38y - Joseph Smith, a True Prophet Who Lived a Christlike Life!

To Access This Blog's Index, Please Scroll Down To the Fifth Paragraph From the End of This Post! (A Suggestion: If You Have Made Comments On Any Of My Posts, Look For Your Name in the Blog Index To See if it is There: Scroll down from here to the mostly blue index guide and click on the link in the middle of it to access my index.)

****

TODAY'S THEME

Painting: Del Parson

Joseph Smith, The first president of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints -by Del Parson

Perhaps we can say that Joseph Smith began his training as a prophet of the Lord as a seventeen year old when he was instructed by the Angel, Moroni during the night of September 21, 1823 while in his upstairs bedroom in his parents' home.



The Angel Moroni instructs Joseph Smith -by Tom Lovell

The Prophet Moroni of Ancient America, now an angel of the Lord, Instructs the young Joseph Smith regarding his (Joseph's) soon to come, prophetic responsibilities, especially regarding his, (Joseph's) translating the Book of Mormon, Another Testament of Jesus Christ which was written on golden plates by Moroni's father, Mormon and hidden up in the earth by Moroni in about A.D. 421.

 

We will skip ahead many years in the life of the prophet, Joseph Smith to the fall of 1838:

One of the desires of the early Latter-day Saints was simply to be allowed to live their religion in peace. But wherever they moved, peace eluded them. In 1833, just two years after the dedication of a place of gathering in Missouri, mobs forced the Saints to leave Jackson County, Missouri. Church members found temporary refuge in Clay County, Missouri, and then, in 1836, began moving into northern Missouri. Most of them settled in Caldwell County, a new county organized by the state legislature to accommodate the Latter-day Saints. Far West, which served as the county seat, soon became a thriving Latter-day Saint settlement.

The Prophet Joseph Smith had continued to live in Kirtland, Ohio, but in January 1838, he was forced to leave, fearing for his life. With his family, he traveled the 900 miles to Far West, where he joined the Saints living there. Later in 1838, most of the Kirtland Saints sold or abandoned their homes and followed the Prophet to Missouri.

To accommodate the Church members pouring into the area, the Prophet designated areas near Far West where the Saints could settle. In July 1838, cornerstones were dedicated for a temple in Far West, giving the Saints hope that they could establish a permanent settlement where they could enjoy prosperity and peace. Unfortunately, tensions similar to those they experienced in Jackson County soon divided them from local settlers, and in the fall of 1838, mobs and militia once again began to harass and attack Latter-day Saints.

One day the Prophet was visiting his parents’ home in Far West, when a group of armed militiamen came in and announced that they had come to kill him for a supposed crime. Lucy Mack Smith, the Prophet’s mother, described his gift for peacemaking: “[Joseph] looked upon them with a very pleasant smile and, stepping up to them, gave each of them his hand in a manner which convinced them that he was neither a guilty criminal nor yet a cowering hypocrite. They stopped and stared as though a spectre had crossed their path. “Joseph sat down and entered into conversation with them and explained to them the views and feelings of the people called Mormons and what their course had been, as also the treatment which they had met with from their enemies since the first outset of the Church. He told them that malice and detraction had pursued them ever since they entered Missouri, but they were a people who had never broken the laws to his knowledge. But if they had, they stood ready to be tried by the law. …
“After this, he rose and said, ‘Mother, I believe I will go home. Emma will be expecting me.’ Two of the men sprang to their feet, saying, ‘You shall not go alone, for it is not safe. We will go with you and guard you.’ Joseph thanked them, and they went with him.

“The remainder of the officers stood by the door while these were absent, and I overheard the following conversation between them: “First Officer: ‘Did you not feel strangely when Smith took you by the hand? I never felt so in my life.’ “Second Officer: ‘I felt as though I could not move. I would not harm one hair of that man’s head for the whole world.’ “Third Officer: "This is the last time you will ever catch me coming to kill Joe Smith or the Mormons either.’ …

“Those men who went with my son promised to go disband the militia under them and go home, and said that if he had any use for them, they would come back and follow him anywhere.”1 Speaking the truth in a kind, forthright way, Joseph Smith overcame prejudice and hostility and made peace with many of those who had been his enemies. (Quoted from Teachings of Presidents of the Church - Joseph Smith, Chapter 29, pp. 339-341)

Now I will quote statements made by members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (and maybe one, who was not) who knew the prophet Joseph Smith well. These statements were made after the prophet and his brother, Hyrum, had been killed by a mob in Carthage, Illinois in June 1844.

