Mosiah 27 - 28

This past week my thoughts have seemed to be led toward two topics - repentance and "becoming". As I have previously blogged, I felt there had to be some sort of pain, remorse, and Godly sorrow in the repentance process. For Alma the younger tells us that -

"...after wading through much tribulation, repenting nigh unto death, the Lord in mercy hath seen fit to snatch me out of an everlasting burning..."
(Book of Mormon Mosiah 27:28)

And he stood and declared -

"...I have repented of my sins, and have been redeemed of the Lord; behold I am born of the Spirit." (Book of Mormon Mosiah 27:24)

He then shares the mystery that the Lord revealed to him to -

"...Marvel not that all mankind, yea, men and women, all nations, kindreds, tongues and people, must be born again; yea, born of God, changed from their carnal and fallen state, to a state of righteousness, being redeemed of God, becoming his sons and daughters..." (Book of Mormon Mosiah 27:25)

And as they become Children of Christ -

"...they become new creatures..."(Book of Mormon Mosiah 27:26)

The Lord then give notice to all men that -

"...and unless they do this, they can in nowise inherit the kingdom of God." (Book of Mormon Mosiah 27:26)

We learn a little more about this "becoming new creatures" as we observe the actions of Alma and the Sons of Mosiah. As new creatures -

"...Alma began from this time forward to teach the people, and those who were with Alma at the time the angel appeared unto them, traveling round about through all the land, publishing to all the people the things which they had heard and seen, and preaching the word of God in much tribulation, being greatly persecuted by those who were unbelievers..." (Book of Mormon Mosiah 27:32)

Even though -

"...being smitten by many of them..." (Book of Mormon Mosiah 27:32)

"....And they traveled throughout all the land...zealously striving to repair all the injuries which they had done to the church, confessing all their sins, and publishing all the things which they had seen, and explaining the prophecies and the scriptures to all who desired to hear them." (Book of Mormon Mosiah 27:35)

For as new creatures, spiritually begotten children of Christ -

"...they were desirous that salvation should be declared to every creature, for they could not bear that any human soul should perish; yea, even the very thoughts that any soul should endure endless torment did cause them to quake and tremble...." (Book of Mormon Mosiah 28:3)

What great insight of true repentance we learn from these brethren as -

"...they were instruments in the hands of God in bringing many to the knowledge of the truth, yea, to the knowledge of their Redeemer.
37 And how blessed are they! For they did publish peace; they did publish good tidings of good; and they did declare unto the people that the Lord reigneth." (Book of Mormon Mosiah 27:36 - 37)

Mosiah 24 - 26

We find even in the days of King Mosiah and Alma -

"...there were many of the rising generation that...did not believe the tradition of their fathers...neither did they believe concerning the coming of Christ.
3 And now because of their unbelief they could not understand the word of God; and their hearts were hardened." (Book of Mormon Mosiah 26:1 - 3)

This was not all, they were -

"in [a] carnal and sinful state; for they would not call upon the Lord their God." (Book of Mormon Mosiah 26:4)

And being in this carnal and sinful state -

"...they did deceive many with their flattering words, who were in the church, and did cause them to commit many sins..." (Book of Mormon Mosiah 26:6)

"...because they were pleasing unto the carnal mind..." (Book of Mormon Alma 30:53)

As the head of the Church -

"...Alma was troubled in his spirit..." (Book of Mormon Mosiah 26:10)

"...and he went and inquired of the Lord what he should do concerning this matter, for he feared that he should do wrong in the sight of God." (Book of Mormon Mosiah 26:13)

As a result of his sincere prayers, the Lord revealed to those who preside in his Church -

"...he that will hear my voice shall be my sheep; and him shall ye receive into the church, and him will I also receive.
22 For behold, this is my church; whosoever is baptized shall be baptized unto repentance. And whomsoever ye receive shall believe in my name; and him will I freely forgive." (Book of Mormon Mosiah 26:21 - 22)

And -

"...he that will not hear my voice, the same shall ye not receive into my church..." (Book of Mormon Mosiah 26:28)

And of those who have been received into the Church -

"...and whosoever transgresseth against me, him shall ye judge according to the sins which he has committed; and if he confess his sins before thee and me, and repenteth in the sincerity of his heart, him shall ye forgive, and I will forgive him also.
30 Yea, and as often as my people repent will I forgive them their trespasses against me." (Book of Mormon Mosiah 26:29 - 30)

"...and whosoever will not repent of his sins the same shall not be numbered among my people..." (Book of Mormon Mosiah 26:32)

And then speaking to the saints in general -

"...ye shall also forgive one another your trespasses; for verily I say unto you, he that forgiveth not his neighbor's trespasses when he says that he repents, the same hath brought himself under condemnation..." (Book of Mormon Mosiah 26:31)

I know the Lord has said -

"...I, the Lord, will forgive whom I will forgive, but of you it is required to forgive all men." (Doctrine and Covenants Section 64:10)

As I have pondered these last two verses, I seem to feel that it is required of us to forgive all men when we have particularly been offended. But, their are many cases where the offense has not been particularly directed to us but may be to others or the the Church. I feel it is in these such cases that we are required to forgive, when the offender has -

"...witnessed unto the church that they truly repented of all their sins." (Book of Mormon Moroni 6:2)

Mosiah 20 - 23

As the followers of Alma expressed a desire that Alma be their King -

"...for he was beloved by his people..." (Book of Mormon Mosiah 23:6)

But Alma responded with -

"...Ye shall not esteem one flesh above another, or one man shall not think himself above another..." (Book of Mormon Mosiah 23:7)

Alma knew that -

" if it were possible that [they] could always have just men to be [their] kings it would be well for [them] to have a king." (Book of Mormon Mosiah 23:8)

But he also remembered the great iniquity that was brought upon the people with a wicked King such as Noah and his priests for Alma, who was one of Noah's priests, confesses -

"...I myself was caught in a snare, and did many things which were abominable in the sight of the Lord..." (Book of Mormon Mosiah 23:9)

But then he follows -

"...which caused me sore repentance;
10 Nevertheless, after much tribulation, the Lord did hear my cries, and did answer my prayers..." (Book of Mormon Mosiah 23:9 - 10)

I think Alma teaches a great lesson here with the words "sore repentance". I believe that "sore" is a significant part of repentance. Some may feel that repentance only requires stopping, and/or changing and not doing a sin again. But I believe it requires more. Paul taught the Corinthians -

"For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death." (New Testament 2 Corinthians 7:10)

For Paul tells them in sincerity -

"Now I rejoice, not that ye were made sorry, but that ye sorrowed to repentance: for ye were made sorry after a godly manner..." (New Testament 2 Corinthians 7:9)

Alma the younger describes his repentance with -

"...I was racked with eternal torment, for my soul was harrowed up to the greatest degree and racked with all my sins...." (Book of Mormon Alma 36:12)

Anti-Nephi-Lehi described this sore repentance as -

"...taken away the guilt from our hearts" (Book of Mormon Alma 24:10)

As Alma talks of his sore repentance, he also describes other natural results of complete repentance including humility, gratitude, and service where he follows -

"...and has made me an instrument in his hands in bringing so many of you to a knowledge of his truth.
11 Nevertheless, in this I do not glory, for I am unworthy to glory of myself." (Book of Mormon Mosiah 23:10 - 11)

Then he tells his people after sore repentance and -

"...as ye have been delivered by the power of God out of...the bonds of iniquity, even so I desire that ye should stand fast in this liberty wherewith ye have been made free, and that ye...no one to be your teacher nor your minister, except he be a man of God, walking in his ways and keeping his commandments." (Book of Mormon Mosiah 23:13 - 114)

Mosiah 15 - 19

A contemporary with Abinadi, King Benjamin taught his people -

"And now, because of the covenant which ye have made ye shall be called the children of Christ, his sons, and his daughters; for behold, this day he hath spiritually begotten you; for ye say that your hearts are changed through faith on his name; therefore, ye are born of him and have become his sons and his daughters." (Book of Mormon Mosiah 5:7)

It is the word "become" that I found myself pondering about.

"The Apostle Paul taught that the Lord's teachings and teachers were given that we may all attain 'the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ' (Eph. 4:13). This process requires far more than acquiring knowledge. It is not even enough for us to be convinced of the gospel; we must act and think so that we are converted by it. In contrast to the institutions of the world, which teach us to know something, the gospel of Jesus Christ challenges us to become something. . . .It is not enough for anyone just to go through the motions. The commandments, ordinances, and covenants of the gospel are not a list of deposits required to be made in some heavenly account. The gospel of Jesus Christ is a plan that shows us how to become what our Heavenly Father desires us to become" ("The Challenge to Become," Liahona, Jan. 2001, 40; Ensign, Nov. 2000, 32).

