Words of Mormon

As I liken the scriptures to myself, I found the counsel of Mormon being very important writing -

"...I do this for a wise purpose; for thus it whispereth me, according to the workings of the Spirit of the Lord which is in me. And now, I do not know all things; but the Lord knoweth all things which are to come; wherefore, he worketh in me to do according to his will."   (Book of Mormon | Words of Mormon 1:7)

And -

"...I make it [or do it] according to the knowledge and the understanding which God has given me."  (Book of Mormon | Words of Mormon 1:9)

My thoughts this morning is I too have no idea what the Lord has in store for me, but I hope I am doing and will continue to do His work according to His will, not my own.

Omni 1

I find it real interesting that Mosiah, -

"...warned of the Lord that he should flee out of the land of Nephi, and as many as would hearken unto the voice of the Lord should also depart out of the land with him, into the wilderness—
13 And it came to pass that he did according as the Lord had commanded him. And they departed out of the land into the wilderness, as many as would hearken unto the voice of the Lord; and they were led by many preachings and prophesyings. And they were admonished continually by the word of God; and they were led by the power of his arm, through the wilderness until they came down into the land which is called the land of Zarahemla.
14 And they discovered a people, who were called the people of Zarahemla. Now, there was great rejoicing among the people of Zarahemla; and also Zarahemla did rejoice exceedingly, because the Lord had sent the people of Mosiah with the plates of brass which contained the record of the Jews.
15 Behold, it came to pass that Mosiah discovered that the people of Zarahemla came out from Jerusalem at the time that Zedekiah, king of Judah, was carried away captive into Babylon."  (Book of Mormon | Omni 1:12 - 15)

Sometime after Lehi died...I would guess around 580 B.C., Nephi and his followers move to what they called the land of Nephi.  Some 450 years later, Mosiah leaves the land of Nephi and came to the land of Zarahemla.  The land of Zarahemla and the land of Nephi must not be far from each other because we real later that there is much travel between the two.

But for some 450 years, the Nephites knew nothing of the people of Zarahemla.  Knowing this, why could there not be many other people throughout the western hemisphere that lived here and never met.

Enos

As Enos was approaching the end of his life, I was touched as he wrote -

"...I saw that I must soon go down to my grave, having been wrought upon by the power of God that I must preach and prophesy unto this people, and declare the word according to the truth which is in Christ.  And I have declared it in all my days, and have rejoiced in it above that of the world."  (Book of Mormon | Enos 1:26)

What touched me was the Enos had served the Lord and declared his word "in all my days".  But what impressed me more, he "rejoiced in it above that of the world".

Obviously, he found it more rejoicing to serve the Lord than participate in the fun things of the world.

Jacob 7

As Jacob was confronted by Sherem, where Sherem denied the Christ and challenged Jacob concerning his  -

"...preaching that which ye call the gospel, or the doctrine of Christ."  (Book of Mormon | Jacob 7:6)

...it was Jacob's response that caught my attention saying -

"...Believest thou the scriptures? And he said, Yea.
11 And I said unto him: Then ye do not understand them; for they truly testify of Christ. Behold, I say unto you that none of the prophets have written, nor prophesied, save they have spoken concerning this Christ."  (Book of Mormon | Jacob 7:10 - 11)

Jacob obviously taught some logic to Sherem's contention.  But it is what Jacob next said next is what I consider a great example in receiving any non-believers challenge -

"...this is not all—it has been made manifest unto me, for I have heard and seen; and it also has been made manifest unto me by the power of the Holy Ghost; wherefore, I know if there should be no atonement made all mankind must be lost."  (Book of Mormon | Jacob 7:12)

It is the bearing of one's testimony that can never be challenged.

Jacob 6

In my mind, Jacob summarizes the Allegory of the Olive Tree for our day with -

"...how merciful is our God unto us, for he remembereth the house of Israel, both roots and branches; and he stretches forth his hands unto them all the day long; and they are a stiffnecked and a gainsaying people; but as many as will not harden their hearts shall be saved in the kingdom of God."  (Book of Mormon | Jacob 6:4)

"O then, my beloved brethren, repent ye, and enter in at the strait gate, and continue in the way which is narrow, until ye shall obtain eternal life.
12 O be wise; what can I say more?..."  (Book of Mormon | Jacob 6:11 - 12)

I note that his first promise to those that do not harden their hearts where His mercy is given are promise to be saved.  The second promise that after doing so and "continue in the way" are promised eternal life or exaltation.