Parley P. Pratt, a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles from 1835 to 1857: “President Joseph Smith was in person tall and well built, strong and active; of a light complexion, light hair, blue eyes, very little beard, and of an expression peculiar to himself. … His countenance was ever mild, affable, beaming with intelligence and benevolence; mingled with a look of interest and an unconscious smile, or cheerfulness, and entirely free from all restraint or affectation of gravity; and there was something connected with the serene and steady penetrating glance of his eye, as if he would penetrate the deepest abyss of the human heart, gaze into eternity, penetrate the heavens, and comprehend all worlds. He possessed a noble boldness and independence of character; his manner was easy and familiar; his rebuke terrible as the lion; his benevolence unbounded as the ocean; his intelligence universal.”

John Needham, an early English convert: “Joseph Smith is a great man, a man of principle, a straight forward man; no saintish long-faced fellow, but quite the reverse. Indeed some stumble because he is such a straight forward, plain spoken, cheerful man, but that makes me love him the more.”

Emmeline B. Wells, the general president of the Relief Society from 1910 to 1921: “I … testify that he was the greatest man and the greatest prophet and the greatest personage of this generation, the greatest, I feel safe in saying, since the days of the Savior. His majesty in appearance was something wonderful. You would think that he was much taller and much larger even than he was. Perhaps many of you have noticed men who have such a bearing when they rise up and walk. This was the way with the Prophet Joseph. There are no pictures of him extant that I know of, that compare with the beauty and majesty of his presence.”

Mary Alice Cannon Lambert: “The love the saints had for him was inexpressible. They would willingly have laid down their lives for him. If he was to talk, every task would be laid aside that they might listen to his words. He was not an ordinary man. Saints and sinners alike felt and recognized a power and influence which he carried with him. It was impossible to meet him and not be impressed by the strength of his personality and influence.”

John M. Bernhisel, a medical doctor who boarded in Joseph and Emma’s home in Nauvoo for several months during 1843 and 1844: “Joseph Smith is naturally a man of strong mental powers, and is possessed of much energy and decision of character, great penetration, and a profound knowledge of human nature. He is a man of calm judgment, enlarged views, and is eminently distinguished by his love of justice. He is kind and obliging, generous and benevolent, sociable and cheerful, and is possessed of a mind of a contemplative and reflective character. He is honest, frank, fearless and independent, and as free from dissimulation [false appearances] as any man to be found. … As a religious teacher, as well as a man, he is greatly beloved by this people.”

Jesse N. Smith, a cousin of Joseph Smith: “[The Prophet was] incomparably the most God-like man I ever saw. … I know that by nature he was incapable of lying and deceitfulness, possessing the greatest kindness and nobility of character. I felt when in his presence that he could read me through and through. I know he was all that he claimed to be.”

William Clayton, an English convert who served as a clerk to Joseph Smith: “The more I am with him, the more I love him; the more I know of him, the more confidence I have in him.”

Joseph F. Smith, the sixth President of the Church: “He was brimming over with the noblest and purest of human nature, which often gave vent in innocent amusements—in playing ball, in wrestling with his brothers and scuffling with them, and enjoying himself; he was not like a man with a stake run down his back, and with his face cast in a brazen mold that he could not smile, that he had no joy in his heart. Oh, he was full of joy; he was full of gladness; he was full of love, and of every other noble attribute that makes men great and good, and at the same time simple and innocent, so that he could descend to the lowest condition; and he had power, by the grace of God, to comprehend the purposes of the Almighty too. That was the character of the Prophet Joseph Smith.”

(Quoted from Teachings of Presidents of the Church - Joseph Smith, Chapter 43, pp 497 - 499 (There were many more I could have quoted if I had the space.)