We know that even Christ had to "become" for John testified -

"I, John, saw that he received not of the fulness at the first, but received grace for grace..." (Doctrine and Covenants Section 93:12)

It is the words of Abinadi that seemed to strike me most with this concept as he explains -

"...now Abinadi said unto them: I would that ye should understand that God himself shall come down among the children of men, and shall redeem his people.
2 And because he dwelleth in flesh he shall be called the Son of God, and having subjected the flesh to the will of the Father, thus becoming the Father and the Son..." (Book of Mormon Mosiah 15:1 - 2)

I remember while serving in the mission field, reading these words, and in confusion, wondering what they meant. Over the years, as I have studied these words and have "inquired of the Lord" they have become more and more clear - in fact, almost overwhelming. As King Benjamin describes those of us who enter in to a covenant to be called the "children of Christ", in that he has spiritually begotten us, and that we or born of him and "become" his sons and daughters, then logic would have it then that he "becomes" our "Father". Abinadi explains -

"The Father, because he was conceived by the power of God; and the Son, because of the flesh..." (Book of Mormon Mosiah 15:3)

These words become clear in that his capacity to be the "Father" or the Christ was inherent because his father was deity and his mother a mortal. The Father because as Alma taught was -

"...conceive[d] by the power of the Holy Ghost...yea, even the Son of God" (Book of Mormon Alma 7:10)

and would become flesh because he would -

"...be born of Mary...she being a virgin, a precious and chosen vessel, who shall be overshadowed ...by the power of the Holy Ghost..." (Book of Mormon Alma 7:10)

The Savior himself like all men would have to learn to conform the flesh to the will of the spirit as in the Savior's, case the will of the Son (flesh) to the will of the Father (Spirit) and in his case the foreordination of being the Christ -

"And thus the flesh becoming subject to the Spirit, or the Son to the Father, being one God, suffereth temptation, and yieldeth not to the temptation, but suffereth himself to be mocked, and scourged, and cast out, and disowned by his people.
6 And after all this, after working many mighty miracles among the children of men, he shall be led, yea, even as Isaiah said, as a sheep before the shearer is dumb, so he opened not his mouth.
7 Yea, even so he shall be led, crucified, and slain, the flesh becoming subject even unto death, the will of the Son being swallowed up in the will of the Father." (Book of Mormon Mosiah 15:5 - 7)

Even as he revealed to the Prophet Joseph Smith -

"The Father because he gave me of his fulness, and the Son because I was in the world and made flesh my tabernacle, and dwelt among the sons of men." (Doctrine and Covenants Section 93:4)

"...who shall declare his generation? Behold, I say unto you, that when his soul has been made an offering for sin he shall see his seed. And now what say ye? And who shall be his seed?
11 Behold I say unto you, that whosoever has heard the words of the prophets, yea, all the holy prophets who have prophesied concerning the coming of the Lord—I say unto you, that all those who have hearkened unto their words, and believed that the Lord would redeem his people, and have looked forward to that day for a remission of their sins, I say unto you, that these are his seed, or they are the heirs of the kingdom of God.
12 For these are they whose sins he has borne; these are they for whom he has died, to redeem them from their transgressions. And now, are they not his seed?" (Book of Mormon Mosiah 15:10 - 12)

Therefore, Abinadi declares of the Savior -

"...thus becoming the Father and Son..." (Book of Mormon Mosiah 15:3)

Because of his great and last sacrifice, the infinite atonement, and his yielding the flesh to the will of the Father, he became the Father and the Son. And we can "become" his children as we see amongst the followers of Alma in Helam which -

"...he commanded them that they should preach nothing save it were repentance and faith on the Lord, who had redeemed his people.
21 And he commanded them that there should be no contention one with another, but that they should look forward with one eye, having one faith and one baptism, having their hearts knit together in unity and in love one towards another." (Book of Mormon Mosiah 18:20 - 21)

And as they did we are told -

"...And thus they became the children of God." (Book of Mormon Mosiah 18:22)

Mosiah 7 - 14

After having received such a marvelous revelations as is recorded in the Book of Moses in the Pearl of Great Price, I have to assume that Moses must have spoken plainly to the Israelites regarding the coming of the Messiah. I think it is interesting that we find very little plain teachings of the Savior in the five books of Moses in the Old Testament as we find in the Book of Mormon. As we read the words of Abinadi, he reminds King Noah and his priests of the teachings of Moses as if such prophesies of Moses were had amongst them, and they were plain to understand. For he asked them –

“…did not Moses prophesy unto them concerning the coming of the Messiah, and that God should redeem his people? Yea, and even all the prophets who have prophesied ever since the world began—have they not spoken more or less concerning these things?” (Book of Mormon Mosiah 13:33)

The prophecies of Moses as described by Abinadi must have been recorded and part of the brass plates of Laban. I appears that as the years progressed, the same teachings of Moses must have been removed from the Old Testament record. This being so, I’m sure that there must have been many plain and precious prophecies such as those of Moses may have challenged the contemporay teachings of religious leaders and must have been intentionally removed. We see no writings of Zenos and Zenock in the Old Testament and we know that Zenock spoke plainly concerning the Savior for Alma mentions -

"...that a second prophet of old has testified of the Son of God, and because the people would not understand his words they stoned him to death." (Book of Mormon Alma 33:17)

And then Abinadi , this time using the prophecies of Isaiah, again questions King Noah and his priests regarding the coming of the Messiah for Isaiah did not seem to write as plain as Zenos, Zenock, and Moses for –

“…behold, the Jews were a stiffnecked people; and they despised the words of plainness, and killed the prophets, and sought for things that they could not understand. Wherefore, because of their blindness, which blindness came by looking beyond the mark, they must needs fall; for God hath taken away his plainness from them…” (Book of Mormon Jacob 4:14)

And because of that, Isaiah -

“…delivered unto them many things which they cannot understand, because they desired it…“ (Book of Mormon Jacob 4:14)

And possibly because Isaiah did not write as plainly as other Old Testament prophets, much of his words seemed remain mostly intact. It is the words of Isaiah found in the 53rd Chapter of the Book of Isaiah that Abinadi decides to use as he challenges King Noah and his wicked priests. I think that it is in this revelation that Isaiah pushes the the borders between "plainness" and "unplainess" as he speaks Messanically. I've wondered that if he had spoken any more plain than he did, if these words would have also have been removed from the Old Testament. For I think this writing is plain enough that a believer has no problem understanding the prophecies of the atonement of Jesus Christ. I think the words were clear enough that the King Noah and his wicked priests understood the prophecies of Isaiah that Abinadi withstood and confounded their inquiries with.

I don't think that many people of today are much different than King Noah and his priests, or the ancient Jews in that they will not hear in that they will not -

“…open your ears that ye may hear, and your hearts that ye may understand, and your minds that the mysteries of God may be unfolded to your view." (Book of Mormon Mosiah 2:9)

Mosiah 3 - 6

As King Benjamin ended his speaking of the words that were delivered to him by an angel, he beheld that his people had -

"...fallen to the earth, for the fear of the Lord had come upon them.
2 And they had viewed themselves in their own carnal state, even less than the dust of the earth." (Book of Mormon Mosiah 4:1 - 2)

And in doing so -

"...they all cried aloud with one voice, saying: O have mercy, and apply the atoning blood of Christ that we may receive forgiveness of our sins, and our hearts may be purified; for we believe in Jesus Christ, the Son of God, who created heaven and earth, and all things; who shall come down among the children of men." (Book of Mormon Mosiah 4:2)

And as they did -

"...the Spirit of the Lord came upon them, and they were filled with joy, having received a remission of their sins, and having peace of conscience, because of the exceeding faith which they had in Jesus Christ who should come..." (Book of Mormon Mosiah 4:3)

Witnessing this, King Benjamin continues -

"...if ye have come to a knowledge of the goodness of God, and his matchless power, and his wisdom, and his patience, and his long-suffering towards the children of men; and also, the atonement which has been prepared from the foundation of the world, that thereby salvation might come to him that should put his trust in the Lord, and should be diligent in keeping his commandments, and continue in the faith even unto the end of his life, I mean the life of the mortal body—
7 I say, that this is the man who receiveth salvation, through the atonement which was prepared from the foundation of the world for all mankind...And this is the means whereby salvation cometh. And there is none other salvation save this which hath been spoken of; neither are there any conditions whereby man can be saved except the conditions which I have told you."" (Book of Mormon Mosiah 4:6 - 8)

