Prophecy within scripture comes as scattered puzzle pieces on a table. Prophetic scripture usually provides glimpses instead of panoramas. Yet these glimpses span nations, cultures and millennia. The pieces of the whole provide the fascinating plan of God from the beginning of time unto the end.
This document is a study guide, yet it is important to realize it is an organization of many pieces of a large puzzle and puts some scattered pieces of that puzzle in place. Yet herein lies a problem: The puzzle has many pieces, and not all parts are even yet available to put in a place.
Writers of scripture often shared a partial view versus an entire vista. While they understood more than that were capable of sharing, at times they were not permitted to write. These things we are told, were simply God's wisdom to withhold. |
"Therefore I write a small abridgment, daring not to give a full account of the things which I have seen, because of the commandment which I have received, and also that ye might not have too great sorrow because of the wickedness of this people."
Read Here: Mormon 2:36
And some scribes of scripture refrained from comment where God had not yet revealed understanding. Even Alma, whose words constitute more verses than any other of the Nephite writers, confessed only partial understanding of how the records would bring his descendants back to Christ one day, stated "Now these mysteries are not yet fully made known unto me, therefore I shall forbear." |
"Yea, these records and their words, brought them unto repentance; that is, they brought them to the knowledge of the Lord their God, and to rejoice in Jesus Christ their Redeemer.
And who knoweth but what they will be the means of bringing many thousands of them, yea, and also many thousands of our stiff-necked brethren, the Nephites, who are now hardening their hearts, in sins and iniquities, to the knowledge of their Redeemer.Now these mysteries are not yet fully made known unto me; therefore I shall forbear.And it may suffice, If I only say, they are preserved for a wise purpose, which purpose is known unto God: for he doth counsel in wisdom over all his works, and his paths are straight and his course is one eternal round." Read Here: Alma 17:39-42
God shared profound truths with prophets, of events beyond their day, then commanded those very prophets to write simple and small descriptions.
Prophet's in America lamented for future generations because while the saga to unfold in latter days was revealed, they weren't allowed to write or tell all they had seen. One prophet, receiving powerful understanding from the Almighty even feared the generations to receive those words would mock them, deeming them too simple. |
"And I said unto him, Lord, the Gentiles will mock at these things because of our weakness in writing; for Lord thou hast made us mighty in word by faith, but thou hast not made us mighty in writing;
For thou hast made all this people that they could speak much, because of the Holy Ghost which thou hast given them; and thou hast made us that we could write but little, because of the awkwardness of our hands.Behold, thou hast not made us mighty in writing like unto the Brother of Jared, for thou madest him that the things which he wrote, were mighty even as thou art, unto the overpowering of man to read them." Read Here: Ether 5:23-25
"Behold I was about to write them all which were engraven upon the plates of Nephi, but the Lord forbid it, saying, I will try the faith of my people; therefore I, Mormon, do write the things which have been commanded me of the Lord."
Read Here: 3 Nephi 12:5
"Write the things which ye have seen and heard, save it be those which are forbidden; write the works of this people, which shall be even as hath been written of that which hath been;"
Read Here: 3 Nephi 13:1
"And the Lord commanded the Brother of Jared to go down out of the mount from the presence of the Lord, and write the things which he had seen; and they were forbidden to come unto the children of men, until after he should be lifted up upon the cross;"
Read Here: Ether 1:94
"And I was about to write more, but I am forbidden; but great and marvelous were the prophecies of Ether, but they esteemed him as nought, and cast him out, and he hid himself in the cavity of a rock by day, and by night he went forth viewing the things which should come upon the people."
Read Here: Ether 6:14
But God was OK with that, he responded simply that 'fools mock.' God apparently preferred that we learn on faith first, then greater things are revealed. |
"And whoso receiveth this record, and shall not condemn it because of the imperfections which are in it, the same shall know of greater things than these."
Read Here: Mormon 4:14
"Behold, I have written upon these plates the very things which the Brother of Jared saw; and there never was greater things made manifest, than that which was made manifest unto the Brother of Jared; wherefore, the Lord hath commanded me to write them; and I have written them."
Read Here: Ether 1:98
"Come unto me, O ye Gentiles, and I will shew unto you the greater things, the knowledge which is hid up because of unbelief."
Read Here: Ether 1:109
Prophecy is incomplete also because sometimes a prophet would begin prophetic explanation, only to allow a latter prophet to finish the message, making prophecy seemingly fragmented, at least to us. Such is the message of Nephi—he began a prophesy of tribulation among the Jews, but stated the rest of the prophesy would be unfolded by the prophet John. |
"But the things which thou shalt see hereafter, thou shalt not write; for the Lord God hath ordained the apostle of the Lamb of God that he should write them.
And also others who have been, to them hath he shown all things, and they have written them;And they are sealed up to come forth in their purity according to the truth which is in the Lamb, in the own due time of the Lord, unto the house of Israel.And I, Nephi, heard and bear record, that the name of the apostle of the Lamb was John, according to the word of the angel.And behold, I, Nephi, am forbidden that I should write the remainder of the things which I saw and heard; wherefore, the things which I have written sufficeth me;" Read Here: 1 Nephi 3:248-252
Studying prophecy by reading (only) single verses out of context can lead to limited or even incorrect conclusions and misunderstanding. Scripture--especially prophecy--is more completely explained through multiple voices. The retelling of truth by multiple writers within the cannon of scripture is important for our understanding. But with prophecy, the very writers rarely shared 'the whole story' or stated that their message or even understanding was complete. Sometimes they didn't have complete understanding of the message. At times, they were just the messenger. So, It's wisdom for us to avoid hasty assumptions based on single verses or passages; instead take in all the prophetic writings. Partial understanding leads to (false) paradigms; false paradigms skew understanding of other scriptures, which can prevent assimilation of new information. Therefore, this document overlaps topics in light of other scripture, to provide a better overview of what is ultimately an incomplete (to us) prophetic picture. Not all prophecy is discussed in this document. Instead this document examines the rich trove of scripture foretelling God's Kingdom returning to earth from Old Testament and Book of Mormon writers, and largely puts aside (for now anyhow) certain New Testament prophecy commonly discussed evangelical churches such as John's Revelation. While Christian Bookstores sell countless authors' explanations on the deep symbolism of John's Revelation, those evangelical explanations are, unfortunately, rife with misunderstanding.
Instead, we look at 'plain' prophecy, prophecy written without deep symbolism, words given in simplicity yet written in abundance, clarity given so we wouldn't stumble. These plain scriptures were given for our understanding for the world to come to Christ, to know that the Eternal God was and is the savior of the world.
Prophecies were given to benefit our understanding, this is why the Book of Mormon came to us. This is why Nephi concluded his prophecy, stating 'I have spoken plain, that you might not err.'
So while we confess that we do not have all the answers, this study guide seeks to corroborate certain pieces of prophetic scripture—the pieces of the puzzle we do have—and the consistent message of the prophets regarding God's great plan to restore the nations unto Jesus.
Therefore, any attempt to claim a document on prophecy provides all answers and explanations would be incomplete at best. Firstly, the simple answer is haven't received it all yet. But more importantly, we don't always understand the parts we have. And this happens because of paradigms of men. Those paradigms shape our view into false belief.
While 'prophets' of our generation freely offer interpretation of events, often speculating on things of days to come where scripture is yet silent, this outline omits speculation and conjecture. If the scripture is silent about it; we choose silence as well.
But God revealed that in the day when certain prophets words would be fulfilled, the world would see and know clearly of their fulfillment. Perhaps this material can provide hope until that day.
The beauty of life is that our Lord has in store a treasure trove of words yet to share with the world, words that reveal all things from beginning to end.
Since the entire story has not yet been unfolded to us, this document is partial at best. But it has a definite purpose: its hopes to engender further study, to lead the reader back to the word; to lead you back the One who was The Word made flesh. The original written word is far richer in content with deeper truths to be revealed to anyone who will open its pages. If this outline can serve any purpose it will simply lead you to read, learn, and seek more truth from the living source, the written word of God.
While this guide may provide a convenient way to organize certain topics of prophecy, it will not and cannot substitute for reading the prophets' words directly. The prophets were the ones with minds inspired from the Lord on high; we are the fortunate recipients of their un-weary humility and diligence. As such, this outline is neither a final word, nor a final authority. It hopes to simply point you back to those who were.
Finally, God's people have always held that God's Kingdom would be established on earth. God, angels and saints would join people of the earth again, where heaven and earth come together in a place called Zion.
God's people have longed for Zion through the ages, yet some have only told the promise of Zion as it related to Christians in recent centuries restored to the Gospel's fullness in America. The story of Zion did not start in the 1800's, nor was it promise only to Gentiles who found the gospel restored.
Rather, the promise of Zion begins at the with the first generations of people, with Covenants God made with the forefathers. Therefore, these words share the story of not what recent generations did in their sometimes uncertain quest of Zion, but instead it tells the reliable message of what the ancient prophets said.
These prophet's revealed a beautiful and powerful story that is unfolding in our day. These are the days the prophets longed to see. Jesus, with his unfailing message of redemption soon moves in power to restore the nations unto Himself.
The reason for any prophecy begins with the reason why we are here—because mankind was cast out of God's presence, and we were incapable of returning to him. But his desire is to have as many as will return unto him. And that is why prophecy comes to us, to restore us unto him.
The story of prophecy is underscored with covenants that God made with nations of Jews and Gentiles that tells how in the last days, the Nations will flow unto Zion because He has gathered them back to him. It is a beautiful story, God wants us to know how it ends.
But to understand how the story ends, we first must understand how the story began. And that story begins with Him.
THE FINAL PROPHECY
Introduction to the Prophecy
The Final Prophecy is the message through scripture describing God's plan to bring the world to the Messiah, who is Jesus Christ, the Eternal God.
The Prophecy has existed since the beginning of time and is revealed to humanity in scripture.
Man, who was with God in the beginning, returns to His presence. This prophecy tells the story how.
When the prophecy is fulfilled, Jesus will reign spiritually, socially, morally and politically over the earth.
At that day, all humanity will keep His commandments.
1. Man was in the presence of God in eternity before life upon this earth. The purpose of this life is for man to return to the presence of God. The Final Prophecy describes how the world eventually returns to Jesus Christ. |
"And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God."
Read Here: Revelation 21:3
2. Sin in the days of Eden causing all mankind to live apart from God. |
"Behold, Satan hath come among the children of men, and tempteth them to worship him; and men have become carnal, sensual, and devilish, and are shut out from the presence of God."
Read Here: Genesis 6:50
"For no unclean thing can dwell there, or dwell in his presence; for, in the language of Adam, Man of Holiness is his name; and the name of his Only Begotten is the son of Man, even Jesus Christ, a righteous judge, who shall come in the meridian of time."
Read Here: Genesis 6:60
"And now, behold, if Adam had not transgressed, he would not have fallen; but he would have remained in the garden of Eden."
Read Here: 2 Nephi 1:111
3. Sin is willful transgression against God and all truth. |
"Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law; for sin is the transgression of the law."
Read Here: 1 John 3:4
4. God warned our first parents Adam and Eve of this separation, saying "if you eat from the tree of the knowledge of Good and Evil, in that day you will die." Satan challenged that truth with a lie. Adam and Eve partook and did die, but their death was spiritual. Spiritual death is separation from God. |
"And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die; for God doth know, that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil."
Read Here: Genesis 3:10
5. Adam and Eve were now spiritually and physically separated from God. This became the separation of all humanity from God. We had no power within ourselves to remedy this spiritual separation. |
"Thus all mankind were lost; and behold, they would have been endlessly lost, were it not that God redeemed his people from their lost and fallen state."
Read Here: Mosiah 8:76
"Therefore, as the soul could never die, and the fall had brought upon all mankind a spiritual death as well as a temporal; that is, they were cut off from the presence of the Lord; therefore it was expedient that mankind should be reclaimed from this spiritual death;"
Read Here: Alma 19:90
"And thus we see that all mankind were fallen, and they were in the grasp of justice; yea, the justice of God, which consigned them for ever to be cut off from his presence."
Read Here: Alma 19:96
6. Prior to their transgression, Adam and Eve's physical life was without end. Due to their sin, they would now experience physical death in a day to come. |
"By the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, until thou shalt return unto the ground, for thou shalt surely die; for out of it wast thou taken, for dust thou wast, and unto dust shalt thou return."
Read Here: Genesis 3:25
7. The separation of man from God is spiritual death called The First Death. All humanity is currently living under the First Death, being spiritually separated from God. |
"Yea, behold this death bringeth to pass the resurrection, and redeemeth all mankind from the first death; that spiritual death for all mankind, by the fall of Adam, being cut off from the presence of the Lord, or considered as dead, both as to things temporal and to things spiritual."
Read Here: Helaman 5:70
8. Eternal Laws dictate that man (with sin) could not return to the presence of God. That law is called Justice. |
"And thus we see that all mankind were fallen, and they were in the grasp of justice; yea, the justice of God, which consigned them for ever to be cut off from his presence."
Read Here: Alma 19:96
"Now we see that Adam did fall by the partaking of the forbidden fruit, according to the word of God; and thus we see, that by his fall, all mankind became a lost and a fallen people."
Read Here: Alma 9:38
"Wherefore, I know if there should be no atonement made, all mankind must be lost."
Read Here: Jacob 5:21
9. Justice means that for sin, a an equal (just) penalty was ascribed. The just penalty for our sin became eternal separation from Him. |
"And a great and a terrible gulf divideth them; yea, even the word of the justice of the eternal God, and the Messiah who is the Lamb of God, of whom the Holy Ghost beareth record, from the beginning of the world until this time, and from this time henceforth and for ever."
Read Here: 1 Nephi 3:127
10. Here is the problem: We will live forever. That is good news and bad news. |
"And the spirit and the body is restored to itself again, and all men become incorruptible, and immortal, and they are living souls, having a perfect knowledge like unto us, in the flesh;"
Read Here: 2 Nephi 6:32
"And it shall come to pass, that when all men shall have passed from this first death unto life, insomuch as they have become immortal, they must appear before the judgment seat of the Holy One of Israel;"
Read Here: 2 Nephi 6:36
"Thus the whole becoming spiritual and immortal, that they can no more see corruption."
Read Here: Alma 8:107
"Thus the whole becoming spiritual and immortal, that they can no more see corruption."
Read Here: Alma 8:107
11. The bad news: God has warned that a sinful soul in an immortal body creates an eternal condition of unhappiness. In our earthly life now, we don't feel the pain of sin as deeply. Memories fade, time passes by. We forget the consequence of sin over time. |
"Therefore, if that man repenteth not, and remaineth and dieth an enemy to God, the demands of divine justice doth awaken his immortal soul to a lively sense of his own guilt,"
Read Here: Mosiah 1:83
12. But in an eternal state, all sin is present. There is no forgetting, no hiding from it. A full consciousness of our sin exists. That consciousness of sin brings unbearable pain which God said, is beyond our comprehension. It would be as awful as dwelling in a lake of fire. |
"Wherefore, we shall have a perfect knowledge of all our guilt, and our uncleanness, and our nakedness;"
Read Here: 2 Nephi 6:34
"Therefore, if that man repenteth not, and remaineth and dieth an enemy to God, the demands of divine justice doth awaken his immortal soul to a lively sense of his own guilt,"
Read Here: Mosiah 1:83
"And if they be evil, they are consigned to an awful view of their own guilt and abominations, which doth cause them to shrink from the presence of the Lord, into a state of misery and endless torment, from whence they can no more return: therefore, they have drunk damnation to their own souls."
Read Here: Mosiah 1:127
"Or otherwise, can ye imagine yourselves brought before the tribunal of God, with your souls filled with guilt and remorse; having a remembrance of all your guilt;"
Read Here: Alma 3:34
"And we shall be brought to stand before God, knowing even as we know now, and have a bright recollection of all our guilt."
Read Here: Alma 8:101
"Do ye suppose that ye could be happy to dwell with that holy being, when your souls are racked with a consciousness of your guilt that ye have ever abused his laws?"
Read Here: Mormon 4:62
"Then is the time when their torments shall be as a lake of fire and brimstone, whose flames ascendeth up for ever and ever;"
Read Here: Alma 9:30
13. If there is no removal of sin, eternity is awful and separation from God is permanent. |
"I say unto you, Ye will know at that day, that ye can not be saved: for there can no man be saved except his garments are washed white:"
Read Here: Alma 3:39
"Save it should be an infinite atonement, this corruption could not put on incorruption.
Wherefore, the first judgment which came upon man, must needs have remained to an endless duration." Read Here: 2 Nephi 6:16-17
14. It was not God's desire for us to be separated from God, but the consequence of humanity's action. God wants us to be back with him. |
"For it is expedient that an atonement should be made; for according to the great plan of the eternal God, there must be an atonement made, or else all mankind must unavoidably perish;"
Read Here: Alma 16:208
15. But here is the problem: God can't break or ignore His own laws. God can't just welcome humanity back to Heaven, or in other words, God's mercy by itself could not appease Justice demands. If God broke His law of Justice, i.e. brought back man into His presence still with sin—God would cease to be God. |
"For on such the plan of redemption could have no power, for the works of justice could not be destroyed, according to the supreme goodness of God."
Read Here: Alma 9:53
"Now the work of justice could not be destroyed: if so God would cease to be God."
Read Here: Alma 19:95
"What, do ye suppose that mercy can rob justice? I say unto you, Nay; not one whit. If so, God would cease to be God."
Read Here: Alma 19:107
16. A payment had to be made to appease the demands of justice, and being that the penalty of separation from was of infinite cost, there is only one remedy: a payment of infinite price. |
"And now the plan of mercy could not be brought about, except an atonement should be made; therefore God himself atoneth for the sins of the world, to bring about the plan of mercy, to appease the demands of justice, that God might be a perfect, just God, and a merciful God also."
Read Here: Alma 19:97
17. That payment to overcome the demands of justice could only be made by the Creator himself. |
"And now the plan of mercy could not be brought about, except an atonement should be made; therefore God himself atoneth for the sins of the world, to bring about the plan of mercy, to appease the demands of justice, that God might be a perfect, just God, and a merciful God also."
Read Here: Alma 19:97
18. Only an Eternal and Infinite sacrifice could satisfy the laws of eternity, otherwise man would be eternally separated from God. |
"Save it should be an infinite atonement, this corruption could not put on incorruption."
Read Here: 2 Nephi 6:16
"For it is expedient that there should be a great and last sacrifice; yea, not a sacrifice of man, neither of beast, neither of any manner of fowl; for it shall not be a human sacrifice: but it must be an infinite and eternal sacrifice."
Read Here: Alma 16:210
"But the law requireth the life of him who hath murdered; therefore there can be nothing, which is short of an infinite atonement, which will suffice for the sins of the world; therefore it is expedient that there should be a great and last sacrifice;"
Read Here: Alma 16:213
"And behold, this is the whole meaning of the law; every whit pointing to that great and last sacrifice; and that great and last sacrifice will be the Son of God; yea, infinite and eternal; and thus he shall bring salvation to all those who shall believe on his name;"
Read Here: Alma 16:215
19. The 'payment' was limited to one option: God himself would take upon flesh, living without sin, and die for the sins of man, in the hands of His own creation. This act was the eternal act of Grace. This is the only way that the demands of justice could be overcome. |
"And moreover, I say unto you, that salvation doth not come by the law alone; and were it not for the atonement which God himself shall make for the sins and iniquities of his people, that they must unavoidably perish, notwithstanding the law of Moses."
Read Here: Mosiah 8:5
"Have they not said that God himself should come down among the children of men, and take upon him the form of man, and go forth in mighty power upon the face of the earth?"
Read Here: Mosiah 8:13
"And now Abinadi said unto them, I would that ye should understand that God himself shall come down among the children of men, and shall redeem his people;"
Read Here: Mosiah 8:28
"This being the intent of this last sacrifice, to bring about the bowels of mercy, which overpowereth justice and bringeth about means unto men that they may have faith unto repentance."
Read Here: Alma 16:216
20. Grace means that the Creator did for us what we could not do for ourselves, that was to pay an eternal price we could not pay. The price of sin was eternally infinite in cost. To pay an infinite price was something only the Creator could do. |
"And remember after ye are reconciled unto God, that it is only in and through the grace of God that ye are saved."
Read Here: 2 Nephi 7:42
"Wherefore, it must needs be an infinite atonement;
Save it should be an infinite atonement, this corruption could not put on incorruption.Wherefore, the first judgment which came upon man, must needs have remained to an endless duration." Read Here: 2 Nephi 6:15-17
21. His Gracious act to save is is called 'The Plan of Mercy.' |
"And thus mercy can satisfy the demands of justice, and encircles them in the arms of safety, while he that exercises no faith unto repentance, is exposed to the whole law of the demands of justice; therefore, only unto him that has faith unto repentance, is brought about the great and eternal plan of redemption."
Read Here: Alma 16:217
"But God did call on men, in the name of his Son, (this being the plan of redemption which was laid,) saying: If ye will repent, and harden not your hearts, then will I have mercy upon you, through mine only begotten Son."
Read Here: Alma 9:54
22. Salvation offered by Grace means that God stepped out of eternity into time, to pay a price we could not pay ourselves. Grace means that he offered to do it willingly—it was His idea, not something we asked for or worked for. |
"As the Father knoweth me, even so know I the Father; and I lay down my life for the sheep."
Read Here: John 10:15
"No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This commandment have I received of my Father."
Read Here: John 10:18
"Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends."
Read Here: John 15:13
"Hereby perceive we the love of Christ, because he laid down his life for us; and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren."
Read Here: 1 John 3:16
23. Grace does not mean there is nothing we have to do, but rather there is nothing we could have done. |
"For the grace of God which bringeth salvation to all men, hath appeared;"
Read Here: Titus 2:11
24. Salvation through His Grace is offered to every human soul, and God denies none who come to him. |
"And he denieth none that come unto him, black and white, bond and free, male and female;"
Read Here: 2 Nephi 11:114
25. This gift is freely offered to all. |
"And he denieth none that come unto him, black and white, bond and free, male and female;"
Read Here: 2 Nephi 11:114
"And the way is prepared from the fall of man, and salvation is free."
Read Here: 2 Nephi 1:66
"And they are free to choose liberty and eternal life, through the great mediation of all men, or to choose captivity and death, according to the captivity and power of the devil:"
Read Here: 2 Nephi 1:120
"Therefore cheer up your hearts, and remember that ye are free to act for yourselves; to choose the way of everlasting death, or the way of eternal life."
Read Here: 2 Nephi 7:40
"And now remember, remember, my brethren, that whosoever perisheth, perisheth unto himself; and whosoever doeth iniquity, doeth it unto himself; for behold ye are free; ye are permitted to act for yourselves; for behold, God hath given unto you a knowledge, and he hath made you free;"
Read Here: Helaman 5:85
26. But Grace by itself cannot rob Justice. In other words, Grace does not simply fix everything on its own. Humans must respond. That response required is a change within the heart of man. |
"What, do ye suppose that mercy can rob justice? I say unto you, Nay; not one whit. If so, God would cease to be God."
Read Here: Alma 19:107
"Even so ye must be born again, into the kingdom of heaven, of water, and of the Spirit, and be cleansed by blood, even the blood of mine Only Begotten; that ye may be sanctified from all sin; and enjoy the words of eternal life in this world, and eternal life in the world to come; even immortal glory."
Read Here: Genesis 6:62
"Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again."
Read Here: John 3:7
"And the Lord said unto me, Marvel not that all mankind, yea, men, and women, all nations, kindreds, tongues and people, must be born again;"
Read Here: Mosiah 11:187
"Now I say unto you, that ye must repent, and be born again: for the Spirit saith, If ye are not born again, ye can not inherit the kingdom of heaven;"
Read Here: Alma 5:24
27. God's plan is to offer salvation to mankind. Salvation is the greatest of all gifts. |
28. To be saved means to have Eternal life with God. |
"And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent."
Read Here: John 17:3
29. The final state of man is to dwell in the Kingdom of God or be cast out from His presence. |
"Wherefore, the final state of the souls of men is to dwell in the kingdom of God, or to be cast out because of that justice of which I have spoken;"
Read Here: 1 Nephi 4:61
"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."
Read Here: Alma 16:234
"If they be good, to the resurrection of everlasting life; and if they be evil, to the resurrection of damnation, being on a parallel, the one on the one hand, and the other on the other hand, according to the mercy, and the justice, and the holiness which is in Christ, who was before the world began."
Read Here: 3 Nephi 11:33
30. If we do not change, we face justice and mercy has no claim. |
"If he has desired to do evil, and has not repented in his days, behold evil shall be done unto him, according to the restoration of God."
Read Here: Alma 19:111
"Therefore the wicked remain as though there had been no redemption made, except it be the loosing of the bands of death;"
Read Here: Alma 8:97
"Then I say unto you, They shall be as though there had been no redemption made; for they can not be redeemed according to God's justice; and they can not die, seeing there is no more corruption."
Read Here: Alma 9:32
31. This First Death is temporary, as all mankind will return to stand before God. This is made possible only because of the death of Jesus. Being 'redeemed' means salvation, but being redeemed also means we will be brought back into His presence for judgement. Jesus death makes that at all possible. |
"But behold, the resurrection of Christ redeemeth mankind, yea, even all mankind, and bringeth them back into the presence of the Lord;"
Read Here: Helaman 5:71
"But God ceaseth not to be God, and mercy claimeth the penitent, and mercy cometh because of the atonement; and the atonement bringeth to pass the resurrection of the dead: and the resurrection of the dead bringeth back men into the presence of God;"
Read Here: Alma 19:105
"And because of the redemption of man, which came by Jesus Christ, they are brought back into the presence of the Lord; yea, this is wherein all men are redeemed, because the death of Christ bringeth to pass the resurrection, which bringeth to pass a redemption from an endless sleep, from which sleep all men shall be awakened by the power of God, when the trump shall sound;"
Read Here: Mormon 4:72
32. Eternal and final separation from God is the Second Death. |
"Therefore God gave unto them commandments, after having made known unto them the plan of redemption, that they should not do evil, the penalty thereof being a second death, which was an everlasting death as to things pertaining unto righteousness;"
Read Here: Alma 9:52
"Blessed and holy are they who have part in the first resurrection; on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years."
Read Here: Revelation 20:6
"And may the Lord grant unto you repentance, that ye may not bring down his wrath upon you, that ye may not be bound down by the chains of hell, that ye may not suffer the second death."
Read Here: Alma 10:30
"But whosoever repenteth not, is hewn down and cast into the fire, and there cometh upon them again a spiritual death, yea, a second death, for they are cut off again as to things pertaining to righteousness;"
Read Here: Helaman 5:73
33. God's plan is to bring us back into His presence, overcoming the penalty of sin is the only payment sufficient to meet the penalty. The Creator's life was sacrificed for His own Creation. |
"For it is expedient that there should be a great and last sacrifice; yea, not a sacrifice of man, neither of beast, neither of any manner of fowl; for it shall not be a human sacrifice: but it must be an infinite and eternal sacrifice."
Read Here: Alma 16:210
"This being the intent of this last sacrifice, to bring about the bowels of mercy, which overpowereth justice and bringeth about means unto men that they may have faith unto repentance."
Read Here: Alma 16:216
34. His purpose is to bring to pass our immortality, being Mighty to Save. As many as believe on His Name shall receive of His FULLNESS. |
"For in the beginning was the Word, even the Son, who is made flesh, and sent unto us by the will of the Father. And as many as believe on his name shall receive of his fullness. And of his fullness have all we received, even immortality and eternal life, through his grace."
Read Here: John 1:16
"Who is this that cometh from Edom, with dyed garments from Bozrah? this that is glorious in his apparel, traveling in the greatness of his strength? I that speak in righteousness, mighty to save."
Read Here: Isaiah 63:1
"Therefore come and be baptized unto repentance, that ye may be washed from your sins, that ye may have faith on the Lamb of God, who taketh away the sins of the world, who is mighty to save and to cleanse from all unrighteousness;"
Read Here: Alma 5:25
"Therefore may God grant unto you, my brethren, that ye may begin to exercise your faith unto repentance, that ye begin to call upon his holy name, that he would have mercy upon you; yea, cry unto him for mercy; for he is mighty to save;"
Read Here: Alma 16:218
35. The Final Prophecy describes how the world returns to Christ in the end.
36. God explains to Adam that humanity must be 'born by the Spirit.' Being born by the Spirit means to be spiritually made new. The fundamental change in being 'born again' is the attitude of one's heart. |
"Even so ye must be born again, into the kingdom of heaven, of water, and of the Spirit, and be cleansed by blood, even the blood of mine Only Begotten; that ye may be sanctified from all sin; and enjoy the words of eternal life in this world, and eternal life in the world to come; even immortal glory."
Read Here: Genesis 6:62
37. The 'heart' in scripture represents the mind, the will, the source of your thoughts and intentions. All we do and say in life is a reflection of our heart. Therefore, it is the heart that must change. |
"And Jesus said, O ye generation of vipers! how can ye, being evil, speak good things? For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh."
Read Here: Matthew 12:29
38. A change of heart is called being born again. All who want salvation must desire this change of Heart. |
"Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God."
Read Here: John 3:3
"And the Lord said unto me, Marvel not that all mankind, yea, men, and women, all nations, kindreds, tongues and people, must be born again;"
Read Here: Mosiah 11:187
"Yea, born of God, changed from their carnal and fallen state, to a state of righteousness, being redeemed of God, becoming his sons and daughters; and thus they become new creatures; and unless they do this, they can in no wise inherit the kingdom of God."
Read Here: Mosiah 11:188
39. The pathway to this change of heart is repentance. Repentance means to rethink our lives, our desires, our hopeless condition and from those things desire new life in him.
40. To have a new life in Christ means to be spiritually changed, from within. That is the meaning of being 'justified'—to be made spiritually righteous. Adam, the first man, was changed spiritually when God baptized him with the Holy Ghost. Scripture states he was 'quickened in the inner man.' |
"And the Spirit of God descended upon him, and thus he was born of the Spirit, and became quickened in the inner man."
Read Here: Genesis 6:68
41. But desire alone is not enough. God must intervene in our soul, breathing His spirit into our souls just as he breathed life into Adam. That life from God is called being Baptized by the Holy Ghost. If the desire to change exists, (repentance) God will baptize you with the Holy Ghost. That baptism comes by (after) covenant with him through water baptism, but God has baptized many with the Holy Ghost before water baptism, because they desired it.
42. Most importantly, while priesthood are commissioned to bestow the gift of the Holy Ghost by laying on of hands, the Gift of the Baptism by Fire and The Holy Ghost is God's gift to give. He can and will give it to whom he chooses if they desire it with a sincere heart. |
"And whoso cometh unto me with a broken heart and a contrite spirit, him will I baptize with fire and with the Holy Ghost, even as the Lamanites, because of their faith in me, at the time of their conversion, were baptized with fire and with the Holy Ghost, and they knew it not."
Read Here: 3 Nephi 4:50
"And behold the Holy Spirit of God did come down from heaven, and did enter into their hearts, and they were filled as if with fire; and they could speak forth marvelous words."
Read Here: Helaman 2:111
"And also, we know of their surety and truth, because of the Spirit of the Lord Omnipotent, which has wrought a mighty change in us, or in our hearts, that we have no more disposition to do evil, but to do good continually."
Read Here: Mosiah 3:3
"Can any man forbid water, that these should not be baptized, which have received the Holy Ghost as well as we?"
Read Here: Acts 10:47
"And they did all declare unto the people the self-same thing; that their hearts had been changed; that they had no more desire to do evil."
Read Here: Alma 12:176
43. God's sacrifice made it possible for our change (repentance) to have any significance. |
"This being the intent of this last sacrifice, to bring about the bowels of mercy, which overpowereth justice and bringeth about means unto men that they may have faith unto repentance."
Read Here: Alma 16:216
"And thus mercy can satisfy the demands of justice, and encircles them in the arms of safety, while he that exercises no faith unto repentance, is exposed to the whole law of the demands of justice; therefore, only unto him that has faith unto repentance, is brought about the great and eternal plan of redemption."
Read Here: Alma 16:217
"Therefore, according to justice, the plan of redemption could not be brought about, only, on conditions of repentance of men in this probationary state; yea, this preparatory state; for except it were for these conditions, mercy could not take effect except it should destroy the work of justice."
Read Here: Alma 19:94
"But there is a law given and a punishment affixed, and repentance granted; which repentance, mercy claimeth: otherwise, justice claimeth the creature, and executeth the law, and the law inflicteth the punishment; if not so, the works of justice would be destroyed, and God would cease to be God."
Read Here: Alma 19:104
44. Change of Heart only happens by God's Spirit entering our soul. We must want His spirit to dwell within us. The fruit (result) of a changed heart is the presence of charity. |
"But Aaron said unto him, If thou desirest this thing, if thou wilt bow down before God, yea, if thou wilt repent of all thy sins, and will bow down before God, and call on his name in faith, believing that ye shall receive, then shalt thou receive the hope which thou desirest."
Read Here: Alma 13:51
"And Aminadab said unto them, You must repent, and cry unto the voice, even until ye shall have faith in Christ, who was taught unto you by Alma, and Amulek, and Zeezrom; and when ye shall do this, the cloud of darkness shall be removed from overshadowing you."
Read Here: Helaman 2:107
"Wherefore, my beloved brethren, pray unto the Father with all the energy of heart, that ye may be filled with this love which he hath bestowed upon all who are true followers of his Son Jesus Christ, that ye may become the sons of God, that when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is, that we may have this hope, that we may be purified even as he is pure. Amen."
Read Here: Moroni 7:53
"Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal.
And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing.And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing." Read Here: 1 Corinthians 13:1-3
45. If our hearts are changed in this life, the Act of mercy claims us, overpowering the demands of Justice, and we are saved. |
"And it is requisite with the justice of God, that men should be judged according to their works; and if their works were good in this life, and the desires of their hearts were good, that they should also, at the last day, be restored unto that which is good;"
Read Here: Alma 19:66
"This being the intent of this last sacrifice, to bring about the bowels of mercy, which overpowereth justice and bringeth about means unto men that they may have faith unto repentance."
Read Here: Alma 16:216
"And thus mercy can satisfy the demands of justice, and encircles them in the arms of safety, while he that exercises no faith unto repentance, is exposed to the whole law of the demands of justice; therefore, only unto him that has faith unto repentance, is brought about the great and eternal plan of redemption."
Read Here: Alma 16:217
"Yea, ye shall have mercy restored unto you again; ye shall have justice restored unto you again; ye shall have a righteous judgment restored unto you again;"
Read Here: Alma 19:79
"And thus they are restored into his presence; to be judged according to their works; according to the law and justice; for behold, justice exerciseth all his demands, and also mercy claimeth all which is her own; and thus, none but the truly penitent are saved."
Read Here: Alma 19:106
46. That gift of Jesus's death was the gracious gift. The key to claiming Grace is in our response. Our response requires a change in our hearts. Faith in God and desiring the change lead to this change of heart. The desire to change is the meaning of the word 'repentance.' |
"And thus mercy can satisfy the demands of justice, and encircles them in the arms of safety, while he that exercises no faith unto repentance, is exposed to the whole law of the demands of justice; therefore, only unto him that has faith unto repentance, is brought about the great and eternal plan of redemption."
Read Here: Alma 16:217
"Yea, the prophecies of the holy prophets, which are written, which leadeth them to faith on the Lord, and unto repentance, which faith and repentance bringeth a change of heart unto them;"
Read Here: Helaman 5:96
47. Moses taught that the most important change Israel could experience was a change of heart ('circumcise your hearts.') Prophets prophesied to Israel their hearts would change in the last days. |
"And the Lord thy God will circumcise thine heart, and the heart of thy seed, to love the Lord thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, that thou mayest live."
Read Here: Deuteronomy 30:6
"Circumcise yourselves to the Lord, and take away the foreskins of your heart, ye men of Judah and inhabitants of Jerusalem; lest my fury come forth like a fire, and burn that none can quench it, because of the evil of your doings."
Read Here: Jeremiah 4:4
"And rend your heart, and not your garments, and repent, and turn unto the Lord your God; for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and he will turn away the evil from you."
Read Here: Joel 2:13
48. When people's hearts change, their attitudes and lives change. Their desires change from evil to good, from selfishness to lives of service. |
"And also, we know of their surety and truth, because of the Spirit of the Lord Omnipotent, which has wrought a mighty change in us, or in our hearts, that we have no more disposition to do evil, but to do good continually."
Read Here: Mosiah 3:3
"For behold, this day he hath spiritually begotten you; for ye say that your hearts are changed through faith on his name; therefore, ye are born of him, and have become his sons and his daughters."
Read Here: Mosiah 3:9
"Behold, he changed their hearts; yea, he awaked them out of a deep sleep, and they awoke unto God."
Read Here: Alma 3:11
"And according to his faith there was a mighty change wrought in his heart."
Read Here: Alma 3:23
"And behold, he preached the word unto your fathers, and a mighty change was also wrought in their hearts; and they humbled themselves, and put their trust in the true and living God."
Read Here: Alma 3:25
"And they did all declare unto the people the self-same thing; that their hearts had been changed; that they had no more desire to do evil."
Read Here: Alma 12:176
"Yea, the prophecies of the holy prophets, which are written, which leadeth them to faith on the Lord, and unto repentance, which faith and repentance bringeth a change of heart unto them;"
Read Here: Helaman 5:96
49. To be born again means to be spiritually changed, it means your heart, mind, soul and life purpose has changed. This was God's message to Adam since the beginning. This is Jesus' message to all. This is the plan of Salvation. |
"Even so ye must be born again, into the kingdom of heaven, of water, and of the Spirit, and be cleansed by blood, even the blood of mine Only Begotten; that ye may be sanctified from all sin; and enjoy the words of eternal life in this world, and eternal life in the world to come; even immortal glory."
Read Here: Genesis 6:62
"Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God."
Read Here: John 3:3
"Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again."
Read Here: John 3:7
"And now, behold, I say unto you, This is the plan of salvation unto all men, through the blood of mine Only Begotten, who shall come in the meridian of time."
Read Here: Genesis 6:65
"And the Spirit of God descended upon him, and thus he was born of the Spirit, and became quickened in the inner man."
Read Here: Genesis 6:68
From the beginning, man and woman represented Jesus and the Church. Earthly marriage symbolizes the future union as one between the Creator God and humans.
50. God formed man from the dust of the earth, and breathed life into Him. Adam was a type for Christ—God's spirit from heaven dwelling in flesh of the earth. |
"And I, the Lord God, formed man from the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul; the first flesh upon the earth, the first man also;"
Read Here: Genesis 2:8
51. Everything physical was created from the earth, including the man. The single exception was the woman. |
"And I, the Lord God, caused a deep sleep to fall upon Adam, and he slept, and I took one of his ribs, and closed up the flesh in the stead thereof; and the rib, which I, the Lord God had taken from man, made I a woman, and brought her unto the man."
Read Here: Genesis 2:28
"And Adam said, This I know now is bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh. She shall be called woman, because she was taken out of man."
Read Here: Genesis 2:29
52. Adam was a type for Jesus—the spirit of the Eternal God dwelling in earthly flesh. |
"And I, the Lord God, formed man from the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul; the first flesh upon the earth, the first man also;"
Read Here: Genesis 2:8
53. Adam is ultimately baptized by God, showing physically that all mankind must be reborn spiritually. This rebirth requires God's Spirit who cleanses our hearts. |
"And our father Adam spake unto the Lord, and said, Why is it that men must repent, and be baptized in water?"
Read Here: Genesis 6:54
"And it came to pass, when the Lord had spoken with Adam our father, that Adam cried unto the Lord, and he was caught away by the Spirit of the Lord, and was carried down into the water, and was laid under the water, and was brought forth out of the water; and thus he was baptized."
Read Here: Genesis 6:67
"And he heard a voice out of heaven, saying, Thou art baptized with fire and with the Holy Ghost; this is the record of the Father and the Son, from henceforth and forever;"
Read Here: Genesis 6:69
54. The woman was formed from the man. The woman was a type for the church—her life derived from the symbolic death of Adam, born of His flesh, not the earth, as the church is born of Christ, not the world. She was the only creation not formed from the earth. The woman is a type for The Church—the church is born from Jesus, not the earth. |
"And I, the Lord God, caused a deep sleep to fall upon Adam, and he slept, and I took one of his ribs, and closed up the flesh in the stead thereof; and the rib, which I, the Lord God had taken from man, made I a woman, and brought her unto the man.
And Adam said, This I know now is bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh. She shall be called woman, because she was taken out of man." Read Here: Genesis 2:28-29
55. The sin of Eve partaking the forbidden fruit began human sin, but symbolized the larger sin of humanity transgressing from God. Those who were born of Jesus—the church—Jesus takes on their sin (although he did not commit sin), coming after us, to be with us, to be like us, and save us.
56. Likewise, Adam partaking the forbidden fruit spiritually symbolized how Jesus took on sin to save us. Adam was commanded to 'remain' with His wife and knew if she alone partook, they would also be eternally separated from her. Adam's partaking shows that Jesus accepted the same life in sin with humanity in order to save us from sin. |
"And the man said, The woman whom thou gavest me, and commanded that she should remain with me, she gave me of the fruit of the tree, and I did eat."
Read Here: Genesis 3:17
57. The type of Jesus and the church continues as Eve takes on sin. Adam takes on the same sin so He could be with her, otherwise they would become separated forever. |
"And the man said, The woman whom thou gavest me, and commanded that she should remain with me, she gave me of the fruit of the tree, and I did eat."
Read Here: Genesis 3:17
58. The marriage of Adam and Eve—and all marriages between one man and woman--symbolize the Christ's relationship with the Church and submission to each other. In scripture, the woman and Jesus' interactions with women, represent the church and His interactions with the church. |
i) Men are to model Jesus' sacrifice in marriage. As Christ laid down His life for the church, a man is to lay down His life for His wife and family. |
"Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it;"
Read Here: Ephesians 5:25
ii) Men are to willingly serve, putting the wife and family's needs first. Just as Jesus never demanded anything from the church with an iron fist, neither should a man demand from His wife. |
"For no man ever yet hated his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth it, even as the Lord the church;"
Read Here: Ephesians 5:29
iii) Women are to demonstrate understanding that the church is to submit to the Lord. As the church should desire Christ to lead, women are to follow and submit to their husbands. |
"For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church; and he is the Savior of the body."
Read Here: Ephesians 5:23
"Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in everything."
Read Here: Ephesians 5:24
59. The marriage of Adam and Eve—and all marriages between one man and woman--symbolize the that Christ had only one bride: 'The Church.' The pattern of marriage between a man and woman is to teach the relationship between Christ and the Church. |
"For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church; and he is the Savior of the body."
Read Here: Ephesians 5:23
"Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in everything."
Read Here: Ephesians 5:24
60. This principle explains why there can be no 'holy' marriage in homosexuality or polygamy—these misrepresent the spiritual symbols intended from and taught through marriage. God has 'one' church; therefore, a man has one bride only. |
61. The misunderstanding of homosexuality mocks God's plan on many levels: a woman marrying a woman would falsely suggest the church has no need of God; a man with a man implies God would love himself only for eternity; a man with many women would symbolize God with 'many' churches, These ideas completely contradict the meaning and symbolism of eternal scripture and the Father's plan.
62. Children born from marriage between a man and woman is a type for the Kingdom to be born from the relationship between God and the Church. John's revelation symbolizes the kingdom of God as a child to be born from a woman (the church) whom a dragon (Satan) waits to devour. |
"And there appeared another sign in heaven; and behold, a great red dragon, having seven heads and ten horns, and seven crowns upon his heads. And his tail drew the third part of the stars of heaven, and did cast them to the earth. And the dragon stood before the woman which was delivered, ready to devour her child after it was born."
Read Here: Revelation 12:4
"And the dragon prevailed not against Michael, neither the child, nor the woman which was the church of God, who had been delivered of her pains, and brought forth the kingdom of our God and his Christ."
Read Here: Revelation 12:7
"For when the dragon saw that he was cast unto the earth, he persecuted the woman which brought forth the man-child."
Read Here: Revelation 12:13
63. The future 'marriage' between God and the Church results in the Kingdom (born from the marriage) on earth. This explains why children are to be born within wedlock, not outside of it. The true kingdom is born after the marriage of the lamb to the church. |
"And the dragon prevailed not against Michael, neither the child, nor the woman which was the church of God, who had been delivered of her pains, and brought forth the kingdom of our God and his Christ."
Read Here: Revelation 12:7
"For when the dragon saw that he was cast unto the earth, he persecuted the woman which brought forth the man-child."
Read Here: Revelation 12:13
64. The church's 'marriage' occurs when the followers of Christ live with changed hearts unto him. The Final Prophecy ends with God and The Church (i.e. followers of Christ) in an eternal union called Everlasting Life. |
"Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honor to him; for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready.
And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white; for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints." Read Here: Revelation 19:7-8
65. Sexual Intimacy is to be experienced between only one man with one woman in marriage because God will only be 'spiritually' intimate with the one church, not many churches. The 'one' church are those whose hearts are changed through the baptism of His spirit. These are those who will be found on His right hand.
66. Even the command that a young girl must be 'of age' before sexual relations with her husband has a spiritual lesson that the church must be spiritually mature before God can bring forth the kingdom. Being spiritually mature is when the church has changed, having pure hearts, being full of charity. |
"But if any man think that he behaveth himself uncomely toward his virgin whom he hath expoused, if she pass the flower of age, and need so require, let him do what he hath promised, he sinneth not; let them marry."
Read Here: 1 Corinthians 7:36
67. After a time of intimacy in marriage, children are born. Likewise, after a time of spiritual intimacy of the church with Christ, the Kingdom will be born.
68. Eve's consequence for transgression meant women's' childbirth would be difficult. The difficulty in bearing children is also a type. Difficulty in bearing earthly children teaches that also through difficulty, the Kingdom will eventually be born. |
"Unto the woman, I, the Lord God, said, I will greatly multiply thy sorrow, and thy conception; in sorrow thou shalt bring forth children, and thy desire shall be to thy husband, and he shall rule over thee."
Read Here: Genesis 3:22
"Notwithstanding they shall be saved in childbearing, if they continue in faith and charity and holiness with sobriety."
Read Here: 1 Timothy 2:15
69. Un-regenerated humans fail to understand the symbols of spiritual. Truth is taught in the physical—i.e. things like Marriage— to teach us of the spiritual. By missing the point of the principle, we corrupt our lives on earth (marriage, sexual relationships, etc).
70. The Final Prophecy describes how Jesus will bring the world spiritual healing, bringing our thoughts and actions back to true principles and correct living. His goal is the healing of the nations. |
"In the midst of the street of it, and on either side of the river, was there the tree of life, which bare twelve manner of fruits, and yielded her fruit every month; and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations."
Read Here: Revelation 22:2
71. Satan's plan has never varied: use people to mock the God who created them. Satan seeks the misery of mankind. |
"And because he had fallen from heaven, and had become miserable for ever, he sought also the misery of all mankind."
Read Here: 2 Nephi 1:103
"And our spirits must have become like unto him, and we become devils, angels to a devil, to be shut out from the presence of our God, and to remain with the father of lies, in misery, like unto himself;"
Read Here: 2 Nephi 6:21
"And he said unto them, Because that Adam fell, we are; and by his fall came death, and we are made partakers of misery and woe."
Read Here: Genesis 6:49
72. Satan's lies have veiled the earth in spiritual darkness. |
"And he beheld Satan, and he had a great chain in his hand, and it veiled the whole face of the earth with darkness; and he looked up and laughed, and his angels rejoiced."
Read Here: Genesis 7:32
73. Spiritual darkness can only exist in the hearts (thoughts and will) of man. Without man's heart, there is no sin in this world. That is why the heart must change. |
"And God saw that the wickedness of man had become great in the earth; and every man was lifted up in the imagination of the thoughts of his heart; being only evil continually."
Read Here: Genesis 8:10
74. Satan leads with a 'flaxen cord' which is a tiny soft thread. While it is easily broken, more importantly, it is almost indiscernibly present. And hence the problem. The flaxen threads eventually become strong chains. |
"Yea, and he leadeth them by the neck with a flaxen cord, until he bindeth them with his strong cords for ever."
Read Here: 2 Nephi 11:94
75. Satan misleads us by twisting truth with lies, causing us to ignorantly return God's laws with mockery of them and him. Homosexual presented as a 'holy union', for instance, mocks the truth God would have mankind learn and live by. |
"And Cain loved Satan more than God. And Satan commanded him, saying, Make an offering unto the Lord. And in process of time it came to pass, that Cain brought of the fruit of the ground an offering unto the Lord."
Read Here: Genesis 5:6
"Now Satan knew this, and it pleased him. And Cain was very wroth, and his countenance fell."
Read Here: Genesis 5:8
The sacrifice of Jesus was and is the only payment possible to allow mankind to return to the presence of God. Jesus was and is the Eternal Father.
76. Adam would learn that blood sacrifices symbolized Messiah's future sacrifice for all humanity. |
"And Adam was obedient unto the commandments of the Lord. And after many days, an angel of the Lord appeared unto Adam, saying, Why dost thou offer sacrifices unto the Lord? And Adam said unto him, I know not, save the Lord commanded me.
And then the angel spake, saying, This thing is a similitude of the sacrifice of the Only Begotten of the Father, which is full of grace and truth;" Read Here: Genesis 4:6-7
77. God covenanted with Adam regarding salvation, teaching Him that by His own blood a sacrifice would be made, by the water we would enter a covenant symbolizing rebirth, by His Spirit He cleanses us and makes us new. It is by this process -the water blood and spirit--physically and spiritually, that we are changed to become like Him. |
"Therefore I give unto you a commandment, to teach these things freely unto your children, saying, that by reason of transgression cometh the fall, which fall bringeth death; and inasmuch as ye were born into the world by water and blood, and the spirit, which I have made, and so become of dust a living soul;
Even so ye must be born again, into the kingdom of heaven, of water, and of the Spirit, and be cleansed by blood, even the blood of mine Only Begotten; that ye may be sanctified from all sin; and enjoy the words of eternal life in this world, and eternal life in the world to come; even immortal glory.For, by the water ye keep the commandment; by the Spirit ye are justified; and by the blood ye are sanctified." Read Here: Genesis 6:61-63
78. Cain's sacrifice was dictated by Satan to disrespect God's intended symbolism of Jesus' atonement by His own blood. Satan deceived Cain to believe any sacrifice was adequate. |
"And Cain loved Satan more than God. And Satan commanded him, saying, Make an offering unto the Lord. And in process of time it came to pass, that Cain brought of the fruit of the ground an offering unto the Lord.
And Abel, he also brought, of the firstlings of his flock, and of the fat thereof; and the Lord had respect unto Abel, and to his offering, but unto Cain, and to his offering, he had not respect.Now Satan knew this, and it pleased him. And Cain was very wroth, and his countenance fell." Read Here: Genesis 5:6-8
79. Satan's goal is to deceive humanity as he deceived Cain: take truths given by God pervert them so the meaning is lost. Then use the humans created in God's image to mock God through their misunderstanding . |
"And Cain loved Satan more than God. And Satan commanded him, saying, Make an offering unto the Lord. And in process of time it came to pass, that Cain brought of the fruit of the ground an offering unto the Lord."
Read Here: Genesis 5:6
80. God continued to teach the descendants of Adam about the eternal sacrifice. The disobedience of Israel brought on a 'martial law' of works intended to contrast the justice man faced, with the only solution to atone for their sins. The symbol of an unblemished lamb sacrificed represented the Savior's atonement for all who would repent. |
"But I will give unto them the law as at the first, but it shall be after the law of a carnal commandment; for I have sworn in my wrath, that they shall not enter into my presence, into my rest, in the days of their pilgrimage. Therefore do as I have commanded thee, and be ready in the morning, and come up in the morning unto mount Sinai, and present thyself there to me, in the top of the mount."
Read Here: Exodus 34:2
"And he shall bring a ram without blemish out of the flock, with thy estimation, for a trespass offering, unto the priest; and the priest shall make an atonement for him concerning his ignorance wherein he erred and wist it not, and it shall be forgiven him."
Read Here: Leviticus 5:18
81. The Jews of Israel largely misunderstood the purpose of the Law of Moses, missing the understanding that it all pointed towards the great and last sacrifice of Christ. |
"And now I say unto you, that it was expedient that there should be a law given to the children of Israel, yea, even a very strict law: for they were a stiff-necked people: quick to do iniquity, and slow to remember the Lord their God;
Therefore there was a law given them, yea, a law of performances and of ordinances, a law which they were to observe strictly, from day to day, to keep them in remembrance of God, and their duty towards him.But behold, I say unto you, that all these things were types of things to come.And now, did they understand the law?I say unto you, Nay, they did not all understand the law; and this because of the hardness of their hearts: for they understood not that there could not any man be saved, except it were through the redemption of God." Read Here: Mosiah 8:6-10
"And behold, this is the whole meaning of the law; every whit pointing to that great and last sacrifice; and that great and last sacrifice will be the Son of God; yea, infinite and eternal; and thus he shall bring salvation to all those who shall believe on his name;"
Read Here: Alma 16:215
"And not as Moses, which put a veil over his face, that the children of Israel could not steadfastly look to the end of that which is abolished;
But their minds were blinded; for until this day remaineth the same veil untaken away in the reading of the old testament; which veil is done away in Christ.But even unto this day, when Moses is read, the veil is upon their heart.Nevertheless, when their heart shall turn to the Lord, the veil shall be taken away.Now the Lord is that Spirit; and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty." Read Here: 2 Corinthians 3:13-17
82. In the end, the vail of misunderstanding is removed and The Jews will understand sacrifices of the Mosaic Law all pointed toward Jesus. |
"And not as Moses, which put a veil over his face, that the children of Israel could not steadfastly look to the end of that which is abolished;
But their minds were blinded; for until this day remaineth the same veil untaken away in the reading of the old testament; which veil is done away in Christ.But even unto this day, when Moses is read, the veil is upon their heart.Nevertheless, when their heart shall turn to the Lord, the veil shall be taken away.Now the Lord is that Spirit; and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty." Read Here: 2 Corinthians 3:13-17
83. Only an Eternal Sacrifice could atone for the sins of Mankind to bring us back to the presence of God. The sacrifice could not be of the earth (i.e. no man or animal) to pay a spiritual debt. The payment must be infinite and eternal. |
"For it behooveth the great Creator that he suffereth himself to become subject unto man in the flesh, and die for all men, that all men might become subject unto him.
For as death has passed upon all men, to fulfill the merciful plan of the great Creator, there must needs be a power of resurrection,And the resurrection must needs come unto man by reason of the fall;And the fall came by reason of transgression;And because man became fallen, they were cut off from the presence of the Lord;Wherefore, it must needs be an infinite atonement;Save it should be an infinite atonement, this corruption could not put on incorruption.Wherefore, the first judgment which came upon man, must needs have remained to an endless duration." Read Here: 2 Nephi 6:10-17
"For it is expedient that an atonement should be made; for according to the great plan of the eternal God, there must be an atonement made, or else all mankind must unavoidably perish;
Yea, all are hardened; yea, all are fallen, and are lost, and must perish except it be through the atonement which it is expedient should be made;For it is expedient that there should be a great and last sacrifice; yea, not a sacrifice of man, neither of beast, neither of any manner of fowl; for it shall not be a human sacrifice: but it must be an infinite and eternal sacrifice.Now there is not any man that can sacrifice his own blood, which will atone for the sins of another.Now if a man murdereth, behold, will our law, which is just, take the life of his brother? I say unto you, Nay.But the law requireth the life of him who hath murdered; therefore there can be nothing, which is short of an infinite atonement, which will suffice for the sins of the world; therefore it is expedient that there should be a great and last sacrifice;And then shall there be, or it is expedient there should be, a stop to the shedding of blood; then shall the Law of Moses be fulfilled; yea, it shall all be fulfilled; every jot and tittle, and none shall have passed away.And behold, this is the whole meaning of the law; every whit pointing to that great and last sacrifice; and that great and last sacrifice will be the Son of God; yea, infinite and eternal; and thus he shall bring salvation to all those who shall believe on his name;This being the intent of this last sacrifice, to bring about the bowels of mercy, which overpowereth justice and bringeth about means unto men that they may have faith unto repentance." Read Here: Alma 16:208-216
84. Therefore, God Himself atones for the sins of the world. |
"And now the plan of mercy could not be brought about, except an atonement should be made; therefore God himself atoneth for the sins of the world, to bring about the plan of mercy, to appease the demands of justice, that God might be a perfect, just God, and a merciful God also."
Read Here: Alma 19:97
"And moreover, I say unto you, that salvation doth not come by the law alone; and were it not for the atonement which God himself shall make for the sins and iniquities of his people, that they must unavoidably perish, notwithstanding the law of Moses."
Read Here: Mosiah 8:5
"Have they not said that God himself should come down among the children of men, and take upon him the form of man, and go forth in mighty power upon the face of the earth?"
Read Here: Mosiah 8:13
"And now Abinadi said unto them, I would that ye should understand that God himself shall come down among the children of men, and shall redeem his people;"
Read Here: Mosiah 8:28
"For thou hast said that God himself should come down among the children of men;"
Read Here: Mosiah 9:11
"Now Zeezrom saith again unto him, Is the Son of God the very eternal Father?
" Read Here: Alma 8:93-4
85. Because God takes on Flesh, he shall be called the Son of Man. |
"And because he dwelleth in flesh, he shall be called the Son of God:
And having subjected the flesh to the will of the Father, being the Father and the Son; the Father because he was conceived by the power of God: and the Son, because of the flesh; thus becoming the Father and Son:And they are one God, yea, the very eternal Father of heaven and of earth;And thus the flesh becoming subject to the Spirit, or the Son to the Father, being one God, suffereth temptation, and yieldeth not to the temptation, but suffereth himself to be mocked, and scourged, and cast out, and disowned by his people." Read Here: Mosiah 8:29-32
"Behold this body, which ye now behold, is the body of my spirit; and man have I created after the body of my spirit; and even as I appear unto thee to be in the spirit, will I appear unto my people in the flesh."
Read Here: Ether 1:81
86. God would step out of eternity into time, so humanity could live again with Him eternally. The savior was and is the very Eternal Father. |
"Now Zeezrom saith again unto him, Is the Son of God the very eternal Father?"
Read Here: Alma 8:93
"And they are one God, yea, the very eternal Father of heaven and of earth;"
Read Here: Mosiah 8:31
"And shall make known to all kindreds, tongues and people, that the Lamb of God is the son of the Eternal Father, and the Savior of the world; and that all men must come unto him or they can not be saved;"
Read Here: 1 Nephi 3:193
"And the angel said unto me, Behold the Lamb of God, yea, even the Son of the Eternal Father!"
Read Here: 1 Nephi 3:62
87. The prophets of the Americas understood that the Son of God was the Eternal Father.
88. God also states that in a day to come, the words of the Nephites become THE standard by which Israel believes and eventually the world follows. |
"And also, that I may remember the promises which I have made unto thee, Nephi, and also unto thy father, that I would remember your seed; and that the words of your seed should proceed forth out of my mouth unto your seed.
And my words shall hiss forth unto the ends of the earth, for a standard unto my people, which are of the house of Israel." Read Here: 2 Nephi 12:43-44
89. Moroni wrote:
i) The Testimony to be revealed to humanity is that Jesus Christ is the Eternal God. |
"and also to the convincing of the Jew and Gentile that Jesus is the Christ, the Eternal God, manifesting himself unto all nations."
Read Here: Title Page 1:7
90. Nephi wrote:
i) And he said unto me: "Behold, the virgin which thou seest is the mother of God, after the manner of the flesh." (Original Manuscript, Nephi's Vision) |
"And he said unto me, Behold, the virgin whom thou seest is the mother of the Son of God, after the manner of the flesh."
Read Here: 1 Nephi 3:58
ii) And shall make known to all kindreds, tongues and people that the Lamb of God is the Eternal Father and the Savior of the world… |
"And shall make known to all kindreds, tongues and people, that the Lamb of God is the son of the Eternal Father, and the Savior of the world; and that all men must come unto him or they can not be saved;"
Read Here: 1 Nephi 3:193
iii) Yea, even the very God of Israel, do men trample under their feet; |
iv) Yea, the God of Abraham, and of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, yieldeth himself according to words of the angel, as a man, into the hands of wicked men.. |
"Yea, the God of Abraham, and of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, yieldeth himself according to words of the angel, as a man, into the hands of wicked men, to be lifted up according to the words of Zenock,"
Read Here: 1 Nephi 5:240
v) And as for those who are at Jerusalem, saith the prophet, they shall be scourged by all people, because they crucify the God of Israel… |
"And as for those who are at Jerusalem, saith the prophet, they shall be scourged by all people, because they crucify the God of Israel, and turn their hearts aside, rejecting signs and wonders, and power and glory of the God of Israel;"
Read Here: 1 Nephi 5:251
vi) (The Jews' plight would be incurred for crucifying their very God). But, behold, they shall have wars, and rumors of wars; and when the day cometh that the Only Begotten of the Father, yea, even the Father of heaven and of earth, shall manifest himself unto them in the flesh, behold, they will reject him, because of their iniquities, and the hardness of their hearts, and the stiffness of their necks. |
"But, behold, they shall have wars, and rumors of wars; and when the day cometh that the Only Begotten of the Father, yea, even the Father of heaven and of earth, shall manifest himself unto them in the flesh, behold, they will reject him, because of their iniquities, and the hardness of their hearts, and the stiffness of their necks."
Read Here: 2 Nephi 11:21
91. King Benjamin stated:
i) For behold, the time cometh, and is not far distant, that with power, the Lord Omnipotent who reigneth, who was, and is from all eternity to all eternity, shall come down from heaven, among the children of men, and shall dwell in a tabernacle of clay. |
"For behold, the time cometh, and is not far distant, that with power, the Lord Omnipotent who reigneth, who was, and is from all eternity to all eternity, shall come down from heaven, among the children of men, and shall dwell in a tabernacle of clay,"
Read Here: Mosiah 1:97
ii) And he shall be called Jesus Christ, the Son of God, the Father of heaven and earth, the Creator of all things, from the beginning; and His mother shall be called Mary. |
"And he shall be called Jesus Christ, the Son of God, the Father of heaven and earth, the Creator of all things, from the beginning; and his mother shall be called Mary."