Jacob 5

As I again read the Allegory of the Olive Tree this morning, my thoughts were down the line of the Bible where a portion of the Old Testament is written during the days of Judah's captivity in Babylon or days shortly after Babylon.  This would include such records as  Ezra, Nehemiah, Esther, Ezekiel, Daniel and so forth.  Obviously, the Kingdom of Israel was also carried away captive with Assyria.  But they did not return.

In my mind, why would the Kingdom of Israel not have a similar experience of prophets and righteous individuals as was found with Judah?  Obviously, Israel did not return so we never got their records.  But I believe that it would be no different.

In the allegory, Zeno writes -

"...Behold, saith the Lord of the vineyard, I take away many of these young and tender branches, and I will graft them whithersoever I will; and it mattereth not that if it so be that the root of this tree will perish, I may preserve the fruit thereof unto myself; wherefore, I will take these young and tender branches, and I will graft them whithersoever I will."  (Book of Mormon | Jacob 5:8)

He would later describe the planting, growth, and fruit of three branches planted in various parts of the vineyard.

For those that think the Bible is it, it is obvious in my mind that there is many more records of God's dealings with His people that were kept.

Jacob 5

In the Allegory of the Olive Tree, the master of the vineyards asks -

"...Who is it that has corrupted my vineyard?"  (Book of Mormon | Jacob 5:47)

"Is it not the loftiness of thy vineyard—have not the branches thereof overcome the roots which are good? And because the branches have overcome the roots thereof, behold they grew faster than the strength of the roots, taking strength unto themselves."  (Book of Mormon | Jacob 5:48)

Obviously, it is pride that corrupted the vineyard...a warning to all priesthood leaders.

Jacob 5

I may have already done this, but as I begin Zenos's Allegory of the Olive Tree, I wanted to include an article in the Institute of Religion, Book of Mormon Student Manual, 1996 -

“The use of the olive tree as a symbol for the house of Israel is an excellent example of how God uses symbolism to teach his children gospel laws and principles. For centuries the olive tree has been associated with peace. War and its grim attendants of destruction—rape of the land, siege, and death—were hardly conducive to the cultivation of olive orchards, that require many years of careful husbandry to bring into full production. When the dove returned to the ark, it carried an olive leaf in its beak, as though to symbolize that God was again at peace with the earth (see Genesis 8:11). The olive branch was used in ancient Greece and Rome to signify peace, and it is still used in that sense in the great seal of the United States where the American eagle is shown grasping an olive branch in its talons. The only true source of peace is Jesus Christ, the Prince of Peace. His peace comes through obedience to the laws and ordinances of the gospel. These laws and ordinances are given to the world through the house of Israel, symbolized by the olive tree. Someone once said that Israel was not chosen to be an uplifted people, but an uplifting people.

“There is further symbolic significance in the cultivation of an olive tree. If the green slip of an olive tree is merely planted and allowed to grow, it develops into the wild olive, a bush that grows without control into a tangle of limbs and branches producing only a small, worthless fruit (see Harold N. and Alma L. Moldenke, Plants of the Bible, p. 159). To become the productive “tame” olive tree, the main stem of the wild tree must be cut back completely and a branch from a tame olive tree grafted into the stem of the wild one. With careful pruning and cultivating the tree will begin to produce its first fruit in about seven years, but it will not become fully productive for nearly fifteen years. “In other words, the olive tree cannot become productive by itself; it requires grafting by the husbandman to bring it into production. Throughout its history Israel has demonstrated the remarkable aptness characterized by the symbol of the olive tree. When they gave themselves to their God for pruning and grafting the Israelites prospered and bore much fruit, but when they turned from Christ, the Master of the vineyard, and sought to become their own source of sustenance, they became wild and unfruitful.

