1 Nephi 5:10 - 19, NC 1 Nephi 1 par 22
And after they had given thanks unto the God of Israel my father Lehi took the records which were engraven upon the plates of brass, and he did search them from the beginning. And he beheld that they did contain the five books of Moses which gave an account of the creation of the world and also of Adam and Eve who were our first parents, and also a record of the Jews from the beginning even down to the commencement of the reign of Zedekiah, king of Judah, and also the prophecies of the holy prophets from the beginning even down to the commencement of the reign of Zedekiah, and also many prophecies which have been spoken by the mouth of Jeremiah. And it came to pass that my father Lehi also found upon the plates of brass a genealogy of his fathers. Wherefore, he knew that he was a descendant of Joseph, yea, even that Joseph who was the son of Jacob who was sold into Egypt and who was preserved by the hand of the Lord that he might preserve his father Jacob and all his household from perishing with famine. And they were also led out of captivity and out of the land of Egypt by that same God who had preserved them. And thus my father Lehi did discover the genealogy of his fathers. And Laban also was a descendant of Joseph, wherefore, he and his fathers had kept the records. And now, when my father saw all these things he was filled with the Spirit and began to prophesy concerning his seed: that these plates of brass should go forth unto all nations, kindreds, and tongues, and people who were of his seed. Wherefore, he said that these plates of brass should never perish neither should they be dimmed any more by time. And he prophesied many things concerning his seed.
The above mentioned items recorded in the brass plates are the very same things Ammon used to persuade King Lamoni concerning the coming of Christ and all of the works of the Lord.
Now when Ammon had said these words he began to the creation of the world and also the creation of Adam and told him all the things concerning the fall of man, and rehearsed and laid before him the records and the holy scriptures of the people which had been spoken by the prophets even down to the time that their father Lehi left Jerusalem...But this is not all, for he expounded unto them the plan of redemption which was prepared from the foundation of the world, and he also made known unto them the concerning the coming of Christ and all the works of the Lord did he make known unto them. (Alma 18:36 - 39 ,NC Alma 12 par. 16)
Aaron, Ammon's brother, also taught the very same things to Lamoni's father, the king over all the Lamanites.
And it came to pass that when Aaron saw that the king would believe his words he began from the creation of Adam reading the scriptures unto the king: how God created man after his own image and that God gave him commandments and that because of transgression man had fallen. And Aaron did expound unto him the scriptures from the creation of Adam; laying the fall of man before him and their carnal state, and also the plan of redemption which was prepared from the foundation of the world through Christ for all whosoever would believe on his name... (Alma 22:12 - 13 , NC Alma 13 par. 9)
Are these both fulfillments of the prophecy that Lehi made concerning the brass plates that they would go forth to all nations, kindreds, tongues and people who were of his seed?
If they are fulfillments of this prophecy then what qualified Ammon and Aaron to be a part of both of these fulfillments?
And now it came to pass that as Alma was journeying from the land of Gideon southward away to the land of Manti, behold, to his astonishment he met the sons of Mosiah journeying towards the land of Zarahemla. Now these sons of Mosiah were with Alma at the time the angel first appeared unto him. Therefore, Alma did rejoice exceedingly to see his brethren, and what added more to his joy -- they were still his brethren in the Lord. Yea, they had waxed strong in the knowledge of the truth, for they were men of sound understanding and they had searched the scriptures diligently that they might know the word of God. But this is not all. They had given themselves to much prayer and fasting, therefore they had the spirit of prophecy and the spirit of revelation and when they taught, they taught with power and authority, even as with the power and authority of God. (Alma 17:1 - 3, NC Alma 12 par. 1)
Is it a coincidence that they were filled with the spirit of prophecy and revelation like unto Lehi their progenitor?
What had they done to receive these things in order to teach with power?
If they had fasted and prayed without having searched the scriptures diligently would they have received the same power to teach and persuade?