Read Here: Mosiah 1:102
iii) And moreover, I say unto you, that salvation doth not come by the law alone; and were it not for the atonement which God himself shall make for the sins and iniquities of His people, that they must unavoidably perish, notwithstanding the law of Moses. |
"And moreover, I say unto you, that salvation doth not come by the law alone; and were it not for the atonement which God himself shall make for the sins and iniquities of his people, that they must unavoidably perish, notwithstanding the law of Moses."
Read Here: Mosiah 8:5
iv) And They are one God, yea, the Very Eternal Father of heaven and of earth… |
"And they are one God, yea, the very eternal Father of heaven and of earth;"
Read Here: Mosiah 8:31
v) Have they not said that God himself should come down among the children of men, and take upon him the form of man, and go forth in mighty power upon the face of the earth? |
"Have they not said that God himself should come down among the children of men, and take upon him the form of man, and go forth in mighty power upon the face of the earth?"
Read Here: Mosiah 8:13
vi) And now Abinadi said unto them, I would that ye should understand that God himself shall come down among the children of men, and shall redeem His people; |
"And now Abinadi said unto them, I would that ye should understand that God himself shall come down among the children of men, and shall redeem his people;"
Read Here: Mosiah 8:28
92. Nephite explorers learned of Abinadi's death for stating that The Father would take upon himself the image of a man:
i) And because he said unto them, that Christ was the God, the Father of all things, and said that he should take upon him the image of man, and it should be the image after which man was created in the beginning; 45 Or in other words, he said that man was created after the image of God, and that God should come down among the children of men, and take upon him flesh and blood, and go forth upon the face of the earth; And now because he said this, they did put him to death; and many more things did they do, which brought down the wrath of God upon them. |
"And because he said unto them, that Christ was the God, the Father of all things, and said that he should take upon him the image of man, and it should be the image after which man was created in the beginning;"
Read Here: Mosiah 5:44
93. Abinadi sacrificed his life for these words:
i) And moreover, I say unto you, that salvation doth not come by the law alone; and were it not for the atonement which God himself shall make for the sins and iniquities of his people, that they must unavoidably perish, notwithstanding the law of Moses. |
"And moreover, I say unto you, that salvation doth not come by the law alone; and were it not for the atonement which God himself shall make for the sins and iniquities of his people, that they must unavoidably perish, notwithstanding the law of Moses."
Read Here: Mosiah 8:5
ii) And They are one God, yea, the Very Eternal Father of heaven and of earth. |
"And they are one God, yea, the very eternal Father of heaven and of earth;"
Read Here: Mosiah 8:31
iii) Have they not said that God himself should come down among the children of men, and take upon him the form of man, and go forth in mighty power upon the face of the earth? |
"Have they not said that God himself should come down among the children of men, and take upon him the form of man, and go forth in mighty power upon the face of the earth?"
Read Here: Mosiah 8:13
iv) And now Abinadi said unto them, I would that ye should understand that God himself shall come down among the children of men, and shall redeem his people; |
"And now Abinadi said unto them, I would that ye should understand that God himself shall come down among the children of men, and shall redeem his people;"
Read Here: Mosiah 8:28
v) (Abinadi's accusers) For thou hast said that God himself should come down among the children of men; |
"For thou hast said that God himself should come down among the children of men;"
Read Here: Mosiah 9:11
vi) Teach them that redemption cometh through Christ the Lord, which is the Very Eternal Father. Amen. |
"Teach them that redemption cometh through Christ the Lord, who is the very eternal Father. Amen."
Read Here: Mosiah 8:91
94. Amulek and Alma proclaimed:
i) Now Zeezrom saith again unto him: "Is the Son of God the Very Eternal Father?" |
"Now Zeezrom saith again unto him, Is the Son of God the very eternal Father?"
Read Here: Alma 8:93
ii) And Amulek saith unto him: "Yea, He is the Very Eternal Father of heaven and of earth and all things which in them is; |
"And Amulek said unto him, Yea, he is the very eternal Father of heaven and of earth, and all things which in them is;"
Read Here: Alma 8:94
iii) And now the plan of mercy could not be brought about, except an atonement should be made; therefore God himself atoneth for the sins of the world, to bring about the plan of mercy, to appease the demands of justice, that God might be a perfect, just God, and a merciful God also. |
"And now the plan of mercy could not be brought about, except an atonement should be made; therefore God himself atoneth for the sins of the world, to bring about the plan of mercy, to appease the demands of justice, that God might be a perfect, just God, and a merciful God also."
Read Here: Alma 19:97
iv) For it is expedient that there should be a great and last sacrifice, Yea, not a sacrifice of man, neither of beast, neither of any manner of fowl, For it shall not be a human sacrifice, But it must be an infinite and an eternal sacrifice. |
"For it is expedient that there should be a great and last sacrifice; yea, not a sacrifice of man, neither of beast, neither of any manner of fowl; for it shall not be a human sacrifice: but it must be an infinite and eternal sacrifice."
Read Here: Alma 16:210
95. Jesus said:
i) Jesus said that 'no man knoweth that the Son is the Father, and the Father is the Son, but him to whom the Son will reveal it." |
"All things are delivered to me of my Father; and no man knoweth that the Son is the Father, and the Father is the Son, but him to whom the Son will reveal it."
Read Here: Luke 10:23
96. Ether wrote:
i) ...(God speaking to the brother of Jared) Seest thou that ye are created after mine own image? Yea, even all men were created in the beginning, after mine own image. |
"Seest thou that ye are created after mine own image? Yea, even all men were created in the beginning, after mine own image."
Read Here: Ether 1:80
ii) Behold this body, which ye now behold, is the body of my spirit; and man have I created after the body of my spirit; and even as I appear unto thee to be in the spirit, will I appear unto my people in the flesh. |
"Behold this body, which ye now behold, is the body of my spirit; and man have I created after the body of my spirit; and even as I appear unto thee to be in the spirit, will I appear unto my people in the flesh."
Read Here: Ether 1:81
"Now Zeezrom saith again unto him, Is the Son of God the very eternal Father?
"And Amulek said unto him, Yea, he is the very Eternal Father of heaven and of earth, and all things which in them is;" -- Alma 8:93-4
"..And the angel said unto me: "Behold the Lamb of God, yea, even the Eternal Father!"
-1 Nephi 3:62 (Restored Covenant Edition)
97. Prophets claimed The God of Heaven, the Creator, the Maker of all things was the Holy One of Israel. The Prophets called The Holy One of Israel Jesus Christ. |
"I will also praise thee with the psaltery, even thy truth, O my God; unto thee will I sing with the harp, O thou Holy One of Israel."
Read Here: Psalms 71:22
"Therefore as the fire devoureth the stubble, and the flame consumeth the chaff, so their root shall be as rottenness, and their blossom shall go up as dust; because they have cast away the law of the Lord of hosts, and despised the word of the Holy One of Israel."
Read Here: Isaiah 5:24
"Cry out and shout, thou inhabitant of Zion; for great is the Holy One of Israel in the midst of thee."
Read Here: Isaiah 12:6
"At that day shall a man look to his Maker, and his eyes shall have respect to the Holy One of Israel."
Read Here: Isaiah 17:7
"As for our Redeemer, the Lord of hosts is his name, the Holy One of Israel."
Read Here: Isaiah 47:4
"For Israel hath not been forsaken, nor Judah of his God, of the Lord of hosts; though their land was filled with sin against the Holy One of Israel."
Read Here: Jeremiah 51:5
Why is this important to know that Jesus Christ was the God of Heaven, the Father, the Creator of all things?Answer: So we know the significance of the sacrifice he made dying for us.
Who does the Bible refer to as God? Compare these titles and names for God the Father, and see who it says God is in the Book of Mormon.
The Bible Calls God 'God.' The Book of Mormon shares that Jesus Christ is God. Jesus was and is God in the flesh. Because we could not be with Him in Perfection because of our sin, he chose to take on Flesh, (a mortal body) to be with us instead.
Genesis 6:45 And Enoch continued his speech, saying, The Lord which spake with me, the same is the God of heaven, and he is my God and your God, and ye are my brethren; and why counsel ye yourselves, and deny the God of heaven? 3 Nephi 9:19 And behold they began to pray; and they did pray unto Jesus, calling him their Lord and their God.
1 Nephi 5:251 And as for those who are at Jerusalem, saith the prophet, they shall be scourged by all people, because they crucify the God of Israel, and turn their hearts aside, rejecting signs and wonders, and power and glory of the God of Israel;
2 Nephi 7:7 And there is none other nation on earth that would crucify their God.
Mosiah chapter 8 provides the definition why Jesus is called 'The Son.' It is because he takes on flesh and becomes mortal.
Mosiah 8:13 Have they not said that God himself should come down among the children of men, and take upon him the form of man, and go forth in mighty power upon the face of the earth?
Mosiah 8:28 And now Abinadi said unto them, I would that ye should understand that God himself shall come down among the children of men, and shall redeem his people;
29 And because he dwelleth in flesh, he shall be called the Son of God:
30 And having subjected the flesh to the will of the Father, being the Father and the Son; the Father because he was conceived by the power of God: and the Son, because of the flesh; thus becoming the Father and Son:
31 And they are one God, yea, the very eternal Father of heaven and of earth;
God the Father?
The Bible Calls God 'God the Father.' The Book of Mormon shares that Jesus Christ is God the Father.
Mark 9:35 And whosoever shall receive me, receiveth not me only, but him that sent me, even the Father.
Matthew 28:18 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost;
John 1:16 For in the beginning was the Word, even the Son, who is made flesh, and sent unto us by the will of the Father. And as many as believe on his name shall receive of his fullness. And of his fullness have all we received, even immortality and eternal life, through his grace.
John 1:18 For the law was after a carnal commandment, to the administration of death; but the gospel was after the power of an endless life, through Jesus Christ, the Only Begotten Son, who is in the bosom of the Father.
John 3:35 The Father loveth the Son, and hath given all things into his hands.
John 5:26 For as the Father hath life in himself, so hath he given to the Son to have life in himself;
John 6:44 No man can come unto me, except he doeth the will of my Father who hath sent me. And this is the will of him who hath sent me, that ye receive the Son; for the Father beareth record of him; and he who receiveth the testimony, and doeth the will of him who sent me, I will raise up in the resurrection of the just.
John 6:46 Not that any man hath seen the Father, save he which is of God, he hath seen the Father.
John 14:8 Philip saith unto him, Lord, show us the Father, and it sufficeth us.
John 14:9 Jesus saith unto him, Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known me, Philip? he that hath seen me hath seen the Father; and how sayest thou then, Show us the Father?
1 John 5:7 For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost; and these three are one.
Matthew 11:28 All things are delivered unto me of my Father; and no man knoweth the Son, but the Father; neither knoweth any man the Father, save the Son, and they to whom the Son will reveal himself; they shall see the Father also.
Ether 1:81 Behold this body, which ye now behold, is the body of my spirit; and man have I created after the body of my spirit; and even as I appear unto thee to be in the spirit, will I appear unto my people in the flesh.
2 Nephi 11:21 But, behold, they shall have wars, and rumors of wars; and when the day cometh that the Only Begotten of the Father, yea, even the Father of heaven and of earth, shall manifest himself unto them in the flesh, behold, they will reject him, because of their iniquities, and the hardness of their hearts, and the stiffness of their necks.
Jacob 3:5 Behold, they believed in Christ, and worshipped the Father in his name; and also, we worship the Father in his name.
Mosiah 1:102 And he shall be called Jesus Christ, the Son of God, the Father of heaven and earth, the Creator of all things, from the beginning; and his mother shall be called Mary.
Mosiah 5:44 And because he said unto them, that Christ was the God, the Father of all things, and said that he should take upon him the image of man, and it should be the image after which man was created in the beginning;
Helaman 5:66 And also that ye might know of the coming of Jesus Christ, the Son of God, the Father of heaven, and of earth, the Creator of all things, from the beginning; and that ye might know of the signs of his coming, to the intent that ye might believe on his name.
Helaman 5:130 If so, and he be the Son of God, the Father of heaven and of earth, as it has been spoken, why will he not shew himself unto us, as well as unto them who shall be at Jerusalem?
3 Nephi 13:22 Yea, your joy shall be full, even as the Father hath given me fullness of joy; and ye shall be even as I am, and I am even as the Father; and the Father and I are one;
Mormon 2:46 They were once a delightsome people, and they had Christ for their Shepherd; yea, they were led even by God, the Father.
Mormon 4:71 Behold, he created Adam; and by Adam came the fall of man. And because of the fall of man, came Jesus Christ, even the Father and the Son; and because of Jesus Christ came the redemption of man.
Ether 1:77 Behold, I am he who was prepared from the foundation of the world to redeem my people. Behold, I am Jesus Christ. I am the Father and the Son.
Ether 1:101 And in that day that they shall exercise faith in me, saith the Lord, even as the Brother of Jared did, that they may become sanctified in me, then will I manifest unto them the things which the Brother of Jared saw, even to the unfolding unto them all my revelations, saith Jesus Christ, the Son of God, the Father of the heavens and of the earth, and all things that in them are.
Ether 1:108 For behold, I am the Father, I am the light, and the life, and the truth of the world.
The God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob?
The Bible Calls God 'The God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.' The Book of Mormon shares that Jesus Christ is The God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob
Exodus 2:24 And God heard their groaning, and God remembered his covenant with Abraham, with Isaac, and with Jacob.
Exodus 3:6 Moreover he said, I am the God of thy father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob. And Moses hid his face; for he was afraid to look upon God.
Exodus 4:5 That they may believe that the Lord God of their fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, hath appeared unto thee.
Exodus 6:3 And I appeared unto Abraham, unto Isaac, and unto Jacob. I am the Lord God Almighty; the Lord JEHOVAH. And was not my name known unto them?
Acts 3:13 The God of Abraham, and of Isaac, and of Jacob, the God of our fathers, hath glorified his Son Jesus; whom ye delivered up, and denied him in the presence of Pilate, when he was determined to let him go.
Acts 7:32 Saying, I am the God of thy fathers, the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob. Then Moses trembled, and durst not behold. 1 Nephi 5:240 Yea, the God of Abraham, and of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, yieldeth himself according to words of the angel, as a man, into the hands of wicked men, to be lifted up according to the words of Zenock,
Mormon 4:70 But behold, I will shew unto you a God of miracles, even the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob; and it is that same God who created the heavens and the earth, and all things that in them are.
The Bible Calls God 'The Creator.' The Book of Mormon shares that Jesus Christ is The Creator
The Creator?
Isaiah 40:28 Hast thou not known? hast thou not heard, that the everlasting God, the Lord, the Creator of the ends of the earth, fainteth not, neither is weary? there is no searching of his understanding.
Matthew 23:6 And call no one your creator upon the earth, or your heavenly Father; for one is your creator and heavenly Father, even he who is in heaven
2 Nephi 6:10 For it behooveth the great Creator that he suffereth himself to become subject unto man in the flesh, and die for all men, that all men might become subject unto him.
Mosiah 1:102 And he shall be called Jesus Christ, the Son of God, the Father of heaven and earth, the Creator of all things, from the beginning; and his mother shall be called Mary.
Helaman 5:66 And also that ye might know of the coming of Jesus Christ, the Son of God, the Father of heaven, and of earth, the Creator of all things, from the beginning; and that ye might know of the signs of his coming, to the intent that ye might believe on his name.The Almighty
The Bible Calls God 'The Almighty.' The Bible shares that Jesus Christ is The Mighty God, the Everlasting Father
Genesis 1:2 I am the Beginning and the End; the Almighty God.
Genesis 7:74 But before that day, he saw great tribulation among the wicked; and he also saw the sea, that it was troubled, and men's hearts failing them, looking forth with fear for the judgment of the Almighty God, which should come upon the wicked.
Genesis 17:1 And when Abram was ninety and nine years old, the Lord appeared to Abram, and said unto him, I, the Almighty God, give unto thee a commandment; that thou shalt walk uprightly before me, and be perfect.
Isaiah 9:6 For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder; and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.
The Lord Omnipotent?
The Bible Calls God 'The Lord Omnipotent.' The Book of Mormon shares that Jesus Christ is The Lord Omnipotent
Revelation 19:6 And I heard as it were the voice of a great multitude, and as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of mighty thunderings, saying, Alleluia; for the Lord God omnipotent reigneth. Mosiah 1:97 For behold, the time cometh, and is not far distant, that with power, the Lord Omnipotent who reigneth, who was, and is from all eternity to all eternity, shall come down from heaven, among the children of men, and shall dwell in a tabernacle of clay,
Mosiah 1:116 And moreover, I say unto you, that there shall be no other name given, nor any other way nor means whereby salvation can come unto the children of men, only in and through the name of Christ, the Lord Omnipotent….118 But men drink damnation to their own souls, except they humble themselves, and become as little children, and believe that salvation was, and is, and is to come, in and through the atoning blood of Christ, the Lord Omnipotent:
Mosiah 3:3 And also, we know of their surety and truth, because of the Spirit of the Lord Omnipotent, which has wrought a mighty change in us, or in our hearts, that we have no more disposition to do evil, but to do good continually.
Mosiah 3:21 Therefore, I would that ye should be steadfast and immovable, always abounding in good works, that Christ, the Lord God Omnipotent, may seal you his, that you may be brought to heaven, that ye may have everlasting salvation and eternal life, through the wisdom, and power, and justice, and mercy of him, who created all things, in heaven and in earth, who is God above all. Amen.
The God of Heaven and Earth?
The Bible Calls God 'The God of Heaven and Earth.' The Book of Mormon shares that Jesus Christ is The God of Heaven and Earth
Ezra 5:11 And thus they returned us answer, saying, We are the servants of the God of heaven and earth, and build the house that was builded these many years ago, which a great king of Israel builded and set up.
Mosiah 1:102 And he shall be called Jesus Christ, the Son of God, the Father of heaven and earth, the Creator of all things, from the beginning; and his mother shall be called Mary.
Mosiah 2:4 For we believe in Jesus Christ, the Son of God, who created heaven and earth, and all things, who shall come down among the children of men.
Mosiah 3:21 Therefore, I would that ye should be steadfast and immovable, always abounding in good works, that Christ, the Lord God Omnipotent, may seal you his, that you may be brought to heaven, that ye may have everlasting salvation and eternal life, through the wisdom, and power, and justice, and mercy of him, who created all things, in heaven and in earth, who is God above all. Amen.
Mosiah 8:31 And they are one God, yea, the very eternal Father of heaven and of earth;The Rock
The Bible Calls God 'the Rock.' The Book of Mormon shares that Jesus 'The Rock.'
Genesis 7:59 And the Lord said, Blessed is he through whose seed Messiah shall come; for he saith, I am Messiah, the King of Zion, the Rock of heaven, which is broad as eternity; and whoso cometh in at the gate, and climbeth up by me shall never fall.
Helaman 2:74 And now my sons, remember, remember that it is upon the rock of our Redeemer, who is Christ, the Son of God, that ye must build your foundation, that when the devil shall send forth his mighty winds; yea, his shafts in the whirlwind;God of Israel?
The Bible Calls God 'God of Israel.' The Book of Mormon shares that Jesus Christ is God of Israel
Exodus 5:1 And afterward Moses and Aaron went in, and told Pharaoh, Thus saith the Lord God of Israel, Let my people go, that they may hold a feast unto me in the wilderness.
Isaiah 48:2 For they call themselves of the holy city, and stay themselves upon the God of Israel; The Lord of hosts is his name.
Isaiah 52:12 For ye shall not go out with haste, nor go by flight; for the Lord will go before you; and the God of Israel will be your rearward. 3 Nephi 5:14 And it came to pass that the Lord spake unto them, saying, Arise and come forth unto me, that ye may thrust your hands into my side, and also that ye may feel the prints of the nails in my hands, and in my feet, that ye may know that I am the God of Israel, and the God of the whole earth, and have been slain for the sins of the world.
1 Nephi 1:158 And after they had given thanks unto the God of Israel, my father Lehi took the records which were engraven upon the plates of brass, and he did search them from the beginning.
1 Nephi 5:233 Yea, even the very God of Israel, do men trample under their feet;
1 Nephi 5:251 And as for those who are at Jerusalem, saith the prophet, they shall be scourged by all people, because they crucify the God of Israel, and turn their hearts aside, rejecting signs and wonders, and power and glory of the God of Israel;
The Eternal Father?
The Bible Calls God 'The Eternal Father.' The Book of Mormon shares that Jesus Christ is 'The Eternal God.'
Mosiah 8:91 Teach them that redemption cometh through Christ the Lord, who is the very eternal Father. Amen.
1 Nephi 3:62 And the angel said unto me, Behold the Lamb of God, yea, even the Eternal Father! (Original Text of of the Book of Mormon as found in the RCE version)
Alma 8:93 Now Zeezrom saith again unto him, Is the Son of God the very eternal Father?
Alma 8:94 And Amulek said unto him, Yea, he is the very eternal Father of heaven and of earth, and all things which in them is;
Eternal God?
The Bible Calls God 'The Eternal God.' The Book of Mormon shares that Jesus Christ is 'The Eternal God.'
Deuteronomy 33:27 The eternal God is thy refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms; and he shall thrust out the enemy from before thee; and shall say, Destroy them.
Title Page 1:7 and also to the convincing of the Jew and Gentile that Jesus is the Christ, the Eternal God, manifesting himself unto all nations.
2 Nephi 11:78 And as I spake concerning the convincing of the Jews, that Jesus is the very Christ, it must needs be that the Gentiles be convinced also, that Jesus is the Christ, the Eternal God; and that he manifesteth himself unto all those who believe in him, by the power of the Holy Ghost;
2 Nephi 6:20 For behold, if the flesh should rise no more, our spirits must become subject to that angel who fell from before the presence of the eternal God, and became the devil, to rise no more.
Alma 8:104 And shall be brought and be arraigned before the bar of Christ the Son, and God the Father, and the Holy Spirit, which is one eternal God, to be judged according to their works, whether they be good or whether they be evil.
I AM
In the Bible, God called himself 'I Am.' This term was so revered among Jews, that no one in Israel could refer to himself as "I AM."
When Jesus said 'I AM' the Jews tried to stone him, because it broke their laws. But why did Jesus say this? Because he was God.
Exodus 3:14 And God said unto Moses, I AM THAT I AM; and he said, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, I AM hath sent me unto you.
John 8:58 Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I am.
The Holy Ghost?
The Bible implies that the Holy Ghost is a 'separate' being. The Book of Mormon shares that the Holy Ghost is the Spirit of God, When God takes on flesh as a man, God's is the spirit within Jesus. Jesus said 'I will come to you'
John 14:26 But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.
John 15:26 But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me;
John 14:18 I will not leave you comfortless; I will come to you.
Ether 1:81 Behold this body, which ye now behold, is the body of my spirit; and man have I created after the body of my spirit; and even as I appear unto thee to be in the spirit, will I appear unto my people in the flesh.
Alpha and Omega?
The Bible Calls God 'Alpha and Omega.' The Book of Mormon shares that Jesus Christ God 'Alpha and Omega.'
Revelation 1:8 For he saith, I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, the Lord, who is, and who was, and who is to come, the Almighty.
Revelation 1:11 Saying, I am Alpha and Omega, the first and the last; and, What thou seest, write in a book, and send it unto the seven churches which are in Asia; unto Ephesus, and unto Smyrna, and unto Pergamos, and unto Thyatira, and unto Sardis, and unto Philadelphia, and unto Laodicea.
Revelation 21:6 And he said unto me, It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely.
Revelation 22:13 I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last.
3 Nephi 4:48 I am the light and the life of the world. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end.
DC 18:1a I am Alpha and Omega, Christ the Lord; yea, even I am He, the beginning and the end, the Redeemer of the world:
DC 38:1a Thus saith the Lord your God, even Jesus Christ, the great I AM, Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the same which looked upon the wide expanse of eternity, and all the seraphic hosts of heaven, before the world was made;
The Holy One of Israel?
The Bible Calls God 'The Holy One of Israel.' The Book of Mormon shares that Jesus Christ is 'The Holy One of Israel.'
This is why understanding is important, because the Jews who only knew him as Holy One of Israel, their great God, will find it was Jesus Christ all along.
Psalms 89:18 For the Lord is our defense; and the Holy One of Israel is our King.
Isaiah 5:24 Therefore as the fire devoureth the stubble, and the flame consumeth the chaff, so their root shall be as rottenness, and their blossom shall go up as dust; because they have cast away the law of the Lord of hosts, and despised the word of the Holy One of Israel.
Isaiah 43:3 For I am the Lord thy God, the Holy One of Israel, thy Savior; I gave Egypt for thy ransom, Ethiopia and Seba for thee.
Isaiah 47:4 As for our Redeemer, the Lord of hosts is his name, the Holy One of Israel.
2 Nephi 11:55 And now behold I say unto you, that the right way is to believe in Christ, and deny him not; and Christ is the Holy One of Israel:
1 Nephi 7:46 And now I, Nephi, declare unto you, that this prophet of whom Moses spake, was the Holy One of Israel;
2 Nephi 5:40 And they shall know that the Lord is God, the Holy One of Israel:
2 Nephi 12:78 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.
1 Nephi 5:252-253 And because they turn their hearts aside, saith the prophet, and have despised the Holy One of Israel, they shall wander in the flesh, and perish, and become a hiss and a byword, and be hated among all nations; Nevertheless, when that day cometh, saith the prophet, that they no more turn aside their hearts against the Holy One of Israel, then will he remember the covenants which he made to their fathers;
2 Nephi 1:23 Behold, I say, If the day shall come that they will reject the Holy One of Israel, the true Messiah, their Redeemer and their God, behold, the judgments of him that is just, shall rest upon them;
2 Nephi 6:43 O the greatness of the mercy of our God, the Holy One of Israel! For he delivereth his saints from that awful monster the devil, and death, and hell, and that lake of fire and brimstone, which is endless torment.
2 Nephi 6:48 And he commandeth all men that they must repent, and be baptized in his name, having perfect faith in the Holy One of Israel, or they can not be saved in the kingdom of God.
2 Nephi 6:55 And they are restored to that God who gave them breath, which is the Holy One of Israel.
Omni 1:43 And it came to pass that I began to be old; and, having no seed, and knowing King Benjamin to be a just man before the Lord, wherefore, I shall deliver up these plates unto him, exhorting all men to come unto God, the Holy One of Israel,
Omni 1:46 And now, my beloved brethren, I would that ye should come unto Christ, who is the Holy One of Israel, and partake of his salvation, and the power of his redemption.
3 Nephi 10:13 For thy maker, thy husband, the Lord of hosts is his name; and thy Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel; the God of the whole earth shall he be called.
Whose blood came from every pore?The one who suffered: The Book of Mormon calls him Jesus
The D&C states God said this:
Mosiah 1: 97 For behold, the time cometh, and is not far distant, that with power, the Lord Omnipotent who reigneth, who was, and is from all eternity to all eternity, shall come down from heaven, among the children of men, and shall dwell in a tabernacle of clay,…
Mosiah 1:101 For behold, blood cometh from every pore, so great shall be his anguish for the wickedness and the abominations of his people.
102 And he shall be called Jesus Christ, the Son of God, the Father of heaven and earth, the Creator of all things, from the beginning; and his mother shall be called Mary. DC 18:2h For, behold, I, God, have suffered these things for all, that they might not suffer, if they would repent; but if they would not repent, they must suffer even as I;
DC 18:2i which suffering caused myself, even God, the greatest of all, to tremble because of pain, and to bleed at every pore, and to suffer both body and spirit, and would that I might not drink the bitter cup, and shrink;
Thy Maker?The Bible Calls God 'Thy Maker.'
The Book of Mormon shares that Jesus Christ is Thy Maker.
Isaiah 17:7 At that day shall a man look to his Maker, and his eyes shall have respect to the Holy One of Israel.
Isaiah 51:13 And forgettest the Lord thy Maker, that hath stretched forth the heavens, and laid the foundations of the earth; and hast feared continually every day because of the fury of the oppressor, as if he were ready to destroy? and where is the fury of the oppressor?
Isaiah 54:5 For thy Maker is thine husband; The Lord of hosts is his name; and thy Redeemer the Holy One of Israel; The God of the whole earth shall he be called.
Hosea 8:14 For Israel hath forgotten his Maker, and buildeth temples; and Judah hath multiplied fenced cities; but I will send a fire upon his cities, and it shall devour the palaces thereof.
3 Nephi 10:13 For thy maker, thy husband, the Lord of hosts is his name; and thy Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel; the God of the whole earth shall he be called.
(And The Holy One of Israel was Jesus to the Nephites)
2 Nephi 11:55 And now behold I say unto you, that the right way is to believe in Christ, and deny him not; and Christ is the Holy One of Israel:
The Light and Life of the World
In the Bible, Jesus says He is the Light and Life of the World In the Book of Mormon, Ether's record states that THE FATHER is the Light and Life of the World.
John 8:12 Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world; he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life. 3 Nephi 4:48 I am the light and the life of the world. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. (Jesus speaking to the Nephites)
Ether 1:108 For behold, I am the Father, I am the light, and the life, and the truth of the world.
In His Mercy, God prepared a place which exists now offering repentance for souls who sinned against the truth. This place is called Hell or The Prison House. The Prison House exists in the spiritual world for souls who have passed from this life unrepentant. Hell has a finite existence. After the final judgement of man, the Prison House ends.
98. A prison House was prepared for those lost to sin. Jesus would minister to these so they may also stand on His right hand. The right hand of God is where those worthy of eternal life stand at the judgement day. |
"And as many of the spirits as were in prison came forth and stood on the right hand of God. And the remainder were reserved in chains of darkness until the judgment of the great day."
Read Here: Genesis 7:64
"For which cause also, he went and preached unto the spirits in prison;"
Read Here: 1 Peter 3:19
99. The souls in the prison house are not cast off. Jesus is not only concerned for them, he pleads for them, so they may also have salvation. |
"Wherefore should not the heavens weep, seeing these shall suffer? But, behold, these which thine eyes are upon shall perish in the floods; and, behold, I will shut them up; a prison have I prepared for them, and he whom I have chosen hath pleaded before my face;
Wherefore he suffereth for their sins, inasmuch as they will repent, in the day that my chosen shall return unto me; and until that day they shall be in torment." Read Here: Genesis 7:44-45
100. Souls of righteous people await their resurrection in a heavenly paradise. This Paradise is not the final reward of humanity. The promise is that Heaven eventually comes to earth and those inhabitants dwell here with Him; the whole earth becomes the dwelling place of God. After the 1000 years of peace, a new heaven and new earth are created. |
"O how great the plan of our God! For on the other hand, the paradise of God must deliver up the spirits of the righteous, and the grave deliver up the bodies of the righteous;"
Read Here: 2 Nephi 6:31
"And then shall it come to pass that the spirits of those who are righteous, are received into a state of happiness, which is called paradise; a state of rest; a state of peace, where they shall rest from all their troubles, and from all care, and sorrow, etc."
Read Here: Alma 19:44
"Now this is the state of the souls of the wicked; yea, in darkness, and a state of awful, fearful, looking for, of the fiery indignation of the wrath of God upon them; thus they remain in this state, as well as the righteous in paradise, until the time of their resurrection."
Read Here: Alma 19:47
101. When Jesus was resurrected—the first to be resurrected—Enoch saw in vision those repentant souls released from the prison and stand on His right hand. That means they repented (hearts changed) and receive salvation the same as people who made that choice on earth. Yet others in the Prison House would not repent and remain there until the last day. |
"And he heard a loud voice, and the heavens were veiled; and all the creations of God mourned, and the earth groaned; and the rocks were rent; and the saints arose, and were crowned at the right hand of the Son of Man, with crowns of glory.
And as many of the spirits as were in prison came forth and stood on the right hand of God. And the remainder were reserved in chains of darkness until the judgment of the great day." Read Here: Genesis 7:63-64
102. This reveals the beauty of the true Gospel of Jesus Christ—hope for salvation through repentance because of His mercy. |
"And as many of the spirits as were in prison came forth and stood on the right hand of God. And the remainder were reserved in chains of darkness until the judgment of the great day."
Read Here: Genesis 7:64
103. The prison was prepared during this life for souls of those who died to still consider repentance. It is part of God's plan but repentance in the afterlife is infinitely harder than repentance in mortality because a rebellion spirit now will possess one's body even after death. |
"Nay, ye can not 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."
Read Here: Alma 16:232
"But wo, wo unto him who knoweth that he rebelleth against God; for salvation cometh to none such, except it be through repentance and faith on the Lord Jesus Christ."
Read Here: Mosiah 1:108
"But remember, that he that persists in his own carnal nature, and goes on in the ways of sin and rebellion against God, remaineth in his fallen state, and the devil hath all power over him."
Read Here: Mosiah 8:77
"And then shall it come to pass, that the spirits of the wicked, yea, who are evil; for behold, they have no part nor portion of the Spirit of the Lord: for behold they choose evil works, rather than good: therefore the spirit of the devil did enter into them, and take possession of their house;"
Read Here: Alma 19:45
104. Prisoners were/are released from the prison house at three times according to scripture:
i) 1) at the time of Jesus resurrection; |
"And he heard a loud voice, and the heavens were veiled; and all the creations of God mourned, and the earth groaned; and the rocks were rent; and the saints arose, and were crowned at the right hand of the Son of Man, with crowns of glory.
And as many of the spirits as were in prison came forth and stood on the right hand of God. And the remainder were reserved in chains of darkness until the judgment of the great day." Read Here: Genesis 7:63-64
ii) 2) at the beginning of the Millennium when Jesus returns in Glory; |
"And after this, another angel shall sound, which is the second trump; and then cometh the redemption of those who are Christ's at his coming;"
Read Here: DC 85:28a
iii) 3) at the end of the Millennium at the Final Judgement. |
"And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened; and another book was opened, which is the book of life; and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works.
And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them; and they were judged every man according to their works." Read Here: Revelation 20:12-13
105. Those not participating in life on earth during the Millennium reside in the prison house. At the end of the Millennium, the Prison House is completely freed (emptied) because
i) At the final judgement of all mankind, so all must come forth.
ii) Death and Hell are cast into the lake of fire—i.e. Hell's purpose has been accomplished. |
"Yea, even all those that have perished in their sins ever since the world began, that have willfully rebelled against God, that have known the commandments of God, and would not keep them; these are they that have no part in the first resurrection."
Read Here: Mosiah 8:62
"And then shall it come to pass, that the spirits of the wicked, yea, who are evil; for behold, they have no part nor portion of the Spirit of the Lord: for behold they choose evil works, rather than good: therefore the spirit of the devil did enter into them, and take possession of their house;"
Read Here: Alma 19:45
The Gospel was intended to be simple. Simple such that God presents one choice with two opposite outcomes. This design is so we cannot be mistaken. This is so we can clearly understand the reason to follow Jesus Christ.
Ancient prophets of America taught with power. They taught a clear message: salvation is on a parallel based upon the decision of repentance. The decision determines either Eternal Life or Eternal Death.
If there is a promise of Eternal Life, there is a promise of Eternal Death. Our sin is washed away and our souls become clean or remain filthy; we become a citizen of His kingdom or we are cast out. There is no in between.
This is the truth of the gospel: No alternate outcomes exist, there is no in between. Salvation means being saved into the kingdom of God, fully washed from sin, completely made new. The sinful remain as though no redemption occurred.
Justice opposed Eternal Life, so God offered a plan to save us from that separation. That plan is the plan of mercy. If we repent (change by his spirit), then mercy is applied. Eternity—the final outcome of humanity, rests in a balance of personal decision resting upon repentance, or the change of heart.
"Now I say unto you,
that ye must repent, and be born again:
for the Spirit saith,
If ye are not born again, ye can not inherit the kingdom of heaven;"
--Alma 5:24
The message of 'Parallels'—i.e. the consequences of a single decision resulting in (only) two opposite outcomes—are found surprisingly throughout scripture. The parallels are intended to be clear, so the best (only good) choice is obvious. To make this concept clear, the scripture even uses the word 'parallel' so that we cannot misunderstand the point:
(regarding those who repent)…"If they be good, to the resurrection of everlasting life;
and if they be evil, to the resurrection of damnation,
being on a parallel, the one on the one hand, and the other on the other hand,
according to the mercy, and the justice, and the holiness which is in Christ,
who was before the world began."
--3 Nephi 11:33
Here are some fundamental Parallels found in scripture:
106. The Parallel of an Opposition in All Things: An eternal principle that laws of opposing forces shall always remain in this life physically, spiritually. |
"Wherefore, the ends of the law which the Holy One hath given, unto the inflicting of the punishment which is affixed, which punishment that is affixed is in opposition to that of the happiness which is affixed, to answer the ends of the atonement;
For it must needs be, that there is an opposition in all things." Read Here: 2 Nephi 1:80-81
"And to bring about his eternal purposes in the end of man, after he had created our first parents, and the beasts of the field and the fowls of the air, and in fine, all things which are created, it must needs be that there was an opposition;"
Read Here: 2 Nephi 1:97
107. The Parallel of The Outcome of the Law in Happiness vs Punishment: God's Laws end in either Eternal Happiness or Eternal Punishment for man and these are in total opposition one to another. |
"Wherefore, the ends of the law which the Holy One hath given, unto the inflicting of the punishment which is affixed, which punishment that is affixed is in opposition to that of the happiness which is affixed, to answer the ends of the atonement;
For it must needs be, that there is an opposition in all things." Read Here: 2 Nephi 1:80-81
"Now repentance could not come unto men, except there were a punishment, which also was as eternal as the life of the soul should be, affixed opposite to the plan of happiness, which was as eternal also as the life of the soul."
Read Here: Alma 19:98
108. The Parallel of His Death for Our Life: He surely must die, that salvation may come. |
"And behold, again, another sign I give unto you; yea a sign of his death; for behold, he surely must die, that salvation may come;"
Read Here: Helaman 5:68
"But behold, the bands of death shall be broken, and the Son reigneth, and hath power over the dead; therefore, he bringeth to pass the resurrection of the dead."
Read Here: Mosiah 8:54
"And if Christ had not risen from the dead, or have broken the bands of death, that the grave should have no victory, and that death should have no sting, there could have been no resurrection.
But there is a resurrection, therefore the grave hath no victory, and the sting of death is swallowed up in Christ." Read Here: Mosiah 8:80-81
"And because of the redemption of man, which came by Jesus Christ, they are brought back into the presence of the Lord; yea, this is wherein all men are redeemed, because the death of Christ bringeth to pass the resurrection, which bringeth to pass a redemption from an endless sleep, from which sleep all men shall be awakened by the power of God, when the trump shall sound;"
Read Here: Mormon 4:72
109. The Parallel of Resurrection: One is Resurrected to Eternal Life; the sinner is on a parallel resurrected to Damnation. |
"If they be good, to the resurrection of everlasting life; and if they be evil, to the resurrection of damnation, being on a parallel, the one on the one hand, and the other on the other hand, according to the mercy, and the justice, and the holiness which is in Christ, who was before the world began."
Read Here: 3 Nephi 11:33
110. The Belief Parallel: Whoever believes is saved; whoever does not believe is not saved. Belief results in fruit, demonstrating a changed heart (i.e. repentance, being born again). Only the repentant are saved. |
"And this to the intent that whosoever will believe, might be saved, and that whosoever will not believe, a righteous judgment might come upon them: and also if they are condemned, they bring upon themselves their own condemnation."
Read Here: Helaman 5:84
"Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature; and he that believeth and is baptized, shall be saved, but he that believeth not, shall be damned."
Read Here: Mormon 4:86
"Behold, they will crucify him, and after he is laid in a sepulcher for the space of three days, he shall rise from the dead, with healing in his wings, and all those who shall believe on his name, shall be saved in the kingdom of God;"
Read Here: 2 Nephi 11:22
"Therefore, repent all ye ends of the earth, and come unto me, and believe in my gospel, and be baptized in my name; for he that believeth, and is baptized, shall be saved; but he that believeth not, shall be damned; and signs shall follow them that believe in my name."
Read Here: Ether 1:115
"And whoso believeth in me, and is baptized, the same shall be saved; and they are they who shall inherit the kingdom of God.
And whoso believeth not in me, and is not baptized, shall be damned." Read Here: 3 Nephi 5:34-35
111. The Parallel of The Restoration of our Souls: Restoration is on two (only) parallels to desires of Good, or desires of Evil. The good have new life and no memory of the old; the evil have no change except they life forever. |
"And if their works are evil, they shall be restored unto him for evil: therefore, all things shall be restored to their proper order; everything to its natural frame; mortality raised to immortality; corruption to incorruption; raised to endless happiness, to inherit the kingdom of God, or to endless misery, to inherit the kingdom of the devil;
The one on the one hand, the other on the other; the one raised to happiness, according to his desires of happiness; or good, according to his desires of good; and the other to evil, according to his desires of evil; for as he has desired to do evil all the day long, even so shall he have his reward of evil, when the night cometh." Read Here: Alma 19:67-68
"Therefore he is as though there was no redemption made; being an enemy to God; and also is the devil an enemy to God."
Read Here: Mosiah 8:78
"Therefore the wicked remain as though there had been no redemption made, except it be the loosing of the bands of death;"
Read Here: Alma 8:97
"Then I say unto you, They shall be as though there had been no redemption made; for they can not be redeemed according to God's justice; and they can not die, seeing there is no more corruption."
Read Here: Alma 9:32
112. The Parallel of The End of the Law: The ends of the Law, affixing punishment for evil, or happiness for Good. This is explained as the opposition in all things. |
"Wherefore, the ends of the law which the Holy One hath given, unto the inflicting of the punishment which is affixed, which punishment that is affixed is in opposition to that of the happiness which is affixed, to answer the ends of the atonement;"
Read Here: 2 Nephi 1:80
113. The Parallel of The Trees: Even the forbidden fruit of the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil is contrasted in opposition to the fruit Tree of Life. |
"Even the forbidden fruit in opposition to the tree of life; the one being sweet and the other bitter;"
Read Here: 2 Nephi 1:98
114. The Parallel of the Fruit: If the fruit of the tree is good, the tree remains; if the fruit is bad, the tree is hewn down. The product of our lives is compared to the fruit. |
"Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit, is hewn down, and cast into the fire."
Read Here: 3 Nephi 6:31
"And now, all the trees of my vineyard are good for nothing, save it be to be hewn down and cast into the fire."
Read Here: Jacob 3:92
"And these which I have plucked off, I will cast into the fire, and burn them, that they may not cumber the ground of my vineyard."
Read Here: Jacob 3:41
"For behold, after ye have been nourished by the good word of God all the day long, will ye bring forth evil fruit, that ye must be hewn down and cast into the fire?"
Read Here: Jacob 4:11
"And he that endureth not unto the end, the same is he that is also hewn down and cast into the fire, from whence they can no more return, because of the justice of the Father: and this is the word which he hath given unto the children of men."
Read Here: 3 Nephi 12:30
115. The Repentance Parallel: Whoever repents does not suffer; whoever does not repent suffers. |
"Yea, and it bringeth to pass the conditions of repentance, that whosoever repenteth, the same is not hewn down and cast into the fire;
But whosoever repenteth not, is hewn down and cast into the fire, and there cometh upon them again a spiritual death, yea, a second death, for they are cut off again as to things pertaining to righteousness;" Read Here: Helaman 5:72-73
"And also, what is this that Ammon said: If ye will repent ye shall be saved, and if ye will not repent, ye shall be cast off at the last day?"
Read Here: Alma 13:37
"And finally, all ye that will persist in your wickedness, I say unto you, that these are they who shall be hewn down and cast into the fire, except they speedily repent."
Read Here: Alma 3:97
"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;"
Read Here: 2 Nephi 12:77
"For behold, after ye have been nourished by the good word of God all the day long, will ye bring forth evil fruit, that ye must be hewn down and cast into the fire?"
Read Here: Jacob 4:11
116. The Parallel of The Heart: A broken heart leads to Repentance which brings a change of heart vs a hardened heart remains unchanged and ends in punishment. |
"And also, we know of their surety and truth, because of the Spirit of the Lord Omnipotent, which has wrought a mighty change in us, or in our hearts, that we have no more disposition to do evil, but to do good continually."
Read Here: Mosiah 3:3
"And behold, he preached the word unto your fathers, and a mighty change was also wrought in their hearts; and they humbled themselves, and put their trust in the true and living God."
Read Here: Alma 3:25
"And they did all declare unto the people the self-same thing; that their hearts had been changed; that they had no more desire to do evil."
Read Here: Alma 12:176
"Yea, the prophecies of the holy prophets, which are written, which leadeth them to faith on the Lord, and unto repentance, which faith and repentance bringeth a change of heart unto them;"
Read Here: Helaman 5:96
"Now repentance could not come unto men, except there were a punishment, which also was as eternal as the life of the soul should be, affixed opposite to the plan of happiness, which was as eternal also as the life of the soul."
Read Here: Alma 19:98
117. The Parallel of The Fullness or the Absence: Eternity is either experiencing the full presence of God in His perfection, or the total absence of God.
118. The Parallel of Reward and Punishment: Repentance could not come unto men, except there were a punishment. Punishment is in opposition to reward. |
"Now repentance could not come unto men, except there were a punishment, which also was as eternal as the life of the soul should be, affixed opposite to the plan of happiness, which was as eternal also as the life of the soul."
Read Here: Alma 19:98
119. The Perfect Knowledge Parallel: The righteous have a perfect knowledge of their happiness; the unrighteous have a perfect knowledge of their guilt. |
"And the spirit and the body is restored to itself again, and all men become incorruptible, and immortal, and they are living souls, having a perfect knowledge like unto us, in the flesh;"
Read Here: 2 Nephi 6:32
"Wherefore, we shall have a perfect knowledge of all our guilt, and our uncleanness, and our nakedness;"
Read Here: 2 Nephi 6:34
120. The Parallel of The Everlasting Work: The work is everlasting, either on one hand or the other. |
"A work which shall be everlasting, either on the one hand or on the other;"
Read Here: 1 Nephi 3:215
"Behold, I say unto you, that it is on the one hand, even as it is on the other; and it shall be unto every man according to his work."
Read Here: Alma 16:142
"The one on the one hand, the other on the other; the one raised to happiness, according to his desires of happiness; or good, according to his desires of good; and the other to evil, according to his desires of evil; for as he has desired to do evil all the day long, even so shall he have his reward of evil, when the night cometh."
Read Here: Alma 19:68
121. The Parallel of Inheritance: Those who endure the shame of the world are saved in the Kingdom of God; those who reject inherit the Kingdom of the Devil. |
"But, behold, the righteous, the saints of the Holy One of Israel, they who have believed in the Holy One of Israel; they who have endured the crosses of the world, and despised the shame of it; they shall inherit the kingdom of God, which was prepared for them from the foundation of the world: and their joy shall be full for ever."
Read Here: 2 Nephi 6:42
"And whoso believeth in me, and is baptized, the same shall be saved; and they are they who shall inherit the kingdom of God."
Read Here: 3 Nephi 5:34
"Yea, born of God, changed from their carnal and fallen state, to a state of righteousness, being redeemed of God, becoming his sons and daughters; and thus they become new creatures; and unless they do this, they can in no wise inherit the kingdom of God."
Read Here: Mosiah 11:188
"Now I say unto you, that ye must repent, and be born again: for the Spirit saith, If ye are not born again, ye can not inherit the kingdom of heaven;"
Read Here: Alma 5:24
"Behold, now I say unto you, that he commandeth you to repent; and except ye repent, ye can in no wise inherit the kingdom of God."
Read Here: Alma 7:13
"And I say unto you again, that he can not save them in their sins; for I can not deny his word, and he hath said that no unclean thing can inherit the kingdom of heaven;
Therefore how can ye be saved, except ye inherit the kingdom of heaven? Therefore ye can not be saved in your sins." Read Here: Alma 8:91-92
"But behold, an awful death cometh upon the wicked; for they die as to things pertaining to things of righteousness; for they are unclean, and no unclean thing can inherit the kingdom of God;"
Read Here: Alma 19:60
"And if their works are evil, they shall be restored unto him for evil: therefore, all things shall be restored to their proper order; everything to its natural frame; mortality raised to immortality; corruption to incorruption; raised to endless happiness, to inherit the kingdom of God, or to endless misery, to inherit the kingdom of the devil;"
Read Here: Alma 19:67
"And again I say unto you, Ye must repent, and be baptized in my name, and become as a little child, or ye can in nowise inherit the kingdom of God."
Read Here: 3 Nephi 5:40
"And now I know that this love which thou hast had for the children of men, is charity; wherefore, except men shall have charity, they can not inherit that place which thou hast prepared in the mansions of thy Father."
Read Here: Ether 5:34
122. The Parallel of Mercy and Justice: All mankind was in the grasp of Justice, which justice states we can not ever return to God with Sin. The plan of Mercy was that Jesus' death satisfied the LAW of Justice, otherwise Mercy alone could not satisfy the demands of Justice. That is to say, God could not just say 'you are forgiven' without payment. He was the only one who could pay. The Law is only answered by mercy to those whose hearts become broken and spirits made contrite by the presence of the Spirit in their lives. The Law does not grant salvation unto anyone else. Those who deny the plan of Mercy remain in the grasp of Justice. Jesus stands in the middle of Mercy and Justice. |
"Behold, he offereth himself a sacrifice for sin, to answer the ends of the law, unto all those who have a broken heart and a contrite spirit; and unto none else can the ends of the law be answered."
Read Here: 2 Nephi 1:72
123. The Parallel of Salvation vs. the Second Death. Those who are changed have no memory of this life or sin; those who die in their sins are as if no redemption was ever made. |
"Then I say unto you, They shall be as though there had been no redemption made; for they can not be redeemed according to God's justice; and they can not die, seeing there is no more corruption."
Read Here: Alma 9:32
124. The Parallel of Rescue or Deliverance: We are either delivered by the 'monster' death or a victim of it. |
"For they are delivered by the power of him: for the atonement satisfieth the demands of his justice upon all those who have not the law given to them, that they are delivered from that awful monster, death and hell, and the devil, and the lake of fire and brimstone, which is endless torment;"
Read Here: 2 Nephi 6:54
125. The Parallel of The Final State of Eternity: The Final State is to inherit the Kingdom of God or be cast out. |
"Wherefore, the final state of the souls of men is to dwell in the kingdom of God, or to be cast out because of that justice of which I have spoken;"
Read Here: 1 Nephi 4:61
"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."
Read Here: Alma 16:234
126. The Parallel of Judging Good from Evil: That which leads to Christ is OF CHRIST; that which leads away is of the Devil. |
"For behold, my brethren, it is given unto you to judge, that ye may know good from evil; and the way to judge is as plain, that ye may know with a perfect knowledge, as the daylight is from the dark night.
For behold, the Spirit of Christ is given to every man, that they may know good from evil; wherefore I shew unto you the way to judge: for everything which inviteth to do good, and to persuade to believe in Christ, is sent forth by the power and gift of Christ;Wherefore ye may know with a perfect knowledge, it is of God; but whatsoever thing persuadeth men to do evil, and believe not in Christ, and deny him, and serve not God, then ye may know with a perfect knowledge it is of the devil," Read Here: Moroni 7:13-15
127. The Parallel of Knowledge and the Heart: To him that will not harden his heart, to him is given the greater portion of the word, until it is given unto him to know the mysteries of God, until they know them in full. Those who harden their hearts, to them is given the lesser portion of the word, until they know nothing concerning his mysteries; |
"And he that will not harden his heart, to him is given the greater portion of the word, until it is given unto him to know the mysteries of God, until they know them in full;
And they that will harden their hearts, to them is given the lesser portion of the word, until they know nothing concerning his mysteries;" Read Here: Alma 9:18-19
128. The Parallel of Perfect Knowledge: The Righteous have a perfect knowledge of all their enjoyment; the evil have a perfect knowledge of their sorrow and pain. This why Jesus gladly came to save us, he knew the pain that would be ours otherwise. It is more than one can bear. |
"Save it be that our knowledge shall be perfect;
Wherefore, we shall have a perfect knowledge of all our guilt, and our uncleanness, and our nakedness;And the righteous shall have a perfect knowledge of their enjoyment, and their righteousness, being clothed with purity, yea, even with the robe of righteousness." Read Here: 2 Nephi 6:33-35
"That ye may not remember your awful guilt in perfectness, and be constrained to exclaim, Holy, holy are thy judgments, O Lord God Almighty."
Read Here: 2 Nephi 6:92
"And if they be evil, they are consigned to an awful view of their own guilt and abominations, which doth cause them to shrink from the presence of the Lord, into a state of misery and endless torment, from whence they can no more return: therefore, they have drunk damnation to their own souls."
Read Here: Mosiah 1:127
129. The Parallel of the Everlasting Work: It is everlasting, either on one hand or on the other. |
"A work which shall be everlasting, either on the one hand or on the other;"
Read Here: 1 Nephi 3:215
"The one on the one hand, the other on the other; the one raised to happiness, according to his desires of happiness; or good, according to his desires of good; and the other to evil, according to his desires of evil; for as he has desired to do evil all the day long, even so shall he have his reward of evil, when the night cometh."
Read Here: Alma 19:68
130. The parallel of The Fullness of God: The Righteous Experience the Presence of God in this life and the promise of a Fullness of God in the life to come; the wicked experience God's Spirit withdrawing from them until the Devil has all power over them in the life to come. This is the Final State of the Wicked. |
"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."
Read Here: Alma 16:234
"But behold, his will be done: for his ways are righteousness for ever; and he hath said that, Inasmuch as ye shall keep my commandments ye shall prosper in the land; but inasmuch as ye will not keep my commandments ye shall be cut off from my presence."
Read Here: 2 Nephi 1:34
"And inasmuch as ye will not keep my commandments, ye shall be cut off from my presence."
Read Here: 2 Nephi 3:9
"And all this will I do because of the thing which ye have desired of me, for ye have desired that ye might bring the souls of men unto me, while the world shall stand; and for this cause ye shall have fullness of joy; and ye shall sit down in the kingdom of my Father;"
Read Here: 3 Nephi 13:21
131. The Parallel of the Fullness of Joy vs Sorrow: |
"And all this will I do because of the thing which ye have desired of me, for ye have desired that ye might bring the souls of men unto me, while the world shall stand; and for this cause ye shall have fullness of joy; and ye shall sit down in the kingdom of my Father;"
Read Here: 3 Nephi 13:21
"And the righteous shall have a perfect knowledge of their enjoyment, and their righteousness, being clothed with purity, yea, even with the robe of righteousness."
Read Here: 2 Nephi 6:35
"And they shall obtain gladness and joy: sorrow and mourning shall flee away."
Read Here: 2 Nephi 5:91
"And thus we see the great call of the diligence of men to labor in the vineyards of the Lord; and thus we see the great reason of sorrow, and also of rejoicing; sorrow because of death and destruction among men, and joy because of the light of Christ unto life."
Read Here: Alma 15:51
"And then shall it come to pass that the spirits of those who are righteous, are received into a state of happiness, which is called paradise; a state of rest; a state of peace, where they shall rest from all their troubles, and from all care, and sorrow, etc."
Read Here: Alma 19:44
132. The Parallel of Blessing or Wrath: |
"And this cometh unto you, O ye Gentiles, that ye may know the decrees of God, that ye may repent, and not continue in your iniquities until the fullness come, that ye may not bring down the fullness of the wrath of God upon you, as the inhabitants of the land have hitherto done."
Read Here: Ether 1:34
133. The parallel of Our Sins: are Washed Clean, or we remain in our filthiness. |
"I say unto you, Ye will know at that day, that ye can not be saved: for there can no man be saved except his garments are washed white:"
Read Here: Alma 3:39
"And if their works have been filthiness, they must needs be filthy:
And if they be filthy, it must needs be that they can not dwell in the kingdom of God:" Read Here: 1 Nephi 4:55-56
134. The parallel of Being Clean or Filthy: Our sins are washed away and our souls 'made white' or they are not. We are clean and made pure or we remain in our filthiness. |
"Therefore nothing entereth into his rest, save it be those who have washed their garments in my blood, because of their faith, and the repentance of all their sins, and their faithfulness unto the end."
Read Here: 3 Nephi 12:32
"I say unto you, Ye will know at that day, that ye can not be saved: for there can no man be saved except his garments are washed white:"
Read Here: Alma 3:39
"And if their works have been filthiness, they must needs be filthy:"
Read Here: 1 Nephi 4:55
"And if they be filthy, it must needs be that they can not dwell in the kingdom of God:"
Read Here: 1 Nephi 4:56
"And then cometh the judgment of the Holy One upon them; and then cometh the time that he that is filthy, shall be filthy still, and he that is righteous, shall be righteous still; he that is happy, shall be happy still; and he that is unhappy, shall be unhappy still."
Read Here: Mormon 4:74
"And he doth not dwell in unholy temples; neither can filthiness, nor anything which is unclean be received into the kingdom of God;"
Read Here: Alma 5:36
"Therefore come and be baptized unto repentance, that ye may be washed from your sins, that ye may have faith on the Lamb of God, who taketh away the sins of the world, who is mighty to save and to cleanse from all unrighteousness;"
Read Here: Alma 5:25
135. The parallel of Freedom. We are Free to Act or Free to be acted upon. |
"And because that they are redeemed from the fall, they have become free for ever, knowing good from evil;
To act for themselves, and not to be acted upon, save it be by the punishment of the Lord, at the great and last day, according to the commandments which God hath given." Read Here: 2 Nephi 1:117-118
136. The parallel of Choosing: We are made free to choose liberty and eternal life, or captivity and death. |
"And they are free to choose liberty and eternal life, through the great mediation of all men, or to choose captivity and death, according to the captivity and power of the devil:"
Read Here: 2 Nephi 1:120
137. The parallel of Heaven and Hell: Heaven is prepared for those washed clean; Hell is prepared for those who remain spiritually filthy. |
"But behold, I say unto you, the kingdom of God is not filthy, and there can not any unclean thing enter into the kingdom of God;
Wherefore, there must needs be a place of filthiness prepared for that which is filthy." Read Here: 1 Nephi 4:58-59
138. The parallel At Judgment Day: At the Day of Judgment he that is righteous shall be righteous still; he that is filthy, shall be filthy still; he that is happy shall be happy still, he that is unhappy, shall be unhappy still. |
"And then cometh the judgment of the Holy One upon them; and then cometh the time that he that is filthy, shall be filthy still, and he that is righteous, shall be righteous still; he that is happy, shall be happy still; and he that is unhappy, shall be unhappy still."
Read Here: Mormon 4:74
139. The parallel of Being Born Again: We are born again or not born again. Only those born again inherit the kingdom. |
"And the Lord said unto me, Marvel not that all mankind, yea, men, and women, all nations, kindreds, tongues and people, must be born again;"
Read Here: Mosiah 11:187
"Yea, to preach unto all, both old and young, both bond and free; yea, I say unto you, the aged, and also the middle aged, and the rising generation; yea, to cry unto them that they must repent and be born again;"
Read Here: Alma 3:86
"Now I say unto you, that ye must repent, and be born again: for the Spirit saith, If ye are not born again, ye can not inherit the kingdom of heaven;"
Read Here: Alma 5:24
140. The Parallel of the Blessing and Curing on the Land: The Americas, deemed 'choice' above all other lands, has a blessing and a cursing. The blessing is if you keep the commandments you will prosper; if you deny God swept away when ripened in iniquity. |
"For behold, they rejected all the words of Ether; for he truly told them of all things, from the beginning of man; and that after the waters had receded from off the face of this land, it became a choice land above all other lands, a chosen land of the Lord;"
Read Here: Ether 6:2
"And if it so be that they shall keep his commandments, they shall be blessed upon the face of this land,"
Read Here: 2 Nephi 1:20
"Yea, we can behold that his words are verified, even at this time, which he spake unto Lehi saying, Blessed art thou and thy children; and they shall be blessed; inasmuch as they shall keep my commandments, they shall prosper in the land."
Read Here: Alma 22:20
"For behold, there is a curse upon all this land, that destruction shall come upon all those workers of darkness, according to the power of God, when they are fully ripe; therefore I desire that this people might not be destroyed."
Read Here: Alma 17:60
"And thus the Lord did pour out his blessings upon this land, which was choice above all other lands; and he commanded that whoso should possess the land, should possess it unto the Lord, or they should be destroyed when they were ripened in iniquity; for upon such, saith the Lord, I will pour out the fullness of my wrath."
Read Here: Ether 4:22
"And he leadeth away the righteous into precious lands, and the wicked he destroyeth, and curseth the land unto them for their sakes."
Read Here: 1 Nephi 5:129
"For if iniquity shall abound, cursed shall be the land for their sakes;"
Read Here: 2 Nephi 1:14
"Wherefore, this people shall keep my commandments, saith the Lord of hosts, or cursed be the land for their sakes."
Read Here: Jacob 2:38
"But wo, wo, unto you that are not pure in heart; that are filthy this day before God; for except ye repent, the land is cursed for your sakes;"
Read Here: Jacob 2:51
"I have given unto them this land; and it is a holy land; and I curse it not, save it be for the cause of iniquity;"
Read Here: Enos 1:15
"And he said, Thus saith the Lord God: Cursed shall be the land, yea, this land, unto every nation, kindred, tongue, and people, unto destruction, which do wickedly, when they are fully ripe;"
Read Here: Alma 21:17
"And as I have said, so shall it be: for this is the cursing and the blessing of God upon the land, for the Lord can not look upon sin with the least degree of allowance."
Read Here: Alma 21:18
"And behold, a curse shall come upon the land, saith the Lord of Hosts, because of the people's sake who are upon the land; yea, because of their wickedness and their abominations."