Below are the words of a hymn found in the current LDS Church Hymn Book. This hymn was written after the death of Joseph Smith. Earlier, Joseph excommunicated the author of this hymn, William Wines Phelps for having seriously betrayed himself, Joseph, and other leaders and members of the Church to their enemies who were attempting to destroy them and their church. In June 1840, Phelps plead for forgiveness in a letter to Joseph Smith. Joseph replied with an offer of full fellowship, and ended with the famous couplet,

"Come on, dear brother, since the war is past, For friends at first are friends again at last."

William W. Phelps

Hymn: Praise to the Man, Words written by William W. Phelps, (1792-1872) Hymns of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Verse 1: Praise to the man who communed with Jehovah! Jesus anointed that Prophet and Seer, Blessed to open the last dispensation, Kings shall extol him, and nations revere,

Verse 2: Praise to his mem'ry he died as a martyr; Honored and blest be his ever great name! Long shall his blood, which was shed by assassins, Plead unto heav'n while the earth lauds his fame.

Verse 3. Great is his glory and endless his priesthood, Ever and ever the keys he will hold. Faithful and true, he will enter his kingdom, Crowned in the midst of the prophets of old.

Verse 4. Sacrifice brings forth the blessings of heaven, Earth must atone for the blood of that man. Wake up the world for the conflict of justice, Millions shall know "Brother Joseph" again.

Chorus: (Sung after each verse) Hail to the Prophet, ascended to heaven! Traitors and tyrants now fight him in vain, Mingling with Gods, he can plan for his brethren; Death cannot conquer the hero again.

On 11-15-2009 I, Neil Birch am inserting something additional about William W. Phelps and the hymn he wrote which you have just read above.

In June of 1952, at the end of my first mission to Finland I traveled through part of Europe by myself. Later, all solo travel by returning missionaries was not allowed. One Sunday in that month I arrived in Hamburg, Germany by train. By some miracle, not knowing the German language very well (I had been successful in completing German I and II in my one year at Placer College in Auburn, California but had not learned to converse well in that language), I was able to arrive at an LDS Sacrament meeting being held in an LDS Chapel in a nice part of Hamburg.

After entering the building and walking toward the door to the chapel I heard those in attendance at that Sacrament meeting singing: Praise to the Man which I quoted for you above. I was deeply touched. I was handed a German Hymn Book and began singing with them. Tears flowed freely. I was especially touched by the spirit with which those German members of our church were singing. The truthfulness of Joseph Smith's mission was reinforced strongly in my heart and soul by their singing that inspired hymn.

That experience also helped me to develop a love and respect for Brother William Wines Phelps. After finishing my degree at Brigham Young University in Provo, Utah in 1960 and my Master of Social Work degree at California State University in San Jose, CA in 1973, I became a social worker. As such I became very interested in helping people overcome particular problems they have somehow developed that hamper their progress. Therefore, I appreciated reading this revelation received by President Joseph Smith August 1, 1831 which, in part, is about William W. Phelps:

D. and C. 58:40 And also let my servant William W. Phelps stand in the office to which I have appointed him, and receive his inheritance in the land;

41 And also he hath need to repent, for I, the Lord, am not well pleased with him, for he seeketh to excel, and he is not sufficiently meek before me. (emphasis added)

That problem the Lord knew William had, apparently hindered his progress throughout much of his life. I did not mention it above, but Brother Phelps was excommunicated several additional times, each after the death of the Prophet Joseph Smith. Brother Phelps went to Utah with the Church. One record I recently read on the Internet showed that on a certain day he was excommunicated and then the very next day was rebaptized and welcomed back into full fellowship. I believe he died in full fellowship. He must have eventually overcome the pride the Lord implies in the scripture above he had . I'm quite sure that eventually he had humbled himself sufficiently!

I, and many other members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints love you, Brother W.W. Phelps. We hope that we too can overcome our particular weaknesses and enjoy eternal bliss with our families and fellow saints like you.
______________

Before clicking on the most recent Mormon Messages video, please read this notice I received this morning on the Internet:

Mormon Messages “Best Use of YouTube” Posted: 09 Nov 2009 06:50 PM PST The LDS Church’s Mormon Messages channel was just named the “Best Use of YouTube” at the 2009 Utah Social Media Awards.The Utah Social Media Awards recognize excellence in social media practitioners and practices throughout the state of Utah.The judges said this was a great use of a very accessible media medium for an organization with a growing global audience. They praised the channel’s more than 24,000 subscribers and 1.5 million channel views as a great example of sharing inspirational video content in a social media environment.