And these are the conditions -

Believe in God; believe that he is, and that he created all things, both in heaven and in earth; believe that he has all wisdom, and all power, both in heaven and in earth; believe that man doth not comprehend all the things which the Lord can comprehend.
10 And again, believe that ye must repent of your sins and forsake them, and humble yourselves before God; and ask in sincerity of heart that he would forgive you... even so I would that ye should remember, and always retain in remembrance, the greatness of God, and your own nothingness, and his goodness and long-suffering towards you, unworthy creatures, and humble yourselves even in the depths of humility, calling on the name of the Lord daily, and standing steadfastly in the faith of that which is to come, which was spoken by the mouth of the angel." (Book of Mormon Mosiah 4:9 - 11)

And then King Benjamin promises that -

"...if ye do this ye shall always rejoice, and be filled with the love of God, and always retain a remission of your sins; and ye shall grow in the knowledge of the glory of him that created you, or in the knowledge of that which is just and true." (Book of Mormon Mosiah 4:12)

The people were so filled with the Spirit that they responded -

"...we are willing to enter into a covenant with our God to do his will, and to be obedient to his commandments in all things that he shall command us, all the remainder of our days..." (Book of Mormon Mosiah 5:5)

To which King Benjamin happily tells them -

"...because of the covenant which ye have made ye shall be called the children of Christ, his sons, and his daughters; for behold, this day he hath spiritually begotten you; for ye say that your hearts are changed through faith on his name; therefore, ye are born of him and have become his sons and his daughters.
8 And under this head ye are made free, and there is no other head whereby ye can be made free. There is no other name given whereby salvation cometh; therefore, I would that ye should take upon you the name of Christ, all you that have entered into the covenant with God that ye should be obedient unto the end of your lives.
9 And it shall come to pass that whosoever doeth this shall be found at the right hand of God, for he shall know the name by which he is called; for he shall be called by the name of Christ." (Book of Mormon Mosiah 5:7 - 9)

Can their be anything greater than to become a child of Christ?

Mosiah 1 - 2

King Benjamin tells his sons -

"...I would that ye should remember that were it not for these plates, which contain these records and these commandments, we must have suffered in ignorance, even at this present time, not knowing the mysteries of God." (Book of Mormon Mosiah 1:3)

For he -

"...caused that they should be taught in all the language of his fathers, that thereby they might become men of understanding; and that they might know concerning the prophecies which had been spoken by the mouths of their fathers, which were delivered them by the hand of the Lord." (Book of Mormon Mosiah 1:2)

King Benjamin understood the great impact the scriptures or the word of God can have on an
individual's life for without the scriptures, it was -

"...not possible that our father, Lehi, could have remembered all these things, to have taught them to his children, except it were for the help of these plates; for he having been taught in the language of the Egyptians therefore he could read these engravings, and teach them to his children, that thereby they could teach them to their children, and so fulfilling the commandments of God, even down to this present time." (Book of Mormon Mosiah 1:4)

And -

"...were it not for these things, which have been kept and preserved by the hand of God, that we might read and understand of his mysteries, and have his commandments always before our eyes, that even our fathers would have dwindled in unbelief, and we should have been like unto our brethren...who know nothing concerning these things, or even do not believe them when they are taught them, because of the traditions of their fathers, which are not correct." (Book of Mormon Mosiah 1:5)

And as with all the love of a father, King Benjamin testifies -

"...my sons, I would that ye should remember that these sayings are true, and also that these records are true. And behold, also the plates of Nephi, which contain the records and the sayings of our fathers from the time they left Jerusalem until now, and they are true; and we can know of their surety because we have them before our eyes." (Book of Mormon Mosiah 1:6)

And it is not enough to just possess the records that are true, we must -

"...ye should remember to search them diligently, that ye may profit thereby..." (Book of Mormon Mosiah 1:7)

For the Savior himself instructed -

"Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me." (New Testament John 5:39)

And also -

"...These words are not of men nor of man, but of me; wherefore, you shall testify they are of me and not of man;
35 For it is my voice which speaketh them unto you; for they are given by my Spirit unto you, and by my power you can read them one to another; and save it were by my power you could not have them;
36 Wherefore, you can testify that you have heard my voice, and know my words." (Doctrine and Covenants Section 18:34 - 36)

Jacob 5 - Words of Mormon

I took Friday's blog and added a little more.

After Adam and Eve had been driven out of the Garden of Eden, the Lord -

"...gave unto them commandments, that they should worship the Lord their God, and should offer the firstlings of their flocks, for an offering unto the Lord. And Adam was obedient unto the commandments of the Lord." (Pearl of Great Price Moses 5:5)

It becomes evident here that it was expected of our first parents and their posterity by the Lord that they were to be obedient and they were to sacrifice. We know that they were obedient for -

"...after many days an angel of the Lord appeared unto Adam, saying: Why dost thou offer sacrifices unto the Lord? And Adam said unto him: I know not, save the Lord commanded me." Pearl of Great Price Moses 5:6)

It is then that we come to understand why Adam was to sacrifice -

"...then the angel spake, saying: This thing is a similitude of the sacrifice of the Only Begotten of the Father, which is full of grace and truth.
8 Wherefore, thou shalt do all that thou doest in the name of the Son, and thou shalt repent and call upon God in the name of the Son forevermore." (Pearl of Great Price Moses 5:7 - 8)

The very purpose of this commandment or law of sacrifice was that all men were to sacrifice as a similitude of the Savior's Sacrifice -

"...For it is expedient that there should be a great and last sacrifice; yea, not a sacrifice of man, neither of beast, neither of any manner of fowl; for it shall not be a human sacrifice; but it must be an infinite and eternal sacrifice." (Book of Mormon Alma 34:10)

It is impossible for man to sacrifice as the Savior, for -

"...there is not any man that can sacrifice his own blood which will atone for the sins of another....therefore there can be nothing which is short of an infinite atonement which will suffice for the sins of the world." (Book of Mormon Alma 34:11 - 12)

But even though we cannot sacrifice as the Savior, we can sacrifice as a similitude to the extent that we are able. Sacrifice then becomes an essential component of faith and redemption. The Prophet Joseph Smith taught -

"...Those, then, who make the sacrifice, will have the testimony that their course is pleasing in the sight of God; and those who have this testimony will have faith to lay hold on eternal life, and will be enabled, through faith, to endure unto the end, and receive the crown that is laid up for them that love the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ."

We see this -

"...even as it was accounted unto Abraham in the wilderness to be obedient unto the commands of God in offering up his son Isaac, which is a similitude of God and his Only Begotten Son." (Book of Mormon Jacob 4:5)

We see this in the vision of Joseph F. Smith of the redemption of the dead in that -

"...there were gathered together in one place an innumerable company of the spirits of the just, who had been faithful in the testimony of Jesus while they lived in mortality;
13 And who had offered sacrifice in the similitude of the great sacrifice of the Son of God, and had suffered tribulation in their Redeemer's name.
14 All these had departed the mortal life, firm in the hope of a glorious resurrection, through the grace of God the Father and his Only Begotten Son, Jesus Christ." (Doctrine and Covenants Section 138:12 - 14)

In his visit to those in the Americas, the resurrected Christ said -"...ye shall offer up unto me no more the shedding of blood; yea, your sacrifices and your burnt offerings shall be done away, for I will accept none of your sacrifices and your burnt offerings.
20 And ye shall offer for a sacrifice unto me a broken heart and a contrite spirit..." (Book of Mormon 3 Nephi 9:19 - 20)

"...Yea, come unto him, and offer your whole souls as an offering unto him, and continue in fasting and praying, and endure to the end; and as the Lord liveth ye will be saved." (Book of Mormon Omni 1:26)

Even as Enos did -

"I must preach and prophesy unto this people, and declare the word according to the truth which is in Christ. And I have declared it in all my days, and have rejoiced in it above that of the world." (Book of Mormon Enos 1:26)

"...for this intent have we written these things, that they may know that we knew of Christ, and we had a hope of his glory many hundred years before his coming; and not only we ourselves had a hope of his glory, but also all the holy prophets which were before us.
5 Behold, they believed in Christ and worshiped the Father in his name, and also we worship the Father in his name. And for this intent we keep the law of Moses, it pointing our souls to him; and for this cause it is sanctified unto us for righteousness...which is a similitude of God and his Only Begotten Son." (Book of Mormon Jacob 4:4 - 5)

