apply to us?
"For behold, at that day shall he rage in the hearts of the children of men, and stir them up to anger against that which is good. And others will he pacify, and lull them away into carnal security, that they will say: All is well in Zion; yea, Zion prospereth, all is well - ...And in fine, wo unto all those who tremble, and are angry because of the truth of God! For behold, he that is built upon the rock receiveth it with gladness; and he that is built upon a sandy foundation trembleth lest he shall fall." (2 Nephi 28:20 - 28)
It is easy to look back through the record and see this among the Jews at Jersualem as Lehi was testifying to them, but Nephi was speaking to us in our day in the above verse.
Can we see this among us?
Are we angry because of the truth of God?
Do we tremble at the thought of receiving more of His truth?
Do we consider that we have "enough" and we need no more?
The Book of Mormon shows that the test always has been and always will be the same.
Will we receive God's message or will we be angry at what He sends?
If we are to take Lehi and the Lord as examples then we must consider that the Lord will not supply any earthly power or bona fides to show that the message delievered is His.
We are left to do as all who have come to God have had to do; Listen to see if His "voice" is in the message no, matter how unlikely the manner in which it has been delivered.
Clearly, the Book of Mormon was written for our day.
Saturday, February 2, 2019
God's Way of Teaching?
1 Nephi 1:16
"And now I, Nephi, do not make a full account of the things which my father hath written, for he hath written many things which he saw in visions and in dreams; and he also hath written many things which he prophesied and spake unto his children, of which I shall not make a full account."
Here we come to an end of what is recorded about Lehi's experience with his ascent to the throne of God.
We are told that there are many things which Lehi saw in dreams and visions as well as many things which Lehi prophesied to his children that are not included in this record.
Although we do not have a complete account of all that Lehi received from God what is here constitutes a tremendous explosion of light for us, the readers of this record.
The content of this event in Lehi's life is compressed into a very short narrative so that we do not get a view of all of the detailed events that led to this culminating experience.
How did Lehi come to the point that he could receive all of this?
Why is this tremendous event placed at the very front of the Book of Mormon in such a compressed way?
The Prophet Joseph taught the following.
"We consider that God has created man with a mind capable of instruction, and a faculty which may be enlarged in proportion to the heed and diligence given to the light communicated from heaven to the intellect; and that the nearer man approaches perfection, the clearer are his views, and the greater his enjoyments, till he has overcome the evils of his life and lost every desire for sin; and like the ancients, arrives at that point of faith where he is wrapped in the power and glory of his Maker and is caught up to dwell with Him. But we consider that this is a station to which no man ever arrived in a moment: he must have been instructed in the government and laws of that kingdom by proper degrees, until his mind is capable in some measure of comprehending the propriety, justice, equality, and consistency of the same." (Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, pg. 51)
We can clearly see that Lehi has arrived, "...at that point of faith where he is wrapped in the power and glory of his Maker and is caught up to dwell with Him."
What we are not privy to in this account is everything that details how Lehi's views became clearer, what greater enjoyments he had, how he had overcome the evils of his life and lost his desire for sin, how he was instructed in the government and laws of God's kingdom (family) by proper degrees in order for his mind to be capable in some measure of comprehending the propriety, justice, equality, and consistency of what he saw.
There is a tremendous amount that is left out here.
As a group we are interested in wording in the scriptures.
We believe what the title page of the Book of Mormon, the Three Witnesses and Nephi spoke concerning the Book of Mormon.
"...Written by way of commandment, and also by the spirit of prophecy and of revelation - Written and sealed up, and hid up unto the Lord, that they might not be destroyed - To come forth by the gift and power of God unto the interpretation thereof...The interpretation thereof by the gift of God." (Book of Mormon title page)
"And we also know that they have been translated by the gift and power of God, for his voice hath declared it unto us;..." (The Testimony of Three Witnesses)
"...and the man that is not learned shall say; I am not learned. Then shall the Lord God say unto him: the learned shall not read them, for they have rejected them, and I am able to do mine own work; wherefore thou shalt read the words which I shall give unto thee." (2 Nephi 27:19 - 20)
The Book of Mormon was translated and the interpretation of the translation of it was given by God.
