Matthew 5

We learn a great deal about the "doctrine of Christ" and His gospel in the Book of Mormon (see 2 Nephi 31, 3 Nephi 11, 3 Nephi 27).  As the Lord gives His Sermon on the Mount, we see the same doctrine and pattern as He tells his disciples -

"And Jesus, seeing the multitudes, went up into a mountain; and when he was set down, his disciples came unto him;
2 And he opened his mouth, and taught them, saying,
3 Blessed are they who shall believe on me; and again, more blessed are they who shall believe on your words, when ye shall testify that ye have seen me and that I am.
4 Yea, blessed are they who shall believe on your words, and come down into the depth of humility, and be baptized in my name; for they shall be visited with fire and the Holy Ghost, and shall receive a remission of their sins  (JST Matthew 5:1-4)

First there is faith or belief on His words, humility or repentance, baptism in His name, and being visited by the Holy Ghost.  And then conditions or qualifications to live in the Celestial kingdom, which means, enduring in obedience to the end.  Such conditions include -

"Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
4 Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted.
5 Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth.
6 Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.
7 Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy.
8 Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God.
9 Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.
10 Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
11 Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake."  (New Testament | Matthew 5:3 - 11)

In my mind, "poor in spirit" that come unto the Savior suggests faith in Jesus Christ.  "They that mourn" suggests to me sorrow for sin and sincere repentance.  In my mind, all of this follows the Doctrine of Christ.

Matthew 4

We witness the general three tools or ways that Satan attempts to tempt or corrupt man as Matthew records  -

"THEN was Jesus led up of the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil.
2 And when he had fasted forty days and forty nights, he was afterward an hungred.
3 And when the tempter came to him, he said, If thou be the Son of God, command that these stones be made bread.
4 But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.
5 Then the devil taketh him up into the holy city, and setteth him on a pinnacle of the temple,
6 And saith unto him, If thou be the Son of God, cast thyself down: for it is written, He shall give his angels charge concerning thee: and in their hands they shall bear thee up, lest at any time thou dash thy foot against a stone.
7 Jesus said unto him, It is written again, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God.
8 Again, the devil taketh him up into an exceeding high mountain, and sheweth him all the kingdoms of the world, and the glory of them;
9 And saith unto him, All these things will I give thee, if thou wilt fall down and worship me.
10 Then saith Jesus unto him, Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve.
11 Then the devil leaveth him, and, behold, angels came and ministered unto him."  (New Testament | Matthew 4:1 - 11)

I note that the Joseph Smith Translation of Matthews words bring a great deal of meaning and truth and should be referenced in the footnotes and in his writing.  For example, the Spirit does not lead us to be tempted of the devil nor did the devil take the Savior anywhere.  But again, we see the three main areas of temptation:  appetites and/or desires, pride and/or vanity, materialism, greed, and/or power.

I find it interesting that the Savior used the scriptural commandments to answer every temptation.

I have been presently pondering the doctrine of having "all things in common" or law of consecration.  It seems this type of attitude helps one overcome many of these tempations.

Matthew 3

As John the Baptist preached in the wilderness of Judaea -

"Then went out to him Jerusalem, and all Judæa, and all the region round about Jordan,
6 And were baptized of him in Jordan, confessing their sins."  (New Testament | Matthew 3:5 - 6)

This seems apparent to me that repentance and baptism had always been had throughout the Old Testament, but may have been downplayed as arrogant religious leaders considered their heritage to be of greater value, for as John -

"...saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees come to his baptism, he said unto them, O generation of vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come?
8 Bring forth therefore fruits meet for repentance:
9 And think 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 | Matthew 3:7 - 9)

Obviously, the Jewish leaders had evolved from humility and repentance to an inherent right of salvation as he taught -

"...now also the axe is laid unto the root of the trees: therefore every tree which bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire."  (New Testament | Matthew 3:10)

As the old was about to be replaced by the new, John prepared the way as he taught some true basics of the doctrine of Christ...that of faith, repentance, baptism by immersion and an obligation of bringing for good works throughout their lives.

Matthew 2

As Matthew wrote of the wise men being directed by a star, first he tells of their visit to Herod the king, asking -

"Where is he that is born King of the Jews? for we have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him."  (New Testament | Matthew 2:2)

I find it interesting that that -

"...there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem..."  (New Testament | Matthew 2:1)

I can't help but ask, coming from the east, how would a star in the east lead them to Judea?  And then after learning that the child was to be born in Bethlehem -

"they departed; and, lo, the star, which they saw in the east, went before them, till it came and stood over where the young child was.
10 When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceeding great joy.
11 ¶ And when they were come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary his mother, and fell down, and worshipped him: and when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto him gifts; gold, and frankincense, and myrrh."  (New Testament | Matthew 2:9 - 11)

It is my understanding that Bethlehem is just a short distance southwest from Jerusalem.  Now Matthew tells us that this star they saw in the east went before them and stood over the child's home.  It almost appears that as they were looking for Him, they came upon and saw the star over the child's home. 

It is my opinion that this "star" was not a typical heavenly star.  I have no idea what it was other than it apparently appeared as a star to the wise men.

As we ponder who these wise men were and the events of the star, I couldn't help but think of the words of Mormon before the Savior's birth -

"...it came to pass in the ninetieth year of the reign of the judges, there were great signs given unto the people, and wonders; and the words of the prophets began to be fulfilled.
14 And angels did appear unto men, wise men, and did declare unto them glad tidings of great joy; thus in this year the scriptures began to be fulfilled."  (Book of Mormon | Helaman 16:13 - 14)

I wonder if the star of bethlehem was held by an angel.