Jacob 4

After Adam and Eve had been driven out of the Garden of Eden, the Lord -

"...gave unto them commandments, that they should worship the Lord their God, and should offer the firstlings of their flocks, for an offering unto the Lord. And Adam was obedient unto the commandments of the Lord." (Pearl of Great Price Moses 5:5)

It becomes evident here that it was expected of our first parents and their posterity by the Lord that they were to be obedient and they were to sacrifice. We know that they were obedient for -

"...after many days an angel of the Lord appeared unto Adam, saying: Why dost thou offer sacrifices unto the Lord? And Adam said unto him: I know not, save the Lord commanded me." Pearl of Great Price Moses 5:6)

It is then that we come to understand why Adam was to sacrifice -

"...then the angel spake, saying: This thing is a similitude of the sacrifice of the Only Begotten of the Father, which is full of grace and truth.
8 Wherefore, thou shalt do all that thou doest in the name of the Son, and thou shalt repent and call upon God in the name of the Son forevermore." (Pearl of Great Price Moses 5:7 - 8)

The very purpose of this commandment or law of sacrifice was that all men were to sacrifice as a similitude of the Savior's Sacrifice -

"...For it is expedient that there should be a great and last sacrifice; yea, not a sacrifice of man, neither of beast, neither of any manner of fowl; for it shall not be a human sacrifice; but it must be an infinite and eternal sacrifice." (Book of Mormon Alma 34:10)

It is impossible for man to sacrifice as the Savior, for -

"...there is not any man that can sacrifice his own blood which will atone for the sins of another....therefore there can be nothing which is short of an infinite atonement which will suffice for the sins of the world." (Book of Mormon Alma 34:11 - 12)

But even though we cannot sacrifice as the Savior, we can sacrifice as a similitude to the extent that we are able. Sacrifice then becomes an essential component of faith and redemption. The Prophet Joseph Smith taught -

"...Those, then, who make the sacrifice, will have the testimony that their course is pleasing in the sight of God; and those who have this testimony will have faith to lay hold on eternal life, and will be enabled, through faith, to endure unto the end, and receive the crown that is laid up for them that love the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ."

We see this -

"...even as it was accounted unto Abraham in the wilderness to be obedient unto the commands of God in offering up his son Isaac, which is a similitude of God and his Only Begotten Son." (Book of Mormon Jacob 4:5)

We see this in the vision of Joseph F. Smith of the redemption of the dead in that -

"...there were gathered together in one place an innumerable company of the spirits of the just, who had been faithful in the testimony of Jesus while they lived in mortality;
13 And who had offered sacrifice in the similitude of the great sacrifice of the Son of God, and had suffered tribulation in their Redeemer's name.
14 All these had departed the mortal life, firm in the hope of a glorious resurrection, through the grace of God the Father and his Only Begotten Son, Jesus Christ." (Doctrine and Covenants Section 138:12 - 14)

In his visit to those in the Americas, the resurrected Christ said -

"...ye shall offer up unto me no more the shedding of blood; yea, your sacrifices and your burnt offerings shall be done away, for I will accept none of your sacrifices and your burnt offerings.
20 And ye shall offer for a sacrifice unto me a broken heart and a contrite spirit..." (Book of Mormon 3 Nephi 9:19 - 20)

And it were these words of Jacob with stimulated my thoughts this morning -

"...for this intent have we written these things, that they may know that we knew of Christ, and we had a hope of his glory many hundred years before his coming; and not only we ourselves had a hope of his glory, but also all the holy prophets which were before us.
5 Behold, they believed in Christ and worshiped the Father in his name, and also we worship the Father in his name. And for this intent we keep the law of Moses, it pointing our souls to him; and for this cause it is sanctified unto us for righteousness...which is a similitude of God and his Only Begotten Son." (Book of Mormon Jacob 4:4 - 5)

2 Nephi 33 - Jacob 3

As I have studied the scriptures, I have found that many of the truths that are taught by the Savior and/or his servants in individual verses are not necessarily complete of and with all necessary conditions . And example would be in regards to conditions required to receive answers to prayers -

"....ask, and ye shall receive; knock, and it shall be opened unto you..." (Book of Mormon 3 Nephi 27:29)

In other scriptures we read -

"...Whatsoever thing ye shall ask the Father in my name, which is good, in faith believing that ye shall receive..." (Book of Mormon Moroni 7:26)

"...Whatsoever ye ask the Father in my name it shall be given unto you, that is expedient for you..." (Doctrine and Covenants Section 88:64)

"...whatsoever ye ask that is right, in faith, believing that ye shall receive..." (Book of Mormon Mosiah 4:21)

The reader of the scriptures must many times read all related scripture to come to an understanding of the full doctrine. I discovered in my reading today another condition associated with receiving the comfort from the Lord. The Lord said to his apostles shortly before his cruxifion -

"...Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid..." (New Testament John 14:27)

Alma also taught that the Savior -

"...shall go forth, suffering pains and afflictions and temptations of every kind; and this that the word might be fulfilled which saith he will take upon him the pains and the sicknesses of his people.
12 And he will take upon him death, that he may loose the bands of death which bind his people; and he will take upon him their infirmities, that his bowels may be filled with mercy, according to the flesh, that he may know according to the flesh how to succor his people according to their infirmities." (Book of Mormon Alma 7:11 - 12)

"...Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.
30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light." (New Testament Matthew 11:28 - 30)

The Lord promises us peace, rest, and succor to those experiencing adversity, but prophet, suggests another necessary condition in receiving these blessings -

'...behold, I, Jacob, would speak unto you that are pure in heart. Look unto God with firmness of mind, and pray unto him with exceeding faith, and he will console you in your afflictions, and he will plead your cause, and send down justice upon those who seek your destruction.
2 O all ye that are pure in heart, lift up your heads and receive the pleasing word of God, and feast upon his love; for ye may, if your minds are firm, forever." (Book of Mormon Jacob 3:1 - 2)
And he finishes with -

"...But, wo, wo, unto you that are not pure in heart... " (Book of Mormon Jacob 3:3)

It seems then to me then to recieve help with tribulations, the Lord has placed the burden having a pure heart on the receipient who desires his help.

2 Nephi 25 - 32

The Lord declares that in the last days -

"...I will proceed to do a marvelous work among this people, yea, a marvelous work and a wonder, for the wisdom of their wise and learned shall perish, and the understanding of their prudent shall be hid." (Book of Mormon 2 Nephi 27:26)

I believe it is the wise and the learned today that are much like Korihor of old wherein he taught the falsehoods of Satan teaching things like "There is no God", explaining -

"...I taught them because they were pleasing unto the carnal mind..." (Book of Mormon Alma 30:53)

And because he considered himself learned and wise, he tells Alma -

"...and I taught them, even until I had much success, insomuch that I verily believed that they were true..." (Book of Mormon Alma 30:53)

The wisdom and philosophy of the world as I see it today, which "is pleasing unto the carnal mind", is this -

"...there shall be many which shall say: Eat, drink, and be merry, for tomorrow we die; and it shall be well with us." (Book of Mormon 2 Nephi 28:7)

And -

"...there shall also be many which shall say: Eat, drink, and be merry; nevertheless, fear God—he will justify in committing a little sin; yea, lie a little, take the advantage of one because of his words, dig a pit for thy neighbor; there is no harm in this; and do all these things, for tomorrow we die; and if it so be that we are guilty, God will beat us with a few stripes, and at last we shall be saved in the kingdom of God." (Book of Mormon 2 Nephi 28:8)

For -

"...there shall be many which shall teach after this manner, false and vain and foolish doctrines, and shall be puffed up in their hearts, and shall seek deep to hide their counsels from the Lord; and their works shall be in the dark." (Book of Mormon 2 Nephi 28:9)

And -

"...they wear stiff necks and high heads; yea, and because of pride, and wickedness, and abominations, and whoredoms, they have all gone astray save it be a few, who are the humble followers of Christ; nevertheless, they are led, that in many instances they do err because they are taught by the precepts of men." (Book of Mormon 2 Nephi 28:14)

The Lord tells all those that think they so smart -

"...wo unto them that seek deep to hide their counsel from the Lord! And their works are in the dark; and they say: Who seeth us, and who knoweth us? And they also say: Surely, your turning of things upside down shall be esteemed as the potter's clay. But behold, I will show unto them, saith the Lord of Hosts, that I know all their works. For shall the work say of him that made it, he made me not? Or shall the thing framed say of him that framed it, he had no understanding?" (Book of Mormon 2 Nephi 27:27)

Not only will he show unto all men that he knows their works, he leaves this warning -

"...O the wise, and the learned, and the rich, that are puffed up in the pride of their hearts, and all those who preach false doctrines, and all those who commit whoredoms, and pervert the right way of the Lord, wo, wo, wo be unto them, saith the Lord God Almighty, for they shall be thrust down to hell!
16 Wo unto them that turn aside the just for a thing of naught and revile against that which is good, and say that it is of no worth! For the day shall come that the Lord God will speedily visit the inhabitants of the earth; and in that day that they are fully ripe in iniquity they shall perish." (Book of Mormon 2 Nephi 28:15 - 16)

2 Nephi 20 - 24

Throughout the scriptures we see man serving as the instrument for God in accomplishing his will and purposes. We see this as righteous men obey his counsel and do much good to their own benefit. We also see this as "natural man" or those of the world cause destruction to their own condemnation.

