1 Chronicles 1 - 7

During the reign of King Manasseh, he -

"...he did that which was evil in the sight of the LORD, after the abominations of the heathen, whom the LORD cast out before the children of Israel.
3 For he built up again the high places which Hezekiah his father had destroyed; and he reared up altars for Baal, and made a grove, as did Ahab king of Israel; and worshipped all the host of heaven, and served them.
4 And he built altars in the house of the LORD, of which the LORD said, In Jerusalem will I put my name.
5 And he built altars for all the host of heaven in the two courts of the house of the LORD.
6 And he made his son pass through the fire, and observed times, and used enchantments, and dealt with familiar spirits and wizards: he wrought much wickedness in the sight of the LORD, to provoke him to anger." (Old Testament 2 Kings 21:2 - 6)

He even -

"....set a graven image of the grove that he had made in the house, of which the LORD said to David, and to Solomon his son, In this house, and in Jerusalem, which I have chosen out of all tribes of Israel, will I put my name for ever:
...and Manasseh seduced them to do more evil than did the nations whom the LORD destroyed before the children of Israel."
(Old Testament 2 Kings 21:7 - 9)

And we read that -

"...the LORD spake by his servants the prophets..." (Old Testament 2 Kings 21:10)

I'm sure Manasseh in all his wickedness did not like the warnings of the prophets. I wonder how many of the prophets he slew when we read -

"...Moreover Manasseh shed innocent blood very much, till he had filled Jerusalem from one end to another; beside his sin wherewith he made Judah to sin, in doing that which was evil in the sight of the LORD." (Old Testament 2 Kings 21:16)

Last night I was reading the words of Alma as he reflected on the teaching of Zenos and Zenock wherein Alma said to the Zoramites -

"...Do ye remember to have read what Zenos, the prophet of old, has said concerning prayer or worship?" (Book of Mormon Alma 33:3)

Zenos had prayed -

"...thou didst hear me because of mine afflictions and my sincerity; and it is because of thy Son that thou hast been thus merciful unto me, therefore I will cry unto thee in all mine afflictions, for in thee is my joy; for thou hast turned thy judgments away from me, because of thy Son." (Book of Mormon Alma 33:11)

Alma also quotes Zenock saying -

"...Thou art angry, O Lord, with this people, because they will not understand thy mercies which thou hast bestowed upon them because of thy Son." (Book of Mormon Alma 33:16)

And then Alma tells the Zoramites -

"And now, my brethren, ye see that a second prophet of old has testified of the Son of God..." (Book of Mormon Alma 33:17)

And then sadly we learn -

"...and because the people would not understand his words they stoned him to death." (Book of Mormon Alma 33:17)

Acknowledging that it is speculation only, I wondered if Zenos and Zenock lived during the reign of Manasseh and also that if the prophets referenced that testified of the wickedness of the people and were those of which innocent blood was shed.

2 Kings 24 - 25

As I read of the wickedness of Judah after the reign of Josiah, my thoughts turned to many of the great men that lived in during this period. Jehoiakim, the son of Josiah, was not like his father and -

"...did that which was evil in the sight of the LORD..." (Old Testament 2 Kings 23:37)

Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came up...against Judah to destroy it, according to the word of the LORD, which he spake by his servants the prophets.
3 Surely at the commandment of the LORD came this upon Judah, to remove them out of his sight, for the sins of Manasseh, according to all that he did;
4 And also for the innocent blood that he shed: for he filled Jerusalem with innocent blood; which the LORD would not pardon." (Old Testament 2 Kings 24:1 - 4)

I would have to assume the innocent blood shed by Manasseh, Jehoiakim's grandfather, must have been the prophet's that testified of his wickedness. Jehoiakim was killed probably in rebellion and Jehoiachin his son took over and he also ruled in wickedness. He was carried away -

"...to Babylon, and the king's mother, and the king's wives, and his officers, and the mighty of the land, those carried he into captivity from Jerusalem to Babylon.
16 And all the men of might, even seven thousand, and craftsmen and smiths a thousand, all that were strong and apt for war, even them the king of Babylon brought captive to Babylon." (Old Testament 2 Kings 24:15 - 16)

Among these must have been great men like Daniel, Ezekiel, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego. Zedekiah became king in Jehoiachin's stead and also failed to repent as well as the rest of Judah. It is during his reign that we learn of great men as Jeremiah, Obadiah, Nahum, Habakkuk, and Lehi - great prophets, in a last ditch effort, to call the Judah to repentance. It is interesting as Babylon is on there doorsteps, we read -

"...in the commencement of the first year of the reign of Zedekiah, king of Judah...there came many prophets, prophesying unto the people that they must repent, or the great city Jerusalem must be destroyed." (Book of Mormon 1 Nephi 1:4)

Nephi records that as Lehi went forth among the people -

"...the Jews did mock him because of the things which he testified of them; for he truly testified of their wickedness and their abominations; and he testified that the things which he saw and heard, and also the things which he read in the book, manifested plainly of the coming of a Messiah, and also the redemption of the world.
20 And when the Jews heard these things they were angry with him; yea, even as with the prophets of old, whom they had cast out, and stoned, and slain; and they also sought his life, that they might take it away..." (Book of Mormon 1 Nephi 1:19 - 20)

I thought was Josephus wrote was interesting -

“Now as to Zedekiah himself, while he heard the prophet [Jeremiah] speak, he believed him, and agreed to every thing as true, and supposed it was for his advantage; but then his friends perverted him, and dissuaded him from what the prophet advised, and obliged him to do what they pleased. Ezekiel also foretold in Babylon what calamities were coming upon the people, which when he heard, he sent accounts of them unto Jerusalem. But Zedekiah did not believe their prophecies, for the reason following: It happened that the two prophets agreed with one another in what they said as in all other things, that the city should be taken, and Zedekiah himself should be taken captive; but Ezekiel disagreed with him [Jeremiah], and said that Zedekiah should not see Babylon [see Ezekiel 12:13], while Jeremiah said to him, that the king of Babylon should carry him away thither in bonds [see Jeremiah 34:3]; and because they did not both say the same thing as to this circumstance, he disbelieved what they both appeared to agree in, and condemned them as not speaking truth therein, although all the things foretold him did come to pass according to their prophecies, as we shall show upon a fitter opportunity.” (Antiquities, bk. 10, chap. 7, par. 2.)