“Two other characteristics of the olive tree further illustrate how it is an appropriate symbol for Israel. First, though requiring nearly fifteen years to come into full production, an olive tree may produce fruit for centuries. Some trees now growing in the Holy Land have been producing fruit abundantly for at least four hundred years. The second amazing quality of the tree is that as it finally grows old and begins to die, the roots send up a number of new green shoots that, if grafted and pruned, will mature into full-grown olive trees. The root of the tree will also send up shoots after the tree is cut down. Thus, while the tree itself may produce fruit for centuries, the root of the tree may go on producing fruit and new trees for millennia. It is believed that some of the ancient olive trees located in Israel today have come from trees that were ancient during Christ's mortal ministry. How can Israel be compared to an olive tree, which time and again seems to have been cut down and destroyed, yet, each time a new tree springs forth from the roots?

“Zenos was not the only prophet to use the olive tree as a symbol for the chosen people of God. Jeremiah, foreseeing the coming destruction of the Jews by Babylonia, compared the covenant people to a green olive tree consumed by fire (see Jeremiah 11:16). The apostle Paul used a brief allegory almost identical to that of Zenos's to warn the Roman Christians against pride as they compared their favored position to that of the Jews (see Romans 11:16–24). In modern revelation, the Lord uses the parable of a vineyard and olive trees to show his will concerning the redemption of Zion (see D&C 101:43–58). Having studied the symbolism of the olive tree itself, above, we will now draw upon the same student manual, page 48, to point out several individual elements or parts of the allegory which symbolize specific things. “An allegory or a parable should not be pushed too far in an attempt to correlate every item precisely with some outside reality.  However, certain major elements need to be defined if the allegory itself is to be understood. The following items seem important in Zenos's allegory:

Key Features of Zenos's Allegory Item Interpretation:

1. The vineyard 1. The world
2. Master of the vineyard 2. Jesus Christ
3. The servant 3. The Lord's prophets
4. Tame olive tree 4. The house of Israel, the Lord's covenant people
5. Wild olive tree 5. Gentiles, or non-Israel (later in the parable, wild branches are apostate Israel)
6. Branches 6. Groups of people
7. The roots of the tame olive tree 7. The gospel covenant and promises made by God that constantly give life and sustenance to the tree
8. Fruit of the tree 8. The lives or works of men
9. Digging, pruning, fertilizing 9. The Lord's work with his children, which seeks to persuade them to be obedient and produce good fruit
10. Transplanting the various branches 10. The scattering of groups throughout the world, or restoring them to their original position
11. Grafting 11. The process of spiritual rebirth wherein one is joined to the covenant
12. Decaying branches 12. Wickedness and apostasy
13. Casting the branches into the fire 13. The judgment of God"

Jacob 4

Jacob confesses -

"NOW behold, it came to pass that I, Jacob, having ministered much unto my people in word, (and I cannot write but a little of my words, because of the difficulty of engraving our words upon plates) and we know that the things which we write upon plates must remain;
2 But whatsoever things we write upon anything save it be upon plates must perish and vanish away; but we can write a few words upon plates, which will give our children, and also our beloved brethren, a small degree of knowledge concerning us, or concerning their fathers—
3 Now in this thing we do rejoice; and we labor diligently to engraven these words upon plates, hoping that our beloved brethren and our children will receive them with thankful hearts, and look upon them that they may learn with joy and not with sorrow, neither with contempt, concerning their first parents.
4 For, for this intent have we written these things, that they may know that we knew of Christ, and we had a hope of his glory many hundred years before his coming; and not only we ourselves had a hope of his glory, but also all the holy prophets which were before us."  (Book of Mormon | Jacob 4:1 - 4)

My purpose this morning is regarding the great work and effort it was for these ancient men to actually write the scriptures.  Jacob isn't the only one that mentions this difficulty.  We should offer daily gratitude to these brethren for what they did for us.

Jacob 2

After Jacob had denounced materialism and pride that seems to be increasing among his people, he then counsels them how to overcome such saying -

"Think of your brethren like unto yourselves, and be familiar with all and free with your substance, that they may be rich like unto you."  (Book of Mormon | Jacob 2:17)

What wise counsel.  Jacob suggests three methods, 1) Consider others as valuable as yourselves, 2) be familiar with them, and 3) be free with your substance.  As we practice each of these, I believe we will be less focused on pride and material things.

Jacob 2

The Declaration of Independence states -

"We hold these truths to be self-evident:

That all men are created equal; that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights; that among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness..."