Matthew 1

As Mary was pregnant, instead of being vindictive, Joseph -

"...being a just man, and not willing to make her a publick example, was minded to put her away privily."  (New Testament | Matthew 1:19)

In my mind, these words suggest Joseph to be a loving and forgiving person.  Knowing Mary was pregnant must have very hard on Joseph.  All of Joseph's actions were before he learned of the truth of the matter for -

"...while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost.
21 And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins.
22 Now all this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying,
23 Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us."  (New Testament | Matthew 1:20 - 23)

What great faith Joseph must have had for upon awakening, he -

"...did as the angel of the Lord had bidden him, and took unto him his wife:
25 And knew her not till she had brought forth her firstborn son: and he called his name JESUS."  (New Testament | Matthew 1:24 - 25)

Again a great example of love, patience, and obedience.  I understand that they ended up having three sons and three daughters together.  A great doctrine is taught by James E. Talmage as he wrote -

“That Child to be born of Mary was begotten of Elohim, the Eternal Father, not in violation of natural law but in accordance with a higher manifestation thereof; and, the offspring from that association of supreme sanctity, celestial Sire-ship, and pure though mortal maternity, was of right to be called the ‘Son of the Highest.’ In His nature would be combined the powers of Godhood with the capacity and possibilities of mortality; and this through the ordinary operation of the fundamental law of heredity declared of God, demonstrated by science, and admitted by philosophy, that living beings shall propagate—after their kind. The Child Jesus was to inherit the physical, mental and spiritual traits, tendencies, and powers that characterized His parents—one immortal and glorified—God, the other human—woman” (Jesus the Christ, p. 81).

I believe that few really understand that.

Malachi 3

This morning, I wanted to touch on several important prophecies and teachings of ancient prophets. 
First, Haggai says twice  -

"Thus saith the LORD of hosts; Consider your ways."  (Old Testament | Haggai 1:7) (See verse 5)

What great counsel as we weekly attend sacrament meeting.

Zechariah prophesied of the Savior -

"Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion; shout, O daughter of Jerusalem: behold, thy King cometh unto thee: he is just, and having salvation; lowly, and riding upon an ass, and upon a colt the foal of an ass."  (Old Testament | Zechariah 9:9)

And of the last days -

"Behold, I will make Jerusalem a cup of trembling unto all the people round about, when they shall be in the siege both against Judah and against Jerusalem.
3 And in that day will I make Jerusalem a burdensome stone for all people: all that burden themselves with it shall be cut in pieces, though all the people of the earth be gathered together against it."  (Old Testament | Zechariah 12:2 - 3)

We have seen this prophecy fulfilled on several occasions.  In addition -

"Then shall the LORD go forth, and fight against those nations, as when he fought in the day of battle.
4 ¶ And his feet shall stand in that day upon the mount of Olives, which is before Jerusalem on the east, and the mount of Olives shall cleave in the midst thereof toward the east and toward the west, and there shall be a very great valley; and half of the mountain shall remove toward the north, and half of it toward the south."  (Old Testament | Zechariah 14:3 - 4)

This prophecy is repeated in modern day -

"...then shall the Lord set his foot upon this mount, and it shall cleave in twain, and the earth shall tremble, and reel to and fro, and the heavens also shall shake."  (Doctrine and Covenants | Section 45:48)

And the last recorded prophet being Malachi where he writes that -

"...I will send my messenger, and he shall prepare the way before me: and the Lord, whom ye seek, shall suddenly come to his temple, even the messenger of the covenant, whom ye delight in: behold, he shall come, saith the LORD of hosts.
2 But who may abide the day of his coming? and who shall stand when he appeareth? for he is like a refiner's fire, and like fullers' soap:
3 And he shall sit as a refiner and purifer of silver: and he shall purify the sons of Levi, and purge them as gold and silver, that they may offer unto the LORD an offering in righteousness."  (Old Testament | Malachi 3:1 - 3)

I believe that offering of righteousness will be those that hold the Aaronic priesthood serving in the temple.

The Lord then states -

"Even from the days of your fathers ye are gone away from mine ordinances, and have not kept them. Return unto me, and I will return unto you..."  (Old Testament | Malachi 3:7)

Then the Lord addresses how we return to Him -

"...But ye said, Wherein shall we return?
8 ¶ Will a man rob God? Yet ye have robbed me. But ye say, Wherein have we robbed thee? In tithes and offerings.
9 Ye are cursed with a curse: for ye have robbed me, even this whole nation.
10 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, saith the LORD of hosts.
12 And all nations shall call you blessed: for ye shall be a delightsome land, saith the LORD of hosts."  (Old Testament | Malachi 3:7 - 12)

The Lord continues with his rebuke, man's reasoning, and again, how we return to Him saying -

"Your words have been stout against me, saith the LORD. Yet ye say, What have we spoken so much against thee?
14 Ye have said, It is vain to serve God: and what profit is it that we have kept his ordinance, and that we have walked mournfully before the LORD of hosts?
15 And now we call the proud happy; yea, they that work wickedness are set up; yea, they that tempt God are even delivered.
16 ¶ Then they that feared the LORD spake often one to another: and the LORD hearkened, and heard it, and a book of remembrance was written before him for them that feared the LORD, and that thought upon his name.
17 And they shall be mine, saith the LORD of hosts, in that day when I make up my jewels; and I will spare them, as a man spareth his own son that serveth him.
18 Then shall ye return, and discern between the righteous and the wicked, between him that serveth God and him that serveth him not."  (Old Testament | Malachi 3:13 - 18)