Please left click on the following link to view this most recent Mormon Messages video.

Mormon Messages
____________

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 OPEN NEIL BIRCH'S BLOG INDEX To Either Read the Full Index Item Which Refers To This BlogPost (or to Any Other BlogPost You May Choose), Please Click on the Following: Joseph Smith, a True Prophet  -Post 38y; After You See The Picture of Our Savior And the Little Boy, Please Scroll Down To Your Target Item Or Use the Automatic Finding 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 will find 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:  Its content is translated from the English in this blog.

Neil Birch

38x - A Key Part of the Lord's Plan is Our Having the Opportunity to Become United With Our Ancestors in the Eternities.

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

****

TODAY'S THEME

Painting: John Scott

The Resurrected Savior, Jesus Christ Teaches the Nephites in A.D. 34 -by John Scott

The above scene depicts part of the fulfillment of a great promise the Lord made to the Nephites through their earlier prophets. You may not yet fully understand what our Resurrected Savior meant by this following statement, however,

III Nephi 25: 5 Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord;

6 And he shall turn the heart of the fathers to the children, and the heart of the children to their fathers, lest I come and smite the earth with a curse.

You will be helped to gain the needed understanding later in this post.

Let me first have you read the scripture below in which our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ emphasizes something He always expects of His Saints. .

3 Nephi 24:1-18 (Also see Malachi 3:1-18 - Old Testament)

Quoting the words of Malachi which were recorded in our Old Testament, and then later, at his command, on the Plates of Nephi, the Savior taught the Nephites the necessity of their obeying His law of Tithing. In our day, through his prophet, Joseph Smith, the Lord reiterated his unchanging law of Tithing.

D. and C. 64: 23 Behold, now it is called today until the coming of the Son of Man, and verily it is a day of sacrifice, and a day for the tithing of my people; for he that is tithed shall not be burned at his coming.
24 For after today cometh the burning—this is speaking after the manner of the Lord—for verily I say, tomorrow all the proud and they that do wickedly shall be as stubble; and I will burn them up, for I am the Lord of Hosts; and I will not spare any that remain in Babylon. (emphasis added)

The Second Coming of the Lord Jesus Christ -by Harry Anderson

In addition, the Lord's first Latter-day Prophet, Joseph Smith, received the following revelation from the Lord on that same subject.

D. and C. 19:4 And after that, those who have thus been tithed shall pay one-tenth of all their interest annually; and this shall be a standing law unto them forever, for my holy priesthood, saith the Lord.

Here is the complete Chapter 25 of III Nephi from which our TODAY'S THEME was taken. 3 Nephi 25:1-6 (Compare with Malachi 4:1-6)

Elijah Appearing in the Kirtland Temple

Now you will read an account of the fulfillment of the promise made in the final two verses of that prophecy given through His prophet, Malachi, which our resurrected Savior, Jesus Christ, related to His Nephite flock in Ancient America. The Lord's first Latter-day prophet, Joseph Smith, recorded this vision.

D. and C. 110:13 After this vision had closed, another great and glorious vision burst upon us; for Elijah the prophet, who was taken to heaven without tasting death, stood before us, and said:

14 Behold, the time has fully come, which was spoken of by the mouth of Malachi—testifying that he [Elijah] should be sent, before the great and dreadful day of the Lord come—

15 To turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the children to the fathers, lest the whole earth be smitten with a curse—

16 Therefore, the keys of this dispensation are committed into your hands; and by this ye may know that the great and dreadful day of the Lord is near, even at the doors. (emphasis added)

This turning of hearts has already been taking place since soon after that recorded visit from Elijah. The power from Jesus Christ was given to His Church, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, in our day, to seal by the power of the Spirit of the Lord, family members, both the dead (who are now living in the Spirit World) and the living, one to another for all eternity!

This sealing doesn't just automatically happen. Worthy family members who have been baptized as members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, must attend to or have attended to, this business for their dead in one of the more than 151 temples that have already been built or scheduled to be built or are already under construction by this Church world-wide. There certainly will be many others scheduled to be built in the future. After the baptisms and other ordinances and sealings are done by these living members for themselves, they can then, vicariously, do these same ordinances for their ancestors whose records they have diligently and carefully researched (often with assistance from qualified others. Other qualified church members can also perform the temple work in place of us where needed.)