Read Here: Helaman 5:22
141. The Parallel of Two Churches Prophesied in the End: In the last days, among all the inhabitants of the earth, only two churches exist; either one aligns with the church of Christ or one works against it. |
"Wherefore, whoso belongeth not to the church of the Lamb of God belongeth to that great church, which is the mother of abominations;
And she is the whore of all the earth." Read Here: 1 Nephi 3:222-223
142. The Parallel of Broken and Contrite Hearts vs Hard Hearts and Stiff-necked Souls: Whoever comes to him in sincerity and broken-ness has the promise to receive and be changed by His spirit; whoever refuses, remaining stiff-necked and proud, faces eternal punishment. |
"Behold, he offereth himself a sacrifice for sin, to answer the ends of the law, unto all those who have a broken heart and a contrite spirit; and unto none else can the ends of the law be answered."
Read Here: 2 Nephi 1:72
"And ye shall offer up unto me no more the shedding of blood; yea, your sacrifices and your burnt offerings shall be done away, for I will accept none of your sacrifices and your burnt offerings; and ye shall offer for a sacrifice unto me a broken heart and a contrite spirit."
Read Here: 3 Nephi 4:49
"And whoso cometh unto me with a broken heart and a contrite spirit, him will I baptize with fire and with the Holy Ghost, even as the Lamanites, because of their faith in me, at the time of their conversion, were baptized with fire and with the Holy Ghost, and they knew it not."
Read Here: 3 Nephi 4:50
"And they did not come unto Jesus with broken hearts and contrite spirits, but they did curse God, and wish to die."
Read Here: Mormon 1:38
"Behold, elders, priests, and teachers were baptized; and they were not baptized, save they brought forth fruit meet that they were worthy of it; neither did they receive any unto baptism, save they came forth with a broken heart and a contrite spirit, and witnessed unto the church that they truly repented of all their sins."
Read Here: Moroni 6:2
"And after they have hardened their hearts and stiffened their necks against the Holy One of Israel, behold the judgments of the Holy One of Israel shall come upon them."
Read Here: 2 Nephi 5:26
"They wear stiff necks and high heads; yea, and because of pride, and wickedness, and abominations, and whoredoms, they have all gone astray, save it be a few, who are the humble followers of Christ;"
Read Here: 2 Nephi 12:16
"And they are a stiff-necked, and a gainsaying people; but as many as will not harden their hearts, shall be saved in the kingdom of God."
Read Here: Jacob 4:7
143. The parallel of where He Dwells: He Dwells in the temples (souls) of the righteous only but not the wicked. The final state of the wicked is an absence of God's power where Satan has full power over you. |
"And he doth not dwell in unholy temples; neither can filthiness, nor anything which is unclean be received into the kingdom of God;"
Read Here: Alma 5:36
"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.
And this I know, because the Lord has said, he dwelleth not in unholy temples, but in the hearts of the righteous doth he dwell;" Read Here: Alma 16:234-235
144. The parallel of The Kingdoms: The Kingdom of the Devil is all we know in this life, it flourishes. The Kingdom of God penetrates this evil as a war begins to establish righteousness. Everything we do, everywhere we go is within the confines of the Kingdom of the Devil. His awful chain around the earth, and he laughs. We are either part of the Kingdom of the Devil or the Kingdom of Light, the Kingdom of Heaven which is prophesied will penetrate this earth, but more so the heart of man. Salvation only comes to those part of the Kingdom of Heaven. |
"And he beheld Satan, and he had a great chain in his hand, and it veiled the whole face of the earth with darkness; and he looked up and laughed, and his angels rejoiced."
Read Here: Genesis 7:32
"But it is the kingdom of the devil which shall be built up among the children of men, which kingdom is established among them which are in the flesh:"
Read Here: 1 Nephi 7:49
"Yea, in fine, all those who belong to the kingdom of the devil, are they who need fear, and tremble, and quake;"
Read Here: 1 Nephi 7:51
"For the kingdom of the devil must shake, and they which belong to it must needs be stirred up unto repentance, or the devil will grasp them with his everlasting chains, and they be stirred up to anger and perish:"
Read Here: 2 Nephi 12:23
"Therefore how can ye be saved, except ye inherit the kingdom of heaven? Therefore ye can not be saved in your sins."
Read Here: Alma 8:92
145. The parallel of Humanity at the cross: At the cross, two thieves represent the judgement of all humanity, guilty of our crimes. either we are found on the right hand or the left, with only those who confess Christ inherit eternal lift. |
"Then were there two thieves crucified with him; one on the right hand, and another on the left."
Read Here: Matthew 27:43
"And with him they crucified two thieves, the one on his right hand, the other on his left."
Read Here: Mark 15:32
146. The parallel of Being cleansed from Sin: Your soul (represented as spiritual garments) are washed white or it remains unclean. |
"I say unto you, Ye will know at that day, that ye can not be saved: for there can no man be saved except his garments are washed white:"
Read Here: Alma 3:39
"Wherefore, if ye have sought to do wickedly in the days of your probation, then ye are found unclean before the judgment seat of God;"
Read Here: 1 Nephi 3:34
"But behold, I say unto you, the kingdom of God is not filthy, and there can not any unclean thing enter into the kingdom of God;"
Read Here: 1 Nephi 4:58
"But behold, an awful death cometh upon the wicked; for they die as to things pertaining to things of righteousness; for they are unclean, and no unclean thing can inherit the kingdom of God;"
Read Here: Alma 19:60
147. The Parallel of Restoration: The good are restored unto good; the evil are restored to evil. |
"And now behold, is the meaning of the word restoration, to take a thing of a natural state, and place it in an unnatural state, or to place it in a state opposite to its nature?
O, my son, this is not the case; but the meaning of the word restoration, is to bring back again evil for evil, or carnal for carnal, or devilish for devilish; good for that which is good; righteous for that which is righteous; just for that which is just; merciful for that which is merciful;Therefore, my son, see that ye are merciful unto your brethren; deal justly, judge righteously, and do good continually; and if ye do all these things, then shall ye receive your reward;Yea, ye shall have mercy restored unto you again; ye shall have justice restored unto you again; ye shall have a righteous judgment restored unto you again;And ye shall have good rewarded unto you again; for that which ye do send out, shall return unto you again, and be restored; therefore the word restoration, more fully condemneth the sinner, and justifieth him not at all." Read Here: Alma 19:76-80
148. The Parallels of Good vs Evil, Life vs Death: Good or Evil, Life or Death are restored based on our freedom to choose. |
"And this to the intent that whosoever will believe, might be saved, and that whosoever will not believe, a righteous judgment might come upon them: and also if they are condemned, they bring upon themselves their own condemnation.
And now remember, remember, my brethren, that whosoever perisheth, perisheth unto himself; and whosoever doeth iniquity, doeth it unto himself; for behold ye are free; ye are permitted to act for yourselves; for behold, God hath given unto you a knowledge, and he hath made you free;He hath given unto you that ye might know good from evil, and he hath given unto you that ye might choose life or death, and ye can do good and be restored unto that which is good, or have that which is good restored unto you; or ye can do evil, and have that which is evil restored unto you." Read Here: Helaman 5:84-86
149. The Parallel of Whose You Become: Those redeemed become the sons and daughters of God, the wicked become the enemy to God, as if no redemption had been made. |
"And now, because of the covenant which ye have made, ye shall be called the children of Christ, his sons, and his daughters:"
Read Here: Mosiah 3:8
"I say unto you, I would that ye should remember to retain the name written always in your hearts, that ye are not found on the left hand of God, but that ye hear and know the voice by which ye shall be called, and also, the name by which he shall call you:"
Read Here: Mosiah 3:16
"Therefore he is as though there was no redemption made; being an enemy to God; and also is the devil an enemy to God."
Read Here: Mosiah 8:78
"I say unto you, Nay, except ye make our Creator a liar from the beginning, or suppose that he is a liar from the beginning, ye can not suppose that such can have place in the kingdom of heaven, but they shall be cast out, for they are the children of the kingdom of the devil."
Read Here: Alma 3:45
"And thus we see the end of him who perverteth the ways of the Lord; and thus we see that the devil will not support his children at the last day, but doth speedily drag them down to hell."
Read Here: Alma 16:77
"And our spirits must have become like unto him, and we become devils, angels to a devil, to be shut out from the presence of our God, and to remain with the father of lies, in misery, like unto himself;"
Read Here: 2 Nephi 6:21
150. The parallel of The Verdict: Jesus at judgement day, we are found on one hand or on the other. Whoever is not written in book of life is cast into the fire. |
"And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire."
Read Here: Revelation 20:15
"And before him shall be gathered all nations; and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth sheep from the goats; the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on his left."
Read Here: Matthew 25:33
151. The parallel of The Final State: The final state is called (An Awful) death which comes upon the wicked, while the wonder of eternal life comes to the righteous. |
"But behold, an awful death cometh upon the wicked; for they die as to things pertaining to things of righteousness; for they are unclean, and no unclean thing can inherit the kingdom of God;"
Read Here: Alma 19:60
"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."
Read Here: Alma 16:234
"For the names of the righteous shall be written in the book of life; and unto them will I grant an inheritance at my right hand."
Read Here: Alma 3:100
"But, behold, the righteous, the saints of the Holy One of Israel, they who have believed in the Holy One of Israel; they who have endured the crosses of the world, and despised the shame of it; they shall inherit the kingdom of God, which was prepared for them from the foundation of the world: and their joy shall be full for ever."
Read Here: 2 Nephi 6:42
"Then shall the king say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world."
Read Here: Matthew 25:35
152. The Parallel of the Left Hand or Right Hand: At the end of life, we are found either on the right hand or left hand of God. |
"And it shall come to pass that whosoever doeth this, shall be found at the right hand of God, for he shall know the name by which he is called; for he shall be called by the name of Christ."
Read Here: Mosiah 3:12
"And now, it shall come to pass that whosoever shall not take upon them the name of Christ, must be called by some other name; therefore, he findeth himself on the left hand of God."
Read Here: Mosiah 3:13
"I say unto you, I would that ye should remember to retain the name written always in your hearts, that ye are not found on the left hand of God, but that ye hear and know the voice by which ye shall be called, and also, the name by which he shall call you:"
Read Here: Mosiah 3:16
"Behold, I say unto you, that it is on the one hand, even as it is on the other; and it shall be unto every man according to his work."
Read Here: Alma 16:142
"For it is I that taketh upon me the sins of the world; for it is I that hath created them; and it is I that granteth unto him that believeth in the end, a place at my right hand.
For behold, in my name are they called; and if they know me, they shall come forth, and shall have a place eternally at my right hand." Read Here: Mosiah 11:131-132
"For the names of the righteous shall be written in the book of life; and unto them will I grant an inheritance at my right hand."
Read Here: Alma 3:100
"While many thousands of others truly mourn for the loss of their kindred, yet they rejoice and exult in the hope, yea, and even know, according to the promises of the Lord, that they are raised to dwell at the right hand of God, in a state of never ending happiness;"
Read Here: Alma 15:49
"Yea, we see that whosoever will lay hold upon the word of God which is quick and powerful, which shall divide asunder all the cunning, and the snares, and the wiles of the devil, and lead the man of Christ in a strait and narrow course across that everlasting gulf of misery which is prepared to engulf the wicked, and land their souls, yea, their immortal souls, at the right hand of God, in the kingdom of heaven, to sit down with Abraham, and Isaac, and with Jacob, and with all our holy fathers, to go no more out."
Read Here: Helaman 2:26
"Wherefore, whoso believeth in God, might with surety hope for a better world, yea, even a place at the right hand of God, which hope cometh of faith, maketh an anchor to the souls of men, which would make them sure and steadfast, always abounding in good works, being led to glorify God."
Read Here: Ether 5:4
153. The Parallel of Life or Damnation: … that have done good, shall have everlasting life; and they that have done evil, shall have everlasting damnation. And thus it is. Amen. |
"If they be good, to the resurrection of endless life and happiness, and if they be evil, to the resurrection of endless damnation;"
Read Here: Mosiah 8:84
"Yea, who shall be consigned to a state of endless misery, fulfilling the words which say, They that have done good, shall have everlasting life; and they that have done evil, shall have everlasting damnation. And thus it is. Amen."
Read Here: Helaman 4:73
"If they be good, to the resurrection of everlasting life; and if they be evil, to the resurrection of damnation, being on a parallel, the one on the one hand, and the other on the other hand, according to the mercy, and the justice, and the holiness which is in Christ, who was before the world began."
Read Here: 3 Nephi 11:33
154. The Parallel of Darkness and Light, Captivity and Freedom: The change of the Heart brings light for Darkness; the light in us is based on the condition of our heart (i.e. mind/attitude/soul). The Messiah will be made manifest unto the world (Jews and all people) in the latter days, in the spirit of power, unto the bringing of them out of darkness unto light; yea, out of hidden darkness and out of captivity unto freedom. |
"But if thine eye be evil, thy whole body shall be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in thee be darkness, how great is that darkness!"
Read Here: 3 Nephi 5:114
"That the Messiah should be made manifest unto them in the latter days, in the spirit of power, unto the bringing of them out of darkness unto light; yea, out of hidden darkness and out of captivity unto freedom."
Read Here: 2 Nephi 2:9
"But if thine eye be evil, thy whole body shall be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in thee be darkness, how great is that darkness!"
Read Here: 3 Nephi 5:114
155. The Parallel of Prosperity: The promise is if you keep commandments you will prosper. Those who do not are cut off from His presence. |
"But behold, his will be done: for his ways are righteousness for ever; and he hath said that, Inasmuch as ye shall keep my commandments ye shall prosper in the land; but inasmuch as ye will not keep my commandments ye shall be cut off from my presence."
Read Here: 2 Nephi 1:34
"For the Lord God hath said, That inasmuch as ye shall keep my commandments, ye shall prosper in the land;"
Read Here: 2 Nephi 3:8
"For the Lord would not suffer, after he had led them out of the land of Jerusalem, and kept and preserved them from falling into the hands of their enemies; yea, he would not suffer that the words should not be verified, which he spake unto our fathers, saying, That insomuch as ye will not keep my commandments, ye shall not prosper in the land."
Read Here: Omni 1:8
"And behold, all that he requires of you, is to keep his commandments; and he has promised you that if ye would keep his commandments, ye should prosper in the land;"
Read Here: Mosiah 1:55
"And he never doth vary from that which he hath said; therefore, if ye do keep his commandments, he doth bless you, and prosper you."
Read Here: Mosiah 1:56
"Even so if ye shall keep the commandments of my son, or the commandments of God, which shall be delivered unto you by him, ye shall prosper in the land, and your enemies shall have no power over you."
Read Here: Mosiah 1:72
156. The parallel of the Blessing on the Land: blessed or cursed. |
"Wherefore, I, Lehi, have obtained a promise, that inasmuch as those whom the Lord God shall bring out of the land of Jerusalem shall keep his commandments, they shall prosper upon the face of this land;"
Read Here: 2 Nephi 1:18
"And behold, all that he requires of you, is to keep his commandments; and he has promised you that if ye would keep his commandments, ye should prosper in the land;"
Read Here: Mosiah 1:55
"And if it so be that they shall keep his commandments, they shall be blessed upon the face of this land,"
Read Here: 2 Nephi 1:20
"For if iniquity shall abound, cursed shall be the land for their sakes;"
Read Here: 2 Nephi 1:14
"Yea, behold the anger of the Lord is already kindled against you; behold, he hath cursed the land, because of your iniquity; and behold, the time cometh that he curseth your riches, and it becometh slippery, that ye can not hold them;"
Read Here: Helaman 5:41
"But I did remain among them, but I was forbidden to preach unto them, because of the hardness of their hearts; and because of the hardness of their hearts, the land was cursed for their sake."
Read Here: Mormon 1:18
"Yea, we can behold that his words are verified, even at this time, which he spake unto Lehi saying, Blessed art thou and thy children; and they shall be blessed; inasmuch as they shall keep my commandments, they shall prosper in the land."
Read Here: Alma 22:20
"And he said, If ye will keep my commandments, ye shall prosper in the land; but if ye keep not my commandments, ye shall be cut off from my presence."
Read Here: Alma 17:44
157. The parallel of Happiness or Wickedness: can't find happiness in doing iniquity; wickedness was never happiness. |
"And now, my son, all men that are in a state of nature, or I would say, in a carnal state, are in the gall of bitterness, and in the bonds of iniquity; they are without God in the world, and they have gone contrary to the nature of God; therefore they are in a state contrary to the nature of happiness."
Read Here: Alma 19:75
"Yea, for ye have sought all the days of your lives for that which ye could not obtain; and ye have sought for happiness in doing iniquity, which thing is contrary to the nature of that righteousness which is in our great and Eternal Head."
Read Here: Helaman 5:52
158. The Parallel of Redemption: Complete change for those who are redeemed; the unrighteous are as if no change occurred, except it is that they will not die. |
"Therefore he is as though there was no redemption made; being an enemy to God; and also is the devil an enemy to God.
And now if Christ had not come into the world, speaking of things to come, as though they had already come, there could have been no redemption." Read Here: Mosiah 8:78-79
"Therefore the wicked remain as though there had been no redemption made, except it be the loosing of the bands of death;"
Read Here: Alma 8:97
"And now my son, this is the restoration of which has been spoken by the mouths of the prophets. And then shall the righteous shine forth in the kingdom of God."
Read Here: Alma 19:59
"Do not suppose, because it has been spoken concerning restoration, that ye shall be restored from sin to happiness."
Read Here: Alma 19:73
159. The Parallel Destinations: an awful gulf separates the wicked from the tree of life, and also from the saints of God. Jesus stands in between the gulf leading to misery and the rod of iron leading to life. |
"Standing betwixt them and justice; having broken the bands of death, taken upon himself their iniquity and their transgressions; having redeemed them, and satisfied the demands of justice."
Read Here: Mosiah 8:37
"And I said unto them, that it was an awful gulf, which separateth the wicked from the tree of life, and also from the saints of God."
Read Here: 1 Nephi 4:46
"O how great the goodness of our God, who prepareth a way for our escape from the grasp of this awful monster;"
Read Here: 2 Nephi 6:24
160. The Outcome of Every Decision: The Spirit of Christ is given to all, whether we profess Him or not, that they may know good from evil; Our choices determine our outcome. |
"For behold, the Spirit of Christ is given to every man, that they may know good from evil; wherefore I shew unto you the way to judge: for everything which inviteth to do good, and to persuade to believe in Christ, is sent forth by the power and gift of Christ;
Wherefore ye may know with a perfect knowledge, it is of God; but whatsoever thing persuadeth men to do evil, and believe not in Christ, and deny him, and serve not God, then ye may know with a perfect knowledge it is of the devil," Read Here: Moroni 7:14-15
161. The Parallel of Two Dying Women: A dying Jewish woman touches Jesus and is healed. The woman had been sick 12 years; at the time she was healed, Jesus was traveling to heal a Gentile girl, also 12 years old, who had died. They are both healed on the same day. This represents the Jewish and Gentile churches of the last days. The woman (Jewish) falls ill at the same time the girl (Gentile) is born. That means the Gentile church began life as the spiritual demise of the Jewish began (at the crucifixion of Jesus). After a long time, the Jewish healing comes when the Gentile church (briefly) dies. Both are healed on the same day, both come to Christ. The world (community) sees the old woman (Jews) restored. |
"And, behold, a woman which was diseased with an issue of blood twelve years, came behind him, and touched the hem of his garment.
For she said within herself, If I may but touch his garment, I shall be whole.But Jesus turned him about, and when he saw her, he said, Daughter, be of good comfort; thy faith hath made thee whole. And the woman was made whole from that hour.And when Jesus came into the ruler's house, and saw the minstrels, and the people making a noise,He said unto them, Give place; for the maid is not dead; but sleepeth. And they laughed him to scorn.But when the people were put forth, he went in, and took her by the hand, and the maid arose." Read Here: Matthew 9:26-31
162. The Parallel of Two Sisters Jesus: Two sisters represent the response of the church to Jesus: One is too busy to make time for him, the other, can only think of him, and sits at his feet. |
"Now it came to pass, as they went, they entered into a certain village; and a certain woman named Martha received him into her house.
And she had a sister, called Mary, who also sat at Jesus' feet, and heard his words.But Martha was cumbered about much serving, and came to him, and said, Lord, dost thou not care that my sister hath left me to serve alone? Bid her therefore that she help me.And Jesus answered and said unto her, Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things;But one thing is needful; and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her." Read Here: Luke 10:39-43
163. The Parallel of Birthright: Slavery or Freedom. The Children of Abraham were born to (one) a slave and (the other) a free woman. These are an allegory of the Covenants through Moses (Mosaic Law when God's people were under bondage) and The Covenant of Christ which brings Freedom. Jesus always wanted his children free. |
"For it is written, that Abraham had two sons, the one by a bondmaid, the other by a free woman.
But he who was of the bondwoman was born after the flesh; but he of the free woman was by promise.Which things are an allegory; for these are the two covenants; the one from the mount Sinai, which gendereth to bondage, which as Agar.For this Agar is mount Sinai in Arabia, and answereth to Jerusalem which now is, and is in bondage with her children.But Jerusalem which is above is free, which is the mother of us all." Read Here: Galatians 4:22-26
164. The Parallel of Life in the Desert or the Promised Land: Life in the wilderness can lead to life in the promised land, but you can only abide in one. Israelites passed from the wilderness into the Promised land at the end of their 40 year journey (transformation) when they crossed over the Jordan river. Jesus was baptized by the Holy Ghost at the very river separating the wilderness from the Promised land. You must be baptized by the Holy Ghost to leave the wilderness of life and enter the promised land of Eternity.
"Therefore, how can ye be saved, except ye inherit the kingdom of heaven? Therefore, ye cannot be saved in your sins." --Alma 8:92
"And if they be filthy, it must needs be that they can not dwell in the kingdom of God:"
--1 Nephi 4:56
"Wherefore, the final state of the souls of men is to dwell in the kingdom of God, or to be cast out because of that justice of which I have spoken;"
--1 Nephi 4:61
In Moses day, fiery flying serpents bit the Israelites in the desert, causing sickness and death. Moses took one of the serpents and lifted it upon a pole, proclaiming to Israel: turn and look at the serpent on the pole and you will be healed.
The simple act of looking to the serpent would bring life instead of death.
But the way seemed too easy, and many Israelites would not look to the serpent on the pole, and therefore perished.
Jesus compared himself to that serpent on the pole. That serpent was a symbol of Him. Whosoever will look to him will be spiritually healed with life eternal.
Could salvation really be that easy?
The way is, simply stated, is underwhelmingly easy. But the consequences of ignoring it for simplicity are eternally severe.
Salvation begins by recognizing Jesus is the savior and desiring a change of heart (mind, life, purpose) which demonstrates sincerity and repentance. If we are sincere, repentant and want to covenant with Him, God will baptize with His spirit to begin that change, to seal you His.
"… and a mighty change was also wrought in their hearts; and they humbled themselves, and put their trust in the true and living God."
--Alma 3:25
"Have ye experienced this mighty change in your hearts?"
--Alma 3:29
The change happens when God's Spirit dwells in you. It must create a mighty change in your heart. The result is humility, and trusting in the true and living God.
The problem is, however, that life is hard. Making a covenant does not guarantee an easy life. If fact, it all but assures difficulty. But it also assures victory at life's end.
If you haven't been baptized, do so. Baptism is the witness that you have turned from sin and are making a covenant with Him. Desire to turn from sin. Take on the gift of the Holy Ghost. Pray for change of heart, which happens through faith and change (repentance).
Mercy can and shall overpower justice, the Atonement made it possible.
If you don't choose Mercy, you end up accepting Justice (i.e. punishment). Punishment for your sin. There is no other choice away from punishment but Jesus. Otherwise nothing good happens to you. None of the good is yours. Jesus stands between you and justice, begging you to believe in Him and follow.
In eternity who didn't choose Jesus eventually receive an immortal body too, but in that eternal existence, every day for them brings sorrow. There is no escape from pain of one's past. Fully aware of your guilt, each day is spent in eternity with no remedy. That is why eternal pain is described as a 'lake of fire.' God doesn't have to create pain for you, you create it for yourself. And that is exactly the consequence he wanted to save us from. He knew the pain of separation and punishment was so severe he chose to step out of eternity into time, to provide the only way to save us from eternal death. That is why he died for us.
165. Call upon Him that the cloud of darkness will stop overshadowing your life. Repent, call on Him until you have faith in Jesus Christ. |
"And it came to pass that the Lamanites said unto him, What shall we do, that this cloud of darkness may be removed from overshadowing us?
And Aminadab said unto them, You must repent, and cry unto the voice, even until ye shall have faith in Christ, who was taught unto you by Alma, and Amulek, and Zeezrom; and when ye shall do this, the cloud of darkness shall be removed from overshadowing you." Read Here: Helaman 2:106-107
"Yea, what shall I do that I may be born of God, having this wicked spirit rooted out of my breast, and receive his Spirit, that I may be filled with joy, that I may not be cast off at the last day?
Behold, said he, I will give up all that I possess; yea, I will forsake my kingdom, that I may receive this great joy.But Aaron said unto him, If thou desirest this thing, if thou wilt bow down before God, yea, if thou wilt repent of all thy sins, and will bow down before God, and call on his name in faith, believing that ye shall receive, then shalt thou receive the hope which thou desirest.And it came to pass that when Aaron had said these words, the king did bow down before the Lord, upon his knees; yea, even he did prostrate himself upon the earth, and cried mightily, saying, O God, Aaron hath told me that there is a God;And if there is a God, and if thou art God, wilt thou make thyself known unto me, and I will give away all my sins to know thee, and that I may be raised from the dead, and be saved at the last day.And now when the king had said these words, he was struck as if he were dead." Read Here: Alma 13:49-54
166. Pray with all the energy of your heart that your heart will be changed. This means you will be filled with love (called charity) for others and God. |
"Wherefore, my beloved brethren, pray unto the Father with all the energy of heart, that ye may be filled with this love which he hath bestowed upon all who are true followers of his Son Jesus Christ, that ye may become the sons of God, that when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is, that we may have this hope, that we may be purified even as he is pure. Amen."
Read Here: Moroni 7:53
167. You must Bow down before him, worshipping Him with all your might, mind and strength, offering your whole soul unto him as an offering. |
"Yea, come unto him, and offer your whole souls as an offering unto him, and continue in fasting and praying, and endure to the end; and as the Lord liveth, ye will be saved."
Read Here: Omni 1:47
168. Know that the Lord is MERCIFUL, inviting you, rejoicing in your choice to come to him, to call upon his Holy Name. He has personally opened the gate of Heaven for you, for any who will have faith to believe on His name, to live for His purposes. |
"Thus we may see that the Lord is merciful unto all who will in the sincerity of their hearts, call upon his holy name; yea, thus we see that the gate of heaven is open unto all, even to those who will believe on the name of Jesus Christ, who is the Son of God;"
Read Here: Helaman 2:25
169. He can take the vilest of sinners and give them power over evil |
"And it came to pass that when the sixty and second year of the reign of the Judges had ended, all these things had happened, and the Lamanites had become, the more part of them, a righteous people, insomuch that their righteousness did exceed that of the Nephites, because of their firmness, and their steadiness in the faith.
For behold, there were many of the Nephites who had become hardened, and impenitent, and grossly wicked, insomuch that they did reject the word of God, and all the preaching and prophesying which did come among them.Nevertheless the people of the church did have great joy because of the conversion of the Lamanites; yea, because of the church of God, which had been established among them.And they did fellowship one with another, and did rejoice one with another, and did have great joy.And it came to pass that many of the Lamanites did come down into the land of Zarahemla, and did declare unto the people of the Nephites the manner of their conversion, and did exhort them to faith and repentance;Yea, and many did preach with exceeding great power and authority, unto the bringing down many of them into the depths of humility, to be the humble followers of God and the Lamb." Read Here: Helaman 2:118-123
170. If you sincerely believe these things, become baptized in water by one with authority. If you believe and make covenant with Him in sincerity, you can know he will baptize you with the Holy Ghost and you will overcome this world. |
"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;"
Read Here: 2 Nephi 13:16
171. There is no other way but by Christ. |
"And it came to pass that I was three days and three nights in the most biter pain and anguish of soul: and never, until I did cry out unto the Lord Jesus Christ for mercy, did I receive a remission of my sins.
But behold, I did cry unto him, and I did find peace to my soul.And now my son, I have told you this, that ye may learn wisdom, that ye may learn of me that there is no other way nor means whereby man can be saved, only in and through Christ." Read Here: Alma 18:9-11
God made unbreakable promises with our forefathers. These unbreakable promises, called Covenants, result the world events which bring the nations back to God.
The plan of salvation offers eternal life regardless of understanding the historical covenants. But the covenants reveal the epic plan to bring the people of the earth to God before this world ends.
God's eternal purpose in gathering His people is fulfilled because of covenants. |
"That the Father may bring about, through his most beloved, his great and eternal purpose, in restoring the Jews, or all the house of Israel, to the land of their inheritance, which the Lord their God hath given them, unto the fulfilling of his covenant,"
Read Here: Mormon 2:42
The covenants tell of spiritual and physical restoration. The covenants promise that God restores people to the Messiah; and the covenants promise to restore people to the land of their inheritance.
The covenants of the last days tell a great story of nations returning unto God through Jesus. It is the true story of scripture.
After the gospel returns to Israel, the world comes to a knowledge of Jesus because of the power which God reveals His arm. The church—i.e. those baptized by the Holy Ghost-- expands and grows in time, and becomes the most influential force upon the face of the earth.
Unfortunately, our generation is flush with folklore and false notions.
One false modern notion of God 'rapturing' the church from the earth to spare it from tribulation is a misunderstanding of prophecy.
While God does indeed state the saints will be caught to meet him in the cloud when he returns, that is not rapturing. That is meeting Jesus when he returns to abide on the earth. The message of the prophets is that God is coming to bring heaven to earth, not remove the church from it. His church, His people remain on the earth until His return. His dominion brings peace to the entire earth and all bow and confess.
A final condition in the last days leading to Christ's return is that only two churches exist on the earth: those baptized by the Holy Spirit unto Christ vs. those who are not. Contrary to rapture theories, the church of Christ remains on the earth to fight the forces of evil. The covenants fulfillment creates the force for good that makes this happen. The evil cannot and does not prevail over those baptized by the Holy Ghost.
Through the covenants, the events of the future are revealed. The covenants describe how nations will return to God in the end of times as they fulfill the promises God enacted long ago.
When Jesus appeared to the Nephites, he told them they were of Israel, the same as those from Jerusalem who had crucified them. He prophesies to all the descendants of Israel: The place of your dwellings shall become desolate until the time of the fulfilling of the covenant to your fathers." |
"But if not, O house of Israel, the places of your dwellings shall become desolate, until the time of the fulfilling of the covenant to your fathers."
Read Here: 3 Nephi 4:59
Jesus foretells that the spiritual return of His people is not accomplished until the covenants are fulfilled. All prophecy—the building of the Kingdom on earth, the return of Israel to Jesus, the return of Jesus to the earth—is the result of covenants being fulfilled.
What Covenants?
All Covenants lead to the return of God's people to him, to ultimately dwell with them on earth in Zion. But few covenants mention Zion by name. The key to understanding how these covenants lead to Zion is to follow the people with whom God made the covenants. The covenants were about people, and places, blessing and cursing, scattering and gathering. It is in the fulfilling of these prophesies that must occur first, which culminate in Zion on earth. Note that few of the prophesies mention Zion by name, but they all comprised the puzzle pieces which unfold the final picture, which is Zion.
The covenants ultimately began with the first man, Adam, cast out of God's presence that humanity (Adam's posterity) would one day return to God's presence.
Truth removed from the record of the Jews (the Bible) included details of the covenants. The Book of Mormon's explains certain covenants previously lost from the Biblical cannon. |
The covenants made in the beginning of history will be fulfilled in the last generation of humanity.
His purpose is to bless the nations of the earth, not just a small group of people. He blesses them by establishing His kingdom on earth, Zion.
But Zion is established only when the covenants are fulfilled.
172. Great covenants with nations were made with leaders of the nations, the first parents or forefathers.
173. God only covenanted with individuals who believe in Jesus Christ. |
"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."
Read Here: 2 Nephi 12:78
174. Each of the forefathers had a testimony of Jesus Christ.
175. God appeared unto forefathers and made covenants with them. The forefathers had faith in Jesus. The vision of God in the flesh the personage of Jesus Christ. Jesus is the human body of God's Spirit. |
"That they may believe that the Lord God of their fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, hath appeared unto thee."
Read Here: Exodus 4:5
"And I appeared unto Abraham, unto Isaac, and unto Jacob. I am the Lord God Almighty; the Lord JEHOVAH. And was not my name known unto them?"
Read Here: Exodus 6:3
"Behold, I am he who was prepared from the foundation of the world to redeem my people. Behold, I am Jesus Christ. I am the Father and the Son.
In me shall all mankind have life, and that eternally, even they who shall believe on my name; and they shall become my sons and my daughters.And never have I shewed myself unto man whom I have created, for never has man believed in me as thou hast.Seest thou that ye are created after mine own image? Yea, even all men were created in the beginning, after mine own image.
Behold this body, which ye now behold, is the body of my spirit; and man have I created after the body of my spirit; and even as I appear unto thee to be in the spirit, will I appear unto my people in the flesh." Read Here: Ether 1:77-81
176. The covenants were to smaller groups of people that would form the world's nations. In so doing, all the nations of the earth will ultimately be blessed. |
"And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing; and I will bless them that bless thee, and curse them that curse thee; and in thee shall the families of the earth be blessed."
Read Here: Genesis 12:2
"Yea, and all the people who are of the house of Israel, will I gather in, saith the Lord, according to the words of the prophet Zenos, from the four quarters of the earth;
Yea, and all the earth shall see the salvation of the Lord, saith the prophet;Every nation, kindred, tongue and people, shall be blessed." Read Here: 1 Nephi 5:255-257
"And I would, my brethren, that ye should know that all the kindreds of the earth can not be blessed unless he shall make bare his arm in the eyes of the nations."
Read Here: 1 Nephi 7:21
177. Many of the covenants were to people God knew would become disobedient and wayward, stating they would remain desolate until the fulfilling of the covenants when they return to him. |
"But if not, O house of Israel, the places of your dwellings shall become desolate, until the time of the fulfilling of the covenant to your fathers."
Read Here: 3 Nephi 4:59
178. God covenanted with all the House of Israel that they would one day return to him. |
"Surely he hath blessed the house of Jacob, and hath been merciful unto the seed of Joseph.
And insomuch as the children of Lehi have kept his commandments, he hath blessed them and prospered them according to his word;Yea, and surely shall he again bring a remnant of the seed of Joseph to the knowledge of the Lord their God;And as surely as the Lord liveth will he gather in from the four quarters of the earth, all the remnant of the seed of Jacob, who are scattered abroad upon all the face of the earth;And as he hath covenanted with all the house of Jacob, even so shall the covenant wherewith he hath covenanted with the house of Jacob, be fulfilled in his own due time, unto the restoring all the house of Jacob unto the knowledge of the covenant that he hath covenanted with them;And then shall they know their Redeemer, who is Jesus Christ, the Son of God; and then shall they be gathered in from the four quarters of the earth, unto their own lands, from whence they have been dispersed: yea, as the Lord liveth, so shall it be. Amen." Read Here: 3 Nephi 2:104-109
179. The covenants begin with a promise from God to Adam that whosoever will, may come unto him and be baptized with the Holy Ghost. This is required to be part of His Kingdom. |
"And he also said unto him, If thou wilt, turn unto me and hearken unto my voice, and believe, and repent of all thy transgressions, and be baptized, even in water, in the name of mine Only Begotten Son, who is full of grace and truth, which is Jesus Christ, the only name which shall be given under heaven, whereby salvation shall come unto the children of men; and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost, asking all things in his name, and whatsoever ye shall ask it shall be given you."
Read Here: Genesis 6:53
"And I have given unto you another law and commandment; wherefore teach it unto your children, that all men, everywhere, must repent, or they can in no wise inherit the kingdom of God."
Read Here: Genesis 6:59
180. Adam was taught that all men must know they must change their hearts and receive the Holy Ghost. This is the plan of salvation. |
"Therefore I give unto you a commandment, to teach these things freely unto your children, saying, that by reason of transgression cometh the fall, which fall bringeth death; and inasmuch as ye were born into the world by water and blood, and the spirit, which I have made, and so become of dust a living soul;"
Read Here: Genesis 6:61
"Even so ye must be born again, into the kingdom of heaven, of water, and of the Spirit, and be cleansed by blood, even the blood of mine Only Begotten; that ye may be sanctified from all sin; and enjoy the words of eternal life in this world, and eternal life in the world to come; even immortal glory."
Read Here: Genesis 6:62
"And now, behold, I say unto you, This is the plan of salvation unto all men, through the blood of mine Only Begotten, who shall come in the meridian of time."
Read Here: Genesis 6:65
181. It was fitting that the first man, Adam, received this change of heart. In the end, the nations' hearts will be changed for God. |
"And it came to pass, when the Lord had spoken with Adam our father, that Adam cried unto the Lord, and he was caught away by the Spirit of the Lord, and was carried down into the water, and was laid under the water, and was brought forth out of the water; and thus he was baptized."
Read Here: Genesis 6:67
"And the Spirit of God descended upon him, and thus he was born of the Spirit, and became quickened in the inner man."
Read Here: Genesis 6:68
"And the Spirit of God descended upon him, and thus he was born of the Spirit, and became quickened in the inner man." --Genesis 6:68
182. God covenanted with Adam's great-grandson Enoch regarding His kingdom returning to earth. That covenant would be made alive through many descendants after Enoch. |
"And it came to pass, that Enoch continued his cry unto the Lord, saying, I ask thee, O Lord, in the name of thine Only Begotten, even Jesus Christ, that thou wilt have mercy upon Noah, and his seed, that the earth might never more be covered by the floods.
And the Lord could not withhold; and he covenanted with Enoch, and sware unto him with an oath, that he would stay the floods; that he would call upon the children of Noah; and he sent forth an unalterable decree, that a remnant of his seed should always be found among all nations, while the earth should stand." Read Here: Genesis 7:57-58
"And it came to pass, that Methuselah, the son of Enoch, was not taken, that the covenants of the Lord might be fulfilled which he made to Enoch; for he truly covenanted with Enoch, that Noah should be of the fruit of his loins.
And it came to pass, that Methuselah prophesied that from his loins should spring all the kingdoms of the earth; (through Noah,) and he took glory unto himself." Read Here: Genesis 7:79-80
183. Enoch walks with God, obtains the promise that when men again keep God's commandments, heaven and earth would come together—the righteous in heaven would return to dwell on earth. |
"And the bow shall be in the cloud; and I will look upon it, that I may remember the everlasting covenant, which I made unto thy father Enoch; that, when men should keep all my commandments, Zion should again come on the earth, the city of Enoch which I have caught up unto myself."
Read Here: Genesis 9:21
184. The covenant with Enoch would be fulfilled through Noah's posterity. |
"And God spake unto Noah, and to his sons with him, saying, And I, behold, I will establish my covenant with you, which I made unto your father Enoch, concerning your seed after you."
Read Here: Genesis 9:15
185. By Noah's day, Adam's posterity would fall to sin. |
"And God saw that the wickedness of man had become great in the earth; and every man was lifted up in the imagination of the thoughts of his heart; being only evil continually."
Read Here: Genesis 8:10
"And God said unto Noah, The end of all flesh is come before me; for the earth is filled with violence, and behold, I will destroy all flesh from off the earth."
Read Here: Genesis 8:18
186. The covenant will be fulfilled when all the earth bows to and confesses Jesus. |
"I have sworn by myself, the word is gone out of my mouth in righteousness, and shall not return, That unto me every knee shall bow, every tongue shall swear."
Read Here: Isaiah 45:23
187. At this time the Millennium will be ushered in and the earth will rest 1000 years. |
"And the bow shall be in the cloud; and I will look upon it, that I may remember the everlasting covenant, which I made unto thy father Enoch; that, when men should keep all my commandments, Zion should again come on the earth, the city of Enoch which I have caught up unto myself."
Read Here: Genesis 9:21
188. The promise of Heaven coming to earth is the final covenant to be fulfilled.
189. Through Noah's posterity, God would raise two nations from a barren elderly man and woman Abram and Sarai. God promises them they would not only have children but so many that their people would numberless like the sand of the sea. |
"That in blessing I will bless thee; and in multiplying I will multiply thy seed as the stars of heaven, and as the sand which is upon the seashore."
Read Here: Genesis 22:21
190. To remind them of His covenant, God renamed Abram to Abraham and Sarai to Sarah. Their new names symbolized and reminded them of His promise to them. The aged, barren man's new name Abraham meant 'Father of Nations.' |
"And when Abram was ninety and nine years old, the Lord appeared to Abram, and said unto him, I, the Almighty God, give unto thee a commandment; that thou shalt walk uprightly before me, and be perfect."
Read Here: Genesis 17:1
"But as for thee, behold, I will make my covenant with thee, and thou shalt be a father of many nations."
Read Here: Genesis 17:8
"And this covenant I make, that thy children may be known among all nations. Neither shall thy name any more be called Abram, but thy name shall be called Abraham; for, a father of many nations have I made thee."
Read Here: Genesis 17:9
191. Abraham covenant meant he would be the father of both Hebrew and Gentile nations established in the first days. This is important because in the last days, blessings promised the Gentile and Hebrew nations fulfill this covenant. |
"Which covenant the Lord made to our father Abraham, saying, In thy seed shall all the kindreds of the earth be blessed."
Read Here: 1 Nephi 4:29
"And not only unto the Gentiles, but unto all the house of Israel, unto the making known of the covenants of the Father of heaven unto Abraham, saying, In thy seed shall all the kindreds of the earth be blessed."
Read Here: 1 Nephi 7:20
192. God's blessing on Abraham meant His descendants would be great in number like the stars in heaven, or sand of the sea. The promise means that millions of Abraham's descendants will benefit and come to know the Lord in the last days. |
"That in blessing I will bless thee; and in multiplying I will multiply thy seed as the stars of heaven, and as the sand which is upon the seashore."
Read Here: Genesis 22:21
"And thou saidst, I will surely do thee good, and make thy seed as the sand of the sea, which cannot be numbered for multitude."
Read Here: Genesis 32:12
"Esaias also crieth concerning Israel, Though the number of the children of Israel be as the sand of the sea, a remnant shall be saved;"
Read Here: Romans 9:27
193. The stories of Abrahams sons were allegories for the Old and New Covenants with Israel. |
"For it is written, that Abraham had two sons, the one by a bondmaid, the other by a free woman.
But he who was of the bondwoman was born after the flesh; but he of the free woman was by promise.Which things are an allegory; for these are the two covenants; the one from the mount Sinai, which gendereth to bondage, which as Agar.For this Agar is mount Sinai in Arabia, and answereth to Jerusalem which now is, and is in bondage with her children." Read Here: Galatians 4:22-25
194. The first son, Ishmael, born to a slave (Hagar), represented God's people under the bondage of the Mosaic Law under the Old Covenant. |
"Which things are an allegory; for these are the two covenants; the one from the mount Sinai, which gendereth to bondage, which as Agar.
For this Agar is mount Sinai in Arabia, and answereth to Jerusalem which now is, and is in bondage with her children." Read Here: Galatians 4:24-25
195. The second son, Isaac, born to Abraham's wife Sarah (who was free and not a slave) represented the Law of Christ under the New Covenant. |
"Which things are an allegory; for these are the two covenants; the one from the mount Sinai, which gendereth to bondage, which as Agar.
For this Agar is mount Sinai in Arabia, and answereth to Jerusalem which now is, and is in bondage with her children.But Jerusalem which is above is free, which is the mother of us all.For it is written, Rejoice, thou barren that bearest not; break forth and cry, thou that travailest not; for the desolate hath many more children than she which hath a husband.Now we, brethren, as Isaac was, are the children of promise.But as then he that was born after the flesh persecuted him that was born after the Spirit, even so it is now.Nevertheless what saith the scripture? Cast out the bondwoman and her son; for the son of the bondwoman shall not be heir with the son of the free woman." Read Here: Galatians 4:24-30
196. The two sons physically represented the covenants God would make with His people—the Law of Moses (bondage); the law of Christ (freedom). |
"Which things are an allegory; for these are the two covenants; the one from the mount Sinai, which gendereth to bondage, which as Agar."
Read Here: Galatians 4:24
197. When Hagar was cast out with her son, it symbolized the casting out of the Old Covenant and the Mosaic Law. What survived was the free son and woman, representing the freedom of Christ. |
"Wherefore she said unto Abraham, Cast out this bondwoman and her son; for the son of this bondwoman shall not be heir with my son, Isaac."
Read Here: Genesis 21:8
"Nevertheless what saith the scripture? Cast out the bondwoman and her son; for the son of the bondwoman shall not be heir with the son of the free woman."
Read Here: Galatians 4:30
198. Ishmael would become father to many Gentile nations; Isaac became father to the nations of Israel. |
"And also of the son of the bondwoman will I make a nation, because he is thy seed."
Read Here: Genesis 21:11
"So then, brethren, we are not children of the bondwoman, but of the free."
Read Here: Galatians 4:31
199. Marriage also symbolized the old covenant as a spouse who, once passed away, left the surviving companion free to remarry. |
"The wife is bound by the law as long as her husband liveth; but if her husband be dead, she is at liberty to be married to whom she will; only in the Lord."
Read Here: 1 Corinthians 7:39
200. God promise he would remember the Covenant with Abraham forever. |
"And I will shew unto them that fight against my word and against my people, who are of the house of Israel, that I am God, and that I covenanted with Abraham, that I would remember his seed for ever."
Read Here: 2 Nephi 12:74
201. The earth would be blessed by the contribution of Abrahams children over time: "in thy seed shall all the kindreds of the earth be blessed." |
"Ye are the children of the prophets, and of the covenant which God made with our fathers, saying unto Abraham, And in thy seed shall all the kindreds of the earth be blessed."
Read Here: Acts 3:25
202. The child (Isaac) born to Sarah was free. The covenant of Christ always followed the linage of the free woman, symbolizing that as Christ did not come as a task master but to bring freedom to all who would believe on Him.
203. The kindreds of the earth can only be blessed if God reveals His arm in power to the world. This happens when the nations are gathered by him. |
"And I would, my brethren, that ye should know that all the kindreds of the earth can not be blessed unless he shall make bare his arm in the eyes of the nations."
Read Here: 1 Nephi 7:21
204. The Covenant also represented the descendants of Abraham-both Jews and Gentiles returning to a knowledge of Christ in the last days. The covenant is fulfilled when both Jew and Gentile return to Christ and gather to Zion. |
"And they are they who were scattered and gathered in from the four quarters of the earth, and from the north countries, and are partakers of the fulfilling of the covenant which God made with their father Abraham."
Read Here: Ether 6:12
205. The covenant with Abraham is fulfilled only when the children of Abraham finally return to God, when God's Kingdom is established on earth. God remembers this covenant when they turn to him. |
"If they shall confess their iniquity, and the iniquity of their fathers, with their trespass which they trespassed against me, and that also they have walked contrary unto me;
And that I also have walked contrary unto them, and have brought them into the land of their enemies; if then their uncircumcised hearts be humbled, and they then accept of the punishment of their iniquity;Then will I remember my covenant with Jacob, and also my covenant with Isaac, and also my covenant with Abraham will I remember; and I will remember the land." Read Here: Leviticus 26:40-42
"Which covenant the Lord made to our father Abraham, saying, In thy seed shall all the kindreds of the earth be blessed."
Read Here: 1 Nephi 4:29
206. This happens after the Covenant with Lehi's people. After Lehi's people are scattered by the Gentiles, they shall be visited by the Holy Ghost in a day to come. |
"And after that ye were blessed, then fulfilleth the Father the covenant which he made with Abraham, saying, In thy seed shall all the kindreds of the earth be blessed, unto the pouring out of the Holy Ghost through me upon the Gentiles, which blessing upon the Gentiles, shall make them mighty above all, unto the scattering of my people, O house of Israel: and they shall be a scourge unto the people of this land."
Read Here: 3 Nephi 9:65
"But behold, it shall come to pass that they shall be driven and scattered by the Gentiles; and after they have been driven and scattered by the Gentiles, behold, then will the Lord remember the covenant which he made unto Abraham, and unto all the house of Israel."
Read Here: Mormon 2:49
207. Abraham's first son Ismael was born to a slave; His second son Isaac was born to the free woman Sarah. Abraham's two sons represented a spiritual allegory of Slavery and Freedom. The slave symbolized the slavery of the Mosaic Law and the Freedom of the Law of Christ. Spiritual slavery was cast out and replaced with Freedom in Christ. In the end, all humanity is offered freedom through Jesus Christ. |
"Wherefore she said unto Abraham, Cast out this bondwoman and her son; for the son of this bondwoman shall not be heir with my son, Isaac."
Read Here: Genesis 21:8
"For it is written, that Abraham had two sons, the one by a bondmaid, the other by a free woman."
Read Here: Galatians 4:22
"But he who was of the bondwoman was born after the flesh; but he of the free woman was by promise."
Read Here: Galatians 4:23
"Nevertheless what saith the scripture? Cast out the bondwoman and her son; for the son of the bondwoman shall not be heir with the son of the free woman."
Read Here: Galatians 4:30
"So then, brethren, we are not children of the bondwoman, but of the free."
Read Here: Galatians 4:31
208. God promise Abraham he would remember his seed (descendants) forever. |
"And I will shew unto them that fight against my word and against my people, who are of the house of Israel, that I am God, and that I covenanted with Abraham, that I would remember his seed for ever."
Read Here: 2 Nephi 12:74
"Yea, thus prophesied Joseph, I am sure of this thing, even as I am sure of the promise of Moses: for the Lord hath said unto me, I will preserve thy seed for ever."
Read Here: 2 Nephi 2:31
"And because of his greatness, and his grace and mercy, he has promised unto us that our seed shall not utterly be destroyed, according to the flesh, but that he would preserve them; and in future generations, they shall become a righteous branch unto the house of Israel."
Read Here: 2 Nephi 6:105
209. Through Abrahams great grandson Joseph, God promised that His seed would never perish from the earth. |
"Wherefore, for this cause hath the Lord God promised unto me that these things which I write, shall be kept and preserved, and handed down unto my seed, from generation to generation, that the promise may be fulfilled unto Joseph, that his seed should never perish as long as the earth should stand."
Read Here: 2 Nephi 11:40
210. To fulfill that promise, Nephi writes on plates to preserve his people. They can only be preserved if they abide in Christ. |
"And now behold, this was the desire which I desired of him: that if it should so be, that my people, the Nephites, should fall into transgression, and by any means be destroyed, and the Lamanites should not be destroyed, that the Lord God would preserve a record of my people, the Nephites;"
Read Here: Enos 1:19
"And also that we may preserve unto them the words which have been spoken by the mouth of all the holy prophets, which have been delivered unto them by the spirit and power of God, since the world began, even down unto this present time."
Read Here: 1 Nephi 1:83
"Wherefore, for this cause hath the Lord God promised unto me that these things which I write, shall be kept and preserved, and handed down unto my seed, from generation to generation, that the promise may be fulfilled unto Joseph, that his seed should never perish as long as the earth should stand."
Read Here: 2 Nephi 11:40
"And I know that they will be preserved: for there are great things written upon them, out of which my people and their brethren, shall be judged at the great and last day, according to the word of God which is written."
Read Here: Words of Mormon 1:17
"And behold, it has been prophesied by our fathers, that they should be kept and handed down from one generation to another, and be kept and preserved by the hand of the Lord, until they should go forth unto every nation, kindred, tongue and people, that they shall know of the mysteries contained thereon."
Read Here: Alma 17:33
"And now, it has hitherto been wisdom in God, that these things should be preserved: for behold, they have enlarged the memory of this people, yea, and convinced many of the error of their ways, and brought them to the knowledge of their God, unto the salvation of their souls."
Read Here: Alma 17:37
"And now behold, one purpose hath he fulfilled, even to the restoration of many thousands of the Lamanites to the knowledge of the truth; and he hath shewn forth his power in them, and he will also still shew forth his power in them, unto future generations; therefore they shall be preserved;"
Read Here: Alma 17:50
211. The word of Nephi came to the Gentiles because had it come first to the Lamanites as they dwindled in unbelief, they would have destroyed it. They sought to destroy the things of God. |
"For thus saith the Lord God: They shall write the things which shall be done among them, and they shall be written and sealed up in a book, and those who have dwindled in unbelief shall not have them, for they seek to destroy the things of God;"
Read Here: 2 Nephi 11:86
212. The word returns to Nephi's descendants after they are scattered the Gentiles. This is because of the covenant with Abraham. |
"But behold, it shall come to pass that they shall be driven and scattered by the Gentiles; and after they have been driven and scattered by the Gentiles, behold, then will the Lord remember the covenant which he made unto Abraham, and unto all the house of Israel."
Read Here: Mormon 2:49
213. When the word returns to Joseph's remnant, it marks the beginning of the great return of Israel unto the Lord, ultimately fulfilling the Covenant God made with Abraham. |
"But behold, there shall be many at that day, when I shall proceed to do a marvelous work among them, that I may remember my covenants which I have made unto the children of men, that I may set my hand again the second time to recover my people, which are the house of Israel;
And also, that I may remember the promises which I have made unto thee, Nephi, and also unto thy father, that I would remember your seed; and that the words of your seed should proceed forth out of my mouth unto your seed." Read Here: 2 Nephi 12:42-43
214. The story and lineage of Christ follows the Hebrew linage through Abrahams son Isaac and grandson Jacob not Ismael (the Gentile). However, God promised Ismael would also become a great nation (of Gentiles). |
"And also of the son of the bondwoman will I make a nation, because he is thy seed."
Read Here: Genesis 21:11
215. Covenants made with Abraham would be fulfilled in the last days. As Abraham bore both Jew and Gentile descendants, covenants are made with both Jew and Gentile. The Jews and Gentiles collective return to Christ would be accomplished in the last days.|
"And after that ye were blessed, then fulfilleth the Father the covenant which he made with Abraham, saying, In thy seed shall all the kindreds of the earth be blessed, unto the pouring out of the Holy Ghost through me upon the Gentiles, which blessing upon the Gentiles, shall make them mighty above all, unto the scattering of my people, O house of Israel: and they shall be a scourge unto the people of this land."
Read Here: 3 Nephi 9:65
"And they are they who were scattered and gathered in from the four quarters of the earth, and from the north countries, and are partakers of the fulfilling of the covenant which God made with their father Abraham."
Read Here: Ether 6:12
216. Jacobs name is changed to Israel (God Hears) as a sign that the covenant with Abraham will continue through his lineage, the covenant of the land, the restoration, the return to Christ. |
"And God appeared unto Jacob again, when he came out of Padanaram, and blessed him.
And God said unto him, Thy name is Jacob; thy name shall not be called any more Jacob, but Israel shall be thy name; and he called his name Israel.And God said unto him, I am God Almighty; be fruitful and multiply; a nation and a company of nations shall be of thee, and kings shall come out of thy loins;And the land which I gave Abraham and Isaac, to thee I will give it, and to thy seed after thee will I give the land." Read Here: Genesis 35:9-12
217. God made covenants with Israel, Joseph, Lehi and others. These are and all must be fulfilled before the end comes. Their fulfillment the key requirement which leads to Zion's establishment in America.
218. God made covenants with Israel that they would be His people. |
"These are the words of the covenant, which the Lord commanded Moses to make with the children of Israel in the land of Moab, besides the covenant which he made with them in Horeb."
Read Here: Deuteronomy 29:1
219. The Ten Commandments were part of Israel's list of responsibilities to follow due to the covenant. |
"And God spake all these words, saying,
I am the Lord thy God, which have brought thee out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage.Thou shalt have no other gods before me.Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth;Thou shalt not bow down thyself to 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;And showing mercy unto thousands of them that love me, and keep my commandments.Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain; for the Lord will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain.Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy.Six days shalt thou labor, and do all thy work;But the seventh day is the sabbath of the Lord thy God; in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates;For in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day; wherefore the Lord blessed the sabbath day, and hallowed it.Honor thy father and thy mother; that thy days may be long upon the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee.Thou shalt not kill.Thou shalt not commit adultery.Thou shalt not steal.Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbor." Read Here: Exodus 20:1-16
"And he said unto Moses, Come up unto the Lord, thou, and Aaron, Nadab, and Abihu, and seventy of the elders of Israel; and worship ye afar off.
And Moses alone shall come near the Lord; but they shall not come nigh; neither shall the people go up with him.And Moses came and told the people all the words of the Lord, and all the judgments; and all the people answered with one voice, and said, All the words which the Lord hath said will we do.And Moses wrote all the words of the Lord, and rose up early in the morning, and builded an altar under the hill, and twelve pillars, according to the twelve tribes of Israel.And he sent young men of the children of Israel, which offered burnt offerings, and sacrificed peace offerings of oxen unto the Lord.And Moses took half of the blood, and put it in basins; and half of the blood he sprinkled on the altar.And he took the book of the covenant, and read in the audience of the people; and they said, All that the Lord hath said will we do, and be obedient.And Moses took the blood, and sprinkled it on the people, and said, Behold the blood of the covenant, which the Lord hath made with you concerning all these words.Then went up Moses, and Aaron, Nadab, and Abihu, and seventy of the elders of Israel;And they saw the God of Israel; and there was under his feet as it were a paved work of a sapphire stone, and as it were the body of heaven in his clearness.And upon the nobles of the children of Israel he laid not his hand; also they saw God, and did eat and drink.And the Lord said unto Moses, Come up to me into the mount, and be there; and I will give thee tables of stone, and a law, and commandments which I have written; that thou mayest teach them.And Moses rose up, and his minister Joshua; and Moses went up into the mount of God.And he said unto the elders, Tarry ye here for us, until we come again unto you; and, behold, Aaron and Hur are with you; if any man have any matters to do, let him come unto them.And Moses went up into the mount, and a cloud covered the mount.And the glory of the Lord abode upon mount Sinai, and the cloud covered it six days; and the seventh day he called unto Moses out of the midst of the cloud.And the sight of the glory of the Lord was like devouring fire on the top of the mount in the eyes of the children of Israel.And Moses went into the midst of the cloud, and gat him up into the mount; and Moses was in the mount forty days and forty nights." Read Here: Exodus 24:1-18
220. God told Moses the Israelites would depart from the covenant and forsake God eventually. |
"And the Lord said unto Moses, Behold, thou shalt sleep with thy fathers; and this people will rise up, and go a whoring after the gods of the strangers of the land, whither they go to be among them, and will forsake me and break my covenant which I have made with them."
Read Here: Deuteronomy 31:16
221. But prophets also foretold that someday Israel would return to God. |
"This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, saith the Lord; I will put my laws into their hearts, and in their minds will I write them;"
Read Here: Hebrews 10:16
"This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, saith the Lord; I will put my laws into their hearts, and in their minds will I write them;"-- Hebrews 10:16
222. God covenanted with Joseph that a branch of his descendants would be broken off, carried into a far country. They would be remembered in the covenants in the last days, being brought out of obscurity and darkness. |
"And Joseph said unto his brethren, I die, and go unto my fathers; and I go down to my grave with joy. The God of my father Jacob be with you, to deliver you out of affliction in the days of your bondage; for the Lord hath visited me, and I have obtained a promise of the Lord, that out of the fruit of my loins, the Lord God will raise up a righteous branch out of my loins; and unto thee, whom my father Jacob hath named Israel, a prophet; (not the Messiah who is called Shilo;) and this prophet shall deliver my people out of Egypt in the days of thy bondage.
And it shall come to pass that they shall be scattered again; and a branch shall be broken off, and shall be carried into a far country; nevertheless they shall be remembered in the covenants of the Lord, when the Messiah cometh; for he shall be made manifest unto them in the latter days, in the Spirit of power; and shall bring them out of darkness into light; out of hidden darkness, and out of captivity unto freedom." Read Here: Genesis 50:24-25
"Joseph is a fruitful bough, even a fruitful bough by a well; whose branches run over the wall;"
Read Here: Genesis 49:22
"And now, the thing which our father meaneth concerning the grafting in of the natural branches through the fullness of the Gentiles, is, that in the latter days, when our seed shall have dwindled in unbelief, yea, for the space of many years and many generations, after the Messiah shall be manifested in body unto the children of men, then shall the fullness of the gospel of the Messiah come unto the Gentiles, and from the Gentiles unto the remnant of our seed;"
Read Here: 1 Nephi 4:16
"Wherefore, I spake unto them, saying, Hear ye the words of the prophet, ye who are a remnant of the house of Israel, a branch who have been broken off; hear ye the words of the prophet, which were written unto all the house of Israel, and liken them unto yourselves, that ye may have hope as well as your brethren, from whom ye have been broken off."
Read Here: 1 Nephi 6:6
223. The covenants God made with Joseph were great; Joseph saw the days of the Nephites, who would be his descendants. |
"And great were the covenants of the Lord, which he made unto Joseph; wherefore, Joseph truly saw our day."
Read Here: 2 Nephi 2:6
"For behold, thou art the fruit of my loins; and I am a descendant of Joseph, who was carried captive into Egypt."
Read Here: 2 Nephi 2:5
224. God foretold that Joseph's descendants would leave the land of Israel. |
"And inasmuch as ye shall keep my commandments, ye shall prosper, and shall be led to a land of promise; yea, even a land which I have prepared for you; yea, a land which is choice above all other lands."
Read Here: 1 Nephi 1:54
"Joseph is a fruitful bough, even a fruitful bough by a well; whose branches run over the wall;"
Read Here: Genesis 49:22
"And the remnant that is escaped of the house of Judah shall again take root downward, and bear fruit upward;"
Read Here: Isaiah 37:31
"And it shall come to pass in that day, that the remnant of Israel, and such as are escaped of the house of Jacob, shall no more again stay upon him that smote them: but shall stay upon the Lord, the Holy One of Israel, in truth."
Read Here: 2 Nephi 9:101
225. God promises great things for Joseph's remnant. |
"Hate the evil, and love the good, and establish judgment in the gate; it may be that the Lord God of hosts will be gracious unto the remnant of Joseph."