Then Malachi provides a doctrine that few in Christendom understand -

"Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the LORD:
6 And he shall turn the heart of the fathers to the children, and the heart of the children to their fathers, lest I come and smite the earth with a curse."  (Old Testament | Malachi 4:5 - 6)

This is the restoration of the great sealing power or linkage of the family of Israel, living, and those that have passed on (ordinance work) as an eternal family and lives for -

"Else what shall they do which are baptized for the dead, if the dead rise not at all? why are they then baptized for the dead?"  (New Testament | 1 Corinthians 15:29)

Micah 5

Much like Isaiah, Micah also prophesied concerning the work in our day in that -

"...in the last days it shall come to pass, that the mountain of the house of the LORD shall be established in the top of the mountains, and it shall be exalted above the hills; and people shall flow unto it.
2 And many nations shall come, and say, Come, and let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, and to the house of the God of Jacob; and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths: for the law shall go forth of Zion, and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem."  (Old Testament | Micah 4:1 - 2)

As Isaiah saw the Savior's birth, it appears Micah did also as he prophesied -

"But thou, Beth-lehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting."  (Old Testament | Micah 5:2)

But what I appreciate the most from Isaiah is an explanation of what the Savior expects of us as Micah asks -

"Wherewith shall I come before the LORD, and bow myself before the high God? shall I come before him with burnt offerings, with calves of a year old?
7 Will the LORD be pleased with thousands of rams, or with ten thousands of rivers of oil? shall I give my firstborn for my transgression, the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul?
8 He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the LORD require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God?"  (Old Testament | Micah 6:6 - 8)

In my mind, "justly" means to live righteously or obey God's commandments.

As Micah talks of "love mercy", Habukkuk seems somewhat impatient for the destruction of the wicked as he asks -

"O LORD, how long shall I cry, and thou wilt not hear! even cry out unto thee of violence, and thou wilt not save!
3 Why dost thou shew me iniquity, and cause me to behold grievance? for spoiling and violence are before me: and there are that raise up strife and contention.
4 Therefore the law is slacked, and judgment doth never go forth: for the wicked doth compass about the righteous; therefore wrong judgment proceedeth."  (Old Testament | Habakkuk 1:2 - 4)

Even asking -

"Art thou not from everlasting, O LORD my God, mine Holy One? we shall not die. O LORD, thou hast ordained them for judgment; and, O mighty God, thou hast established them for correction.
13 Thou art of purer eyes than to behold evil, and canst not look on iniquity: wherefore lookest thou upon them that deal treacherously, and holdest thy tongue when the wicked devoureth the man that is more righteous than he?"  (Old Testament | Habakkuk 1:12 - 13)

The Lord answers that in his own time -

"...Write the vision, and make it plain upon tables, that he may run that readeth it.
3 For the vision is yet for an appointed time, but at the end it shall speak, and not lie: though it tarry, wait for it; because it will surely come, it will not tarry.
4 Behold, his soul which is lifted up is not upright in him: but the just shall live by his faith."  (Old Testament | Habakkuk 2:2 - 4)

Faith and patience seems to be the lesson taught by the Lord.

Hosea 3

This morning, I just want to include several scriptures from ancient prophets.  First, Hosea spoke much of the relationship between God and Israel being much like the husband and the wife.  But of great importance was his prophecies concerning our day -

"For the children of Israel shall abide many days without a king, and without a prince, and without a sacrifice, and without an image, and without an ephod, and without teraphim:
5 Afterward shall the children of Israel return, and seek the LORD their God, and David their king; and shall fear the LORD and his goodness in the latter days."  (Old Testament | Hosea 3:4 - 5)

Without an ephod would suggest to me that priesthood authority or work would not be had for a period.  But would be restored in the latter days.

Joel prophesied -

"...it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions:
29 And also upon the servants and upon the handmaids in those days will I pour out my spirit.
30 And I will shew wonders in the heavens and in the earth, blood, and fire, and pillars of smoke.
31 The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the great and the terrible day of the LORD come.
32 And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the LORD shall be delivered: for in mount Zion and in Jerusalem shall be deliverance, as the LORD hath said, and in the remnant whom the LORD shall call."  (Old Testament | Joel 2:28 - 32)

In a 2002 general conference talk by President Gordon B. Hinckley, he said of the preceding verses of Joel -

“The era in which we live is the fulness of times spoken of in the scriptures, when God has brought together all of the elements of previous dispensations. From the day that He and His Beloved Son manifested themselves to the boy Joseph, there has been a tremendous cascade of enlightenment poured out upon the world. The hearts of men have turned to their fathers in fulfillment of the words of Malachi. The vision of Joel has been fulfilled wherein he declared:” (“ Living in the Fulness of Times,” Ensign, November 2001, page 4)

Amos taught -

"Surely the Lord GOD will do nothing, but he revealeth his secret unto his servants the prophets."  (Old Testament | Amos 3:7)

Which fully applies in our day.