Because they continue to worship idols, Isaiah prophecies of the pending destruction and bondage of Israel and how that would be done by Assyria -

"O Assyrian, the rod of mine anger, and the staff in their hand is their indignation.
6 I will send him against a hypocritical nation, and against the people of my wrath will I give him a charge to take the spoil, and to take the prey, and to tread them down like the mire of the streets." (Book of Mormon 2 Nephi 20:5 - 6)

We see the Lord's purpose is in the chastisement of Israel because of the covenants that he had made. And he accomplishes this with the King of Assyria who doesn't necessarily know he is being an instrument in God's hand as Isaiah says -

" Howbeit he meaneth not so, neither doth his heart think so; but in his heart it is to destroy and cut off nations not a few." (Book of Mormon 2 Nephi 20:7)

And he thinks his success will all be because of himself -

"For he saith: By the strength of my hand and by my wisdom I have done these things..." (Book of Mormon 2 Nephi 20:13)

It is in the Lord's words that teaches both the righteous and the wicked a great lesson -

"Shall the ax boast itself against him that heweth therewith? Shall the saw magnify itself against him that shaketh it? As if the rod should shake itself against them that lift it up, or as if the staff should lift up itself as if it were no wood!" (Book of Mormon 2 Nephi 20:15)

It is important that those that serve God and are so blessed to be instruments in God's hands must be humble in recognizing they are only, in a sense, the ax, the saw, the rod, or the tool itself and the controlling force behind it, for

"...in nothing doth man offend God, or against none is his wrath kindled, save those who confess not his hand in all things, and obey not his commandments." (Doctrine and Covenants Section 59:21)

It is Ammon that gives us the great insight we should have as we serve God -

"I do not boast in my own strength, nor in my own wisdom; but behold, my joy is full, yea, my heart is brim with joy, and I will rejoice in my God.
12 Yea, I know that I am nothing; as to my strength I am weak; therefore I will not boast of myself, but I will boast of my God, for in his strength I can do all things..." (Book of Mormon Alma 26:11 - 12)

"...And this is the blessing which hath been bestowed upon us, that we have been made instruments in the hands of God to bring about this great work." (Book of Mormon Alma 26:3)

2 Nephi 10 - 19

Jacob makes a very strong statment that -

it must needs be expedient that Christ...should come among the Jews, among those who are the more wicked part of the world; and they shall crucify him—for thus it behooveth our God, and there is none other nation on earth that would crucify their God." (Book of Mormon 2 Nephi 10:3)

Jacob explains that -

"...should the mighty miracles be wrought among other nations they would repent, and know that he be their God." (Book of Mormon 2 Nephi 10:4)

And what would bring about such a wicked state that they would be willing to crucify their God?

"...because of priestcrafts and iniquities, they at Jerusalem will stiffen their necks against him, that he be crucified." (Book of Mormon 2 Nephi 10:5)

Nephi talks of priestcrafts with the definition that -

"...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." (Book of Mormon 2 Nephi 26:29)

For to be popular and for gain they -

"...call evil good, and good evil, that put darkness for light, and light for darkness, that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!" (Book of Mormon 2 Nephi 15:20)

That they may look -

"...wise in their own eyes and prudent in their own sight!"(Book of Mormon 2 Nephi 15:21)

Knowing where this leads to, the Lord specifically -

"...commandeth that there shall be no priestcrafts; for,...Behold, the Lord hath forbidden this thing..." (Book of Mormon 2 Nephi 26:29 - 30)

Instead

"...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.31 But the laborer in Zion shall labor for Zion..." (Book of Mormon 2 Nephi 26:30 - 31)

With this warning -

"...for if they labor for money they shall perish." (Book of Mormon 2 Nephi 26:31)

I close with the admonition of Isaiah and a warning to those the exercise priestcrafts -

"Sanctify the Lord of Hosts himself, and let him be your fear, and let him be your dread.14 And he shall be for a sanctuary; but for a stone of stumbling, and for a rock of offense to both the houses of Israel, for a gin and a snare to the inhabitants of Jerusalem.15 And many among them shall stumble and fall, and be broken, and be snared, and be taken."(Book of Mormon 2 Nephi 18:13 - 15)

2 Nephi 9

Jacob teaches that the Savior -

"...cometh into the world that he may save all men if they will hearken unto his voice; for behold, he suffereth the pains of all men, yea, the pains of every living creature, both men, women, and children, who belong to the family of Adam." (Book of Mormon 2 Nephi 9:21)

The condition being "if they will hearken not his voice". Brigham Young said the same thing -

“He has paid the full debt, whether you receive the gift or not.”
Brigham Young, Discourses of Brigham Young, selected and arranged by John A. Widtsoe [Salt Lake City: Deseret Book Co., 1954], 156.)

But he also -

"...suffereth this that the resurrection might pass upon all men, that all might stand before him at the great and judgment day." (Book of Mormon 2 Nephi 9:22)

But even though all will be resurrected -

"...he commandeth all men that they must repent, and be baptized in his name, having perfect faith in the Holy One of Israel, or they cannot be saved in the kingdom of God.
24 And if they will not repent and believe in his name, and be baptized in his name, and endure to the end, they must be damned; for the Lord God, the Holy One of Israel, has spoken it." (Book of Mormon 2 Nephi 9:23 - 24)

Resurrection alone then is not being "saved in the kingdom of God". For all will come forth, they that hearken to his voice and -

"...have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation." (New Testament John 5:29)

"O that cunning plan of the evil one! O the vainness, and the frailties, and the foolishness of men! When they are learned they think they are wise, and they hearken not unto the counsel of God, for they set it aside, supposing they know of themselves, wherefore, their wisdom is foolishness and it profiteth them not. And they shall perish.
29 But to be learned is good if they hearken unto the counsels of God." (Book of Mormon 2 Nephi 9:28 - 29)

Jacob warns the foolish that think they are wise -

"...wo unto the rich, who are rich as to the things of the world. For because they are rich they despise the poor, and they persecute the meek, and their hearts are upon their treasures; wherefore, their treasure is their god. And behold, their treasure shall perish with them also." (Book of Mormon 2 Nephi 9:30)

"...wo unto the deaf that will not hear;...the blind that will not see; for they shall perish also." (Book of Mormon 2 Nephi 9:31 - 32)

"Wo unto the uncircumcised of heart, for a knowledge of their iniquities shall smite them at the last day.
34 Wo unto the liar, for he shall be thrust down to hell.
35 Wo unto the murderer who deliberately killeth, for he shall die.
36 Wo unto them who commit whoredoms, for they shall be thrust down to hell.
37 Yea, wo unto those that worship idols, for the devil of all devils delighteth in them." (Book of Mormon 2 Nephi 9:33 - 37)

"...in fine, wo unto all those who die in their sins; for they shall return to God, and behold his face, and remain in their sins." (Book of Mormon 2 Nephi 9:38)

To the wise and prudent -

"...Remember, to be carnally–minded is death, and to be spiritually–minded is life eternal." (Book of Mormon 2 Nephi 9:39)

2 Nephi 6 - 8

Jacob, the younger brother of Nephi -

"...having been called of God, and ordained after the manner of his holy order, and having been consecrated by my brother Nephi..." (Book of Mormon 2 Nephi 6:2)

Is directed by Nephi to teach the people -

"...concerning things which are, and which are to come; wherefore, I will read you the words of Isaiah. And they are the words which my brother has desired that I should speak unto you... and now, the words which I shall read are they which Isaiah spake concerning all the house of Israel; wherefore, they may be likened unto you, for ye are of the house of Israel." (Book of Mormon 2 Nephi 6:4 - 5)

As you read the small plates of Nephi, you can sense the the words of Isaiah were very important to Nephi and Jacob and should be taught to the people. As I read these words, I can somewhat understand why Nephi and Jacob felt this way. They had taught their children and followers to believe in Christ in all righteousness. Isaiah taught the same. But Isaiah also wrote of things to come and blessing of obedience as well as the destruction and sorrow of the disobedience.

