Saturday, May 30, 2009

36b - "A Bible, We Have Got a Bible and We Need No More Bible" - A Book of Mormon Prophecy is Fulfilled in Our Day!

To Access This Blog's Index, Please Scroll Down To the Fifth Paragraph From the End of This Post!

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TODAY'S THEME



559-545 B.C.2 Nephi: 29: 6 Thou fool, that shall say: A Bible, we have got a Bible, and we need no more Bible. Have ye obtained a Bible save it were by the Jews?

7 Know ye not that there are more nations than one? Know ye not that I, the Lord your God, have created all men, and that I remember those who are upon the isles of the sea; and that I rule in the heavens above and in the earth beneath; and I bring forth my word unto the children of men, yea, even upon all the nations of the earth?
8 Wherefore murmur ye, because that ye shall receive more of my word? 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. (emphasis added)


The Holy Bible and the Book of Mormon Stand Side by Side -by Greg K. Olsen

As the title of this blog post refers to, "A Bible, We have Got a Bible and We Need No More Bible" is a prophecy made by a Book of Mormon prophet about a commonly held religious bias held by many in our day in the world's history. How did Nephi know this truth? He knew it because he possessed the spirit of prophecy and revelation that allowed him to speak the words of Jesus Christ that had been revealed to him. Jesus knows all there is to know about past, present and future thoughts and actions of all mankind.

TODAY'S THEME is just a portion of the scripture I'd like you to read. The entire chapter 29 of II Nephi was revealed by the pre-mortal Jesus Christ to His prophet Nephi, son of Lehi through the power of His gift of Revelation and Prophecy. This was done sometime during the years: 559 to 545 B.C.

2 Nephi 29:1-14
I would like you to focus on verse 13 of Chapter 29. I will quote it here.
13 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. (emphasis added)

We learn from the Lord's words in verse 13, that the Holy Bible, or as He puts it, the "words of the Jews" is only one of the books that contain His holy word. We do now have the Book of Mormon and the Bible which contain His word. We do not yet have the words contained in the books that the lost tribes of Israel wrote.

Now I would like you to read and listen to the chapter that follows the one you just read.


2 Nephi 30:1-18

Thank you for reading and listening also to chapter 30. I'd like to emphasize the first six verses of that chapter by suggesting that you read them again here. With highlighted italics I then will clarify Nephi's words as to how they apply to our day and time.

The resurrected Lord Jesus Christ also prophesied of the re-establishment of His Church in the Latter-days among the Gentiles (non-Israelites) who would have driven their descendants (the Native Americans) from their established lands. He told them that the record of their people from the time they left Jerusalem until there ceased to be prophets among them to continue recording their history, would be an important means of restoring His Gospel in the Latter-days. This of course was to become: The Book of Mormon, Another Testament of Jesus Christ.
2 Nephi 30: 1 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.
2 For behold, I say unto you that as many of the Gentiles as will repent are the covenant people of the Lord; and as many of the Jews as will not repent shall be cast off; for the Lord covenanteth with none save it be with them that repent and believe in his Son, who is the Holy One of Israel.
3 And now, I would prophesy somewhat more concerning the Jews and the Gentiles. 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.
4 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.
5 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.
6 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 pure and a delightsome people.
I will now call upon the writings of a great "Mormon" scholar, Hugh W. Nibley, Phd. who was on the faculty of Brigham Young University in Provo, Utah for many years. He died within the last three or four years.

Hugh W. Nibley, Phd

In a book, "The World and the Prophets" by Dr. Hugh W. Nibley, an expert on the history of early Christianity, (taken from a series of radio lectures he delivered on KSL (Salt Lake City, Utah) Radio in 1954) very astutely (he studied the original documents in their original languages of Greek, Latin and others) points out that those same things the resurrected Lord Jesus Christ warned the Nephites about,
Book of Mormon, 3Nephi 29: 6 Yea, wo unto him that shall deny the revelations of the Lord, and that shall say the Lord no longer worketh by revelation, or by prophecy, or by gifts, or by tongues, or by healings, or by the power of the Holy Ghost! (emphasis added)
actually also apply directly to the ancient Christian Church and to those churches that later came from them and make up the Christian churches of our day. Today's Christian churches do not believe in present day revelation, prophesy, use of the gift of tongues, nor in healing, nor in the blessings of the gift of the Holy Ghost in their personal lives.

I quote from Professor Nibley's book cited above, the following: (excerpts from Chapter 8, pages 63-64) I found Dr. Nibley's book in a Salt Lake County Library (Utah, USA) but if you would like to listen to the recording of his very intense and interesting entire lecture series, you can order your own copy of the CD.  The World and the Prophets 