Daniel 7

As Daniel receives night visions of future events, he notes of one of his visions -

"IN the first year of Belshazzar king of Babylon Daniel had a dream and visions of his head upon his bed: then he wrote the dream, and told the sum of the matters.
2 Daniel spake and said, I saw in my vision by night..."  (Old Testament | Daniel 7:1 - 2)

It seems to me that the record of Daniel is not necessarily in chronological order as my understanding was the Belshazzar served as king before Darius which was king in the previous chapter.  I appears to me that Daniel is writing herein of mutliple night visions he had over the years.  Of one of those visions he writes -

"I beheld till the thrones were cast down, and the Ancient of days did sit, whose garment was white as snow, and the hair of his head like the pure wool: his throne was like the fiery flame, and his wheels as burning fire.
10 A fiery stream issued and came forth from before him: thousand thousands ministered unto him, and ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him: the judgment was set, and the books were opened." (Old Testament | Daniel 7:9 - 10)

In this vision, it does not appear that all happened in one event.  It appears he saw Adam on one occasion sitting in council.  The latter part of the verse appears to be taking place at the judgement where he is honored.  It appears he has another night visions, whether the same night or not, we he writes -

"I saw in the night visions, and, behold, one like the Son of man came with the clouds of heaven, and came to the Ancient of days, and they brought him near before him.
14 And there was given him dominion, and glory, and a kingdom, that all people, nations, and languages, should serve him: his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom that which shall not be destroyed."  (Old Testament | Daniel 7:13 - 14)

In modern revelation we learn -

Three years previous to the death of Adam, he called Seth, Enos, Cainan, Mahalaleel, Jared, Enoch, and Methuselah, who were all high priests, with the residue of his posterity who were righteous, into the valley of Adam-ondi-Ahman, and there bestowed upon them his last blessing.
54 And the Lord appeared unto them, and they rose up and blessed Adam, and called him Michael, the prince, the archangel.
55 And the Lord administered comfort unto Adam, and said unto him: I have set thee to be at the head; a multitude of nations shall come of thee, and thou art a prince over them forever.
56 And Adam stood up in the midst of the congregation; and, notwithstanding he was bowed down with age, being full of the Holy Ghost, predicted whatsoever should befall his posterity unto the latest generation.
57 These things were all written in the book of Enoch, and are to be testified of in due time."  (Doctrine and Covenants | Section 107:53 - 57)

And of Daniel's night vision -

"SPRING Hill is named by the Lord Adam-ondi-Ahman, because, said he, it is the place where Adam shall come to visit his people, or the Ancient of Days shall sit, as spoken of by Daniel the prophet."  (Doctrine and Covenants | Section 116:1)

Daniel 3

As we study the Old Testament, much of the record of the prophets are in relationship with Israel and Judah.  We think very little that the Lord is possibly working with other nations through His prophets.  Even though the Lord made covenants with Israel, does not mean to me that He is a respector of persons.  He loves all His children.

Even though most other nations including Babylon worshipped idols (just as Israel and Judah chose to do), I find it interesting of the story of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego.  Let me explain. 

"NEBUCHADNEZZAR the king made an image of gold..."  (Old Testament | Daniel 3:1)

And he commanded -

"O people, nations, and languages,
5 That at what time ye hear the sound of the cornet, flute, harp, sackbut, psaltery, dulcimer, and all kinds of musick, ye fall down and worship the golden image that Nebuchadnezzar the king hath set up:
6 And whoso falleth not down and worshippeth shall the same hour be cast into the midst of a burning fiery furnace."  (Old Testament | Daniel 3:4 - 6)

And with that, there were -

"...certain Jews whom thou hast set over the affairs of the province of Babylon, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego; these men, O king, have not regarded thee: they serve not thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up."  (Old Testament | Daniel 3:12)

And so -

Nebuchadnezzar in his rage and fury commanded to bring Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego. Then they brought these men before the king.
14 Nebuchadnezzar spake and said unto them, Is it true, O Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, do not ye serve my gods, nor worship the golden image which I have set up?
15 Now if ye be ready that at what time ye hear the sound of the cornet, flute, harp, sackbut, psaltery, and dulcimer, and all kinds of musick, ye fall down and worship the image which I have made; well: but if ye worship not, ye shall be cast the same hour into the midst of a burning fiery furnace; and who is that God that shall deliver you out of my hands?
16 Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, answered and said to the king, O Nebuchadnezzar, we are not careful to answer thee in this matter.
17 If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of thine hand, O king.
18 But if not, be it known unto thee, O king, that we will not serve thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up.
19 ¶ Then was Nebuchadnezzar full of fury, and the form of his visage was changed against Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego: therefore he spake, and commanded that they should heat the furnace one seven times more than it was wont to be heated.
20 And he commanded the most mighty men that were in his army to bind Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, and to cast them into the burning fiery furnace.
21 Then these men were bound in their coats, their hosen, and their hats, and their other garments, and were cast into the midst of the burning fiery furnace.
22 Therefore because the king's commandment was urgent, and the furnace exceeding hot, the flame of the fire slew those men that took up Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego.
23 And these three men, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, fell down bound into the midst of the burning fiery furnace."  (Old Testament | Daniel 3:13 - 23)

And then we witness the miracle -

"Then Nebuchadnezzar the king was astonied, and rose up in haste, and spake, and said unto his counsellors, Did not we cast three men bound into the midst of the fire? They answered and said unto the king, True, O king.
25 He answered and said, Lo, I see four men loose, walking in the midst of the fire, and they have no hurt; and the form of the fourth is like the Son of God.
26 ¶ Then Nebuchadnezzar came near to the mouth of the burning fiery furnace, and spake, and said, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, ye servants of the most high God, come forth, and come hither. Then Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, came forth of the midst of the fire."  (Old Testament | Daniel 3:24 - 26)

What I find interesting is Nebuchadnezzar's response saying -

"...and the form of the fourth is like the Son of God."  (Old Testament | Daniel 3:25)

That statement in itself tells me that prophets or teachers had taught Nebuchadnezzar concerning the doctrine of God and His Son.  He must have been aware of these teachings.  Not only that, he was very careful to say "like the Son of God" which was a pattern of great reverence so as not to take His name in vain.  As I read the scriptures, I believe that there are many more people and other records of God's dealing with men in the flesh.