As recorded in 2 Kings 25:7, both prophets were vindicated by subsequent events. After chastising Zedekiah for his unfaithfulness and treachery, Nebuchadnezzar -

“commanded his sons and his friends to be slain, while Zedekiah and the rest of the captains looked on; after which he put out the eyes of Zedekiah, and bound him, and carried him to Babylon. And these things happened to him, as Jeremiah and Ezekiel had foretold to him, that he should be caught, and brought before the king of Babylon, and should speak to him face to face, and should see his eyes with his own eyes; and thus far did Jeremiah prophesy. But he was also made blind, and brought to Babylon, but did not see it, according to the prediction of Ezekiel.” (Antiquities, bk. 10, chap. 8, par. 2.)

2 Kings 20 - 23

King Mosiah warned -

"...that because all men are not just it is not expedient that ye should have a king or kings to rule over you.
17 For behold, how much iniquity doth one wicked king cause to be committed, yea, and what great destruction!
18 Yea, remember king Noah, his wickedness and his abominations, and also the wickedness and abominations of his people. Behold what great destruction did come upon them; and also because of their iniquities they were brought into bondage." (Book of Mormon Mosiah 29:16 - 18)

After the righteous king Hezekiah had passed away, his son Manasseh becomes king. And becoming king at such a young, he fell captive to the influences of false and wicked priests of idolatry. And Mannasseh -

"...did that which was evil in the sight of the LORD, after the abominations of the heathen, whom the LORD cast out before the children of Israel." (Old Testament 2 Kings 21:2)

"...and Manasseh seduced them to do more evil than did the nations whom the LORD destroyed before the children of Israel." (Old Testament 2 Kings 21:9)

And that he caused Judah to -

"...hath done wickedly above all that the Amorites did, which were before him..." (Old Testament 2 Kings 21:11)

Even to the point that he slew the prophets -

"...shed innocent blood very much, till he had filled Jerusalem from one end to another..." (Old Testament 2 Kings 21:16)

In great contrast to Manasseh, Josiah (his grandson) became one of the most righteous and valiant of all the kings of Judah. It is during the reign of Josiah that an interesting thing happens that may tend to provide one explaination why Israel would so easily fall into idolotrous worship. While craftsmen were repairing the breaches of the temple, Hilkiah the high priest -

"...found the book of the law in the house of the LORD." (Old Testament 2 Kings 22:8)

And -

"...when the king had heard the words of the book of the law, that he rent his clothes.
12 And the king commanded Hilkiah the priest, and Ahikam the son of Shaphan, and Achbor the son of Michaiah, and Shaphan the scribe, and Asahiah a servant of the king's, saying,
13 Go ye, enquire of the LORD for me, and for the people, and for all Judah, concerning the words of this book that is found: for great is the wrath of the LORD that is kindled against us, because our fathers have not hearkened unto the words of this book, to do according unto all that which is written concerning us." (Old Testament 2 Kings 22:11 - 13)

It appears that the scriptures had been lost amongst the children of Israel for some time. It was only as Josiah heard these words that he recognized how far Judah had wandered from their covenants. The seriousness of this was apparent to Nephi as -

"...the Spirit said unto me again...It is better that one man should perish than that a nation should dwindle and perish in unbelief...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.
15 Yea, and 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." (Book of Mormon 1 Nephi 4:12 - 15)

This was true with the Mulekites in that -

"...they had brought no records with them; and they denied the being of their Creator; and Mosiah, nor the people of Mosiah, could understand them." (Book of Mormon Omni 1:17)

So Josiah -

"...went up into the house of the LORD, and all the men of Judah and all the inhabitants of Jerusalem with him, and the priests, and the prophets, and all the people, both small and great: and he read in their ears all the words of the book of the covenant which was found in the house of the LORD." (Old Testament 2 Kings 23:2)

And they obeyed the book of the covenant for -

"...the king commanded all the people, saying, Keep the passover unto the LORD your God, as it is written in the book of this covenant.
22 Surely there was not holden such a passover from the days of the judges that judged Israel, nor in all the days of the kings of Israel, nor of the kings of Judah..." (Old Testament 2 Kings 23:21 - 22)

But as obedient and diligent as Josiah was -

"...the LORD turned not from the fierceness of his great wrath, wherewith his anger was kindled against Judah, because of all the provocations that Manasseh had provoked him withal." (Old Testament 2 Kings 23:26)

2 Kings 16 - 19

From the days of Jeroboam, the kings of Israel had never repented and continued in wickedness. In contrast, the kings of Judah had varied somewhere between righteous and wicked. The Lord’s patience came to an end with Israel as -

“…the children of Israel had sinned against the LORD their God, which had brought them up out of the land of Egypt, from under the hand of Pharaoh king of Egypt, and had feared other gods,
8 And walked in the statutes of the heathen, whom the LORD cast out from before the children of Israel, and of the kings of Israel, which they had made.
9 And the children of Israel did secretly those things that were not right against the LORD their God, and they built them high places in all their cities, from the tower of the watchmen to the fenced city.
10 And they set them up images and groves in every high hill, and under every green tree:
11 And there they burnt incense in all the high places, as did the heathen whom the LORD carried away before them; and wrought wicked things to provoke the LORD to anger:
12 For they served idols, whereof the LORD had said unto them, Ye shall not do this thing.” (Old Testament 2 Kings 17:7 - 12)

During this period –

“…the LORD testified against Israel, and against Judah, by all the prophets, and by all the seers, saying, Turn ye from your evil ways, and keep my commandments and my statutes, according to all the law which I commanded your fathers, and which I sent to you by my servants the prophets.” (Old Testament 2 Kings 17:13)