For your information here is evidence that the Apostle, Paul, serving with the other apostles who had been called of the Lord, in the near East after our Savior's resurrection, knew of the ordinance of baptism for the dead: At least one minister from another church has declared publically on video tape that the Apostle Paul was aware of the practice of baptisms for the dead, and did so in a convincing manner. It actually is a very easy assumption for any readers of that scripture to make.

I Corinthians 15: 29 Else what shall they do which are baptized for the dead, if the dead rise not at all? why are they then baptized for the dead?

I now give you access to a Latter-day scripture in which the sixth Latter-day Prophet, Joseph F. Smith explains how our Savior, Jesus Christ, between His death by crucifixion and His resurrection, prepared the way that the unrighteous dead could be taught His Gospel by righteous spirits whom He assigned to do that important work.

You will also learn from this scripture that the Lord, Jesus Christ, has seen to it that temple work has been set up in our day so that the ordinance of baptism and other necessary ordinances for salvation can be done vicariously here on earth for those among the unrighteous spirits who listened to the message brought them by those appointed by the Lord in His visit between His crucifixion and His resurrection there in the World of Spirits.

President Joseph F. Smith

Here is the information that was revealed to the Prophet, Joseph F. Smith. (Please take note that because the voice recording begins at verse one, you will not be able to listen to this scriptural link which begins at verse 25.) However, you may choose to begin at verse 1 and then read all the way through this entire scripture after having clicked on, Listen. I suggest that would be worthwhile!

D. and C. 138:25-60

I will end this post by showing you pictures of six of these nearly 140 (so far, and many more are coming) very beautiful and very functional temples along with two typical temple baptismal fonts where baptisms can be performed vicariously for your and my beloved deceased ancestors, back as far as their records can be found.

Something you must realize; all of these blessings that can be offered to our deceased ancestors who weren't taught the Savior's Gospel during their lifetimes, can be done for them only by doing this work for them vicariously in Temples of the Lord, according to what the Lord Jesus Christ has instructed His Latter-day Prophets, beginning with the Prophet, Joseph Smith.

There is a great cost involved in providing sufficient temples for the vast amount of work that is yet to be done for our dead ancestors. Because of what you were taught earlier in this post, you can surely guess how the Lord wants these costs to be taken care of and it is being done on an ongoing basis very effectively.
You are right!

Through the tithing of His people! His law of Tithing works very well. By personal experience I can tell you that it is easy to be a full tithe-payer. Before retirement my salary was very average. My children's mother and I, raised nine. I know by experience, paying a full (10% gross income) tithing helps you put all of your priorities in the right place! Remember, it is our Savior's law, He who who suffered and died for us!
You and I and surely everyone should be very grateful for the birth of our Savior at Bethlehem and for His successful completion of His life's mission culminating in His atoning sacrifice so that our personal salvation and this great reuniting with loved ones, known, and not yet known, could take place! One more clarifying thought: I hope that all of of you can see clearly how that the Lord Jesus Christ continues to be very surely and actively involved, most often undetected by most of us, in blessing us that we might achieve His greatest blessings. Remember His, what I call, "sacred job description":



Jesus the Christ -by Del Parson

Pearl Of Great Price, Moses 1:39 For behold, this is my work and my glory—to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man.

We are also taught another principle which is such a vital part of our Lord's great plan: This is in the words of His prophet Nephi in the Book of Mormon, Another Testament of Jesus Christ.

II Nephi 10:23 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.

These pictures, from top to bottom, are as follows: Mexico City, Mexico Temple; San Diego, California Temple; Hong Kong, China Temple; A baptismal font of an unidentified LDS Temple; Santiago, Chile Temple; The Baptismal font of the Salt Lake City Temple; Washington D.C. Temple; and the Helsinki, Finland Temple.

Something you may want to know: The twelve oxen holding up each of all our temple baptismal fonts, represent the twelve tribes of Israel.






















The following link, when clicked upon, will allow you to view the latest Mormon Messages Video. You will find it very well done and surely will be applicable to your particular needs.

