Could it Be? Is it Possible?

A recent statement comes to mind concerning the present Restoration with respect to the covenant.

Only we can keep the covenant. Only those who keep the covenant together can establish a new civilization with God’s holy House at its center. ("Civilization," General Conference Address Denver C. Snuffer, Jr. Grand Junction, CO 21 April 2019, pg. 32)

As well as this following statement.

We’re not going to arrive where we need to arrive if we perceive ourselves as unequal, if we think of ourselves as greater and lesser, if we don’t think of ourselves as simply common servants, inadequate as we may be, to a Lord who loved and sacrificed Himself for our redemption. He is worthy. We can do our best and we can make a lot of mistakes along the way. Joseph did his best and it just didn’t work out. But what would have happened if the people, in July of 1840 when no commandment had yet been given, rose up and with alacrity decided that they were going to labor for the accomplishment of the task that Joseph was telling them was coming? What would have happened had the money raised and donated for the temple not been diverted by the temple committee to their own purposes? What would have happened if the lumber sent down from the Wisconsin mission been used for the construction of the temple rather than being diverted for the homes of the leading citizens? What would have happened if instead of God requiring yanking on the reins to pull the bit in the mouth of the horse of the restoration, what would have happened if all that was needed was for the reins to be lightly put on the neck of the horse of the restoration, to guide it where it needed to go? Horses are so sensitive that when a fly lands on their skin they can twitch to remove it. The people of the restoration are nowhere near as sensitive to what God would have them do, then or now, as is a horse. (Remembering the Covenants Regional Conference Address, Denver Snuffer Centerville, Utah 4 August 2018, pg. 6)

In my opinion, events in the Restoration are occurring in a remarkable way.

I have expressed in this blog multiple times that I now believe that I understand why the Lord used the description, "strange act" to describe His work underway right now.

Never in a million years would I have imagined that He would perform his miraculous work in the manner in which it is unfolding.

The above statements came to my mind as a result of an announcement concerning the translation of the Book of Mormon into Hebrew.

Below is one of the questions that was and is asked to all who accept a new covenant God has extended.

Second: Do you have faith in these things and receive the scriptures approved by the Lord as a standard to govern you in your daily walk in life, to accept the obligations established by the Book of Mormon as a covenant, and to use the scriptures to correct yourselves and to guide your words, thoughts, and deeds? (T&C 158 par. 3)

Do "we" have an obligation established by the Book of Mormon to take the Book of Mormon to the Jews?

The Book of Mormon was written for three groups. Three targeted audiences are identified right at the outset: the Lamanites, the Jews, and the gentiles. That’s who the Book of Mormon was sent to. In the Teachings and Commandments, section 158, there is a covenant offered to the gentiles, to the remnant of the Lamanites, and to the remnant of the Jews. These are the words of that covenant. 

Do you have faith in these things and receive the scriptures approved by the Lord as a standard to govern in your daily walk in life, to accept the obligations established by the Book of Mormon as a covenant, and to use the scriptures to correct yourselves and to guide your words, thoughts and deeds? (vs 3) 

It also goes on to say: But if you do not honor me, nor seek to recover my people Israel... then you have no promise (vs 19). 

The people that the Book of Mormon established as the target audience are the Lamanites, the Jews, and the gentiles. We have an obligation to try and reach out to the Lamanites, the Jews, and the gentiles. (Book of Mormon as a Covenant Denver C. Snuffer, Jr. Columbia, South Carolina 13 January 2019, pg. 4)

Is it possible that the Lord has recently prepared a way that "we" can work together as inadequate fellow servants to translate the Book of Mormon into Hebrew, therefore fulfilling that obligation the Book of Mormon has imposed upon us?

There is a web page that was announced for the Hebrew translation effort; https://www.hebrewbookofmormon.com/

The following is from that page.

Funding the Work

The only paid participants in the project are the actual scholar-translators. All other participants volunteer their time and efforts. All donated funds go 100% to pay for actual translation work.

When the translation is complete, paid professional typesetting and publishing will be required.

The project has cost over $250,000 so far, and it is anticipated another $150,000 will be required to bring the editing work to completion, plus $50,000 for typesetting and publishing.

The completed books will be distributed in Israel and made available to Jews worldwide at the cost of printing. The text will also be published free of charge online in an interactive Hebrew/English study site, which has already been built by volunteers.

Once the book is published, efforts will be undertaken to publicize and distribute the book in the US, Europe, and Israel.

Could it be that the Lord is lightly putting the reigns on the neck of the horse of the Restoration by bringing this announcement forward in order to provide all covenant holders who feel to do so an opportunity to assist so that this obligation is completed by "we" as equally inadequate fellow servants?

Do we see in the past attempt of restoration in the Prophet Joseph's day any examples of the Lord trying to work in such a way by lightly putting the reigns on the neck of the horse of the Restoration?

In the minutes of an October 1831 conference, Joseph made this statement, “God had often sealed up the Heavens because of covetousness in the church. Said the Lord would cut his work short in righteousness and except the church receive the fullness of the scriptures they would yet fall.”1 After that warning on July 17, 1840, two men were assigned to go on a mission for the purpose of raising money to publish scriptures. This included a new edition of the Book of Mormon and the Joseph Smith Translation of the Bible. (It is called a “translation” but is more correctly understood as the prophet’s inspired revision clarifying the text.) In October 1840, a letter to all the saints was published in the Times and Seasons asking for their full support in the effort to publish “the new translation of the Scriptures.” That effort failed to put the Joseph Smith Translation in print, and Joseph died without it ever being published. ( "Fullness of the Scriptures," Glossary of Gospel Terms, Teachings and Commandments) 

Did they "yet fall" because of their failure to respond?

Can we learn from their failure to respond to the Lord's guiding of the reigns?

If someone desires to contribute but wonders if their contribution is too "small" to be considered an equal contribution would it be well to remember what the Savior declared concerning the widow's offering?

And after this, Jesus sat opposite the treasury and beheld how the people cast money into the treasury; and many that were rich cast in much. And there came a certain poor widow, and she cast in two mites, which make a farthing. And Jesus called his disciples and said unto them, Truly I say unto you that this poor widow has cast more in than all they who have cast into the treasury; for all the rich did cast in of their abundance, but she — notwithstanding her lack — did cast in all that she had; yea, even all her possessions. (Mark 12:41 - 44, NC Mark 5 par. 48)

Would it also be good to consider King Benjamin's words as we as equal fellow servants consider contributing?

... And see that all these things are done in wisdom and order, for it is not requisite that a man should run faster than he has strength. And again, it is expedient that he should be diligent, that thereby he might win the prize. Therefore, all things must be done in order... (Mosiah 4:26 - 30, NC Mosiah 2 par. 6)

Especially in today's circumstances, is it possible that there are those who, as equal fellow servants, have obligations that do not permit them to donate even though they desire to do so?

Is God able to determine the thoughts and intents of every heart?

Is God able to answer earnest prayers of faith?

Are earnest prayers of faith required as well as donations for this project to succeed?

Could it be that the Lord has prepared this opportunity for us to be able to respond as equal fellow servants with alacrity as "we" a body of people, by supporting this effort to fulfill the obligation imposed upon us to take the Book of Mormon to the Jews, with our prayers and, for those who are able, our added donations?