Ezekiel 37

After Ezekiel was commanded to prophecy concerning the resurrection of Israel -

"The word of the LORD came again unto me, saying,
16 Moreover, thou son of man, take thee one stick, and write upon it, For Judah, and for the children of Israel his companions: then take another stick, and write upon it, For Joseph, the stick of Ephraim, and for all the house of Israel his companions:
17 And join them one to another into one stick; and they shall become one in thine hand."  (Old Testament | Ezekiel 37:15 - 17)

And when the people in the last day are only focused on the Bible and the doctrine contained therein, in some confusion they will ask -

"...Wilt thou not shew us what thou meanest by these?"  (Old Testament | Ezekiel 37:18)

And the Lord's answer will be -

"...Behold, I will take the stick of Joseph, which is in the hand of Ephraim, and the tribes of Israel his fellows, and will put them with him, even with the stick of Judah, and make them one stick, and they shall be one in mine hand."  (Old Testament | Ezekiel 37:19)

And of those that will have both "sticks" in their hands, believing both, they will find the answers therein for -

"...I will take the children of Israel from among the heathen, whither they be gone, and will gather them on every side, and bring them into their own land:
22 And I will make them one nation in the land upon the mountains of Israel; and one king shall be king to them all: and they shall be no more two nations, neither shall they be divided into two kingdoms any more at all:
23 Neither shall they defile themselves any more with their idols, nor with their detestable things, nor with any of their transgressions: but I will save them out of all their dwellingplaces, wherein they have sinned, and will cleanse them: so shall they be my people, and I will be their God.
24 And David my servant shall be king over them; and they all shall have one shepherd: they shall also walk in my judgments, and observe my statutes, and do them.
25 And they shall dwell in the land that I have given unto Jacob my servant, wherein your fathers have dwelt; and they shall dwell therein, even they, and their children, and their children's children for ever: and my servant David shall be their prince for ever.
26 Moreover I will make a covenant of peace with them; it shall be an everlasting covenant with them: and I will place them, and multiply them, and will set my sanctuary in the midst of them for evermore.
27 My tabernacle also shall be with them: yea, I will be their God, and they shall be my people."  (Old Testament | Ezekiel 37:21 - 27)

What a great blessing will be had by those that read and ponder both sticks.  Obviously, we believe the stick of Judah to be the Bible and the stick of Ephraim to be the Book of Mormon.  Keith H. Merserby explains -

““Recent exciting discoveries now confirm the correctness of Joseph Smith’s interpretation in a way impossible in 1830. But before discussing these new discoveries, let’s take quick look at some linguistic points. Both stick, in the English King James Version, and rod, in the Greek Septuagint Version, are very unusual translations of the Hebrew word ets . . . whose basic meaning is wood. . . "  ( Keith H. Meservy, "Ezekiel's Sticks", Ensign, Setember 1977)

Lamentations 1

Much like Israel, for over 200 years this country has prospered.  But like Israel and Judah anciently, this people are turning more and more to much the same wickedness as Israel and Judah did before.  Jeremiah warned Judah over and over of the coming destruction because they would not repent and put the Lord first.  As Jeremiah laments saying -

"The ways of Zion do mourn, because none come to the solemn feasts: all her gates are desolate: her priests sigh, her virgins are afflicted, and she is in bitterness.
5 Her adversaries are the chief, her enemies prosper; for the LORD hath afflicted her for the multitude of her transgressions: her children are gone into captivity before the enemy."  (Old Testament | Lamentations 1:4 - 5)

...I can't help but think of our present country where our enemies prosper only because the people of this country move farther and farther away from the teachings of Christ.  Immorality and dishonesty flourishes in our society.  It seems to be the norm in our politics and entertainment.  We have an attitude much like Judah did in the days of Jeremiah that we are a great nation and no one can over through us.  But without the Lord's help, that can easily happen.  Even though the Babylon was also wicked, the Lord punished Judah first because they should have know better.  It find the lamentation by Jeremiah interesting =


"They have heard that I sigh: there is none to comfort me: all mine enemies have heard of my trouble; they are glad that thou hast done it..."  (Old Testament | Lamentations 1:21)

If our nation fails because we choose wickedness over righteousness, the wicked will be glad.

Jeremiah 51

It is in this chapter that Jeremiah prophecies over and over again that the day will come that Babylon, that which has seemed unconquerable having conquered many nations, will fall and will never exist again for Isaiah prophecies -

"...I will punish Bel in Babylon, and I will bring forth out of his mouth that which he hath swallowed up: and the nations shall not flow together any more unto him: yea, the wall of Babylon shall fall."  (Old Testament | Jeremiah 51:44)

Thus the Lord counsels -

"My people, go ye out of the midst of her, and deliver ye every man his soul from the fierce anger of the LORD."  (Old Testament | Jeremiah 51:45)

This becomes a metaphor throughout much of scripture as we are counseled the saints to flee Babylon and come to Zion.  In his vision, John the Revelator wrote, for -

"...the kings of the earth, who have committed fornication and lived deliciously with her, shall bewail her, and lament for her, when they shall see the smoke of her burning,
10 Standing afar off for the fear of her torment, saying, Alas, alas, that great city Babylon, that mighty city! for in one hour is thy judgment come."  (New Testament | Revelation 18:9 - 10)

"And a mighty angel took up a stone like a great millstone, and cast it into the sea, saying, Thus with violence shall that great city Babylon be thrown down, and shall be found no more at all."  (New Testament | Revelation 18:21)

This will be the same with the second coming of the Savior.  Therefore we are counseled by Isaiah -

"Go ye forth of Babylon, flee ye from the Chaldeans..."  (Book of Mormon | 1 Nephi 20:20)