To the believers of Christ -

"HEARKEN unto me, ye that follow after righteousness...." (Book of Mormon 2 Nephi 8:1)

"...blessed are the Gentiles, they of whom the prophet has written; for behold, if it so be that they shall repent and fight not against Zion, and do not unite themselves to that great and abominable church, they shall be saved; for the Lord God will fulfil his covenants which he has made unto his children; and for this cause the prophet has written these things." (Book of Mormon 2 Nephi 6:12)

"...and the people of the Lord shall not be ashamed. For the people of the Lord are they who wait for him; for they still wait for the coming of the Messiah..." (Book of Mormon 2 Nephi 6:13)

"...the Messiah will set himself again the second time to recover them; wherefore, he will manifest himself unto them in power and great glory, unto the destruction of their enemies, when that day cometh when they shall believe in him; and none will he destroy that believe in him." (Book of Mormon 2 Nephi 6:14)

"...for the Mighty God shall deliver his covenant people." (Book of Mormon 2 Nephi 6:17)

But of the disobedient -

"...they that fight against Zion and the covenant people of the Lord shall lick up the dust of their feet..." (Book of Mormon 2 Nephi 6:13)

"And they that believe not in him shall be destroyed, both by fire, and by tempest, and by earthquakes, and by bloodsheds, and by pestilence, and by famine. And they shall know that the Lord is God, the Holy One of Israel..." (Book of Mormon 2 Nephi 6:15)

"...And I will feed them that oppress thee, with their own flesh; and they shall be drunken with their own blood as with sweet wine..." (Book of Mormon 2 Nephi 6:18)

For the day will come, whether by blessings or destruction, that -

"...all flesh shall know that I the Lord am thy Savior and thy Redeemer, the Mighty One of Jacob." (Book of Mormon 2 Nephi 6:18)

"Awake, awake, put on thy strength, O Zion; put on thy beautiful garments, O Jerusalem, the holy city; for henceforth there shall no more come into thee the uncircumcised and the unclean."
(Book of Mormon 2 Nephi 8:24)

2 Nephi 4 - 5

After the passing of Lehi, Nephi continued to have conflicts with his brothers to the point 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.
6 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. 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.
7 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. And after we had journeyed for the space of many days we did pitch our tents.
8 And my people would that we should call the name of the place Nephi; wherefore, we did call it Nephi." (Book of Mormon 2 Nephi 5:5 - 8)

And they -

"...began to prosper exceedingly, and to multiply in the land." (Book of Mormon 2 Nephi 5:13)

all because they -

"...lived after the manner of happiness." (Book of Mormon 2 Nephi 5:27)

What is the manner of happinees. In a previous chapter, Nephi shares some of his feelings which gives us some insight on how to live after the manner of happiness -

"... my soul delighteth in the scriptures, and my heart pondereth them, and writeth them for the learning and the profit of my children." (Book of Mormon 2 Nephi 4:15)

"...my soul delighteth in the things of the Lord; and my heart pondereth continually upon the things which I have seen and heard." (Book of Mormon 2 Nephi 4:16)

"...he hath heard my cry by day, and he hath given me knowledge by visions in the night–time.
24 And by day have I waxed bold in mighty prayer before him; yea, my voice have I sent up on high; and angels came down and ministered unto me.
25 And upon the wings of his Spirit hath my body been carried away upon exceedingly high mountains. And mine eyes have beheld great things, yea, even too great for man..." (Book of Mormon 2 Nephi 4:23 - 25)

"...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 forever ascend up unto thee, my rock and mine everlasting God..." (Book of Mormon 2 Nephi 4:35)

"...O Lord, I have trusted in thee, and I will trust in thee forever. 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." (Book of Mormon 2 Nephi 4:34)

"...O Lord, wilt thou redeem my soul?...Wilt thou make me that I may shake at the appearance of sin?" (Book of Mormon 2 Nephi 4:31)

"...wilt thou encircle me around in the robe of thy righteousness!...Wilt thou make my path straight before me..." (Book of Mormon 2 Nephi 4:33)

Living in the manner of happiness seems to include such things as reading and pondering the words of Christ, regular and constant prayer, and choosing the right or in other words doing the will of the Lord and keeping the commandments. As Nephi lived in the manner of happiness, he tells us the Lord -

"...hath filled me with his love, even unto the consuming of my flesh." (Book of Mormon 2 Nephi 4:21)

This is happiness! Not as the world my think of happiness, for as Alma taught his son, Corianton -

"...wickedness never was happiness..." (Book of Mormon Alma 41:10)

2 Nephi 2 - 3

In his song, Imagine, John Lennon wrote the lyrics -

Imagine there's no heaven, It's easy if you try.
No hell below us, above us only sky.
Imagine all the people, living for today...

Imagine there's no countries, it isn't hard to do.
Nothing to kill or die for, and no religion too.
Imagine all the people, living life in peace...

Many people believe and support this philosophy. When they say "living life in peace" suggests they would like to live and do as they choose with no consequences as long as it doesn't affect anybody else. Sounds like much of the attitude of many people I know. But whether the world wants to believe this or not, it is not the truth. Lehi taught his son Jacob -

"...And men are instructed sufficiently that they know good from evil. And the law is given unto men. And by the law no flesh is justified; or, by the law men are cut off. Yea, by the temporal law they were cut off; and also, by the spiritual law they perish from that which is good, and become miserable forever." (Book of Mormon 2 Nephi 2:5)

"Wherefore, the ends of the law which the Holy One hath given, unto the inflicting of the punishment which is affixed, which punishment that is affixed is in opposition to that of the happiness which is affixed...(Book of Mormon 2 Nephi 2:10)

"For it must needs be, that there is an opposition in all things. If not so...righteousness could not be brought to pass, neither wickedness, neither holiness nor misery, neither good nor bad...happiness nor misery..." (Book of Mormon 2 Nephi 2:11)

For you want to believe there is no heaven or hell or -

"...if ye shall say there is no law, ye shall also say there is no sin. If ye shall say there is no sin, ye shall also say there is no righteousness. And if there be no righteousness there be no happiness. And if there be no righteousness nor happiness there be no punishment nor misery. And if these things are not there is no God. And if there is no God we are not, neither the earth; for there could have been no creation of things, neither to act nor to be acted upon..." (Book of Mormon 2 Nephi 2:13)

But -

"...I speak unto you these things for your profit and learning; for there is a God, and he hath created all things, both the heavens and the earth, and all things that in them are, both things to act and things to be acted upon...." (Book of Mormon 2 Nephi 2:14)

"...all men [will] come unto God; wherefore, they stand in the presence of him, to be judged of him according to the truth and holiness which is in him..." (Book of Mormon 2 Nephi 2:10)

There is the law of justice and there are punishments affixed whether we want to believe it or not. But a -

"...way is prepared from the fall of man, and salvation is free....wherefore, redemption cometh in and through the Holy Messiah; for he is full of grace and truth.
7 Behold, he offereth himself a sacrifice for sin, to answer the ends of the law, unto all those who have a broken heart and a contrite spirit; and unto none else can the ends of the law be answered." (Book of Mormon 2 Nephi 2:4 - 7)

"Wherefore, how great the importance to make these things known unto the inhabitants of the earth, that they may know that there is no flesh that can dwell in the presence of God, save it be through the merits, and mercy, and grace of the Holy Messiah, who layeth down his life according to the flesh, and taketh it again by the power of the Spirit, that he may bring to pass the resurrection of the dead, being the first that should rise.
9 Wherefore, he is the firstfruits unto God, inasmuch as he shall make intercession for all the children of men; and they that believe in him shall be saved." (Book of Mormon 2 Nephi 2:8 - 9)

1 Nephi 20 - 2 Nephi 1

Nephi tells us -

"...I, Nephi, do speak somewhat concerning the words which I have written, which have been spoken by the mouth of Isaiah. For behold, Isaiah spake many things which were hard for many of my people to understand..." (Book of Mormon 2 Nephi 25:1)

Speaking of the Bible, Nephi also testified that controlling men have -

"...taken away from the gospel of the Lamb many parts which are plain and most precious; and also many covenants of the Lord have they taken away.
27 And all this have they done that they might pervert the right ways of the Lord, that they might blind the eyes and harden the hearts of the children of men." (Book of Mormon 1 Nephi 13:26 - 27)

As I read and ponderthe words of Isaiah, I believe the Lord had Isaiah write in such a manner that the revealed word was not plain, such that his words would remain very much intact. For example, we see the very plain words -

"...or out of the waters of baptism..." (Book of Mormon 1 Nephi 20:1)

removed from the King James version of the Bible.