When the sons of Mosiah went among the Lamanites and succeeded in being fulfillments of Lehi's prophecy concerning the brass plates did they have any position of authority or did they hold any office that would cause the Lamanites to give greater credence to their words?
Is it a coincidence that Alma records searching the scriptures and the spirit of prophecy and revelation together in the same description of the sons of Mosiah?
When the sons of Mosiah searched the scriptures do you think they read into them any preconceived notions or traditions?
Do you think they searched the scriptures the way a child would; looking to see what the scriptures could teach them?
What do the following words from the Savior mean in relation to Lehi's prophecy here?
Therefore, when these works and the words which shall be wrought among you hereafter shall come forth from the gentiles unto your seed which shall dwindle in unbelief because of iniquity, for thus it behooveth the Father that it should come forth from the gentiles, that he may shew forth his power unto the gentiles for this cause, that the gentiles, if they will not harden their hearts, that they may repent and come unto me and be baptized in my name and know the true points of my doctrine, that they may be numbered among my people, O house of Israel...For in that day, for my sake, shall the Father work a work which shall be a great and a marvelous work among them, and there shall be among them those who will not believe it, although a man shall declare it unto them....Therefore, it shall come to pass that whosoever will not believe in my words, who am Jesus Christ, whom the Father shall cause him to bring forth unto the gentiles, it shall be done even as Moses said, They shall be cut off from among my people who are of the covenant...But if they will repent and hearken unto my words and harden not their hearts, I will establish my church among them and they shall come in unto the covenant and be numbered among this the remnant of Jacob unto whom I have given this land for their inheritance. (3 Nephi 21:5 - 22 , NC 3 Nephi 9 par.10 - 3 Nephi 10 par. 1)
Who are the gentiles?
Who are the remnant of Jacob?
Lehi was given a promise that the Americas were given to him and his seed forever.
But, said he, notwithstanding our afflictions we have obtained a land of promise, a land which is choice above all other lands, a land which the Lord God hath covenanted with me should be a land for the inheritance of my seed. Yea, the Lord hath consecrated this land unto me and to my children forever and also all they who should be led out of other countries by the hand of the Lord. (2 Nephi 1:5, NC 2 Nephi 1 par. 1)
If the remnant of Jacob was given this land for their inheritance then would that mean that they are Lehi's seed?
Now, concerning the gentiles, the Lord declared that if they will repent they will be numbered among the remnant of Jacob.
They are brought in and become part of Lehi's seed.
This is what the prophet Joseph said concerning the gentiles.
Now these words, O Lord, we have spoken before thee, concerning the revelations and commandments which thou hast given unto us, who are identified with the gentiles. (D&C 109:60, T&C 123 par. 18)
According to Joseph, we are the gentiles.
If we will not harden our hearts and repent and come unto the Lord and be baptized in His name and know the true points of His doctrine (found in 3 Nephi 11, NC 3 Nephi 5) then we are adopted in by a covenant and become part of Lehi's seed. We are numbered with the remnant of Jacob.
Remember how the Lord defined the "church" or His "church" which He declared that He would establish among the repentant gentiles.
"Behold this is my doctrine: Whosoever repenteth and cometh unto me, the same is my church." (D&C 10:67, T&C 1 JSH part 10 par. 21)
Does that mean that as this happens that the words and teachings and maybe even the brass plates themselves will come to us?
What would be found on them that we do not already have?
Do we have a full record of the prophet Zenos right now?
How about the prophet Zenock?
The five books of Moses contained in the Bible; can we be sure they are completely accurate?
What does the Book of Mormon have to say about the Bible?
Upon our repentance as gentiles would there be another fulfillment of Lehi's prophecy here?
What would that look like?
On the reverse side; if we do not at this time possess the brass plates and a fullness of their teachings does that show that we have not yet repented as gentiles?
If we are adopted into the family of Lehi would we not become another nation kindred and tongue associated with Lehi?
Nephi gives particular attention here to the fact that Lehi is a descendant of Joseph.