Jeremiah 50

As Jeremiah prophecies concerning the complete destruction of Babylon (at that time, Babylon was the most powerful nation any those parts of the earth) and interchangeably prophesying concerning Israel overcoming returning to the Lord in the latter days, he describes the cause of much of the downfall as he writes -

"Call together the archers against Babylon: all ye that bend the bow, camp against it round about; let none thereof escape: recompense her according to her work; according to all that she hath done, do unto her: for she hath been proud against the LORD, against the Holy One of Israel.
30 Therefore shall her young men fall in the streets, and all her men of war shall be cut off in that day, saith the LORD.
31 Behold, I am against thee, O thou most proud, saith the Lord GOD of hosts: for thy day is come, the time that I will visit thee.
32 And the most proud shall stumble and fall, and none shall raise him up: and I will kindle a fire in his cities, and it shall devour all round about him."  (Old Testament | Jeremiah 50:29 - 32)

Obviously, pride was their downfall.  But more important "proud against the Lord".  This suggests in my mind, that the wicked (Babylon) challenged the standards and commandments of God as if they knew better than God.  This pride lead an over confidence that according to their wisdom, they could not fall.

We see this much today as political correctness has taken hold and men think they are wiser than God and choose their wisdom over God.  It is even interesting to me than the so called wise believe they can even control the climate while allowing society to that which is contrary to the will of God.  Is their any question that we are becoming more and more proud every day.

The day will come when the pride of Babylon (Satan and his followers) will be destroyed.

Jeremiah 47

As I read the prophecies of Jeremiah concerning the destruction and captivity of the cities of Philistines, Moabites, Elam, Arabia, Ammonites, Egypt because of their wickedness, I could help but think about the destroyed cities of the Nephites because of their wickedness as the time the Savior was crucified.  Jeremiah writes -

"O thou sword of the LORD, how long will it be ere thou be quiet?..."  (Old Testament | Jeremiah 47:6)

Which suggests to me that the sword is the sword of justice that will come upon the wicked at judgement as well as groups or cities of wickedness when they are fully ripe in iniquity.  Just as Isaiah did, Jeremiah uses the term "bald" or "baldness" as a term of captivity and slavery.  We see this -

"...for the LORD will spoil the Philistines, the remnant of the country of Caphtor.
5 Baldness is come upon Gaza..."  (Old Testament | Jeremiah 47:4 - 5)

"For every head shall be bald, and every beard clipped: upon all the hands shall be cuttings, and upon the loins sackcloth."  (Old Testament | Jeremiah 48:37)

There was some interesting words prophecied by Jeremiah concerning Moab and Elam in the latter days saying -

"Yet will I bring again the captivity of Moab in the latter days, saith the LORD."  (Old Testament | Jeremiah 48:47)

"But it shall come to pass in the latter days, that I will bring again the captivity of Elam, saith the LORD."  (Old Testament | Jeremiah 49:39)

Concerning these two groups, the Old Testament Student Manual says -

“Verse 39 speaks of the Lord’s bringing again the captivity of Elam in the latter days. Again, it is supposed that this passage means their conversion, as with the Moabites” (Old testament Student Manual, page 258)

Jeremiah 44

As the remnant of Judah that was left by the Babylonians, including Jeremiah, were taken (kidnapped) to Egypt by those that rejected Jeremiah's counsel concerning the will of the Lord, Jeremiah now reveals the wickedness of these leaders.  He even asks them, is there not sufficient evidence that all of this destruction has been the results of there unfaithfulness saying -

"...Ye have seen all the evil that I have brought upon Jerusalem, and upon all the cities of Judah; and, behold, this day they are a desolation, and no man dwelleth therein,
3 Because of their wickedness which they have committed to provoke me to anger, in that they went to burn incense, and to serve other gods, whom they knew not, neither they, ye, nor your fathers."  (Old Testament | Jeremiah 44:2 - 3)

He even adds -

"Howbeit I sent unto you all my servants the prophets, rising early and sending them, saying, Oh, do not this abominable thing that I hate.
5 But they hearkened not, nor inclined their ear to turn from their wickedness, to burn no incense unto other gods."  (Old Testament | Jeremiah 44:4 - 5)

We begin to see what causes a people to ripe in inquity is when even the women turned to inquity as Jeremiah tells them -

"...Wherefore commit ye this great evil against your souls, to cut off from you man and woman, child and suckling, out of Judah, to leave you none to remain;
8 In that ye provoke me unto wrath with the works of your hands, burning incense unto other gods in the land of Egypt, whither ye be gone to dwell, that ye might cut yourselves off, and that ye might be a curse and a reproach among all the nations of the earth?
9 Have ye forgotten the wickedness of your fathers, and the wickedness of the kings of Judah, and the wickedness of their wives, and your own wickedness, and the wickedness of your wives, which they have committed in the land of Judah, and in the streets of Jerusalem?
10 They are not humbled even unto this day, neither have they feared, nor walked in my law, nor in my statutes, that I set before you and before your fathers."  (Old Testament | Jeremiah 44:7 - 10)

The response and rational of these leaders is much the same as today where basically they are saying, things were good when we worshipped idols and worldly things and now things are not good when you ask us to worship the Lord.  They respond with -

"Then all the men which knew that their wives had burned incense unto other gods, and all the women that stood by, a great multitude, even all the people that dwelt in the land of Egypt, in Pathros, answered Jeremiah, saying,
16 As for the word that thou hast spoken unto us in the name of the LORD, we will not hearken unto thee.
17 But we will certainly do whatsoever thing goeth forth out of our own mouth, to burn incense unto the queen of heaven, and to pour out drink offerings unto her, as we have done, we, and our fathers, our kings, and our princes, in the cities of Judah, and in the streets of Jerusalem: for then had we plenty of victuals, and were well, and saw no evil.
18 But since we left off to burn incense to the queen of heaven, and to pour out drink offerings unto her, we have wanted all things, and have been consumed by the sword and by the famine."  (Old Testament | Jeremiah 44:15 - 18)

So these Jewish leaders again justified their actions and would not change...them or their wives to which the Lord answers -

"Behold, I will watch over them for evil, and not for good: and all the men of Judah that are in the land of Egypt shall be consumed by the sword and by the famine, until there be an end of them."  (Old Testament | Jeremiah 44:27)

We see a righteous and just God now watching over the evil that will come instead of blessing them.