Jacob also gives us some insight in why Isaiah may have written in a manner hard to understand -

"...the Jews were a stiffnecked people; and they despised the words of plainness, and killed the prophets, and sought for things that they could not understand. Wherefore, because of their blindness, which blindness came by looking beyond the mark, they must needs fall; for God hath taken away his plainness from them, and delivered unto them many things which they cannot understand, because they desired it. And because they desired it God hath done it, that they may stumble." (Book of Mormon Jacob 4:14)

I see much of that today where plainess has been taken away because the world desires it.

As I read and ponder the words of Isaiah, and acknowledgin that the words are not necessarily plain, there are always new things I come to understand each time I read his words. And the Spirit testifies to me that the words are true. As one searches the words if Isaiah, you begin to understand that all his words seem point in one direction and that is of the Savior, the Redeemer of Israel, the Messiah, the Lord Jesus Christ and in repentance, and obedience to his will and commandments.

"..And thus saith the Lord, thy Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel; I have sent him, the Lord thy God who teacheth thee to profit, who leadeth thee by the way thou shouldst go, hath done it.
18 O that thou hadst hearkened to my commandments—then had thy peace been as a river, and thy righteousness as the waves of the sea." (Book of Mormon 1 Nephi 20:17 - 18)

"...Thus saith the Lord, the Redeemer of Israel, his Holy One, to him whom man despiseth, to him whom the nations abhorreth, to servant of rulers: Kings shall see and arise, princes also shall worship, because of the Lord that is faithful." (Book of Mormon 1 Nephi 21:7)

"...They shall not hunger nor thirst...for he that hath mercy on them shall lead them, even by the springs of water shall he guide them.
11 And I will make all my mountains a way, and my highways shall be exalted." (Book of Mormon 1 Nephi 21:10 - 11)

For -

"...Behold, I have graven thee upon the palms of my hands..." (Book of Mormon 1 Nephi 21:16)

And the day will come that -

"...all flesh shall know that I, the Lord, am thy Savior and thy Redeemer, the Mighty One of Jacob." (Book of Mormon 1 Nephi 21:26)

In conclusion, I think it is important to note that Nephi prophecies that -

"...in the days that the prophecies of Isaiah shall be fulfilled men shall know of a surety, at the times when they shall come to pass." (Book of Mormon 2 Nephi 25:7)

1 Nephi 18 - 19

Several years ago I served as the stake PFR. Among our stake physical facilities is a mountain recreational property that was developed in the 70's. It typically has been used annually by 7 - 8 stake girls camps as well as multiple ward, stake, and family activities. On the property is a spring head that not only provides water to all the campsites on the property but also three similar adjacent properties.

Shortly after I was called to serve in this position, I received a professional report summarizing that the water was contaminated with ecoli caused by the current water collection sytems, their was inadequate storage of water, and more water should be collected to supply the needs of the four recreational properties. The report mentioned that there were three available spring heads in the small collection area, and only two were actually being used for collection.

I was very interested in seeing how the spring water was collected. I had never had any experience with spring water systems or ever seen a collection system design. When I first visited the site, it quickly became apparent to me why there was problems with contamination. Any surface water could easily get into the system, and I later learned that any plant roots could also lead to water contamination.

With my new calling I somewhat felt a big responsibility and burden for the quality of drinking water that serviced all the camps. One day, as I was thinking about the demands suggested in the water engineers report, I started to think about what I would do to the spring head to the report requirements. And then suddenly, the design of a collection system began to flow in myu mind. In a short time the entire design was on paper. I presented it to a member of the stake counselor and I told him that I thought it would work and I thought I could make it happen. I even had ideas on how the project could be funded.

As I look back, I am surprised that he agreed to let me do it. It really was a big risk in that it would require the existing system to be completely torn out and demolished. Even now, I look back and wonder why I did it in the first place - but I did. The actual work had its problems and I spent a great deal of time on my knees asking for the Lord's help. And at its completion, to my surprise, it worked great and still does as it taps all the spring heads, collects all the water and holds an additional 3000 gallons of water. It has tested clean when the actual spring water aquifer itself is clean.

I was so excited as it worked so well, I couldn't help but take different leaders up to the spring head to show it off. I have to confess, I started to feel a great deal of pride, as I reflected on "my" design - until I read Nephi's story on building a boat. He relates that they -

"had been in the land of Bountiful for the space of many days, the voice of the Lord came unto me, saying: Arise, and get thee into the mountain. And it came to pass that I arose and went up into the mountain, and cried unto the Lord.
8 And it came to pass that the Lord spake unto me, saying: Thou shalt construct a ship, after the manner which I shall show thee, that I may carry thy people across these waters." (Book of Mormon 1 Nephi 17:7 - 8)

Nephi may not have had any idea how to build a boat, but he did have some experience in using his hands for he asked the Lord -

"...whither shall I go that I may find ore to molten, that I may make tools to construct the ship after the manner which thou hast shown unto me?" (Book of Mormon 1 Nephi 17:9)

He simply tells us -

"And it came to pass that the Lord told me whither I should go to find ore, that I might make tools." (Book of Mormon 1 Nephi 17:10)

The words "And it came to pass" does not suggest an immediate answer, but little by little. So Nephi did -

did make a bellows wherewith to blow the fire, of the skins of beasts; and after I had made a bellows, that I might have wherewith to blow the fire, I did smite two stones together that I might make fire...I did make tools of the ore which I did molten out of the rock." (Book of Mormon 1 Nephi 17:11 - 16)

And he -

"...did not work the timbers after the manner which was learned by men, neither did I build the ship after the manner of men; but I did build it after the manner which the Lord had shown unto me; wherefore, it was not after the manner of men...and I, Nephi, did go into the mount oft, and I did pray oft unto the Lord; wherefore the Lord showed unto me great things.
4 And it came to pass that after I had finished the ship, according to the word of the Lord, my brethren beheld that it was good, and that the workmanship thereof was exceedingly fine..." (Book of Mormon 1 Nephi 18:2 - 4)

As I have pondered these versus previously, I have gained new insight of Nephi and his experience in building a ship. Though the magnitude of my experience was far less than Nephi, I'm not sure that the type communication with the Lord described by Nephi was much different.

One of my favorite movies is the christmas movie "The Miracle on 34th Street". At the conclusion when John Payne is feeling quite proud of his success getting the courts to recognize his client as Santa Claus, he sees a cane in the corner of a room, and he comments, something like, "maybe I didn't do such a great thing after all". I since have felt the same way and I'm sure Nephi did too, knowing that it was the Lord that really did it. We were just instruments in his hand.