But Israel, more than Judah –

“…would not hear, but hardened their necks, like to the neck of their fathers, that did not believe in the LORD their God.
15 And they rejected his statutes, and his covenant that he made with their fathers, and his testimonies which he testified against them; and they followed vanity, and became vain, and went after the heathen that were round about them, concerning whom the LORD had charged them, that they should not do like them.
16 And they left all the commandments of the LORD their God, and made them molten images, even two calves, and made a grove, and worshipped all the host of heaven, and served Baal.
17 And they caused their sons and their daughters to pass through the fire, and used divination and enchantments, and sold themselves to do evil in the sight of the LORD, to provoke him to anger.” (Old Testament 2 Kings 17:14 - 17)

“Therefore the LORD was very angry with Israel, and removed them out of his sight….” (Old Testament 2 Kings 17:18)

And -

the king of Assyria came up throughout all the land, and went up to Samaria, and besieged it three years.
6 ¶ In the ninth year of Hoshea the king of Assyria took Samaria, and carried Israel away into Assyria, and placed them in Halah and in Habor by the river of Gozan, and in the cities of the Medes.”
(Old Testament 2 Kings 17:5 - 6)

“…there was none left but the tribe of Judah only…” (Old Testament 2 Kings 17:18)

Isaiah gives us some great insight with the removal of Israel as the king of Assyria thinks –

“…By the strength of my hand and by my wisdom I have done these things; for I am prudent; and I have moved the borders of the people, and have robbed their treasures, and I have put down the inhabitants like a valiant man;
14 And my hand hath found as a nest the riches of the people; and as one gathereth eggs that are left have I gathered all the earth; and there was none that moved the wing, or opened the mouth, or peeped.”
(Book of Mormon 2 Nephi 20:13 - 14)

And of this thinking Isaiah responds –

“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)

For –

“…the LORD was very angry with Israel, and removed them out of his sight…” (Old Testament 2 Kings 17:18)

At the same time, because of the righteousness of King Hezekiah, the king Assyria was not allowed to do the same to Judah. The march of the Assyrians continued in capturing many cities Judah, even to the point of encompassing the city of Jerusalem. All must have appeared lost but Hezekiah continued to trust the Lord and went into the house of the Lord and prayed

“… O LORD God of Israel, which dwellest between the cherubims, thou art the God, even thou alone, of all the kingdoms of the earth: thou hast made heaven and earth.
16 LORD, bow down thine ear, and hear: open, LORD, thine eyes, and see: and hear the words of Sennacherib, which hath sent him to reproach the living God.
17 Of a truth, LORD, the kings of Assyria have destroyed the nations and their lands,
18 And have cast their gods into the fire: for they were no gods, but the work of men's hands, wood and stone: therefore they have destroyed them.
19 Now therefore, O LORD our God, I beseech thee, save thou us out of his hand, that all the kingdoms of the earth may know that thou art the LORD God, even thou only.” (Old Testament 2 Kings 19:15 - 19)

In answer to that prayer, Isaiah the prophet comes and prophecies to Hezekiah –

“…Thus saith the LORD God of Israel, That which thou hast prayed to me against Sennacherib king of Assyria I have heard.”
(Old Testament 2 Kings 19:20)

“…the king of Assyria, He shall not come into this city, nor shoot an arrow there, nor come before it with shield, nor cast a bank against it.
33 By the way that he came, by the same shall he return, and shall not come into this city, saith the LORD.
34 For I will defend this city, to save it, for mine own sake…” (Old Testament 2 Kings 19:32 - 34)

And then occurred the marvelous miracle in that –

“…that night, that the angel of the LORD went out, and smote in the camp of the Assyrians an hundred fourscore and five thousand: and when they arose early in the morning, behold, they were all dead corpses.
36 So Sennacherib king of Assyria departed, and went and returned, and dwelt at Nineveh.” (Old Testament 2 Kings 19:35 - 36)

“The weak things of the world shall come forth and break down the mighty and strong ones, that man should not counsel his fellow man, neither trust in the arm of flesh—“ (Doctrine and Covenants Section 1:19)

2 Kings 12 - 15

As I read these chapters this morning, the thought that kept coming to my mind was the words of Jacob -

"...I, Jacob, began to be old; and the record of this people being kept on the other plates of Nephi, wherefore, I conclude this record, declaring that I have written according to the best of my knowledge, by saying that the time passed away with us, and also our lives passed away like as it were unto us a dream..." (Book of Mormon Jacob 7:26)

In these few chapters, the lives of multiple kings of Israel and Judah are briefly covered. Then each "slept with his fathers" and were either buried in "Samaria with the kings of Israel" or "at Jerusalem with his fathers in the city of David."

"For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?" (New Testament Mark 8:36)

"...this life is the time for men to prepare to meet God; yea, behold the day of this life is the day for men to perform their labors." (Book of Mormon Alma 34:32)

"...I beseech of you that ye do not procrastinate the day of your repentance until the end; for after this day of life, which is given us to prepare for eternity, behold, if we do not improve our time while in this life, then cometh the night of darkness wherein there can be no labor performed.
34 Ye cannot say, when ye are brought to that awful crisis, that I will repent, that I will return to my God. Nay, ye cannot say this; for that same spirit which doth possess your bodies at the time that ye go out of this life, that same spirit will have power to possess your body in that eternal world.
35 For behold, if ye have procrastinated the day of your repentance even until death, behold, ye have become subjected to the spirit of the devil, and he doth seal you his; therefore, the Spirit of the Lord hath withdrawn from you, and hath no place in you, and the devil hath all power over you; and this is the final state of the wicked." (Book of Mormon Alma 34:33 - 35)

And penitent and -

"...the righteous shall sit down in his kingdom, to go no more out; but their garments should be made white through the blood of the Lamb." (Book of Mormon Alma 34:36)

2 Kings 8 - 11

I found little to blog about in the chapters I read this morning other than the prophecies of Elijah regarding the fate of the house of Ahab -

"Know now that there shall fall unto the earth nothing of the word of the LORD, which the LORD spake concerning the house of Ahab: for the LORD hath done that which he spake by his servant Elijah.
11 So Jehu slew all that remained of the house of Ahab in Jezreel, and all his great men, and his kinsfolks, and his priests, until he left him none remaining." (Old Testament 2 Kings 10:10 - 11)