The Gnostic library in Egypt has not so much revived as accelerated the study of the most baffling and portentous episode in church history, the rise of the Gnostics. The latest survey of the whole field, an impressive corroborative work by a number of Dutch scholars, sees in the Gnostic crisis the end of the primitive church and the moment at which 'Christianity enters upon a new phase of its history.' (ref. cited) In this great revolution of the second century, the whole orientation of the church changed completely. What brought this about? It was the ceasing of prophetic voices. the continuing demand in the church for the spiritual gifts, specially the gift of prophecy, gave rise to an army of quacks and fakirs who, though discredited in time, left their mark permanently and conspicuously on the Christian church. These were the Gnostics, so-called."
"Paul had prophesied that 'whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away' (I Corinthians 13:8)"
"Here the so-called original text uses the identical word for the failing of prophecies and the vanishing of knowledge, katargethesontai, 'to be taken out of circulation,' 'to be made inoperative,' used both times in the future indicative. There is no sense of contingency here; the whole statement is simple and emphatic: 'Such prophecies as there are shall be stopped; such tongues as there are shall be made to cease (pausontai) such gnosis as there is shall be done away with.' These gifts were not simply to fade away; they were going to be taken away.
They were already weak enough; We have these gifts now only in a limited form, Paul explains in the following verses, and then he makes the significant remark: 'But for the present time there remain 'faith, hope, and love, these three.' The colorless 'and now' of the King James is not fair to the emphatic nuni day, 'but at this time' of the 'original,' and while the 'abideth' of our English Bible emphasizes the quality of lasting and reliable firmness the original menei does not mean 'to be firm' at all, but simply to stay behind.
The emphatic 'these three' that remain is in obvious contrast to the three that are going to be taken away, namely, the gift of prophecy, the gift of tongues, and the gnosis--the greatest gift of all."
"Gnosis means the act of knowing, and in some contexts it can be translated simply as "knowledge." But not when Paul uses it! His frequent use of the word leaves us in no doubt as what it conveyed to the early Christians. for them it was exactly what we would translate as "a testimony of the gospel." 'But I think any price is worth paying for the supreme value of the gnosis of Christ Jesus my Lord,' writes Paul to the Phillippians (3:8), 'for which I have sacrificed everything, counting all but dung in comparison with acquiring Christ as my fortune." How often we have heard such expressions as that--'I would not exhange my testimony of the gospel of Jesus Christ for all the wealth in the world!' . . ." (Emphasis added)
Blogger's Summary:

After asking you to read and listen to the words of the great prophet, Nephi, you should realize that through Nephi's prophesying, the Lord is telling each of us in His Book of Mormon that we should not say the Bible is the only source of God's words.

We are told very clearly that there is a great purpose for the Lord having had a modern-day prophet, Joseph Smith translate the Book of Mormon, Another Testament of Jesus Christ for the definite purpose of showing that the Book of Mormon will make it very understandable that Christ's true church must believe in and use the great Christian gifts of prophecy, the gift of tongues, and the gnosis. (testimony kind of knowledge)

I do not blame any of you readers who may have mistakenly felt sure that any of the Christian churches of our day are truly representative of what Christ's church was, originally, by His own direction and that of His holy apostles. However, with the assistance of the quote (ICorinthians 13:8) from the Apostle Paul I made above, and from the Book of Mormon prophets such as Nephi and many others and especially of our Lord, Jesus Christ who personally appeared to the Nephites and personally used those gifts, (Prophecy, Revelation and Spiritual knowledge), the certain truth comes out clearly: that the Catholic Church and all the churches that emerged from the Great Restoration are not representative of Christ's Church that was originally set up.

The very insightful views of Hugh W. Nibley, can help you rejoice in our Savior having chosen to re-establish His Church in our day and time: The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. This allows the gifts of prophecy, Revelation and Spiritual knowledge to once again be made available to even the least of the members of Christ's one and only authorized church.

I have inserted below a drawing of an experience from the life of Dr. Nibley. He was an non-commissioned officer in US Army Intelligence and was involved in the D Day Attack on Normandy, France on June 6, 1944. If you look closely at the drawing you will see a book in his right hand. That book would be the Book of Mormon. He actually carried it with him in his pocket or pack sack (and studied it regularly) throughout his lengthy time of dedicated service in Europe during World War II.
Slightly Modified Drawing: Chris Maggio
Hugh W. Nibley on Normandy Beach on D-Day of World War II

I end this post by reminding you of the re-establishment of Jesus Christ's Church in 1830. I have posted for you the following paintings which illustrate key events that occurred during the bringing forth of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
By the gift of the Spirit of Prophecy and Revelation, I, an ordinary member of that church tell you that I know that Jesus Christ's Church which He personally established and which was directed by Him through His apostles after He ascended into Heaven as a resurrected being, has been re-established in our day. I know the Book of Mormon, Another Testament of Jesus Christ was given to us, along with the Holy Bible, to lead us in the direction the Lord wants us to move in.

I urge you, when you feel the Spirit influencing you, to contact the full-time missionaries of this church to teach you and consider following the Lord's commandment of being baptized by those having authority from Christ.
If you want my assistance in locating the nearest mission office of this church, please use my e-mail address given below to ask for my assistance. If you e-mail me your city and state and nation I will let you know by return e-mail their address and phone number. They will be happy to assist you as you desire.

Joseph Smith's Vision of the Father and the Son -Tom Lovell

The Angel Moroni Appears to Joseph Smith -by Tom Lovell

Joseph Smith Translating the Book of Mormon -by Del Parson
  The Book of Mormon's Inspired Translation
(A) Book of Mormon Prophecy Is Fulfilled In Our Day. . .






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DISCLAIMER
This website is not owned by or affiliated with the Church Of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (sometimes called the Mormon or LDS Church). The views expressed herein do not necessarily represent the position of the Church.


