The Things of God are of Deep Import: September 2019

Thursday, September 19, 2019

I Fear Exceedingly for Laman and Lemuel

Those who have entered faithfully into the covenant this day are going to notice some
things. The spirit of God is withdrawing from the world. Men are increasingly more angry
without good cause. The hearts of men are waxing cold. There is increasing anger and
resentment of gentiles. In political terms, it’s rejection of white privilege.
Language of scriptures gives a description of the events now underway and calls it the
end of the times of the gentiles. This process with the spirit withdrawing, will end on this
continent, as it did with two prior civilization in fratricidal and genocidal warfare. For the
rest of the world, it will be as in the days of Noah in which, as that light becomes
eclipsed, the coldness of men’s hearts is going to result in a constant scene of violence
and bloodshed. The wicked will destroy the wicked.
The covenant, if it is kept, will prevent you from losing light and warmth of heart as the
spirit now steadily recedes from the world. The time will come when you will be
astonished at the gulf between the light and truth you will comprehend and the darkness
of mind of the world (Closing Remarks, Covenant of Christ Conference, Egyptian Theater, Boise, Idaho, September 3, 2017, Denver Snuffer, Jr.)

I believe that part of my faithfully keeping the covenant in order to retain the spirit of God in me even though it is withdrawing from the world is to follow Nephi's example of crying unto God and receiving from Him.

I do not want to become angry with my fellowmen.

I believe that the account of Laman and Lemuel is included to show that the path they followed leads ultimately to anger and a desire to shed blood.

Was there a gulf between the light and truth Nephi comprehended and the darkness of mind of both Laman and Lemuel?

2) I believe that the account of Laman and Lemuel are included to show how a person who truly possesses a hope in Christ reacts to all other human beings.

Recently I listened to a podcast.

The subject discussed was the subject of hope.

I would greatly encourage everyone to listen to the full podcast.

Part of the discussion went as follows:

Man must hope, or he cannot receive (Ether 12:32; see also Ether 5:6 RE). That phrase is filled with a great deal of significance. The term “hope,” particularly as it’s used here, is not that well understood. We sometimes view it as a weak virtue—something of a wisp, a phantom; something that we emote that we would like or desire. But in this context, the word “hope” is much more. It’s a concrete assurance based upon a promise or a covenant . Hope comes from knowing the Lord has
promised a person something. As the Lord has assured us, He does not make (and then break) promises. When He promises something, He will deliver it. He does not excuse Himself; even though the heavens and the earth [may] pass away, [His word] shall not pass away but shall [all] be fulfilled (T&C 43:3). Anyone who receives a promise from Him has an absolute certainty... There’s a direct relationship between faith, hope, and charity. Faith comes from obedience and sacrifice. Hope comes from the promise given to a person, by God, which their faith has secured for them. And charity comes as those holding faith and receiving hope, seek to have all others share in the same promises. The greatest gift you can give to another is eternal life. All those who have such a promise from God want everyone else to have a similar promise for themselves. They teach, preach, exhort, and write to share with everyone that same opportunity to gain hope in God. They understand how rare a thing it is to bring a soul to salvation. But they’re not interested in merely making a bad-person good or a
good-person better, nor are they content to move souls from a Telestial destiny to a
Terrestrial destiny. Those who have such promises for themselves long, hope, pray, and
preach to bring every other soul back to God to dwell with Him in Celestial glory. They seek
the eternal life of all mankind. They participate with God in His great work. They join Christ
in His declaration:
For behold, the Lord your Redeemer suffered death in the flesh; wherefore, he suffered
the pain of all men that all men might repent and come unto him. And he ha[th] risen
again from the dead that he might bring all men unto him on conditions of repentance.
And how great is his joy in the soul that repent[eth]. Wherefore, you are called to cry
repentance unto this people. And if it so be that you should labor all your days in
crying repentance unto this people and bring save it be one soul unto me, how great
shall be your joy with him in the kingdom of my Father? And now if your joy will be
great with one soul that you have brought unto me in the kingdom of my Father, how
great will be your joy if you should bring many souls unto me? (JSH 15:31 RE) ("Hope, Part 3, Denver Snuffer Podcast, Aug. 18, 2019)

Does this give us greater understanding why Alma declared the following to the people of Amonihah?