Mormon Messages

____________


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 To Search The Index For Any Other Blog Post You Desire To Access), After You Have Read All of This Paragraph, Please Scroll Back Up And Click on the Following:  Ancestors are Important To Us in the Eternities. Post 38x. When The Picture of Our Savior, Jesus Christ Sitting Next To a Little Boy Comes Onto Your Screen, Please Scroll Down In The Index 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 will find 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

38w - Zenos Saw Far Into the Future - Book of Mormon Prophecies are Fulfilled in Our Day.

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

****

TODAY'S THEME



My Father's House -by Al Rounds

The hill in the foreground of this painting of the temple in Jerusalem as it was at the time our Savior, Jesus Christ was serving His mortal mission, is the Mount of Olives spoken of in the New Testament. This is an example of how olive orchards were an important part of the Jewish culture for ages.

In Chapter Five of the Book of Jacob in the Book of Mormon, Another Testament of Jesus Christ, the allegory of the tame and wild olive trees originally written by the ancient prophet, Zenos,* finds full application in our day in history.

You may have possibly read this chapter previously, but I urge you to read it once again and listen to it at the same time to assist you as you to try to comprehend how this allegory applies to you and me in our day!

Jacob 5:1-77

Zenos, in his allegory, through the spirit of prophecy and revelation tells us about things that were to happen in the future, but of course, to us they are mostly things of the past. They actually happened or are happening now or will happen in the not too distant future.

I will only touch lightly on most of the things this allegory tells us will take place that have already taken place.

It tells us figuratively that the Gentiles shall be grafted into the House of Israel. That, of course happened beginning with the Apostle Peter as he was given a dream that helped him accept his and the other apostles responsibility of teaching the Gospel of Jesus Christ to the Gentiles. In that case Peter was inspired to teach the Gospel to a righteous Gentile, Cornelius, a Roman Centurion.

Zenos' allegory takes us through many twists and turns of history and even into the not so distant future, none of which is yet fully known. I would only be guessing if I tried to relate everything that Zenos included in his allegory to actual historic people and events. However, one part of it is quite clear to those who know the Book of Mormon well.

Jacob 5: 25 And he said unto the servant: Look hither and behold the last. Behold, this have I planted in a good spot of ground; and I have nourished it this long time, and only a part of the tree hath brought forth tame fruit, and the other part of the tree hath brought forth wild fruit; behold, I have nourished this tree like unto the others. (Emphasis added)

That is very clearly a reference to the Nephite and Lamanite nations which were led by the Lord (The Master of the Vineyard) to the Western Hemisphere. More is said in later verses of Chapter Five about that particular "Olive tree."

You probably will agree with me that the message of Zenos' allegory is that the Lord loves the House of Israel because when the Children of Israel are righteous, they bring forth good works which really please him.

The message is also there in that allegory found in Jacob, Chapter Five, that He equally loves those Gentiles who are grafted into the House of Israel and bring forth the fruit (good works and a good spirit) which is most precious unto him.

I now quote verses 76 and 77 of Chapter 5 of the Book of Jacob

76 For behold, for a long time will I lay up of the fruit of my vineyard unto mine own self against the season, which speedily cometh; and for the last time have I nourished my vineyard, and pruned it, and dug about it, and dunged it; wherefore I will lay up unto mine own self of the fruit, for a long time, according to that which I have spoken.

77 And when the time cometh that evil fruit shall again come into my vineyard, then will I cause the good and the bad to be gathered; and the good will I preserve unto myself, and the bad will I cast away into its own place. And then cometh the season and the end; and my vineyard will I cause to be burned with fire. (emphasis added)

Now, please read the words of verses 61 - 65 of Jacob, Chapter 5:

61 Wherefore, go to, and call servants, that we may labor diligently with our might in the vineyard, that we may prepare the way, that I may bring forth again the natural fruit, which natural fruit is good and the most precious above all other fruit.

62 Wherefore, let us go to and labor with our might this last time, for behold the end draweth nigh, and this is for the last time that I shall prune my vineyard.

63 Graft in the branches; begin at the last that they may be first, and that the first may be last, and dig about the trees, both old and young, the first and the last; and the last and the first, that all may be nourished once again for the last time.