And of the wicked queen Jezebel -

"...they threw her down: and some of her blood was sprinkled on the wall, and on the horses: and he trode her under foot.
34 And when he was come in, he did eat and drink, and said, Go, see now this cursed woman, and bury her: for she is a king's daughter.
35 And they went to bury her: but they found no more of her than the skull, and the feet, and the palms of her hands.
36 Wherefore they came again, and told him. And he said, This is the word of the LORD, which he spake by his servant Elijah the Tishbite, saying, In the portion of Jezreel shall dogs eat the flesh of Jezebel:
37 And the carcase of Jezebel shall be as dung upon the face of the field in the portion of Jezreel; so that they shall not say, This is Jezebel." (Old Testament 2 Kings 9:33 - 37)

My thoughts though returned to what I though was a significant event as Elisha and his servant were at Dothan. The Syrians were more than aware of the prophet Elisha for the Lord would not allow them success in their wickedness. They blamed it all on Elisha and sent -

"...thither horses, and chariots, and a great host: and they came by night, and compassed the city about." (Old Testament 2 Kings 6:14)

"...And when the servant of the man of God was risen early, and gone forth, behold, an host compassed the city both with horses and chariots. And his servant said unto him, Alas, my master! how shall we do?" (Old Testament 2 Kings 6:15)

I'm sure this verse doesn't bring out all the panic and emotion of the servant as he witnesses that they are surrounded and about to be attacked. Elisha calmly responds -

"...Fear not: for they that be with us are more than they that be with them...." (Old Testament 2 Kings 6:16)

The servant probably looked at Elisha and thought "you have got to be kidding".

Then -

"...Elisha prayed, and said, LORD, I pray thee, open his eyes, that he may see. And the LORD opened the eyes of the young man; and he saw: and, behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire round about Elisha." (Old Testament 2 Kings 6:17)

As I read this my thoughts went to the revelation of Enoch -

"And the Lord spake unto Enoch, and said unto him: Anoint thine eyes with clay, and wash them, and thou shalt see. And he did so.
36 And he beheld the spirits that God had created; and he beheld also things which were not visible to the natural eye..." (Pearl of Great Price Moses 6:35 - 36)

I think the significance of the servant of Elisha is that many times we think we are alone but the angels of God are watching over us prepared to help us in our battles with the adversary. We know that -

"The power and authority of the lesser, or Aaronic Priesthood, is to hold the keys of the ministering of angels..." (Doctrine and Covenants Section 107:20)

I we wash our eyes of the things of this world, with -

"...an eye single to the glory of God..." (Doctrine and Covenants Section 4:5)

- we will also see and come to understand things we have never seen before.

2 Kings 5 - 7

Nephi taught -

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

The Savior commanded his apostles -

"And as ye go, preach, saying, The kingdom of heaven is at hand.
8 Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils: freely ye have received, freely give." (New Testament Matthew 10:7 - 8)

Paul also taught -

"...when I preach the gospel, I may make the gospel of Christ without charge, that I abuse not my power in the gospel." (New Testament 1 Corinthians 9:18)

The priesthood is not given to a man for his own benefit but to serve others. The Lord taught -

"...this greater priesthood administereth the gospel and holdeth the key of the mysteries of the kingdom, even the key of the knowledge of God.
20 Therefore, in the ordinances thereof, the power of godliness is manifest.
21 And without the ordinances thereof, and the authority of the priesthood, the power of godliness is not manifest unto men in the flesh;
22 For without this no man can see the face of God, even the Father, and live...." (Doctrine and Covenants Section 84:19 - 22)

We these principles as Elisha uses his authority to heal Naaman -

"Naaman, captain of the host of the king of Syria, was a great man with his master, and honourable, because by him the LORD had given deliverance unto Syria: he was also a mighty man in valour, but he was a leper." (Old Testament 2 Kings 5:1)

By instruction of a maid, Naaman came to Elisha to be healed and

"...Naaman came with his horses and with his chariot, and stood at the door of the house of Elisha.
10 And Elisha sent a messenger unto him, saying, Go and wash in Jordan seven times, and thy flesh shall come again to thee, and thou shalt be clean." (Old Testament 2 Kings 5:9 - 10)

I'm sure Naaman felt somewhat humiliated that Elisha just sent a messenger to tell him what to do to be healed, for Naaman -

"...was wroth, and went away, and said, Behold, I thought, He will surely come out to me, and stand, and call on the name of the LORD his God, and strike his hand over the place, and recover the leper." (Old Testament 2 Kings 5:11)

He continued in his frustration -

"Are not Abana and Pharpar, rivers of Damascus, better than all the waters of Israel? may I not wash in them, and be clean? So he turned and went away in a rage." (Old Testament 2 Kings 5:12)

But his own servant taught Naaman a great principle of humility and obedience as he said -

"...My father, if the prophet had bid thee do some great thing, wouldest thou not have done it? how much rather then, when he saith to thee, Wash, and be clean?" (Old Testament 2 Kings 5:13)

Naaman was of significant character to humbly accept the comments of his servant that went down -

"...and dipped himself seven times in Jordan, according to the saying of the man of God: and his flesh came again like unto the flesh of a little child, and he was clean." (Old Testament 2 Kings 5:14)

In great gratitude he returns to Elisha -

"...now I know that there is no God in all earth, but in Israel: now therefore, I pray thee, take a blessing of thy servant." (Old Testament 2 Kings 5:15)

But Elisha, understanding his priesthood obligations, replied -

"...As the LORD liveth, before whom I stand, I will receive none. And he urged him to take it; but he refused." (Old Testament 2 Kings 5:16)

But not Gahazi, the servant of Elisha and probably a priesthood holder said

"...Behold, my master hath spared Naaman this Syrian, in not receiving at his hands that which he brought: but, as the LORD liveth, I will run after him, and take somewhat of him." (Old Testament 2 Kings 5:20)

And catching up with Naaman, Gahazi lied -

"...My master hath sent me, saying, Behold, even now there be come to me from mount Ephraim two young men of the sons of the prophets: give them, I pray thee, a talent of silver, and two changes of garments." (Old Testament 2 Kings 5:22)