And now, my brethren, I wish from the inmost part of my heart — yea, with great anxiety even unto pain — that ye would hearken unto my words, and cast off your sins, and not procrastinate the day of your repentance, but that ye would humble yourselves before the Lord, and call on his holy name, and watch and pray continually, that ye may not be tempted above that which ye can bear, and thus be led by the holy spirit, becoming humble, meek, submissive, patient, full of love and all long-suffering, having faith on the Lord, having a hope that ye shall receive eternal life, having the love of God always in your hearts, that ye may be lifted up at the last day and enter into his rest. And may the Lord grant unto you repentance, that ye may not bring down his wrath upon you, that ye may not be bound down by the chains of hell, that ye may not suffer the second death. And Alma spake many more words unto the people which are not written in this book. (Alma 13:27 - 31, NC Alma 10 par. 4)

Was this why Lehi declared that he feared exceedingly for Laman and Lemuel?

Is this a good barometer to see where I am as far as having a "hope" in Christ?

If I truly have a "hope" in Christ how will I feel about all who do not have the same "hope"?

How do I view the possible casting off of those around me, supposing that I am in any way a candidate for salvation?

Lehi later pleaded with his two eldest sons.

Wherefore, my sons, I would that ye would remember; yea, I would that ye would hearken unto my words. Oh that ye would awake, awake from a deep sleep, yea, even from the sleep of hell, and shake off the awful chains by which ye are bound, which are the chains which bind the children of men, that they are carried away captive down to the eternal gulf of misery and woe. Awake and arise from the dust, and hear the words of a trembling parent, whose limbs ye must soon lay down in the cold and silent grave, from whence no traveler can return; a few more days and I go the way of all the earth. But behold, the Lord hath redeemed my soul from hell — I have beheld his glory, and I am encircled about eternally in the arms of his love. And I desire that ye should remember to observe the statutes and the judgments of the Lord; behold, this hath been the anxiety of my soul from the beginning. My heart hath been weighed down with sorrow from time to time, for I have feared, lest for the hardness of your hearts, the Lord your God should come out in the fullness of his wrath upon you, that ye be cut off and destroyed for ever, or that a cursing should come upon you for the space of many generations, and ye are visited by sword and by famine, and are hated, and are led according to the will and captivity of the Devil. O my sons, that these things might not come upon you, but that ye might be a choice and a favored people of the Lord. (2 Nephi 1:12 - 19, NC 2 Nephi 1 par. 3)

Enoch refused to be comforted knowing of all who would be destroyed in their wickedness.

It is plain, from the scriptures, that if the inmost feelings in me do not match those of Lehi and his peers for those who might be cast off, that I am in a state where I do not yet possess a "hope" in my Savior Jesus Christ.

These are the two reasons I believe a merciful God has allowed the accounts of Laman and Lemuel to be so thoroughly included in the Book of Mormon; not for me to condemn them or jeer at them but for me to look inwardly and truly see my pitiful standing before God.

As I consider these things I can only think "May God have mercy on me a sinner".

Sunday, September 8, 2019

Lehi, White robes and Priestcraft

1 Nephi 8:1 - 10, NC 1 Nephi 2 pars. 7 - 8

And it came to pass that while my father tarried in the wilderness, he spake unto us, saying, Behold, I have dreamed a dream, or in other words, I have seen a vision. And behold, because of the thing which I have seen, I have reason to rejoice in the Lord because of Nephi and also of Sam; for I have reason to suppose that they and also many of their seed will be saved. But behold, Laman and Lemuel, I fear exceedingly because of you. For behold, methought I saw in my dream a dark and dreary wilderness. And it came to pass that I saw a man and he was dressed in a white robe; and he came and stood before me. And it came to pass that he spake unto me and bade me follow him. And it came to pass that as I followed him, I beheld myself that I was in a dark and dreary waste. And after I had traveled for the space of many hours in darkness, I began to pray unto the Lord that he would have mercy on me according to the multitude of his tender mercies. And it came to pass, after I had prayed unto the Lord, I beheld a large and spacious field. And it came to pass that I beheld a tree whose fruit was desirable to make one happy. And it came to pass that I did go forth and partake of the fruit thereof, and beheld that it was most sweet, above all that I ever before tasted. Yea, and I beheld that the fruit thereof was white to exceed all the whiteness that I had ever seen.

I have read this part of the Book of Mormon more times than I can count but never, until as a small study group studying this part together, did I come to an understanding of something that is happening here.

I look back at this part of the Book of Mormon and confess that my personal preconceived notions and my traditions that I read into the Book of Mormon obscured a principle that upon fresh reconsideration screamed out at me.

Consider the first part of Lehi's vision.