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TO ACCESS NEIL BIRCH'S BLOG INDEX To Either Read the Full Index Item Which Refers To This Blog Post, (Or An Item Which Refers To Any Other Blog Post You May Desire To Access): After Reading All of This Paragraph Please Click on the Following: A Bible, A Bible, We Don't Need Another Bible. -Post 36b. When You See the Picture of Our Savior Jesus Christ Sitting Next To a Little Boy, Please, Scroll Down To Your Target Item Or Use The Alphabetic Scrolling Device (When It Has Been Installed.)


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"Have You Really Read the Book of Mormon?" Legal /Statement. Thank you for visiting. The author retains intellectual property and creative licensing rights. Permission to use or reprint must be given in writing. © Est.2008 Neil Birch Legal /Statement.



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I deeply appreciate your readership and hope you found very beneficial, that which was presented to you in this blog post.If you have any questions about what you have read or viewed in this post or in any previous posts of mine, or if you even have a curiosity about the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and or its teachings, please e-mail me. I'm Neil and my e-mail address is: jneilmelva@gmail.com. If you contact me I'll get back to you just as soon as possible.

I invite you to let your friends and relatives know about this blog if you think they would be interested. Please be advised that I also have an additional blog. It is in Spanish:  Its content is translated from the English in this blog.

Neil Birch

Monday, May 25, 2009

36a - The Three Josephs - Book of Mormon Prophecies are Fulfilled in Our Day. Part I

To Access This Blog's Index, Please Scroll Down To the Fifth Paragraph From the End of This Post!

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Preparation for TODAY'S THEME:


Please read (and Listen to) Genesis 37:1-36


Joseph, Son of Jacob, Is Being Sold Into Bondage in Egypt -by Ted Henninger
In this painting Joseph, the eleventh son of Jacob, (Israel), is being sold by his jealous brothers to traders for twenty pieces of silver.

These traders then took Joseph to Egypt and sold him to Potiphar, one of Pharaoh’s officers, the captain of Pharaoh's guard."

Remember what you can of Joseph's dreams in that scripture you just read. His dreams indicated that Joseph would come to be like royalty of the highest degree. His telling of those dreams is what caused his brothers to be jealous of him to the point that they were very desirous of "getting rid of him."

I must remind you, however, that his oldest brother, Reuben, did not want his youngest brother harmed and when his plans to return him to their father didn't work out, Reuben was very upset. Reuben, you get high marks for that! You didn't always do what is right, but your intentions were right in this case.

Potipher's Wife Has Evil Intentions Regarding Joseph -by Del Parson
If you have seen the ever popular musical, "Joseph and His Amazing Technicolor Dream Coat", you will have seen, with some alterations, the story of Joseph, Who Was Sold Into Egypt. Perhaps that musical has been produced in your country as well as in the United States of America. It has been very popular here.
In this painting Joseph is shown successfully avoiding the advances of Potiphar's wife.

Angry at Joseph for resisting her advances, this woman accused him of making advances on her. Potiphar had him imprisoned in the king's prison, a place where the king's prisoners were kept. Read about this in Genesis Chapter 39.

An additional scriptural account, (Genesis, chapter 41) tells us how Joseph, who was worthy to possess the gift of Prophecy and Revelation (or the testimony of Jesus), was brought, by the use of that gift, from the lowly status of a Hebrew slave and jail prisoner to becoming second in command over all of Egypt, just under Pharaoh.

Through this spiritual gift Joseph had learned to use, God was able to lead him to the point where, as second in command to Pharaoh, Joseph was able to have the nation of Egypt fully prepared when a great famine struck all that part of the world including the land where his father, Jacob, and the rest of his family lived.

Many of you may have read in the Old Testament, the touching story of Joseph being reunited with his brothers and eventually with his father who had deeply, and for a long time, mourned the supposed death of his favorite son. (Please read, when you have time, Genesis Chapters 42 though 50.)

I'm sure you'll agree with me that seventeen year old Joseph's dreams about his family bowing down before him, were proven to be true. Those dreams had come to seventeen year old Joseph through the gift of God!
TODAY'S THEME
Father Lehi Preaching to Citizens of Jerusalem -by Del Parson


Now let's go to an account of Father Lehi and his family. Here is a painting  in which Lehi is preaching to citizens of Jerusalem who don't appreciate his message. (600 B.C.)

When unbelieving people in Jerusalem sought to kill Lehi, the Lord commanded him to take his family out of Jerusalem. The Lord then lead them to and across the Arabian Peninsula on their way to their promised land (which was to be in the Western Hemisphere).

Lehi didn't die until they had become firmly established in what is now, the area of Central America. Shortly before Lehi died, he gave blessings to each of his sons.

Arriving at Their Promised Land -by Arnold Friberg
Besides, Laman, Lemuel, Sam and Nephi, Lehi and his wife, Sariah, became the parents of two more sons, Jacob and Joseph while still traveling eastward on the Arabian Peninsula to the seashore, where by the Lord's guidance through Nephi, a ship was built and they were guided to Central America.
Please read (and Listen to, if you so desire) Lehi's blessing he gave his youngest son, Joseph:  II Nephi 3:1-25:

Here are, as I see them, are the key points Lehi made in his blessing of his youngest son, Joseph:

1. Lehi and his family are descendants of Joseph who was sold into Egypt.
2. The Lord promised Joseph that He, the Lord, would appear to his descendants in their promised land (Central America) after his death and resurrection.
3. The Lord promised to raise up a choice seer to help Lehi's descendants in the latter-days. (in our day)
4. That seer would only do the work the Lord gave him to do.
Joseph Smith, Jr. Translating the Book of Mormon, Another Testament of Jesus Christ. Oliver Cowdery is Serving as his scribe -by Del Parson 
5. That seer, would, like Moses, deliver his people, Israel, from bondage. That seer would bring forth the Lord's word, the Book of Mormon which will confirm the truth of a first book of scriptures, the Bible.
6. That seer would bring forth the Lord's word, the Book of Mormon which will confirm the truth of a first book of scriptures, the Bible.