And Naaman answered -

"...Be content, take two talents. And he urged him, and bound two talents of silver in two bags, with two changes of garments, and laid them upon two of his servants; and they bare them before him." (Old Testament 2 Kings 5:23)

When Gahazi returned, Elisha knew of his doings and asked -

"...Is it a time to receive money, and to receive garments, and oliveyards, and vineyards, and sheep, and oxen, and menservants, and maidservants?" (Old Testament 2 Kings 5:26)

And without an answer, Elisha tells Gahazi -

"The leprosy therefore of Naaman shall cleave unto thee, and unto thy seed for ever. And he went out from his presence a leper as white as snow." (Old Testament 2 Kings 5:27)

As we represent the Savior, we should remember the words of Elisha -

"...Is it a time to receive money..." (Old Testament 2 Kings 5:26)

2 Kings 1 - 4

I think it is interesting how so many people of today believe and accept the teachings and miracles of ancient prophets but are not willing to accept the idea of prophets and miracles in our own day. They quickly accept the teachings of dead prophets but give little attention to the counsel of living prophets. Today I read of the prophets Elijah and Elisha. Did Elijah and Elisha really answer -

"...the captain of fifty, If I be a man of God, then let fire come down from heaven, and consume thee and thy fifty. And there came down fire from heaven, and consumed him and his fifty." (Old Testament 2 Kings 1:10)

Did Elijah and Elisha really come to the river jordan -

"And Elijah took his mantle, and wrapped it together, and smote the waters, and they were divided hither and thither, so that they two went over on dry ground." (Old Testament 2 Kings 2:8)

Is it true that as Elisha and Elijah were together -

"...there appeared a chariot of fire, and horses of fire, and parted them both asunder; and Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven.
12 ¶ And Elisha saw it..." (Old Testament 2 Kings 2:11 - 12)

And did Elisha command the widow -

"...Go, borrow thee vessels abroad of all thy neighbours, even empty vessels; borrow not a few.
4 And when thou art come in, thou shalt shut the door upon thee and upon thy sons, and shalt pour out into all those vessels, and thou shalt set aside that which is full.
5 So she went from him, and shut the door upon her and upon her sons, who brought the vessels to her; and she poured out.
6 And it came to pass, when the vessels were full, that she said unto her son, Bring me yet a vessel. And he said unto her, There is not a vessel more. And the oil stayed." (Old Testament 2 Kings 4:3 - 6)

Did he not promise a woman -

"...About this season, according to the time of life, thou shalt embrace a son." (Old Testament 2 Kings 4:16)

And later after her son had fallen and died -

"...He went in therefore, and shut the door upon them twain, and prayed unto the LORD.
34 And he went up, and lay upon the child, and put his mouth upon his mouth, and his eyes upon his eyes, and his hands upon his hands: and he stretched himself upon the child; and the flesh of the child waxed warm.
35 Then he returned, and walked in the house to and fro; and went up, and stretched himself upon him: and the child sneezed seven times, and the child opened his eyes." (Old Testament 2 Kings 4:33 - 35)

And finally, when there was little food for all the people, Elish was given -

"...twenty loaves of barley, and full ears of corn in the husk thereof. And he said, Give unto the people, that they may eat.
43 And his servitor said, What, should I set this before an hundred men? He said again, Give the people, that they may eat: for thus saith the LORD, They shall eat, and shall leave thereof.
44 So he set it before them, and they did eat, and left thereof, according to the word of the LORD." (Old Testament 2 Kings 4:42 - 44)

Much like the Savior, these prophets provided great miracles. I believe such miracles can and do exist today by living prophets to those of great faith.

1 Kings 20 - 22

We learn a great deal about prophets and false prophets as Jehosaphat joins forces with Ahab to fight the Syrians. Elder John A Widstoe defined -

“...a prophet is a teacher. That is the essential meaning of the word. He teaches the body of truth, the gospel, revealed by the Lord to man; and under inspiration explains it to the understanding of the people. He is an expounder of truth. Moreover, he shows that the way to human happiness is through obedience to God’s law. He calls to repentance those who wander away from the truth. He becomes a warrior for the consummation of the Lord’s purposes with respect to the human family. The purpose of his life is to uphold the Lord’s plan of salvation. All this he does by close communion with the Lord, until he is ‘full of power by the spirit of the Lord." (Evidences and Reconciliations, pp. 257–58.)

In one way, Elder Bruce R. McConkie explained -

“...Prophets are simply members of a true Church who have testimonies of the truth and divinity of the work. They are the saints of God who have learned by the power of the Holy Ghost that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the living God..." (The Promised Messiah, pp. 23)

For John the Revelator said -

"...for the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy...." (New Testament Revelation 19:10)

Paul also admonished the saints -

"...Wherefore, brethren, covet to prophesy..." (New Testament 1 Corinthians 14:39)

Even Moses desired -

"...would God that all the LORD's people were prophets, and that the LORD would put his spirit upon them!" (Old Testament Numbers 11:29)

Ahab had prophets, but they were false prophets as Elijah said -

"...I, even I only, remain a prophet of the LORD; but Baal's prophets are four hundred and fifty men." (Old Testament 1 Kings 18:22)

Ahab again had false prophets when Jehosaphat came to make an alliance -

"...And Jehoshaphat said unto the king of Israel, Enquire, I pray thee, at the word of the LORD to day.
6 Then the king of Israel gathered the prophets together, about four hundred men, and said unto them, Shall I go against Ramoth-gilead to battle, or shall I forbear? And they said, Go up; for the Lord shall deliver it into the hand of the king." (Old Testament 1 Kings 22:5 - 6)

Jehoshaphat knew these were false prophets and asked -

"...Is there not here a prophet of the LORD besides, that we might enquire of him?..." (Old Testament 1 Kings 22:7)

Ahab knew the difference between a true prophet and false prophet answering -

"...There is yet one man, Micaiah the son of Imlah, by whom we may enquire of the LORD: but I hate him; for he doth not prophesy good concerning me, but evil." (Old Testament 1 Kings 22:8)

How many times do we reject the teachings of the prophets because those teachings do not fit our desired lifestyle. So they brought in Micaiah and with authority again reminds the king -