1 Nephi 16 - 17

There a many today that claim that just believing in Jesus Christ or "accepting" him as their Savior is all that is required for salvation. The Savior himself speaking to those of much the same attitude said -

"Bring forth therefore fruits worthy of repentance, and begin not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham to our father: for I say unto you, That God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham." (New Testament Luke 3:8)

As I read the teachings of the Savior, he requires more - repentance and keeping his commandments. Using the children of Israel as a example, Nephi tells his brothers -

"...after they had crossed the river Jordan he did make them mighty unto the driving out of the children of the land, yea, unto the scattering them to destruction.
33 And now, do ye suppose that the children of this land, who were in the land of promise, who were driven out by our fathers, do ye suppose that they were righteous? Behold, I say unto you, Nay.
34 Do ye suppose that our fathers would have been more choice than they if they had been righteous? I say unto you, Nay." (Book of Mormon 1 Nephi 17:32 - 34)

Nephi then tells this truth -

"...the Lord esteemeth all flesh in one; he that is righteous is favored of God." (Book of Mormon 1 Nephi 17:35)

"...And he loveth those who will have him to be their God." (Book of Mormon 1 Nephi 17:40)

You can tell that much more is required that just a verbal acceptance for -

"...he raiseth up a righteous nation, and destroyeth the nations of the wicked.
38 And he leadeth away the righteous into precious lands, and the wicked he destroyeth, and curseth the land unto them for their sakes." (Book of Mormon 1 Nephi 17:37 - 38)

Nephi teaches the importance of righteousness or obedience to his brethren again with the children of Israel for -

"...he did straiten them in the wilderness with his rod; for they hardened their hearts, even as ye have; and the Lord straitened them because of their iniquity. He sent fiery flying serpents among them; and after they were bitten he prepared a way that they might be healed; and the labor which they had to perform was to look; and because of the simpleness of the way, or the easiness of it, there were many who perished." (Book of Mormon 1 Nephi 17:41)

Nephi, son of Helaman teaches his people that this same experience of the children of Israel can be easily compared to the Savior -

"...And as [Moses] lifted up the brazen serpent in the wilderness, even so shall he be lifted up who should come.
15 And as many as should look upon that serpent should live, even so as many as should look upon the Son of God with faith, having a contrite spirit, might live, even unto that life which is eternal." (Book of Mormon Helaman 8:14 - 15)

A complete study of the words of Christ, one will come to an understanding -

"...that it is by grace that we are saved, after all we can do." (Book of Mormon 2 Nephi 25:23)

1 Nephi 13 - 15

On one occasion, as Laman and Lemuel did humble themselved before the Lord, they asked Nephi -

"...What meaneth this thing which our father saw in a dream? What meaneth the tree which he saw?" (Book of Mormon 1 Nephi 15:21)

And -

"...What meaneth the rod of iron which our father saw, that led to the tree?" (Book of Mormon 1 Nephi 15:23)

Upon answering their questions, Nephi -

"...did exhort them to give heed unto the word of the Lord; yea, I did exhort them with all the energies of my soul, and with all the faculty which I possessed, that they would give heed to the word of God and remember to keep his commandments always in all things." (Book of Mormon 1 Nephi 15:25)

Then they asked this question -

"...What meaneth the river of water which our father saw?" (Book of Mormon 1 Nephi 15:26)

And Nephi answered -

"...the water which my father saw was filthiness; and so much was his mind swallowed up in other things that he beheld not the filthiness of the water.
28 And I said unto them that it was an awful gulf, which separated the wicked from the tree of life, and also from the saints of God.
29 And I said unto them that it was a representation of that awful hell, which the angel said unto me was prepared for the wicked." (Book of Mormon 1 Nephi 15:27 - 29)

And as he continued, it was the following words which caught my interest -

"...our father also saw that the justice of God did also divide the wicked from the righteous; and the brightness thereof was like unto the brightness of a flaming fire, which ascendeth up unto God forever and ever, and hath no end." (Book of Mormon 1 Nephi 15:30)

As I've studied the Book of Mormon, I've noticed that many of the teachings of life after death focus on the condition of men immediately after death - in the world of spirits where the wicked are seperated from the righteous until the resurrection. I believe that much of Lehi's dream reflects the justice which will be measured, which establishes the awful gulf that seperates the wicked from the righteous. Nephi tell his brothers that part of the awful gulf is filthiness or uncleanliness. In the parable of the rich man and Lazarus, didn't the Savior teach after the death and burial of the rich man -

"And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom.
24 And he cried and said, Father Abraham, have mercy on me, ... for I am tormented in this flame....And beside all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed: so that they which would pass from hence to you cannot; neither can they pass to us, that would come from thence." (New Testament Luke 16:23 - 26)

And why could they which would pass from hence can not? Because there is another component to this gulf to which the unrepentant cannot cross. It is the -

"...the justice of God...the brightness thereof was like unto the brightness of a flaming fire, which ascendeth up unto God forever and ever, and hath no end." (Book of Mormon 1 Nephi 15:30)

What is this flaming fire of Justice?

Nephi tells us -

"...I looked and beheld a tree; and it was like unto the tree which my father had seen; and the beauty thereof was far beyond, yea, exceeding of all beauty; and the whiteness thereof did exceed the whiteness of the driven snow...[a] tree which is precious above all..." (Book of Mormon 1 Nephi 11:8 - 9)

We remember there was a tree of life in the garden of Eden and with justice, because Adam and Eve had trangressed the law, they would expelled from the garden and the Lord -

"...placed at the east of the Garden of Eden, cherubim and a flaming sword, which turned every way to keep the way of the tree of life." (Pearl of Great Price Moses 4:31)

The blessings of the tree of life, of which in my opionion as I previously blogged, is the Savior -

"...whose fruit is most precious and most desirable above all other fruits; yea, and it is the greatest of all the gifts of God..." (Book of Mormon 1 Nephi 15:36)

What is the greatest gift of God? It is the mercy and atonement of Jesus Christ wherein by -

"...standing betwixt them and justice; having broken the bands of death, taken upon himself their iniquity and their transgressions, having redeemed them, and satisfied the demands of justice." (Book of Mormon Mosiah 15:9)

My thoughts are that the bright flaming fire described by Nephi that divides the wicked from the righteous is the grace of God, for -

"...none but the truly penitent are saved...What, do ye suppose that mercy can rob justice?" (Book of Mormon Alma 42:24 - 25)

The grace of God, or the flaming fire satisfies the demands of justice. Those that pass are those who who satisfy the conditions of faith in the Jesus Christ, repentance, baptism, and receiving the Holy Ghost. Those that do are those who are allowed to partake of the fruit that makes one eternally happy.

1 Nephi 11 - 12

Nephi records -

"...had desired to know the things that my father had seen, and believing that the Lord was able to make them known unto me, as I sat pondering in mine heart I was caught away in the Spirit of the Lord, yea, into an exceedingly high mountain, which I never had before seen, and upon which I never had before set my foot." (Book of Mormon 1 Nephi 11:1)

Though it really doesn't matter, there are differing opinions as to whom "the Spirit of the Lord" of which Nephi refers. One opinion is that it was literally the spirit of the Savior similar to the same experience of the Brother of Jared. It seems this way as he describes that he -

"...spake unto him as a man speaketh; for I beheld that he was in the form of a man; yet nevertheless, I knew that it was the Spirit of the Lord; and he spake unto me as a man speaketh with another." (Book of Mormon 1 Nephi 11:11)

They may of supported this argument with the idea that just proceeding the vision of the birth and life of the Savior, the Spirit -

"...said unto me: Look! And I looked as if to look upon him, and I saw him not; for he had gone from before my presence." (Book of Mormon 1 Nephi 11:12)

But my personal feelings are that the Spirit of the Lord that Nephi spake to "as a man speaketh to another" was the Holy Ghost. He being called at times - the Spirit of the Lord. My feelings come from Nephi's experience that -

"...I was caught away in the Spirit of the Lord..." (Book of Mormon 1 Nephi 11:1)

Being "caught away in" the Spirit of the Lord seems to coincide with scriptures of being in the Spirit such as Lehi's comment that of -

"...being thus overcome with the Spirit" (Book of Mormon 1 Nephi 1:8)

And the great vision of Joseph Smith and Sidney Rigdon where they record also of -

"...being in the Spirit" (Doctrine and Covenants Section 76:11)

The same argument that the Spirit of the Lord said, "Look", "and he was not", to which an angel replaced him, would follow the same logic where -

"...it came to pass that I beheld that she was carried away in the Spirit; and after she had been carried away in the Spirit for the space of a time..." (Book of Mormon 1 Nephi 11:19)

As well as -

"...I beheld the heavens open, and the Holy Ghost come down out of heaven and abide upon him in the form of a dove." (Book of Mormon 1 Nephi 11:27)

The Savior himself said -

"...I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you." (New Testament John 16:7)

This suggests to me that as Nephi witnessed the life of the Savior, it would only make sense that the Spirit of the Lord, the Comforter, or the Holy Ghost would not come or be present.

In the eternal perspective of things, of whom the Spirit of the Lord is refering to that carried Nephi away, if it was the Holy Ghost, I think that this verse would have great significance -

"...for I beheld that he was in the form of a man; yet nevertheless, I knew that it was the Spirit of the Lord.." (Book of Mormon 1 Nephi 11:11)

Which if as the Prophet taught -

"...but the Holy Ghost has not a body of flesh and bones, but is a personage of Spirit..." (Doctrine and Covenants Section 130:22)