7. Lehi told his son, Joseph, that religious confusion would be stopped among his descendants in the last days, when those 2 scriptures are used together.
8. The Lord told that ancient Joseph that the efforts of others to destroy that seer would be prevented until that seer had finished his work.
9. This promised seer will also be named Joseph as will his father.
10. The work done by this promised seer will bring salvation to this ancient Joseph's descendants, and bring about the gathering of all Israel.
11. The Lord promised the ancient Joseph that his posterity would last forever.
12. The ancient Joseph's descendants' words shall "cry from the dust" to be heard by his descendants in the latter-days. The golden plates containing the Book of Mormon have done that.


According to what the Lord told Joseph who had been sold into Egypt, this mighty seer would become an instrument in the hands of God to bring much restoration to the House of Israel in our time. (beginning in 1820)


The Book of Mormon is the word of God spoken of by Joseph who was sold into Egypt, before he died. He promised that this modern day Joseph would bring forth God's word which along with the Bible would stop religious confusion.

This blog post really shows the tight bond between three Josephs, Joseph the Prophet who had been sold into Egypt, Lehi's son, Joseph and the latter-day prophet of God: Joseph Smith, Jr.

In this series of posts we will learn more about what Book of Mormon Prophets had to say about the work which the third Joseph, Joseph Smith, Jr. would do to further the work of the Resurrected Lord, Jesus Christ.



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DISCLAIMER
This website is not owned by or affiliated with the Church Of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (sometimes called the Mormon or LDS Church). The views expressed herein do not necessarily represent the position of the Church.





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TO ACCESS NEIL BIRCH'S BLOG INDEX To Either Read the Full Index Item Which Refers To This Blog Post, (Or An Item Which Refers To Any Other Blog Post You May Desire To Access): After Reading All of This Paragraph Please Click on the Following: (The) Book of Mormon - The Three Josephs Play Important Roles in Its Coming About. - Post 36a. When You See the Picture of Our Savior Jesus Christ Sitting Next To a Little Boy, Please, Scroll Down To Your Target Item Or Use The Alphabetic Scrolling Device (When It Has Been Installed.)
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"Have You Really Read the Book of Mormon?" Legal /Statement. Thank you for visiting. The author retains intellectual property and creative licensing rights. Permission to use or reprint must be given in writing. © Est.2008 Neil Birch Legal /Statement.
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I deeply appreciate your readership and hope you found very beneficial, that which was presented to you in this blog post.

If you have any questions about what you have read or viewed in this post or in any previous posts of mine, or if you even have a curiosity about the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and or its teachings, please e-mail me. I'm Neil and my e-mail address is: jneilmelva@gmail.com. If you contact me I'll get back to you just as soon as possible.
I invite you to let your friends and relatives know about this blog if you think they would be interested. Please be advised that I also have an additional blog. It is in Spanish:  Its content is translated from the English in this blog.

Neil Birch

Friday, May 22, 2009

35z - The Book of Mormon, Another Testament of Jesus Christ. The Resurrected Jesus Christ Taught Among the Nephites in Ancient Central America in A.D. 34 - Part V

To Access This Blog's Index, Please Scroll Down To the Fifth Paragraph From the End of This Post!

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TODAY'S THEME

This is the concluding post in the series in which the things the Resurrected Jesus Christ said and did among the Nephites in Ancient America are shown to be very strong testaments of His divine responsibility as the Son of God in all times and in all places, not just in Ancient Palestine where He was born and ministered.

About A.D. 34 3 Nephi CHAPTER 18 (Chapter Heading): Jesus institutes the sacrament among the Nephites—They are commanded to pray always in his name—Those who eat his flesh and drink his blood unworthily are damned—The disciples are given power to confer the Holy Ghost.

Jesus Blesses the Nephite Children -by Robert T. Barrett
About A.D. 34 3 Nephi CHAPTER 19 (Chapter Heading): The Twelve Disciples minister unto the people and pray for the Holy Ghost—They are baptized and receive the Holy Ghost and the ministering of angels—Jesus prays using words that cannot be written—He attests to the exceedingly great faith of these Nephites.

A.D. 34 3 Nephi CHAPTER 20 (Chapter Heading): Jesus provides bread and wine miraculously and again administers the sacrament unto them—The remnant of Jacob shall come to the knowledge of the Lord their God and shall inherit the Americas—Jesus is the prophet like unto Moses, and the Nephites are children of the prophets—Others of the Lord's people shall be gathered to Jerusalem.