For behold, methought I saw in my dream a dark and dreary wilderness. And it came to pass that I saw a man and he was dressed in a white robe; and he came and stood before me. And it came to pass that he spake unto me and bade me follow him. And it came to pass that as I followed him, I beheld myself that I was in a dark and dreary waste.

What is going on right here in Lehi's vision?

Why is there particular mention made concerning this part of the vision?

Lehi sees, as the first thing in his vision, a dark and dreary wilderness.

What does this represent?

When we consider the children of Israel in the wilderness of Sinai do we conjure up images of fountains and rivers of water, cool temperatures, lush greenery and gardens and plentiful food or do we see in our mind's eyes desolation, dryness, heat, lack of food and water and tribulation?

During their sojourn in the wilderness were the children of Israel able to maintain themselves?

How about Adam and Eve?

They were in paradise, the Garden of Eden.

They were in a place with rivers of water where the earth sent forth fruits and flowers spontaneously. There was no lack for those things which were good and delightsome and wholesome.

They were in a place of light because they were in the presence of God.

When they were cast out they were cast out into the dark and dreary world.

In both examples does darkness and a wilderness represent light and all things good or does it represent hardship and trial and a lacking in the things necessary for life and an absence of light?

Let's consider the symbolism of a dark and dreary wilderness compared to the statements of Christ concerning Himself.

His followers were not with him, but had left to buy food in the city and therefore he was alone. The Samaritan woman replied to him, I do not understand why a Jew would ask me as a Samaritan to give you a drink. Jews look down on us as unclean, so why would you ask me such a thing? Jesus replied, I have been sent by God, and if you recognized who now asks you to give a drink of water, you would gladly do so and ask me in turn for the gift of living water. The woman responded to him, Sir, you have nothing to reach the water, and the well is deep, so how can you suggest you could offer living water? Are you greater than our father Jacob, to whom God gave this well, who drank here with his children, and he watered his cattle from this source? Jesus answered her, Whoever drinks water from this well will thirst again, but whoever drinks from the living water which I shall give him shall live from eternity to eternity, for the Source in me will be the power to rise upward forever, worlds without end. (Teachings and Commandments section 171, Testimony of St. John 4 pars. 2 - 3)

Then they asked him, What do we need to do to enter God’s pathway of endless progress? Jesus answered and said, The pathway is before you in me, I teach and display what the Father wants you to witness and believe. They said in response, What sign will you give to us to confirm this pathway, so we can trust your message? What will you give to us? Our fathers were fed with manna in the desert for forty years. As the scripture states, He gave them bread from Heaven to eat. Feed us likewise. Then Jesus said to them, In the name of Father Ahman I tell you the truth, Moses was not the one who gave bread, it was my Father who did that. But now my Father is offering true life-giving bread from Heaven, which is light and truth. For the Bread of God is sent from the Heavenly Council to give light and truth to the world. They responded, Master, feed us with this bread forever. Jesus said bluntly to them, I am the bread that gives life; he that follows the path with me will never hunger for light; and any who believe on me shall never thirst for truth. Unfortunately, as I have already told you, even though you have seen me, you do not believe me. But my Father has provided some who will heed my words, and those who follow me I will safely keep. I am descended from above as a Messenger sent to follow Father Ahman’s plan. Father’s plan is that by completing my ascent I will have the power to rescue creation, losing nothing. Moreover, those who are here on this journey with me will be added upon for evermore if they have faith in me. They will rise up to likewise generate endless lives, worlds without end. (Teachings and Commandments section 171, Testimony of St. John 5 pars 14 - 16)

And consider John the Beloved's testimony concerning Christ.

In the beginning was the gospel preached through the Son. And the gospel was the word, and the word was with the Son, and the Son was with God, and the Son was of God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by him, and without him was not anything made which was made. In him was the gospel, and the gospel was the life, and the life was the light of men. And the light shines in the world, and the world perceives it not. (Teachings and Commandments section 171, Testimony of St. John. 1 par. 1)

Christ is living water. He is the bread of life. He is the light of men.

Do these attributes of Christ counteract the conditions of a dark and dreary wilderness?

Then does the dark and dreary wilderness signify a lack of association with Christ?

In the vision Lehi finds himself beginning in this very condition.

What happens next?

And it came to pass that I saw a man and he was dressed in a white robe; and he came and stood before me. And it came to pass that he spake unto me and bade me follow him.

What is the significance of a man dressed in a white robe?

Is there something that parallels our modern day in the symbol of a man dressed in a white robe bidding people to follow him?