Read Here: Amos 5:15
226. Lehi discovers from the brass plates' genealogy that he was a descendant of Joseph (not Judah as he had supposed, having been a citizen of Jerusalem where most there were of Judah or Benjamin). |
"Wherefore he knew that he was a descendant of Joseph; yea, even that Joseph who was the son of Jacob, who was sold into Egypt, and who was preserved by the hand of the Lord, that he might preserve his father Jacob and all his household from perishing with famine."
Read Here: 1 Nephi 1:165
227. Lehi is a pure descendant of Joseph through His son Manasseh. |
"Wherefore he knew that he was a descendant of Joseph; yea, even that Joseph who was the son of Jacob, who was sold into Egypt, and who was preserved by the hand of the Lord, that he might preserve his father Jacob and all his household from perishing with famine."
Read Here: 1 Nephi 1:165
"For behold, thou art the fruit of my loins; and I am a descendant of Joseph, who was carried captive into Egypt."
Read Here: 2 Nephi 2:5
"And Aminadi was a descendant of Nephi, who was the son of Lehi, who came out of the land of Jerusalem, who was a descendant of Manasseh, who was the son of Joseph, who was sold into Egypt by the hands of his brethren."
Read Here: Alma 8:3
228. The Lineage of Joseph remains pure down through the generations of the Book of Mormon people's history to the time of Mormon, who lived 1000 years after Lehi. |
"Yea, and now behold, let us remember to keep the commandments of God, or our garments shall be rent by our brethren, and we be cast into prison, or be sold, or be slain; yea, let us preserve our liberty, as a remnant of Joseph;"
Read Here: Alma 21:55
"And now I make an end of my saying which is of myself, and proceed to give my account of the things which have been before me. I am Mormon, and a pure descendant of Lehi."
Read Here: 3 Nephi 2:102
229. The fact that a 'pure' lineage through the Nephite civilization existed is important because Jesus speaks to the Remnant of Joseph in America when he visits. He also prophies to the remnant of Joseph to receive the words again in the last days, who have survived even until now. While the promise of salvation is to all regardless of lineage, the promise to whom the covenants will be fulfilled is made because of lineage. |
"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;"
Read Here: 2 Nephi 12:77
"Then at that day, the work of the Father shall commence, in preparing the way for the fulfilling of his covenants which he hath made to his people, who are of the house of Israel."
Read Here: 1 Nephi 3:237
"And great were the covenants of the Lord, which he made unto Joseph; wherefore, Joseph truly saw our day."
Read Here: 2 Nephi 2:6
"For the Lord God will fulfill his covenants which he has made unto his children: and for this cause the prophet has written these things."
Read Here: 2 Nephi 5:32
"Wherefore, for this cause, that my covenants may be fulfilled, which I have made unto the children of men, that I will do unto them while they are in the flesh, I must needs destroy the secret works of darkness, and of murders, and of abominations;"
Read Here: 2 Nephi 7:22
230. The promise to Joseph was that His seed would remain as long as the earth should stand. |
"Wherefore, for this cause hath the Lord God promised unto me that these things which I write, shall be kept and preserved, and handed down unto my seed, from generation to generation, that the promise may be fulfilled unto Joseph, that his seed should never perish as long as the earth should stand."
Read Here: 2 Nephi 11:40
"And great were the covenants of the Lord, which he made unto Joseph; wherefore, Joseph truly saw our day."
Read Here: 2 Nephi 2:6
231. 600 years before Christ, Nephi learned that Joseph 'saw their day.' This apparently through the Brass Plates, Joseph prophetically saw his descendants through Nephi, understanding they were the remnant that would be remembered in the covenants of the Lord. |
"And great were the covenants of the Lord, which he made unto Joseph; wherefore, Joseph truly saw our day."
Read Here: 2 Nephi 2:6
"And Joseph said unto his brethren, I die, and go unto my fathers; and I go down to my grave with joy. The God of my father Jacob be with you, to deliver you out of affliction in the days of your bondage; for the Lord hath visited me, and I have obtained a promise of the Lord, that out of the fruit of my loins, the Lord God will raise up a righteous branch out of my loins; and unto thee, whom my father Jacob hath named Israel, a prophet; (not the Messiah who is called Shilo;) and this prophet shall deliver my people out of Egypt in the days of thy bondage.
And it shall come to pass that they shall be scattered again; and a branch shall be broken off, and shall be carried into a far country; nevertheless they shall be remembered in the covenants of the Lord, when the Messiah cometh; for he shall be made manifest unto them in the latter days, in the Spirit of power; and shall bring them out of darkness into light; out of hidden darkness, and out of captivity unto freedom." Read Here: Genesis 50:24-25
232. The people of the Book of Mormon were aware they were fulfilling that covenant. The preservation a piece of Joseph's coat (returned to His father) symbolized that a portion of Joseph would remain on the earth until the end. |
"Now Israel loved Joseph more than all his children, because he was the son of his old age; and he made him a coat of many colors."
Read Here: Genesis 37:3
"And they sent the coat of many colors, and they brought it to their father; and said, This have we found; know now whether it be thy son's coat or no.
And he knew it, and said, It is my son's coat; an evil beast hath devoured him; Joseph is without doubt rent in pieces.And Jacob rent his clothes, and put sackcloth upon his loins, and mourned for his son many days.And all his sons and all his daughters rose up to comfort him; but he refused to be comforted; and he said, For I will go down into the grave unto my son mourning. Thus his father wept for him." Read Here: Genesis 37:32-35
"Wherefore he knew that he was a descendant of Joseph; yea, even that Joseph who was the son of Jacob, who was sold into Egypt, and who was preserved by the hand of the Lord, that he might preserve his father Jacob and all his household from perishing with famine."
Read Here: 1 Nephi 1:165
"Wherefore, for this cause hath the Lord God promised unto me that these things which I write, shall be kept and preserved, and handed down unto my seed, from generation to generation, that the promise may be fulfilled unto Joseph, that his seed should never perish as long as the earth should stand."
Read Here: 2 Nephi 11:40
"Yea, let us remember the words of Jacob, before his death; for behold he saw that a part of the remnant of the coat of Joseph was preserved, and had not decayed.
And he said, Even as this remnant of garment of my son hath been preserved, so shall a remnant of the seed of my sons be preserved by the hand of God, and be taken unto himself, while the remainder of the seed of Joseph shall perish, even as the remnant of his garment.Now behold, this giveth my soul sorrow: nevertheless, my soul hath joy in my son, because that part of his seed which shall be taken unto God.Now behold, this was the language of Jacob.And now who knoweth but what the remnant of the seed of Joseph, which shall perish as his garment, are those who have dissented from us; yea, and even it shall be us, if we do not stand fast in the faith of Christ." Read Here: Alma 21:56-60
233. God makes a covenant with Lehi that land of America was to be the inheritance of Joseph's people. This would be the land 'Choice above all other lands.' That was and is vitally important. |
"And inasmuch as ye shall keep my commandments, ye shall prosper, and shall be led to a land of promise; yea, even a land which I have prepared for you; yea, a land which is choice above all other lands."
Read Here: 1 Nephi 1:54
"Nevertheless thou beholdest that the Gentiles who have gone forth out of captivity, and have been lifted up by the power of God above all other nations upon the face of the land, which is choice above all other lands,"
Read Here: 1 Nephi 3:176
234. The choice land Lehi inherits for the descendants of Joseph was the same land Jaredites occupied after the destruction of Babylon. |
"And who knoweth but the Lord will carry us forth into a land which is choice above all the earth."
Read Here: Ether 1:13
"And the Lord would not suffer that they should stop beyond the sea in the wilderness, but he would that they should come forth even unto the land of promise, which was choice above all other lands, which the Lord God had preserved for a righteous people;"
Read Here: Ether 1:29
235. Lehi has obedient children and disobedient children. The disobedient murmured against their father Lehi because they did not understand the purposes of God. Nephi was blessed for not murmuring. |
"Now this he spake because of the stiffneckedness of Laman and Lemuel; for behold they did murmur in many things against their father, because he was a visionary man, and had led them out of the land of Jerusalem, to leave the land of their inheritance, and their gold, and their silver, and their precious things, to perish in the wilderness."
Read Here: 1 Nephi 1:38
"And they did murmur because they knew not the dealings of that God who had created them."
Read Here: 1 Nephi 1:41
"Therefore go, my son, and thou shalt be favored of the Lord, because thou hast not murmured."
Read Here: 1 Nephi 1:64
236. Lehi prophesies to His family that the children of His sons Nephi and Sam (Nephites) would be largely obedient to God and the children of His son's Laman and Lemuel (Lamanites) would initially be disobedient. |
"Therefore go, my son, and thou shalt be favored of the Lord, because thou hast not murmured."
Read Here: 1 Nephi 1:64
"Nevertheless, I did look unto my God, and I did praise him all the day long; and I did not murmur against the Lord because of mine afflictions."
Read Here: 1 Nephi 5:199
237. But Lehi places a blessing and promise on His grand-children, the children of Laman and Lemuel, stating that one day they will be blessed and return to the Lord. These shall be the remnant of Joseph who survive into the last days after the obedient Nephites were trodden down generations prior. |
"Wherefore, after my father had made an end of speaking concerning the prophecies of Joseph, he called the children of Laman, his sons, and his daughters, and said unto them,
Behold my sons, and my daughters, who are the sons and the daughters of my first born, I would that ye should give ear unto my words:For the Lord God hath said, That inasmuch as ye shall keep my commandments, ye shall prosper in the land;And inasmuch as ye will not keep my commandments, ye shall be cut off from my presence.But behold, my sons and my daughters, I can not go down to my grave, save I should leave a blessing upon you:For behold, I know that if ye are brought up in the way ye should go, ye will not depart from it.Wherefore, if ye are cursed, behold, I leave my blessing upon you, that the cursing may be taken from you, and be answered upon the heads of your parents.Wherefore, because of my blessing, the Lord God will not suffer that ye shall perish; wherefore, he will be merciful unto you, and unto your seed for ever.And it came to pass that after my father had made an end of speaking to the sons and daughters of Laman, he caused the sons and daughters of Lemuel to be brought before him.And he spake unto them, saying: Behold, my sons and my daughters, who are the sons and the daughters of my second son;Behold, I leave unto you the same blessing which I left unto the sons and daughters of Laman; wherefore, thou shall not utterly be destroyed; but in the end thy seed shall be blessed." Read Here: 2 Nephi 3:6-16
238. The descendants of Lehi would remain in a lowly state until their words return unto them. That happens after the Gentiles receive the gospel in the last days when they shall be visited by the power of the Holy Ghost. |
"which is to shew unto the remnant of the house of Israel what great things the Lord hath done for their fathers; and that they may know the covenants of the Lord, that they are not cast off for ever;"
Read Here: Title Page 1:6
"Or, in fine, after the Gentiles had received the fullness of the gospel, the natural branches of the olive tree, or the remnants of the house of Israel, should be grafted in, or come to the knowledge of the true Messiah, their Lord and their Redeemer."
Read Here: 1 Nephi 3:19
"And now, the thing which our father meaneth concerning the grafting in of the natural branches through the fullness of the Gentiles, is, that in the latter days, when our seed shall have dwindled in unbelief, yea, for the space of many years and many generations, after the Messiah shall be manifested in body unto the children of men, then shall the fullness of the gospel of the Messiah come unto the Gentiles, and from the Gentiles unto the remnant of our seed;"
Read Here: 1 Nephi 4:16
"The remnant shall return, yea, even the remnant of Jacob, unto the mighty God."
Read Here: 2 Nephi 9:102
"Yea, and surely shall he again bring a remnant of the seed of Joseph to the knowledge of the Lord their God;"
Read Here: 3 Nephi 2:106
"And I say unto you, that if the Gentiles do not repent, after the blessing which they shall receive, after they have scattered my people, then shall ye who are a remnant of the house of Jacob, go forth among them;"
Read Here: 3 Nephi 9:51
"And my people who are a remnant of Jacob, shall be among the Gentiles, yea, in the midst of them, as a lion among the beasts of the forest, as a young lion among the flocks of sheep, who, if he go through both treadeth down and teareth in pieces, and none can deliver."
Read Here: 3 Nephi 9:99
"And he did hide them up unto the Lord, that they might come again unto the remnant of the house of Jacob, according to the prophecies and the promises of the Lord. And thus is the end of the record of Ammoron."
Read Here: 4 Nephi 1:59
239. The promise of a righteous city to be built on this land by the descendants of Lehi. These are literal descendants of Joseph, sometimes referred to as The Remnant of Joseph, the Remnant of Jacob. They are descendants of Laman and Lemuel's lineage as the Nephite linage became almost entirely extinct four generations after Jesus. |
"Wherefore the remnant of the house of Joseph shall be built up upon this land; and it shall be a land of their inheritance; and they shall build up a holy city unto the Lord, like unto the Jerusalem of old; and they shall no more be confounded, until the end come, when the earth shall pass away."
Read Here: Ether 6:8
240. Repentant Gentiles and some of scattered Israel assist the Remnant of Joseph to build the city. But the promise of the city New Jerusalem exists not because God restored the church among the Gentiles in the last days, but because of the covenant he made with the remnant of Joseph for them in the last days. |
"But if they will repent, and hearken unto my words, and harden not their hearts, I will establish my church among them, and they shall come in unto the covenant, and be numbered among this the remnant of Jacob, unto whom I have given this land for their inheritance, and they shall assist my people, the remnant of Jacob;"
Read Here: 3 Nephi 10:1
"And behold, this people will I establish in this land, unto the fulfilling of the covenant which I made with your father Jacob; and it shall be a new Jerusalem."
Read Here: 3 Nephi 9:58
"Yea, behold I say unto you, that those saints who have gone before me, who have possessed this land, shall cry; yea, even from the dust will they cry unto the Lord; and as the Lord liveth, he will remember the covenant which he hath made with them."
Read Here: Mormon 4:28
241. When the remnant of Joseph receives the word, the prophecy states a spiritual transformation will occur among them making them spiritually mighty. This begins the real New Jerusalem. This leads to the great gathering, the second time the Lord sets forth His had to recover Israel and the world to Him. |
"And it shall come to pass that they shall be scattered again; and a branch shall be broken off, and shall be carried into a far country; nevertheless they shall be remembered in the covenants of the Lord, when the Messiah cometh; for he shall be made manifest unto them in the latter days, in the Spirit of power; and shall bring them out of darkness into light; out of hidden darkness, and out of captivity unto freedom."
Read Here: Genesis 50:25
"And ye shall be in the midst of them, who shall be many; and ye shall be among them, as a lion among the beasts of the forests, and as a young lion among the flocks of sheep, who, if he goeth through, both treadeth down and teareth in pieces, and none can deliver."
Read Here: 3 Nephi 9:52
"And my people who are a remnant of Jacob, shall be among the Gentiles, yea, in the midst of them, as a lion among the beasts of the forest, as a young lion among the flocks of sheep, who, if he go through both treadeth down and teareth in pieces, and none can deliver."
Read Here: 3 Nephi 9:99
242. The fulfilling of the Covenant with Joseph's lineage through Lehi begins the great gathering. From that, all the other covenants with Jews and Gentiles will be fulfilled. Just as Joseph had to rise to political power in Egypt to eventually save his family from famine, so shall Joseph's remnant rise spiritually in a day to come, sharing their words with Israel (their lost family), bringing them back to Christ. |
"The Father having raised me up unto you first, and sent me to bless you, in turning away every one of you from his iniquities; and this because ye are the children of the covenant.
And after that ye were blessed, then fulfilleth the Father the covenant which he made with Abraham, saying, In thy seed shall all the kindreds of the earth be blessed, unto the pouring out of the Holy Ghost through me upon the Gentiles, which blessing upon the Gentiles, shall make them mighty above all, unto the scattering of my people, O house of Israel: and they shall be a scourge unto the people of this land." Read Here: 3 Nephi 9:64-65
"Then shall this covenant which the Father hath covenanted with his people, be fulfilled; and then shall Jerusalem be inhabited again with my people, and it shall be the land of their inheritance."
Read Here: 3 Nephi 9:85
"But behold, there shall be many at that day, when I shall proceed to do a marvelous work among them, that I may remember my covenants which I have made unto the children of men, that I may set my hand again the second time to recover my people, which are the house of Israel;
And also, that I may remember the promises which I have made unto thee, Nephi, and also unto thy father, that I would remember your seed; and that the words of your seed should proceed forth out of my mouth unto your seed.And my words shall hiss forth unto the ends of the earth, for a standard unto my people, which are of the house of Israel." Read Here: 2 Nephi 12:42-44
"But behold, thus saith the Lord God: When the day cometh that they shall believe in me, that I am Christ, then have I covenanted with their fathers, that they shall be restored in the flesh, upon the earth, unto the lands of their inheritance."
Read Here: 2 Nephi 7:12
"Nevertheless, when they shall have received the fullness of my gospel, then if they shall harden their hearts against me, I will return their iniquities upon their own heads, saith the Father.
And I will remember the covenant which I have made with my people, and I have covenanted with them, that I would gather them together in mine own due time;That I would give unto them again the land of their fathers, for their inheritance, which is the land of Jerusalem, which is the promised land unto them for ever, saith the Father.And it shall come to pass that the time cometh, when the fullness of my gospel shall be preached unto them, and they shall believe in me, that I am Jesus Christ, the Son of God, and shall pray unto the Father in my name.Then shall their watchmen lift up their voices; and with the voice together shall they sing; for they shall see eye to eye." Read Here: 3 Nephi 9:66-70
The Story of Joseph is a type and shadow for the regathering of Israel. Joseph's story is found in the Bible in Genesis chapters 36-48.
The point of the story: as Joseph's food nourished His family when they came to him unaware during famine, so to will the words of Joseph (Nephite record of the Book of Mormon) provide the spiritual food that restores Israel to Jesus.
This act of the Jews receiving the lost words of Joseph begins the great salvation of Israel in the last days.
Ezekiel wrote that Joseph's people would write and their words would become one with Judah's (the Bible). |
"The word of the Lord came again unto me, saying,
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;And join them one to another into one stick; and they shall become one in thine hand.And when the children of thy people shall speak unto thee, saying, Wilt thou not show us what thou meanest by these?Say unto them, Thus saith the Lord God; 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.And the sticks whereon thou writest shall be in thine hand before their eyes.And say unto them, Thus saith the Lord God; Behold, 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;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 anymore at all;" Read Here: Ezekiel 37:15-22
243. The Book of Mormon explains that Joseph was a type for the regathering of Israel in a day to come. |
"And that a New Jerusalem should be built up upon this land, unto the remnant of the seed of Joseph, for which things there has been a type; for as Joseph brought his father down into the land of Egypt, even so he died there;"
Read Here: Ether 6:6
"Wherefore the Lord brought a remnant of the seed of Joseph out of the land of Jerusalem, that he might be merciful unto the seed of Joseph, that they should perish not, even as he was merciful unto the father of Joseph, that he should perish not;"
Read Here: Ether 6:7
244. The New Jerusalem (future City of Zion in America) is promised because of the covenant made with Joseph's people—the original descendants of Nephi—not because of the Gentiles to whom the church was restored in the last days, although they take part. |
"And then cometh the New Jerusalem; and blessed are they who dwell therein, for it is they whose garments are white through the blood of the lamb; and they are they who are numbered among the remnant of the seed of Joseph, who were of the house of Israel."
Read Here: Ether 6:10
"And behold, this people will I establish in this land, unto the fulfilling of the covenant which I made with your father Jacob; and it shall be a new Jerusalem."
Read Here: 3 Nephi 9:58
"And that a New Jerusalem should be built up upon this land, unto the remnant of the seed of Joseph, for which things there has been a type; for as Joseph brought his father down into the land of Egypt, even so he died there;"
Read Here: Ether 6:6
245. Part of Abraham's promise that through His seed the nations would be blessed is realized through Joseph's descendants. They are the remnant that returns first to God. |
"And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing; and I will bless them that bless thee, and curse them that curse thee; and in thee shall the families of the earth be blessed."
Read Here: Genesis 12:2
"The remnant shall return, yea even the remnant of Jacob, unto the mighty God."
Read Here: Isaiah 10:21
246. Life of His descendants is literally fulfilled in the descendant nations. |
"Thou wilt perform the truth to Jacob, and the mercy to Abraham, which thou hast sworn unto our fathers from the days of old."
Read Here: Micah 7:20
"And I will bring you out from the people, and will gather you out of the countries wherein ye are scattered, with a mighty hand, and with a stretched-out arm, and with fury poured out."
Read Here: Ezekiel 20:34
"Thus saith the Lord God; When I shall have gathered the house of Israel from the people among whom they are scattered, and shall be sanctified in them in the sight of the heathen, then shall they dwell in their land that I have given to my servant Jacob."
Read Here: Ezekiel 28:25
247. In Joseph's youth, he dreams His family bows down to him. |
"For, behold, we were binding sheaves in the field, and, lo, my sheaf arose, and also stood upright; and, behold, your sheaves stood round about, and made obeisance to my sheaf."
Read Here: Genesis 37:7
"And Joseph was the governor over the land, and he it was that sold to all the people of the land; and Joseph's brethren came, and bowed down themselves before him with their faces to the earth."
Read Here: Genesis 42:6
248. God states He will be 'gracious' unto the remnant of Joseph. |
"Hate the evil, and love the good, and establish judgment in the gate; it may be that the Lord God of hosts will be gracious unto the remnant of Joseph."
Read Here: Amos 5:15
249. Joseph's coat of many colors is torn and a piece of it returns to His father Jacob (Israel). That piece represents the remnant who of Joseph who will survive. |
"Moroni said unto them, Behold, we are a remnant of the seed of Jacob; yea, we are a remnant of the seed of Joseph, whose coat was rent by his brethren, into many pieces;"
Read Here: Alma 21:54
"Yea, let us remember the words of Jacob, before his death; for behold he saw that a part of the remnant of the coat of Joseph was preserved, and had not decayed."
Read Here: Alma 21:56
250. Joseph taken away out of His homeland, just as Lehi would be. |
"Then there passed by Midianites merchantmen; and they drew and lifted up Joseph out of the pit, and sold Joseph to the Ishmaelites for twenty pieces of silver; and they brought Joseph into Egypt."
Read Here: Genesis 37:28
"Joseph is a fruitful bough, even a fruitful bough by a well; whose branches run over the wall;"
Read Here: Genesis 49:22
251. Those of Joseph's lineage who departed Jerusalem were called a remnant. |
"For out of Jerusalem shall go forth a remnant, and they that escape out of mount Zion; the zeal of the Lord of hosts shall do this."
Read Here: 2 Kings 19:31
"For out of Jerusalem shall go forth a remnant; and they that escape out of Jerusalem shall come up upon mount Zion; the zeal of the Lord of hosts shall do this."
Read Here: Isaiah 37:32
252. Unknown to Joseph, Egypt will be the future Land of His immediate family's inheritance, just as the America's would become Lehi's inheritance. |
"Wherefore, I will consecrate this land unto thy seed, and they who shall be numbered among thy seed, for ever, for the land of their inheritance:"
Read Here: 2 Nephi 7:30
"Which is the land that the Lord God hath covenanted with thy father that his seed should have for the land of their inheritance, will not utterly destroy the mixture of thy seed, which are among thy brethren;"
Read Here: 1 Nephi 3:177
253. The Gentiles would exercise dominance over Joseph (imprisoned him) just as the Gentile nations would dominate the descendants of Joseph (Native Americans). |
"Wherefore, after I have visited them in judgment, and smitten them by the hand of the Gentiles;"
Read Here: 1 Nephi 3:182
"Wherefore, my beloved brethren, thus saith our God: I will afflict thy seed by the hand of the Gentiles;"
Read Here: 2 Nephi 7:27
"And now, saith the Lord, that formed me from the womb that I should be his servant, to bring Jacob again to him: Though Israel be not gathered, yet shall I be glorious in the eyes of the Lord, and my God shall be my strength."
Read Here: 1 Nephi 6:35
"And I will shew unto thee, O house of Israel, that the Gentiles shall not have power over you, but I will remember my covenant unto you, O house of Israel, and ye shall come unto the knowledge of the fullness of my gospel."
Read Here: 3 Nephi 7:37
"Wherefore, as those who have been destroyed, have been destroyed speedily: and the multitude of their terrible ones shall be as chaff that passeth away."
Read Here: 2 Nephi 11:87
"Wherefore, after I have visited them in judgment, and smitten them by the hand of the Gentiles;"
Read Here: 1 Nephi 3:182
254. Joseph, at one time a prisoner in Egypt, is now a ruler under Pharaoh in the Land of the Gentiles. Joseph was imprisoned by the same person who later freed him. Native Americans, prisoners in the nation, will one day blossom as the rose. Scattered by the same people who will nourish them. |
"And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, Forasmuch as God hath showed thee all this, there in none so discreet and wise as thou art;
Thou shalt be over my house, and according unto thy word shall all my people be ruled; only in the throne will I be greater than thou.And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, See, I have set thee over all the land of Egypt.And Pharaoh took off his ring from his hand, and put it upon Joseph's hand, and arrayed him in vestures of fine linen, and put a gold chain about his neck;And he made him to ride in the second chariot which he had; and they cried before him, Bow the knee; and he made him ruler over all the land of Egypt.And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, I am Pharaoh, and without thee shall no man lift up his hand or foot in all the land of Egypt." Read Here: Genesis 41:39-44
"But before the great day of the Lord shall come, Jacob shall flourish in the wilderness; and the Lamanites shall blossom as the rose."
Read Here: DC 49:5a
"And I will strengthen the house of Judah, and I will save the house of Joseph, and I will bring them again to place them; for I have mercy upon them; and they shall be as though I had not cast them off; for I am the Lord their God, and will hear them."
Read Here: Zechariah 10:6
"And it shall come to pass in that day, that the remnant of Israel, and such as are escaped of the house of Jacob, shall no more again stay upon him that smote them; but shall stay upon the Lord, the Holy One of Israel, in truth."
Read Here: Isaiah 10:20
"The remnant shall return, yea even the remnant of Jacob, unto the mighty God."
Read Here: Isaiah 10:21
"And the remnant of Jacob shall be among the Gentiles in the midst of many people, as a lion among the beasts of the forest, as a young lion among the flocks of sheep; who, if he go through, both treadeth down, and teareth in pieces, and none can deliver."
Read Here: Micah 5:8
"Wherefore, they shall be scattered among all nations, and shall be hated of all men.
Nevertheless, after they have been nursed by the Gentiles, and the Lord has lifted up his hand upon the Gentiles and set them up for a standard, and their children have been carried in their arms and their daughters have been carried upon their shoulders, behold, these things of which are spoken, are temporal: for thus are the covenants of the Lord with our fathers;And it meaneth us in the days to come, and also all our brethren who are of the house of Israel.And it meaneth that the time cometh that after all the house of Israel have been scattered and confounded, that the Lord God will raise up a mighty nation among the Gentiles, yea, even upon the face of this land;And by them shall our seed be scattered.And after our seed is scattered, the Lord God will proceed to do a marvelous work among the Gentiles, which shall be of great worth unto our seed;Wherefore, it is likened unto their being nourished by the Gentiles, and being carried in their arms, and upon their shoulders.And it shall also be of worth unto the Gentiles:And not only unto the Gentiles, but unto all the house of Israel, unto the making known of the covenants of the Father of heaven unto Abraham, saying, In thy seed shall all the kindreds of the earth be blessed.And I would, my brethren, that ye should know that all the kindreds of the earth can not be blessed unless he shall make bare his arm in the eyes of the nations.Wherefore, the Lord God will proceed to make bare his arm in the eyes of all the nations, in bringing about his covenants and his gospel, unto those who are of the house of Israel." Read Here: 1 Nephi 7:12-22
255. Joseph brings food during a famine to save His family. The writings of Joseph bring spiritual food during a spiritual famine in the world. |
"Behold, the days come, saith the Lord God, that I will send a famine in the land, not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water, but of hearing the words of the Lord;"
Read Here: Amos 8:11
256. Joseph's father Israel finally sends the brothers to Egypt for food with these words: "WE WILL ARISE." These words reveal the spiritual pivot the House of Israel will make in a day to come, arising to the word of God revealing Jesus Christ to them. It is not coincidental that Judah (the parent of the future Jews) made the statement. They are as the prodigal who returned. |
"And Judah said unto Israel his father, Send the lad with me, and we will arise and go; that we may live, and not die, both we, and thou, and also our little ones."
Read Here: Genesis 43:8
"I will arise and go to my father, and will say unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee;"
Read Here: Luke 15:18
257. Nephi beckons to His people to 'arise from the dust.' |
"Shake off the chains with which ye are bound, and come forth out of obscurity, and arise from the dust."
Read Here: 2 Nephi 1:39
"Shake thyself from the dust; arise, sit down, O Jerusalem: loose thyself from the bands of thy neck, O captive daughter of Zion."
Read Here: 2 Nephi 5:114
"And awake, and arise from the dust, O Jerusalem; yea, and put on thy beautiful garments, O daughter of Zion, and strengthen thy stakes, and enlarge thy borders for ever, that thou mayest no more be confounded, that the covenants of the eternal Father which he hath made unto thee, O house of Israel, may be fulfilled."
Read Here: Moroni 10:28
258. The 11 brothers go to Egypt for food, unknowing that it is the 12th brother who gives them nourishment. |
"And Joseph was the governor over the land, and he it was that sold to all the people of the land; and Joseph's brethren came, and bowed down themselves before him with their faces to the earth.
And Joseph saw his brethren, and he knew them, but made himself strange unto them, and spake roughly unto them; and he said unto them, Whence come ye? And they said, From the land of Canaan to buy food.And Joseph knew his brethren, but they knew not him." Read Here: Genesis 42:6-8
259. Joseph supplies Judah with physical nourishment. The word of the Lord from the House of Joseph will supply the house of Judah (Jews) with Spiritual Food in the last days. The Book of Mormon, which is the record of the house of Joseph in this land, will be the vehicle by which this process occurs. |
"Yea, at that day, will they not receive the strength and nourishment from the true vine?"
Read Here: 1 Nephi 4:21
260. Joseph's heart softened toward His brothers, weeps alone, cares like a father for His brethren.
261. Joseph nourishes His family, i.e. the sons of Israel. The words and people of Joseph will in the future nourish the House of Israel. |
"And it came to pass at the end of two full years, that Pharaoh dreamed; and, behold, he stood by the river."
Read Here: Genesis 41:1
"And it shall come to pass that the Jews shall have the words of the Nephites, and the Nephites shall have the words of the Jews:"
Read Here: 2 Nephi 12:71
"And after he has manifested himself unto the Jews and also unto the Gentiles; then he shall manifest himself unto the Gentiles, and also unto the Jews,
And the last shall be first, and the first shall be last.And it shall come to pass, that if the Gentiles shall hearken unto the Lamb of God in that day that he shall manifest himself unto them in word, and also in power, in very deed, unto the taking away of their stumbling-blocks, and harden not their hearts against the Lamb of God, they shall be numbered among the seed of thy father;Yea, they shall be numbered among the house of Israel;" Read Here: 1 Nephi 3:199-202
"Wherefore the remnant of the house of Joseph shall be built up upon this land; and it shall be a land of their inheritance; and they shall build up a holy city unto the Lord, like unto the Jerusalem of old; and they shall no more be confounded, until the end come, when the earth shall pass away.
And there shall be a new heaven and a new earth; and they shall be like unto the old, save the old have passed away, and all things have become new.And then cometh the New Jerusalem; and blessed are they who dwell therein, for it is they whose garments are white through the blood of the lamb; and they are they who are numbered among the remnant of the seed of Joseph, who were of the house of Israel.And then also cometh the Jerusalem of old; and the inhabitants thereof, blessed are they, for they have been washed in the blood of the Lamb;And they are they who were scattered and gathered in from the four quarters of the earth, and from the north countries, and are partakers of the fulfilling of the covenant which God made with their father Abraham.And when these things come, bringeth to pass the scripture which saith, There are they who were first, who shall be last; and there are they who were last, who shall be first." Read Here: Ether 6:8-13
262. Joseph, strong in political power, reveals himself to His brothers. The remnant of Joseph rises up in spiritual power and reunites with their long-lost family Israel. |
"And I would, my brethren, that ye should know that all the kindreds of the earth can not be blessed unless he shall make bare his arm in the eyes of the nations."
Read Here: 1 Nephi 7:21
"Wherefore, the Lord God will proceed to make bare his arm in the eyes of all the nations, in bringing about his covenants and his gospel, unto those who are of the house of Israel."
Read Here: 1 Nephi 7:22
"The Lord hath made bare his holy arm in the eyes of all the nations; and all the ends of the earth shall see the salvation of our God."
Read Here: Mosiah 7:80
"The Lord hath made bare his holy arm in the eyes of all the nations; and all the ends of the earth shall see the salvation of God."
Read Here: 3 Nephi 7:45
"The Father hath made bare his holy arm in the eyes of all the nations; and all the ends of the earth shall see the salvation of the Father; and the Father and I are one."
Read Here: 3 Nephi 9:73
"Thy watchmen shall lift up the voice; with the voice together shall they sing; for they shall see eye to eye, when the Lord shall bring again Zion."
Read Here: Isaiah 52:8
263. Pharaoh--promises to share the best of the land with Israel's family through Joseph. God shared the best land of the earth (America) with Joseph to be the future place of Zion, where the families of the earth may gather home to God. |
"The land of Egypt is before thee; in the best of the land make thy father and brethren to dwell; in the land of Goshen let them dwell; and if thou knowest any men of activity among them, then make them rulers over my cattle."
Read Here: Genesis 47:6
"Wherefore, I will consecrate this land unto thy seed, and they who shall be numbered among thy seed, for ever, for the land of their inheritance:
For it is a choice land, saith God unto me, above all other lands;" Read Here: 2 Nephi 7:30-31
264. The 'Father' Israel comes to the Land of the Gentiles. Jesus states he will 'be in the midst' of Zion in America, gathering His people to him. |
"And after the house of Israel should be scattered, they should be gathered together again;"
Read Here: 1 Nephi 3:18
"Yea, and all the people who are of the house of Israel, will I gather in, saith the Lord, according to the words of the prophet Zenos, from the four quarters of the earth;"
Read Here: 1 Nephi 5:255
"And he gathereth his children from the four quarters of the earth;"
Read Here: 1 Nephi 7:56
"Nevertheless, the Lord will be merciful unto them, that when they shall come to the knowledge of their Redeemer, they shall be gathered together again to the lands of their inheritance."
Read Here: 2 Nephi 5:29
"When they shall be gathered home to the lands of their inheritance, and shall be established in all their lands of promise."
Read Here: 2 Nephi 6:3
"And it shall come to pass that they shall be gathered in from their long dispersion from the isles of the sea, and from the four parts of the earth;"
Read Here: 2 Nephi 7:13
"And he shall set up an ensign for the nations, and shall assemble the outcasts of Israel, and gather together the dispersed of Judah from the four corners of the earth."
Read Here: 2 Nephi 9:127
265. The re-unification of Joseph and Israel came with 'weeping on necks.' The same joyous reunion awaits when Israel returns and when Heaven returns to earth. |
"And he fell upon his brother Benjamin's neck, and wept; and Benjamin wept upon his neck."
Read Here: Genesis 45:14
"And Joseph made ready his chariot, and went up to meet Israel his father, to Goshen, and presented himself unto him; and he fell on his neck, and wept on his neck a good while."
Read Here: Genesis 46:29
"The remnant shall return, yea even the remnant of Jacob, unto the mighty God."
Read Here: Isaiah 10:21
"And the Lord said unto Enoch, Then shalt thou and all thy city meet them there; and we will receive them into our bosom; and they shall see us, and we will fall upon their necks, and they shall fall upon our necks, and we will kiss each other;"
Read Here: Genesis 7:71
266. In the end of Joseph's story, Joseph's father realized God sent him to preserve a posterity in the earth. Likewise, God broke a remnant of Joseph off from Israel before Jerusalem's destruction to reserve a posterity in the earth of truth for a day to come. That truth will change the world. |
"Now therefore be not grieved, nor angry with yourselves, that ye sold me hither; for God did send me before you to preserve life.
For these two years hath the famine been in the land; and yet there are five years, in the which there shall neither be earing nor harvest.And God sent me before you to preserve you a posterity in the earth, and to save your lives by a great deliverance.So now it was not you that sent me hither, but God; and he hath made me a father to Pharaoh, and lord of all his house, and a ruler throughout all the land of Egypt." Read Here: Genesis 45:5-8
"And it shall come to pass, when all these things are come upon thee, the blessing, and the curse, which I have set before thee, and thou shalt call them to mind among all the nations, whither the Lord thy God hath driven thee,"
Read Here: Deuteronomy 30:1
"Wherefore the Lord brought a remnant of the seed of Joseph out of the land of Jerusalem, that he might be merciful unto the seed of Joseph, that they should perish not, even as he was merciful unto the father of Joseph, that he should perish not;
Wherefore the remnant of the house of Joseph shall be built up upon this land; and it shall be a land of their inheritance; and they shall build up a holy city unto the Lord, like unto the Jerusalem of old; and they shall no more be confounded, until the end come, when the earth shall pass away.And there shall be a new heaven and a new earth; and they shall be like unto the old, save the old have passed away, and all things have become new.And then cometh the New Jerusalem; and blessed are they who dwell therein, for it is they whose garments are white through the blood of the lamb; and they are they who are numbered among the remnant of the seed of Joseph, who were of the house of Israel." Read Here: Ether 6:7-10
267. The Covenant to Lehi will be fulfilled in the Latter Days. The covenant is to restore Joseph so they can restore Israel. This is compared to grafting in a branch to a tree. The remnant will be remembered and grafted in, meaning they will come to a true knowledge of Jesus Christ. |
"Yea, at that day, will they not receive the strength and nourishment from the true vine?
Yea, will they not come unto the true fold of God?Behold, I say unto you, Yea: they shall be remembered again among the house of Israel;They shall be grafted in, being a natural branch of the olive tree, into the true olive tree;And this is what our father meaneth;And he meaneth that it will not come to pass, until after they are scattered by the Gentiles;And he meaneth that it shall come by way of the Gentiles, that the Lord may shew his power unto the Gentiles, for the very cause that he shall be rejected of the Jews, or of the house of Israel:Wherefore, our father hath not spoken of our seed alone, but also of all the house of Israel, pointing to the covenant which should be fulfilled in the latter days;Which covenant the Lord made to our father Abraham, saying, In thy seed shall all the kindreds of the earth be blessed.And it came to pass that I, Nephi, spake much unto them concerning these things;Yea, I spake unto them concerning the restoration of the Jews, in the latter days;And I did rehearse unto them the words of Isaiah, who spake concerning the restoration of the Jews, or of the house of Israel;And after they were restored, they should no more be confounded, neither should they be scattered again." Read Here: 1 Nephi 4:21-33
268. God prompts Moses to bring the Hebrews back to Jacob's homeland, which was the land of Canaan. Canaan was their literal 'Promised Land' but it spiritually symbolizes the believer's final destination: eternal life with God.
269. The Hebrews' departure from bondage becomes the Exodus story.
270. Israel escaping Pharaoh's clutch (The Exodus) symbolizes a believer's journey to salvation.
271. The Exodus story symbolizes the plan of salvation. As God told the Hebrews to remember the milestones of their journey, each milestone symbolizes an element of the plan of Salvation.
i) The Hebrews marked their doorways with blood of a lamb so death would pass them over. This was Passover. Faith in the blood of a Lamb to save from death symbolizes faith in Christ –the Lamb of God--to save from the second death.
ii) Leaving Egypt's bondage marked the quick Exodus—so quick their bread had no time to rise, hence the remembrance of Unleavened Bread. Leaving Pharaoh's grasp symbolizes Repentance. Pharaoh was a type for Satan. Only faith in the blood of the Lamb can release us from Satan's grasp. We should depart (i.e. repent/change) without delay.
iii) Passing through the parted sea represented baptism by water.
iv) Receiving the Law (of Moses) 50 days later represented baptism by the Holy Ghost, receiving God's guiding spirit. In the New Testament days, the Holy Ghost came in power 50 days after Jesus resurrection.
v) 40 years in the wilderness symbolized transformation. Jesus requires a transformation process of our heart in our lifetime, which is called enduring to the end. In this, we live by Manna (which symbolized God's word) which means living by every word of God.
vi) Entering the promised land is a type for judgement/salvation and life with God eternally.
272. Jacob's (Israel's) 12 sons become the nation of the Hebrews, or the House of Israel.
273. Joseph was a younger son of Jacob. God gave Joseph dreams symbolizing he would lead the family and His brothers would bow down to him. The dreams were types of how Joseph would save His family from (physical) famine, and one day save them from spiritual famine. Joseph's name in Hebrew means 'he will increase.' |
"And Joseph dreamed a dream, and he told it his brethren; and they hated him yet the more.
And he said unto them, Hear, I pray you, this dream which I have dreamed;For, behold, we were binding sheaves in the field, and, lo, my sheaf arose, and also stood upright; and, behold, your sheaves stood round about, and made obeisance to my sheaf.And his brethren said to him, Shalt thou indeed reign over us? or shalt thou indeed have dominion over us? And they hated him yet the more for his dreams, and for his words.And he dreamed yet another dream, and told it his brethren, and said, Behold, I have dreamed a dream more; and behold, the sun and the moon and the eleven stars made obeisance to me.And he told it to his father, and to his brethren; and his father rebuked him, and said unto him, What is this dream that thou hast dreamed? Shall I and thy mother and thy brethren indeed come to bow down ourselves to thee to the earth?" Read Here: Genesis 37:5-10
274. Joseph was sold into slavery by His brothers and taken to another land. After tribulation, yet according to the prophecy, Joseph would rise to political power in that foreign land. His wisdom would not only save Egyptians, but eventually save His family from famine.
275. The remnant saved from Joseph's coat symbolized a remnant of Joseph's linage would be saved as well. |
"Moroni said unto them, Behold, we are a remnant of the seed of Jacob; yea, we are a remnant of the seed of Joseph, whose coat was rent by his brethren, into many pieces;"
Read Here: Alma 21:54
"Yea, let us remember the words of Jacob, before his death; for behold he saw that a part of the remnant of the coat of Joseph was preserved, and had not decayed."
Read Here: Alma 21:56
276. Joseph's and His brothers' descendants would remain in Egypt for 400 years. Their great-grandchildren would become the large Hebrew nation, ultimately living in bondage to the Egyptians generations after Joseph's death.
277. Joseph's actions are a type for the last days. Joseph's descendants (i.e. the record and people of Joseph) are instrumental in bringing latter day Israel to spiritual food (truth). They save Israel to Jesus. |
"And that a New Jerusalem should be built up upon this land, unto the remnant of the seed of Joseph, for which things there has been a type; for as Joseph brought his father down into the land of Egypt, even so he died there;
Wherefore the Lord brought a remnant of the seed of Joseph out of the land of Jerusalem, that he might be merciful unto the seed of Joseph, that they should perish not, even as he was merciful unto the father of Joseph, that he should perish not;" Read Here: Ether 6:6-7
"And it came to pass that they took from the natural tree which had become wild, and grafted in unto the natural trees which also had become wild:"
Read Here: Jacob 3:118
278. The word of God written by a remnant of Joseph's descendants would provide spiritual life to the Jews and House of Israel in the last days. Their words would bring the Gentiles, Jews and scattered Israel back to a knowledge of Jesus Christ, the Eternal Messiah. |
"And the words which he shall write, shall be the words which are expedient in my wisdom should go forth unto the fruit of thy loins."
Read Here: 2 Nephi 2:38
"And the weakness of their words will I make strong in their faith, unto the remembering of my covenant which I made unto thy fathers.
And now, behold, my son Joseph, after this manner did my father of old prophesy.Wherefore, because of this covenant thou art blessed: for thy seed shall not be destroyed, for they shall hearken unto the words of the book." Read Here: 2 Nephi 2:43-45
"And after they shall have been brought down low in the dust, even that they are not, yet the words of the righteous shall be written, and the prayers of the faithful shall be heard, and all those who have dwindled in unbelief, shall not be forgotten;"
Read Here: 2 Nephi 11:83
"And it shall come to pass, that the Lord God shall bring forth unto you the words of a book, and they shall be the words of them which have slumbered."
Read Here: 2 Nephi 11:125
"And the day cometh that the words of the book which were sealed, shall be read upon the housetops; and they shall be read by the power of Christ;
And all things shall be revealed unto the children of men which ever have been among the children of men, and which ever will be, even unto the end of the earth.Wherefore, at that day when the book shall be delivered unto the man of whom I have spoken, the book shall be hid from the eyes of the world, that the eyes of none shall behold it, save it be that three witnesses shall behold it, by the power of God, besides him to whom the book shall be delivered; and they shall testify to the truth of the book and the things therein.And there is none other which shall view it, save it be a few, according to the will of God, to bear testimony of his word unto the children of men: for the Lord God hath said, that the words of the faithful should speak as if it were from the dead." Read Here: 2 Nephi 11:131-134
"And in that day shall the deaf hear the words of the book; and the eyes of the blind shall see out of obscurity and out of darkness:"
Read Here: 2 Nephi 11:155
"And also, that I may remember the promises which I have made unto thee, Nephi, and also unto thy father, that I would remember your seed; and that the words of your seed should proceed forth out of my mouth unto your seed.
And my words shall hiss forth unto the ends of the earth, for a standard unto my people, which are of the house of Israel." Read Here: 2 Nephi 12:43-44
"And it shall come to pass that the Jews shall have the words of the Nephites, and the Nephites shall have the words of the Jews:
And the Nephites and the Jews shall have the words of the lost tribes of Israel; and the lost tribes of Israel shall have the words of the Nephites and the Jews." Read Here: 2 Nephi 12:71-72
"And the words which I have written in weakness, will he make strong unto them; for it persuadeth them to do good; it maketh known unto them of their fathers; and it speaketh of Jesus, and persuadeth them to believe in him, and to endure to the end, which is life eternal."
Read Here: 2 Nephi 15:5
"Therefore give heed to my words; write the things which I have told you, and according to the times and the will of the Father, they shall go forth unto the Gentiles."
Read Here: 3 Nephi 10:30
279. The promises to Moses was that Israel would return to God. Moses pronounced a cursing and a blessing upon Israel. The blessing was reserved for the last days. A blessing to gather them from the far places of the earth. |
"But it shall come to pass, if thou wilt not hearken unto the voice of the Lord thy God, to observe to do all his commandments and his statutes which I command thee this day, that all these curses shall come upon thee, and overtake thee;
Cursed shalt thou be in the city, and cursed shalt thou be in the field.Cursed shall be thy basket and thy store.Cursed shall be the fruit of thy body, and the fruit of thy land, the increase of thy kine, and the flocks of thy sheep.Cursed shalt thou be when thou comest in, and cursed shalt thou be when thou goest out,The Lord shall send upon thee cursing, vexation, and rebuke, in all that thou settest thine hand unto for to do, until thou be destroyed, and until thou perish quickly; because of the wickedness of thy doings, whereby thou hast forsaken me." Read Here: Deuteronomy 28:15-20
"And it shall come to pass, when all these things are come upon thee, the blessing, and the curse, which I have set before thee, and thou shalt call them to mind among all the nations, whither the Lord thy God hath driven thee,
And shalt return unto the Lord thy God, and shalt obey his voice according to all that I command thee this day, thou and thy children, with all thine heart, and with all thy soul;That then the Lord thy God will turn thy captivity, and have compassion upon thee, and will return and gather thee from all the nations, whither the Lord thy God hath scattered thee.If any of thine be driven out unto the outmost parts of heaven, from thence will the Lord thy God gather thee, and from thence will he fetch thee;And the Lord thy God will bring thee into the land which thy fathers possessed, and thou shalt possess it; and he will do thee good, and multiply thee above thy fathers.And the Lord thy God will circumcise thine heart, and the heart of thy seed, to love the Lord thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, that thou mayest live." Read Here: Deuteronomy 30:1-6
280. When God foretold Israel would number like the sand of the sea, they also would turn away from God. But the same God who then said 'you are not my people' would call them The Sons of the Living God. |
"Yet the number of the children of Israel shall be as the sand of the sea, which cannot be measured nor numbered; and it shall come to pass, that in the place where it was said unto them, ye are not my people, there it shall be said unto them, Ye are the sons of the living God."
Read Here: Hosea 1:10
281. Both Jew and Gentile would be blessed because of God's covenant with Abraham. |
"And he meaneth that it shall come by way of the Gentiles, that the Lord may shew his power unto the Gentiles, for the very cause that he shall be rejected of the Jews, or of the house of Israel:
Wherefore, our father hath not spoken of our seed alone, but also of all the house of Israel, pointing to the covenant which should be fulfilled in the latter days;Which covenant the Lord made to our father Abraham, saying, In thy seed shall all the kindreds of the earth be blessed." Read Here: 1 Nephi 4:27-29
282. God's covenant to Abraham is fulfilled when both Jew and Gentile return to the Lord. The Nephites were also part of the lineage of Abraham. The process of the gospel going to the world begins when the word returns to them, the house of Joseph. |
"And behold ye are the children of the prophets; and ye are of the house of Israel; and ye are of the covenant which the Father made with your fathers, saying unto Abraham, And in thy seed, shall all the kindreds of the earth be blessed;"
Read Here: 3 Nephi 9:63
"And after that ye were blessed, then fulfilleth the Father the covenant which he made with Abraham, saying, In thy seed shall all the kindreds of the earth be blessed, unto the pouring out of the Holy Ghost through me upon the Gentiles, which blessing upon the Gentiles, shall make them mighty above all, unto the scattering of my people, O house of Israel: and they shall be a scourge unto the people of this land."
Read Here: 3 Nephi 9:65
283. When the gathering from the four quarters of the world is complete, the covenant with Abraham will be complete, and fulfills the prophecy that the first shall be last and the last shall be first. |
"And they are they who were scattered and gathered in from the four quarters of the earth, and from the north countries, and are partakers of the fulfilling of the covenant which God made with their father Abraham."
Read Here: Ether 6:12
284. Enoch's covenant is fulfilled after Moses and Abrahams. Enoch's covenant shares that Heaven comes to earth. These return with Christ in the cloud. The world bows down and men keep the commandments of Jesus. This ushers in the Millennium, the 1000 year reign of peace, the Sabbath of the Lord. |
"And the bow shall be in the cloud; and I will look upon it, that I may remember the everlasting covenant, which I made unto thy father Enoch; that, when men should keep all my commandments, Zion should again come on the earth, the city of Enoch which I have caught up unto myself."
Read Here: Genesis 9:21
285. The story of Adam finally comes full circle. Man, who was once with God on earth then cast out of God's presence, returns to His presence again. The final state of man is to dwell in the kingdom of God or be cast out. |
"Wherefore, the final state of the souls of men is to dwell in the kingdom of God, or to be cast out because of that justice of which I have spoken;"
Read Here: 1 Nephi 4:61
286. For the pain of this life, there is beauty in the Father's promise. He wipes all tears from our eyes. The pain of this world is gone. |
"And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain; for the former things are passed away."
Read Here: Revelation 21:4
287. We experience God in the millennium—life on this earth they according to the original plan—without sin and death. Our eyes haven't seen nor ears heard, nor yet entered into our imagination of the things God has prepared to share with us in a new heaven and earth to come. |
"For verily there shall be new heavens, and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness."
Read Here: Luke 17:39
"And there shall be a new heaven and a new earth; and they shall be like unto the old, save the old have passed away, and all things have become new."
Read Here: Ether 6:9
"Nevertheless, if we shall endure, we shall be kept according to his promise. And we look for a new heavens, and a new earth wherein dwelleth righteousness."
Read Here: 2 Peter 3:13
288. Moses' last words to Israel warn them of pending cursing if they depart from God. God reminds Israel they were recipient of His power through their journey, and by keeping His commandments they would prosper. |
"These are the words of the covenant, which the Lord commanded Moses to make with the children of Israel in the land of Moab, besides the covenant which he made with them in Horeb.
And Moses called unto all Israel, and said unto them, Ye have seen all that the Lord did before your eyes in the land of Egypt unto Pharaoh, and unto all his servants, and unto all his land;The great temptations which thine eyes have seen, the signs, and those great miracles;Yet the Lord hath not given you a heart to perceive, and eyes to see, and ears to hear, unto this day.And I have led you forty years in the wilderness; your clothes are not waxen old upon you, and thy shoe is not waxen old upon thy foot.Ye have not eaten bread, neither have ye drunk wine or strong drink; that ye might know that I am the Lord your God.And when ye came unto this place, Sihon the king of Heshbon, and Og the king of Bashan, came out against us unto battle, and we smote them;And we took their land, and gave it for an inheritance unto the Reubenites, and the Gadites, and to the half tribe of Manasseh.Keep therefore the words of this covenant, and do them, that ye may prosper in all that ye do." Read Here: Deuteronomy 29:1-9
289. Moses warns to not become complacent, falsely believing no harm could come to them if they ever fell into sin. |
"And ye have seen their abominations, and their idols, wood and stone, silver and gold, which were among them;)
Lest there should be among you man, or woman, or family, or tribe, whose heart turneth away this day from the Lord our God, to go and serve the gods of these nations; lest there should be among you a root that beareth gall and wormwood;And it come to pass, when he heareth the words of this curse, that he bless himself in his heart, saying, I shall have peace, though I walk in the imagination of mine heart, to add drunkenness to thirst;The Lord will not spare him, but then the anger of the Lord and his jealousy shall smoke against that man, and all the curses that are written in this book shall lie upon him, and the Lord shall blot out his name from under heaven." Read Here: Deuteronomy 29:17-20
290. Moses prophesies that the very chosen people Israel would receive of the same plagues and problems of the heathen should they depart from righteousness. |
"And it come to pass, when he heareth the words of this curse, that he bless himself in his heart, saying, I shall have peace, though I walk in the imagination of mine heart, to add drunkenness to thirst;
The Lord will not spare him, but then the anger of the Lord and his jealousy shall smoke against that man, and all the curses that are written in this book shall lie upon him, and the Lord shall blot out his name from under heaven.And the Lord shall separate him unto evil out of all the tribes of Israel, according to all the curses of the covenant that are written in this book of the law;So that the generation to come of your children that shall rise up after you, and the stranger that shall come from a far land, shall say, when they see the plagues of that land, and the sicknesses which the Lord hath laid upon it;And that the whole land thereof is brimstone, and salt, and burning, that it is not sown, nor beareth, nor any grass groweth therein, like the overthrow of Sodom and Gomorrah, Admah and Zeboim, which the Lord overthrew in his anger, and in his wrath;Even all nations shall say, Wherefore hath the Lord done thus unto this land? what meaneth the heat of this great anger?Then men shall say, Because they have forsaken the covenant of the Lord God of their fathers which he made with them when he brought them forth out of the land of Egypt;For they went and served other gods, and worshiped them, gods whom they knew not, and whom he had not given unto them;And the anger of the Lord was kindled against this land, to bring upon it all the curses that are written in this book;And the Lord rooted them out of their land in anger, and in wrath, and in great indignation, and cast them into another land, as it is this day.The secret things belong unto the Lord our God; but those things which are revealed belong unto us and to our children forever, that we may do all the words of this law." Read Here: Deuteronomy 29:19-29
291. But the Lord declares that if they turn to him with full purpose of heart, in that day the Lord will have compassion upon them and gather them from wherever they are on the earth. |
"And it shall come to pass, when all these things are come upon thee, the blessing, and the curse, which I have set before thee, and thou shalt call them to mind among all the nations, whither the Lord thy God hath driven thee,
And shalt return unto the Lord thy God, and shalt obey his voice according to all that I command thee this day, thou and thy children, with all thine heart, and with all thy soul;That then the Lord thy God will turn thy captivity, and have compassion upon thee, and will return and gather thee from all the nations, whither the Lord thy God hath scattered thee.If any of thine be driven out unto the outmost parts of heaven, from thence will the Lord thy God gather thee, and from thence will he fetch thee;" Read Here: Deuteronomy 30:1-4
292. The promise includes gathering them back to their homelands. |
"And the Lord thy God will bring thee into the land which thy fathers possessed, and thou shalt possess it; and he will do thee good, and multiply thee above thy fathers."
Read Here: Deuteronomy 30:5
293. Most importantly, in that day to come, the Heart of Israel as a nation fully turns to God. He says he will circumcise their heart. |
"And the Lord thy God will circumcise thine heart, and the heart of thy seed, to love the Lord thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, that thou mayest live."
Read Here: Deuteronomy 30:6
Israel would not realize the laws given Moses were designed with one goal: to show them that sin without remission lead to justice (punishment) and that the only solution to that sin was the sacrifice of Christ.
294. The Hebrew nation received laws from God, but the laws were given because of their disobedience and hard-heartedness. |
"Understand therefore, that the Lord thy God giveth thee not this good land to possess it for thy righteousness; for thou art a stiff-necked people."
Read Here: Deuteronomy 9:6
"Thus saith the Lord; For three transgressions of Judah, and for four, I will not turn away the punishment thereof; because they have despised the law of the Lord, and have not kept his commandments, and their lies caused them to err, after the which their fathers have walked;"
Read Here: Amos 2:4
"Wherefore then, the law was added because of transgressions, till the seed should come to whom the promise was made in the law given to Moses, who was ordained by the hand of angels to be a mediator of this first covenant, (the law.)"
Read Here: Galatians 3:19
"Yet the Lord God saw that his people were a stiffnecked people, and he appointed unto them a law, even the law of Moses.
And many signs, and wonders, and types, and shadows shewed he unto them, concerning his coming:And also holy prophets spake unto them concerning his coming;And yet they hardened their hearts, and understood not that the law of Moses availeth nothing, except it were through the atonement of his blood;" Read Here: Mosiah 1:110-113
295. The law taught by physical means understandings about spiritual things, but in baseness and coarseness to humanity. |
"But I will give unto them the law as at the first, but it shall be after the law of a carnal commandment; for I have sworn in my wrath, that they shall not enter into my presence, into my rest, in the days of their pilgrimage. Therefore do as I have commanded thee, and be ready in the morning, and come up in the morning unto mount Sinai, and present thyself there to me, in the top of the mount."
Read Here: Exodus 34:2
296. Firstly, the Law (of Moses) harshly taught the reality of justice—i.e. justice meaning that for sin comes equal punishment. (Remember the price of man's sin was and is infinite, requiring an infinite payment). This is why harsh laws existed, such as "an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth." |
"Breach for breach, eye for eye, tooth for tooth; as he hath caused a blemish in a man, so shall it be done to him again."
Read Here: Leviticus 24:20
"And thine eye shall not pity; but life shall go for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot."
Read Here: Deuteronomy 19:21
297. The law of Moses contained 613 'thou shalt do and do not's.' Each was a symbol performed in the physical to teach about something spiritual.
298. The entire purpose of the Law of Moses was to be a type or symbol teaching of Christ. |
"And for this intent, we keep the law of Moses, it pointing our souls to him; and for their cause, it is sanctified unto us, for righteousness, even as it was accounted unto Abraham in the wilderness, to be obedient unto the commands of God, in offering up his son Isaac, which is a similitude of God and his only begotten Son."
Read Here: Jacob 3:6
299. The Israelites (and Jews specifically) largely missed the point of the Mosaic Law being a type and shadow of Christ. The Jews of Israel 'looked beyond the mark.' The people of the Book of Mormon understood it with clarity. |
"Wherefore, because of their blindness, which blindness came by looking beyond the mark, they must needs fall:"
Read Here: Jacob 3:23
"And because they desired it, God hath done it, that they may stumble."
Read Here: Jacob 3:25
"And notwithstanding we believe in Christ, we keep the law of Moses, and look forward with steadfastness unto Christ, until the law shall be fulfilled; for, for this end was the law given;
Wherefore, the law hath become dead unto us, and we are made alive in Christ, because of our faith;Yet we keep the law because of the commandments;And we talk of Christ, we rejoice in Christ, we preach of Christ, we prophecy of Christ, and we write according to our prophecies, that our children may know to what source they may look for a remission of their sins.Wherefore, we speak concerning the law, that our children may know the deadness of the law;And they, by knowing the deadness of the law, may look forward unto that life which is in Christ, and know for what end the law was given.And after the law is fulfilled in Christ, that they need not harden their hearts against him, when the law ought to be done away." Read Here: 2 Nephi 11:45-51
300. The Law of Moses was added because not because of Israel's disobedience but their obedience. |
"Wherefore then, the law was added because of transgressions, till the seed should come to whom the promise was made in the law given to Moses, who was ordained by the hand of angels to be a mediator of this first covenant, (the law.)"
Read Here: Galatians 3:19
301. For those living under The Mosaic Law, it served no other spiritual purpose if it did not point one's soul to Christ. |
"And yet they hardened their hearts, and understood not that the law of Moses availeth nothing, except it were through the atonement of his blood;"
Read Here: Mosiah 1:113
302. The Mosaic law is a complete type to point toward Him--the Lamb of God whose death would cover our sin. The whole Law—every whit, jot and tittle--pointed to Him and the everlasting sacrifice for the sin of man. Only an eternal sacrifice would suffice. God himself would atone for the sin of man. |
"And behold, this is the whole meaning of the law; every whit pointing to that great and last sacrifice; and that great and last sacrifice will be the Son of God; yea, infinite and eternal; and thus he shall bring salvation to all those who shall believe on his name;"
Read Here: Alma 16:215
303. Jews then and to this day misunderstand that the Law's purpose was to point to Jesus. The result? The Jews did not recognize Jesus. |
"I say unto you, Nay, they did not all understand the law; and this because of the hardness of their hearts: for they understood not that there could not any man be saved, except it were through the redemption of God."
Read Here: Mosiah 8:10
"And now Abinadi said unto them, I would that ye should understand that God himself shall come down among the children of men, and shall redeem his people;"
Read Here: Mosiah 8:28
304. The Law, rather than being the light pointing to Jesus would become the stumbling block to Israel. Blindness happens to Israel until they come to Christ. |
"For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits, that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fullness of the Gentiles be come in."