We have some of the records concerning Joseph sold into Egypt.
Is it possible that the brass plates contain a more fulsome account?
Here is what Jacob declared concerning his son Joseph.
Joseph is a fruitful bough by a well, whose branches run over the wall. The archers have severely grieved him, and shot at him, and hated him, but his bow remained in strength, and the arms of his hands were made strong by the hands of the mighty God of Jacob, (from there is the shepherd, the stone of Israel) even by the God of your father who shall help you, and by the Almighty who shall bless you with the blessings of heaven above, blessings of the deep that lies under, blessings of the breasts and of the womb. The blessings of your father have prevailed above the blessings of my progenitors unto the utmost bound of the everlasting hills. They are on the head of Joseph and on the crown of the head of him that was separate from his brethren. (Genesis 49:22 - 26,OC Genesis 12 par. 14)
Is it possible that Lehi, being filled with the spirit of prophecy and revelation had some remarkable understanding of what Jacob was telling Joseph?
Is a fruitful bough the same as a branch connected to the true vine like the Lord told His disciples during the last supper?
The Lord said that anyone connected to Him would bring forth fruit.
Is the well a reference to a source of living waters just like the Savior referred to with the woman of Samaria at Jacob's well?
Is this a reference to Joseph's connection to the Lord?
Is it possible that the archers and arrows have reference to the adversary and his fiery darts, which Joseph endured and quenched with the strength of the Lord, the shepherd and stone of Israel?
What is being referred to when Jacob prophetically states the arms of his hands were made strong by the hands of the mighty God of Jacob?
What are arms and hands a symbol of?
Are the blessings of heaven above and the deep that lies underneath a reference to the knowledge that was had at the first in the original religion revealed to Adam where they had a complete knowledge of the stars and of the gospel written in the heavens above and below the horizon?
Are the blessings of the breasts and the womb a reference to posterity?
Are the blessings that prevail above the blessings of Jacob's progenitors unto the utmost bound of the everlasting hills a reference of Joseph's family eventually being scattered to the land of the everlasting hills through Lehi?
Would Lehi be able to see in their exodus from Jerusalem, a fulfillment of Jacob's prophetic blessing upon Joseph?
Was Lehi and his family sent to a strange land to be separate from their brethren just like Joseph?
Was Lehi's separation to a foreign land meant to accomplish the spiritual salvation of the whole house of Israel just as Joseph's separation from his brothers was meant to accomplish the temporal salvation of Israel's whole house?
What does the Lord have to say about the record Lehi's family left from their separation?
Is the record that Lehi's family left the most correct record of God's works with man today?
Is it written just as much for the salvation of Jew and Gentile as for the dwindling descendants of Lehi's family?
Is it possible that any individual who would search the record left by Lehi's family along with fasting and prayer might be filled with the spirit of prophecy and revelation, not needing an office or title, so that they might be able to be part of the fulfillment of the restoration or salvation of the whole house of Israel by persuading the descendants of Israel to return to the Lord and believe on Him?
Would this look anything like Ammon and Aaron expounding the scriptures before Lamoni and his father?
Nephi declared concerning Joseph
And now I, Nephi, speak concerning the prophecies of which my father hath spoken concerning Joseph who was carried into Egypt. For behold, he truly prophesied concerning all his seed. And the prophecies which he wrote, there are not many greater. and he prophesied concerning us and our future generations and they are written upon the plates of brass. (2 Nephi 4:1 - 2, NC 2 Nephi 3 par. 1)
These are part of the prophecies and teachings that Lehi discovered on the brass plates that filled him with the spirit of prophecy and revelation.
If we were, as gentiles, to repent and become part of Lehi's family could we not expect that Lehi's prophecy would again be fulfilled upon us and we would be privileged to search out these things in the brass plates as well?
Could we not also experience the great joy of being filled with the spirit of prophecy and of revelation as we search deep into the scriptures?
No comments:
Post a Comment