We'll come back to all this but let's go on for the moment.

What happens when Lehi follows this man in a white robe?

And it came to pass that as I followed him, I beheld myself that I was in a dark and dreary waste. And after I had traveled for the space of many hours in darkness, I began to pray unto the Lord that he would have mercy on me according to the multitude of his tender mercies.

As Lehi follows this man, even though the man is dressed in white, he now finds himself in a dark and dreary waste.

Is a dark and dreary waste even worse than a dark and dreary wilderness?

Why is Lehi specific to use the word waste instead of wilderness?

One of the uses of the word waste as a noun listed in the Websters 1828 dictionary is "region ruined and deserted."

Lehi starts in a dark wilderness but by following this man in white he ends up in an even worse predicament being in a region that is dark, ruined and deserted.

It is only after Lehi repents of following this man for hours, by turning directly to God and pleading for His tender mercies, that Lehi is delivered from the dark and dreary waste.

Is it significant that Lehi, following his petitions to God, is not only delivered from the dark and dreary waste but also from the dark and dreary wilderness?

Where does Lehi immediately find himself by God's deliverance?

This is powerful symbolism that we ought to urgently consider in our day and age.

Let's go back to the man dressed in a white robe.

What do we usually associate the color white with?

Is it possible in this world to feign purity?

Is it possible for those things that come from the adversary to appear as though they are pure?

Does tradition have a role in confusing and making that which is from the adversary have the appearance of purity?

What did the Prophet Joseph have to say concerning false spirits and men?

If Satan should appear as one in glory, who can tell his color, his signs, his appearance, his glory, or what is the manner of his manifestation? Who can detect the spirit of the French prophets with their revelations and their visions, and power of manifestations? Or who can point out the spirit of the Irvingites, with their apostles and prophets, and visions and tongues, and interpretations, etc. Or who can drag into daylight and develop the hidden mysteries of the false spirits that so frequently are made manifest among the Latter-day Saints? We answer that no man can do this without the Priesthood, and having a knowledge of the laws by which spirits are governed; for as no man knows the things of God, but by the Spirit of God, so no man knows the spirit of the devil, and his power and influence, but by possessing intelligence which is more than human, and having unfolded through the medium of the Priesthood the mysterious operations of his devices; without knowing the angelic form, the sanctified look and gesture, and the zeal that is frequently manifested by him for the glory of God, together with the prophetic spirit, the gracious influence, the godly appearance, and the holy garb, which are so characteristic of his proceedings and his mysterious windings. (Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith pgs. 204 - 205)

The Prophet Joseph taught that priesthood is required in order to detect the spirit of the devil who can appear as an angel of light and appear to have a sanctified look and gesture and who can profess a Godly zeal and a godly appearance.

Remember that we have talked many times concerning priesthood; that true priesthood is a face to face association with Christ and God the Father.

Only by having an association with them can one detect the spirit of the devil and cast it out because God the Father and Christ can reveal the nature of the spirits that people encounter to individuals who have communion with God and Christ.I

Women and children as well as men can have this association with Christ and the Father. 3rd Nephi when the Lord appeared to the Nephites is just one example of this association and all the men women and children were present together.

Therefore all men women and children can posses priesthood.

The prophet Joseph declared that these false spirits and influences are even among the Latter-day Saints.

The prophet further declared,

A man must have the discerning of spirits before he can drag into daylight this hellish influence
and unfold it unto the world in all its soul-destroying, diabolical, and horrid colors; for nothing is
a greater injury to the children of men than to be under the influence of a false spirit when they think
they have the Spirit of God. (Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, pg. 205)

Can an individual who follows a man, even if the man appears to be pure, find themselves under a soul-destroying hellish influence?

Is it possible for a man to be under a soul-destroying hellish influence and think he has the Spirit of God so he bids others to follow him?

What about that popular childrens' song taught in the primaries of the LDS Church; Follow the Prophet?

Is any prophet, even a true one, more than a man?

What happens if a prophet puts himself up for a light to be followed instead of Christ?

What about a statement "follow us for we cannot lead you astray?"

He commandeth that there shall be no priestcrafts; for behold, priestcrafts are that men preach and set themselves up for a light unto the world, that they may get gain and praise of the world, but they seek not the welfare of Zion. Behold, the Lord hath forbidden this thing; wherefore, the Lord God hath given a commandment that all men should have charity, which charity is love. And except they should have charity, they were nothing; wherefore, if they should have charity, they would not suffer the laborer in Zion to perish. But the laborer in Zion shall labor for Zion, for if they labor for money, they shall perish. (2 Nephi, NC 2 Nephi 11 par. 17)

Would setting oneself up as a light and receiving gain or money for their ministry to receive wild acclaim be considered as being under the influence of a false spirit?