I specifically notes "pursuit of happiness".  Alma taught -

"...Behold, I say unto you, wickedness never was happiness."  (Book of Mormon | Alma 41:10)

In other words, the only way you can pursue happiness is to pursue righteousness.  Jacob began his remarks to his people with the warning  -

"...behold, hearken ye unto me, and know that by the help of the all–powerful Creator of heaven and earth I can tell you concerning your thoughts, how that ye are beginning to labor in sin, which sin appeareth very abominable unto me, yea, and abominable unto God."  (Book of Mormon | Jacob 2:5)

Of "labor in sin", David J. Ridges commented -

"The phrase “labor in sin” as used in verse 5, above, as a very interesting and insightful term. Sin creates much more stress and work (labor) than righteousness does. This is true both on an individual basis as well as on a national level. For instance, righteousness promotes peace and thus the labors and productivity of the people go to building up of the standard of living for everyone. On the other hand, wickedness requires the formation and financing of police, armies, self defense, locks, security systems, guards, and so forth. In summary, righteousness builds, produces and creates prosperity, while wickedness consumes prosperity."  (Ridges, David J. (2007-08-01). The Book of Mormon Made Easier, Part 1)

I think that is interesting that laboring in sin "consumes prosperity".  I believe our founding fathers full intent was that citizens were to create prosperity through pursuit of happiness or righteousness.

2 Nephi 33

In Nephi's closing words, he said -

"I have charity for my people, and great faith in Christ that I shall meet many souls spotless at his judgment–seat."  (Book of Mormon | 2 Nephi 33:7)

My thoughts this morning is that as we receive the Holy Ghost where we always have His Spirit to be us, we are cleansed by the Spirit.  We read of -

"...the baptism of fire and of the Holy Ghost..."  (Book of Mormon | 2 Nephi 31:13)

Where we are -

"...wrought upon and cleansed by the power of the Holy Ghost..."  (Book of Mormon | Moroni 6:4)

Thus like a balance sheet at the single point in time that we fully repent, we can be spotless by the cleansing of the Holy Ghost.  Though we are not perfect, I'm sure that we can be spotless many times throughout our lives.   Joseph Smith taught -

“When you climb up a ladder, you must begin at the bottom, and ascend step by step, until you arrive at the top; and so it is with the principles of the Gospel—you must begin with the first, and go on until you learn all the principles of exaltation. But it will be a great while after you have passed through the veil before you will have learned them. It is not all to be comprehended in this world; it will be a great work to learn our salvation and exaltation even beyond the grave.” (Joseph Smith, Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, selected and arranged by Joseph Fielding Smith. Salt Lake City: Deseret Book Co. 1976, 348).

2 Nephi 32

Where Nephi spoke previously about feasting on the word of Christ, he now also teaches -

"Angels speak by the power of the Holy Ghost; wherefore, they speak the words of Christ.  Wherefore, I said unto you, feast upon the words of Christ; for behold, the words of Christ will tell you all things what ye should do."  (Book of Mormon | 2 Nephi 32:3)

Which suggest to me that we must also feast or focus on the words spoken by the Savior, His angels, and the Holy Ghost.  I find it interesting that Nephi taught -

"For behold, again I say unto you that if ye will enter in by the way, and receive the Holy Ghost, it will show unto you all things what ye should do.
6 Behold, this is the doctrine of Christ, and there will be no more doctrine given until after he shall manifest himself unto you in the flesh.  And when he shall manifest himself unto you in the flesh, the things which he shall say unto you shall ye observe to do.
7 And now I, Nephi, cannot say more; the Spirit stoppeth mine utterance..."  (Book of Mormon | 2 Nephi 32:5 - 7)

Which suggests to me that there is more as we are prepared to receive it.

2 Nephi 31

In some of closing teachings, Nephi wrote -

"And the Father said: Repent ye, repent ye, and be baptized in the name of my Beloved Son.
12 And also, the voice of the Son came unto me, saying: He that is baptized in my name, to him will the Father give the Holy Ghost, like unto me; wherefore, follow me, and do the things which ye have seen me do.
13 Wherefore, my beloved brethren, I know that if ye shall follow the Son, with full purpose of heart, acting no hypocrisy and no deception before God, but with real intent, repenting of your sins, witnessing unto the Father that ye are willing to take upon you the name of Christ, by baptism—yea, by following your Lord and your Savior down into the water, according to his word, behold, then shall ye receive the Holy Ghost; yea, then cometh the baptism of fire and of the Holy Ghost..."  (Book of Mormon | 2 Nephi 31:11 - 13)