Read Here: Romans 11:25
"But their minds were blinded; for until this day remaineth the same veil untaken away in the reading of the old testament; which veil is done away in Christ."
Read Here: 2 Corinthians 3:14
"For the law was given through Moses, but life and truth came through Jesus Christ."
Read Here: John 1:17
"The people answered him, We have heard out of the law that Christ abideth for ever; and how sayest thou, The Son of Man must be lifted up? who is this Son of Man?"
Read Here: John 12:34
"And notwithstanding we believe in Christ, we keep the law of Moses, and look forward with steadfastness unto Christ, until the law shall be fulfilled; for, for this end was the law given;"
Read Here: 2 Nephi 11:45
"Wherefore, the law hath become dead unto us, and we are made alive in Christ, because of our faith;"
Read Here: 2 Nephi 11:46
"And they, by knowing the deadness of the law, may look forward unto that life which is in Christ, and know for what end the law was given."
Read Here: 2 Nephi 11:50
"And for this intent, we keep the law of Moses, it pointing our souls to him; and for their cause, it is sanctified unto us, for righteousness, even as it was accounted unto Abraham in the wilderness, to be obedient unto the commands of God, in offering up his son Isaac, which is a similitude of God and his only begotten Son."
Read Here: Jacob 3:6
"And moreover, I say unto you, that salvation doth not come by the law alone; and were it not for the atonement which God himself shall make for the sins and iniquities of his people, that they must unavoidably perish, notwithstanding the law of Moses."
Read Here: Mosiah 8:5
305. Redemption only comes through Christ, the One the Law (of Moses) pointed to. No flesh of a beast could ever remove the sin of man. |
"I say unto you, Nay, they did not all understand the law; and this because of the hardness of their hearts: for they understood not that there could not any man be saved, except it were through the redemption of God."
Read Here: Mosiah 8:10
"Therefore, if ye teach the Law of Moses, also teach that it is a shadow of those things which are to come;"
Read Here: Mosiah 8:90
306. While the Law of Moses was fulfilled by Christ, the covenants and words of the prophets were not at that time fulfilled. The covenants would be fulfilled in the last days, pointing to the return of Jews, Israel, Gentiles to Christ. |
"Behold, I say unto you, that the law is fulfilled that was given unto Moses.
Behold, I am he that gave the law, and I am he who covenanted with my people Israel; therefore, the law in me is fulfilled, for I have come to fulfill the law; therefore, it hath an end.Behold, I do not destroy the prophets, for as many as have not been fulfilled in me, verily, I say unto you, shall all be fulfilled.And because I said unto you, that old things hath passed away, I do not destroy that which hath been spoken concerning things which are to come.For behold, the covenant which I have made with my people, is not all fulfilled; but the law which was given unto Moses, hath an end in me.Behold, I am the law, and the light; look unto me, and endure to the end, and ye shall live, for unto him that endureth to the end will I give eternal life." Read Here: 3 Nephi 7:5-10
307. The Jews will at a future day realize their Law pointed to Christ. They will one day inquire why he bore wounds in His hands and feet. |
"But Israel, which followed after the law of righteousness, hath not attained to the law of righteousness.
Wherefore they stumbled at that stumbling stone, not by faith, but as it were by the works of the law;As it is written, Behold, I lay in Sion a stumbling stone and rock of offense; and whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed." Read Here: Romans 9:31-33
"For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits, that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fullness of the Gentiles be come in."
Read Here: Romans 11:25
"Having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart;"
Read Here: Ephesians 4:18
"And one shall say unto him, What are these wounds in thine hands? Then he shall answer, Those with which I was wounded in the house of my friends."
Read Here: Zechariah 13:6
308. After Moses death, the Hebrews fell into idolatry, despite living in the 'Promised Land.' For that disobedience came punishment and scattering. |
"And the heathen shall know that the house of Israel went into captivity for their iniquity; because they trespassed against me, therefore hid I my face from them, and gave them into the hand of their enemies; so fell they all by the sword."
Read Here: Ezekiel 39:23
309. While punishment brought scattering, scattering also transported God's people and word across the world. |
"Yet will I leave a remnant, that ye may have some that shall escape the sword among the nations, when ye shall be scattered through the countries."
Read Here: Ezekiel 6:8
"And all his fugitives with all his bands shall fall by the sword, and they that remain shall be scattered toward all winds; and ye shall know that I the Lord have spoken it."
Read Here: Ezekiel 17:21
"But I scattered them with a whirlwind among all the nations whom they knew not. Thus the land was desolate after them, that no man passed through nor returned; for they laid the pleasant land desolate."
Read Here: Zechariah 7:14
"And they who shall not be destroyed, shall be scattered among all nations."
Read Here: 2 Nephi 7:11
"Wherefore, the Jews shall be scattered among all nations; yea, and also Babylon shall be destroyed; wherefore, the Jews shall be scattered by other nations;"
Read Here: 2 Nephi 11:25
"O house of Israel, and then shall the remnants which shall be scattered abroad upon the face of the earth, be gathered in from the east, and from the west, and from the south, and from the north; and they shall be brought to the knowledge of the Lord their God, who hath redeemed them."
Read Here: 3 Nephi 9:49
310. Scattering happened at many times in Israel's history. Because scattering occurred over generations, the tribes lost tribes are unaware of their identity, future inheritance and promises. |
"And behold there are many who are already lost from the knowledge of those who are at Jerusalem."
Read Here: 1 Nephi 7:7
"But now I go unto the Father, and also to shew myself unto the lost tribes of Israel, for they are not lost unto the Father, for he knoweth whither he hath taken them."
Read Here: 3 Nephi 8:4
"And at that day shall the remnant of our seed know that they are of the house of Israel, and that they are the covenant people of the Lord;"
Read Here: 1 Nephi 4:17
"And unto him will I give commandment, that he shall do a work for the fruit of thy loins, his brethren, which shall be of great worth unto them, even to the bringing of them to the knowledge of the covenants which I have made with thy fathers."
Read Here: 2 Nephi 2:12
"And as he hath covenanted with all the house of Jacob, even so shall the covenant wherewith he hath covenanted with the house of Jacob, be fulfilled in his own due time, unto the restoring all the house of Jacob unto the knowledge of the covenant that he hath covenanted with them;"
Read Here: 3 Nephi 2:108
311. Israel forgets God and chose idolatry. God asks Can a maid forget her ornaments, or a bride her attire? yet my people have forgotten me days without number. |
"Can a maid forget her ornaments, or a bride her attire? yet my people have forgotten me days without number."
Read Here: Jeremiah 2:32
312. God states that for forgetting Him, he will 'forget' His people. Which is only a manner of speaking, but not ultimately how the story ends. |
"My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge; because thou hast rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee, that thou shalt be no priest to me; seeing thou hast forgotten the law of thy God, I will also forget thy children."
Read Here: Hosea 4:6
"Therefore, behold, I, even I, will utterly forget you, and I will forsake you, and the city that I gave you and your fathers, and cast you out of my presence;"
Read Here: Jeremiah 23:39
313. Israel's idolatry became so great, God even stated he would 'work against' His people, with their enemy, against them. |
"And I myself will fight against you with an outstretched hand and with a strong arm, even in anger, and in fury, and in great wrath."
Read Here: Jeremiah 21:5
"And I will set my face against you, and ye shall be slain before your enemies; they that hate you shall reign over you; and ye shall flee when none pursueth you."
Read Here: Leviticus 26:17
"For they will turn away thy son from following me, that they may serve other gods; so will the anger of the Lord be kindled against you, and destroy thee suddenly."
Read Here: Deuteronomy 7:4
"I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing; therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live;"
Read Here: Deuteronomy 30:19
"But if ye will not obey the voice of the Lord, but rebel against the commandment of the Lord; then shall the hand of the Lord be against you, as it was against your fathers."
Read Here: 1 Samuel 12:15
314. The final scattering came upon Jerusalem itself after Jesus' death.
315. The Jews remaining at Jerusalem would not recognize the savior when he came as a man and crucify him. |
"And when they had mocked him, they took off the purple from him, and put his own clothes on him, and led him out to crucify him."
Read Here: Mark 15:23
"And as for those who are at Jerusalem, saith the prophet, they shall be scourged by all people, because they crucify the God of Israel, and turn their hearts aside, rejecting signs and wonders, and power and glory of the God of Israel;"
Read Here: 1 Nephi 5:251
"And after he should manifest himself, they should scourge him and crucify him, according to the words of the angel, who spake it unto me."
Read Here: 2 Nephi 5:25
"And they shall crucify him: For thus it behooveth our God;
And there is none other nation on earth that would crucify their God." Read Here: 2 Nephi 7:6-7
"And even after all this, they shall consider him a man, and say that he hath a devil, and shall scourge him, and shall crucify him."
Read Here: Mosiah 1:104
316. Jesus' was born into the Jews (tribe of Judah). The Savior was crucified by His own people—the Creator dies for the Creation. It was by His plan. |
"For it behooveth the great Creator that he suffereth himself to become subject unto man in the flesh, and die for all men, that all men might become subject unto him."
Read Here: 2 Nephi 6:10
317. No other people would have crucified their God. |
"And as for those who are at Jerusalem, saith the prophet, they shall be scourged by all people, because they crucify the God of Israel, and turn their hearts aside, rejecting signs and wonders, and power and glory of the God of Israel;"
Read Here: 1 Nephi 5:251
"And they shall crucify him: For thus it behooveth our God;
And there is none other nation on earth that would crucify their God." Read Here: 2 Nephi 7:6-7
318. For their crime, scripture prophesies they would wander in the flesh, being despised. |
"My God will cast them away, because they did not hearken unto him; and they shall be wanderers among the nations."
Read Here: Hosea 9:17
"And because they turn their hearts aside, saith the prophet, and have despised the Holy One of Israel, they shall wander in the flesh, and perish, and become a hiss and a byword, and be hated among all nations;"
Read Here: 1 Nephi 5:252
"And because of the mercies of the Father unto the Gentiles, and also the judgments of the Father upon my people, who are of the house of Israel, verily, verily, I say unto you, that after all this, and I have caused my people who are of the house of Israel, to be smitten, and to be afflicted, and to be slain, and to be cast out from among them, and to become hated by them, and to become a hiss and a byword among them."
Read Here: 3 Nephi 7:33
319. For crucifying the Messiah, the remaining Jews became wanderers without a homeland, a hiss and byword among nations. But they would not be forgotten in the promises of the Lord. |
"And because they turn their hearts aside, saith the prophet, and have despised the Holy One of Israel, they shall wander in the flesh, and perish, and become a hiss and a byword, and be hated among all nations;"
Read Here: 1 Nephi 5:252
"And because of the mercies of the Father unto the Gentiles, and also the judgments of the Father upon my people, who are of the house of Israel, verily, verily, I say unto you, that after all this, and I have caused my people who are of the house of Israel, to be smitten, and to be afflicted, and to be slain, and to be cast out from among them, and to become hated by them, and to become a hiss and a byword among them."
Read Here: 3 Nephi 7:33
"Yea, and ye need not any longer hiss, nor spurn, nor make game of the Jews, nor any of the remnant of the house of Israel, for behold the Lord remembereth his covenant unto them, and he will do unto them according to that which he hath sworn;"
Read Here: 3 Nephi 13:61
"But behold, Zion hath said, The Lord hath forsaken me, and my Lord hath forgotten me; but he will shew that he hath not."
Read Here: 1 Nephi 6:44
"And after they shall have been brought down low in the dust, even that they are not, yet the words of the righteous shall be written, and the prayers of the faithful shall be heard, and all those who have dwindled in unbelief, shall not be forgotten;"
Read Here: 2 Nephi 11:83
"But behold, I will return all these things upon your own heads; for I, the Lord, hath not forgotten my people."
Read Here: 2 Nephi 12:52
320. The Final Prophecy assures the Lord restores the literal tribes of Israel to their homeland and especially to a knowledge of Jesus. |
"And I will bring them out from the people, and gather them from the countries, and will bring them to their own land, and feed them upon the mountains of Israel by the rivers, and in all the inhabited places of the country."
Read Here: Ezekiel 34:13
"Nevertheless, the Lord will be merciful unto them, that when they shall come to the knowledge of their Redeemer, they shall be gathered together again to the lands of their inheritance."
Read Here: 2 Nephi 5:29
"And it shall come to pass that the Jews which are scattered, also shall begin to believe in Christ: and they shall begin to gather in upon the face of the land;"
Read Here: 2 Nephi 12:85
"Yea, and ye need not any longer hiss, nor spurn, nor make game of the Jews, nor any of the remnant of the house of Israel, for behold the Lord remembereth His covenant unto them, and he will do unto them according to that which he hath sworn;"
-- 3 Nephi 13:61
321. The savior would be born to a tribe of Israel, namely the Jews (Judah's tribe).
322. Not by coincidence, Jesus was born in the same city where sacrificial lambs were raised—Bethlehem. Wrapped in the same swaddling clothes shepherds used to protect those lambs from blemishes, the unblemished Lamb of God humbly entered the world.
323. God the Father had taken on flesh to be the savior of mankind. |
"All things are delivered to me of my Father; and no man knoweth that the Son is the Father, and the Father is the Son, but him to whom the Son will reveal it."
Read Here: Luke 10:23
"Teach them that redemption cometh through Christ the Lord, who is the very eternal Father. Amen."
Read Here: Mosiah 8:91
"Now Zeezrom saith again unto him, Is the Son of God the very eternal Father?
And Amulek said unto him, Yea, he is the very eternal Father of heaven and of earth, and all things which in them is;" Read Here: Alma 8:93-94
324. The Eternal God steps out of Eternity to live and die as man, bringing an eternal payment for sin, so man could dwell with God again. |
"And now Abinadi said unto them, I would that ye should understand that God himself shall come down among the children of men, and shall redeem his people;"
Read Here: Mosiah 8:28
"And now the plan of mercy could not be brought about, except an atonement should be made; therefore God himself atoneth for the sins of the world, to bring about the plan of mercy, to appease the demands of justice, that God might be a perfect, just God, and a merciful God also."
Read Here: Alma 19:97
"And moreover, I say unto you, that salvation doth not come by the law alone; and were it not for the atonement which God himself shall make for the sins and iniquities of his people, that they must unavoidably perish, notwithstanding the law of Moses."
Read Here: Mosiah 8:5
325. Because man's sin occurred this world of the physical in time and space, the ransom requires the savior must step out of eternity into physical space and time to pay its penalty. Justice—i.e. payment of the debt--could not occur any other way. The creator himself could only pay this price. This was The Law's purpose: The Atonement for Man's sin by man's Creator. |
"And shall make known to all kindreds, tongues and people, that the Lamb of God is the son of the Eternal Father, and the Savior of the world; and that all men must come unto him or they can not be saved;"
Read Here: 1 Nephi 3:193
"And behold, this is the whole meaning of the law; every whit pointing to that great and last sacrifice; and that great and last sacrifice will be the Son of God; yea, infinite and eternal; and thus he shall bring salvation to all those who shall believe on his name;"
Read Here: Alma 16:215
326. The thieves depicted on the left and right of Jesus represent all humanity in our death. We are all spiritual criminals worthy of death. We are found either on His right hand confessing him Messiah or on His left hand not knowing who he is. Those on His right hand experience Eternal Life.
327. The Savior was the Eternal Father. |
"Now Zeezrom saith again unto him, Is the Son of God the very eternal Father?
And Amulek said unto him, Yea, he is the very eternal Father of heaven and of earth, and all things which in them is;" Read Here: Alma 8:93-94
Now Zeezrom saith again unto him, Is the Son of God the very eternal Father? And Amulek said unto him, Yea, he is the very eternal Father of heaven and of earth, and all things which in them is; -- Alma 8:93-94
The story of the Old Testament was that a sacrifice was required to absolve their sin. That sacrifice, Jesus Christ—God incarnate—was prophesied since the beginning.
328. The first man, Adam, was a type for Christ. God's spirit literally gave life to what was otherwise dust of the earth. The blending of the celestial with the terrestrial. Likewise God's spirit would occupy a physical body one day, to bear the sin of humanity. Because of the flesh, he would be called the Son of God. |
"And because he dwelleth in flesh, he shall be called the Son of God:"
Read Here: Mosiah 8:29
329. Jesus told the disciples about how the prophets testified of him, and they in turn bore record. |
"And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself."
Read Here: Luke 24:26
330. Prophets of old were slain for showing the coming of the Just One (Jesus). |
"Which of the prophets have not your fathers persecuted? and they have slain them which showed before of the coming of the Just One; of whom ye have been now the betrayers and murderers."
Read Here: Acts 7:52
331. The Law of Moses was given by Jesus and it all pointed toward him. |
"And he said unto them, These are the words which I spake unto you while I was yet with you, that all things must be fulfilled which were written in the law of Moses, and in the prophets, and in the Psalms, concerning me."
Read Here: Luke 24:43
"And behold, this is the whole meaning of the law; every whit pointing to that great and last sacrifice; and that great and last sacrifice will be the Son of God; yea, infinite and eternal; and thus he shall bring salvation to all those who shall believe on his name;"
Read Here: Alma 16:215
"The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God; as it is written in the prophets. Behold, I send my messenger before thy face, which shall prepare thy way before thee."
Read Here: Mark 1:1
"Yea, and all the prophets from Samuel and those that follow after, as many as have spoken, have likewise foretold of these days."
Read Here: Acts 3:24
"And his father Zacharias was filled with the Holy Ghost, and prophesied, saying,
Blessed be the Lord God of Israel; for he hath visited and redeemed his people,And hath raised up an horn of salvation for us, in the house of his servant David,As he spake by the mouth of his holy prophets, ever since the world began," Read Here: Luke 1:66-69
332. Abraham, the father of the Hebrews, rejoiced to see the day of Jesus. |
"Your father Abraham rejoiced to see my day; and he saw it, and was glad."
Read Here: John 8:56
333. Certain types and metaphors of the Old Testament point to Jesus.
334. Unblemished Lamb
335. Fiery flying serpent/serpent on pole. |
"And the Lord sent fiery serpents among the people, and they bit the people; and much people of Israel died.
Therefore the people came to Moses, and said, We have sinned, for we have spoken against the Lord, and against thee; pray unto the Lord, that he take away the serpents from us. And Moses prayed for the people.And the Lord said unto Moses, Make thee a fiery serpent, and set it upon a pole; and it shall come to pass, that every one that is bitten, when he looketh upon it, shall live.And Moses made a serpent of brass, and put it upon a pole; and it came to pass, that if a serpent had bitten any man, when he beheld the serpent of brass, he lived." Read Here: Numbers 21:6-9
"And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up;"
Read Here: John 3:14
"Yea, did he not bear record, that the Son of God should come? And as he lifted up the brazen serpent in the wilderness, even so shall he be lifted up who should come."
Read Here: Helaman 3:47
"Behold, he was spoken of by Moses; yea, and behold, a type was raised up in the wilderness, that whosoever would look upon it might live. And many did look and live.
But few understood the meaning of those things, and this because of the hardness of their hearts.But there were many who were so hardened that they would not look; therefore they perished." Read Here: Alma 16:191-193
336. Moses said a prophet would becoming, and to him Israel should harken. |
"The Lord thy God will raise up unto thee a Prophet from the midst of thee, of thy brethren, like unto me; unto him ye shall hearken;"
Read Here: Deuteronomy 18:15
337. Jesus verified that He was the one of whom Moses spoke. |
"Behold, I am he of whom Moses spake, saying, A prophet shall the Lord your God raise up unto you of your brethren, like unto me, him shall ye hear in all things whatsoever he shall say unto you."
Read Here: 3 Nephi 9:60
"Do not think that I will accuse you to the Father; there is Moses who accuseth you, in whom ye trust.
For had ye believed Moses, ye would have believed me; for he wrote of me.But if ye believe not his writings, how shall ye believe my words?" Read Here: John 5:46-48
"Philip findeth Nathanael, and saith unto him, We have found him, of whom Moses in the law, and the prophets, did write, Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph."
Read Here: John 1:45
338. Lost words of prophets all spoke of Jesus. |
"Do ye remember to have read what Zenos, the prophet of old, has said concerning prayer or worship?
For he said, Thou art merciful O God, for thou hast heard my prayer, even when I was in the wilderness: yea, thou wast merciful when I prayed concerning those who were mine enemies, and thou didst turn them to me:Yea, O God, and thou wast merciful unto me when I did cry unto thee in my field; when I did cry unto thee in my prayer, and thou didst hear me.And again, O God, when I did turn to my house thou didst hear me in my prayer.And when I did turn unto my closet, O Lord, and prayed unto thee, thou didst hear me; yea, thou art merciful unto thy children when they cry unto thee to be heard of thee, and not of men, and thou wilt hear them;Yea, O God, thou hast been merciful unto me and heard my cries in the midst of thy congregations; yea, and thou hast also heard me when I have been cast out, and have been despised by mine enemies;Yea, thou didst hear my cries, and wast angry with mine enemies, and thou didst visit them in thine anger, with speedy destruction; and 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.And now Alma said unto them, Do ye believe those scriptures which have been written by them of old?Behold, if ye do, ye must believe what Zenos said; for behold, he said, Thou hast turned away thy judgments, because of thy Son.Now, behold, my brethren, I would ask, if ye have read the scriptures? If ye have, how can ye disbelieve on the Son of God?For it is not written that Zenos alone spake of these things, but Zenock also spake of these things; for behold, he said, Thou art angry, O Lord, with this people, because they will not understand of thy mercies which thou hast bestowed upon them, because of thy Son.And now my brethren, ye see that a second prophet of old has testified of the Son of God; and because the people would not understand his words, they stoned him to death.But behold, this is not all; these are not the only ones who have spoken concerning the Son of God." Read Here: Alma 16:177-190
Justin the Martyr, 1st century AD accused the Jews of removing passages from synagogue copies of scripture (see Dialog with Trypho, 72) . One passage he claimed was from the book of Ezra:
"This Passover is our Savior and our refuge. And if you have understood, and your heart has taken it in, that we shall humble him on a standard, and thereafter hope in him, then this place shall not be forsaken forever, says the God of hosts. But if you will not believe him, and listen to His declaration, you shall be a laughingstock to the nations."
The discovery of a pre-Christian fragment among the Dead Sea Scrolls, found in Qumran cave 4 and known as fragment 4Q246, this fragment of a pre-Christian apocalypse reveals the coming of the Son of God. (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/4Q246)
Old Testament prophets foretold Jesus:
339. He would be born of a virgin. |
"Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and shall bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel."
Read Here: Isaiah 7:14
"Now, as it is written, the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise. After his mother, Mary, was espoused to Joseph, before they came together she was found with child of the Holy Ghost."
Read Here: Matthew 2:1
340. Born in Bethlehem. |
"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."
Read Here: Micah 5:2
"And they said unto him, It is written by the prophets, that he should be born in Bethlehem of Judea, for thus have they said,"
Read Here: Matthew 3:5
341. He would be slain for our transgressions with transgressors. |
"Therefore will I divide him a portion with the great, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong; because he hath poured out his soul unto death; and he was numbered with the transgressors; and he bare the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors."
Read Here: Isaiah 53:12
"And the scripture was fulfilled which said, And he was numbered with the transgressors."
Read Here: Mark 15:33
342. He would be despised. |
"He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief; and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not."
Read Here: Isaiah 53:3
"Therefore the Jews sought the more to kill him, because he had not only broken the Sabbath, but said also that God was his father, making himself equal with God."
Read Here: John 5:18
"Look unto me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth; for I am God, and there is none else."
Read Here: Isaiah 45:22
"Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me."
Read Here: John 14:6
344. He would be rejected. |
"He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief; and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not."
Read Here: Isaiah 53:3
"But though he had done so many miracles before them, yet they believed not on him;"
Read Here: John 12:37
"And he began to teach them, that the Son of Man must suffer many things, and be rejected of the elders, and the chief priests, and scribes, and be killed, and after three days rise again."
Read Here: Mark 8:33
345. He would rise from the dead. |
"Now the Lord had prepared a great fish to swallow up Jonah. And Jonah was in the belly of the fish three days and three nights."
Read Here: Jonah 1:17
"And said unto them, Thus it is written, and thus it behooved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day;"
Read Here: Luke 24:45
346. Angels would watch over him. |
"For he shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways."
Read Here: Psalms 91:11
"For it is written, He shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee; and in his hands they shall bear thee up, lest at any time thou dash thy foot against a stone."
Read Here: Luke 4:10
347. He would be a stumbling block to the Jews. |
"Therefore thus saith the Lord God, Behold, I lay in Zion for a foundation a stone, a tried stone, a precious cornerstone, a sure foundation; he that believeth shall not make haste."
Read Here: Isaiah 28:16
"As it is written, Behold, I lay in Sion a stumbling stone and rock of offense; and whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed."
Read Here: Romans 9:33
348. Whoever believed on him (i.e. to keep His commandments) would not perish. |
"Therefore thus saith the Lord God, Behold, I lay in Zion for a foundation a stone, a tried stone, a precious cornerstone, a sure foundation; he that believeth shall not make haste."
Read Here: Isaiah 28:16
"To him give all the prophets witness, that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins."
Read Here: Acts 10:43
349. He would be the unblemished sacrifice of God. |
"And Abraham said, My son, God will provide himself a lamb for a burnt offering. So they went both of them together; and they came to the place of which God had told him."
Read Here: Genesis 22:10
"The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and said; Behold the Lamb of God, who taketh away the sin of the world!"
Read Here: John 1:29
350. None of His bones would be broken. |
"In one house shall it be eaten; thou shalt not carry forth aught of the flesh abroad out of the house; neither shall ye break a bone thereof."
Read Here: Exodus 12:46
"For these things were done, that the scripture should be fulfilled, A bone of him shall not be broken."
Read Here: John 19:36
351. Jesus would require the sacrifice of a broken heart and contrite spirit. |
"The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise."
Read Here: Psalms 51:17
"For all those things hath mine hand made, and all those things have been, saith the Lord; but to this man will I look, even to him that is poor and of a contrite spirit, and trembleth at my word."
Read Here: Isaiah 66:2
"And ye shall offer up unto me no more the shedding of blood; yea, your sacrifices and your burnt offerings shall be done away, for I will accept none of your sacrifices and your burnt offerings; and ye shall offer for a sacrifice unto me a broken heart and a contrite spirit."
Read Here: 3 Nephi 4:49
352. Would be crucified by the Jews. |
"And I will pour upon the house of David, and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the spirit of grace and of supplications; and they shall look upon me whom they have pierced, and they shall mourn for him, as one mourneth for his only son, and shall be in bitterness for him, as one that is in bitterness for his firstborn."
Read Here: Zechariah 12:10
"Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made that same Jesus whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ."
Read Here: Acts 2:36
353. He would bring salvation to the Gentiles. |
"And he said, It is a light thing that thou shouldest be my servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob, and to restore the preserved of Israel; I will also give thee for a light to the Gentiles, that thou mayest be my salvation unto the end of the earth."
Read Here: Isaiah 49:6
"And the Gentiles shall come to thy light, and kings to the brightness of thy rising."
Read Here: Isaiah 60:3
"And that the Gentiles might glorify God for his mercy; as it is written, For this cause I will confess to thee among the Gentiles, and sing unto thy name."
Read Here: Romans 15:9
354. His redemption of His people would include riding on a donkey's colt. |
"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."
Read Here: Zechariah 9:9
"And Jesus, when he had sent two of his disciples and got a young ass, sat thereon; as it is written,"
Read Here: John 12:14
355. He would be esteemed as naught. |
"He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief; and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not."
Read Here: Isaiah 53:3
"And he answered and told them, saying, Elias verily cometh first, and prepareth all things; and teacheth you of the prophets; how it is written of the Son of Man, that he must suffer many things, and be set at naught."
Read Here: Mark 9:10
356. One who ate bread with Him would betray Him. |
"Yea, mine own familiar friend, in whom I trusted, which did eat of my bread, hath lifted up his heel against me."
Read Here: Psalms 41:9
"I speak not of you all; I know whom I have chosen; but that the Scripture may be fulfilled, He that eateth bread with me hath lifted up his heel against me."
Read Here: John 13:18
357. Would be hated without cause. |
"Let not them that are mine enemies wrongfully rejoice over me; neither let them wink with the eye that hate me without a cause."
Read Here: Psalms 35:19
"But this cometh to pass, that the word might be fulfilled that is written in their law, They hated me without a cause."
Read Here: John 15:25
358. None who were 'given' to him would be lost. |
"The Lord redeemeth the soul of his servants; and none of them that trust in him shall be desolate."
Read Here: Psalms 34:22
"That the saying might be fulfilled, which he spake, Of them which thou gavest me have I lost none."
Read Here: John 18:9
359. His garments would be parted and gambled for. |
"They said therefore among themselves, Let us not rend it, but cast lots for it, whose it shall be; that the Scripture might be fulfilled, which saith, they parted my raiment among them, and for my vesture they did cast lots. These things therefore the soldiers did."
Read Here: John 19:24
360. Jonah's three days would be a type for Christ's three days of death. |
"Now the Lord had prepared a great fish to swallow up Jonah. And Jonah was in the belly of the fish three days and three nights."
Read Here: Jonah 1:17
"Verily I say unto you, There shall no sign be give unto this generation, save the sign of the prophet Jonah; for as Jonah was three days and three nights in the whale's belly, so likewise shall the Son of Man be buried in the bowels of the earth."
Read Here: Mark 8:12
361. The Cross: Jesus' crucifixion, was the most spiritually significant event in this world's history: the payment of humanities sin. Yet that moment is shared with two thieves. Why? The thieves represent all humanity—they represent you and me. |
"And with him they crucified two thieves, the one on his right hand, the other on his left."
Read Here: Mark 15:32
362. The death of sinful two thieves with the Creator symbolizes final judgement: the repentant sinner whose heart changed is on His right hand and enters paradise with the savior; the unrepentant sinner (on His left) justly suffers justice for their crimes. The choice of mercy for sin or justice for sin is the eternal choice of man.
363. In Jesus death, we (the truly guilty ones) are found either on His right hand or on His left, just as the thieves.
364. The thieves, both guilty of their crimes, both worthy of their punishment, share one eternal difference: Once recognizes Jesus as the Messiah, the other does not. To Him, the thief on His right, is offered the hope of paradise. No hope is extended to the other thief.
365. The thieves on the cross with the savior in the middle is the story of all humanity. We are guilty of our crimes, and without the mercy of Jesus, would face the pain of eternal death. Those who die in Christ shall have life in Him again, those who do not, shall accept the just punishment for their sin, experiencing guilt which can be neither remedied nor forgotten. |
"Then were there two thieves crucified with him; one on the right hand, and another on the left."
Read Here: Matthew 27:43
"And with him they crucified two thieves, the one on his right hand, the other on his left."
Read Here: Mark 15:32
"And when they were come to the place which is called Calvary, there they crucified him, and the malefactors; one on the right hand, and the other on the left."
Read Here: Luke 23:34
366. All Israel was under the bondage of the Mosaic Law until the death of Jesus. At that time he made all things new. The old Law was done. |
"And by him all that believe are justified from all things, from which ye could not be justified by the law of Moses."
Read Here: Acts 13:39
"Wherefore then, the law was added because of transgressions, till the seed should come to whom the promise was made in the law given to Moses, who was ordained by the hand of angels to be a mediator of this first covenant, (the law.)"
Read Here: Galatians 3:19
"I say unto you that it is expedient that ye should keep the Law of Moses as yet; but I say unto you, that the time shall come when it shall no more be expedient to keep the Law of Moses."
Read Here: Mosiah 8:4
"Therefore, if ye teach the Law of Moses, also teach that it is a shadow of those things which are to come;"
Read Here: Mosiah 8:90
"And they did also bury their weapons of war, according as their brethren had, and they began to be a righteous people; and they did walk in the ways of the Lord, and did observe to keep his commandments, and his statutes, yea, and they did keep the Law of Moses; for it was expedient that they should keep the Law of Moses as yet, for it was not all fulfilled.
But notwithstanding the Law of Moses, they did look forward to the coming of Christ, concerning that the Law of Moses was a type of his coming, and believing that they must keep those outward performances, until the time that he should be revealed unto them." Read Here: Alma 14:74-75
"Now they did not suppose that salvation came by the Law of Moses; but the Law of Moses did serve to strengthen their faith in Christ;"
Read Here: Alma 14:76
"And as many as have received me, to them have I given to become the sons of God; and even so will I to as many as shall believe on my name, for behold, by me redemption cometh, and in me is the Law of Moses fulfilled."
Read Here: 3 Nephi 4:47
"For behold, the covenant which I have made with my people, is not all fulfilled; but the law which was given unto Moses, hath an end in me."
Read Here: 3 Nephi 7:9
"And they did not walk any more after the performances and ordinances of the Law of Moses, but they did walk after the commandments which they had received from their Lord and their God, continuing in fasting and prayer, and in meeting together oft, both to pray and to hear the word of the Lord."
Read Here: 4 Nephi 1:13
"And not as Moses, which put a veil over his face, that the children of Israel could not steadfastly look to the end of that which is abolished;
But their minds were blinded; for until this day remaineth the same veil untaken away in the reading of the old testament; which veil is done away in Christ.But even unto this day, when Moses is read, the veil is upon their heart.Nevertheless, when their heart shall turn to the Lord, the veil shall be taken away." Read Here: 2 Corinthians 3:13-16
367. The Law of Moses was fulfilled in Jesus death. No longer would the Mosaic law to be the law of the Church, but instead every word which came from Jesus would be His peoples' law. |
"And after the law is fulfilled in Christ, that they need not harden their hearts against him, when the law ought to be done away."
Read Here: 2 Nephi 11:51
"And notwithstanding we believe in Christ, we keep the law of Moses, and look forward with steadfastness unto Christ, until the law shall be fulfilled; for, for this end was the law given;"
Read Here: 2 Nephi 11:45
"I say unto you that it is expedient that ye should keep the Law of Moses as yet; but I say unto you, that the time shall come when it shall no more be expedient to keep the Law of Moses."
Read Here: Mosiah 8:4
"But notwithstanding the Law of Moses, they did look forward to the coming of Christ, concerning that the Law of Moses was a type of his coming, and believing that they must keep those outward performances, until the time that he should be revealed unto them."
Read Here: Alma 14:75
"And they were strict in observing the ordinances of God, according to the Law of Moses; for they were taught to keep the Law of Moses, until it should be fulfilled;"
Read Here: Alma 16:4
"And as many as have received me, to them have I given to become the sons of God; and even so will I to as many as shall believe on my name, for behold, by me redemption cometh, and in me is the Law of Moses fulfilled."
Read Here: 3 Nephi 4:47
"And it came to pass that when Jesus had said these words, he perceived that there were some among them who marveled, and wondered what he would concerning the Law of Moses; for they understood not the saying, that old things had passed away, and that all things had become new.
And he said unto them, Marvel not that I said unto you, that old things had passed away, and that all things had become new.Behold, I say unto you, that the law is fulfilled that was given unto Moses.Behold, I am he that gave the law, and I am he who covenanted with my people Israel; therefore, the law in me is fulfilled, for I have come to fulfill the law; therefore, it hath an end." Read Here: 3 Nephi 7:3-6
368. The Old Covenant through the Mosaic Law died. A new covenant was established in Christ, with the old done away. |
"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;"
Read Here: Jeremiah 31:31
"Now this mediator was not a mediator of the new covenant; but there is one mediator of the new covenant, who is Christ, as it is written in the law concerning the promises made to Abraham and his seed. Now Christ is the mediator of life; for this is the promise which God made unto Abraham."
Read Here: Galatians 3:20
"And for this cause he is the mediator of the new covenant, that by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions that were under the first covenant, they which are called might receive the promise of eternal inheritance."
Read Here: Hebrews 9:15
369. Marriage and the passing of a spouse was a type for understanding the old and new laws. As the first wife died, the man was then (and only then) free to remarry. |
"The wife is bound by the law as long as her husband liveth; but if her husband be dead, she is at liberty to be married to whom she will; only in the Lord."
Read Here: 1 Corinthians 7:39
370. When the Mosaic law died, God's people became joined to the new covenant in Christ. The performances and ordinances of the old law were no longer required and not accepted. |
"The wife is bound by the law as long as her husband liveth; but if her husband be dead, she is at liberty to be married to whom she will; only in the Lord."
Read Here: 1 Corinthians 7:39
"For the woman which hath a husband is bound by the law to her husband only as long as he liveth; for if the husband be dead, she is loosed from the law of her husband."
Read Here: Romans 7:2
371. Jesus resurrection ended the Mosaic Law. Now we were to follow (only) every word that came from Christ. Jesus clarified, however, to the Nephites that this did not mean that the words of the prophets were yet fulfilled. Only the Law given to Moses was fulfilled, because by dying and being resurrected, HE FULFILLED THE LAW. |
"And as many as have received me, to them have I given to become the sons of God; and even so will I to as many as shall believe on my name, for behold, by me redemption cometh, and in me is the Law of Moses fulfilled."
Read Here: 3 Nephi 4:47
"And the words which he shall speak unto you, shall be the law which ye shall do."
Read Here: 2 Nephi 11:59
"The Lord thy God will raise up unto thee a Prophet from the midst of thee, of thy brethren, like unto me; unto him ye shall hearken;
According to all that thou desiredst of the Lord thy God in Horeb in the day of the assembly, saying, Let me not hear again the voice of the Lord my God, neither let me see this great fire any more, that I die not.And the Lord said unto me, They have well spoken that which they have spoken.I will raise them up a Prophet from among their brethren, like unto thee, and will put my words in his mouth; and he shall speak unto them all that I shall command him." Read Here: Deuteronomy 18:15-18
"And they, by knowing the deadness of the law, may look forward unto that life which is in Christ, and know for what end the law was given."
Read Here: 2 Nephi 11:50
"And inasmuch as it shall be expedient, ye must keep the performances and ordinances of God, until the law shall be fulfilled which was given unto Moses."
Read Here: 2 Nephi 11:57
"For the right way is to believe in Christ and deny him not; for by denying him, ye also deny the prophets and the law."
Read Here: 2 Nephi 11:54
"And for this intent, we keep the law of Moses, it pointing our souls to him; and for their cause, it is sanctified unto us, for righteousness, even as it was accounted unto Abraham in the wilderness, to be obedient unto the commands of God, in offering up his son Isaac, which is a similitude of God and his only begotten Son."
Read Here: Jacob 3:6
372. When Moses dies in the wilderness and Joshua takes the nation Israel into the Promised Land, it is by no coincidence they crossed the Jordan River. Jesus was baptized in the Jordan, symbolically showing his death and resurrection bring life, but the only way to leave the wilderness of this life is by him, into life eternal. The Jordan became symbolic of the separation of the life in the world and eternity. |
"The wife is bound by the law as long as her husband liveth; but if her husband be dead, she is at liberty to be married to whom she will; only in the Lord."
Read Here: 1 Corinthians 7:39
"For the woman which hath a husband is bound by the law to her husband only as long as he liveth; for if the husband be dead, she is loosed from the law of her husband."
Read Here: Romans 7:2
373. Jesus expounds to the Nephites that the Mosaic law ended. All God's people were to follow the laws of Jesus instead. |
"And as many as have received me, to them have I given to become the sons of God; and even so will I to as many as shall believe on my name, for behold, by me redemption cometh, and in me is the Law of Moses fulfilled.
I am the light and the life of the world. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end.And ye shall offer up unto me no more the shedding of blood; yea, your sacrifices and your burnt offerings shall be done away, for I will accept none of your sacrifices and your burnt offerings; and ye shall offer for a sacrifice unto me a broken heart and a contrite spirit.And whoso cometh unto me with a broken heart and a contrite spirit, him will I baptize with fire and with the Holy Ghost, even as the Lamanites, because of their faith in me, at the time of their conversion, were baptized with fire and with the Holy Ghost, and they knew it not." Read Here: 3 Nephi 4:47-50
"Think not that I am come to destroy the law or the prophets. I am not come to destroy but to fulfill;
For verily I say unto you, One jot nor one tittle hath not passed away from the law, but in me it hath all been fulfilled.And behold I have given you the law and the commandments of my Father, that ye shall believe in me, and that ye shall repent of your sins, and come unto me with a broken heart and a contrite spirit.Behold, ye have the commandments before you, and the law is fulfilled; therefore come unto me and be ye saved;For verily I say unto you, that except ye shall keep my commandments, which I have commanded you at this time, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven." Read Here: 3 Nephi 5:64-68
"That ye may be the children of your Father who is in heaven; for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good; therefore those things which were of old time, which were under the law, in me are all fulfilled.
Old things are done away, and all things have become new; therefore I would that ye should be perfect even as I, or your Father who is in heaven is perfect." Read Here: 3 Nephi 5:91-92
"And it came to pass that when Jesus had said these words, he perceived that there were some among them who marveled, and wondered what he would concerning the Law of Moses; for they understood not the saying, that old things had passed away, and that all things had become new.
And he said unto them, Marvel not that I said unto you, that old things had passed away, and that all things had become new.Behold, I say unto you, that the law is fulfilled that was given unto Moses.Behold, I am he that gave the law, and I am he who covenanted with my people Israel; therefore, the law in me is fulfilled, for I have come to fulfill the law; therefore, it hath an end.Behold, I do not destroy the prophets, for as many as have not been fulfilled in me, verily, I say unto you, shall all be fulfilled.And because I said unto you, that old things hath passed away, I do not destroy that which hath been spoken concerning things which are to come.For behold, the covenant which I have made with my people, is not all fulfilled; but the law which was given unto Moses, hath an end in me." Read Here: 3 Nephi 7:3-9
"Behold, I am he of whom Moses spake, saying, A prophet shall the Lord your God raise up unto you of your brethren, like unto me, him shall ye hear in all things whatsoever he shall say unto you."
Read Here: 3 Nephi 9:60
374. Justice means that transgressing the law requires punishment. Because man transgressed eternal laws—i.e. sinning against God—the punishment therefore was eternal. |
"Wherefore, the ends of the law which the Holy One hath given, unto the inflicting of the punishment which is affixed, which punishment that is affixed is in opposition to that of the happiness which is affixed, to answer the ends of the atonement;"
Read Here: 2 Nephi 1:80
375. The punishment meant eternal separation from God in misery, having a full awareness of our sin and guilt for eternity. This is called 'The Second Death' which is final separation from God. |
"Blessed and holy are they who have part in the first resurrection; on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years."
Read Here: Revelation 20:6
"And now behold I say unto you, then cometh a death, even a second death, which is a spiritual death;"
Read Here: Alma 9:28
"Therefore God gave unto them commandments, after having made known unto them the plan of redemption, that they should not do evil, the penalty thereof being a second death, which was an everlasting death as to things pertaining unto righteousness;"
Read Here: Alma 9:52
"But whosoever repenteth not, is hewn down and cast into the fire, and there cometh upon them again a spiritual death, yea, a second death, for they are cut off again as to things pertaining to righteousness;"
Read Here: Helaman 5:73
376. But because man had no way to pay an eternal Debt, God himself intervened to pay the price. Humanity was in the grasp of Justice, to be eternally cut off from His presence. |
"And thus we see that all mankind were fallen, and they were in the grasp of justice; yea, the justice of God, which consigned them for ever to be cut off from his presence."
Read Here: Alma 19:96
377. To satisfy the eternal law of Justice, An eternal everlasting payment was offered—the death of the creator for the creation. That was the only possible way to pay the debt. THIS WAS CALLED THE PLAN OF MERCY. |
"And now the plan of mercy could not be brought about, except an atonement should be made; therefore God himself atoneth for the sins of the world, to bring about the plan of mercy, to appease the demands of justice, that God might be a perfect, just God, and a merciful God also."
Read Here: Alma 19:97
378. The Plan of Mercy was to save our Souls, not our temporal bodies. |
"Therefore, according to justice, the plan of redemption could not be brought about, only, on conditions of repentance of men in this probationary state; yea, this preparatory state; for except it were for these conditions, mercy could not take effect except it should destroy the work of justice."
Read Here: Alma 19:94
379. Mercy did not and does not mean that God could ignore the crime, but mercy was offered freely to any who will come to him. |
"What, do ye suppose that mercy can rob justice? I say unto you, Nay; not one whit. If so, God would cease to be God."
Read Here: Alma 19:107
380. The plan of Mercy allowed for Repentance to have any merit. Without the plan of Mercy (i.e. Jesus' death) repentance could have no effect. It could only make a difference because of the eternal sacrifice. |
"Now repentance could not come unto men, except there were a punishment, which also was as eternal as the life of the soul should be, affixed opposite to the plan of happiness, which was as eternal also as the life of the soul."
Read Here: Alma 19:98
"Now there was a punishment affixed, and a just law given, which brought remorse of conscience unto man."
Read Here: Alma 19:100
"But there is a law given and a punishment affixed, and repentance granted; which repentance, mercy claimeth: otherwise, justice claimeth the creature, and executeth the law, and the law inflicteth the punishment; if not so, the works of justice would be destroyed, and God would cease to be God."
Read Here: Alma 19:104
381. Justice could not be ignored, or sidestepped, even by God. |
"Now the work of justice could not be destroyed: if so God would cease to be God."
Read Here: Alma 19:95
382. Following the plan of Justice means one is punished for the crime. |
"Yea, neither can the Lord redeem such: for he can not deny himself; for he can not deny justice when it has its claim."
Read Here: Mosiah 8:65
"For on such the plan of redemption could have no power, for the works of justice could not be destroyed, according to the supreme goodness of God."
Read Here: Alma 9:53
383. Judgement in this life means mankind is judged of its works. Without mercy, we are punished for our works. |
"And it is requisite with the justice of God, that men should be judged according to their works; and if their works were good in this life, and the desires of their hearts were good, that they should also, at the last day, be restored unto that which is good;"
Read Here: Alma 19:66
384. Following the plant of Mercy means one comes to Jesus to pay the debt on His behalf. Repentance only has any meaning because of the sacrifice of Jesus. Without His sacrifice, repentance would be meaningless. |
"This being the intent of this last sacrifice, to bring about the bowels of mercy, which overpowereth justice and bringeth about means unto men that they may have faith unto repentance."
Read Here: Alma 16:216
"Therefore, according to justice, the plan of redemption could not be brought about, only, on conditions of repentance of men in this probationary state; yea, this preparatory state; for except it were for these conditions, mercy could not take effect except it should destroy the work of justice."
Read Here: Alma 19:94
385. Mercy—i.e. God's forgiveness—could not occur without an eternal payment. This is why 'mercy can not rob justice.' |
"Therefore, according to justice, the plan of redemption could not be brought about, only, on conditions of repentance of men in this probationary state; yea, this preparatory state; for except it were for these conditions, mercy could not take effect except it should destroy the work of justice."
Read Here: Alma 19:94
386. 'Coming to Jesus' means acknowledging him as savior, covenanting with him, serving him faithfully, standing as a faithful witness. |
"Yea, and are willing to mourn with those that mourn; yea, and comfort those that stand in need of comfort, and to stand as witnesses of God at all times, and in all things, and in all places that ye may be in, even until death, that ye may be redeemed of God, and be numbered with those of the first resurrection, that ye may have eternal life:"
Read Here: Mosiah 9:40
387. Salvation is only to those who claim Mercy's plan. |
"And thus mercy can satisfy the demands of justice, and encircles them in the arms of safety, while he that exercises no faith unto repentance, is exposed to the whole law of the demands of justice; therefore, only unto him that has faith unto repentance, is brought about the great and eternal plan of redemption."
Read Here: Alma 16:217
"Behold, he did not exercise his justice upon us, but in his great mercy hath brought us over that everlasting gulf of death and misery, even to the salvation of our souls."
Read Here: Alma 14:101
"This being the intent of this last sacrifice, to bring about the bowels of mercy, which overpowereth justice and bringeth about means unto men that they may have faith unto repentance."
Read Here: Alma 16:216
388. Jesus stands between humanity and justice, offering himself as a living sacrifice. |
"Standing betwixt them and justice; having broken the bands of death, taken upon himself their iniquity and their transgressions; having redeemed them, and satisfied the demands of justice."
Read Here: Mosiah 8:37
"And now the plan of mercy could not be brought about, except an atonement should be made; therefore God himself atoneth for the sins of the world, to bring about the plan of mercy, to appease the demands of justice, that God might be a perfect, just God, and a merciful God also."
Read Here: Alma 19:97
389. Our response requires laying down our lives, and sacrificing our wills to him. |
"I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service."
Read Here: Romans 12:1
390. The plan of Mercy on this earth was and is the death of Jesus which occurred in the meridian of time. |
"And now, behold, I say unto you, This is the plan of salvation unto all men, through the blood of mine Only Begotten, who shall come in the meridian of time."
Read Here: Genesis 6:65
"For then must he often have suffered since the foundation of the world; but now once in the meridian of time hath he appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself."
Read Here: Hebrews 9:26
"And thus mercy can satisfy the demands of justice, and encircles them in the arms of safety, while he that exercises no faith unto repentance, is exposed to the whole law of the demands of justice; therefore, only unto him that has faith unto repentance, is brought about the great and eternal plan of redemption."
Read Here: Alma 16:217
"Therefore, according to justice, the plan of redemption could not be brought about, only, on conditions of repentance of men in this probationary state; yea, this preparatory state; for except it were for these conditions, mercy could not take effect except it should destroy the work of justice."
Read Here: Alma 19:94
"And now the plan of mercy could not be brought about, except an atonement should be made; therefore God himself atoneth for the sins of the world, to bring about the plan of mercy, to appease the demands of justice, that God might be a perfect, just God, and a merciful God also."
Read Here: Alma 19:97
391. The plan of Mercy becomes fulfilled when every human bows and confesses He is the Messiah, the Eternal God. |
"He will make himself manifest unto all; yea, every knee shall bow, and every tongue confess before him."
Read Here: Mosiah 11:196
392. The final covenants described in this prophecy are merely the fulfilling of His Plan of Mercy.
|
"Nevertheless, the Lord will be merciful unto them, that when they shall come to the knowledge of their Redeemer, they shall be gathered together again to the lands of their inheritance."
Read Here: 2 Nephi 5:29
"For a small moment have I forsaken thee; but with great mercies will I gather thee."
Read Here: 3 Nephi 10:15
393. The Final Prophecy unfolds how Jesus reveals the plan of mercy in power to the last generations before His return in Glory.
"Behold, who can glory too much in the Lord? Yea, who can say too much of His great power, and of His mercy, and of His long suffering towards the children of men? Behold I say unto you, I can not say the smallest part which I feel." --Alma 14:97
"Behold, he did not exercise His justice upon us, but in His great mercy hath brought us over that everlasting gulf of death and misery, even to the salvation of our souls." --Alma 14:101
394. In the New Testament, writers' references to 'The Law' was a reference to The Torah. Often the 'works' and 'law' described were verses associated with keeping the Mosaic Law. |
"For verily I say unto you, heaven and earth must pass away, but one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, until all be fulfilled."
Read Here: Matthew 5:20
"Now to him who is justified by the law of works, is the reward reckoned, not of grace, but of debt."
Read Here: Romans 4:4
"Wherefore they stumbled at that stumbling stone, not by faith, but as it were by the works of the law;"
Read Here: Romans 9:32
395. When Jesus died, the works of the Mosaic Law were no longer required. The Jews did not understand this, it being the mainstay of their heritage. |
"But notwithstanding the Law of Moses, they did look forward to the coming of Christ, concerning that the Law of Moses was a type of his coming, and believing that they must keep those outward performances, until the time that he should be revealed unto them."
Read Here: Alma 14:75
"Now they did not suppose that salvation came by the Law of Moses; but the Law of Moses did serve to strengthen their faith in Christ;"
Read Here: Alma 14:76
"And they were strict in observing the ordinances of God, according to the Law of Moses; for they were taught to keep the Law of Moses, until it should be fulfilled;"
Read Here: Alma 16:4
"And then shall there be, or it is expedient there should be, a stop to the shedding of blood; then shall the Law of Moses be fulfilled; yea, it shall all be fulfilled; every jot and tittle, and none shall have passed away."
Read Here: Alma 16:214
"And as many as have received me, to them have I given to become the sons of God; and even so will I to as many as shall believe on my name, for behold, by me redemption cometh, and in me is the Law of Moses fulfilled."
Read Here: 3 Nephi 4:47
"And they did not walk any more after the performances and ordinances of the Law of Moses, but they did walk after the commandments which they had received from their Lord and their God, continuing in fasting and prayer, and in meeting together oft, both to pray and to hear the word of the Lord."
Read Here: 4 Nephi 1:13
396. Prophets and preachers explained that salvation was and always had been by the sacrifice that God himself would make for humanity. The Mosaic Law was just a shadow, a reminder, to keep them in remembrance of that. The choice God made to die a human death for humanity was the Great Act of Grace. He did it willingly. |
"And Adam was obedient unto the commandments of the Lord. And after many days, an angel of the Lord appeared unto Adam, saying, Why dost thou offer sacrifices unto the Lord? And Adam said unto him, I know not, save the Lord commanded me."
Read Here: Genesis 4:6
"And then the angel spake, saying, This thing is a similitude of the sacrifice of the Only Begotten of the Father, which is full of grace and truth;"
Read Here: Genesis 4:7
"For the law was after a carnal commandment, to the administration of death; but the gospel was after the power of an endless life, through Jesus Christ, the Only Begotten Son, who is in the bosom of the Father."
Read Here: John 1:18
"I am the good shepherd; the good shepherd giveth his life for his sheep."
Read Here: John 10:11
"As the Father knoweth me, even so know I the Father; and I lay down my life for the sheep."
Read Here: John 10:15
"Therefore doth my Father love me, because I lay down my life, that I might take it again."
Read Here: John 10:17
"For the law having a shadow of good things to come, and not the very image of the things, can never with those sacrifices, which they offered continually year by year make the comers thereunto perfect."
Read Here: Hebrews 10:1
397. But Israel (Jews) largely misunderstood that the Law was only a shadow, to point our souls to Christ's gracious act. |
"Therefore, if ye teach the Law of Moses, also teach that it is a shadow of those things which are to come;"
Read Here: Mosiah 8:90
"And for this intent, we keep the law of Moses, it pointing our souls to him; and for their cause, it is sanctified unto us, for righteousness, even as it was accounted unto Abraham in the wilderness, to be obedient unto the commands of God, in offering up his son Isaac, which is a similitude of God and his only begotten Son."
Read Here: Jacob 3:6
"And behold, this is the whole meaning of the law; every whit pointing to that great and last sacrifice; and that great and last sacrifice will be the Son of God; yea, infinite and eternal; and thus he shall bring salvation to all those who shall believe on his name;"
Read Here: Alma 16:215
"Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us; for it is written, Cursed is everyone that hangeth on a tree;"
Read Here: Galatians 3:13
"Wherefore then, the law was added because of transgressions, till the seed should come to whom the promise was made in the law given to Moses, who was ordained by the hand of angels to be a mediator of this first covenant, (the law.)"
Read Here: Galatians 3:19
398. The Law of Moses was Israel's 'Schoolmaster' until Christ came. |
"Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster until Christ, that we might be justified by faith."
Read Here: Galatians 3:24
"But when the fullness of the time was come, God sent forth his son, made of a woman, made under the law,"
Read Here: Galatians 4:4
"To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons."
Read Here: Galatians 4:5
399. Generations later, modern Christians would misunderstand the Mosaic Law. They would not realize that New Testament references to 'works and The Law' referred to the Old Testament requirement of the Mosaic Law (which had been the covenant people's law for 1500 years prior). Being Justified by Jesus (i.e. faith) and not because of the works of The Mosaic Law. |
"Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets; I am not come to destroy, but to fulfill."
Read Here: Matthew 5:19
"And they will say, We have the law for our salvation, and that is sufficient for us."
Read Here: Matthew 7:15
"Where is boasting then? It is excluded. By what law? of works? Nay; but by the law of faith."
Read Here: Romans 3:27
"Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith alone without the deeds of the law."
Read Here: Romans 3:28
"For in so doing sin shall not have dominion over you; for ye are not under the law, but under grace."
Read Here: Romans 6:14
"For the woman which hath a husband is bound by the law to her husband only as long as he liveth; for if the husband be dead, she is loosed from the law of her husband."
Read Here: Romans 7:2
"For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death."
Read Here: Romans 8:2
400. New Testament Jews needed to understand that the old (Mosaic) Law was over and that it simply pointed to Christ, who fulfilled (ended) those laws by His death.
401. To this day, modern theologians largely miss this point. The result would lead to gross theological misunderstanding, namely, that works have no bearing on salvation. Paul taught that we were to be 'justified' i.e. made spiritually righteous—by Faith and Works (the works commanded by Jesus, not the Mosaic Law). |
"Therefore ye are justified of faith and works, through grace, to the end the promise might be sure to all the seed; not to them only who are of the law, but to them also who are of the faith of Abraham; who is the father of us all,"
Read Here: Romans 4:16
"Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace;"
Read Here: Ephesians 2:15
"Knowing this, that the law is not made for a righteous man, but for the lawless and disobedient, for the ungodly and for sinners, for unholy and profane, for murderers of fathers and murderers of mothers, for manslayers,"
Read Here: 1 Timothy 1:9
"For the law maketh men high priests which have infirmity; but the word of the oath, which was since the law, maketh the Son, who is consecrated forevermore."
Read Here: Hebrews 7:27
"Therefore while he was on the earth, he offered for a sacrifice his own life for the sins of the people. Now every priest under the law, must needs offer gifts, or sacrifices, according to the law."
Read Here: Hebrews 8:4
402. Salvation is not because of works. Salvation is because God chose to step out of eternity into time, taking on flesh to pay an eternal price with His life that we could not pay for ourselves. Because he dwells in flesh, he would be called the Son of God. |
"And because he dwelleth in flesh, he shall be called the Son of God:"
Read Here: Mosiah 8:29
"And now the plan of mercy could not be brought about, except an atonement should be made; therefore God himself atoneth for the sins of the world, to bring about the plan of mercy, to appease the demands of justice, that God might be a perfect, just God, and a merciful God also."
Read Here: Alma 19:97
403. Jesus' choosing to 'die for our sins' meant man could come back in the presence of God for judgement. Otherwise we were eternally cast out. That is the definition Grace—he did it not because we asked or worked for it, but because he offered it. That is Grace. |
"But God ceaseth not to be God, and mercy claimeth the penitent, and mercy cometh because of the atonement; and the atonement bringeth to pass the resurrection of the dead: and the resurrection of the dead bringeth back men into the presence of God;"
Read Here: Alma 19:105
"And thus they are restored into his presence; to be judged according to their works; according to the law and justice; for behold, justice exerciseth all his demands, and also mercy claimeth all which is her own; and thus, none but the truly penitent are saved."
Read Here: Alma 19:106
"And I would that all men might be saved. But we read that in that great and last day, there are some who shall be cast out; yea, who shall be cast off from the presence of the Lord;"
Read Here: Helaman 4:72
"Yea, it behooveth him, and becometh expedient that he dieth, to bring to pass the resurrection of the dead, that thereby men may be brought into the presence of the Lord;"
Read Here: Helaman 5:69
"Yea, behold this death bringeth to pass the resurrection, and redeemeth all mankind from the first death; that spiritual death for all mankind, by the fall of Adam, being cut off from the presence of the Lord, or considered as dead, both as to things temporal and to things spiritual."
Read Here: Helaman 5:70
"But behold, the resurrection of Christ redeemeth mankind, yea, even all mankind, and bringeth them back into the presence of the Lord;"
Read Here: Helaman 5:71
404. But judgement determines if His Grace changed us—that is, our hearts were transformed. Our works at judgement day prove whether we lived selfishly or lived for Christ. If we lived for Christ, we are saved because of His Grace. He stands between us and the justice facing us, offering mercy. Our works do not save us, they are merely evidence that we changed. |
"Standing betwixt them and justice; having broken the bands of death, taken upon himself their iniquity and their transgressions; having redeemed them, and satisfied the demands of justice."
Read Here: Mosiah 8:37
405. That is what it means to be 'born again'—to be spiritually changed. It is not a reference to baptism by water per say. The requirement is for all mankind to be CHANGED. This is the principle Jesus explained to Nicodemus. |
"For, said he, I have repented of my sins, and have been redeemed of the Lord; behold, I am born of the Spirit."
Read Here: Mosiah 11:186
"And the Lord said unto me, Marvel not that all mankind, yea, men, and women, all nations, kindreds, tongues and people, must be born again;"
Read Here: Mosiah 11:187
"Yea, born of God, changed from their carnal and fallen state, to a state of righteousness, being redeemed of God, becoming his sons and daughters; and thus they become new creatures; and unless they do this, they can in no wise inherit the kingdom of God."
Read Here: Mosiah 11:188
"Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again."
Read Here: John 3:7
406. But because of the work of Jesus, mankind has hope. All mankind is judged of its works. Judgement is based on works done in the flesh. The judgement is whether we were changed by the Holy Ghost, and our works bear witness of that. |
"For God Shall Bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil."
Read Here: Ecclesiastes 12:14
"And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened; and another book was opened, which is the book of life; and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works."
Read Here: Revelation 20:12
"And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them; and they were judged every man according to their works."
Read Here: Revelation 20:13
407. Jesus differentiated 'works' of the Law of Moses from the 'good works' of which His followers must be zealous. The 'works' James referred to were the 'good deeds' required by Jesus. |
"Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works."
Read Here: Titus 2:14
"Yea, a man may say, I will show thee I have faith without works; but I say, show me thy faith without works, and I will show thee my faith by my works."
Read Here: James 2:15
408. Believers were not saved by the Works of the Law but by the work of Jesus. If we believed in Jesus 'good work' then we would be found doing good works in return. |
"Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law; for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified."
Read Here: Galatians 2:16
409. When Paul wrote that we are saved by Grace and not works, the reference was in context to the works of the Mosaic Law, which had been fulfilled in Christ's death. It does not mean that we won't be judged by our works. |
"And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened; and another book was opened, which is the book of life; and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works."