Nephi declared that it was because of priestcraft that the Lord was crucified among the Jews.

The Jews felt that they had justly killed Christ to stop Him from blaspheming God.

Were they under the influence of a false spirit because of priestcraft?

Are there any parallels between what Lehi saw here and the spirit that may influence us today?

If we follow a man, any man, will we find ourself anywhere but in a dark and dreary waste?

Is there or has there been any man who has possessed or does possess the attributes of Christ that counteract the conditions of the dark and dreary wilderness we all find ourselves in at the beginning in this life as the veil is placed upon us?

What did the prophet Joseph say concerning those who were following him?

...righteous persons could only deliver their own souls—applied it to the present state of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints—said if the people departed from the Lord, they must fall—that they were depending on the Prophet, hence were darkened in their minds, in consequence of neglecting the duties devolving upon themselves, (Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, pg. 238)

By following the man in a white robe was Lehi's experience a good symbol of departing from the Lord by depending on a Prophet?

Is the dark and dreary waste a good symbol of being darkened in our minds?

What are the duties devolving upon ourselves?

If we are presently following a man what can we do?

Can we repent like Lehi did in his dream?

What will happen if we turn to God like Lehi and pray for His mercy?

Will the God of Lehi love us the same as He loved Lehi and deliver us from our dark and dreary waste?

Do we each have a personal responsibility (a duty devolving upon us) to turn to Christ and follow Him and no one else?

Will God not only deliver us from the waste as we turn to Him, will He also deliver us from the wilderness as well like He did with Lehi?

Does this part of Lehi's dream give more meaning to what Nephi declared?

O Lord, I have trusted in thee and I will trust in thee for ever. I will not put my trust in the arm of flesh, for I know that cursed is he that putteth his trust in the arm of flesh. Yea, cursed is he that putteth his trust in man or maketh flesh his arm. Yea, I know that God will give liberally to him that asketh. Yea, my God will give me if I ask not amiss; therefore I will lift up my voice unto thee. Yea, I will cry unto thee, my God, the Rock of my righteousness. Behold, my voice shall for ever ascend up unto thee, my Rock and mine everlasting God. Amen. (2 Nephi 4:34 - 35, NC 2 Nephi 3 par. 8)

Monday, September 2, 2019

Sacrifice and Seeds

1 Nephi 7:22 - 1 Nephi 8:1, NC 1 Nephi 2 pars. 5 - 6

And it came to pass that we did come down unto the tent of our father. And after I and my brethren and all the house of Ishmael had come down unto the tent of my father, they did give thanks unto the Lord their God, and they did offer sacrifice and burnt offerings unto him. And it came to pass that we had gathered together all manner of seeds of every kind, both of grain of every kind and also of the seeds of fruits of every kind.

I am curious, what is going on here?

Why is Nephi so particular to mention these times when sacrifice and offerings are offered to the Lord?

And it came to pass that he (Lehi) built an altar of stones, and made an offering unto the Lord, and gave thanks unto the Lord our God. (1 Nephi 2:7, NC 1 Nephi)

And it came to pass that they (Lehi and Sariah) did rejoice exceedingly, and did offer sacrifice and burnt offerings unto the Lord; and they gave thanks unto the God of Israel. (1 Nephi 5:9, NC 1 Nephi )

First it is Lehi offering sacrifice.

Then it is Lehi and Sariah offering sacrifice together.

Now Ishmael and his family are involved in the offering of sacrifice as well.

I readily confess that I am not familiar with the law of Moses, which I assume has much to do with what is going on here.

And now when I, Nephi, had heard these words I remembered the words of the Lord which he spake unto me in the wilderness, saying that, Inasmuch as thy seed shall keep my commandments, they shall prosper in the land of promise. Yea, I also thought that they could not keep the commandments of the Lord according to the law of Moses, save they should have the law. And I also knew that the law was engraven upon the plates of brass. (1 Nephi 4:14 - 16, NC 1 Nephi)

And we did observe to keep the judgements and the statutes and the commandments of the Lord in all things according to the law of Moses. (2 Nephi 5:10, NC 2 Nephi)

I have looked into the matter a little and have found a couple of things that might be of interest and important in understanding what is occurring first with Lehi and then with Lehi and Sariah together and then it appears the group generally.