Jeremiah 42

Again, even after most of Judah has been carried away to Babylon, the remaining leaders approach Jeremiah saying -

"Let, we beseech thee, our supplication be accepted before thee, and pray for us unto the LORD thy God, even for all this remnant; (for we are left but a few of many, as thine eyes do behold us:)
3 That the LORD thy God may shew us the way wherein we may walk, and the thing that we may do."  (Old Testament | Jeremiah 42:2 - 3)

So Jerimiah responds -

"I have heard you; behold, I will pray unto the LORD your God according to your words; and it shall come to pass, that whatsoever thing the LORD shall answer you, I will declare it unto you; I will keep nothing back from you."  (Old Testament | Jeremiah 42:4)

And as if they are fully committed to the will of the Lord, these few that remain -

"The LORD be a true and faithful witness between us, if we do not even according to all things for the which the LORD thy God shall send thee to us.
6 Whether it be good, or whether it be evil, we will obey the voice of the LORD our God, to whom we send thee; that it may be well with us, when we obey the voice of the LORD our God."  (Old Testament | Jeremiah 42:5 - 6)

For the first in a along time, our hope in these men is that Judah will finally repent.  So -

"...after ten days, that the word of the LORD came unto Jeremiah.
8 Then called he Johanan the son of Kareah, and all the captains of the forces which were with him, and all the people from the least even to the greatest,
9 And said unto them, Thus saith the LORD, the God of Israel, unto whom ye sent me to present your supplication before him;
10 If ye will still abide in this land, then will I build you, and not pull you down, and I will plant you, and not pluck you up: for I repent me of the evil that I have done unto you.
11 Be not afraid of the king of Babylon, of whom ye are afraid; be not afraid of him, saith the LORD: for I am with you to save you, and to deliver you from his hand.
12 And I will shew mercies unto you, that he may have mercy upon you, and cause you to return to your own land.
13 ¶ But if ye say, We will not dwell in this land, neither obey the voice of the LORD your God,
14 Saying, No; but we will go into the land of Egypt, where we shall see no war, nor hear the sound of the trumpet, nor have hunger of bread; and there will we dwell:
15 And now therefore hear the word of the LORD, ye remnant of Judah; Thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel; If ye wholly set your faces to enter into Egypt, and go to sojourn there;
16 Then it shall come to pass, that the sword, which ye feared, shall overtake you there in the land of Egypt, and the famine, whereof ye were afraid, shall follow close after you there in Egypt; and there ye shall die."  (Old Testament | Jeremiah 42:7 - 16)

It is -

"...when Jeremiah had made an end of speaking unto all the people all the words of the LORD their God, for which the LORD their God had sent him to them, even all these words,
2 Then spake Azariah the son of Hoshaiah, and Johanan the son of Kareah, and all the proud men, saying unto Jeremiah, Thou speakest falsely: the LORD our God hath not sent thee to say, Go not into Egypt to sojourn there..."  (Old Testament | Jeremiah 43:1 - 2)

I had great hopes for Judah until Azariah answered so.  I couldn't believe it.  They seemed so committed to the Lord.  It reminded me of Mormon as he commented of his people -

"...it came to pass that when I, Mormon, saw their lamentation and their mourning and their sorrow before the Lord, my heart did begin to rejoice within me, knowing the mercies and the long-suffering of the Lord, therefore supposing that he would be merciful unto them that they would again become a righteous people.
13 But behold this my joy was vain, for their sorrowing was not unto repentance, because of the goodness of God; but it was rather the sorrowing of the damned, because the Lord would not always suffer them to take happiness in sin."  (Book of Mormon | Mormon 2:12 - 13)

It seems that will all that happened, these men of Judah were just the same.

Jeremiah 38

Over the years, we have honored as well as ached for the Prophet Joseph Smith as we contemplate his suffering in Liberty Jail.  In answer to one of his prayers, the Lord told the Prophet -

"Thou art not yet as Job..."  (Doctrine and Covenants | Section 121:10)

After reading of Jeremiah's conditions in prison, may heart also honored and ached for him.  It appears that Jeremiah spent a great deal of his life in prisons.  During the reign of Zedekiah, his leaders were upset with the truthful prophecies of Jeremiah, so they asked Zedekiah -

"...We beseech thee, let this man be put to death: for thus he weakeneth the hands of the men of war that remain in this city, and the hands of all the people, in speaking such words unto them: for this man seeketh not the welfare of this people, but the hurt.
5 Then Zedekiah the king said, Behold, he is in your hand: for the king is not he that can do any thing against you.
6 Then took they Jeremiah, and cast him into the dungeon of Malchiah the son of Hammelech, that was in the court of the prison: and they let down Jeremiah with cords. And in the dungeon there was no water, but mire: so Jeremiah sunk in the mire."  (Old Testament | Jeremiah 38:4 - 6)