Signers of the Declaration of Independence of the United States of America Shown Reviewing that Document Before its Actual Signing Took Place July 4, 1776 -by John Trumbull
About A.D. 34 3 Nephi CHAPTER 21 (Chapter Heading): Israel shall be gathered when the Book of Mormon comes forth—The Gentiles shall be established as a free people in America—They shall be saved if they believe and obey; otherwise they shall be cut off and destroyed—Israel shall build the New Jerusalem, and the lost tribes shall return. (Highlighted italics added for emphasis)



The Ancient Apostles, Peter, James and John Bestow the Melchizedek Priesthood Upon Joseph Smith and then on Oliver Cowdery -by Kenneth Riley

 
The Prophet Isaiah Writes of the Gathering of Christ's Israel in the Latter-days -by Harry Anderson
About A.D. 34 3 Nephi CHAPTER 22 (Chapter Heading): In the last days, Zion and her stakes shall be established, and Israel shall be gathered in mercy and tenderness—They shall triumph—Compare Isaiah 54.

Painting: Robert T. Barrett
About A.D. 34 3 Nephi CHAPTER 23 (Chapter Heading): Jesus approves the words of Isaiah—He commands the people to search the prophets—The words of Samuel the Lamanite concerning the resurrection are added to their records.
3Nephi 23: 4 Therefore give heed to my words; write the things which I have told you; and according to the time and the will of the Father they shall go forth unto the Gentiles.
5 And whosoever will hearken unto my words and repenteth and is baptized, the same shall be saved. Search the prophets, for many there be that testify of these things.
6 And now it came to pass that when Jesus had said these words he said unto them again, after he had expounded all the scriptures unto them which they had received, he said unto them: Behold, other scriptures I would that ye should write, that ye have not.
7 And it came to pass that he said unto Nephi: Bring forth the record which ye have kept.
8 And when Nephi had brought forth the records, and laid them before him, he cast his eyes upon them and said:
9 Verily I say unto you, I commanded my servant Samuel, the Lamanite, that he should testify unto this people, that at the day that the Father should glorify his name in me that there were many saints who should arise from the dead, and should appear unto many, and should minister unto them. And he said unto them: Was it not so?
10 And his disciples answered him and said: Yea, Lord, Samuel did prophesy according to thy words, and they were all fulfilled.
11 And Jesus said unto them: How be it that ye have not written this thing, that many saints did arise and appear unto many and did minister unto them?
12 And it came to pass that Nephi remembered that this thing had not been written.
13 And it came to pass that Jesus commanded that it should be written; therefore it was written according as he commanded. (emphasis added)

About A.D. 34 3Nephi CHAPTER 24 (Chapter Heading): The Lord's messenger shall prepare the way for the Second Coming—Christ shall sit in judgment—Israel is commanded to pay tithes and offerings—A book of remembrance is kept—Compare Malachi 3.
Painting: Dan Lewis

Elijah the Prophet, who never tasted death, appeared to modern day prophets in the Kirtland, Ohio LDS Temple April 3, 1836 (Malachi 4:5; D. and C. 110:13). Elijah gave them the power to seal the living to their dead which is an eternal sealing, and allowing the living to do essential priesthood ordinances for the dead to allow them to attain eternal life through the power of our Savior's blessed atonement.
Painting: Harry Anderson
The Second Coming of Jesus Christ and the Hosts of Heaven A.D. ?

About A.D. 34 3Nephi CHAPTER 25 Chapter Heading): At the Second Coming the proud and wicked shall be burned as stubble—Elijah shall return before that great and dreadful day—Compare Malachi 4. About A.D. 34 CHAPTER 26 Jesus expounds all things from the beginning to the end—Babes and children utter marvelous things which cannot be written—Those in the Church of Christ have all things in common among them. (emphasis added)
Painting: Del Parson

About A.D. 34 CHAPTER 27 (Chapter Heading): Jesus commands them to call the Church in his name—His mission and atoning sacrifice constitute his gospel—Men are commanded to repent and be baptized that they may be sanctified by the Holy Ghost—They are to be even as Jesus is. (I dealt with this very important chapter in post 35t.) (Clarification Added)
Painting: Gary L. Kapp
Christ grants the Request of the Three Nephite Disciples

About A.D. 34–35 3Nephi CHAPTER 28 (Chapter Heading): Nine of the Twelve desire and are promised an inheritance in Christ's kingdom when they die—The Three Nephites desire and are given power over death so as to remain on the earth until Jesus comes again—They are translated and see things not lawful to utter, and they are now ministering among men.
Painting: Tom Lovell
The Prophet, Mormon, at the Lord's command, abridges the Records of the Nephites into what is named, The Book of Mormon. 331 - 345 A.D.
About A.D. 34–35 3 Nephi CHAPTER 29 (Chapter Heading): The coming forth of the Book of Mormon is a sign that the Lord has commenced to gather Israel and fulfill his covenants—Those who reject his Latter-day revelations and gifts shall be cursed.
Painting: Del Parson

Joseph Smith, assisted by his scribe, Oliver Cowdery, translates the Book of Mormon into the English language by the Gift of God sometime in 1829.

Two Photographs: Intellectual Reserve, Inc.
Missionaries of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints






About A.D. 34–35 3 Nephi CHAPTER 30 (Chapter Heading): The Latter-day Gentiles are commanded to repent and come unto Christ and be numbered with the house of Israel.

Please view the LDS video: "Blessings of the Priesthood."  Presenter is Elder Robert D. Hales of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.