Of the Holy Ghost, the LDS Bible dictionary states -

"The third member of the Godhead and, as the name implies, a personage of Spirit, not possessing a body of flesh and bones (D&C 130:21–22) . The Holy Ghost has been manifest in every dispensation of the gospel since the beginning, being first made known to Adam (1 Ne. 10:17–22; Moses 6:51–68). The Holy Ghost is manifested to men on the earth both as the power of the Holy Ghost and as the gift of the Holy Ghost. The power can come upon one before baptism, and is the convincing witness that the gospel is true. It gives one a testimony of Jesus Christ and of his work and the work of his servants upon the earth. The gift can come only after proper and authorized baptism, and is conferred by the laying on of hands, as in Acts 8:12–25 and Moroni 2:1–3. The gift of the Holy Ghost is the right to have, whenever one is worthy, the companionship of the Holy Ghost. More powerful than that which is available before baptism, it acts as a cleansing agent to purify a person and sanctify him from all sin. Thus it is often spoken of as “fire” (Matt. 3:11; 2 Ne. 31:17; D&C 19:31). The manifestation on the day of Pentecost (Acts 2) was the gift of the Holy Ghost that came upon the Twelve, without which they were not ready for their ministries to the world.

“For some reason not fully explained in the scriptures, the Holy Ghost did not operate in the fulness among the Jews during the years of Jesus’ mortal sojourn (John 7:39; 16:7). Statements to the effect that the Holy Ghost did not come until after Jesus was resurrected must of necessity refer to that particular dispensation only, for it is abundantly clear that the Holy Ghost was operative in earlier dispensations. Furthermore, it has reference only to the gift of the Holy Ghost not being present, since the power of the Holy Ghost was operative during the ministries of John the Baptist and Jesus; otherwise no one would have received a testimony of the truths that these men taught (cf. Matt. 16:16–17; 1 Cor. 12:3). When a person speaks by the power of the Holy Ghost that same power carries a conviction of the truth into the heart of the hearer (2 Ne. 33:1). The Holy Ghost knows all things (D&C 35:19) and can lead one to know of future events (2 Pet. 1:21).

“Other names for the Holy Ghost are Holy Spirit, Spirit of God, Spirit of the Lord, Comforter, and Spirit.”

I specifically note that baptism is for the remission of sins.  It is the Holy Ghost that actually cleanses and sanctifies us.  Thus baptized by fire.

2 Nephi 30

So that we do not boast of our lineage or ancestry, Nephi explains -

"...now behold, my beloved brethren, I would speak unto you; for I, Nephi, would not suffer that ye should suppose that ye are more righteous than the Gentiles shall be. For behold, except ye shall keep the commandments of God ye shall all likewise perish; and because of the words which have been spoken ye need not suppose that the Gentiles are utterly destroyed.
2 For behold, I say unto you that as many of the Gentiles as will repent are the covenant people of the Lord; and as many of the Jews as will not repent shall be cast off; for the Lord covenanteth with none save it be with them that repent and believe in his Son, who is the Holy One of Israel."  (Book of Mormon | 2 Nephi 30:1 - 2)

It is all about individual responsibility, not collective salvation.

2 Nephi 29

As Nephi reminds the world that there have been many nations and peoples that have received and written the words of the Lord, he then explains that -

"...Know ye not that the testimony of two nations is a witness unto you that I am God, that I remember one nation like unto another?  Wherefore, I speak the same words unto one nation like unto another.  And when the two nations shall run together the testimony of the two nations shall run together also."  (Book of Mormon | 2 Nephi 29:8)

He then follow with an interesting commandment of the Lord -

"For I command all men, both in the east and in the west, and in the north, and in the south, and in the islands of the sea, that they shall write the words which I speak unto them; for out of the books which shall be written I will judge the world, every man according to their works, according to that which is written."  (Book of Mormon | 2 Nephi 29:11)

These words suggest to me that each of us are to write the inspiration and words of Christ that we receive.  In other words, a personal journal or "scripture blog".   I assume for our own posterity.