God translated the Book of Mormon.
He did His own work.
He gave Joseph the words that were to be written.
That means that words in the Book of Mormon really matter. They are the interpretation that God Himself deemed prudent for us to have from the words inscribed on the plates.
As we read the following verse we can see that how God worded it is important.
"And now it came to pass that after I, Nephi, had made an end of teaching my brethren, our father, Lehi, also spake many things unto them, and rehearsed unto them, how great things the Lord had done for them in bringing them out of the land of Jerusalem." (2 Nephi 1:1)
"How great things" not "what great things"
We believe that the Lord is interested in us studying "how great things" not simply "what great things".
If the Lord is no respecter of persons, which we believe, then as He presents something (an event) to us in scripture it will necessarily be paired with a "how to" in order for us to accomplish the same results. (How he accomplished the great things so to speak)
We do not believe that we can be saved by simply reading about and being familiar with the events that happened to other people.
We believe that we must duplicate those events in our own lives.
As such, those events described become anecdotal witnesses for us that if we follow the same path as those giving the witness we can arrive at the same station that they have arrived to.
That is why it is important in our opinion to know why Lehi's transcendant experience is placed at the very first of the Book of Mormon in a compressed manner not describing the "how to" or "how great things."
Wouldn't it be better to start from the beginning and move along until the grand moment?
We believe that God has a higher way of teaching.
When the angel appeared to the Prophet Joseph in his bedroom on the night of the 21st of September 1823 to instruct him about the plates and where to find them, the angel only briefly described the plates and then immediately started to explain the end goal.
"After telling me these things, he commenced quoting the prophecies of the Old Testament. He first quoted part of the third chapter of Malachi; and he quoted also the forth or last chapter of the same prophecy, though with a little variation from the way it reads in our Bibles. Instead of quoting the first verse as it reads in our books, he quoted it thus: For behold, the day cometh that shall burn as an oven, and all the proud, yea, and all that do wickedly shall burn as stubble; for they that come shall burn them, saith the Lord of Hosts, that it shall leave them neither root nor branch. And again, he quoted the fifth verse thus: Behold I will reveal unto you the Priesthood, by the hand of Elijah the prophet, before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord. He also quoted the next verse differently: And he shall plant in the hearts of the children the promises made to the fathers, and the hearts of the children shall turn to their fathers. If it were not so, the whole earth would be utterly wasted at his coming. In addition to these, he quoted the eleventh chapter of Isaiah, saying that it was about to be fulfilled. He quoted also the third chapter of Acts, twenty-second and twenty-third verses, precisely as they stand in our New Testament. He said that the prophet was Christ; but the day had not yet come when "they who would not hear his voice should be cut off from among the people," but soon would come. He also quoted the second chapter of Joel, from the twenty-eighth verse to the last. He also said that this was not yet fulfilled, but was soon to be. And he further stated that the fulness of the Gentiles was soon to come in. He quoted many other passages of scripture, and offered manyexplanations which cannot be mentioned here."
By teaching Joseph the end results of the work that the Lord was bringing forth Joseph's mind was oriented to understand how the translation of the Book of Mormon fit in to fulfill God's purposes. Being taught the end created a foundation for understanding what the Lord was doing.