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DISCLAIMER
This website is not owned by or affiliated with the Church Of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (sometimes called the Mormon or LDS Church). The views expressed herein do not necessarily represent the position of the Church.





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TO ACCESS NEIL BIRCH'S BLOG INDEX To Either Read the Full Index Item Which Refers To This Blog Post, (Or An Item Which Refers To Any Other Blog Post You May Desire To Access): After Reading All of This Paragraph Please Click on the Following: Jesus Prophesied Before Leaving the Nephites that the Book of Mormon. . . Post 35z. When You See the Picture of Our Savior Jesus Christ Sitting Next To a Little Boy, Please, Scroll Down To Your Target Item Or Use The Alphabetical Scrolling Device (When It Has Been Installed.)
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"Have You Really Read the Book of Mormon?" Legal /Statement. Thank you for visiting. The author retains intellectual property and creative licensing rights. Permission to use or reprint must be given in writing. © Est.2008 Neil Birch Legal /Statement.

_____________


I deeply appreciate your readership and hope you found very beneficial, that which was presented to you in this blog post.

If you have any questions about what you have read or viewed in this post or in any previous posts of mine, or if you even have a curiosity about the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and or its teachings, please e-mail me. I'm Neil and my e-mail address is: jneilmelva@gmail.com. If you contact me I'll get back to you just as soon as possible.

I invite you to let your friends and relatives know about this blog if you think they would be interested. Please be advised that I also have an additional blog. It is in Spanish:  Its content is translated from the English in this blog.

Neil Birch

Tuesday, May 19, 2009

35y - The Book of Mormon, Another Testament of Jesus Christ. He Taught Among the Nephites in Ancient Central America in A.D. 34 - Part IV.

To Access This Blog's Index, Please Scroll Down To the Fifth Paragraph From the End of This Post!

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TODAY'S THEME

Jesus taught the same things to the Nephites that He had taught to the Jews in Palestine. Here is more evidence of that:

The Book of Mormon, 3 Nephi, (Chapter Heading) CHAPTER 13 Jesus teaches the Nephites the Lord's Prayer—They are to lay up treasures in heaven—The Twelve in their ministry are commanded to take no thought for temporal things—Compare Matthew 6. About A.D. 34

Once again, as was pointed out in my just previous blog post, our Savior, Jesus Christ continued teaching the Nephites that which He had taught His followers in Palestine. That is what we would expect Him to do. He knew well what to teach the Nephites to do in His church because He had done that in His church that He had set up in His homeland. He taught this in Palestine:


Jesus' Sermon on the Mount in Jerusalem. -by Carl Heinrich Bloch
Matthew 6:1 TAKE heed that ye do not your alms before men, to be seen of them: otherwise ye have no reward of your Father which is in heaven.
2 Therefore when thou doest thine alms, do not sound a trumpet before thee, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.
3 But when thou doest alms, let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doeth:
4 That thine alms may be in secret: and thy Father which seeth in secret himself shall reward thee openly.
5 ¶ And when thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are: for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.
6 But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly.
7 But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking.
8 Be not ye therefore like unto them: for your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask him.
9 After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.
10 Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.
11 Give us this day our daily bread.
12 And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.
13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.

Jesus Teaching Nephites in Central America A.D. 34 -by Harry Anderson

Jesus taught this in ancient Central America:
III Nephi Chapter 13: 1 VERILY, verily, I say that I would that ye should do alms unto the poor; but take heed that ye do not your alms before men to be seen of them; otherwise ye have no reward of your Father who is in heaven.
2 Therefore, when ye shall do your alms do not sound a trumpet before you, as will hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory of men. Verily I say unto you, they have their reward.
3 But when thou doest alms let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doeth;
4 That thine alms may be in secret; and thy Father who seeth in secret, himself shall reward thee openly.
5 And when thou prayest thou shalt not do as the hypocrites, for they love to pray, standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men. Verily I say unto you, they have their reward.
6 But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father who is in secret; and thy Father, who seeth in secret, shall reward thee openly.
7 But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen, for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking.
8 Be not ye therefore like unto them, for your Father knoweth what things ye have need of before ye ask him.
9 After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name.
10 Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.
11 And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.
12 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.
13 For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever. Amen.
We can now say: Amen and Amen.