As I was looking into the offerings contained in the law of Moses I came across a table created by an Edward J Brandt that categorized the different offerings present in the law of Moses.

Pulling from the book of Leviticus and the other scriptures including the Book of Mormon the chart was organized to show the name of the ordinance and type of offering, emblematic objects used for the ordinance, the purpose of the ordinance, and when administered.

One of the offerings of the law of Moses was called a peace offering.

And this is the law of the sacrifice of peace offerings which he shall offer unto the Lord: If he offer it for a thanksgiving, then he shall offer with the sacrifice of thanksgiving unleavened cakes mingled with oil, and unleavened wafers anointed with oil, and cakes of fine flour mingled with oil, fried. Besides the cakes, he shall offer for his offering leavened bread with the sacrifice of thanksgiving of his peace offerings. And of it he shall offer one out of the whole offering for a heave offering unto the Lord, and it shall be the priest’s that sprinkles the blood of the peace offerings. And the flesh of the sacrifice of his peace offerings for thanksgiving shall be eaten the same day that it is offered. He shall not leave any of it until the morning. But if the sacrifice of his offering is a vow or a voluntary offering, it shall be eaten the same day that he offers his sacrifice, and on the next day also the remainder of it shall be eaten. But the remainder of the flesh of the sacrifice on the third day shall be burned with fire. And if any of the flesh of the sacrifice of his peace offerings is eaten at all on the third day, it shall not be accepted, neither shall it be imputed unto him that offers it. It shall be an abomination, and the soul that eats of it shall bear his iniquity. (Leviticus 7:11 - 18, OC Leviticus 2 par.6)

As I understand what I have read, there was a three fold purpose to the peace offering.

1) A thank offering given to thank God for all the blessings He had given.
2) A vow offering signifying the taking or renewing of a covenant or vow
3) A free-will offering signifying the voluntary reception of a covenant with all the attendant responsibilities and consequences.

I found an instance in the Old Testament of a group involved in a peace offering in 2 Chronicles 29, OC 2 Chronicles 16.

This is the reign of King Hezekiah.

Israel had been in a general state of apostasy and Hezekiah turned things around.