Another example:
"I was at home lying in my bed when the Lord spoke to me, calling me by name, when it ended I was commanded to write an account. As I wrote, the words were given to me, and I recorded the following: On the 13th of February 2003 I saw the Lord coming in His glory. At first a sign appeared in the heavens; a light emanating from a single point, and turning first this way and that, All the world saw it. And men debated over its meaning. At length the light turned upon us, and within it was the Lord, showing His glory, with concourses of angels and the hosts of heaven following in His wake. And when we saw that it was the Lord, we rejoiced and were filled with joy. I turned to my wife and said, "Look, it is Christ!" and she said, "Yes it is!" And we were filled with joy and peace of mind, for the long awaited day of the Lord had come. But others were filled with dread. They feared and lamented and wanted the mountains to cover them and hide them from His presence, For He was clothed in red and came in judgment. And Christian ministers knew they had taught falsely nad that their faith could not save - and they begged for relief from the Saints. This caused me to marvel at how this could be. It was given unto me to understand that without the ordinances of salvation through the authorized ministers of the gospel, it was not possible for men to shed their sins. And they could not look upon a just and Holy Being without being racked with torment and guilt for their sins. And they pled with the Saints to minister to them, but we could not, For we were constrained by the Spirit, and were forbidden to do so. For this was the day of judgment which the Lord had in His heart, and He was now come to preach His own sermon, clothed in red, and to deliver those who waited on Him and to convict and condemn those who had not. I write this in my own hand, and bear solemn testimony that is is true, Amen. When I had finished recording the foregoing account I replied to the Lord that it was not complete and that I could give a much fuller account. The Lord replied, "When the time comes to bear testimony of this, these are the words you shall use." And many other things were told me that cannot be written...The Lord does everything according to His higher way of teaching. By beginning with a vision of His return, He set out the foundation for understanding His course, which is on eternal round." (The Doctrine of Christ, Denver Snuffer, Doctrine of Christ Conference, Boise Idaho, 11/Sept./2016, pgs. 3 - 5)
Does the Lord show the end product so that those who are on His path have a foundation for understanding the learning along the way?
We believe that is why Lehi's experience, a brilliant burst of light, is placed by God at the first of the Book of Mormon.
Everything that follows in the Book of Mormon will describe the "how to" (how great things) that are associated with anyone coming along the path to the same station as Lehi; following the same teaching pattern above. They will reinforce what Lehi received.
The Lord is showing the end in order to provide a proper foundation for understanding the Book of Mormon; what its teachings lead to.
Does Lehi's experience orient our minds to see how Nephi's narrative and the other revelations and prophecies in the Book of mormon can teach us how to make our own views clearer, give us greater enjoyments, overcome the evils of our lives and help us lose every desire for sin, instruct us in the government and laws of God's kingdom by proper degrees so that our minds are capable in some measure of comprehending the propriety, justice, equality, and consistency of the sames so that we too can arrive at that point of faith where we are wrapped in the power and glory of our Maker and are caught up to dwell with Him?
We believe so.
What an incredible book.
"And now I, Nephi, do not make a full account of the things which my father hath written, for he hath written many things which he saw in visions and in dreams; and he also hath written many things which he prophesied and spake unto his children, of which I shall not make a full account."
Here we come to an end of what is recorded about Lehi's experience with his ascent to the throne of God.
We are told that there are many things which Lehi saw in dreams and visions as well as many things which Lehi prophesied to his children that are not included in this record.
Although we do not have a complete account of all that Lehi received from God what is here constitutes a tremendous explosion of light for us, the readers of this record.
The content of this event in Lehi's life is compressed into a very short narrative so that we do not get a view of all of the detailed events that led to this culminating experience.
How did Lehi come to the point that he could receive all of this?
Why is this tremendous event placed at the very front of the Book of Mormon in such a compressed way?
The Prophet Joseph taught the following.
"We consider that God has created man with a mind capable of instruction, and a faculty which may be enlarged in proportion to the heed and diligence given to the light communicated from heaven to the intellect; and that the nearer man approaches perfection, the clearer are his views, and the greater his enjoyments, till he has overcome the evils of his life and lost every desire for sin; and like the ancients, arrives at that point of faith where he is wrapped in the power and glory of his Maker and is caught up to dwell with Him. But we consider that this is a station to which no man ever arrived in a moment: he must have been instructed in the government and laws of that kingdom by proper degrees, until his mind is capable in some measure of comprehending the propriety, justice, equality, and consistency of the same." (Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, pg. 51)
We can clearly see that Lehi has arrived, "...at that point of faith where he is wrapped in the power and glory of his Maker and is caught up to dwell with Him."