3 Nephi CHAPTER 14 (Chapter Heading) Jesus commands: Judge not; ask of God; beware of false prophets—He promises salvation to those who do the will of the Father—Compare Matthew 7. About A.D. 34
Moses With the Stone Tablets -by Jerry Harston
3 Nephi CHAPTER 15 (Chapter Heading) Jesus announces that the law of Moses is fulfilled in him—The Nephites are the other sheep of whom he spake in Jerusalem—Because of iniquity the Lord's people in Jerusalem do not know of the scattered sheep of Israel.
About A.D. 34 3 Nephi 15: 13 And behold, this is the land of your inheritance; and the Father hath given it unto you.
14 And not at any time hath the Father given me commandment that I should tell it unto your brethren at Jerusalem.
15 Neither at any time hath the Father given me commandment that I should tell unto them concerning the other tribes of the house of Israel, whom the Father hath led away out of the land.
16 This much did the Father command me, that I should tell unto them:
17 That other sheep I have which are not of this fold; them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd.
18 And now, because of stiffneckedness and unbelief they understood not my word; therefore I was commanded to say no more of the Father concerning this thing unto them.
19 But, verily, I say unto you that the Father hath commanded me, and I tell it unto you, that ye were separated from among them because of their iniquity; therefore it is because of their iniquity that they know
not of you.
20 And verily, I say unto you again that the other tribes hath the Father separated from them; and it is because of their iniquity that they know not of them.
21 And verily I say unto you, that ye are they of whom I said: Other sheep I have which are not of this fold; them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd.
22 And they understood me not, for they supposed it had been the Gentiles; for they understood not that the Gentiles should be converted through their preaching.
23 And they understood me not that I said they shall hear my voice; and they understood me not that the Gentiles should not at any time hear my voice—that I should not manifest myself unto them save it were by the Holy Ghost.
24 But behold, ye have both heard my voice, and seen me; and ye are my sheep, and ye are numbered among those whom the Father hath given me. (emphasis added)
CHAPTER 16 (Chapter Heading) Jesus will visit others of the lost sheep of Israel—In the latter days the gospel will go to the Gentiles and then to the house of Israel—The Lord's people shall see eye to eye when he brings again Zion. About A.D. 34 (Italics added for emphasis)
Painting: Greg K. Olsen


The Bible and the Book of Mormon Stand Side by Side -by Greg K. Olsen
CHAPTER 17 (Chapter Heading) Jesus directs the people to ponder his words and pray for understanding—He heals their sick—He prays for the people, using language that cannot be written—Angels minister to and fire encircles their little ones. About A.D. 34. (Italics added for emphasis)
Painting: Del Parson
Jesus Showing Love to Nephite Children -by Del Parson

I bare my humble personal witness to you that Jesus is the Christ, our Savior and our Redeemer. I bare you this testimony in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen! - J. Neil Birch

I'm grateful I know Jesus taught the same things to His people in Ancient America as he had taught His people in Palestine and even later He taught other lost tribes of Israel who He told the Nephites (and earlier, His apostles in Palestine,) He would visit He would visit such. We do not know what Jesus taught the other lost tribes of Israel because we do not yet have their records. However, the prophet Nephi, (Between 559 and 545 B.C.) son of Lehi wrote: There will be further evidence in one or two more blog posts of mine that the Book of Mormon, Another Testament of Jesus Christ is just what its full name says.

2Nephi 29:13 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. (emphasis added)

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DISCLAIMER
This website is not owned by or affiliated with the Church Of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (sometimes called the Mormon or LDS Church). The views expressed herein do not necessarily represent the position of the Church.







_____________


TO ACCESS NEIL BIRCH'S BLOG INDEX To Either Read the Full Index Item Which Refers To This Blog Post, (Or An Item Which Refers To Any Other Blog Post You May Desire To Access): After Reading All of This Paragraph Please Click on the Following: Evidence (That) Jesus Taught the Same Things to the Nephites in Ancient America That He Taught . . . - Post 35y. When You See the Picture of Our Savior Jesus Christ Sitting Next To a Little Boy, Please, Scroll Down To Your Target Item Or Use The Alphabetical Scrolling Device (When It Has Been Installed.)

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"Have You Really Read the Book of Mormon?" Legal /Statement. Thank you for visiting. The author retains intellectual property and creative licensing rights. Permission to use or reprint must be given in writing. © Est.2008 Neil Birch Legal /Statement.

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I deeply appreciate your readership and hope you found very beneficial, that which was presented to you in this blog post.

If you have any questions about what you have read or viewed in this post or in any previous posts of mine, or if you even have a curiosity about the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and or its teachings, please e-mail me. I'm Neil and my e-mail address is: jneilmelva@gmail.com. If you contact me I'll get back to you just as soon as possible.

I invite you to let your friends and relatives know about this blog if you think they would be interested. Please be advised that I also have an additional blog. It is in Spanish: Its content is translated from the English in this blog.

Neil Birch

Friday, May 15, 2009

35x - The Book of Mormon, Another Testament of Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ Taught Among the Nephites in Ancient Central America in A.D. 34 - Part III.

To Access This Blog's Index, Plesase Scroll Down To the Fifth Paragraph From the End of This Post!

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TODAY'S THEME

As those of you who have read the past three blog posts of mine, most likely know, I have led you to expect several more blog posts from me in my series, "The Book of Mormon, Another Testament of Jesus Christ."Since Post 35u, we have been focusing on things the Savior of the World, Jesus Christ, said and did among the Nephite People as recorded in the Book of Third Nephi.

As the Chapter 12 of III Nephi heading shows below, Jesus did and also taught almost identically while setting up His Church among the Nephites as He did during His mortal ministry in Palestine. That makes sense. He knew what was needed to allow His church to succeed, of course, it would function basically the same in both Palestine and in Central America.

Jesus Chose and Ordained Twelve Apostles, both in Palestine as shown here, but also in Bountiful, Central America in A.D. 34 -by Harry Anderson
I have chosen to use the Chapter Headings in each of the remaining chapters of Third Nephi as I seek to identify how in each of them there is clear testifying that what Jesus did and taught among the Nephites is clear evidence that He is the Christ, The Son of God!

