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.
No comments:
Post a Comment