2 Nephi 28

The mutual theme this year is -

"Wherefore, ye must press forward with a steadfastness in Christ, having a perfect brightness of hope, and a love of God and of all men. Wherefore, if ye shall press forward, feasting upon the word of Christ, and endure to the end, behold, thus saith the Father: Ye shall have eternal life."  (Book of Mormon | 2 Nephi 31:20)

As Nephi explains with plainness the word of Christ, he teaches -

"Wo be unto him that shall say: We have received the word of God, and we need no more of the word of God, for we have enough!
30 For behold, thus saith the Lord God: I will give unto the children of men line upon line, precept upon precept, here a little and there a little; and blessed are those who hearken unto my precepts, and lend an ear unto my counsel, for they shall learn wisdom; for unto him that receiveth I will give more; and from them that shall say, We have enough, from them shall be taken away even that which they have."  (Book of Mormon | 2 Nephi 28:29 - 30)

Thus the reason we are counseled to feast upon the word of Christ is to continue to learn little by little which provides great assurance and knowledge.  We also learn that those that think they have enough, that which they have been given will be taken away.

2 Nephi 27

Quoting Isaiah, Nephi speaks of our day that -

"For assuredly as the Lord liveth they shall see that the terrible one is brought to naught, and the scorner is consumed, and all that watch for iniquity are cut off;
32 And they that make a man an offender for a word, and lay a snare for him that reproveth in the gate, and turn aside the just for a thing of naught."  (Book of Mormon | 2 Nephi 27:31 - 32)


In verse 32, is seems to me that the wicked are being chastised as they mock, scorn, twist or suggest that honest men are theirs words are offending.  They seems to trap honest men that speak truth in group settings.  The even twist honest truth that it is ridiculous and politically incorrect.  Is this not happening today?

2 Nephi 26

I just want to add a little to my remarks yesterday.  I think Nephi follows with a better clarification of the wicked that will be destroyed as stubble when he comes, for -

"...again, the Lord God hath commanded that men should not murder; that they should not lie; that they should not steal; that they should not take the name of the Lord their God in vain; that they should not envy; that they should not have malice; that they should not contend one with another; that they should not commit whoredoms; and that they should do none of these things; for whoso doeth them shall perish."  (Book of Mormon | 2 Nephi 26:32)


What a great summary.

2 Nephi 26

As the scriptures teach that he wicked will be destroyed at the Savior's second coming, I think Nephi provides a little incite on the matter where His visit to the Americas was proceeded by destruction which I consider similar to the second coming where he teaches -

"...signs given unto my people of his birth, and also of his death and resurrection; and great and terrible shall that day be unto the wicked, for they shall perish; and they perish because they cast out the prophets, and the saints, and stone them, and slay them; wherefore the cry of the blood of the saints shall ascend up to God from the ground against them.
4 Wherefore, all those who are proud, and that do wickedly, the day that cometh shall burn them up, saith the Lord of Hosts, for they shall be as stubble."  (Book of Mormon | 2 Nephi 26:3 - 4)

This would suggest to me that those that are striving to live a celestial or terrestrial life are those that would be spared.  It is those that kill, commit whoredoms, steal, lie, secret combinations will be destroyed.  I note that in that day, the Savior said -

"O all ye that are spared because ye were more righteous than they, will ye not now return unto me, and repent of your sins, and be converted, that I may heal you?"  (Book of Mormon | 3 Nephi 9:13)

2 Nephi 25

After Nephi had written many of the words of Isaiah, he comments -

"Yea, and my soul delighteth in the words of Isaiah..."  (Book of Mormon | 2 Nephi 25:5)

He then comments -

"...hearken, O my people, which are of the house of Israel, and give ear unto my words; for because the words of Isaiah are not plain unto you, nevertheless they are plain unto all those that are filled with the spirit of prophecy. But I give unto you a prophecy, according to the spirit which is in me; wherefore I shall prophesy according to the plainness..."  (Book of Mormon | 2 Nephi 25:4)

So Nephi proceeds to explain the words of Isaiah that he had already entered saying -

"...I proceed with mine own prophecy, according to my plainness; in the which I know that no man can err; nevertheless, in the days that the prophecies of Isaiah shall be fulfilled men shall know of a surety, at the times when they shall come to pass."  (Book of Mormon | 2 Nephi 25:7)

It is then that Nephi clearly presents the words of Isaiah in plainness so we can better understand.  What a great blessing this chapter is.  It is very important.