"...As the LORD liveth, what the LORD saith unto me, that will I speak." (Old Testament 1 Kings 22:14)

Then Ahab, trying to persuade Micaiah, tells him -

"...all the [false] prophets prophesied so, saying, Go up to Ramoth-gilead, and prosper: for the LORD shall deliver it into the king's hand." (Old Testament 1 Kings 22:12)

Even the messenger that brought Micaiah pleaded -

"...I pray thee, be like the word of one of them, and speak that which is good." (Old Testament 1 Kings 22:13)

I think Micaiah had had enough, knowing the king had no desire for the truth, so when the king asked "shall we forbear", Micaiah sarcastically responded -

"...Go, and prosper: for the LORD shall deliver it into the hand of the king." (Old Testament 1 Kings 22:15)

You can sense Ahab got the sarcasm as he answers -

"...How many times shall I adjure thee that thou tell me nothing but that which is true in the name of the LORD?" (Old Testament 1 Kings 22:16)

Which was a lie in itself. Then Micaiah does prophecy the truth -

"...I saw all Israel scattered upon the hills, as sheep that have not a shepherd: and the LORD said, These have no master: let them return every man to his house in peace." (Old Testament 1 Kings 22:17)

In frustration, Ahab tells Jehosaphat, see -

"...Did I not tell thee that he would prophesy no good concerning me, but evil?" (Old Testament 1 Kings 22:18)

Ahab chooses to follow his false prophets and -

"...lying spirit in the mouth of all these thy prophets..." (Old Testament 1 Kings 22:23)

As prophecied by Michaiah -

"...and the king was stayed up in his chariot against the Syrians, and died at even..." (Old Testament 1 Kings 22:35)

And later, as prophecied by Elijah -

"...the dogs licked up his blood..." (Old Testament 1 Kings 22:38)

A final quote by Elder Widstoe -

“A prophet is a teacher of known truth; a seer is a perceiver of hidden truth, a revelator is a bearer of new truth. In the widest sense, the one most commonly used, the title, prophet, includes the other titles and makes of the prophet, a teacher, perceiver, and bearer of truth." (Evidences and Reconciliations, pp. 258–59.)

1 Kings 17 - 19

Jehosaphat said -

'...believe his prophets, so shall ye prosper..." (Old Testament 2 Chronicles 20:20)

What does it mean to prosper?

Merriam-Webster Dictionary provides this definition -

"...to succeed in an enterprise or activity; especially : to achieve economic success : to become strong and flourishing..."

I thought of the words of Jehosaphat as I read of the widow of Zarephath. Elijah with his sealing power of the Priesthood -

"...said unto Ahab, As the LORD God of Israel liveth, before whom I stand, there shall not be dew nor rain these years, but according to my word." (Old Testament 1 Kings 17:1)

The Savior during is mortal ministry spoke of this famine to the people of Nazareth saying -

"...I tell you of a truth, many widows were in Israel in the days of Elias, when the heaven was shut up three years and six months, when great famine was throughout all the land..." (New Testament Luke 4:25)

Of all the widows in the land, the Lord commands Elijah -

"Arise, get thee to Zarephath, which belongeth to Zidon, and dwell there: behold, I have commanded a widow woman there to sustain thee." (Old Testament 1 Kings 17:9)

"...And when he came to the gate of the city, behold, the widow woman was there gathering of sticks: and he called to her, and said, Fetch me, I pray thee, a little water in a vessel, that I may drink." (Old Testament 1 Kings 17:10)

I couldn't help but think of the similarities with the story of Alma and Amulek where Alma after having preached and been rejected by the people of Ammonihah -

"...being weighed down with sorrow, wading through much tribulation and anguish of soul, because of the wickedness of the people...behold an angel of the Lord appeared unto him, saying:
15 Blessed art thou, Alma; therefore, lift up thy head and rejoice, for thou hast great cause to rejoice; for thou hast been faithful in keeping the commandments of God from the time which thou receivedst thy first message from him. Behold, I am he that delivered it unto you.
16 And behold, I am sent to command thee that thou return to the city of Ammonihah, and preach again unto the people of the city; yea, preach unto them. Yea, say unto them, except they repent the Lord God will destroy them." (Book of Mormon Alma 8:14 - 16)

"...after Alma had received his message from the angel of the Lord he returned speedily to the land of Ammonihah. And he entered the city by another way...And as he entered the city he was an hungered, and he said to a man: Will ye give to an humble servant of God something to eat?" (Book of Mormon Alma 8:18 - 19)

And the man, Amulek answered -

"...I am a Nephite, and I know that thou art a holy prophet of God, for thou art the man whom an angel said in a vision: Thou shalt receive. Therefore, go with me into my house and I will impart unto thee of my food; and I know that thou wilt be a blessing unto me and my house." (Book of Mormon Alma 8:20)

With the story of the widow of Zarephath, it was much the same as Amulek where the Lord said -

"...I have commanded a widow woman there to sustain thee..." (Old Testament 1 Kings 17:9)

Even though it isn't clear how she was told, I would tend to believe that the woman had anticipated the coming of Elijah. As the widow went to retrieve the requested water, the prophet Elijah follows -

"...he called to her, and said, Bring me, I pray thee, a morsel of bread in thine hand." (Old Testament 1 Kings 17:11)

You would have to believe the widow was a very humble, prayerful woman to have received the command to sustain a prophet. This simple request though of the prophet must have been more than she could bear as she confesses -

"...As the LORD thy God liveth, I have not a cake, but an handful of meal in a barrel, and a little oil in a cruse: and, behold, I am gathering two sticks, that I may go in and dress it for me and my son, that we may eat it, and die." (Old Testament 1 Kings 17:12)

She appears to be in her life at the point where all hope was lost and a prophet asks her to feed him first. It was not a selfish thing of the prophet Elijah anymore than the prophets of today have asked the saints to pay tithes even when it may seem all is lost. It was a test of faith to see if she would do as she had been commanded of the Lord to sustain a prophet of God. But lovingly and compassionately, Elijah says -

"...Fear not; go and do as thou hast said: but make me thereof a little cake first, and bring it unto me..." (Old Testament 1 Kings 17:13)