What we are not privy to in this account is everything that details how Lehi's views became clearer, what greater enjoyments he had, how he had overcome the evils of his life and lost his desire for sin, how he was instructed in the government and laws of God's kingdom (family) by proper degrees in order for his mind to be capable in some measure of comprehending the propriety, justice, equality, and consistency of what he saw.
There is a tremendous amount that is left out here.
As a group we are interested in wording in the scriptures.
We believe what the title page of the Book of Mormon, the Three Witnesses and Nephi spoke concerning the Book of Mormon.
"...Written by way of commandment, and also by the spirit of prophecy and of revelation - Written and sealed up, and hid up unto the Lord, that they might not be destroyed - To come forth by the gift and power of God unto the interpretation thereof...The interpretation thereof by the gift of God." (Book of Mormon title page)
"And we also know that they have been translated by the gift and power of God, for his voice hath declared it unto us;..." (The Testimony of Three Witnesses)
"...and the man that is not learned shall say; I am not learned. Then shall the Lord God say unto him: the learned shall not read them, for they have rejected them, and I am able to do mine own work; wherefore thou shalt read the words which I shall give unto thee." (2 Nephi 27:19 - 20)
The Book of Mormon was translated and the interpretation of the translation of it was given by God.
God translated the Book of Mormon.
He did His own work.
He gave Joseph the words that were to be written.
That means that words in the Book of Mormon really matter. They are the interpretation that God Himself deemed prudent for us to have from the words inscribed on the plates.
As we read the following verse we can see that how God worded it is important.
"And now it came to pass that after I, Nephi, had made an end of teaching my brethren, our father, Lehi, also spake many things unto them, and rehearsed unto them, how great things the Lord had done for them in bringing them out of the land of Jerusalem." (2 Nephi 1:1)
"How great things" not "what great things"
We believe that the Lord is interested in us studying "how great things" not simply "what great things".
If the Lord is no respecter of persons, which we believe, then as He presents something (an event) to us in scripture it will necessarily be paired with a "how to" in order for us to accomplish the same results. (How he accomplished the great things so to speak)
We do not believe that we can be saved by simply reading about and being familiar with the events that happened to other people.
We believe that we must duplicate those events in our own lives.
As such, those events described become anecdotal witnesses for us that if we follow the same path as those giving the witness we can arrive at the same station that they have arrived to.
That is why it is important in our opinion to know why Lehi's transcendant experience is placed at the very first of the Book of Mormon in a compressed manner not describing the "how to" or "how great things."
Wouldn't it be better to start from the beginning and move along until the grand moment?
We believe that God has a higher way of teaching.
When the angel appeared to the Prophet Joseph in his bedroom on the night of the 21st of September 1823 to instruct him about the plates and where to find them, the angel only briefly described the plates and then immediately started to explain the end goal.
"After telling me these things, he commenced quoting the prophecies of the Old Testament. He first quoted part of the third chapter of Malachi; and he quoted also the forth or last chapter of the same prophecy, though with a little variation from the way it reads in our Bibles. Instead of quoting the first verse as it reads in our books, he quoted it thus: For behold, the day cometh that shall burn as an oven, and all the proud, yea, and all that do wickedly shall burn as stubble; for they that come shall burn them, saith the Lord of Hosts, that it shall leave them neither root nor branch. And again, he quoted the fifth verse thus: Behold I will reveal unto you the Priesthood, by the hand of Elijah the prophet, before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord. He also quoted the next verse differently: And he shall plant in the hearts of the children the promises made to the fathers, and the hearts of the children shall turn to their fathers. If it were not so, the whole earth would be utterly wasted at his coming. In addition to these, he quoted the eleventh chapter of Isaiah, saying that it was about to be fulfilled. He quoted also the third chapter of Acts, twenty-second and twenty-third verses, precisely as they stand in our New Testament. He said that the prophet was Christ; but the day had not yet come when "they who would not hear his voice should be cut off from among the people," but soon would come. He also quoted the second chapter of Joel, from the twenty-eighth verse to the last. He also said that this was not yet fulfilled, but was soon to be. And he further stated that the fulness of the Gentiles was soon to come in. He quoted many other passages of scripture, and offered manyexplanations which cannot be mentioned here."