"THIRD NEPHI, CHAPTER 12

Jesus calls and commissions the Twelve—He delivers to the Nephites a discourse similar to the Sermon on the Mount—He speaks the Beatitudes—His teachings transcend and take precedence over the law of Moses—Men are commanded to be perfect even as he and his Father are perfect—Compare Matthew 5. About A.D. 34"

Not only did Jesus call and commission the twelve in America as He did in Palestine, I, as the author of this blog post used the very same painting depicting our Savior as he ordained his twelve in the Old World for His doing this with the twelve He called from among the Nephites. I did that because no painter has evidently painted a picture depicting that happening among the Lamanites. No matter. This serves to continue the emphasis that: our Savior did the same things in both lands as He set up His divine church.

I just now decided to carry on the same simile I did with the ordaining of the Twelve in America to the other thing mentioned in the Chapter 12 Heading: The Sermon on the Mount.

I happen to have access to two Sermon on the Mount paintings so I will use the one I didn't use the last time I depicted that event that took place in Palestine. I used that first one in my special Easter Season blog post.

We will just think of that which is depicted in this beautiful painting as happening in Central America among the Nephites. Who could tell the difference? We use our imaginations as we view pictures like this anyway.

Jesus Teaching His Basic Sermon on the Mount to the Nephite -by Harry Anderson
I will now quote several sets of verses from Third Nephi Chapter 12. The first set has to do, of course, about His calling the twelve from among them:

1 AND it came to pass that when Jesus had spoken these words unto Nephi, and to those who had been called, (now the number of them who had been called, and received power and authority to baptize, was twelve) and behold, he stretched forth his hand unto the multitude, and cried unto them, saying: Blessed are ye if ye shall give heed unto the words of these twelve whom I have chosen from among you to minister unto you, and to be your servants; and unto them I have given power that they may baptize you with water; and after that ye are baptized with water, behold, I will baptize you with fire and with the Holy Ghost; therefore blessed are ye if ye shall believe in me and be baptized, after that ye have seen me and know that I am.
2 And again, more blessed are they who shall believe in your words because that ye shall testify that ye have seen me, and that ye know that I am. Yea, blessed are they who shall believe in your words, and come down into the depths of humility and be baptized, for they shall be visited with fire and with the Holy Ghost, and shall receive a remission of their sins. (emphasis added)
I add the following few verses from Third Nephi: (You will recognize them as being very similar to Jesus' words from the Sermon on the Mount in Palestine. Again, He teaches in Central America as He did in Palestine:
III Nephi 12:3 Yea, blessed are the poor in spirit who come unto me, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
4 And again, blessed are all they that mourn, for they shall be comforted.
5 And blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.
6 And blessed are all they who do hunger and thirst after righteousness, for they shall be filled with the Holy Ghost.
7 And blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy.
8 Blessed are all the pure in heart, for they shall see God.
9 And blessed are all the peacemakers, for they shall be called the children of God.
10 And blessed are all they who are persecuted for my name's sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
11 And blessed are ye when men shall revile you and persecute, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake;
12 For ye shall have great joy and be exceedingly glad, for great shall be your reward in heaven; for so persecuted they the prophets who were before you.
13 Verily, verily, I say unto you, I give unto you to be the salt of the earth; but if the salt shall lose its savor wherewith shall the earth be salted? The salt shall be thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out and to be trodden under foot of men.
14 Verily, verily, I say unto you, I give unto you to be the light of this people. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hid.
15 Behold, do men light a candle and put it under a bushel? Nay, but on a candlestick, and it giveth light to all that are in the house;
16 Therefore let your light so shine before this people, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father who is in heaven. (emphasis added)
Now in ending this blog post I will provide you with the entire chapter 12 of Third Nephi through the following link. 3 Nephi 12:1-48

I'll look forward to having you back in about three days to continue with me in my enjoyable effort of demonstrating that the Book of 3 Nephi of the Book of Mormon, Another Testament of Jesus Christ, truly does testify of Him.

____________



DISCLAIMER
This website is not owned by or affiliated with the Church Of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (sometimes called the Mormon or LDS Church). The views expressed herein do not necessarily represent the position of the Church.







____________


TO ACCESS NEIL BIRCH'S BLOG INDEX To Either Read the Full Index Item Which Refers To This Blog Post, (Or An Item Which Refers To Any Other Blog Post You May Desire To Access): After Reading All of This Paragraph Please Click on the Following: (Clear) Evidence That Which the Resurrected Jesus Christ Did and Taught Among the Nephites in Ancient America, Testifies Strongly That He is the Son of God - Post 35x. When You See the Picture of Our Savior Jesus Christ Sitting Next To a Little Boy, Please, Scroll Down To Your Target Item Or Use The Alphabetical Scrolling Device (When It Has Been Installed.)

____________


"Have You Really Read the Book of Mormon?" Legal /Statement. Thank you for visiting. The author retains intellectual property and creative licensing rights. Permission to use or reprint must be given in writing. © Est.2008 Neil Birch Legal /Statement.

____________

I deeply appreciate your readership and hope you found very beneficial, that which was presented to you in this blog post.

If you have any questions about what you have read or viewed in this post or in any previous posts of mine, or if you even have a curiosity about the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and or its teachings, please e-mail me. I'm Neil and my e-mail address is: jneilmelva@gmail.com. If you contact me I'll get back to you just as soon as possible.

I invite you to let your friends and relatives know about this blog if you think they would be interested. Please be advised that I have an additional blog. It is in Spanish:   It's content is translated from the English in this blog.

Neil Birch