And in the same sentence suggests this great promise of faith -

"...and after make for thee and for thy son.
14 For thus saith the LORD God of Israel, The barrel of meal shall not waste, neither shall the cruse of oil fail, until the day that the LORD sendeth rain upon the earth." (Old Testament 1 Kings 17:13 - 14)

This promise reminds me of the promise given to the faithful that are tithed -

"...Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the LORD of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it.
11 And I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes, and he shall not destroy the fruits of your ground; neither shall your vine cast her fruit before the time in the field..." (Old Testament Malachi 3:10 - 11)

"...she went and did according to the saying of Elijah: and she, and he, and her house, did eat many days." (Old Testament 1 Kings 17:15)

But even with this miraculous event, the windows of heaven were not closed, for a some point while Elijah still remained at her home -

"...the son of the woman...fell sick; and his sickness was so sore, that there was no breath left in him." (Old Testament 1 Kings 17:17)

You can imagine the pain of the widow as she had done all, even taking in the prophet Elijah to now have lost her son. Elijah -

said unto her, Give me thy son. And he took him out of her bosom, and carried him up into a loft, where he abode, and laid him upon his own bed.
20 And he cried unto the LORD, and said, O LORD my God, hast thou also brought evil upon the widow with whom I sojourn, by slaying her son?
21 And he stretched himself upon the child three times, and cried unto the LORD, and said, O LORD my God, I pray thee, let this child's soul come into him again.
22 And the LORD heard the voice of Elijah; and the soul of the child came into him again, and he revived.
23 And Elijah took the child, and brought him down out of the chamber into the house, and delivered him unto his mother: and Elijah said, See, thy son liveth." (Old Testament 1 Kings 17:19 - 23)

Now I ask - did the widow of Zarephath prosper? The world may consider prosperity to be economical and with little suffering or tribulation, but I would suggest prosperity would include more important things.

'...believe his prophets, so shall ye prosper..." (Old Testament 2 Chronicles 20:20)

1 Kings 15 - 16

As I read of the disobedience and corruptness of the posterity of Jeroboam the only thing that came to mind was the warning of idolatry Moses gave to the children of Israel -

"...Thou shalt not bow down thyself unto them, nor serve them: for I the LORD thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me..." (Old Testament Deuteronomy 5:9)

Jeroboam set up idols and began to worship them. As a result, the prophet Ahijah prophesied -

"...for thou hast gone and made thee other gods, and molten images, to provoke me to anger, and hast cast me behind thy back:
10 Therefore, behold, I will bring evil upon the house of Jeroboam, and will cut off from Jeroboam him that pisseth against the wall, and him that is shut up and left in Israel, and will take away the remnant of the house of Jeroboam, as a man taketh away dung, till it be all gone." (Old Testament 1 Kings 14:9 - 10)

Jeroboam's son, Nadab -

"...did evil in the sight of the LORD, and walked in the way of his father, and in his sin wherewith he made Israel to sin..." (Old Testament 1 Kings 15:26)

And after Baasha destroyed all the house of Jeroboam, through the prophet Jehu, the Lord tells him -

"...thou hast walked in the way of Jeroboam, and hast made my people Israel to sin, to provoke me to anger with their sins..." (Old Testament 1 Kings 16:2)

And he is told -

"I will take away the posterity of Baasha, and the posterity of his house; and will make thy house like the house of Jeroboam the son of Nebat." (Old Testament 1 Kings 16:3)

After Baasha's death, his son, Elah becomes king. And while is drunk, Zimri slays him and later slays -

"...all the house of Baasha: he left him not one that pisseth against a wall, neither of his kinsfolks, nor of his friends." (Old Testament 1 Kings 16:11)

And seven days later, Zimri is slain by the Omri, the captain of the armies of Irsael because he murdered the king and -

"...For his sins which he sinned in doing evil in the sight of the LORD, in walking in the way of Jeroboam, and in his sin which he did, to make Israel to sin." (Old Testament 1 Kings 16:19)

And becoming king -

"...Omri wrought evil in the eyes of the LORD, and did worse than all that were before him." (Old Testament 1 Kings 16:25)

And after Omri's passing Ahab his son reigned in his stead -

"And Ahab the son of Omri did evil in the sight of the LORD above all that were before him." (Old Testament 1 Kings 16:30)

And -

"...as if it had been a light thing for him to walk in the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, that he took to wife Jezebel the daughter of Ethbaal king of the Zidonians, and went and served Baal, and worshipped him.
32 And he reared up an altar for Baal in the house of Baal, which he had built in Samaria.
33 And Ahab made a grove; and Ahab did more to provoke the LORD God of Israel to anger than all the kings of Israel that were before him." (Old Testament 1 Kings 16:31 - 33)

"When we save a boy, we probably are helping to save his future wife, his future children, his future grandchildren, and so on, generation after generation. It is said that the child is the father of a man. This means that a delinquent child grows into a delinquent parent who produces delinquent children, who grow into delinquent parents, and you are in a vicious cycle." (Elbert R. Curtis)

1 Kings 11 - 14

Alma teaches that men are -

"...called by this holy calling, and ordained unto the high priesthood of the holy order of God, to teach his commandments unto the children of men..." (Book of Mormon Alma 13:6)

And those of the priesthood are to -

"...to teach, expound, exhort, baptize, and watch over the church..." (Doctrine and Covenants Section 20:42)

"...And this is according to the oath and covenant which belongeth to the priesthood." (Doctrine and Covenants Section 84:39)

The Savior warns -

"...whoso breaketh this covenant after he hath received it, and altogether turneth therefrom, shall not have forgiveness of sins in this world nor in the world to come." (Doctrine and Covenants Section 84:41)

And he commands -

"...beware concerning yourselves, to give diligent heed to the words of eternal life.
44 For you shall live by every word that proceedeth forth from the mouth of God..." (Doctrine and Covenants Section 84:43 - 44)

We read in the days of Jeroboam that Jeroboam had established two centers of idolatrous worship for his people since they had become enemies to Judah where the temple was. Beth-el was one of those centers. And -

"...there came a man of God out of Judah by the word of the LORD unto Beth-el..." (Old Testament 1 Kings 13:1)