Can you imagine!  And because he obeyed the commandments of the Lord.  I have no idea how long Jeremiah was there but -

"...when Ebed-melech the Ethiopian, one of the eunuchs which was in the king's house, heard that they had put Jeremiah in the dungeon; the king then sitting in the gate of Benjamin;

8 Ebed-melech went forth out of the king's house, and spake to the king, saying,
9 My lord the king, these men have done evil in all that they have done to Jeremiah the prophet, whom they have cast into the dungeon; and he is like to die for hunger in the place where he is: for there is no more bread in the city.
10 Then the king commanded Ebed-melech the Ethiopian, saying, Take from hence thirty men with thee, and take up Jeremiah the prophet out of the dungeon, before he die.
11 So Ebed-melech took the men with him, and went into the house of the king under the treasury, and took thence old cast clouts and old rotten rags, and let them down by cords into the dungeon to Jeremiah.
12 And Ebed-melech the Ethiopian said unto Jeremiah, Put now these old cast clouts and rotten rags under thine armholes under the cords. And Jeremiah did so.
13 So they drew up Jeremiah with cords, and took him up out of the dungeon: and Jeremiah remained in the court of the prison."  (Old Testament | Jeremiah 38:7 - 13)

In my mind, the Lord could have easily said to the Prophet Joseph Smith - "Thou are not yet as Jeremiah".

 

Jeremiah 33

In prophesying again concerning the last days, Jeremiah writes -

"In those days, and at that time, will I cause the Branch of righteousness to grow up unto David; and he shall execute judgment and righteousness in the land.
16 In those days shall Judah be saved, and Jerusalem shall dwell safely: and this is the name wherewith she shall be called, The LORD our righteousness.
17 ¶ For thus saith the LORD; David shall never want a man to sit upon the throne of the house of Israel;
18 Neither shall the priests the Levites want a man before me to offer burnt offerings, and to kindle meat offerings, and to do sacrifice continually."  (Old Testament | Jeremiah 33:15 - 18)

These last few verses suggest to me that there will always be a prophet on the earth as well as non lacking in  priesthood leaders, and those that hold the priesthood adding -

"As the host of heaven cannot be numbered, neither the sand of the sea measured: so will I multiply the seed of David my servant, and the Levites that minister unto me."  (Old Testament | Jeremiah 33:22)

But even so, of those that have made covenants with the Lord and have not kept them -

"...thus saith the LORD; Ye have not hearkened unto me, in proclaiming liberty, every one to his brother, and every man to his neighbour: behold, I proclaim a liberty for you, saith the LORD, to the sword, to the pestilence, and to the famine; and I will make you to be removed into all the kingdoms of the earth."  (Old Testament | Jeremiah 34:17)

In my mind, the Lord is saying that if by disobedience we free ourselves from our covenants, the Lord is not bound to keep his promises for -

"I, the Lord, am bound when ye do what I say; but when ye do not what I say, ye have no promise."  (Doctrine and Covenants | Section 82:10)

One last thought, as we are aware that the Lord called Lehi to preach repentance unto Judah in the days of Jeremiah, Jeremiah comments of what the Lord tells him to say -

"I have sent also unto you all my servants the prophets, rising up early and sending them..."  (Old Testament | Jeremiah 35:15)

Obviously, Lehi was one the servants.

 

Jeremiah 31

Jeremiah again prophecies concerning Israel and Judah in the last days saying -

"Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel, and with the house of Judah:
32 Not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day that I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt; which my covenant they brake, although I was an husband unto them, saith the LORD:
33 But this shall be the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel; After those days, saith the LORD, I will put my law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and will be their God, and they shall be my people." (Old Testament | Jeremiah 31:31 - 33)

In my mind, this covenant would be the New and Everlasting Covenant and would be a promise of exaltation.  And with that covenant, there would be ordinances for -

"If those ordinances depart from before me, saith the LORD, then the seed of Israel also shall cease from being a nation before me for ever."  (Old Testament | Jeremiah 31:36)

That is, without the ordinances of salvation, there would be no seed of Israel and the Savior would not be the Father.

Jeremiah 31

As Jeremiah prophecies concerning the gathering and work of Israel and Judah in the last days, he speaks of the role and responsibility of Ephraim in this work saying -

"For there shall be a day, that the watchmen upon the mount Ephraim shall cry, Arise ye, and let us go up to Zion unto the LORD our God."  (Old Testament | Jeremiah 31:6)

In my mind, watchmen would be the Lord's prophets, where Zion are -

"...they were of one heart and one mind, and dwelt in righteousness; and there was no poor among them."  (Pearl of Great Price | Moses 7:18)

...and mount Ephraim is His holy house were Ephraims administers priesthood ordinances.  The return of Israel and Judah will not necessarily be to a location but to an acceptance of the true gospel of Jesus Christ, thus -

"They shall come with weeping, and with supplications, will I lead them: I will cause them to walk by the rivers of waters in a straight way, wherein they shall not stumble: for I am a father to Israel, and Ephraim is my firstborn."  (Old Testament | Jeremiah 31:9)

As Isaiah taught, Jesus Christ is the father of Israel with Israel eventually being recipients of exaltation.  And Ephraim, as the firstborn, is responsible to take the lead and care for the family of Israel for in the last days -

"Is Ephraim my dear son? is he a pleasant child? for since I spake against him, I do earnestly remember him still: therefore my bowels are troubled for him; I will surely have mercy upon him, saith the LORD."  (Old Testament | Jeremiah 31:20)

It will be the role of Ephraim to take the lead in building His kingdom in the last days.