Read Here: Revelation 20:12
"For the grace of God which bringeth salvation to all men, hath appeared;"
Read Here: Titus 2:11
410. 'Saved by Grace' means that salvation exists because Jesus chose to do a gracious thing on our behalf. |
"For the grace of God which bringeth salvation to all men, hath appeared;"
Read Here: Titus 2:11
411. Grace does not mean 'there is nothing I have to do,' but rather 'there is nothing I could have done.' Therefore Paul writes 'work out your salvation with fear and trembling.' |
"Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling;"
Read Here: Philippians 2:12
412. Salvation by Grace means that Jesus, of His own accord, stepped out of eternity into time to become a living sacrifice for sin, otherwise we were eternally separated from God. There was no begging Him on our part, no work that made us worthy. He willingly came and laid down His life. That is the definition of Grace. |
"For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me."
Read Here: John 6:38
"But I am the living bread which came down from heaven; if any man eat of this bread, he shall live for ever; and the bread that I will give is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world."
Read Here: John 6:51
"Therefore doth my Father love me, because I lay down my life, that I might take it again."
Read Here: John 10:17
"No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This commandment have I received of my Father."
Read Here: John 10:18
413. When Jesus comes in His Glory, ushering in the Millennium, the first resurrection occurs. |
"And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them; and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshiped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands: and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years.
But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection.Blessed and holy are they who have part in the first resurrection; on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years." Read Here: Revelation 20:4-6
414. Those who participate in life on earth stand on His right side. These were found to have served others, and in so doing served Christ. Those get to 'live' on earth with him 1000 years. |
"Blessed and holy are they who have part in the first resurrection; on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years."
Read Here: Revelation 20:6
415. Those on His left spend 1000 years in the prison house. At the end of 1000 years, all mankind stands before God to be judged of their works. |
"And before him shall be gathered all nations; and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth sheep from the goats; the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on his left."
Read Here: Matthew 25:33
"And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened; and another book was opened, which is the book of life; and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works."
Read Here: Revelation 20:12
416. Modern Christian churches sometimes the mark by teaching salvation by Grace without repentance. Salvation comes to those with a change of heart, which change is proven by their works. This is what repentance means. Salvation comes to none else. |
"And the Lord said unto me, Marvel not that all mankind, yea, men, and women, all nations, kindreds, tongues and people, must be born again;
Yea, born of God, changed from their carnal and fallen state, to a state of righteousness, being redeemed of God, becoming his sons and daughters; and thus they become new creatures; and unless they do this, they can in no wise inherit the kingdom of God." Read Here: Mosiah 11:187-188
417. The Final Prophecy foretells that 'One Fruit' will eventually exist in the vineyard again—people will know the Lord and know how to come to him.
"And they shall not teach every man His neighbor, and every man His brother, saying, Know the Lord; for all shall know me, from the least to the greatest." -- Hebrews 8:11
418. The purpose of this life is to be spiritually transformed. To overcome the tendencies of the natural man and become made new (transformed) into the image of Christ. This is more than just 'joining the right church.'
419. Spiritual change is not accomplished on our own; it must occur by His Spirit within us. His Spirit indwelling causes us to desire goodness over sin; to have no more disposition to do evil. This is the process He desires: to make us new. To think and act in new ways, ways unnatural to man, but natural to God. It is what be means to be born again. |
"Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again."
Read Here: John 3:7
"Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God."
Read Here: John 3:3
"And the Lord said unto me, Marvel not that all mankind, yea, men, and women, all nations, kindreds, tongues and people, must be born again;"
Read Here: Mosiah 11:187
"Now I say unto you, that ye must repent, and be born again: for the Spirit saith, If ye are not born again, ye can not inherit the kingdom of heaven;"
Read Here: Alma 5:24
"Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers;
But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot;Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you,Who by him do believe in God, that raised him up from the dead, and gave him glory; that your faith and hope might be in God.Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently.Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth forever.For all flesh is as grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of grass. The grass withereth, and the flower thereof falleth away;But the word of the Lord endureth forever. And this is the word which by the gospel is preached unto you." Read Here: 1 Peter 1:18-25
"And also, we know of their surety and truth, because of the Spirit of the Lord Omnipotent, which has wrought a mighty change in us, or in our hearts, that we have no more disposition to do evil, but to do good continually."
Read Here: Mosiah 3:3
420. The Transformation is called being 'born again' and/or having a changed heart. This change comes by the Holy Ghost's influence on one's soul. This is the meaning of Repentance—to change.
421. God changes us by His Spirit. God offers a new covenant with anyone who will come to him. For remembering Him, His covenant offers to always have His Spirit to be with us.
|
"For finding fault with them, he saith, Behold, the days come, saith the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah;"
Read Here: Hebrews 8:8
"And if ye do always remember me, ye shall have my Spirit to be with you."
Read Here: 3 Nephi 8:36
422. The memorials God commanded Israel to remember their Exodus from slavery became the way God's people remembered their covenant. In the new covenant, the same steps allow entrance into covenant with Jesus:
i) Faith-Faith in the Blood of the Lamb shed to atone for your sin
ii) Repentance—departing from Satan's hold
iii) Baptism by Water—symbolizing re-birth, and dying to sin, arising in new life, the fleshly memorial of the covenant. Just as Israel was baptizes as they passed through the sea. That which bound them—pharaoh's armies—were washed away. Sin is removed.
iv) Baptism by the Holy Ghost—the portion of God gifted to you that brings you closer to him; just as Torah was given in the mountain to lead Israel, the Holy Ghost leads you to paths of righteousness
v) Enduring to the End—our life is transformed growing in and through the Holy Ghost. The carnal devilish man is put off. We must all be transformed. We must all become new creatures transformed in His likeness. It can not happened without His Spirit—i.e. man can not do it on His own. Israel's 40 years in the wilderness symbolized their transformation—spiritually being reborn from their slavery
vi) Final Judgement and Eternal Life- offered to those who make covenant, just as Israel's reward was Canaan, the Promised Land.
vii) Living by His command, in His covenant, he promises to always have His spirit to be with and guide us. He puts His law in our inward parts.
423. One group of Joseph's descendants depart Jerusalem prior to its destruction in 592 BC. These were the family of Lehi. They bring scripture and genealogy from Israel and simultaneously keep their own records. |
"Yea, even six hundred years from the time that my father left Jerusalem, a prophet would the Lord God raise up among the Jews, even a Messiah; or, in other words, a Savior of the world."
Read Here: 1 Nephi 3:4
"And six hundred and nine years had passed away, since Lehi left Jerusalem; and nine years had passed away, from the time when the sign was given, which was spoken of by the prophets, that Christ should come into the world."
Read Here: 3 Nephi 1:44
"For behold, Laban hath the record of the Jews, and also a genealogy of thy forefathers, and they are engraven upon plates of brass."
Read Here: 1 Nephi 1:61
"And also a record of the Jews from the beginning, even down to the commencement of the reign of Zedekiah, king of Judah;
And also the prophecies of the holy prophets, from the beginning, even down to the commencement of the reign of Zedekiah;And also many prophecies which have been spoken by the mouth of Jeremiah.And it came to pass that my father Lehi also found upon the plates of brass a genealogy of his fathers;" Read Here: 1 Nephi 1:161-164
424. From the records, to His surprise, Lehi learns he is a pure descendant of Joseph. Joseph's people would fulfill the covenants to restore Israel in the last days. |
"Wherefore he knew that he was a descendant of Joseph; yea, even that Joseph who was the son of Jacob, who was sold into Egypt, and who was preserved by the hand of the Lord, that he might preserve his father Jacob and all his household from perishing with famine."
Read Here: 1 Nephi 1:165
425. Lehi testifies that Joseph (of Egypt) saw the days of Lehi. |
"For behold, thou art the fruit of my loins; and I am a descendant of Joseph, who was carried captive into Egypt.
And great were the covenants of the Lord, which he made unto Joseph; wherefore, Joseph truly saw our day.And he obtained a promise of the Lord, that out of the fruit of his loins, the Lord God would raise up a righteous branch unto the house of Israel;Not the Messiah, but a branch which was to be broken off; nevertheless, to be remembered in the covenants of the Lord,That the Messiah should be made manifest unto them in the latter days, in the spirit of power, unto the bringing of them out of darkness unto light; yea, out of hidden darkness and out of captivity unto freedom.For Joseph truly testified, saying: A seer shall the Lord my God raise up, who shall be a choice seer unto the fruit of my loins.Yea, Joseph truly said, Thus saith the Lord unto me: A choice seer will I raise up out of the fruit of thy loins; and he shall be esteemed highly among the fruit of thy loins.And unto him will I give commandment, that he shall do a work for the fruit of thy loins, his brethren, which shall be of great worth unto them, even to the bringing of them to the knowledge of the covenants which I have made with thy fathers.And I will give unto him a commandment, that he shall do none other work save the work which I shall command him.And I will make him great in mine eyes: for he shall do my work.And he shall be great like unto Moses, whom I have said I would raise up unto you, to deliver my people, O house of Israel.And Moses will I raise up, to deliver thy people out of the land of Egypt.But a seer will I raise up out of the fruit of thy loins; and unto him will I give power to bring forth my word unto the seed of thy loins;And not to the bringing forth my word only, saith the Lord, but to the convincing them of my word, which shall have already gone forth among them.Wherefore, the fruit of thy loins shall write; and the fruit of the loins of Judah shall write;And that which shall be written by the fruit of thy loins, and also that which shall be written by the fruit of the loins of Judah, shall grow together,Unto the confounding of false doctrines, and laying down of contentions, and establishing peace among the fruit of thy loins,And bringing them to the knowledge of their fathers in the latter days;And also to the knowledge of my covenants, saith the Lord.And out of weakness he shall be made strong, in that day when my work shall commence among all my people, unto the restoring thee, O house of Israel, saith the Lord.And thus prophesied Joseph, saying: Behold, that seer will the Lord bless;And they that seek to destroy him, shall be confounded:For this promise, of which I have obtained of the Lord, of the fruit of thy loins, shall be fulfilled.Behold, I am sure of the fulfilling of this promise.And his name shall be called after me; and it shall be after the name of his father.And he shall be like unto me; for the thing which the Lord shall bring forth by his hand, by the power of the Lord shall bring my people unto salvation;Yea, thus prophesied Joseph, I am sure of this thing, even as I am sure of the promise of Moses: for the Lord hath said unto me, I will preserve thy seed for ever." Read Here: 2 Nephi 2:5-31
426. Lehi's people also soon understand that the Law and all of scripture pointed to Jesus Christ the Messiah. |
"And for this intent, we keep the law of Moses, it pointing our souls to him; and for their cause, it is sanctified unto us, for righteousness, even as it was accounted unto Abraham in the wilderness, to be obedient unto the commands of God, in offering up his son Isaac, which is a similitude of God and his only begotten Son."
Read Here: Jacob 3:6
"And behold, this is the whole meaning of the law; every whit pointing to that great and last sacrifice; and that great and last sacrifice will be the Son of God; yea, infinite and eternal; and thus he shall bring salvation to all those who shall believe on his name;"
Read Here: Alma 16:215
427. These descendants of Joseph kept records which were hidden from the world for generations. A part of their record came forth in the 1800's. Prophecy states other tribe's records shall come forth, but for now, Joseph's record is the one we know of, named the Book of Mormon. |
"And it shall come to pass, that the Lord God shall bring forth unto you the words of a book, and they shall be the words of them which have slumbered."
Read Here: 2 Nephi 11:125
"And it shall come to pass that the Jews shall have the words of the Nephites, and the Nephites shall have the words of the Jews:
And the Nephites and the Jews shall have the words of the lost tribes of Israel; and the lost tribes of Israel shall have the words of the Nephites and the Jews." Read Here: 2 Nephi 12:71-72
428. The records tell of the Messiah and His love for all people. This record of Joseph tells that the Jews are not forgotten in the covenants of God but shall be remembered in the last days. |
"Behold, I say unto you, Yea: they shall be remembered again among the house of Israel;"
Read Here: 1 Nephi 4:23
"Behold, he loved our fathers; and he covenanted with them, yea, even Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob: and he remembered the covenants which he had made;"
Read Here: 1 Nephi 5:132
429. The record also speaks to the American Natives and Gentiles of this land. Both are remembered in the same covenants. |
"And as I spake concerning the convincing of the Jews, that Jesus is the very Christ, it must needs be that the Gentiles be convinced also, that Jesus is the Christ, the Eternal God; and that he manifesteth himself unto all those who believe in him, by the power of the Holy Ghost;"
Read Here: 2 Nephi 11:78
"And it shall come to pass, that if the Gentiles shall hearken unto the Lamb of God in that day that he shall manifest himself unto them in word, and also in power, in very deed, unto the taking away of their stumbling-blocks, and harden not their hearts against the Lamb of God, they shall be numbered among the seed of thy father;"
Read Here: 1 Nephi 3:201
"Wherefore, the Gentiles shall be blessed and numbered among the house of Israel."
Read Here: 2 Nephi 7:29
"For thus it behooveth the Father that it should come forth from the Gentiles, that he may shew forth his power unto the Gentiles, for this cause, that the Gentiles, if they will not harden their hearts, that they may repent and come unto me, and be baptized in my name, and know of the true points of my doctrine, that they may be numbered among my people, O house of Israel:"
Read Here: 3 Nephi 9:92
"Not the Messiah, but a branch which was to be broken off; nevertheless, to be remembered in the covenants of the Lord,"
Read Here: 2 Nephi 2:8
"And the weakness of their words will I make strong in their faith, unto the remembering of my covenant which I made unto thy fathers."
Read Here: 2 Nephi 2:43
"But behold, there shall be many at that day, when I shall proceed to do a marvelous work among them, that I may remember my covenants which I have made unto the children of men, that I may set my hand again the second time to recover my people, which are the house of Israel;"
Read Here: 2 Nephi 12:42
"And ye need not imagine in your hearts that the words which have been spoken are vain, for behold, the Lord will remember his covenant which he hath made unto his people of the house of Israel."
Read Here: 3 Nephi 13:56
430. Their records compare Israel's scattering to a dying tree. To keep the tree alive, the master breaks off branches and replants in other places of the vineyard. The master eventually re-grafts those branches onto the mother tree. |
"And 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;"
Read Here: Jacob 3:37
"Wherefore, I will take these young and tender branches, and I will graft them whithersoever I will."
Read Here: Jacob 3:39
"Wherefore let us take of the branches of these which I have planted in the nethermost parts of my vineyard, and let us graft them into the tree from whence they came;"
Read Here: Jacob 3:112
"And they also took of the natural trees which had become wild, and grafted into their mother tree."
Read Here: Jacob 3:119
431. The re-grafting process becomes the saving/restoration process of Israel. Re-grafting means to come to a knowledge of Christ. Knowledge from the lost records return to Israel, convincing Israel they are Christ's, that He is Messiah, and has not forgotten them. When Israel calls upon Him, He will remember them. |
"Nevertheless, when that day cometh, saith the prophet, that they no more turn aside their hearts against the Holy One of Israel, then will he remember the covenants which he made to their fathers;"
Read Here: 1 Nephi 5:253
"Yea, when ye shall call upon the Father in my name, with a broken heart and a contrite spirit, then shall ye know that the Father hath remembered the covenant which he made unto your fathers, O house of Israel;"
Read Here: Ether 1:112
432. The gospel would go to Gentile nations in the early days after Christ's earthly ministry with some success. The Parable of the Olive Tree shows this as wild branches bearing fruit on the original tree.
433. The leaders of the Jews would reject Jesus as Messiah, putting Him to death for equating himself with God (which He and only He was!) |
"The Jews answered him, saying, For a good work we stone thee not; but for blasphemy; and because that thou, being a man, makest thyself God."
Read Here: John 10:33
"And after he should manifest himself, they should scourge him and crucify him, according to the words of the angel, who spake it unto me."
Read Here: 2 Nephi 5:25
434. There was no other nation that would crucify their God. |
"And there is none other nation on earth that would crucify their God."
Read Here: 2 Nephi 7:7
435. The Jews would scourged by all people, because they crucify the God of Israel, and turn their hearts aside, rejecting signs, wonders, power and glory of the God of Israel. |
"And as for those who are at Jerusalem, saith the prophet, they shall be scourged by all people, because they crucify the God of Israel, and turn their hearts aside, rejecting signs and wonders, and power and glory of the God of Israel;"
Read Here: 1 Nephi 5:251
436. In turn, their punishment would be sore. |
"And because they turn their hearts aside, saith the prophet, and have despised the Holy One of Israel, they shall wander in the flesh, and perish, and become a hiss and a byword, and be hated among all nations;"
Read Here: 1 Nephi 5:252
437. For their sin, they would be scattered, smitten and afflicted. |
438. Because of the prayers of the faithful, the Jews would not be allowed to utterly perish. |
"Wherefore, after they are driven to and fro, for thus saith the angel, many shall be afflicted in the flesh and shall not be suffered to perish, because of the prayers of the faithful, they shall be scattered, and smitten, and hated;"
Read Here: 2 Nephi 5:28
439. The people of Lehi departed Jerusalem just prior to its destruction around 583 B.C. At that time, the Jews still have a homeland in Israel with Jerusalem being their capitol. The people of Lehi were shown the Jews would eventually be scattered upon the face of the earth, among all nations. |
"And because they turn their hearts aside, saith the prophet, and have despised the Holy One of Israel, they shall wander in the flesh, and perish, and become a hiss and a byword, and be hated among all nations;"
Read Here: 1 Nephi 5:252
"For it appears that the house of Israel, sooner or later, will be scattered upon all the face of the earth, and also among all nations,"
Read Here: 1 Nephi 7:6
"Wherefore, they shall be scattered among all nations, and shall be hated of all men."
Read Here: 1 Nephi 7:12
"And they who shall not be destroyed, shall be scattered among all nations."
Read Here: 2 Nephi 7:11
"Wherefore, the Jews shall be scattered among all nations; yea, and also Babylon shall be destroyed; wherefore, the Jews shall be scattered by other nations;"
Read Here: 2 Nephi 11:25
440. Moses foretold scattering among the nations and eventual re-gathering. |
"And the Lord shall scatter you among the nations, and ye shall be left few in number among the heathen, whither the Lord shall lead you."
Read Here: Deuteronomy 4:27
"And the Lord shall scatter thee among all people, from the one end of the earth even unto the other; and there thou shalt serve other gods, which neither thou nor thy fathers have known, even wood and stone."
Read Here: Deuteronomy 28:64
"That then the Lord thy God will turn thy captivity, and have compassion upon thee, and will return and gather thee from all the nations, whither the Lord thy God hath scattered thee."
Read Here: Deuteronomy 30:3
441. The prophesies were dire:
i) As they gather silver, and brass, and iron, and lead, and tin, into the midst of the furnace, to blow the fire upon it, to melt it; so will I gather you in mine anger and in my fury, and I will leave you there, and melt you. |
"As they gather silver, and brass, and iron, and lead, and tin, into the midst of the furnace, to blow the fire upon it, to melt it; so will I gather you in mine anger and in my fury, and I will leave you there, and melt you."
Read Here: Ezekiel 22:20
ii) Thou hast defiled thy sanctuaries by the multitude of thine iniquities, by the iniquity of thy traffic; therefore will I bring forth a fire from the midst of thee, it shall devour thee, and I will bring thee to ashes upon the earth in the sight of all them that behold thee. |
"Thou hast defiled thy sanctuaries by the multitude of thine iniquities, by the iniquity of thy traffic; therefore will I bring forth a fire from the midst of thee, it shall devour thee, and I will bring thee to ashes upon the earth in the sight of all them that behold thee."
Read Here: Ezekiel 28:18
442. In the depths of tribulation, The Jews will wonder where God is. |
"Then my anger shall be kindled against them in that day, and I will forsake them, and I will hide my face from them, and they shall be devoured, and many evils and troubles shall befall them; so that they will say in that day, Are not these evils come upon us, because our God is not among us?"
Read Here: Deuteronomy 31:17
"And there is none that calleth upon thy name, that stirreth up himself to take hold of thee; for thou hast hid thy face from us, and hast consumed us, because of our iniquities."
Read Here: Isaiah 64:7
443. Despite their disobedience and rejection of Jesus, God will not forsake the Jews or any of His covenant people. |
"When the poor and needy seek water, and there is none, and their tongue faileth for thirst, I the Lord will hear them, I the God of Israel will not forsake them."
Read Here: Isaiah 41:17
"But to Israel he saith, All day long I have stretched forth my hands unto a disobedient and gainsaying people."
Read Here: Romans 10:21
444. But to Israel he said, All day long I have stretched forth my hands unto a disobedient and gainsaying people. |
"But to Israel he saith, All day long I have stretched forth my hands unto a disobedient and gainsaying people."
Read Here: Romans 10:21
445. Scars engraven on His own hands are continual reminders to him. |
"Behold, I have graven thee upon the palms of my hands; thy walls are continually before me."
Read Here: Isaiah 49:16
446. God promises to reveal His arm in power to bless and regather His people. He says that while it is impossible for a mother to 'forget' her nursing child, that they would forget before He would forget His covenant people.
447. He who hid is face (from Israel) for a while, rescues them in great mercy and power. |
"In a little wrath I hid my face from thee for a moment; but with everlasting kindness will I have mercy on thee, saith the Lord thy Redeemer."
Read Here: Isaiah 54:8
"In a little wrath I hid my face from thee for a moment; but with everlasting kindness will I have mercy on thee, saith the Lord thy Redeemer."
Read Here: 3 Nephi 10:16
"Wherefore, he will preserve the righteous by his power, even if it be so that the fullness of his wrath must come, and the righteous be preserved, even unto the destruction of their enemies by fire."
Read Here: 1 Nephi 7:36
448. He Will bring them again by power to their homelands and prosperity. This shall be Zion in America and Zion in Israel.
"And after they shall have been brought down low in the dust, even that they are not, yet the words of the righteous shall be written, and the prayers of the faithful shall be heard, and all those who have dwindled in unbelief, shall not be forgotten;"
--2 Nephi 11:83
449. Despite their disobedience and rejection of Jesus, God will not forsake the Jews or any of His covenant people. |
"When the poor and needy seek water, and there is none, and their tongue faileth for thirst, I the Lord will hear them, I the God of Israel will not forsake them."
Read Here: Isaiah 41:17
"But to Israel he saith, All day long I have stretched forth my hands unto a disobedient and gainsaying people."
Read Here: Romans 10:21
450. But to Israel he said, All day long I have stretched forth my hands unto a disobedient and gainsaying people. |
"But to Israel he saith, All day long I have stretched forth my hands unto a disobedient and gainsaying people."
Read Here: Romans 10:21
451. Hope exists because both the people of Judah and Joseph were prophesied to write God's word. |
"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;
And join them one to another into one stick; and they shall become one in thine hand.And when the children of thy people shall speak unto thee, saying, Wilt thou not show us what thou meanest by these?Say unto them, Thus saith the Lord God; 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.And the sticks whereon thou writest shall be in thine hand before their eyes.And say unto them, Thus saith the Lord God; Behold, 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;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 anymore at all;Neither shall they defile themselves anymore with their idols, nor with their detestable things, nor with any of their transgressions; but I will save them out of all their dwelling places, wherein they have sinned, and will cleanse them; so shall they be my people, and I will be their God.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.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 forever; and my servant David shall be their prince forever." Read Here: Ezekiel 37:16-25
452. The two separate writings were compared to an ancient contract written upon a scroll (called a 'stick' in the day).
453. A contract was written in two columns on one piece of paper, the same words on both sides, then the contract (scroll) was torn down the middle, one party kept one side, the other party kept the other. There could be no altering of contract because it would be joined back together when the contract was fulfilled to insure both parties were faithful.
454. The word of God written by Joseph (called the Book of Mormon) and the word of God from Judah (the Bible) can be 'joined' to see they are one testimony. The two shall be one. |
"And join them one to another into one stick; and they shall become one in thine hand."
Read Here: Ezekiel 37:17
455. The testimonies are the testimonies of two nations. They both testify of Jesus Christ, the Eternal God, and that He has not forgotten His promises to His people, to regather them to him, anyone who will, in the last days. |
"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." Read Here: 2 Nephi 12:59-61
456. Gentile nations would scatter and scourge the Jews world-wide and the Native Americans of Americas, including remnant of Joseph in America. |
"And as for those who are at Jerusalem, saith the prophet, they shall be scourged by all people, because they crucify the God of Israel, and turn their hearts aside, rejecting signs and wonders, and power and glory of the God of Israel;"
Read Here: 1 Nephi 5:251
"And it meaneth that the time cometh that after all the house of Israel have been scattered and confounded, that the Lord God will raise up a mighty nation among the Gentiles, yea, even upon the face of this land;
And by them shall our seed be scattered.And after our seed is scattered, the Lord God will proceed to do a marvelous work among the Gentiles, which shall be of great worth unto our seed;" Read Here: 1 Nephi 7:15-17
"And after it had come forth unto them, I beheld other books which came forth by the power of the Lamb, from the Gentiles unto them, unto the convincing of the Gentiles, and the remnant of the seed of my brethren, and also the Jews, who were scattered upon all the face of the earth, that the records of the prophets and of the twelve apostles of the Lamb are true."
Read Here: 1 Nephi 3:191
457. The Jews would be scourged by generations of the Gentiles. |
"And after they have been scattered, and the Lord God hath scourged them by other nations, for the space of many generations, yea, even down from generation to generation until they shall be persuaded to believe in Christ, the Son of God, and the atonement, which is infinite for all mankind;"
Read Here: 2 Nephi 11:26
458. The scourging would end when the return to Christ, but final and last scourging was given as signpost prophesied by Daniel: The Abomination of Desolation. This would be the last great scourge and the most evil the Jews would endure. IT was the Holocaust of WWII.
One might assume that studying 'prophecy' would begin with unraveling the deep symbolism of John's book of Revelation. This outline, however, does not. At least for now.
Regarding John's Revelation, let this suffice: while every TV evangelist adds his or her 'profound' explanation of Revelation's book, and Christian bookstores' shelves are line with explanations of John's Revelation, their understanding begins with a false premise. They assume John was writing to 'the world,' describing end time events for all of us. That is where the misunderstanding begins.
John, like Daniel, was a Jew who saw end-time events of His people. The revelations began by Daniel were actually continued by John. Much of John's writings (the deep symbols) were not for the larger audience of Gentiles (first mistake of TV evangelists), but to the smaller audience of Israel, and specifically the Jews.
The same is true of Jesus' words in Matthew 24. While the world reads of 'tribulation' and assumes Jesus speaks of the church, the assumption is that he refers to any and all Gentiles (i.e. Christians). That is where the misunderstanding begins. The Inspired Version of the Bible adds a single line revealing this profound truth: Jesus said, "I speak to you concerning the Jews." The tribulation described was not necessarily all for the world, but some was specifically for the Jews and their tribulation.
The point of Matthew 24, Luke 21, Mark 15, Revelation, etc., is that these were words of Jews, for Jews, about Jews. As long as the world thinks Revelation is a message for the Gentiles, there will continue to be Christian authors writing books not worth the paper they are written on.
The American prophet Nephi explained 600 years before Jesus birth that there would be a prophet in Jesus' day named John who would continue to explain the vision Nephi saw. Nephi was forbidden at the time to write it all. Nephi adds that while he saw much, he was allowed to write but little. Such is the blessing and dilemma of the prophets. |
"And behold, the things which this apostle of the Lamb shall write, are many things which thou hast seen;
And behold, the remainder shalt thou see;But the things which thou shalt see hereafter, thou shalt not write; for the Lord God hath ordained the apostle of the Lamb of God that he should write them.And also others who have been, to them hath he shown all things, and they have written them;And they are sealed up to come forth in their purity according to the truth which is in the Lamb, in the own due time of the Lord, unto the house of Israel.And I, Nephi, heard and bear record, that the name of the apostle of the Lamb was John, according to the word of the angel.And behold, I, Nephi, am forbidden that I should write the remainder of the things which I saw and heard; wherefore, the things which I have written sufficeth me;And I have not written but a small part of the things which I saw." Read Here: 1 Nephi 3:246-253
Another American prophet Mormon foretold that when Israel returns to Christ, THEN will the words written by John become unfolded. |
"Yea, when ye shall call upon the Father in my name, with a broken heart and a contrite spirit, then shall ye know that the Father hath remembered the covenant which he made unto your fathers, O house of Israel;
And then shall my revelations which I have caused to be written by my servant John, be unfolded in the eyes of all the people." Read Here: Ether 1:112-113
So, for now John's words are reserved for a day to come. We pray that day comes quickly.
459. Gentiles would scourge the Jews world-wide and also (the scattered people of) Joseph in the Americas. |
"Wherefore, after they are driven to and fro, for thus saith the angel, many shall be afflicted in the flesh and shall not be suffered to perish, because of the prayers of the faithful, they shall be scattered, and smitten, and hated;"
Read Here: 2 Nephi 5:28
"But behold, it shall come to pass that they shall be driven and scattered by the Gentiles; and after they have been driven and scattered by the Gentiles, behold, then will the Lord remember the covenant which he made unto Abraham, and unto all the house of Israel."
Read Here: Mormon 2:49
460. The Bible and Book of Mormon speak expressly to the Gentile scourging of the Jews.
461. For Jewish rejection of Messiah, Gentile dominion over the Jews would span generations. In Daniel and John's (Revelation) writings, 'horns' symbolize the Gentile forces scattering the Jews. |
"Then said I, What come these to do? And he spake, saying, These are the horns which have scattered Judah, so that no man did lift up his head; but these are come to fray them, to cast out the horns of the Gentiles, which lifted up their horn over the land of Judah to scatter it."
Read Here: Zechariah 1:21
462. Daniel is prophetically shown generations of Gentile dominion, resulting in a final Jewish domination occurring in the latter days.
463. Jesus and Daniel prophesied that dominion of Gentiles over Jews finally ends. After this, the Jews would no longer be trodden down by Gentiles.
464. The final evil witnessed by Daniel, an evil so profound was named The Abomination of Desolation. Daniel testifies this to be the last Gentile conquest—the work of Satan—to destroy the Jews. It was the European Jewish Holocaust of the 1940's.
465. Jesus stated that if those days (days of tribulation upon the Jews) had not been shortened, none of them would have been saved. |
"All things which have befallen them, are only the beginning of the sorrows which shall come upon them; and except, those days should be shortened, there should none of their flesh be saved."
Read Here: Matthew 24:19
466. Zechariah predicts 2/3 killed. The third part would be brought through the fire. |
"And it shall come to pass, that in all the land, saith the Lord, two parts therein shall be cut off and die; but the third shall be left therein."
Read Here: Zechariah 13:8
467. The Abomination of Desolation was the Jewish Holocaust. Its fulfillment marks the generation in which all these events shall be fulfilled. |
"Verily I say unto you, this generation, in which these things shall be shown forth, shall not pass away until all I have told you shall be fulfilled."
Read Here: Matthew 24:35
468. Jesus said Never again would worse tribulation come upon the Jews. |
"For then, in those days, shall be great tribulations on the Jews, and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem; such as was not before sent upon Israel, of God, since the beginning of their kingdom until this time; no, nor ever shall be sent again upon Israel."
Read Here: Matthew 24:18
"For then, in those days, shall be great tribulation on the Jews, and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem; such as was not before sent upon Israel, of God, since the beginning of their kingdom, (for it is written their enemies shall scatter them,) until this time; no, nor ever shall be sent again upon Israel."
Read Here: Mark 13:20
469. After this tribulation, the Gentiles would no longer have dominion over the Jews. (find this scripture stating that they will never again be victimized by the Gentiles). |
"And they shall fall by the edge of the sword, and shall be led away captive into all nations; and Jerusalem shall be trodden down of the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled."
Read Here: Luke 21:23
"Verily I say unto you, this generation, the generation when the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled, shall not pass away till all be fulfilled."
Read Here: Luke 21:32
470. The generation when the Times of the Gentiles are fulfilled marks the fulfilling of all these specific events. |
"Verily I say unto you, this generation, the generation when the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled, shall not pass away till all be fulfilled."
Read Here: Luke 21:32
i) The end of Gentile dominion over the Jews
ii) The end of Gentile 'ownership' of the Gospel.
iii) The soon return of Israel to Christ.
471. Many Christians are taught that tribulation described in Matthew 24, Luke 21, Mark 13 as 'world-wide, global tribulation upon Christianity.' It is not. Rather, Jesus explained (in Matthew 24) he was discussing tribulation UPON THE JEWS. |
"Behold these things I have spoken unto you concerning the Jews."
Read Here: Mark 13:23
"And when ye shall see Jerusalem compassed with armies, then know that the desolation thereof is nigh."
Read Here: Luke 21:19
472. After this tribulation would mark the era when the Jews eventually return to Christ. Some at that day would not yet understand the wounds He bore for them. |
"And one shall say unto him, What are these wounds in thine hands? Then he shall answer, Those with which I was wounded in the house of my friends."
Read Here: Zechariah 13:6
473. The ending of the Fullness of the Gentiles marks the time when Israel's blindness begins to be removed. |
"For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits, that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fullness of the Gentiles be come in."
Read Here: Romans 11:25
"Or, in fine, after the Gentiles had received the fullness of the gospel, the natural branches of the olive tree, or the remnants of the house of Israel, should be grafted in, or come to the knowledge of the true Messiah, their Lord and their Redeemer."
Read Here: 1 Nephi 3:19
"And now, the thing which our father meaneth concerning the grafting in of the natural branches through the fullness of the Gentiles, is, that in the latter days, when our seed shall have dwindled in unbelief, yea, for the space of many years and many generations, after the Messiah shall be manifested in body unto the children of men, then shall the fullness of the gospel of the Messiah come unto the Gentiles, and from the Gentiles unto the remnant of our seed;"
Read Here: 1 Nephi 4:16
"That these sayings which ye shall write, shall be kept, and shall be manifested unto the Gentiles, that through the fullness of the Gentiles, the remnant of their seed who shall be scattered forth upon the face of the earth, because of their unbelief, may be brought in, or may be brought to a knowledge of me, their Redeemer."
Read Here: 3 Nephi 7:28
474. Zechariah prophesied two thirds of Jews would die. This is exactly the number of Jews worldwide lost during the holocaust.
475. Those that pass through this fire would call upon His name and He will call them His people. |
"And I will bring the third part through the fire, and will refine them as silver is refined, and will try them as gold is tried; they shall call on my name, and I will hear them; I will say, It is my people; and they shall say, The Lord is my God."
Read Here: Zechariah 13:9
476. The time of Gentile power over Israel will come to an end coincides with the Gentile rejection of the fullness of the Gospel. |
"And I will shew unto thee, O house of Israel, that the Gentiles shall not have power over you, but I will remember my covenant unto you, O house of Israel, and ye shall come unto the knowledge of the fullness of my gospel."
Read Here: 3 Nephi 7:37
477. The Gentiles who scattered Israel (Jews and Joseph) will eventually 'nurse' and 'carry them upon their shoulders.' God's blessing upon the Gentiles is in part so they may in turn help restore Israel. |
"Thus saith the Lord God, Behold, I will lift up mine hand to the Gentiles, and set up my standard to the people; and they shall bring thy sons in their arms, and thy daughters shall be carried upon their shoulders."
Read Here: Isaiah 49:22
"Thus saith the Lord God, Behold, I will lift up mine hand to the Gentiles, and set up my standard to the people; and they shall bring thy sons in their arms, and thy daughters shall be carried upon their shoulders."
Read Here: 1 Nephi 6:52
"Nevertheless, after they have been nursed by the Gentiles, and the Lord has lifted up his hand upon the Gentiles and set them up for a standard, and their children have been carried in their arms and their daughters have been carried upon their shoulders, behold, these things of which are spoken, are temporal: for thus are the covenants of the Lord with our fathers;
And it meaneth us in the days to come, and also all our brethren who are of the house of Israel.And it meaneth that the time cometh that after all the house of Israel have been scattered and confounded, that the Lord God will raise up a mighty nation among the Gentiles, yea, even upon the face of this land;And by them shall our seed be scattered.And after our seed is scattered, the Lord God will proceed to do a marvelous work among the Gentiles, which shall be of great worth unto our seed;Wherefore, it is likened unto their being nourished by the Gentiles, and being carried in their arms, and upon their shoulders." Read Here: 1 Nephi 7:13-18
478. According to the word, Gentile kings become their nursing fathers, and Gentile queens their nursing mothers. |
"And kings shall be thy nursing fathers, and their queens thy nursing mothers; they shall bow down to thee with their faces toward the earth, and lick up the dust of thy feet; and thou shalt know that I am the Lord; for they shall not be ashamed that wait for me."
Read Here: Isaiah 49:23
"And kings shall be thy nursing fathers, and their queens thy nursing mothers: they shall bow down to thee with their face towards the earth, and lick up the dust of thy feet; and thou shalt know that I am the Lord: for they shall not be ashamed that wait for me."
Read Here: 1 Nephi 6:53
"And kings shall be thy nursing fathers, and their queens thy nursing mothers:"
Read Here: 2 Nephi 5:19
"Yea, the kings of the Gentiles shall be nursing fathers unto them, and their queens shall become nursing mothers;"
Read Here: 2 Nephi 7:15
479. Prophesy states when the work (Nephite records) returns to the Gentiles, then the Jews would be about to return to the land of their Inheritance, Israel |
"Therefore I write unto you, Gentiles, and also unto you, house of Israel, when the work shall commence, that ye shall be about to prepare to return to the land of your inheritance;"
Read Here: Mormon 1:82
"Then will the Father gather them together again, and give unto them Jerusalem for the land of their inheritance."
Read Here: 3 Nephi 9:71
"Then shall this covenant which the Father hath covenanted with his people, be fulfilled; and then shall Jerusalem be inhabited again with my people, and it shall be the land of their inheritance."
Read Here: 3 Nephi 9:85
480. Prophesy also gives as a signpost to Joseph that when they begin to know these things—i.e. the word begins to return to them, they may know the work has already commenced. |
"And when these things come to pass, that thy seed shall begin to know these things, it shall be a sign unto them, that they may know that the work of the Father hath already commenced unto the fulfilling of the covenant which he hath made unto the people who are of the house of Israel."
Read Here: 3 Nephi 9:93
481. The Gentile rise to power on this land (Americas) resulted in the scourging and scattering of Joseph's descendants here. |
"And after that ye were blessed, then fulfilleth the Father the covenant which he made with Abraham, saying, In thy seed shall all the kindreds of the earth be blessed, unto the pouring out of the Holy Ghost through me upon the Gentiles, which blessing upon the Gentiles, shall make them mighty above all, unto the scattering of my people, O house of Israel: and they shall be a scourge unto the people of this land."
Read Here: 3 Nephi 9:65
"But wo, saith the Father, unto the unbelieving of the Gentiles, for notwithstanding they have come forth upon the face of this land, and have scattered my people, who are of the house of Israel; and my people who are of the house of Israel, have been cast out from among them, and have been trodden under feet by them;"
Read Here: 3 Nephi 7:32
482. Both the descendants of Jews and Joseph would be scattered and dominated by Gentiles. The Jews were scattered throughout Europe; Joseph was scattered across the Americas. |
"That the Father may bring about, through his most beloved, his great and eternal purpose, in restoring the Jews, or all the house of Israel, to the land of their inheritance, which the Lord their God hath given them, unto the fulfilling of his covenant,"
Read Here: Mormon 2:42
"But behold, it shall come to pass that they shall be driven and scattered by the Gentiles; and after they have been driven and scattered by the Gentiles, behold, then will the Lord remember the covenant which he made unto Abraham, and unto all the house of Israel."
Read Here: Mormon 2:49
"And he that shall breathe out wrath and strifes against the work of the Lord, and against the covenant people of the Lord, who are the house of Israel, and shall say, We will destroy the work of the Lord, and the Lord will not remember his covenant which he hath made unto the house of Israel, the same is in danger to be hewn down and cast into the fire; for the eternal purposes of the Lord shall roll on, until all his promises shall be fulfilled."
Read Here: Mormon 4:26
"Yea, behold I say unto you, that those saints who have gone before me, who have possessed this land, shall cry; yea, even from the dust will they cry unto the Lord; and as the Lord liveth, he will remember the covenant which he hath made with them."
Read Here: Mormon 4:28
"And may the Lord Jesus Christ grant that their prayers may be answered according to their faith; and may God the Father remember the covenant which he hath made with the house of Israel; and may he bless them for ever, through faith on the name of Jesus Christ. Amen."
Read Here: Mormon 4:103
483. After Gentile scattering, the word Fulness of the Gospel returns to Joseph. These records were the records of their forefathers. |
"That these sayings which ye shall write, shall be kept, and shall be manifested unto the Gentiles, that through the fullness of the Gentiles, the remnant of their seed who shall be scattered forth upon the face of the earth, because of their unbelief, may be brought in, or may be brought to a knowledge of me, their Redeemer."
Read Here: 3 Nephi 7:28
"Behold, because of their belief in me, saith the Father, and because of the unbelief of you, O house of Israel, in the latter day shall the truth come unto the Gentiles, that the fullness of these things shall be made known unto them."
Read Here: 3 Nephi 7:31
"And I say unto you, that if the Gentiles do not repent, after the blessing which they shall receive, after they have scattered my people, then shall ye who are a remnant of the house of Jacob, go forth among them;"
Read Here: 3 Nephi 9:51
484. This is an important milestone in the future. Joseph's descendants coming to the knowledge of Christ and the covenants becomes the keystone of the prophecy. |
"And it came to pass that I beheld the remnant of the seed of my brethren, and also the book of the Lamb of God, which had proceeded forth from the mouth of the Jew, that it came forth from the Gentiles, unto the remnant of the seed of my brethren;"
Read Here: 1 Nephi 3:190
"And after it had come forth unto them, I beheld other books which came forth by the power of the Lamb, from the Gentiles unto them, unto the convincing of the Gentiles, and the remnant of the seed of my brethren, and also the Jews, who were scattered upon all the face of the earth, that the records of the prophets and of the twelve apostles of the Lamb are true."
Read Here: 1 Nephi 3:191
"And now, the thing which our father meaneth concerning the grafting in of the natural branches through the fullness of the Gentiles, is, that in the latter days, when our seed shall have dwindled in unbelief, yea, for the space of many years and many generations, after the Messiah shall be manifested in body unto the children of men, then shall the fullness of the gospel of the Messiah come unto the Gentiles, and from the Gentiles unto the remnant of our seed;"
Read Here: 1 Nephi 4:16
"And when these things come to pass, that thy seed shall begin to know these things, it shall be a sign unto them, that they may know that the work of the Father hath already commenced unto the fulfilling of the covenant which he hath made unto the people who are of the house of Israel."
Read Here: 3 Nephi 9:93
485. The Prophecy foretells Joseph's remnant on this land rises to spiritual power. They become 'like a lion who if he go through, treads and tears down and none can deliver.' |
"And ye shall be in the midst of them, who shall be many; and ye shall be among them, as a lion among the beasts of the forests, and as a young lion among the flocks of sheep, who, if he goeth through, both treadeth down and teareth in pieces, and none can deliver."
Read Here: 3 Nephi 9:52
"And my people who are a remnant of Jacob, shall be among the Gentiles, yea, in the midst of them, as a lion among the beasts of the forest, as a young lion among the flocks of sheep, who, if he go through both treadeth down and teareth in pieces, and none can deliver."
Read Here: 3 Nephi 9:99
486. The House of Joseph builds a holy city in the Americas, with assistance from Gentiles and some of scattered Israel. The city is called 'New Jerusalem.' |
"And behold, this people will I establish in this land, unto the fulfilling of the covenant which I made with your father Jacob; and it shall be a new Jerusalem."
Read Here: 3 Nephi 9:58
"And also, as many of the house of Israel as shall come, that they may build a city, which shall be called the New Jerusalem;"
Read Here: 3 Nephi 10:2
"And that a New Jerusalem should be built up upon this land, unto the remnant of the seed of Joseph, for which things there has been a type; for as Joseph brought his father down into the land of Egypt, even so he died there;"
Read Here: Ether 6:6
487. The power of Heaven comes down and Jesus is in the midst as the work goes forth from there, preached to the remnant of Joseph, Scattered Israel, The Jews, The world. |
"And then shall the power of heaven come down among them; and I also will be in the midst, and then shall the work of the Father commence, at that day even when this gospel shall be preached among the remnant of this people."
Read Here: 3 Nephi 10:4
488. Jesus directs this work. This is the Endowment, specifically purposed to take the gospel to the world. |
"And then shall the power of heaven come down among them; and I also will be in the midst, and then shall the work of the Father commence, at that day even when this gospel shall be preached among the remnant of this people.
Verily, I say unto you, At that day shall the work of the Father commence among all the dispersed of my people; yea, even the tribes which have been lost, which the Father hath led away out of Jerusalem.Yea, the work shall commence among all the dispersed of my people, with the Father, to prepare the way whereby they may come unto me, that they may call on the Father in my name;Yea, and then shall the work commence, with the Father, among all nations, in preparing the way whereby his people may be gathered home to the land of their inheritance." Read Here: 3 Nephi 10:4-7
489. While the Gentile nations scattered the Jews, they would also become those to rescue them. |
"And after that ye were blessed, then fulfilleth the Father the covenant which he made with Abraham, saying, In thy seed shall all the kindreds of the earth be blessed, unto the pouring out of the Holy Ghost through me upon the Gentiles, which blessing upon the Gentiles, shall make them mighty above all, unto the scattering of my people, O house of Israel: and they shall be a scourge unto the people of this land."
Read Here: 3 Nephi 9:65
"Thus saith the Lord God, Behold, I will lift up mine hand to the Gentiles, and set up my standard to the people; and they shall bring thy sons in their arms, and thy daughters shall be carried upon their shoulders."
Read Here: 1 Nephi 6:52
"Nevertheless, after they have been nursed by the Gentiles, and the Lord has lifted up his hand upon the Gentiles and set them up for a standard, and their children have been carried in their arms and their daughters have been carried upon their shoulders, behold, these things of which are spoken, are temporal: for thus are the covenants of the Lord with our fathers;
And it meaneth us in the days to come, and also all our brethren who are of the house of Israel.And it meaneth that the time cometh that after all the house of Israel have been scattered and confounded, that the Lord God will raise up a mighty nation among the Gentiles, yea, even upon the face of this land;And by them shall our seed be scattered.And after our seed is scattered, the Lord God will proceed to do a marvelous work among the Gentiles, which shall be of great worth unto our seed;Wherefore, it is likened unto their being nourished by the Gentiles, and being carried in their arms, and upon their shoulders." Read Here: 1 Nephi 7:13-18
"And they shall bring thy sons in their arms, and thy daughters shall be carried upon their shoulders."
Read Here: 2 Nephi 5:18
490. The Hearts of the Gentiles would become softened to Israel, having compassion on them. |
"Nevertheless, I will soften the hearts of the Gentiles, that they shall be like unto a father to them;"
Read Here: 2 Nephi 7:28
491. The leaders of Gentile nations would become like nursing fathers and mothers to Israel, bowing down to them. |
"And kings shall be thy nursing fathers, and their queens thy nursing mothers; they shall bow down to thee with their faces toward the earth, and lick up the dust of thy feet; and thou shalt know that I am the Lord; for they shall not be ashamed that wait for me."
Read Here: Isaiah 49:23
"Yea, the kings of the Gentiles shall be nursing fathers unto them, and their queens shall become nursing mothers;"
Read Here: 2 Nephi 7:15
"And kings shall be thy nursing fathers, and their queens thy nursing mothers: they shall bow down to thee with their face towards the earth, and lick up the dust of thy feet; and thou shalt know that I am the Lord: for they shall not be ashamed that wait for me."
Read Here: 1 Nephi 6:53
"And kings shall be thy nursing fathers, and their queens thy nursing mothers:"
Read Here: 2 Nephi 5:19
492. The Gentiles would 'carry them on their shoulders' as a father does with a child, restoring them to Israel and restoring the Lamanites to the word. |
"Thus saith the Lord God, Behold, I will lift up mine hand to the Gentiles, and set up my standard to the people; and they shall bring thy sons in their arms, and thy daughters shall be carried upon their shoulders."
Read Here: Isaiah 49:22
493. The Gospel would come to the Jews first, then go to the Gentiles (at the time of Christ.) In the last days, the gospel would return to the Gentiles first, then go back to the Jews before the end. |
"And it came to pass that they beheld that the fruit of the natural branches had become corrupt also; yea, the first, and the second, and also the last; and they had all become corrupt."
Read Here: Jacob 3:87
"And when these things come, bringeth to pass the scripture which saith, There are they who were first, who shall be last; and there are they who were last, who shall be first."
Read Here: Ether 6:13
"And after the Gentiles do stumble exceedingly because of the most plain and precious parts of the gospel of the Lamb which has been kept back, by that abominable church, which is the mother of harlots, saith the Lamb, I will be merciful unto the Gentiles in that day, insomuch that I will bring forth unto them in mine own power, much of my gospel, which shall be plain and precious, saith the Lamb;"
Read Here: 1 Nephi 3:183
"And as I spake concerning the convincing of the Jews, that Jesus is the very Christ, it must needs be that the Gentiles be convinced also, that Jesus is the Christ, the Eternal God; and that he manifesteth himself unto all those who believe in him, by the power of the Holy Ghost;"
Read Here: 2 Nephi 11:78
"That these sayings which ye shall write, shall be kept, and shall be manifested unto the Gentiles, that through the fullness of the Gentiles, the remnant of their seed who shall be scattered forth upon the face of the earth, because of their unbelief, may be brought in, or may be brought to a knowledge of me, their Redeemer."
Read Here: 3 Nephi 7:28
"Behold, because of their belief in me, saith the Father, and because of the unbelief of you, O house of Israel, in the latter day shall the truth come unto the Gentiles, that the fullness of these things shall be made known unto them."
Read Here: 3 Nephi 7:31
"And thus commandeth the Father that I should say unto you, At that day when the Gentiles shall sin against my gospel, and shall reject the fullness of my gospel, and shall be lifted up in the pride of their hearts above all nations, and above all the people of the whole earth, and shall be filled with all manner of lyings, and of deceits, and of mischiefs, and all manner of hypocrisy, and murders, and priestcrafts, and whoredoms, and of secret abominations;"
Read Here: 3 Nephi 7:34
"And I will shew unto thee, O house of Israel, that the Gentiles shall not have power over you, but I will remember my covenant unto you, O house of Israel, and ye shall come unto the knowledge of the fullness of my gospel."
Read Here: 3 Nephi 7:37
"Therefore, when these works, and the work which shall be wrought among you hereafter, shall come forth from the Gentiles unto your seed, which shall dwindle in unbelief because of iniquity;"
Read Here: 3 Nephi 9:91
"For thus it behooveth the Father that it should come forth from the Gentiles, that he may shew forth his power unto the Gentiles, for this cause, that the Gentiles, if they will not harden their hearts, that they may repent and come unto me, and be baptized in my name, and know of the true points of my doctrine, that they may be numbered among my people, O house of Israel:"
Read Here: 3 Nephi 9:92
494. The Book of Mormon describes the work returning first to the Gentiles in the last days. The Church of Jesus is restored among them, but that restoration is not the end of the story. |
"Or, in fine, after the Gentiles had received the fullness of the gospel, the natural branches of the olive tree, or the remnants of the house of Israel, should be grafted in, or come to the knowledge of the true Messiah, their Lord and their Redeemer."
Read Here: 1 Nephi 3:19
"And he meaneth that it shall come by way of the Gentiles, that the Lord may shew his power unto the Gentiles, for the very cause that he shall be rejected of the Jews, or of the house of Israel:"
Read Here: 1 Nephi 4:27
495. The Gospel comes to Joseph's remnant initially through the Gentiles and their 'Fullness.' The Bible and Book of Mormon prophesy that the time of the Gentiles 'authority' over the gospel ends. This is called 'the Fullness of the Gentiles' or 'Times of the Gentiles.' |
"And now, the thing which our father meaneth concerning the grafting in of the natural branches through the fullness of the Gentiles, is, that in the latter days, when our seed shall have dwindled in unbelief, yea, for the space of many years and many generations, after the Messiah shall be manifested in body unto the children of men, then shall the fullness of the gospel of the Messiah come unto the Gentiles, and from the Gentiles unto the remnant of our seed;"
Read Here: 1 Nephi 4:16
"That these sayings which ye shall write, shall be kept, and shall be manifested unto the Gentiles, that through the fullness of the Gentiles, the remnant of their seed who shall be scattered forth upon the face of the earth, because of their unbelief, may be brought in, or may be brought to a knowledge of me, their Redeemer."
Read Here: 3 Nephi 7:28
"For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits, that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fullness of the Gentiles be come in."
Read Here: Romans 11:25
"Behold, because of their belief in me, saith the Father, and because of the unbelief of you, O house of Israel, in the latter day shall the truth come unto the Gentiles, that the fullness of these things shall be made known unto them."
Read Here: 3 Nephi 7:31
"And thus commandeth the Father that I should say unto you, At that day when the Gentiles shall sin against my gospel, and shall reject the fullness of my gospel, and shall be lifted up in the pride of their hearts above all nations, and above all the people of the whole earth, and shall be filled with all manner of lyings, and of deceits, and of mischiefs, and all manner of hypocrisy, and murders, and priestcrafts, and whoredoms, and of secret abominations;
And if they shall do all these things, and shall reject the fullness of my gospel, behold, saith the Father, I will bring the fullness of my gospel from among them;And then will I remember my covenant which I have made unto my people, O house of Israel, and I will bring my gospel unto them;And I will shew unto thee, O house of Israel, that the Gentiles shall not have power over you, but I will remember my covenant unto you, O house of Israel, and ye shall come unto the knowledge of the fullness of my gospel." Read Here: 3 Nephi 7:34-37
"And this cometh unto you, O ye Gentiles, that ye may know the decrees of God, that ye may repent, and not continue in your iniquities until the fullness come, that ye may not bring down the fullness of the wrath of God upon you, as the inhabitants of the land have hitherto done."
Read Here: Ether 1:34
"And they shall fall by the edge of the sword, and shall be led away captive into all nations; and Jerusalem shall be trodden down of the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled."
Read Here: Luke 21:23
"Verily I say unto you, this generation, the generation when the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled, shall not pass away till all be fulfilled."
Read Here: Luke 21:32
496. The Time of the Gentiles ending also signifies the end of political and social dominion over the Jews. |
"And when the Lord therefore of the vineyard cometh, he will destroy those miserable, wicked men, and will let again his vineyard unto other husbandmen, even in the last days, who shall render him the fruits in their seasons."
Read Here: Matthew 21:55
"Behold, because of their belief in me, saith the Father, and because of the unbelief of you, O house of Israel, in the latter day shall the truth come unto the Gentiles, that the fullness of these things shall be made known unto them."
Read Here: 3 Nephi 7:31
"And thus commandeth the Father that I should say unto you, At that day when the Gentiles shall sin against my gospel, and shall reject the fullness of my gospel, and shall be lifted up in the pride of their hearts above all nations, and above all the people of the whole earth, and shall be filled with all manner of lyings, and of deceits, and of mischiefs, and all manner of hypocrisy, and murders, and priestcrafts, and whoredoms, and of secret abominations;"
Read Here: 3 Nephi 7:34
"And I will shew unto thee, O house of Israel, that the Gentiles shall not have power over you, but I will remember my covenant unto you, O house of Israel, and ye shall come unto the knowledge of the fullness of my gospel."
Read Here: 3 Nephi 7:37
497. When the Gospel returns to the Gentiles, it comes as (the) lost record of Joseph's tribe--a purely preserved record of God's people in the Americas. The Gentiles would be commissioned to bring that Gospel record back to God's lost people (Joseph's remnant on this land), but the Gentiles would not carry out the work sufficiently to bring the Gospel back to the remnant of Joseph or the Jews. |
"And now, behold, I say unto thee that thou shalt go unto the Lamanites, and preach my gospel unto them;"
Read Here: DC 27:3a
"And after it had come forth unto them, I beheld other books which came forth by the power of the Lamb, from the Gentiles unto them, unto the convincing of the Gentiles, and the remnant of the seed of my brethren, and also the Jews, who were scattered upon all the face of the earth, that the records of the prophets and of the twelve apostles of the Lamb are true."
Read Here: 1 Nephi 3:191
498. The Gentiles to whom Christianity came were compared to wild branches grafted back onto the original tree (House of Israel). Initially those wild branches bear good fruit, and simultaneously keep the tree alive. After a long time, however, the wild branches—i.e. Gentile expressions of Christ's church—bore many fruits. The tree is loaded with fruit from the wild branches, but The Master tastes of each of them and determines none of them were good. |
"And it came to pass that the Lord of the vineyard, and the servant, went down into the vineyard; and they came to the tree whose natural branches had been broken off, and the wild branches had been grafted in; and behold, all sorts of fruit did cumber the tree.
And it came to pass that the Lord of the vineyard did taste of the fruit, every sort according to its number.And the Lord of the vineyard said, Behold, this long time have we nourished this tree, and I have laid up unto myself against the season, much fruit." Read Here: Jacob 3:74-76
499. The Book of Mormon describes various groups of Gentiles: Gentiles who would scourge the Jews and Israelite remnants, Gentiles who would become a great nation on this land, and Gentiles to whom the Book of Mormon would initially return (Restored Church).
500. Although the 'restored churches' consider themselves 'adopted' into Israel, Nephi and Jesus refer to them as the 'church among the Gentiles'. Nephi calls the Gentiles 'numbered among' the House of Israel in blessing, but maintains the distinction between the Gentile church of the last days and Israel. |
"And it shall come to pass, that if the Gentiles shall hearken unto the Lamb of God in that day that he shall manifest himself unto them in word, and also in power, in very deed, unto the taking away of their stumbling-blocks, and harden not their hearts against the Lamb of God, they shall be numbered among the seed of thy father;"
Read Here: 1 Nephi 3:201
"Wherefore, the Gentiles shall be blessed and numbered among the house of Israel."
Read Here: 2 Nephi 7:29
"But if the Gentiles will repent, and return unto me, saith the Father, behold, they shall be numbered among my people, O house of Israel;"
Read Here: 3 Nephi 7:38
"For thus it behooveth the Father that it should come forth from the Gentiles, that he may shew forth his power unto the Gentiles, for this cause, that the Gentiles, if they will not harden their hearts, that they may repent and come unto me, and be baptized in my name, and know of the true points of my doctrine, that they may be numbered among my people, O house of Israel:"
Read Here: 3 Nephi 9:92
"But if they will repent, and hearken unto my words, and harden not their hearts, I will establish my church among them, and they shall come in unto the covenant, and be numbered among this the remnant of Jacob, unto whom I have given this land for their inheritance, and they shall assist my people, the remnant of Jacob;"
Read Here: 3 Nephi 10:1
"And then cometh the New Jerusalem; and blessed are they who dwell therein, for it is they whose garments are white through the blood of the lamb; and they are they who are numbered among the remnant of the seed of Joseph, who were of the house of Israel."
Read Here: Ether 6:10
501. Anyone can have a covenant with Jesus—Jew or Gentile. The key to having a covenant is repentance, not lineage. Repentant Gentiles become recipients of the covenant; non-repentant Jews are cast out. |
"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;"
Read Here: 2 Nephi 12:77
"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."
Read Here: 2 Nephi 12:78
502. There are, however, covenants based on linage that God has yet to fulfill. That is why linage is still important. The Covenants made to ancient forefathers was to be fulfilled by their literal descendants (i.e. their physical linage). Those of the physical linage are often referred to as 'the remnant.' |
"Yea, and surely shall he again bring a remnant of the seed of Joseph to the knowledge of the Lord their God;"
Read Here: 3 Nephi 2:106
"And it came to pass that the angel of the Lord spake unto me, saying, Behold, saith the Lamb of God, after I have visited the remnant of the house of Israel, and this remnant of whom I speak is the seed of thy father;"
Read Here: 1 Nephi 3:181
"And the Lord could not withhold; and he covenanted with Enoch, and sware unto him with an oath, that he would stay the floods; that he would call upon the children of Noah; and he sent forth an unalterable decree, that a remnant of his seed should always be found among all nations, while the earth should stand."
Read Here: Genesis 7:58
"The remnant shall return, yea even the remnant of Jacob, unto the mighty God."
Read Here: Isaiah 10:21
"Therefore will he give them up, until the time that she which travaileth hath brought forth; then the remnant of his brethren shall return unto the children of Israel."
Read Here: Micah 5:3
"And at that day shall the remnant of our seed know that they are of the house of Israel, and that they are the covenant people of the Lord;"
Read Here: 1 Nephi 4:17
"And then shall the remnant of our seed know concerning us, how that we came out from Jerusalem, and that they are descendants of the Jews."
Read Here: 2 Nephi 12:81
"Behold our father Jacob also testified concerning a remnant of the seed of Joseph. And behold, are not we a remnant of the seed of Joseph?"
Read Here: 3 Nephi 4:72
"That these sayings which ye shall write, shall be kept, and shall be manifested unto the Gentiles, that through the fullness of the Gentiles, the remnant of their seed who shall be scattered forth upon the face of the earth, because of their unbelief, may be brought in, or may be brought to a knowledge of me, their Redeemer."
Read Here: 3 Nephi 7:28
"O house of Israel, and then shall the remnants which shall be scattered abroad upon the face of the earth, be gathered in from the east, and from the west, and from the south, and from the north; and they shall be brought to the knowledge of the Lord their God, who hath redeemed them."
Read Here: 3 Nephi 9:49
"And my people who are a remnant of Jacob, shall be among the Gentiles, yea, in the midst of them, as a lion among the beasts of the forest, as a young lion among the flocks of sheep, who, if he go through both treadeth down and teareth in pieces, and none can deliver."
Read Here: 3 Nephi 9:99
"And he did hide them up unto the Lord, that they might come again unto the remnant of the house of Jacob, according to the prophecies and the promises of the Lord. And thus is the end of the record of Ammoron."
Read Here: 4 Nephi 1:59
"But I, knowing that these things must surely be made known, and that all things which are hid must be revealed upon the house tops, and also that a knowledge of these things must come unto the remnant of these people, and also unto the Gentiles, which the Lord hath said should scatter this people, and this people should be counted as nought among them."