And he found Jeroboam at the alter and -

"...he cried against the altar in the word of the LORD...And he gave a sign the same day, saying, This is the sign which the LORD hath spoken; Behold, the altar shall be rent, and the ashes that are upon it shall be poured out." (Old Testament 1 Kings 13:2 - 3)

And -

"...when king Jeroboam heard the saying of the man of God, which had cried against the altar in Beth-el, that he put forth his hand from the altar, saying, Lay hold on him. And his hand, which he put forth against him, dried up, so that he could not pull it in again to him." (Old Testament 1 Kings 13:4)

And as prophecied -

"The altar also was rent, and the ashes poured out from the altar, according to the sign which the man of God had given by the word of the LORD." (Old Testament 1 Kings 13:5)

"And the king answered and said unto the man of God, Intreat now the face of the LORD thy God, and pray for me, that my hand may be restored me again. And the man of God besought the LORD, and the king's hand was restored him again, and became as it was before.
7 And the king said unto the man of God, Come home with me, and refresh thyself, and I will give thee a reward." (Old Testament 1 Kings 13:6 - 7)

Jeroboam asked the man to come eat with him. It is then we learn the man was commanded -

"...by the word of the LORD, saying, Eat no bread, nor drink water, nor turn again by the same way that thou camest." (Old Testament 1 Kings 13:9)

And while the man was on his way back to Judah that Lord sends another priesthood holder or prophet to meet him. The Old Testament tells us -

"He said unto him, I am a prophet also as thou art; and an angel spake unto me by the word of the LORD, saying, Bring him back with thee into thine house, that he may eat bread and drink water. But he lied unto him." (Old Testament 1 Kings 13:18)

This verse just doesn't sound right to have a prophet lie. Joseph Smith brings this inspired translation -

"...drink water, that I may prove him; and he lied not unto him..."

The man failed to keep his charge in that -

"...he went back with him, and did eat bread in his house, and drank water." (Old Testament 1 Kings 13:19)

And while they were eating -

"...as they sat at the table, that the word of the LORD came unto the prophet that brought him back:
21 And he cried unto the man of God that came from Judah, saying, Thus saith the LORD, Forasmuch as thou hast disobeyed the mouth of the LORD, and hast not kept the commandment which the LORD thy God commanded thee,
22 But camest back, and hast eaten bread and drunk water in the place, of the which the LORD did say to thee, Eat no bread, and drink no water; thy carcase shall not come unto the sepulchre of thy fathers." (Old Testament 1 Kings 13:20 - 22)

And sadly, while the man traveled home -

"...a lion met him by the way, and slew him: and his carcase was cast in the way..." (Old Testament 1 Kings 13:24)

There is an oath and a covenant of the priesthood. All bearers of the priesthood have the obligation of obedience. As Samuel told Saul -

"...to obey is better than sacrifice..." (Old Testament 1 Samuel 15:22)

1 Kings 8 - 10

This morning I awoke to news of devastating tornadoes in Tennessee. In general conference there were reference to hurricanes such as Katrina, the terrible Tsunami in the Indian Ocean, earthquakes in Pakistan and other areas, flooding and other weather related devastation last year. We all recognize the havoc Mother Nature can create. I couldn't help but recognize in the dedicatory prayer of the temple, Solomon suggests there is a direct relationship between the temporing of weather and the righteousness of the people. Solomon prayed -

"When heaven is shut up, and there is no rain, because they have sinned against thee; if they pray toward this place, and confess thy name, and turn from their sin, when thou afflictest them:
36 Then hear thou in heaven, and forgive the sin of thy servants, and of thy people Israel, that thou teach them the good way wherein they should walk, and give rain upon thy land, which thou hast given to thy people for an inheritance." (Old Testament 1 Kings 8:35 - 36)

"If there be in the land famine, if there be pestilence, blasting, mildew, locust, or if there be caterpiller; if their enemy besiege them in the land of their cities; whatsoever plague, whatsoever sickness there be;
38 What prayer and supplication soever be made by any man, or by all thy people Israel, which shall know every man the plague of his own heart, and spread forth his hands toward this house:
39 Then hear thou in heaven thy dwelling place, and forgive, and do, and give to every man according to his ways, whose heart thou knowest; (for thou, even thou only, knowest the hearts of all the children of men;)
40 That they may fear thee all the days that they live in the land which thou gavest unto our fathers." (Old Testament 1 Kings 8:37 - 40)

President Kimball said -

"The Lord uses the weather sometimes to discipline his people for the violation of his laws." (Conference Report, Apr. 1977, pp. 4–5; or Ensign, May 1977, p. 4.)

He specifically quotes -

"If ye walk in my statutes, and keep my commandments, and do them;
4 Then I will give you rain in due season, and the land shall yield her increase, and the trees of the field shall yield their fruit.
5 And your threshing shall reach unto the vintage, and the vintage shall reach unto the sowing time: and ye shall eat your bread to the full, and dwell in your land safely." (Old Testament Leviticus 26:3 - 5)

In regards to obedience to the Law of Tithing, the Savior taught -

"Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in my house; and prove me now herewith, saith the Lord of Hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing that there shall not be room enough to receive it.
11 And I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes, and he shall not destroy the fruits of your ground; neither shall your vine cast her fruit before the time in the fields, saith the Lord of Hosts." (Book of Mormon 3 Nephi 24:10 - 11)

Of keeping the Sabbath Day holy, the Savior said -

"Verily I say, that inasmuch as ye do this, the fulness of the earth is yours, the beasts of the field and the fowls of the air, and that which climbeth upon the trees and walketh upon the earth;
17 Yea, and the herb, and the good things which come of the earth, whether for food or for raiment, or for houses, or for barns, or for orchards, or for gardens, or for vineyards;
18 Yea, all things which come of the earth, in the season thereof, are made for the benefit and the use of man, both to please the eye and to gladden the heart..." (Doctrine and Covenants Section 59:16 - 18)

In Solomon's closing words of his dedicatory prayer, he admonishes -

"Let your heart therefore be perfect with the LORD our God, to walk in his statutes, and to keep his commandments..." (Old Testament 1 Kings 8:61)