By teaching Joseph the end results of the work that the Lord was bringing forth Joseph's mind was oriented to understand how the translation of the Book of Mormon fit in to fulfill God's purposes. Being taught the end created a foundation for understanding what the Lord was doing.
Another example:
"I was at home lying in my bed when the Lord spoke to me, calling me by name, when it ended I was commanded to write an account. As I wrote, the words were given to me, and I recorded the following: On the 13th of February 2003 I saw the Lord coming in His glory. At first a sign appeared in the heavens; a light emanating from a single point, and turning first this way and that, All the world saw it. And men debated over its meaning. At length the light turned upon us, and within it was the Lord, showing His glory, with concourses of angels and the hosts of heaven following in His wake. And when we saw that it was the Lord, we rejoiced and were filled with joy. I turned to my wife and said, "Look, it is Christ!" and she said, "Yes it is!" And we were filled with joy and peace of mind, for the long awaited day of the Lord had come. But others were filled with dread. They feared and lamented and wanted the mountains to cover them and hide them from His presence, For He was clothed in red and came in judgment. And Christian ministers knew they had taught falsely nad that their faith could not save - and they begged for relief from the Saints. This caused me to marvel at how this could be. It was given unto me to understand that without the ordinances of salvation through the authorized ministers of the gospel, it was not possible for men to shed their sins. And they could not look upon a just and Holy Being without being racked with torment and guilt for their sins. And they pled with the Saints to minister to them, but we could not, For we were constrained by the Spirit, and were forbidden to do so. For this was the day of judgment which the Lord had in His heart, and He was now come to preach His own sermon, clothed in red, and to deliver those who waited on Him and to convict and condemn those who had not. I write this in my own hand, and bear solemn testimony that is is true, Amen. When I had finished recording the foregoing account I replied to the Lord that it was not complete and that I could give a much fuller account. The Lord replied, "When the time comes to bear testimony of this, these are the words you shall use." And many other things were told me that cannot be written...The Lord does everything according to His higher way of teaching. By beginning with a vision of His return, He set out the foundation for understanding His course, which is on eternal round." (The Doctrine of Christ, Denver Snuffer, Doctrine of Christ Conference, Boise Idaho, 11/Sept./2016, pgs. 3 - 5)
Does the Lord show the end product so that those who are on His path have a foundation for understanding the learning along the way?
We believe that is why Lehi's experience, a brilliant burst of light, is placed by God at the first of the Book of Mormon.
Everything that follows in the Book of Mormon will describe the "how to" (how great things) that are associated with anyone coming along the path to the same station as Lehi; following the same teaching pattern above. They will reinforce what Lehi received.
The Lord is showing the end in order to provide a proper foundation for understanding the Book of Mormon; what its teachings lead to.
Does Lehi's experience orient our minds to see how Nephi's narrative and the other revelations and prophecies in the Book of mormon can teach us how to make our own views clearer, give us greater enjoyments, overcome the evils of our lives and help us lose every desire for sin, instruct us in the government and laws of God's kingdom by proper degrees so that our minds are capable in some measure of comprehending the propriety, justice, equality, and consistency of the sames so that we too can arrive at that point of faith where we are wrapped in the power and glory of our Maker and are caught up to dwell with Him?
We believe so.
What an incredible book.
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