Read Here: Mormon 2:35
503. Although Israel forsook God, God did not forget His covenants with them. The covenants state that when they return to Christ, Jerusalem of Old will be a holy city again. |
"Then they shall answer, Because they have forsaken the covenant of the Lord their God, and worshiped other gods, and served them."
Read Here: Jeremiah 22:9
"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."
Read Here: Jeremiah 31:33
"Nevertheless, I will remember my covenant with thee in the days of thy youth, and I will establish unto thee an everlasting covenant."
Read Here: Ezekiel 16:60
"And I will establish my covenant with thee; and thou shalt know that I am the Lord;"
Read Here: Ezekiel 16:62
"Behold, he loved our fathers; and he covenanted with them, yea, even Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob: and he remembered the covenants which he had made;"
Read Here: 1 Nephi 5:132
"Nevertheless, when that day cometh, saith the prophet, that they no more turn aside their hearts against the Holy One of Israel, then will he remember the covenants which he made to their fathers;"
Read Here: 1 Nephi 5:253
"For the Lord God will fulfill his covenants which he has made unto his children: and for this cause the prophet has written these things."
Read Here: 2 Nephi 5:32
"But behold, thus saith the Lord God: When the day cometh that they shall believe in me, that I am Christ, then have I covenanted with their fathers, that they shall be restored in the flesh, upon the earth, unto the lands of their inheritance."
Read Here: 2 Nephi 7:12
"And then will I remember my covenant which I have made unto my people, O house of Israel, and I will bring my gospel unto them;"
Read Here: 3 Nephi 7:36
"And I will remember the covenant which I have made with my people, and I have covenanted with them, that I would gather them together in mine own due time;"
Read Here: 3 Nephi 9:67
"Then shall this covenant which the Father hath covenanted with his people, be fulfilled; and then shall Jerusalem be inhabited again with my people, and it shall be the land of their inheritance."
Read Here: 3 Nephi 9:85
"Yea, and ye need not any longer hiss, nor spurn, nor make game of the Jews, nor any of the remnant of the house of Israel, for behold the Lord remembereth his covenant unto them, and he will do unto them according to that which he hath sworn;"
Read Here: 3 Nephi 13:61
"That the Father may bring about, through his most beloved, his great and eternal purpose, in restoring the Jews, or all the house of Israel, to the land of their inheritance, which the Lord their God hath given them, unto the fulfilling of his covenant,"
Read Here: Mormon 2:42
"But behold, it shall come to pass that they shall be driven and scattered by the Gentiles; and after they have been driven and scattered by the Gentiles, behold, then will the Lord remember the covenant which he made unto Abraham, and unto all the house of Israel."
Read Here: Mormon 2:49
504. God will make bare His arm before the nations when fulfilling His covenants with Israel. Highways cast up for their return. God will go before them and be their rearward. |
"Wherefore, the Lord God will proceed to make bare his arm in the eyes of all the nations, in bringing about his covenants and his gospel, unto those who are of the house of Israel."
Read Here: 1 Nephi 7:22
505. Micah and Jesus warn the Gentiles of pending destruction. Jacob is in the midst of the Gentiles, flourishing. The warning predicts destruction such as they have not seen, yet repentance is still offered to Gentiles. |
"And it shall come to pass in that day, saith the Lord, that I will cut off thy horses out of the midst of thee, and I will destroy thy chariots;"
Read Here: Micah 5:10
"And I will execute vengeance in anger and fury upon the heathen, such as they have not heard."
Read Here: Micah 5:15
"For it shall come to pass, saith the Father, that at that day, whosoever will not repent and come unto my beloved Son, them will I cut off from among my people, O house of Israel, and I will execute vengeance and fury upon them, even as upon the heathen, such as they have not heard."
Read Here: 3 Nephi 9:106
"But if they will repent, and hearken unto my words, and harden not their hearts, I will establish my church among them, and they shall come in unto the covenant, and be numbered among this the remnant of Jacob, unto whom I have given this land for their inheritance, and they shall assist my people, the remnant of Jacob;"
Read Here: 3 Nephi 10:1
The text of 2 Nephi 11 explains the events that were transpiring back in Israel during Nephi's his day, and the fate of the Jews and Gentiles down to the last days when the Jews return to Christ. This text is Nephi's explanation of Isaiah's prophecy concerning Babylon destroying Jerusalem, and the (from Nephi's perspective) eventual destruction of Babylon.
The inhabitants of Jerusalem were destroyed, even children were not spared. Other than the few who escaped to Egypt, The only surviving were carried away slaves into Babylon, this becomes the story of Daniel, Ezekiel.
506. Nephi writes that only the Jews could really understand the words of Isaiah because he wrote of things and places familiar to them. Nephi understands because he lived there, but didn't teach his children the ways of the Jews for their darkness and evil.
507. Nephi states the words will be valuable in the last days. |
"But behold, 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;Wherefore, they are of worth unto the children of men, and he that supposeth that they are not, unto them will I speak particularly, and confine the words unto mine own people:For I know that they shall be of great worth unto them in the last days; for in that day shall they understand them; wherefore, for their good have I written them." Read Here: 2 Nephi 11:11-14
508. Nephi understood that Jerusalem was destroyed after their departure, survivors carried to Babylon. |
"Wherefore, it hath been told them concerning the destruction which should come upon them, immediately after my father left Jerusalem;
Nevertheless, they hardened their hearts; and according to my prophecy, they have been destroyed, save it be those which are carried away captive into Babylon." Read Here: 2 Nephi 11:17-18
509. Babylon was the mightiest kingdom (a Gentile kingdom) on the earth at the time. It would also eventually be overthrown by God's vengeance.
510. Nephi (and Isaiah) prophesy that Jews would return to Jerusalem after their Babylonian captivity. |
"And notwithstanding they have been carried away, they shall return again, and possess the land of Jerusalem; wherefore they shall be restored again to the lands of their inheritance."
Read Here: 2 Nephi 11:20
511. But the life of the Jews after would be full of wars and contention. They would eventually reject the Messiah when he came to them in the flesh. |
"But, behold, they shall have wars, and rumors of wars; and when the day cometh that the Only Begotten of the Father, yea, even the Father of heaven and of earth, shall manifest himself unto them in the flesh, behold, they will reject him, because of their iniquities, and the hardness of their hearts, and the stiffness of their necks."
Read Here: 2 Nephi 11:21
512. After his crucifixion, Jerusalem would be destroyed again and the Jews scattered by other nations for generations. |
"And behold, it shall come to pass, that after the Messiah hath risen from the dead, and hath manifested himself unto his people, unto as many as will believe on his name, behold, Jerusalem shall be destroyed again: for wo unto them that fight against God and the people of his church.
Wherefore, the Jews shall be scattered among all nations; yea, and also Babylon shall be destroyed; wherefore, the Jews shall be scattered by other nations;And after they have been scattered, and the Lord God hath scourged them by other nations, for the space of many generations, yea, even down from generation to generation until they shall be persuaded to believe in Christ, the Son of God, and the atonement, which is infinite for all mankind;" Read Here: 2 Nephi 11:24-26
513. Their scattering ends when the begin to believe in Jesus Christ because their hearts change and become pure unto him. |
"And after they have been scattered, and the Lord God hath scourged them by other nations, for the space of many generations, yea, even down from generation to generation until they shall be persuaded to believe in Christ, the Son of God, and the atonement, which is infinite for all mankind;
And when that day shall come, that they shall believe in Christ, and worship the Father in his name, with pure hearts, and clean hands, and look not forward anymore for another Messiah, then, at that time, the day will come that it must needs be expedient that they should believe these things," Read Here: 2 Nephi 11:26-27
514. At this time begins the Second Time the Lord sets for his hand. This is after the Gospel comes to the Gentiles in the last days and the Gentiles reject it. |
"And the Lord will set his hand again the second time to restore his people from their lost and fallen state."
Read Here: 2 Nephi 11:28
515. The words of Joseph return in part to Joseph by the Gentiles, but because the Gentiles reject the Gospel, the Lord returns the word to Them, and by Power. This begins the great work of the Lord, the Second Time he puts forth his hand to recover them. This coincides with the record of Joseph which was sealed coming to them and becomes the standard to the world by which the Lord will judge his people. |
"And the Lord will set his hand again the second time to restore his people from their lost and fallen state."
Read Here: 2 Nephi 11:28
516. The word convinces the Jews Jesus that is the Messiah. |
"For they shall be given them for the purpose of convincing them of the true Messiah, who was rejected by them;"
Read Here: 2 Nephi 11:31
517. God confirms Nephi's words shall survive through generations to fulfil God's promise to Joseph that his lineage would never perish from the earth. |
"Wherefore, for this cause hath the Lord God promised unto me that these things which I write, shall be kept and preserved, and handed down unto my seed, from generation to generation, that the promise may be fulfilled unto Joseph, that his seed should never perish as long as the earth should stand.
Wherefore, these things shall go from generation to generation as long as the earth shall stand; and they shall go according to the will and pleasure of God;" Read Here: 2 Nephi 11:40-41
518. Nephi sees four generations after Jesus visits his descendants they fall away because of pride. God's spirit no longer strove with them, which brought their speedy destruction. |
"But the Son of Righteousness shall appear unto them; and he shall heal them, and they shall have peace with him, until three generations shall have passed away and many of the fourth generation shall have passed away in righteousness.
And when these things shall have passed away, a speedy destruction cometh unto my people; for, notwithstanding the pains of my soul, I have seen it; wherefore, I know that it shall come to pass;And they sell themselves for nought; for, for the reward of their pride, and their foolishness, they shall reap destruction;For because they yield unto the devil, and choose works of darkness rather than light; therefore they must go down to hell, for the Spirit of the Lord will not always strive with man.And when the Spirit ceaseth to strive with man, then cometh speedy destruction; and this grieveth my soul." Read Here: 2 Nephi 11:73-77
519. After Nephi and his brethren's seed dwindle in unbelief for generations, and are smitten by the Gentiles, the words of their righteous forefathers return to them. |
"After my seed, and the seed of my brethren shall have dwindled in unbelief, and shall have been smitten by the Gentiles;"
Read Here: 2 Nephi 11:81
520. The blessings which had been reserved on this land for the Nephites are given instead to the Gentiles. |
"And behold, the Lord hath reserved their blessings, which they might have received in the land, for the Gentiles who shall possess the land."
Read Here: Mormon 2:48
521. While Gentiles who initially received the Nephites words in the last days assumed it was their responsibility to 'build Zion,' never at any time did Nephi or any of the Book of Mormon prophets write that the Gentiles who received the word before it returns to Joseph's remnant became righteous and built the New Jerusalem. This all happens after Joseph's remnant returns to Jesus. It was and is the Gentiles calling to take Nephi's words back to his descendants. |
"And also that the seed of this people may more fully believe his gospel, which shall go forth unto them from the Gentiles;"
Read Here: Mormon 2:43
522. Gentiles would build up churches but unto themselves, preaching their own wisdom, denying God's power. |
"And the Gentiles are lifted up in the pride of their eyes, and have stumbled, because of the greatness of their stumbling block, that they have built up many churches;
Nevertheless they put down the power and the miracles of God, and preach up unto themselves, their own wisdom, and their own learning, that they may get gain, and grind upon the face of the poor;" Read Here: 2 Nephi 11:90-91
523. Both Jew and Gentile are alike unto God, in that he offers salvation freely and denies none. |
"And he remembereth the heathen, and all are alike unto God, both Jew and Gentile."
Read Here: 2 Nephi 11:115
"And he inviteth them all to come unto him, and partake of his goodness;
And he denieth none that come unto him, black and white, bond and free, male and female;" Read Here: 2 Nephi 11:113-114
524. The Lord declares in the days of the Gentiles, (Times of the Gentiles), nations of both the Jews and Gentiles would be drunken in iniquity. The Lord declares they shall be visited in judgement. They rejected Gods words and prophets, spiritually they are as if in deep sleep. |
"But behold, in the last days, or in the days of the Gentiles; yea, behold all the nations of the Gentiles, and also the Jews, both those who shall come upon this land, and those who shall be upon other lands; yea, even upon all the lands of the earth; behold, they will be drunken with iniquity, and all manner of abominations;
And when that day shall come, they shall be visited of the Lord of hosts, with thunder and with earthquake, and with a great noise, and with storm and with tempest, and with the flame of devouring fire;" Read Here: 2 Nephi 11:116-117
"For behold, the Lord hath poured out upon you the spirit of deep sleep.
For behold, ye have closed your eyes, and ye have rejected the prophets, and your rulers, and the seers hath he covered because of your iniquity." Read Here: 2 Nephi 11:123-124
525. After the Gentiles scourge the Nephite descendants, the Lord remembers the covenant mad with Abraham and Israel, and the prayers of the ancients on their behalf. |
"But behold, it shall come to pass that they shall be driven and scattered by the Gentiles; and after they have been driven and scattered by the Gentiles, behold, then will the Lord remember the covenant which he made unto Abraham, and unto all the house of Israel."
Read Here: Mormon 2:49
"And also the Lord will remember the prayers of the righteous, which have been put up unto him for them."
Read Here: Mormon 2:50
"And after they shall have been brought down low in the dust, even that they are not, yet the words of the righteous shall be written, and the prayers of the faithful shall be heard, and all those who have dwindled in unbelief, shall not be forgotten;
For those who shall be destroyed shall speak unto them out of the ground, and their speech shall be low out of the dust, and their voice shall be as one that hath a familiar spirit;For the Lord God will give unto him power, that he may whisper concerning them, even as it were out of the ground; and their speech shall whisper out of the dust." Read Here: 2 Nephi 11:83-85
526. The Gentiles reach many of Nephite descendants with the Gospel, prior to the sealed portion's return. |
"For after the book of which I have spoken shall come forth, and be written unto the Gentiles, and sealed up again unto the Lord, there shall be many which shall believe the words which are written; and they shall carry them forth unto the remnant of our seed.
And then shall the remnant of our seed know concerning us, how that we came out from Jerusalem, and that they are descendants of the Jews.And the gospel of Jesus Christ shall be declared among them; wherefore, they shall be restored unto the knowledge of their fathers, and also to the knowledge of Jesus Christ, which was had among their fathers.And then shall they rejoice; for they shall know that it is a blessing unto them from the hand of God;And their scales of darkness shall begin to fall from their eyes: and many generations shall not pass away among them, save they shall be a white and a delightsome people." Read Here: 2 Nephi 12:80-84
527. The prophecy states that Jews will also begin to believe in Christ on this land, although it does not indicate at this time it is because of the Gentiles and their first portion of Joseph's record. |
"And it shall come to pass that the Jews which are scattered, also shall begin to believe in Christ: and they shall begin to gather in upon the face of the land;"
Read Here: 2 Nephi 12:85
528. The Gentiles received the gospel from the Apostles after the days of Jesus while the Jews were soon scattered for crucifying the Savior. In the day the apostles shared the word, it went forth to the Gentiles in purity. |
"And the angel of the Lord said unto me, Thou hast beheld that the book proceeded forth from the mouth of a Jew; and when it proceeded forth from the mouth of a Jew it contained the plainness of the gospel of the Lord, of whom the twelve apostles bear record; and they bear record according to the truth which is in the Lamb of God:
Wherefore, these things go forth from the Jews in purity unto the Gentiles, according to the truth which is in God:" Read Here: 1 Nephi 3:165-166
529. The prophecy of Zenos compared Gentiles coming to Christianity as wild olive branches grafted onto the dying olive tree.
530. Eventually the Gentiles spiritually stumble because of plain and precious truths held back by the Jews. Justin the Martyr proclaimed in 1st Century AD truth of Jesus and covenants had been removed from their historical records, eventually lost from future scriptural cannon. |
"And after the Gentiles do stumble exceedingly because of the most plain and precious parts of the gospel of the Lamb which has been kept back, by that abominable church, which is the mother of harlots, saith the Lamb, I will be merciful unto the Gentiles in that day, insomuch that I will bring forth unto them in mine own power, much of my gospel, which shall be plain and precious, saith the Lamb;"
Read Here: 1 Nephi 3:183
531. The Gentiles Christianity apostatized within a few generations and the world fell into the 'dark ages.
532. Prophesy stated that the Gentiles would later receive the Gospel through the words of Joseph. Much of the gospel returns to the Gentiles via Joseph's words known as The Book of Mormon. |
"And after the Gentiles do stumble exceedingly because of the most plain and precious parts of the gospel of the Lamb which has been kept back, by that abominable church, which is the mother of harlots, saith the Lamb, I will be merciful unto the Gentiles in that day, insomuch that I will bring forth unto them in mine own power, much of my gospel, which shall be plain and precious, saith the Lamb;"
Read Here: 1 Nephi 3:183
"And now, the thing which our father meaneth concerning the grafting in of the natural branches through the fullness of the Gentiles, is, that in the latter days, when our seed shall have dwindled in unbelief, yea, for the space of many years and many generations, after the Messiah shall be manifested in body unto the children of men, then shall the fullness of the gospel of the Messiah come unto the Gentiles, and from the Gentiles unto the remnant of our seed;"
Read Here: 1 Nephi 4:16
533. God's objective was for the Gentiles to receive the gospel in the last days, and from them, the remnant of Joseph would also receive the very words of their fathers. The Gentiles would largely fail to bring the gospel to Joseph's remnant, nevertheless the gospel does return by Jesus power to the remnant of Joseph. |
"And if they shall do all these things, and shall reject the fullness of my gospel, behold, saith the Father, I will bring the fullness of my gospel from among them;
And then will I remember my covenant which I have made unto my people, O house of Israel, and I will bring my gospel unto them;And I will shew unto thee, O house of Israel, that the Gentiles shall not have power over you, but I will remember my covenant unto you, O house of Israel, and ye shall come unto the knowledge of the fullness of my gospel." Read Here: 3 Nephi 7:35-37
534. The Gospel would return to the Gentiles for several reasons:
i) Certain truths were removed from the witness of the Jews (The Bible) |
"For behold, they have taken away from the gospel of the Lamb many parts which are plain and most precious;
And also many covenants of the Lord have they taken away;And all this have they done that they might pervert the right ways of the Lord; that they might blind the eyes and harden the hearts of the children of men:Wherefore, thou seest that after the book hath gone forth through the hands of the great and abominable church that there are many plain and precious things taken away from the book, which is the book of the Lamb of God;And after these plain and precious things were taken away, it goeth forth unto all the nations of the Gentiles:And after it goeth forth unto all the nations of the Gentiles, yea, even across the many waters which thou hast seen, with the Gentiles which have gone forth out of captivity;Thou seest because of the many plain and precious things which have been taken out of the book, which were plain unto the understanding of the children of men, according to the plainness which is in the Lamb of God;" Read Here: 1 Nephi 3:168-174
"Wherefore, thou seest that after the book hath gone forth through the hands of the great and abominable church that there are many plain and precious things taken away from the book, which is the book of the Lamb of God;
And after these plain and precious things were taken away, it goeth forth unto all the nations of the Gentiles:And after it goeth forth unto all the nations of the Gentiles, yea, even across the many waters which thou hast seen, with the Gentiles which have gone forth out of captivity;Thou seest because of the many plain and precious things which have been taken out of the book, which were plain unto the understanding of the children of men, according to the plainness which is in the Lamb of God;" Read Here: 1 Nephi 3:171-174
"And after the Gentiles do stumble exceedingly because of the most plain and precious parts of the gospel of the Lamb which has been kept back, by that abominable church, which is the mother of harlots, saith the Lamb, I will be merciful unto the Gentiles in that day, insomuch that I will bring forth unto them in mine own power, much of my gospel, which shall be plain and precious, saith the Lamb;
For behold, saith the Lamb, I will manifest myself unto thy seed, that they shall write many things which I shall minister unto them, which shall be plain and precious;" Read Here: 1 Nephi 3:183-184
"And the angel spake unto me, saying, These last records which thou hast seen among the Gentiles shall establish the truth of the first, which are of the twelve apostles of the Lamb, and shall make known the plain and precious things which have been taken away from them;"
Read Here: 1 Nephi 3:192
"And at the time they proceeded out of the mouth of the Jew, or, at the time the book proceeded out of the mouth of the Jew, the things which were written were plain and pure, and most precious and easy to the understanding of all men."
Read Here: 1 Nephi 3:245
ii) The Gentiles would be part of the covenant to return the House of Joseph's spiritual writings to their latter day descendants.
iii) God promises to speak to all nations, so they can have a testimony of Him. |
"And the time cometh that he shall manifest himself unto all nations, both unto the Jews, and also unto the Gentiles;"
Read Here: 1 Nephi 3:198
"This is the purpose that is purposed upon the whole earth: and this is the hand that it stretched out upon all nations."
Read Here: 2 Nephi 10:48
"And I shall also speak unto all nations of the earth, and they shall write it."
Read Here: 2 Nephi 12:70
iv) God wants all people to know him. All who will repent have the promise to dwell safely in Him. |
"But, behold, all nations, kindreds, tongues, and people, shall dwell safely in the Holy One of Israel, if it so be that they will repent."
Read Here: 1 Nephi 7:64
535. The Plain and Precious truths were written upon the plates translated to become the Book of Mormon. |
"And after I had made these plates by way of commandment I, Nephi, received a commandment, that the ministry, and the prophecies, the more plain and precious parts of them should be written upon these plates;"
Read Here: 1 Nephi 5:223
536. The words of Joseph come twice. Initially, the Gentiles receive the records of Joseph (the Book of Mormon), but a lesser portion. A greater portion is withheld from the Gentiles until a latter day. God says he will try the faith of the Gentiles first with the first portion of the gospel. If they do not repent, the greater things will be withheld. |
"And when they shall have received this, which is expedient that they should have first, to try their faith, and if it shall so be that they shall believe these things, then shall the greater things be made manifest unto them.
And if it so be that they will not believe these things, then shall the greater things be withheld from them, unto their condemnation." Read Here: 3 Nephi 12:3-4
537. God will not deliver the greater portion of the Book of Mormon in the day of the wickedness of the Gentiles. |
"For the Lord said unto me, They shall not go forth unto the Gentiles until the day that they shall repent of their iniquity, and become clean before the Lord;"
Read Here: Ether 1:100
538. God plans to bring the Word to all nations eventually. |
"And it shall come to pass that the Lord God shall commence his work, among all nations, kindreds, tongues, and people, to bring about the restoration of his people upon the earth."
Read Here: 2 Nephi 12:87
"Wherefore, the things of all nations shall be made known: yea, all things shall be made known unto the children of men."
Read Here: 2 Nephi 12:96
539. America was promised to be a free nation if she will remember and serve the God of the land, Jesus Christ. |
"Behold, this is a choice land, and whatsoever nation shall possess it, shall be free from bondage, and from captivity, and from all other nations under heaven, if they will but serve the God of the land, who is Jesus Christ who hath been manifested by the things which we have written."
Read Here: Ether 1:35
540. The nation was setup to be free so the fullness of the gospel could go forth: Specifically, to go forth from the Gentiles of this land to the remnant of Joseph, also of this land. |
"And be set up as a free people by the power of the Father, that these things might come forth from them unto a remnant of your seed, that the covenant of the Father may be fulfilled which he hath covenanted with his people, O house of Israel;"
Read Here: 3 Nephi 9:90
"And behold, this is the thing which I will give unto you for a sign, for verily I say unto you, that when these things which I declare unto you, and which I shall declare unto you hereafter of myself, and by the power of the Holy Ghost, which shall be given unto you of the Father, shall be made known unto the Gentiles,
That they may know concerning this people who are a remnant of the house of Jacob, and concerning this my people who shall be scattered by them;Verily, verily, I say unto you, When these things shall be made known unto them of the Father, and shall come forth of the Father, from them unto you, for it is wisdom in the Father that they should be established in this land,And be set up as a free people by the power of the Father, that these things might come forth from them unto a remnant of your seed, that the covenant of the Father may be fulfilled which he hath covenanted with his people, O house of Israel;" Read Here: 3 Nephi 9:87-90
541. The sign of the gospel's return to the House of Israel (Joseph and Jews) is the Gentile rejection of the Fullness of the gospel. |
"And thus commandeth the Father that I should say unto you, At that day when the Gentiles shall sin against my gospel, and shall reject the fullness of my gospel, and shall be lifted up in the pride of their hearts above all nations, and above all the people of the whole earth, and shall be filled with all manner of lyings, and of deceits, and of mischiefs, and all manner of hypocrisy, and murders, and priestcrafts, and whoredoms, and of secret abominations;
And if they shall do all these things, and shall reject the fullness of my gospel, behold, saith the Father, I will bring the fullness of my gospel from among them;And then will I remember my covenant which I have made unto my people, O house of Israel, and I will bring my gospel unto them;And I will shew unto thee, O house of Israel, that the Gentiles shall not have power over you, but I will remember my covenant unto you, O house of Israel, and ye shall come unto the knowledge of the fullness of my gospel." Read Here: 3 Nephi 7:34-37
"Behold, I say, If the day shall come that they will reject the Holy One of Israel, the true Messiah, their Redeemer and their God, behold, the judgments of him that is just, shall rest upon them;"
Read Here: 2 Nephi 1:23
542. The Lesser part of Jesus' teachings to Nephites came to Gentiles in 1830, to be returned unto the House of Joseph (Nephite remnant). These first records were returned, as Book of Mormon writers stated, to try the faith of his people (Joseph's remnant but also the Gentiles). Even Greater writings are yet to come forth. |
"And these things have I written, which are a lesser part of the things which he taught the people; and I have written them to the intent that they may be brought again unto this people, from the Gentiles, according to the words which Jesus hath spoken."
Read Here: 3 Nephi 12:2
"And when they shall have received this, which is expedient that they should have first, to try their faith, and if it shall so be that they shall believe these things, then shall the greater things be made manifest unto them."
Read Here: 3 Nephi 12:3
"And if it so be that they will not believe these things, then shall the greater things be withheld from them, unto their condemnation."
Read Here: 3 Nephi 12:4
"Come unto me, O ye Gentiles, and I will shew unto you the greater things, the knowledge which is hid up because of unbelief."
Read Here: Ether 1:109
543. The writers of the Book of Mormon knew and understood more—much more—but were commanded to refrain sharing in order to 'try our faith.' |
"And when they shall have received this, which is expedient that they should have first, to try their faith, and if it shall so be that they shall believe these things, then shall the greater things be made manifest unto them."
Read Here: 3 Nephi 12:3
"And now I, Moroni, have written the words which were commanded me, according to my memory; and I have told you the things which I have sealed up; therefore touch them not, in order that ye may translate; for that thing is forbidden you, except by and by it shall be wisdom in God."
Read Here: Ether 2:1
"And I was about to write more, but I am forbidden; but great and marvelous were the prophecies of Ether, but they esteemed him as nought, and cast him out, and he hid himself in the cavity of a rock by day, and by night he went forth viewing the things which should come upon the people."
Read Here: Ether 6:14
544. The greater things of the Nephite records would be withheld to try the faith of the those who receive the record of the Nephites (both the Nephite remnant and the Gentiles from whom they would receive the record). |
"Behold I was about to write them all which were engraven upon the plates of Nephi, but the Lord forbid it, saying, I will try the faith of my people; therefore I, Mormon, do write the things which have been commanded me of the Lord."
Read Here: 3 Nephi 12:5
"Come unto me, O ye Gentiles, and I will shew unto you the greater things, the knowledge which is hid up because of unbelief."
Read Here: Ether 1:109
545. If the those who receive it (the remnant and Gentiles) believe, then the Greater Things are manifest. But only after the trial of their faith with the first records. |
"And these things have I written, which are a lesser part of the things which he taught the people; and I have written them to the intent that they may be brought again unto this people, from the Gentiles, according to the words which Jesus hath spoken.
And when they shall have received this, which is expedient that they should have first, to try their faith, and if it shall so be that they shall believe these things, then shall the greater things be made manifest unto them.And if it so be that they will not believe these things, then shall the greater things be withheld from them, unto their condemnation.Behold I was about to write them all which were engraven upon the plates of Nephi, but the Lord forbid it, saying, I will try the faith of my people; therefore I, Mormon, do write the things which have been commanded me of the Lord." Read Here: 3 Nephi 12:2-5
"Come unto me, O ye Gentiles, and I will shew unto you the greater things, the knowledge which is hid up because of unbelief." -- Ether 1:109
546. The America's were promised inheritance to the remnant of Joseph, not the Gentiles who inhabit. |
"And the Father hath commanded me that I should give unto you this land, for your inheritance."
Read Here: 3 Nephi 9:50
|
"And behold, this is the land of your inheritance; and the Father hath given it unto you."
Read Here: 3 Nephi 7:14
547. God Covenanted with Lehi/Nephi that the Americas were His people's land forever. |
"Yea, the Lord hath covenanted this land unto me, and to my children for ever;"
Read Here: 2 Nephi 1:8
548. Inheritance:
i) Israel was promised to Judah, House of Israel. |
"Then shall their watchmen lift up their voices; and with the voice together shall they sing; for they shall see eye to eye.
Then will the Father gather them together again, and give unto them Jerusalem for the land of their inheritance." Read Here: 3 Nephi 9:70-71
ii) The Americas are the land of Joseph's inheritance, not the Gentiles.
549. Notwithstanding, the Lord's Promise is that Gentiles would be a great nation, freedom established so that the word could return to the remnant of Joseph. |
"And after that ye were blessed, then fulfilleth the Father the covenant which he made with Abraham, saying, In thy seed shall all the kindreds of the earth be blessed, unto the pouring out of the Holy Ghost through me upon the Gentiles, which blessing upon the Gentiles, shall make them mighty above all, unto the scattering of my people, O house of Israel: and they shall be a scourge unto the people of this land.
Nevertheless, when they shall have received the fullness of my gospel, then if they shall harden their hearts against me, I will return their iniquities upon their own heads, saith the Father." Read Here: 3 Nephi 9:65-66
550. The Gentiles harden their hearts to the gospel given to them—both from within the church and without. Their iniquities are returned upon their own heads. |
"Nevertheless, when they shall have received the fullness of my gospel, then if they shall harden their hearts against me, I will return their iniquities upon their own heads, saith the Father."
Read Here: 3 Nephi 9:66
551. The remnant of Joseph shall be as a lion among the Gentiles at a future day. Their rise is prophesied to happen after the rise of the Gentiles. |
"And I say unto you, that if the Gentiles do not repent, after the blessing which they shall receive, after they have scattered my people, then shall ye who are a remnant of the house of Jacob, go forth among them;
And ye shall be in the midst of them, who shall be many; and ye shall be among them, as a lion among the beasts of the forests, and as a young lion among the flocks of sheep, who, if he goeth through, both treadeth down and teareth in pieces, and none can deliver.Thy hand shall be lifted up upon thine adversaries, and all thine enemies shall be cut off.And I will gather my people together, as a man gathereth his sheaves into the floor, for I will make my people with whom the Father hath covenanted, yea, I will make thy horn iron, and I will make thy hoofs brass.And thou shalt beat in pieces many people; and I will consecrate their gain unto the Lord, and their substance unto the Lord of the whole earth. And behold, I am he who doeth it.And it shall come to pass, saith the Father, that the sword of my justice shall hang over them at that day; and except they repent, it shall fall upon them, saith the Father, yea, even upon all the nations of the Gentiles." Read Here: 3 Nephi 9:51-56
|
"Therefore it shall come to pass, that whosoever will not believe in my words, who am Jesus Christ, whom the Father shall cause him to bring forth unto the Gentiles, and shall give unto him power that he shall bring them forth unto the Gentiles, (it shall be done even as Moses said,) they shall be cut off from among my people who are of the covenant;
And my people who are a remnant of Jacob, shall be among the Gentiles, yea, in the midst of them, as a lion among the beasts of the forest, as a young lion among the flocks of sheep, who, if he go through both treadeth down and teareth in pieces, and none can deliver." Read Here: 3 Nephi 9:98-99
552. The Gentiles have judgement pronounced upon them for their immorality and rejection of truth. If they don't repent, the result is 'fury such as they have not heard.' |
"Yea, wo be unto the Gentiles, except they repent, for it shall come to pass in that day, saith the Father, that I will cut off thy horses out of the midst of thee, and I will destroy thy chariots, and I will cut off the cities of thy land and throw down all thy strongholds;
And I will cut off witchcrafts out of thy hand, and thou shalt have no more soothsayers:Thy graven images I will also cut off, and thy standing images out of the midst of thee; and thou shalt no more worship the works of thy hands;And I will pluck up thy groves out of the midst of thee; so will I destroy thy cities.And it shall come to pass that all lyings, and deceivings, and envyings, and strifes, and priestcrafts and whoredoms, shall be done away.For it shall come to pass, saith the Father, that at that day, whosoever will not repent and come unto my beloved Son, them will I cut off from among my people, O house of Israel, and I will execute vengeance and fury upon them, even as upon the heathen, such as they have not heard." Read Here: 3 Nephi 9:101-106
553. A great and eternal purpose of the Lord is to fulfill the covenant to restore the Jews and all the House of Israel to the original lands of their inheritance. This is why inheritance and lands were stressed in early scripture. They become the lands of the Kingdom in the last days. |
"That the Father may bring about, through his most beloved, his great and eternal purpose, in restoring the Jews, or all the house of Israel, to the land of their inheritance, which the Lord their God hath given them, unto the fulfilling of his covenant,"
Read Here: Mormon 2:42
554. The Jews wandered without a homeland since Jerusalem was destroyed in approximately 70 A.D. The Jews have wandered throughout the world for nearly 2000 years since then as a people without a nation. The lands of their inheritance were occupied by other (Gentile) nations.
555. An incredible prophecy within the Book of Mormon states that when the work (i.e. the return of the Book of Mormon to the world) shall commence, Israel (Jews) shall be about to return to their homeland. |
"Therefore I write unto you, Gentiles, and also unto you, house of Israel, when the work shall commence, that ye shall be about to prepare to return to the land of your inheritance;"
Read Here: Mormon 1:82
556. The prophecy is stated three separate times in the Book of Mormon, that when the words of the Book of Mormon (i.e. Joseph's words) are received by the Gentiles, it is a sign the Jews will begin returning to their homeland. |
"Therefore I write unto you, Gentiles, and also unto you, house of Israel, when the work shall commence, that ye shall be about to prepare to return to the land of your inheritance;"
Read Here: Mormon 1:82
"And now behold, I say unto you, that when the Lord shall see fit, in his wisdom, that these sayings shall come unto the Gentiles, according to his word, then ye may know that the covenant which the Father hath made with the children of Israel, concerning their restoration to the lands of their inheritance, is already beginning to be fulfilled;"
Read Here: 3 Nephi 13:54
"Remember, when ye see these things, ye shall know that the time is at hand that they shall be made manifest in very deed; therefore, when ye shall receive this record, ye may know that the work of the Father has commenced upon all the face of the land."
Read Here: Ether 1:114
557. No theologian or politician ever predicted such an incredible change in world events previously. Yet demographics prove the Book of Mormon's prophecy true. Examine the chart below. World demographic data verifies that Jews remained outside of Jerusalem until the mid-1800's, when they started individually returning. This time period exactly coincides with when the Book of Mormon came forth to the world. This is exactly as Mormon wrote.
"Therefore I write unto you, Gentiles, and also unto you, house of Israel, when the work shall commence, that ye shall be about to prepare to return to the land of your inheritance;"-- Mormon 1:82
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Demographic_history_of_Jerusalem
558. The Prophecy tells that 'lofty' attitudes of both Jews and Gentiles would cause them fall away from the truth.
559. In the Parable of the Olive Tree, the vineyard's corruption came from it's loftiness. This represents the lofty heart of man, not humble before Christ. |
"And it came to pass that the servant said unto his master, Is it not the loftiness of thy vineyard?"
Read Here: Jacob 3:105
560. Isaiah warns that the lofty looks of man shall be humbled when the Lord returns. |
"And it shall come to pass that the lofty looks of man shall be humbled, and the haughtiness of man shall be bowed down, and the Lord alone shall be exalted in that day."
Read Here: Isaiah 2:11
"For the day of the Lord of hosts soon cometh upon all nations; yea, upon everyone; yea, upon the proud and lofty, and upon everyone who is lifted up, and he shall be brought low."
Read Here: Isaiah 2:12
"And it shall come to pass that the lofty looks of man shall be humbled, and the haughtiness of man shall be bowed down, and the Lord alone shall be exalted in that day." --Isaiah 2:11
561. The Prophecy tells that the Gentiles would be great in the eyes of God in carrying forth truth to Israel. |
"Wherefore the promises of the Lord are great unto the Gentiles, for he hath spoken it, and who can dispute?"
Read Here: 2 Nephi 7:16
"Nevertheless, I will soften the hearts of the Gentiles, that they shall be like unto a father to them;"
Read Here: 2 Nephi 7:28
562. The Gentiles upon this land (The Americas) would have great blessings. |
"But behold, this land, saith God, shall be a land of thine inheritance; and the Gentiles shall be blessed upon the land."
Read Here: 2 Nephi 7:17
"And this land shall be a land of liberty unto the Gentiles: and there shall be no kings upon the land, who shall raise up unto the Gentiles."
Read Here: 2 Nephi 7:18
563. God's plan was to bring the Gentiles to as great a knowledge of Jesus as he did the Jews. |
"And as I spake concerning the convincing of the Jews, that Jesus is the very Christ, it must needs be that the Gentiles be convinced also, that Jesus is the Christ, the Eternal God; and that he manifesteth himself unto all those who believe in him, by the power of the Holy Ghost;"
Read Here: 2 Nephi 11:78
564. Repentant Gentiles have the same blessing as those of the House of Israel. |
"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;"
Read Here: 2 Nephi 12:77
565. The Prophecy tells that the Gentiles who come upon this land would share in the blessing of Joseph's people. Joseph's people were promised this land for their covenant. |
"And it shall come to pass, that if the Gentiles shall hearken unto the Lamb of God in that day that he shall manifest himself unto them in word, and also in power, in very deed, unto the taking away of their stumbling-blocks, and harden not their hearts against the Lamb of God, they shall be numbered among the seed of thy father;"
Read Here: 1 Nephi 3:201
"Wherefore, I will consecrate this land unto thy seed, and they who shall be numbered among thy seed, for ever, for the land of their inheritance:"
Read Here: 2 Nephi 7:30
566. The Gentiles would share in the blessings with the covenant people of the House of Israel. |
"Wherefore, the Gentiles shall be blessed and numbered among the house of Israel."
Read Here: 2 Nephi 7:29
567. Despite the blessings, the Gentiles would begin to forget God and favor their substance. They would begin to deny God. |
"And the Gentiles are lifted up in the pride of their eyes, and have stumbled, because of the greatness of their stumbling block, that they have built up many churches;"
Read Here: 2 Nephi 11:90
"Wo be unto the Gentiles, saith the Lord God of hosts; for notwithstanding I shall lengthen out mine arm unto them from day to day, they will deny me;"
Read Here: 2 Nephi 12:40
568. Judgement upon the Gentiles is prophesied if these same Gentiles—the who received the Fullness of the Gospel-- are unrepentant. |
"Wo be unto the Gentiles, saith the Lord God of hosts; for notwithstanding I shall lengthen out mine arm unto them from day to day, they will deny me;"
Read Here: 2 Nephi 12:40
"But wo, saith the Father, unto the unbelieving of the Gentiles, for notwithstanding they have come forth upon the face of this land, and have scattered my people, who are of the house of Israel; and my people who are of the house of Israel, have been cast out from among them, and have been trodden under feet by them;
And because of the mercies of the Father unto the Gentiles, and also the judgments of the Father upon my people, who are of the house of Israel, verily, verily, I say unto you, that after all this, and I have caused my people who are of the house of Israel, to be smitten, and to be afflicted, and to be slain, and to be cast out from among them, and to become hated by them, and to become a hiss and a byword among them.And thus commandeth the Father that I should say unto you, At that day when the Gentiles shall sin against my gospel, and shall reject the fullness of my gospel, and shall be lifted up in the pride of their hearts above all nations, and above all the people of the whole earth, and shall be filled with all manner of lyings, and of deceits, and of mischiefs, and all manner of hypocrisy, and murders, and priestcrafts, and whoredoms, and of secret abominations;And if they shall do all these things, and shall reject the fullness of my gospel, behold, saith the Father, I will bring the fullness of my gospel from among them;And then will I remember my covenant which I have made unto my people, O house of Israel, and I will bring my gospel unto them;" Read Here: 3 Nephi 7:32-36
569. The Prophecy states the Gentiles and Jews would be drunken in iniquity. |
"But behold, in the last days, or in the days of the Gentiles; yea, behold all the nations of the Gentiles, and also the Jews, both those who shall come upon this land, and those who shall be upon other lands; yea, even upon all the lands of the earth; behold, they will be drunken with iniquity, and all manner of abominations;"
Read Here: 2 Nephi 11:116
570. Just as God cleared Canaan under Joshua before Israel re-established the promised land, the land of the Gentiles would potentially be cleansed. |
"The Lord did not set his love upon you, nor choose you, because ye were more in number than any people; for ye were the fewest of all people;
But because the Lord loved you, and because he would keep the oath which he had sworn unto your fathers, hath the Lord brought you out with a mighty hand, and redeemed you out of the house of bondmen, from the hand of Pharaoh king of Egypt.Know therefore that the Lord thy God, he is God, the faithful God, which keepeth covenant and mercy with them that love him and keep his commandments to a thousand generations;And repayeth them that hate him to their face, to destroy them; he will not be slack to him that hateth him, he will repay him to his face.Thou shalt therefore keep the commandments, and the statutes, and the judgments, which I command thee this day, to do them.Wherefore it shall come to pass, if ye hearken to these judgments, and keep and do them, that the Lord thy God shall keep unto thee the covenant and the mercy which he sware unto thy fathers;And he will love thee, and bless thee, and multiply thee; he will also bless the fruit of thy womb, and the fruit of thy land, thy corn, and thy wine, and thine oil, the increase of thy kine, and the flocks of thy sheep, in the land which he sware unto thy fathers to give thee.Thou shalt be blessed above all people; there shall not be male or female barren among you, or among your cattle.And the Lord will take away from thee all sickness, and will put none of the evil diseases of Egypt, which thou knowest, upon thee; but will lay them upon all them that hate thee.And thou shalt consume all the people which the Lord thy God shall deliver thee; thine eye shall have no pity upon them; neither shalt thou serve their gods; for that will be a snare unto thee.If thou shalt say in thine heart, These nations are more than I; how can I dispossess them?Thou shalt not be afraid of them; but shalt well remember what the Lord thy God did unto Pharaoh, and unto all Egypt;The great temptations which thine eyes saw, and the signs, and the wonders, and the mighty hand, and the stretched-out arm, whereby the Lord thy God brought thee out; so shall the Lord thy God do unto all the people of whom thou art afraid.Moreover the Lord thy God will send the hornet among them, until they that are left, and hide themselves from thee, be destroyed.Thou shalt not be affrighted at them; for the Lord thy God is among you, a mighty God and terrible.And the Lord thy God will put out those nations before thee by little and little; thou mayest not consume them at once, lest the beasts of the field increase upon thee.But the Lord thy God shall deliver them unto thee, and shall destroy them with a mighty destruction, until they be destroyed.And he shall deliver their kings into thine hand, and thou shalt destroy their name from under heaven; there shall no man be able to stand before thee, until thou have destroyed them.The graven images of their gods shall ye burn with fire; thou shalt not desire the silver or gold that in on them, nor take it unto thee, lest thou be snared therein; for it is an abomination to the Lord thy God.Neither shalt thou bring an abomination into thine house, lest thou be a cursed thing like it; but thou shalt utterly detest it, and thou shalt utterly abhor it; for it is a cursed thing." Read Here: Deuteronomy 7:7-26
571. Jesus said if the Gentiles will repent after having such great blessings and yet rejecting the gospel, he would still allow them to be numbered among Joseph, and share in their inheritance and blessing.
572. The warning is to all nations of the Gentiles, not just a specific land. |
"Turn all ye Gentiles, from your wicked ways, and repent of your evil doings, of your lyings and deceivings, and of your whoredoms, and of your secret abominations, and your idolatries, and of your murders, and your priestcrafts, and your envyings, and your strifes, and from all your wickedness and abominations,"
Read Here: 3 Nephi 14:2
573. The purpose of cleansing the land of the Gentiles is to clear the land of its immorality for a fresh start. The fresh start will be the New Jerusalem built by the remnant of Joseph. |
"Yea, wo be unto the Gentiles, except they repent, for it shall come to pass in that day, saith the Father, that I will cut off thy horses out of the midst of thee, and I will destroy thy chariots, and I will cut off the cities of thy land and throw down all thy strongholds;
And I will cut off witchcrafts out of thy hand, and thou shalt have no more soothsayers:Thy graven images I will also cut off, and thy standing images out of the midst of thee; and thou shalt no more worship the works of thy hands;And I will pluck up thy groves out of the midst of thee; so will I destroy thy cities.And it shall come to pass that all lyings, and deceivings, and envyings, and strifes, and priestcrafts and whoredoms, shall be done away." Read Here: 3 Nephi 9:101-105
574. Immorality of Gentile culture are removed from the land where the New Jerusalem is to be established. As in the days of Joshua, the land (culture) begins with a clean slate-- nothing from former culture could be allowed to corrupt. |
"And my people who are a remnant of Jacob, shall be among the Gentiles, yea, in the midst of them, as a lion among the beasts of the forest, as a young lion among the flocks of sheep, who, if he go through both treadeth down and teareth in pieces, and none can deliver.
Their hand shall be lifted up upon their adversaries, and all their enemies shall be cut off.Yea, wo be unto the Gentiles, except they repent, for it shall come to pass in that day, saith the Father, that I will cut off thy horses out of the midst of thee, and I will destroy thy chariots, and I will cut off the cities of thy land and throw down all thy strongholds;And I will cut off witchcrafts out of thy hand, and thou shalt have no more soothsayers:Thy graven images I will also cut off, and thy standing images out of the midst of thee; and thou shalt no more worship the works of thy hands;And I will pluck up thy groves out of the midst of thee; so will I destroy thy cities.And it shall come to pass that all lyings, and deceivings, and envyings, and strifes, and priestcrafts and whoredoms, shall be done away.For it shall come to pass, saith the Father, that at that day, whosoever will not repent and come unto my beloved Son, them will I cut off from among my people, O house of Israel, and I will execute vengeance and fury upon them, even as upon the heathen, such as they have not heard." Read Here: 3 Nephi 9:99-106
575.
576. The Prophecy states that Jerusalem (Judah) would be smitten and trodden down by the Gentiles until the 'Time of the Gentiles' is fulfilled. |
"And they shall fall by the edge of the sword, and shall be led away captive into all nations; and Jerusalem shall be trodden down of the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled."
Read Here: Luke 21:23
"Verily I say unto you, this generation, the generation when the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled, shall not pass away till all be fulfilled."
Read Here: Luke 21:32
577. The Time of the Gentiles refers to the time where the Gentiles 'are keepers' of the Gospel during Israel's generations of estrangement from the Messiah, which Paul called Israel's blindness. |
"For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits, that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fullness of the Gentiles be come in."
Read Here: Romans 11:25
578. The Times of the Gentiles are fulfilled in the last days. The gospel that was given to them is taken from them back to Israel. This is the penalty for rejecting the fullness of the gospel |
"But wo, saith the Father, unto the unbelieving of the Gentiles, for notwithstanding they have come forth upon the face of this land, and have scattered my people, who are of the house of Israel; and my people who are of the house of Israel, have been cast out from among them, and have been trodden under feet by them;
And because of the mercies of the Father unto the Gentiles, and also the judgments of the Father upon my people, who are of the house of Israel, verily, verily, I say unto you, that after all this, and I have caused my people who are of the house of Israel, to be smitten, and to be afflicted, and to be slain, and to be cast out from among them, and to become hated by them, and to become a hiss and a byword among them.And thus commandeth the Father that I should say unto you, At that day when the Gentiles shall sin against my gospel, and shall reject the fullness of my gospel, and shall be lifted up in the pride of their hearts above all nations, and above all the people of the whole earth, and shall be filled with all manner of lyings, and of deceits, and of mischiefs, and all manner of hypocrisy, and murders, and priestcrafts, and whoredoms, and of secret abominations;And if they shall do all these things, and shall reject the fullness of my gospel, behold, saith the Father, I will bring the fullness of my gospel from among them;And then will I remember my covenant which I have made unto my people, O house of Israel, and I will bring my gospel unto them;" Read Here: 3 Nephi 7:32-36
579. The scripture stating 'The First shall be Last and the Last shall be First' refers to the gospel coming first to the Jews (before Christ), then coming to Gentiles (after Christ), then returning in fullness to the Gentiles in the latter days, then finally returning to Israel (Jews) before the end comes. During the time periods when the gospel 'left' the Jews to go to the Gentiles, the Jews were physically, politically and spiritually scourged though out the world. |
"But there are many who make themselves first, that shall be last, and the last first."
Read Here: Mark 10:30
"And after he has manifested himself unto the Jews and also unto the Gentiles; then he shall manifest himself unto the Gentiles, and also unto the Jews,
And the last shall be first, and the first shall be last." Read Here: 1 Nephi 3:199-200
580. When the Gospel returns to Israel, they shall no longer be down trodden by the Gentiles ever again. This marks the Times of the Gentiles being fulfilled. |
"And they shall fall by the edge of the sword, and shall be led away captive into all nations; and Jerusalem shall be trodden down of the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled.
Now these things he spake unto them, concerning the destruction of Jerusalem. And then his disciples asked him, saying, Master, tell us concerning thy coming?And he answered them, and said, In the generation in which the times of the Gentiles shall be fulfilled, there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations with perplexity, like the sea and the waves roaring. The earth also shall be troubled, and the waters of the great deep;" Read Here: Luke 21:23-25
581. The prophecy of Jesus states that in the last days, the keepers of the Vineyard were 'miserable, wicked men.' Jesus removes their influence and lets the vineyard to 'other husbandmen' who obey him in all things. |
"And when the Lord therefore of the vineyard cometh, he will destroy those miserable, wicked men, and will let again his vineyard unto other husbandmen, even in the last days, who shall render him the fruits in their seasons."
Read Here: Matthew 21:55
"And it came to pass that the servants did go, and labor with their mights; and the Lord of the vineyard labored also with them; and they did obey the commandments of the Lord of the vineyard, in all things."
Read Here: Jacob 3:140
582. The Times of the Gentiles fulfillment begins the major events of gathering Israel:
i) The Gospel goes back to Joseph;
ii) The Gentiles fall under judgement;
iii) Josephs remnant is like a Lion within the Gentiles;
iv) The city New Jerusalem is built in the Americas;
v) The Power of heaven comes down as the gospel goes to all the world;
vi) People of the earth are converted as their hearts change for Jesus; People gather to the New and Old Jerusalem;
vii) The world is powerless to fight against Zion.
583. The Gospel returns to the Gentiles after the days of Christ on earth and again in the Latter Days as 'The Restoration.' The church among the Gentiles would have certain success, but certain failings as well.
584. Some Gentile failings regarding the doctrine of Jesus:
i) Many Gentile Christians would confuse works and grace.
ii) Some Gentile Christians would mistake culturally and politically motivated 'social justice' for the gospel of Jesus;
iii) Some Gentile Christians would miss the greatest Christ-given teaching tool—that of gender—and blindly confuse political agendas for Christ's gospel. Thinking it no harm to disregard the masculinity of God and Christ.
iv) Some Gentile churches mislead that for (your) money can forgiveness can be granted.
v) Other Gentile churches would promote Celestial Marriage, polygamy and divisions of glory;
vi) Some Gentile churches would wait for a Zion they think is by/for/about them, not seeing God's greater plan to bring the world to Jesus by the Kingdom.
vii) Some Gentile churches in the restoration wrongly assumed the Kingdom on earth was just for them because they initially received the Book of Mormon.
viii) Some Gentile churches misunderstood scriptures about the Millennium and resurrection, tribulation and rapture.
585. Gentile nations would have a form of godliness yet deny the power of God. The prophet Zenos describes them as the wild grafts on a tame Olive tree. The many wild grafts bear fruit; however, the master of the vineyard tastes of each fruit, and determines none of it is good. |
"But behold, this time it hath brought forth much fruit, and there is none of it which is good."
Read Here: Jacob 3:77
586. The Gentiles who received the writings of Joseph would fragment and diminish the truth. Initial gifts of the spirit found in the early restoration would soon be lost. |
"And if it so be that the church is built upon my gospel, then will the Father shew forth his own works in it;"
Read Here: 3 Nephi 12:22
587. For this wise purpose, The Greater things were withheld from the Gentiles the first time the record of Joseph comes to them. |
"And when they shall have received this, which is expedient that they should have first, to try their faith, and if it shall so be that they shall believe these things, then shall the greater things be made manifest unto them."
Read Here: 3 Nephi 12:3
"And if it so be that they will not believe these things, then shall the greater things be withheld from them, unto their condemnation."
Read Here: 3 Nephi 12:4
"Come unto me, O ye Gentiles, and I will shew unto you the greater things, the knowledge which is hid up because of unbelief."
Read Here: Ether 1:109
588. The promise is that the gospel returns to the Jews upon the Gentiles rejection of it. |
"And thus commandeth the Father that I should say unto you, At that day when the Gentiles shall sin against my gospel, and shall reject the fullness of my gospel, and shall be lifted up in the pride of their hearts above all nations, and above all the people of the whole earth, and shall be filled with all manner of lyings, and of deceits, and of mischiefs, and all manner of hypocrisy, and murders, and priestcrafts, and whoredoms, and of secret abominations;
" Read Here: 3 Nephi 7:34-5
589. Our missteps were foretold. He does His own work in the end. |
"Wherefore it shall come to pass, that the Lord God will deliver again the book and the words thereof to him that is not learned; and the man that is not learned shall say, I am not learned. Then shall the Lord God say unto him, The learned shall not read them, for they have rejected them, and I am able to do mine own work; wherefore thou shalt read the words which I shall give unto thee."
Read Here: Isaiah 29:22
"Touch not the things which are sealed, for I will bring them forth in mine own due time; for I will show unto the children of men that I am able to do mine own work."
Read Here: Isaiah 29:23
"Then shall the Lord God say unto him, The learned shall not read them, for they have rejected them, and I am able to do mine own work; wherefore, thou shalt read the words which I shall give unto thee."
Read Here: 2 Nephi 11:142
590. All people are offered repentance individually. Nations never received God's judgement without a prophetic witness of repentance first, and that long suffering. |
"Surely the Lord God will do nothing, until he revealeth the secret unto his servants the prophets."
Read Here: Amos 3:7
591. The nations of the Gentiles are offered repentance. |
"And it came to pass that the angel spake unto me, Nephi, saying, Thou hast beheld that if the Gentiles repent, it shall be well with them;"
Read Here: 1 Nephi 3:210
592. As many of the Gentiles who repent are included in the covenant promises of the Lord. |
"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;"
Read Here: 2 Nephi 12:77
"But if the Gentiles will repent, and return unto me, saith the Father, behold, they shall be numbered among my people, O house of Israel;"
Read Here: 3 Nephi 7:38
593. Warning issued to all nations of the Gentiles. The warning is that the remnant of Jacob will have power over the nations of the Gentiles, which would appear to be a future portrayal of the David and Goliath story—the Gentile giant felled by the smallest Israelite. |
"And I say unto you, that if the Gentiles do not repent, after the blessing which they shall receive, after they have scattered my people, then shall ye who are a remnant of the house of Jacob, go forth among them;"
Read Here: 3 Nephi 9:51
594. The remnant of Joseph inherits the desolation of the Gentiles. |
"For thou shalt break forth on the right hand and on the left; and thy seed shall inherit the Gentiles, and make the desolate cities to be inhabited."
Read Here: Isaiah 54:3
"For thou shalt break forth on the right hand and on the left; and thy seed shall inherit the Gentiles, and make the desolate cities to be inhabited."
Read Here: 3 Nephi 10:11
"Thus saith the Lord, In an acceptable time have I heard thee, O isles of the sea, and in a day of salvation have I helped thee: and I will preserve thee, and give thee my servant for a covenant of the people, to establish the earth, to cause to inherit the desolate heritages;"
Read Here: 1 Nephi 6:38
The Lord declared this land (America's) was consecrated for whoever the Lord would bring to it. |
The ancient descendants of Joseph on this land and the Gentiles who came later
• Both received promises and warnings;
• Both receive blessings and cursings;
• The land would be blessed for obedience, cursed for iniquity;
• Both received the fullness of the gospel, and at certain times in their respective histories, both reject it.
The promises are fulfilled when the remnant of Joseph receives the gospel again, after the Gentiles reject it. The Gentiles are allowed to share in Joseph's peoples' blessing after the Gentiles repent.
Jesus shared a major signpost to the Nephites when these things would happen: he simply stated that when the remnant of Joseph (Nephites) begins to learn of Gospel from the Gentiles, it is a sign that the work is already underway unto the restoring of Israel to Jesus. |
"And when these things come to pass, that thy seed shall begin to know these things, it shall be a sign unto them, that they may know that the work of the Father hath already commenced unto the fulfilling of the covenant which he hath made unto the people who are of the house of Israel."
Read Here: 3 Nephi 9:93
595. The land of the Americas had always been preserved as a land 'choice above all other lands.' |
"For behold, they rejected all the words of Ether; for he truly told them of all things, from the beginning of man; and that after the waters had receded from off the face of this land, it became a choice land above all other lands, a chosen land of the Lord;"
Read Here: Ether 6:2
596. The Blessing upon the Land is that all who keep the commandments shall prosper. |
"And if it so be that they shall keep his commandments, they shall be blessed upon the face of this land,"
Read Here: 2 Nephi 1:20
"Yea, we can behold that his words are verified, even at this time, which he spake unto Lehi saying, Blessed art thou and thy children; and they shall be blessed; inasmuch as they shall keep my commandments, they shall prosper in the land."
Read Here: Alma 22:20
597. But the land holds a cursing as well—the cursing is that destruction shall come upon all those who work darkness. And that destruction comes when they are fully ripe. |
"For behold, there is a curse upon all this land, that destruction shall come upon all those workers of darkness, according to the power of God, when they are fully ripe; therefore I desire that this people might not be destroyed."
Read Here: Alma 17:60
"And thus the Lord did pour out his blessings upon this land, which was choice above all other lands; and he commanded that whoso should possess the land, should possess it unto the Lord, or they should be destroyed when they were ripened in iniquity; for upon such, saith the Lord, I will pour out the fullness of my wrath."
Read Here: Ether 4:22
"And he leadeth away the righteous into precious lands, and the wicked he destroyeth, and curseth the land unto them for their sakes."
Read Here: 1 Nephi 5:129
"For if iniquity shall abound, cursed shall be the land for their sakes;"
Read Here: 2 Nephi 1:14
"Wherefore, this people shall keep my commandments, saith the Lord of hosts, or cursed be the land for their sakes."
Read Here: Jacob 2:38
"But wo, wo, unto you that are not pure in heart; that are filthy this day before God; for except ye repent, the land is cursed for your sakes;"
Read Here: Jacob 2:51
"I have given unto them this land; and it is a holy land; and I curse it not, save it be for the cause of iniquity;"
Read Here: Enos 1:15
"And he said, Thus saith the Lord God: Cursed shall be the land, yea, this land, unto every nation, kindred, tongue, and people, unto destruction, which do wickedly, when they are fully ripe;"
Read Here: Alma 21:17
598. The land holds a cursing and a blessing because the Lord can not look upon sin with any degree of allowance. |
"And as I have said, so shall it be: for this is the cursing and the blessing of God upon the land, for the Lord can not look upon sin with the least degree of allowance."
Read Here: Alma 21:18
"And behold, a curse shall come upon the land, saith the Lord of Hosts, because of the people's sake who are upon the land; yea, because of their wickedness and their abominations."
Read Here: Helaman 5:22
599. The Nephites experienced the curse of the land when their hearts turned to riches over God. |
"And behold, a curse shall come upon the land, saith the Lord of Hosts, because of the people's sake who are upon the land; yea, because of their wickedness and their abominations.
And it shall come to pass saith the Lord of Hosts, yea, our great and true God, that whoso shall hide up treasures in the earth, shall find them again no more, because of the great curse of the land, save he be a righteous man, and shall hide it up unto the Lord,For I will, saith the Lord, that they shall hide up their treasures unto me; and cursed be they who hide not up their treasures unto me; for none hideth up their treasures unto me save it be the righteous;And he that hideth not up his treasures unto me, cursed is he, and also the treasure, and none shall redeem it because of the curse of the land.And the day shall come that they shall hide up their treasures, because they have set their hearts upon riches;And because they have set their hearts upon their riches, and will hide up their treasures when they shall flee before their enemies, because they will not hide them up unto me, cursed be they, and also their treasures; and in that day shall they be smitten, saith the Lord.Behold ye, the people of this great city, and hearken unto my words; yea, hearken unto the words which the Lord saith; for behold, he saith that ye are cursed because of your riches,And also are your riches cursed because ye have set your hearts upon them, and have not hearkened unto the words of him who gave them unto you.Ye do not remember the Lord your God in the things which he hath blessed you, but ye do always remember your riches, not to thank the Lord your God for them;Yea, your hearts are not drawn out unto the Lord, but they do swell with great pride, unto boasting, and unto great swelling, envyings, strifes, malice, persecutions, and murders, and all manner of iniquities.For this cause hath the Lord God caused that a curse should come upon the land, and also upon your riches; and this because of your iniquities;" Read Here: Helaman 5:22-32
"Yea, behold the anger of the Lord is already kindled against you; behold, he hath cursed the land, because of your iniquity; and behold, the time cometh that he curseth your riches, and it becometh slippery, that ye can not hold them;
And in the days of your poverty, ye can not retain them; and in the days of your poverty, ye shall cry unto the Lord; and in vain shall ye cry, for your desolation is already come upon you, and your destruction is made sure;And then shall ye weep and howl in that day, saith the Lord of Hosts.And then shall ye lament, and say, O that I had repented, and had not killed the prophets, and stoned them, and cast them out;Yea, in that day ye shall say, O that we had remembered the Lord our God, in the day that he gave us our riches, and then they would not have become slippery, that we should lose them; for behold, our riches are gone from us.Behold, we lay a tool here, and on the morrow it is gone; and behold, our swords are taken from us in the day we have sought them for battle.Yea, we have hid up our treasures, and they have slipped away from us, because of the curse of the land.O that we had repented in the day that the word of the Lord came unto us; for behold the land is cursed, and all things have become slippery, and we can not hold them." Read Here: Helaman 5:41-48
"But I did remain among them, but I was forbidden to preach unto them, because of the hardness of their hearts; and because of the hardness of their hearts, the land was cursed for their sake."