Hezekiah began to reign when he was twenty-five years old, and he reigned twenty-nine years in Jerusalem. And his mother’s name was Abijah, the daughter of Zechariah. And he did that which was right in the sight of the Lord, according to all that David his father had done.
He, in the first year of his reign, in the first month, opened the doors of the house of the Lord and repaired them. And he brought in the priests and the Levites, and gathered them together into the east street, and said unto them, Hear me, you Levites; sanctify now yourselves, and sanctify the house of the Lord God of your fathers, and carry forth the filthiness out of the holy place. For our fathers have trespassed and done evil in the eyes of the Lord our God, and have forsaken him, and have turned away their faces from the habitation of the Lord, and turned their backs. Also, they have shut up the doors of the porch and put out the lamps, and have not burned incense nor offered burnt offerings in the holy place unto the God of Israel. Wherefore, the wrath of the Lord was upon Judah and Jerusalem, and he has delivered them to trouble, to astonishment, and to hissing, as you see with your eyes; for behold, our fathers have fallen by the sword, and our sons and our daughters and our wives are in captivity for this.
Now it is in my heart to make a covenant with the Lord God of Israel, that his fierce wrath may turn away from us. My sons, be not now negligent, for the Lord has chosen you to stand before him, to serve him, and that you should minister unto him and burn incense.
Then the Levites arose: Mahath the son of Amasai and Joel the son of Azariah, of the sons of the Kohathites; and of the sons of Merari: Kish the son of Abdi and Azariah the son of Jehallelel; and of the Gershonites: Joah the son of Zimmah and Eden the son of Joah; and of the sons of Elizaphan: Shimri and Jeiel; and of the sons of Asaph: Zechariah and Mattaniah; and of the sons of Heman: Jehiel and Shimei; and of the sons of Jeduthun: Shemaiah and Uzziel.
And they gathered their brethren and sanctified themselves, and came according to the commandment of the king, by the words of the Lord, to cleanse the house of the Lord. And the priests went into the inner part of the house of the Lord to cleanse it, and brought out all the uncleanness that they found in the temple of the Lord, into the court of the house of the Lord. And the Levites took it, to carry it out abroad into the brook Kidron. Now they began on the first day of the first month to sanctify, and on the eighth day of the month came they to the porch of the Lord. So they sanctified the house of the Lord in eight days, and in the sixteenth day of the first month, they made an end.
Then they went in to Hezekiah the king and said, We have cleansed all the house of the Lord, and the altar of burnt offering with all the vessels thereof, and the showbread table with all the vessels thereof. Moreover, all the vessels which king Ahaz in his reign did cast away in his transgression have we prepared and sanctified, and behold, they are before the altar of the Lord.
Then Hezekiah the king rose early, and gathered the rulers of the city and went up to the house of the Lord. And they brought seven bullocks, and seven rams, and seven lambs, and seven he-goats for a sin offering for the kingdom, and for the sanctuary, and for Judah. And he commanded the priests, the sons of Aaron, to offer them on the altar of the Lord. So they killed the bullocks, and the priests received the blood and sprinkled it on the altar. Likewise, when they had killed the rams, they sprinkled the blood upon the altar. They killed also the lambs and they sprinkled the blood upon the altar. And they brought forth the he-goats for the sin offering before the king and the congregation, and they laid their hands upon them, and the priests killed them, and they made reconciliation with their blood upon the altar to make an atonement for all Israel; for the king commanded the burnt offering and the sin offering for all Israel.
And he set the Levites in the house of the Lord with cymbals, with psalteries, and with harps, according to the commandment of David, and of Gad the king’s seer, and Nathan the prophet; for so was the commandment of the Lord by his prophets. And the Levites stood with the instruments of David, and the priests with the trumpets.
And Hezekiah commanded to offer the burnt offering upon the altar. And when the burnt offering began, the song of the Lord began with the trumpets and with the instruments ordained by David king of Israel. And all the congregation worshipped, and the singers sang, and the trumpeters sounded until the burnt offering was finished.
And when they had made an end of offering, the king and all that were present with him bowed themselves and worshipped. Moreover, Hezekiah the king and the princes commanded the Levites to sing praise unto the Lord, with the words of David and of Asaph the seer. And they sang praises with gladness, and they bowed their heads and worshipped.
Then Hezekiah answered and said, Now you have consecrated yourselves unto the Lord. Come near and bring sacrifices and thank offerings into the house of the Lord. And the congregation brought in sacrifices and thank offerings, and as many as were of a free heart, burnt offerings. And the number of the burnt offerings which the congregation brought was seventy bullocks, a hundred rams, two hundred lambs — all these were for a burnt offering to the Lord. And the consecrated things were six hundred oxen and three thousand sheep. But the priests were too few, so that they could not flay all the burnt offerings. Wherefore, their brethren the Levites did help them until the work was ended, and until the priests had sanctified themselves (for the Levites were more upright in heart to sanctify themselves than the priests). And also the burnt offerings were in abundance, with the fat of the peace offerings and the drink offerings for every burnt offering.
So the service of the house of the Lord was set in order. And Hezekiah rejoiced, and all the people, that God had prepared the people; for the thing was done suddenly. (2 Chronicles 29:1 - 36, OC 2 Chronicles 16 pars. 1 - 12)

As a group we have learned that we cannot make a covenant with God. God can extend a covenant to us and we can choose to accept or reject that covenant.

I believe that God put it into the heart of Hezekiah that He, God, wanted to renew His covenant to Hezekiah and the people of Israel.

When the sacrifices were made Hezekiah made mention of sacrifices and thank offerings and it mentions that as many as were of a free heart brought these thank offerings in.

This would seem to imply to me that these folks were offering thanks to God and willingly taking upon themselves the covenant and responsibilities that God was extending at that time to them.

Is it possible that following this pattern of peace offerings in the law of Moses that Lehi first gave thanks and accepted a covenant from God and then Lehi and Sariah together so that Sariah becomes part of it as well and then Ishmael and his family along with all of Lehi's family also become part of this new covenant God extended?

Was God intending to make of Lehi a great nation through this action?

Was it important for a covenant to be extended and for all who were to be led out to voluntarily receive the covenant before their journey into the wilderness to the promised land?

Is this a record of the exact times when the covenant the Lord extended through Lehi was received by these several parties?

Was the peace offering the mechanism God established in the law of Moses for those under the law to accept and receive covenants He extended to them?

Is this same experience what happened with the people of King Benjamin?