Read Here: Mormon 1:18
The descendants of Nephi's people (remnant of Joseph) had this warning from Jesus:
1) The remnant of Joseph through Lehi would be led to a land 'choice above all other lands. |
"And inasmuch as ye shall keep my commandments, ye shall prosper, and shall be led to a land of promise; yea, even a land which I have prepared for you; yea, a land which is choice above all other lands."
Read Here: 1 Nephi 1:54
"But, said he, notwithstanding our afflictions, we have obtained a land of promise, a land which is choice above all other lands;"
Read Here: 2 Nephi 1:6
"For it is a choice land, saith God unto me, above all other lands;"
Read Here: 2 Nephi 7:31
"And behold, this last, whose branch hath withered away, I did plant in a good spot of ground; yea, even that which was choice unto me, above all the other parts of the land of my vineyard."
Read Here: Jacob 3:93
2) The Nephite/Lamanite culture were all descendants of Joseph through Manasseh. |
"Wherefore he knew that he was a descendant of Joseph; yea, even that Joseph who was the son of Jacob, who was sold into Egypt, and who was preserved by the hand of the Lord, that he might preserve his father Jacob and all his household from perishing with famine."
Read Here: 1 Nephi 1:165
"And great were the covenants of the Lord, which he made unto Joseph; wherefore, Joseph truly saw our day."
Read Here: 2 Nephi 2:6
"Yea, thus prophesied Joseph, I am sure of this thing, even as I am sure of the promise of Moses: for the Lord hath said unto me, I will preserve thy seed for ever."
Read Here: 2 Nephi 2:31
3) The Nephite were continually warned of scattering for disobedience, just as the Jews. The land would otherwise be cursed for their sakes. |
"But wo, wo, unto you that are not pure in heart; that are filthy this day before God; for except ye repent, the land is cursed for your sakes;
And the Lamanites which are not filthy like unto you, (nevertheless, they are cursed with a sore cursing,) shall scourge you even unto destruction.And the time speedily cometh, that except ye repent, they shall possess the land of your inheritance, and the Lord God will lead away the righteous out from among you." Read Here: Jacob 2:51-53
4) After Jesus visited America, the Nephite civilization was scourged into non-existence by the Lamanites. |
"And if it so be that they rebel against me, they shall be a scourge unto thy seed, to stir them up in the ways of remembrance."
Read Here: 1 Nephi 1:58
"And the Lord God said unto me, They shall be a scourge unto thy seed, to stir them up in remembrance of me;"
Read Here: 2 Nephi 4:40
"And inasmuch as they will not remember me, and hearken unto my words, they shall scourge them even unto destruction."
Read Here: 2 Nephi 4:41
"And the Lamanites which are not filthy like unto you, (nevertheless, they are cursed with a sore cursing,) shall scourge you even unto destruction."
Read Here: Jacob 2:52
"Yea, I say unto you, that because they shall sin against so great light and knowledge; yea, I say unto you, that from that day, even the fourth generation shall not all pass away, before this great iniquity shall come;"
Read Here: Alma 21:12
"Yea, I will visit them in my fierce anger, and there shall be those of the fourth generation, who shall live, of your enemies, to behold your utter destruction:"
Read Here: Helaman 5:12
"And this shall surely come, except ye repent, saith the Lord: and those of the fourth generation shall visit your destruction."
Read Here: Helaman 5:13
"But behold, it sorroweth me because of the fourth generation from this generation, for they are led away captive by him, even as was the son of perdition; for they will sell me for silver, and for gold, and for that which moth doth corrupt, and which thieves can break through and steal.
And in that day will I visit them, even in turning their works upon their own heads." Read Here: 3 Nephi 13:9-10
"For behold, I have had a sore battle with the Lamanites, in which we did not conquer; and Archeantus has fallen by the sword, and also Luram and Emron; yea, and we have lost a great number of our choice men.
And now behold, my son, I fear lest the Lamanites shall destroy this people, for they do not repent, and Satan stirreth them up continually to anger, one with another.Behold, I am laboring with them continually; and when I speak the word of God with sharpness, they tremble and anger against me; and when I use no sharpness, they harden their hearts against it; wherefore I fear lest the Spirit of the Lord hath ceased striving with them.For so exceedingly do they anger, that it seemeth me that they have no fear of death; and they have lost their love, one towards another; and they thirst after blood and revenge continually.And now my beloved son, notwithstanding their hardness, let us labor diligently; for if we should cease to labor, we should be brought under condemnation; for we have a labor to perform whilst in this tabernacle of clay, that we may conquer the enemy of all righteousness, and rest our souls in the kingdom of God." Read Here: Moroni 9:2-6
"And behold, the ten thousand of Gidgiddonah had fallen, and he also in the midst; and Lama had fallen with his ten thousand; and Gilgal had fallen with his ten thousand; and Limhah had fallen with his ten thousand; and Jeneum had fallen with his ten thousand; and Cumenihah, and Moronihah, and Antionum, and Shiblom, and Shem, and Josh, had fallen with their ten thousand each.
And it came to pass that there were ten more who did fall by the sword, with their ten thousand each; yea, even all my people, save it were those twenty and four who were with me, and also a few who had escaped into the south countries, and a few who had deserted over unto the Lamanites, had fallen." Read Here: Mormon 3:15-16
5) The remnant that remained would live for generations without Christ. They would be scourged and scattered by the Gentiles who came to this land, but their future changes when they receive the fullness of the gospel. |
"And after that ye were blessed, then fulfilleth the Father the covenant which he made with Abraham, saying, In thy seed shall all the kindreds of the earth be blessed, unto the pouring out of the Holy Ghost through me upon the Gentiles, which blessing upon the Gentiles, shall make them mighty above all, unto the scattering of my people, O house of Israel: and they shall be a scourge unto the people of this land."
Read Here: 3 Nephi 9:65
"But behold, it shall come to pass that they shall be driven and scattered by the Gentiles; and after they have been driven and scattered by the Gentiles, behold, then will the Lord remember the covenant which he made unto Abraham, and unto all the house of Israel."
Read Here: Mormon 2:49
6) The Gentiles would know of the short-comings and iniquity of the dwindling remnant. |
"And except they repent, I will destroy them from off the face of the earth; and I will bring to light all their secrets and abominations, unto every nation that shall hereafter possess the land."
Read Here: Alma 17:57
7) Their record would be left behind for the Gentiles. |
"Yet they shall leave a record behind them, and I will preserve them for other nations which shall possess the land;"
Read Here: Mosiah 7:56
8) Their blessings would be reserved for the same Gentiles who would inhabit the land after them. |
"And behold, the Lord hath reserved their blessings, which they might have received in the land, for the Gentiles who shall possess the land."
Read Here: Mormon 2:48
"And that the Lord God would send or bring forth another people to possess the land, by his power, after the manner which he brought their fathers."
Read Here: Ether 4:113
The Gentiles who came to America had great promises:
1) Gentiles would be led to the same land of Joseph's progenitors' blessing, the Americas. It was and is the land 'choice above all other lands.' |
"Nevertheless thou beholdest that the Gentiles who have gone forth out of captivity, and have been lifted up by the power of God above all other nations upon the face of the land, which is choice above all other lands,"
Read Here: 1 Nephi 3:176
2) The Holy Ghost would be shed upon them to make them mighty above all. |
"And it meaneth that the time cometh that after all the house of Israel have been scattered and confounded, that the Lord God will raise up a mighty nation among the Gentiles, yea, even upon the face of this land;"
Read Here: 1 Nephi 7:15
"And after that ye were blessed, then fulfilleth the Father the covenant which he made with Abraham, saying, In thy seed shall all the kindreds of the earth be blessed, unto the pouring out of the Holy Ghost through me upon the Gentiles, which blessing upon the Gentiles, shall make them mighty above all, unto the scattering of my people, O house of Israel: and they shall be a scourge unto the people of this land."
Read Here: 3 Nephi 9:65
3) The fullness of the Gospel would come to the people of this land. |
"And after the Gentiles do stumble exceedingly because of the most plain and precious parts of the gospel of the Lamb which has been kept back, by that abominable church, which is the mother of harlots, saith the Lamb, I will be merciful unto the Gentiles in that day, insomuch that I will bring forth unto them in mine own power, much of my gospel, which shall be plain and precious, saith the Lamb;"
Read Here: 1 Nephi 3:183
"And now, the thing which our father meaneth concerning the grafting in of the natural branches through the fullness of the Gentiles, is, that in the latter days, when our seed shall have dwindled in unbelief, yea, for the space of many years and many generations, after the Messiah shall be manifested in body unto the children of men, then shall the fullness of the gospel of the Messiah come unto the Gentiles, and from the Gentiles unto the remnant of our seed;"
Read Here: 1 Nephi 4:16
4) The mighty Gentile nation of this land would be setup as a free people for this purpose: so the gospel could go forth in freedom. The forefathers were brought here by His power. |
"Verily, verily, I say unto you, When these things shall be made known unto them of the Father, and shall come forth of the Father, from them unto you, for it is wisdom in the Father that they should be established in this land,
And be set up as a free people by the power of the Father, that these things might come forth from them unto a remnant of your seed, that the covenant of the Father may be fulfilled which he hath covenanted with his people, O house of Israel;" Read Here: 3 Nephi 9:89-90
"And it came to pass that I, Nephi, beheld that the Gentiles who had gone forth out of captivity did humble themselves before the Lord, and the power of the Lord was with them;"
Read Here: 1 Nephi 3:152
"And I, Nephi, beheld that the Gentiles that had gone out of captivity were delivered by the power of God out of the hands of all other nations."
Read Here: 1 Nephi 3:155
5) The Gentiles would receive the fullness of the gospel. |
"And after the Gentiles do stumble exceedingly because of the most plain and precious parts of the gospel of the Lamb which has been kept back, by that abominable church, which is the mother of harlots, saith the Lamb, I will be merciful unto the Gentiles in that day, insomuch that I will bring forth unto them in mine own power, much of my gospel, which shall be plain and precious, saith the Lamb;"
Read Here: 1 Nephi 3:183
6) The Gentiles would be numbered among the remnant of Joseph to share this land of their inheritance under the Father's blessing. |
"And it shall come to pass, that if the Gentiles shall hearken unto the Lamb of God in that day that he shall manifest himself unto them in word, and also in power, in very deed, unto the taking away of their stumbling-blocks, and harden not their hearts against the Lamb of God, they shall be numbered among the seed of thy father;
Yea, they shall be numbered among the house of Israel;" Read Here: 1 Nephi 3:201-202
"Wherefore, I will consecrate this land unto thy seed, and they who shall be numbered among thy seed, for ever, for the land of their inheritance:"
Read Here: 2 Nephi 7:30
"But if the Gentiles will repent, and return unto me, saith the Father, behold, they shall be numbered among my people, O house of Israel;"
Read Here: 3 Nephi 7:38
"For thus it behooveth the Father that it should come forth from the Gentiles, that he may shew forth his power unto the Gentiles, for this cause, that the Gentiles, if they will not harden their hearts, that they may repent and come unto me, and be baptized in my name, and know of the true points of my doctrine, that they may be numbered among my people, O house of Israel:"
Read Here: 3 Nephi 9:92
"But if they will repent, and hearken unto my words, and harden not their hearts, I will establish my church among them, and they shall come in unto the covenant, and be numbered among this the remnant of Jacob, unto whom I have given this land for their inheritance, and they shall assist my people, the remnant of Jacob;"
Read Here: 3 Nephi 10:1
7) The Gentiles would share in the blessings on the land again in the New Jerusalem because of the Covenant with Joseph. The Gentiles eventually realize and return to the one from whom their blessings come. |
"And now behold, this I speak unto their seed, and also to the Gentiles, who have care for the house of Israel, that realize and know from whence their blessings come."
Read Here: Mormon 2:37
The Gentiles on this land received this warning from Jesus:
1) Their prosperity would cause them and nations of Gentiles to be drunken in iniquity. (That at a time when the Jews were also accused of being drunken in iniquity). |
"But behold, in the last days, or in the days of the Gentiles; yea, behold all the nations of the Gentiles, and also the Jews, both those who shall come upon this land, and those who shall be upon other lands; yea, even upon all the lands of the earth; behold, they will be drunken with iniquity, and all manner of abominations;"
Read Here: 2 Nephi 11:116
2) If they reject the fullness of the Gospel, they are warned their iniquities shall return upon their own heads. |
"Nevertheless, when they shall have received the fullness of my gospel, then if they shall harden their hearts against me, I will return their iniquities upon their own heads, saith the Father."
Read Here: 3 Nephi 9:66
"And thus commandeth the Father that I should say unto you, At that day when the Gentiles shall sin against my gospel, and shall reject the fullness of my gospel, and shall be lifted up in the pride of their hearts above all nations, and above all the people of the whole earth, and shall be filled with all manner of lyings, and of deceits, and of mischiefs, and all manner of hypocrisy, and murders, and priestcrafts, and whoredoms, and of secret abominations;
And if they shall do all these things, and shall reject the fullness of my gospel, behold, saith the Father, I will bring the fullness of my gospel from among them;And then will I remember my covenant which I have made unto my people, O house of Israel, and I will bring my gospel unto them;And I will shew unto thee, O house of Israel, that the Gentiles shall not have power over you, but I will remember my covenant unto you, O house of Israel, and ye shall come unto the knowledge of the fullness of my gospel." Read Here: 3 Nephi 7:34-37
3) Judgement upon the Gentiles comes as a warning if they do not repent. The judgement on the lands is to all nations of Gentiles. |
"And I will punish the world for evil, and the wicked for their iniquity; I will cause the arrogancy of the proud to cease, and will lay down the haughtiness of the terrible;"
Read Here: 2 Nephi 10:11
"Yea, wo be unto the Gentiles, except they repent, for it shall come to pass in that day, saith the Father, that I will cut off thy horses out of the midst of thee, and I will destroy thy chariots, and I will cut off the cities of thy land and throw down all thy strongholds;
And I will cut off witchcrafts out of thy hand, and thou shalt have no more soothsayers:Thy graven images I will also cut off, and thy standing images out of the midst of thee; and thou shalt no more worship the works of thy hands;And I will pluck up thy groves out of the midst of thee; so will I destroy thy cities.And it shall come to pass that all lyings, and deceivings, and envyings, and strifes, and priestcrafts and whoredoms, shall be done away.For it shall come to pass, saith the Father, that at that day, whosoever will not repent and come unto my beloved Son, them will I cut off from among my people, O house of Israel, and I will execute vengeance and fury upon them, even as upon the heathen, such as they have not heard." Read Here: 3 Nephi 9:101-106
4) The American prophets warned the Gentiles to repent. |
"And then, O ye Gentiles, how can ye stand before the power of God, except ye shall repent and turn from your evil ways!
Know ye not that ye are in the hands of God?Know ye not that he hath all power, and at his great command the earth shall be rolled together as a scroll?Therefore repent ye, and humble yourselves before him, lest he shall come out in justice against you; lest a remnant of the seed of Jacob shall go forth among you as a lion, and tear you in pieces, and there is none to deliver." Read Here: Mormon 2:51-54
"And this cometh unto you, O ye Gentiles, that ye may know the decrees of God, that ye may repent, and not continue in your iniquities until the fullness come, that ye may not bring down the fullness of the wrath of God upon you, as the inhabitants of the land have hitherto done."
Read Here: Ether 1:34
5) Whoever didn't believe the words of the remnant of Joseph would be cut off from the inheritance shared with Joseph in this land. |
"Therefore it shall come to pass, that whosoever will not believe in my words, who am Jesus Christ, whom the Father shall cause him to bring forth unto the Gentiles, and shall give unto him power that he shall bring them forth unto the Gentiles, (it shall be done even as Moses said,) they shall be cut off from among my people who are of the covenant;"
Read Here: 3 Nephi 9:98
6) Whoever possessed the land, Gentile or Remnant of Joseph, must serve God or be swept off. |
"And that the things which were written, should be kept for the instruction of my people, who should possess the land, and also for other wise purposes, which purposes are known unto the Lord;"
Read Here: 1 Nephi 5:224
"And thus the Lord did pour out his blessings upon this land, which was choice above all other lands; and he commanded that whoso should possess the land, should possess it unto the Lord, or they should be destroyed when they were ripened in iniquity; for upon such, saith the Lord, I will pour out the fullness of my wrath."
Read Here: Ether 4:22
7) God's purpose is to remove the Gentile culture's iniquity prior to building New Jerusalem. |
"Wherefore, for this cause, that my covenants may be fulfilled, which I have made unto the children of men, that I will do unto them while they are in the flesh, I must needs destroy the secret works of darkness, and of murders, and of abominations;"
Read Here: 2 Nephi 7:22
8) The prayers of the formerly righteous saints of the Nephites are not forgotten. They prayed on behalf of their descendants that they will return unto the Lord, even in the midst of the Gentiles. |
"Yea, behold I say unto you, that those saints who have gone before me, who have possessed this land, shall cry; yea, even from the dust will they cry unto the Lord; and as the Lord liveth, he will remember the covenant which he hath made with them."
Read Here: Mormon 4:28
9) The remnant of Joseph's descendants through Nephi would be among them like a Lion. |
"And ye shall be in the midst of them, who shall be many; and ye shall be among them, as a lion among the beasts of the forests, and as a young lion among the flocks of sheep, who, if he goeth through, both treadeth down and teareth in pieces, and none can deliver."
Read Here: 3 Nephi 9:52
"And my people who are a remnant of Jacob, shall be among the Gentiles, yea, in the midst of them, as a lion among the beasts of the forest, as a young lion among the flocks of sheep, who, if he go through both treadeth down and teareth in pieces, and none can deliver."
--3 Nephi 9:99
The descendants of Nephi's people (remnant of Joseph) had this promise:
1) Joseph of Egypt had a promise a remnant of His seed would be preserved through time, and would never perish from the earth. |
"Yea, thus prophesied Joseph, I am sure of this thing, even as I am sure of the promise of Moses: for the Lord hath said unto me, I will preserve thy seed for ever."
Read Here: 2 Nephi 2:31
"Wherefore, for this cause hath the Lord God promised unto me that these things which I write, shall be kept and preserved, and handed down unto my seed, from generation to generation, that the promise may be fulfilled unto Joseph, that his seed should never perish as long as the earth should stand."
Read Here: 2 Nephi 11:40
"Wherefore, thus saith the Lord, I have led this people forth out of the land of Jerusalem, by the power of mine arm, that I might raise up unto me a righteous branch from the fruit of the loins of Joseph."
Read Here: Jacob 2:34
"Wherefore the Lord brought a remnant of the seed of Joseph out of the land of Jerusalem, that he might be merciful unto the seed of Joseph, that they should perish not, even as he was merciful unto the father of Joseph, that he should perish not;"
Read Here: Ether 6:7
2) This remnant are the descendants of the Nephite/Lamanite civilization. |
"Yea, let us remember the words of Jacob, before his death; for behold he saw that a part of the remnant of the coat of Joseph was preserved, and had not decayed.
And he said, Even as this remnant of garment of my son hath been preserved, so shall a remnant of the seed of my sons be preserved by the hand of God, and be taken unto himself, while the remainder of the seed of Joseph shall perish, even as the remnant of his garment.Now behold, this giveth my soul sorrow: nevertheless, my soul hath joy in my son, because that part of his seed which shall be taken unto God.Now behold, this was the language of Jacob.And now who knoweth but what the remnant of the seed of Joseph, which shall perish as his garment, are those who have dissented from us; yea, and even it shall be us, if we do not stand fast in the faith of Christ." Read Here: Alma 21:56-60
"Behold our father Jacob also testified concerning a remnant of the seed of Joseph. And behold, are not we a remnant of the seed of Joseph?"
Read Here: 3 Nephi 4:72
3) This land (America's) was covenant land of Joseph through the Nephites. |
"Yea, the Lord hath covenanted this land unto me, and to my children for ever;"
Read Here: 2 Nephi 1:8
"And may the Lord consecrate also unto thee this land, which is a most precious land, for thine inheritance and the inheritance of thy seed with thy brethren, for thy security for ever, if it so be that ye shall keep the commandments of the Holy One of Israel."
Read Here: 2 Nephi 2:3
"The Father having raised me up unto you first, and sent me to bless you, in turning away every one of you from his iniquities; and this because ye are the children of the covenant."
Read Here: 3 Nephi 9:64
4) The Words of Joseph's remnant return unto them in eventually. |
"And he covenanted with me that he would bring them forth unto the Lamanites, in his own due time."
Read Here: Enos 1:26
"And then will I remember my covenant which I have made unto my people, O house of Israel, and I will bring my gospel unto them;"
Read Here: 3 Nephi 7:36
5) Joseph's remnant returns to the Lord in the last days when the fullness of the gospel returns to them, initially from the Gentiles. |
"Yea, and surely shall he again bring a remnant of the seed of Joseph to the knowledge of the Lord their God;"
Read Here: 3 Nephi 2:106
"Or, in fine, after the Gentiles had received the fullness of the gospel, the natural branches of the olive tree, or the remnants of the house of Israel, should be grafted in, or come to the knowledge of the true Messiah, their Lord and their Redeemer."
Read Here: 1 Nephi 3:19
"And now behold, I say unto you, that when the Lord shall see fit, in his wisdom, that these sayings shall come unto the Gentiles, according to his word, then ye may know that the covenant which the Father hath made with the children of Israel, concerning their restoration to the lands of their inheritance, is already beginning to be fulfilled;"
Read Here: 3 Nephi 13:54
6) To become spiritually powerful in the last days, as a Lion among the Gentiles. |
"And ye shall be in the midst of them, who shall be many; and ye shall be among them, as a lion among the beasts of the forests, and as a young lion among the flocks of sheep, who, if he goeth through, both treadeth down and teareth in pieces, and none can deliver."
Read Here: 3 Nephi 9:52
"And my people who are a remnant of Jacob, shall be among the Gentiles, yea, in the midst of them, as a lion among the beasts of the forest, as a young lion among the flocks of sheep, who, if he go through both treadeth down and teareth in pieces, and none can deliver."
Read Here: 3 Nephi 9:99
"Therefore repent ye, and humble yourselves before him, lest he shall come out in justice against you; lest a remnant of the seed of Jacob shall go forth among you as a lion, and tear you in pieces, and there is none to deliver."
Read Here: Mormon 2:54
7) Yet at the same time, the Nephites are warned not to be arrogant or assume they are more righteous than the Gentiles. |
"And 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." Read Here: 2 Nephi 12:75-76
8) As many of the Gentiles as repent (or whoever repents) becomes the covenant people of the Lord; whoever does not repent (even Jews) regardless of lineage will be cast out. The Lord ONLY covenants with those who believe in Jesus, the Holy One of Israel. |
"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." Read Here: 2 Nephi 12:77-78
9) The city New Jerusalem would be built up unto them, as a part of the covenant being fulfilled with Joseph. |
"Wherefore the remnant of the house of Joseph shall be built up upon this land; and it shall be a land of their inheritance; and they shall build up a holy city unto the Lord, like unto the Jerusalem of old; and they shall no more be confounded, until the end come, when the earth shall pass away."
Read Here: Ether 6:8
"And then cometh the New Jerusalem; and blessed are they who dwell therein, for it is they whose garments are white through the blood of the lamb; and they are they who are numbered among the remnant of the seed of Joseph, who were of the house of Israel."
Read Here: Ether 6:10
600. After the Gentiles received the initial words of Joseph, the records are returned and the unsealed words were not read.
601. The unsealed words were written unto the Gentiles. The sealed words were apparently reserved for Israel (Jews and Joseph's remnant) first before the world learns. |
"For after the book of which I have spoken shall come forth, and be written unto the Gentiles, and sealed up again unto the Lord, there shall be many which shall believe the words which are written; and they shall carry them forth unto the remnant of our seed."
Read Here: 2 Nephi 12:80
"And behold they shall go unto the unbelieving of the Jews; and for this intent shall they go; that they may be persuaded that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the living God;"
Read Here: Mormon 2:41
"But I, knowing that these things must surely be made known, and that all things which are hid must be revealed upon the house tops, and also that a knowledge of these things must come unto the remnant of these people, and also unto the Gentiles, which the Lord hath said should scatter this people, and this people should be counted as nought among them."
Read Here: Mormon 2:35
602. In the day the words were written, the authors understood that the Power of his truth contained in the Nephite writings was/is reserved for future generations. |
"For he promised unto them that he would reserve these things for a wise purpose in him, that he might shew forth his power unto future generations.
And now behold, one purpose hath he fulfilled, even to the restoration of many thousands of the Lamanites to the knowledge of the truth; and he hath shewn forth his power in them, and he will also still shew forth his power in them, unto future generations; therefore they shall be preserved;" Read Here: Alma 17:49-50
"Yea, I say unto you, were it not for these things that these records do contain, which are on these plates, Ammon and his brethren could not have convinced so many thousands of the Lamanites, of the incorrect tradition of their fathers;
Yea, these records and their words, brought them unto repentance; that is, they brought them to the knowledge of the Lord their God, and to rejoice in Jesus Christ their Redeemer.And who knoweth but what they will be the means of bringing many thousands of them, yea, and also many thousands of our stiff-necked brethren, the Nephites, who are now hardening their hearts, in sins and iniquities, to the knowledge of their Redeemer.Now these mysteries are not yet fully made known unto me; therefore I shall forbear.And it may suffice, If I only say, they are preserved for a wise purpose, which purpose is known unto God: for he doth counsel in wisdom over all his works, and his paths are straight and his course is one eternal round." Read Here: Alma 17:38-42
603. The sealed words shall be read upon the housetops. |
"And the day cometh that the words of the book which were sealed, shall be read upon the housetops; and they shall be read by the power of Christ;"
Read Here: 2 Nephi 11:131
"But I, knowing that these things must surely be made known, and that all things which are hid must be revealed upon the house tops, and also that a knowledge of these things must come unto the remnant of these people, and also unto the Gentiles, which the Lord hath said should scatter this people, and this people should be counted as nought among them."
Read Here: Mormon 2:35
604. The sealed words contain a revelation from the beginning to the end of the world. |
"And behold the book shall be sealed: and in the book shall be a revelation from God, from the beginning of the world to the ending thereof."
Read Here: 2 Nephi 11:126
605. The sealed words DO NOT come forth in the days of wickedness, especially of the Gentiles. |
"Wherefore, because of the things which are sealed up, the things which are sealed, shall not be delivered in the day of the wickedness and abominations of the people."
Read Here: 2 Nephi 11:127
"Now these things are written unto the remnant of the house of Jacob; and they are written after this manner, because it is known of God that wickedness will not bring them forth unto them; and they are to be hid up unto the Lord, that they may come forth in his own due time."
Read Here: Mormon 2:39
606. They go forth when the Lords sees fit. God emphasizes through the word that wickedness shall not bring them forth. |
"And this is the commandment which I have received; and behold they shall come forth according to the commandment of the Lord, when he shall see fit, in his wisdom."
Read Here: Mormon 2:40
"Now these things are written unto the remnant of the house of Jacob; and they are written after this manner, because it is known of God that wickedness will not bring them forth unto them; and they are to be hid up unto the Lord, that they may come forth in his own due time."
Read Here: Mormon 2:39
607. The sealed words go forth to the unbelieving of the Jews. |
"And behold they shall go unto the unbelieving of the Jews; and for this intent shall they go; that they may be persuaded that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the living God;"
Read Here: Mormon 2:41
608. After judgement on the Gentile nations, the sealed words of Joseph come forth later. |
"And it shall come to pass, that the Lord God shall bring forth unto you the words of a book, and they shall be the words of them which have slumbered."
Read Here: 2 Nephi 11:125
609. Great truths from these words cause the spiritually blind and deaf to see and hear God's word, breaking their spiritual obscurity. |
"And in that day shall the deaf hear the words of the book; and the eyes of the blind shall see out of obscurity and out of darkness:"
Read Here: 2 Nephi 11:155
610. Israel now comes to understanding of Jesus, correcting the error of their ways. |
"Therefore thus saith the Lord, who redeemed Abraham, concerning the house of Jacob, Jacob shall not now be ashamed, neither shall his face now wax pale.
But when he seeth his children, the work of my hands, in the midst of him, they shall sanctify my name, and sanctify the Holy One of Jacob, and shall fear the God of Israel.They also that erred in spirit shall come to understanding, and they that murmured shall learn doctrine." Read Here: 2 Nephi 11:158-160
611. Repentance is offered to anyone and God will spare them destruction, but the false church (whore) will tumble. |
"But behold, if the inhabitants of the earth shall repent of their wickedness and abominations, they shall not be destroyed, saith the Lord of hosts."
Read Here: 2 Nephi 12:21
"But behold, that great and abominable church, the whore of all the earth, must tumble to the earth; and great must be the fall thereof:
For the kingdom of the devil must shake, and they which belong to it must needs be stirred up unto repentance, or the devil will grasp them with his everlasting chains, and they be stirred up to anger and perish:" Read Here: 2 Nephi 12:22-23
612. Satan's work is so pervasive, he compels humanity to anger over that which is good. |
"For behold, at that day shall he rage in the hearts of the children of men, and stir them up to anger against that which is good;"
Read Here: 2 Nephi 12:24
613. Judgement upon the Gentiles comes because many ultimately deny Jesus. |
"Wo be unto the Gentiles, saith the Lord God of hosts; for notwithstanding I shall lengthen out mine arm unto them from day to day, they will deny me;
Nevertheless, I will be merciful unto them, saith the Lord God, if they will repent and come unto me; for mine arm is lengthened out all the day long, saith the Lord God of hosts." Read Here: 2 Nephi 12:40-41
614. Because of the error of the Gentiles, this sets in motion the Lord restoring Israel to Him. Notice that the Kingdom is NOT built by the Gentile church at this time.
615. The Lord begins a Second Time to restore his people Israel. |
"And the Lord will set his hand again the second time to restore his people from their lost and fallen state."
Read Here: 2 Nephi 11:28
"But behold, there shall be many at that day, when I shall proceed to do a marvelous work among them, that I may remember my covenants which I have made unto the children of men, that I may set my hand again the second time to recover my people, which are the house of Israel;"
Read Here: 2 Nephi 12:42
616. This happens after the Gentiles deny Christ, the fulness of the Gospel, and things which are simply 'good.' |
"Wo be unto the Gentiles, saith the Lord God of hosts; for notwithstanding I shall lengthen out mine arm unto them from day to day, they will deny me;"
Read Here: 2 Nephi 12:40
"And thus commandeth the Father that I should say unto you, At that day when the Gentiles shall sin against my gospel, and shall reject the fullness of my gospel, and shall be lifted up in the pride of their hearts above all nations, and above all the people of the whole earth, and shall be filled with all manner of lyings, and of deceits, and of mischiefs, and all manner of hypocrisy, and murders, and priestcrafts, and whoredoms, and of secret abominations;
And if they shall do all these things, and shall reject the fullness of my gospel, behold, saith the Father, I will bring the fullness of my gospel from among them;" Read Here: 3 Nephi 7:34-35
617. At this time, the Lord's words to Nephi 'hiss forth' from his mouth to THE ENDS OF THE EARTH AND BECOME THEIR STANDARD. |
"And also, that I may remember the promises which I have made unto thee, Nephi, and also unto thy father, that I would remember your seed; and that the words of your seed should proceed forth out of my mouth unto your seed.
And my words shall hiss forth unto the ends of the earth, for a standard unto my people, which are of the house of Israel." Read Here: 2 Nephi 12:43-44
618. The words of Lost Tribes, the Jews and Nephites are exchanged. |
"And it shall come to pass that the Jews shall have the words of the Nephites, and the Nephites shall have the words of the Jews:
And the Nephites and the Jews shall have the words of the lost tribes of Israel; and the lost tribes of Israel shall have the words of the Nephites and the Jews." Read Here: 2 Nephi 12:71-72
619. The words of the Nephites is specifically had by the Jews. This begins a greater return to the land of their Inheritance. |
"And it shall come to pass that my people which are of the house of Israel, shall be gathered home unto the lands of their possessions; and my word also shall be gathered in one."
Read Here: 2 Nephi 12:73
620. The world becomes powerless to fight against those of, for or gathering to Zion. |
"And I will shew unto them that fight against my word and against my people, who are of the house of Israel, that I am God, and that I covenanted with Abraham, that I would remember his seed for ever."
Read Here: 2 Nephi 12:74
621. The Lord will separate the righteous and the wicked. |
"For the time speedily cometh, that the Lord God shall cause a great division among the people; and the wicked will he destroy; and he will spare his people, yea, even if it so be that he must destroy the wicked by fire."
Read Here: 2 Nephi 12:90
622. The Second Time of the Lord is when Zion is established and the great work commences from there to restore the nations. That is the true 'Great and Marvelous' work. |
"And behold, according to the words of the prophet, the Messiah will set himself again the second time, to recover them;"
Read Here: 2 Nephi 5:36
"But behold, there shall be many at that day, when I shall proceed to do a marvelous work among them, that I may remember my covenants which I have made unto the children of men, that I may set my hand again the second time to recover my people, which are the house of Israel;"
Read Here: 2 Nephi 12:42
"But if they will repent, and hearken unto my words, and harden not their hearts, I will establish my church among them, and they shall come in unto the covenant, and be numbered among this the remnant of Jacob, unto whom I have given this land for their inheritance, and they shall assist my people, the remnant of Jacob;
And also, as many of the house of Israel as shall come, that they may build a city, which shall be called the New Jerusalem;And then shall they assist my people that they may be gathered in, who are scattered upon all the face of the land, in unto the New Jerusalem.And then shall the power of heaven come down among them; and I also will be in the midst, and then shall the work of the Father commence, at that day even when this gospel shall be preached among the remnant of this people.Verily, I say unto you, At that day shall the work of the Father commence among all the dispersed of my people; yea, even the tribes which have been lost, which the Father hath led away out of Jerusalem.Yea, the work shall commence among all the dispersed of my people, with the Father, to prepare the way whereby they may come unto me, that they may call on the Father in my name;Yea, and then shall the work commence, with the Father, among all nations, in preparing the way whereby his people may be gathered home to the land of their inheritance.And they shall go out from all nations; and they shall not go out in haste, nor go by flight; for I will go before them, saith the Father, and I will be their rearward. And then shall that which is written come to pass." Read Here: 3 Nephi 10:1-8
623. Zion is established when the Lord sets forth his hand a second time. He is in the midst and organizes the work of evangelism to the world. |
"And then shall the wolf dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the kid; and the calf, and the young lion, and the fatling, together; and a little child shall lead them.
And the cow and the bear shall feed; their young ones shall lie down together, and the lion shall eat straw like the ox.And the sucking child shall play on the hole of the asp, and the weaned child shall put his hand on the cockatrice's den.They shall not hurt or destroy in all my holy mountain; for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the Lord, as the waters cover the sea.Wherefore, the things of all nations shall be made known: yea, all things shall be made known unto the children of men.There is nothing which is secret, save it shall be revealed; there is no work of darkness, save it shall be made manifest in the light; and there is nothing which is sealed upon the earth, save it shall be loosed.Wherefore, all things which have been revealed unto the children of men, shall at that day be revealed;And Satan shall have power over the hearts of the children of men no more, for a long time." Read Here: 2 Nephi 12:92-99
"And there shall come forth a rod out of the stem of Jesse, and a Branch shall grow out of his roots;
And the Spirit of the Lord shall rest upon him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the Lord;And shall make him of quick understanding in the fear of the Lord; and he shall not judge after the sight of his eyes, neither reprove after the hearing of his ears;But with righteousness shall he judge the poor, and reprove with equity for the meek of the earth; and he shall smite the earth with the rod of his mouth, and with the breath of his lips shall he slay the wicked.And righteousness shall be the girdle of his loins, and faithfulness the girdle of his reins.The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the kid; and the calf and the young lion and the fatling together; and a little child shall lead them.And the cow and the bear shall feed; their young ones shall lie down together; and the lion shall eat straw like the ox.And the sucking child shall play on the hole of the asp, and the weaned child shall put his hand on the cockatrice' den.They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain; for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the Lord, as the waters cover the sea.And in that day there shall be a root of Jesse, which shall stand for an ensign of the people; to it shall the Gentiles seek; and his rest shall be glorious.And it shall come to pass in that day, that the Lord shall set his hand again the second time to recover the remnant of his people, which shall be left, from Assyria, and from Egypt, and from Pathros, and from Cush, and from Elam, and from Shinar, and from Hamath, and from the islands of the sea." Read Here: Isaiah 11:1-11
"But if they will repent, and hearken unto my words, and harden not their hearts, I will establish my church among them, and they shall come in unto the covenant, and be numbered among this the remnant of Jacob, unto whom I have given this land for their inheritance, and they shall assist my people, the remnant of Jacob;
And also, as many of the house of Israel as shall come, that they may build a city, which shall be called the New Jerusalem;And then shall they assist my people that they may be gathered in, who are scattered upon all the face of the land, in unto the New Jerusalem.And then shall the power of heaven come down among them; and I also will be in the midst, and then shall the work of the Father commence, at that day even when this gospel shall be preached among the remnant of this people.Verily, I say unto you, At that day shall the work of the Father commence among all the dispersed of my people; yea, even the tribes which have been lost, which the Father hath led away out of Jerusalem.Yea, the work shall commence among all the dispersed of my people, with the Father, to prepare the way whereby they may come unto me, that they may call on the Father in my name;Yea, and then shall the work commence, with the Father, among all nations, in preparing the way whereby his people may be gathered home to the land of their inheritance.And they shall go out from all nations; and they shall not go out in haste, nor go by flight; for I will go before them, saith the Father, and I will be their rearward. And then shall that which is written come to pass." Read Here: 3 Nephi 10:1-8
624. The story of restoration does not end with the Gentiles receiving the Fullness of the Gospel. The Book of Mormon foretells the remnant of Joseph shall be 'as a lion among the Gentiles' at a future day. Joseph's (Nephite descendants) rise is prophesied to happen after the rise of the Gentiles. |
"And the remnant of Jacob shall be among the Gentiles in the midst of many people, as a lion among the beasts of the forest, as a young lion among the flocks of sheep; who, if he go through, both treadeth down, and teareth in pieces, and none can deliver."
Read Here: Micah 5:8
"And I say unto you, that if the Gentiles do not repent, after the blessing which they shall receive, after they have scattered my people, then shall ye who are a remnant of the house of Jacob, go forth among them;
And ye shall be in the midst of them, who shall be many; and ye shall be among them, as a lion among the beasts of the forests, and as a young lion among the flocks of sheep, who, if he goeth through, both treadeth down and teareth in pieces, and none can deliver.Thy hand shall be lifted up upon thine adversaries, and all thine enemies shall be cut off.And I will gather my people together, as a man gathereth his sheaves into the floor, for I will make my people with whom the Father hath covenanted, yea, I will make thy horn iron, and I will make thy hoofs brass.And thou shalt beat in pieces many people; and I will consecrate their gain unto the Lord, and their substance unto the Lord of the whole earth. And behold, I am he who doeth it.And it shall come to pass, saith the Father, that the sword of my justice shall hang over them at that day; and except they repent, it shall fall upon them, saith the Father, yea, even upon all the nations of the Gentiles." Read Here: 3 Nephi 9:51-56
"Therefore it shall come to pass, that whosoever will not believe in my words, who am Jesus Christ, whom the Father shall cause him to bring forth unto the Gentiles, and shall give unto him power that he shall bring them forth unto the Gentiles, (it shall be done even as Moses said,) they shall be cut off from among my people who are of the covenant;
And my people who are a remnant of Jacob, shall be among the Gentiles, yea, in the midst of them, as a lion among the beasts of the forest, as a young lion among the flocks of sheep, who, if he go through both treadeth down and teareth in pieces, and none can deliver." Read Here: 3 Nephi 9:98-99
625. The rise of Joseph's people coincides with judgment upon the Gentiles. Joseph's people are among the Gentiles as a lion who can tread down and tear in pieces at will. |
"And ye shall be in the midst of them, who shall be many; and ye shall be among them, as a lion among the beasts of the forests, and as a young lion among the flocks of sheep, who, if he goeth through, both treadeth down and teareth in pieces, and none can deliver."
Read Here: 3 Nephi 9:52
"And my people who are a remnant of Jacob, shall be among the Gentiles, yea, in the midst of them, as a lion among the beasts of the forest, as a young lion among the flocks of sheep, who, if he go through both treadeth down and teareth in pieces, and none can deliver."
Read Here: 3 Nephi 9:99
"Therefore repent ye, and humble yourselves before him, lest he shall come out in justice against you; lest a remnant of the seed of Jacob shall go forth among you as a lion, and tear you in pieces, and there is none to deliver."
Read Here: Mormon 2:54
626. The story of Joseph is a type and shadow (metaphor) for the Tribe of Joseph's future. In Joseph's story, a displaced Hebrew (Joseph himself) rises to power in a Gentile land. His power is spiritual and political. It is His efforts that eventual save His former family when famine comes. In the last days the lost words of Joseph eventually nourish Israel with the fullness of the Gospel, just as Joseph nourished His family during famine. |
"In delivering my people, thy brethren, from famine which was sore in the land; wherefore the God of thy fathers shall bless thee, and the fruit of thy loins, that they shall be blessed above thy brethren, and above thy father's house;"
Read Here: Genesis 48:9
627. A parallel for the future blessing on Joseph exists in the history of the Book of Mormon. The Book of Mormon reveals how the (wicked) Lamanites' hearts were, on more than one occasion, changed to Jesus. Their change was sudden and miraculous. This is because they were baptized by the Holy Ghost (changed). |
"And behold the Holy Spirit of God did come down from heaven, and did enter into their hearts, and they were filled as if with fire; and they could speak forth marvelous words."
Read Here: Helaman 2:111
"And they did all declare unto the people the self-same thing; that their hearts had been changed; that they had no more desire to do evil."
Read Here: Alma 12:176
"And whoso cometh unto me with a broken heart and a contrite spirit, him will I baptize with fire and with the Holy Ghost, even as the Lamanites, because of their faith in me, at the time of their conversion, were baptized with fire and with the Holy Ghost, and they knew it not."
Read Here: 3 Nephi 4:50
628. God blessed them with the Holy Ghost, which experience would bring about their sudden change of heart. It is the promise of God to all. It is the change required for Salvation. |
"For behold, this day he hath spiritually begotten you; for ye say that your hearts are changed through faith on his name; therefore, ye are born of him, and have become his sons and his daughters."
Read Here: Mosiah 3:9
"And behold, he preached the word unto your fathers, and a mighty change was also wrought in their hearts; and they humbled themselves, and put their trust in the true and living God."
Read Here: Alma 3:25
629. The converted Lamanites were baptized by the Holy Ghost even before their water baptism. The change was evident because they had no more disposition to do evil. |
"And whoso cometh unto me with a broken heart and a contrite spirit, him will I baptize with fire and with the Holy Ghost, even as the Lamanites, because of their faith in me, at the time of their conversion, were baptized with fire and with the Holy Ghost, and they knew it not."
Read Here: 3 Nephi 4:50
630. This historical 'revival' among Joseph's people (Lamanites) is prophesied to happen again in the last days, as the Messiah is manifest unto them. They experience the Power of the Holy Ghost. |
"That the Messiah should be made manifest unto them in the latter days, in the spirit of power, unto the bringing of them out of darkness unto light; yea, out of hidden darkness and out of captivity unto freedom."
Read Here: 2 Nephi 2:9
"And as I spake concerning the convincing of the Jews, that Jesus is the very Christ, it must needs be that the Gentiles be convinced also, that Jesus is the Christ, the Eternal God; and that he manifesteth himself unto all those who believe in him, by the power of the Holy Ghost;"
Read Here: 2 Nephi 11:78
631. This spiritual rebirth happens when the Book of Mormon returns to Joseph's remnant. They rise to spiritual power from darkness. Just as the Lamanites, their current spiritual status will have no bearing on God's pouring out His Spirit upon them, as in the days of old. |
"Even if it so be, by the power of his holy arm, that it might be brought forth, at some future day, unto the Lamanites, that perhaps they might be brought unto salvation:"
Read Here: Enos 1:20
"And the remnant of Jacob shall be among the Gentiles in the midst of many people, as a lion among the beasts of the forest, as a young lion among the flocks of sheep; who, if he go through, both treadeth down, and teareth in pieces, and none can deliver."
Read Here: Micah 5:8
"And ye shall be in the midst of them, who shall be many; and ye shall be among them, as a lion among the beasts of the forests, and as a young lion among the flocks of sheep, who, if he goeth through, both treadeth down and teareth in pieces, and none can deliver."
Read Here: 3 Nephi 9:52
"And my people who are a remnant of Jacob, shall be among the Gentiles, yea, in the midst of them, as a lion among the beasts of the forest, as a young lion among the flocks of sheep, who, if he go through both treadeth down and teareth in pieces, and none can deliver."
Read Here: 3 Nephi 9:99
632. Historically, miracles occurred when the peoples' hearts changed. This change of heart happens in the last days to Joseph's remnant who receive their forefather's writings (Book of Mormon) and Jesus. The change of heart brings spiritual power. It is only by God's power. |
"And now behold, I ask of you, my brethren of the church, Have ye spiritually been born of God?"
Read Here: Alma 3:27
"And also, we know of their surety and truth, because of the Spirit of the Lord Omnipotent, which has wrought a mighty change in us, or in our hearts, that we have no more disposition to do evil, but to do good continually."
Read Here: Mosiah 3:3
"Behold, he offereth himself a sacrifice for sin, to answer the ends of the law, unto all those who have a broken heart and a contrite spirit; and unto none else can the ends of the law be answered."
Read Here: 2 Nephi 1:72
"And he shall come into the world to redeem his people; and he shall take upon him the transgressions of those who believe on his name; and these are they that shall have eternal life, and salvation cometh to none else;"
Read Here: Alma 8:96
633. The call to all people, regardless of linage is to have a changed heart. Salvation comes to none else. But the remnant of Joseph in the last days receives an outpouring of the Holy Ghost, leading to changed and pure hearts among them, which will make them mighty among the Gentiles. |
"Therefore repent ye, and humble yourselves before him, lest he shall come out in justice against you; lest a remnant of the seed of Jacob shall go forth among you as a lion, and tear you in pieces, and there is none to deliver."
Read Here: Mormon 2:54
634. When this happens, Joseph's remnant also comes to know who they are as remnant of Israel, and part of the covenant. Those of Joseph build a city. Repentant Gentiles assist, along with some of House of Israel. |
"And unto him will I give commandment, that he shall do a work for the fruit of thy loins, his brethren, which shall be of great worth unto them, even to the bringing of them to the knowledge of the covenants which I have made with thy fathers."
Read Here: 2 Nephi 2:12
"And as he hath covenanted with all the house of Jacob, even so shall the covenant wherewith he hath covenanted with the house of Jacob, be fulfilled in his own due time, unto the restoring all the house of Jacob unto the knowledge of the covenant that he hath covenanted with them;"
Read Here: 3 Nephi 2:108
"And I will shew unto thee, O house of Israel, that the Gentiles shall not have power over you, but I will remember my covenant unto you, O house of Israel, and ye shall come unto the knowledge of the fullness of my gospel."
Read Here: 3 Nephi 7:37
635. The Gospel comes to the remnant of Joseph (Nephi's descendants) after it comes to the Gentiles in America. The Gentile commission was to bring them to the truth, but Jesus states he will take the gospel to them at a time when the Gentiles reject the fullness of the gospel. Jesus states he will take the Gospel from them (the Gentiles) and return it to the House of Israel. |
"And now, the thing which our father meaneth concerning the grafting in of the natural branches through the fullness of the Gentiles, is, that in the latter days, when our seed shall have dwindled in unbelief, yea, for the space of many years and many generations, after the Messiah shall be manifested in body unto the children of men, then shall the fullness of the gospel of the Messiah come unto the Gentiles, and from the Gentiles unto the remnant of our seed;"
Read Here: 1 Nephi 4:16
"And thus commandeth the Father that I should say unto you, At that day when the Gentiles shall sin against my gospel, and shall reject the fullness of my gospel, and shall be lifted up in the pride of their hearts above all nations, and above all the people of the whole earth, and shall be filled with all manner of lyings, and of deceits, and of mischiefs, and all manner of hypocrisy, and murders, and priestcrafts, and whoredoms, and of secret abominations;
And if they shall do all these things, and shall reject the fullness of my gospel, behold, saith the Father, I will bring the fullness of my gospel from among them;And then will I remember my covenant which I have made unto my people, O house of Israel, and I will bring my gospel unto them;" Read Here: 3 Nephi 7:34-36
636. Noteworthy: the prophecy states the Remnant of Joseph (the descendants of the Nephites) shall be built up upon this land, it being their inheritance, and THEY shall build up a Holy City Unto the Lord. |
"Wherefore the remnant of the house of Joseph shall be built up upon this land; and it shall be a land of their inheritance; and they shall build up a holy city unto the Lord, like unto the Jerusalem of old; and they shall no more be confounded, until the end come, when the earth shall pass away."
Read Here: Ether 6:8
637. The City shall be called The New Jerusalem. |
"And also, as many of the house of Israel as shall come, that they may build a city, which shall be called the New Jerusalem;"
Read Here: 3 Nephi 10:2
"Behold, Ether saw the days of Christ, and he spake concerning a New Jerusalem upon this land; and he spake also concerning the house of Israel, and the Jerusalem from whence Lehi should come; after it should be destroyed, it should be built up again a holy city unto the Lord;
Wherefore it could not be a New Jerusalem, for it had been in a time of old, but it should be built up again, and become a holy city of the Lord: and it should be built up unto the house of Israel;And that a New Jerusalem should be built up upon this land, unto the remnant of the seed of Joseph, for which things there has been a type; for as Joseph brought his father down into the land of Egypt, even so he died there;Wherefore the Lord brought a remnant of the seed of Joseph out of the land of Jerusalem, that he might be merciful unto the seed of Joseph, that they should perish not, even as he was merciful unto the father of Joseph, that he should perish not;Wherefore the remnant of the house of Joseph shall be built up upon this land; and it shall be a land of their inheritance; and they shall build up a holy city unto the Lord, like unto the Jerusalem of old; and they shall no more be confounded, until the end come, when the earth shall pass away.And there shall be a new heaven and a new earth; and they shall be like unto the old, save the old have passed away, and all things have become new.And then cometh the New Jerusalem; and blessed are they who dwell therein, for it is they whose garments are white through the blood of the lamb; and they are they who are numbered among the remnant of the seed of Joseph, who were of the house of Israel." Read Here: Ether 6:4-10
638. Note that the City on Earth shall be built up and named New Jerusalem. God's 'city' in heaven to return to earth is also called New Jerusalem. The two shall be one someday.
639. References to the City New Jerusalem built on earth. |
"And righteousness and truth will I cause to sweep the earth as with a flood, to gather out mine own elect from the four quarters of the earth, unto a place which I shall prepare; an holy city, that my people may gird up their loins, and be looking forth for the time of my coming; for there shall be my tabernacle, and it shall be called Zion; a New Jerusalem."
Read Here: Genesis 7:70
"And behold, this people will I establish in this land, unto the fulfilling of the covenant which I made with your father Jacob; and it shall be a new Jerusalem."
Read Here: 3 Nephi 9:58
"And also, as many of the house of Israel as shall come, that they may build a city, which shall be called the New Jerusalem;"
Read Here: 3 Nephi 10:2
"Behold, Ether saw the days of Christ, and he spake concerning a New Jerusalem upon this land; and he spake also concerning the house of Israel, and the Jerusalem from whence Lehi should come; after it should be destroyed, it should be built up again a holy city unto the Lord;"
Read Here: Ether 6:4
"And that a New Jerusalem should be built up upon this land, unto the remnant of the seed of Joseph, for which things there has been a type; for as Joseph brought his father down into the land of Egypt, even so he died there;"
Read Here: Ether 6:6
640. References to the Heavenly New Jerusalem which shall return to earth. |
"Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go no more out; and I will write upon him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, this is New Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from my God; and I will write upon him my new name."
Read Here: Revelation 3:12
"And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband."
Read Here: Revelation 21:2
"And then cometh the New Jerusalem; and blessed are they who dwell therein, for it is they whose garments are white through the blood of the lamb; and they are they who are numbered among the remnant of the seed of Joseph, who were of the house of Israel."
Read Here: Ether 6:10
641. These covenants were foretold by Ether who was neither of Judah or Joseph, but an American prophet of the lineage of Jared, who departed the land of Shinar and the city of Babel. |
"He that wrote this record was Ether, and he was a descendant of Coriantor; and Coriantor was the son of Moron; and Moron was the son of Ethem; and Ethem was the son of Ahah; and Ahah was the son of Seth; and Seth was the son of Shiblon; and Shiblon was the son of Com; and Com was the son of Coriantum; and Coriantum was the son of Amnigaddah; and Amnigaddah was the son of Aaron; and Aaron was a descendant of Heth, who was the son of Hearthom; and Hearthom was the son of Lib; and Lib was the son of Kish; and Kish was the son of Corum; and Corum was the son of Levi; and Levi was the son of Kim; and Kim was the son of Morianton; and Morianton was a descendant of Riplakish; and Riplakish was the son of Shez; and Shez was the son of Heth; and Heth was the son of Com; and Com was the son of Coriantum; and Coriantum was the son of Emer; and Emer was the son of Omer; and Omer was the son of Shule; and Shule was the son of Kib; and Kib was the son of Orihah, who was the son of Jared;"
Read Here: Ether 1:6
642. Jesus explains to the Nephites that The City (New Jerusalem) is built by the remnant of Joseph, i.e. the Nephite descendants. This is because the covenant for a new Jerusalem on this land was made with Joseph's people, not the Gentile church of the last days, although they shall be numbered among them if repentant. |
"But if they will repent, and hearken unto my words, and harden not their hearts, I will establish my church among them, and they shall come in unto the covenant, and be numbered among this the remnant of Jacob, unto whom I have given this land for their inheritance, and they shall assist my people, the remnant of Jacob;
And also, as many of the house of Israel as shall come, that they may build a city, which shall be called the New Jerusalem;" Read Here: 3 Nephi 10:1-2
"Wherefore the Lord brought a remnant of the seed of Joseph out of the land of Jerusalem, that he might be merciful unto the seed of Joseph, that they should perish not, even as he was merciful unto the father of Joseph, that he should perish not;"
Read Here: Ether 6:7
"Wherefore the remnant of the house of Joseph shall be built up upon this land; and it shall be a land of their inheritance; and they shall build up a holy city unto the Lord, like unto the Jerusalem of old; and they shall no more be confounded, until the end come, when the earth shall pass away."
Read Here: Ether 6:8
643. Noteworthy: the prophecy states signpost of the gospel returning to the Jews is the very rejection of it by the Gentiles—specifically those believers who turned and sinned against it. |
"And thus commandeth the Father that I should say unto you, At that day when the Gentiles shall sin against my gospel, and shall reject the fullness of my gospel, and shall be lifted up in the pride of their hearts above all nations, and above all the people of the whole earth, and shall be filled with all manner of lyings, and of deceits, and of mischiefs, and all manner of hypocrisy, and murders, and priestcrafts, and whoredoms, and of secret abominations;
And if they shall do all these things, and shall reject the fullness of my gospel, behold, saith the Father, I will bring the fullness of my gospel from among them;And then will I remember my covenant which I have made unto my people, O house of Israel, and I will bring my gospel unto them;" Read Here: 3 Nephi 7:34-36
644. The Prophecy states that the Gospel comes from Gentiles back to Joseph. |
"And after it had come forth unto them, I beheld other books which came forth by the power of the Lamb, from the Gentiles unto them, unto the convincing of the Gentiles, and the remnant of the seed of my brethren, and also the Jews, who were scattered upon all the face of the earth, that the records of the prophets and of the twelve apostles of the Lamb are true."
Read Here: 1 Nephi 3:191
"And now, the thing which our father meaneth concerning the grafting in of the natural branches through the fullness of the Gentiles, is, that in the latter days, when our seed shall have dwindled in unbelief, yea, for the space of many years and many generations, after the Messiah shall be manifested in body unto the children of men, then shall the fullness of the gospel of the Messiah come unto the Gentiles, and from the Gentiles unto the remnant of our seed;"
Read Here: 1 Nephi 4:16
"Therefore, when these works, and the work which shall be wrought among you hereafter, shall come forth from the Gentiles unto your seed, which shall dwindle in unbelief because of iniquity;
For thus it behooveth the Father that it should come forth from the Gentiles, that he may shew forth his power unto the Gentiles, for this cause, that the Gentiles, if they will not harden their hearts, that they may repent and come unto me, and be baptized in my name, and know of the true points of my doctrine, that they may be numbered among my people, O house of Israel:" Read Here: 3 Nephi 9:91-92
"And these things have I written, which are a lesser part of the things which he taught the people; and I have written them to the intent that they may be brought again unto this people, from the Gentiles, according to the words which Jesus hath spoken."
Read Here: 3 Nephi 12:2
"And also that the seed of this people may more fully believe his gospel, which shall go forth unto them from the Gentiles;"
Read Here: Mormon 2:43
"Therefore repent, and be baptized in the name of Jesus, and lay hold upon the gospel of Christ, which shall be set before you, not only in this record, but also in the record which shall come unto the Gentiles from the Jews, which record shall come from the Gentiles unto you."
Read Here: Mormon 3:30
645. When the City is built, Jesus declares the power of Heaven shall come down, He will be in the midst. |
"And the powers of heaven shall be in the midst of this people; yea, even I will be in the midst of you."
Read Here: 3 Nephi 9:59
"And then shall the power of heaven come down among them; and I also will be in the midst, and then shall the work of the Father commence, at that day even when this gospel shall be preached among the remnant of this people."
Read Here: 3 Nephi 10:4
"Cry out and shout, thou inhabitant of Zion; for great is the Holy One of Israel in the midst of thee."
Read Here: 2 Nephi 9:137
646. The repentant Gentiles and some of scattered Israel shall assist the remnant of the Nephites building New Jerusalem. |
"But if they will repent, and hearken unto my words, and harden not their hearts, I will establish my church among them, and they shall come in unto the covenant, and be numbered among this the remnant of Jacob, unto whom I have given this land for their inheritance, and they shall assist my people, the remnant of Jacob;
And also, as many of the house of Israel as shall come, that they may build a city, which shall be called the New Jerusalem;" Read Here: 3 Nephi 10:1-2
647. Jesus states that when the time comes when he 'sets his hand a second time' to recover his people Israel, that he and the powers of Heaven shall be in the midst of them. |
"And the powers of heaven shall be in the midst of this people; yea, even I will be in the midst of you."
Read Here: 3 Nephi 9:59
"And then shall the power of heaven come down among them; and I also will be in the midst, and then shall the work of the Father commence, at that day even when this gospel shall be preached among the remnant of this people."
Read Here: 3 Nephi 10:4
"The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the kid; and the calf and the young lion and the fatling together; and a little child shall lead them.
And the cow and the bear shall feed; their young ones shall lie down together; and the lion shall eat straw like the ox.And the sucking child shall play on the hole of the asp, and the weaned child shall put his hand on the cockatrice' den.They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain; for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the Lord, as the waters cover the sea.And in that day there shall be a root of Jesse, which shall stand for an ensign of the people; to it shall the Gentiles seek; and his rest shall be glorious.And it shall come to pass in that day, that the Lord shall set his hand again the second time to recover the remnant of his people, which shall be left, from Assyria, and from Egypt, and from Pathros, and from Cush, and from Elam, and from Shinar, and from Hamath, and from the islands of the sea.And he shall set up an ensign for the nations, and shall assemble the outcasts of Israel, and gather together the dispersed of Judah from the four corners of the earth." Read Here: Isaiah 11:6-12
648. This begins the great 'endowment' spoken of by scripture. The Lord God is present, directing the work. They labor with their might. The characteristic of those servants is their obedience in all things. |
"And it came to pass that the servants did go, and labor with their mights; and the Lord of the vineyard labored also with them; and they did obey the commandments of the Lord of the vineyard, in all things."
Read Here: Jacob 3:140
649. The New Jerusalem is setup on this land by the remnant of Joseph, with Gentiles and Israel assisting. From there, the Lord directs the work of gathering the world to the New Jerusalem and the Jerusalem of Old. |
"But if they will repent, and hearken unto my words, and harden not their hearts, I will establish my church among them, and they shall come in unto the covenant, and be numbered among this the remnant of Jacob, unto whom I have given this land for their inheritance, and they shall assist my people, the remnant of Jacob;
And also, as many of the house of Israel as shall come, that they may build a city, which shall be called the New Jerusalem;And then shall they assist my people that they may be gathered in, who are scattered upon all the face of the land, in unto the New Jerusalem.And then shall the power of heaven come down among them; and I also will be in the midst, and then shall the work of the Father commence, at that day even when this gospel shall be preached among the remnant of this people." Read Here: 3 Nephi 10:1-4
650. Notice Isaiah prophesied that at this time 'The Holy One of Israel,' The Redeemer, shall be in the midst of them. |
"Cry out and shout, thou inhabitant of Zion; for great is the Holy One of Israel in the midst of thee."
Read Here: Isaiah 12:6
"Cry out and shout, thou inhabitant of Zion; for great is the Holy One of Israel in the midst of thee."
Read Here: 2 Nephi 9:137
"As for our Redeemer, the Lord of hosts is his name, the Holy One of Israel."