And it came to pass that after Mosiah had done as his father had commanded him and had made a proclamation throughout all the land, that the people gathered themselves together throughout all the land, that they might go up to the temple to hear the words which king Benjamin should speak unto them. And there were a great number, even so many that they did not number them, for they had multiplied exceedingly and waxed great in the land. And they also took of the firstlings of their flocks, that they might offer sacrifice and burnt offerings according to the law of Moses, and also that they might give thanks to the Lord their God, who had brought them out of the land of Jerusalem, and who had delivered them out of the hands of their enemies, and had appointed just men to be their teachers, and also a just man to be their king, who had established peace in the land of Zarahemla, and who had taught them to keep the commandments of God, that thereby they might rejoice and be filled with love towards God and all men. (Mosiah 2:1 - 4, NC Mosiah 1 par 5)

Were King Benjamin's people bringing peace offerings that included thank offerings to the temple, along with the burnt offerings, to sacrifice in order to thank God and accept a covenant?

We know from what King Benjamin had told his son Mosiah that a covenant was going to be extended (And I give unto them a name that shall never be blotted out, except it be through transgression) and I would suppose that information was given out as the invitation to come to the temple was given.

Would it be important for such covenant receiving experiences to be "on record" so to speak?

King Benjamin thought it expedient to record the names of all who received the extended covenant at that time.

Is it possible that these references to these sacrifices with Lehi and Ishmael and their households is a record of such a covenantal event; to have on record those who voluntarily accepted it?

If this happens to be a correct appraisal of what is happening in these sections of 1 Nephi and the law of Moses has been fulfilled, what then would now be the mechanism, instead of offering peace offerings, to accept a bonafide covenant from God?

What would that all look like?

How would such a covenant come about?

There is so so so much that could be discussed and looked into concerning this matter and it is impossible to do more than just barely touch on the subject here.

It is another curiosity that Nephi who deliberately stated, And it mattereth not to me that I am particular to give a full account of all the things of my father for they cannot be written upon these plates, for I desire the room that I may write of the things of God., would use space on the plates to record that they had gathered seeds.

What is the purpose of recording this?

Further on in the record we read that they used the seeds.

And it came to pass that we did begin to till the earth, and we began to plant seeds; yea, we did put all our seeds into the earth which we had brought from the land of Jerusalem. And it came to pass that they did grow exceedingly; wherefore, we were blessed in abundance. (1 Nephi 18:24, NC 1 Nephi 5 par. 33)

But why did they need to gather seeds to begin with?

Didn't the promised land have a nation on it right before that lasted thousands of years?

Wouldn't there already be seeds of fruit and grains and so forth?

Was the destruction of the Jaredites so complete that even new seeds were required to begin anew?

Interestingly the brother of Jared was commanded to do the same thing.

And it came to pass that the brother of Jared did cry unto the Lord according to that which had been spoken by the mouth of Jared. And it came to pass that the Lord did hear the brother of Jared and had compassion upon him, and said unto him, Go to and gather together thy flocks, both male and female of every kind, and also of the seed of the earth of every kind, and thy family, and also Jared thy brother and his family, and also thy friends and their families, and the friends of Jared and their families. (Ether 1:41, NC Ether 1 par. 3)

A question comes to mind.

Is there a symbol of the Lord's work in all the earth in these acts?

As one looks at what the Lord is doing with these folks is it a parallel of the Lord gathering seeds (people) of every kind and planting them in a new place to raise up seed (children worthy of preservation) to Himself?

This is what the Lord declared to the brother of Jared.

And when thou hast done this, thou shalt go at the head of them down into the valley which is northward, and there will I meet thee, and I will go before thee into a land which is choice above all the land of the earth. And there will I bless thee and thy seed, and raise up unto me — of thy seed, and the seed of thy brother, and they who shall go with thee — a great nation. And there shall be none greater than the nation which I will raise up unto me of thy seed upon all the face of the earth. And this I will do unto thee because this long time which ye have cried unto me.

It would appear that the brother of Jared became a Father of many nations after the order of the Son of God like unto Adam. He made of the brother of Jared a great nation.

Just as the Lord commanded the children of Israel to keep Him in remembrance in all that they did day by day wouldn't the gathered seeds in new ground growing up in abundance bring to the remembrance of those who had been gathered and led out that they had been led out by the Lord for that purpose; to bring forth children in abundant righteousness?

Do gathered seeds hold promise?

Does the Lord gather seed of the earth of every kind (people of every nation kindred and tongue) and lead them out to precious lands to plant them in the desire to obtain fruit?

By abundant fruit springing from the gathered seeds are the promises continued to the next generations?

If these exercises of gathering seeds are in the Book of Mormon for a symbol then they are a very powerful symbol indeed.