64 Wherefore, dig about them, and prune them, and dung them once more, for the last time, for the end draweth nigh. And if it be so that these last grafts shall grow, and bring forth the natural fruit, then shall ye prepare the way for them, that they may grow.

65 And as they begin to grow ye shall clear away the branches which bring forth bitter fruit, according to the strength of the good and the size thereof; and ye shall not clear away the bad thereof all at once, lest the roots thereof should be too strong for the graft, and the graft thereof shall perish, and I lose the trees of my vineyard. (emphasis added)

In our day, the Lord Jesus Christ has re-established his church and has called prophets and apostles to lead it. They are certainly among those "servants" mentioned in verse 61 above. They are doing much to forward the Lord's work in our day.

61 Wherefore, go to, and call servants, that we may labor diligently with our might in the vineyard, that we may prepare the way, that I may bring forth again the natural fruit, which natural fruit is good and the most precious above all other fruit.

President Dieter F. Uchtdorf Of The First Presidency and Elder Neil L. Andersen of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

"God Is Love" (inscribed at church) LDS Church News, June 13, 2009
By Elder Darvel Gregory and Sister Kathryn Gregory - Europe East Area senior couple missionaries.

Among the many visits and addresses by President Dieter F. Uchtdorf and Elder Neil L. Andersen while in Russia and Ukraine in late May and early June was a visit to the Central Baptist Church in Moscow. Here fifty years ago in October 1959, another apostle, Ezra Taft Benson, then serving as Secretary of Agriculture in the U.S. Administration, spoke at a meeting of Christian believers.

On Tuesday, June 2, President Uchtdorf and Elder Andersen were welcomed by Vitaly Vlasenko, the director of external relations for the Union of Evangelical Christian Baptists of Russia, and Pastor Sergey Zolotarovsky.

The guests were given a tour of the 200-year-old building that has been home to the Baptist congregation since 1917. They stood at the pulpit where Elder Benson spoke cast against the backdrop of words "God Is Love," and looked out over the balcony and main hall where nearly 1,000 Christian believers listened to words of encouragement and testimony during Soviet times.

After the tour, guests and hosts held an informal meeting to share experiences and discuss topics of common interest to the members of these two minority religions in Russia. President Uchtdorf asked Pastor Zoloarovsky about his experience as a Christian. Pastor Zolotarovsky said that he was baptized in 1971 when it was difficult to be a believer. He shared how Christians were often denied educational and employment opportunities. President Uchtdorf commended them for their faith and explained that such has also been the case with Latter-day Saints.

President Uchtdorf shared his feelings about the wars and discord of the past that have brought sorrow and suffering to the people of Russia and Ukraine. "Fortunately, those times are in the past," he said. "Today, there is greater unity. With Jesus Christ as our Savior we can all be united and serve Him. We have different doctrines, but we all believe in God, and believing in the goodness of the people unites us."

President Uchtdorf introduced Elder Alekandr N. Manzhos and Elder Sergiy N. Mikulin, Area Seventies, and shared their background and Church experience. It was agreed that there are common issues on which the two Christian faiths can work together and that the meeting was the beginning of a longer relationship.

_________________________

That is just a small sample of the work being done throughout the world by the Lord's Latter-day servants which is in fulfillment of Zenos' prophecy given to us in the Book of Mormon by the prophet Jacob, son of Lehi.

I will now quote for you one of my favorite scriptures. In this verse the Lord is not using the terms used in Zenos' allegory, yet He is telling us basically that which is expressed by Zenos regarding the Lord of the Vineyard's love for the fruit of His olive trees.

Pearl of Great Price - Moses 1:39 For behold, this is my work and my glory—to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man. (emphasis added)



The Second Coming of Our Lord Jesus Christ -by Harry Anderson

 The last verse of Zenos' allegory tells us very directly how Moses 1:39 will apply very directly to all of those who are still living at the time of the Second Coming of our Savior, Jesus Christ:

Jacob 5:77 And when the time cometh that evil fruit shall again come into my vineyard, then will I cause the good and the bad to be gathered; and the good will I preserve unto myself, and the bad will I cast away into its own place. And then cometh the season and the end; and my vineyard will I cause to be burned with fire. (emphasis added)

In preparation for the Lord to return with the angels of Heaven to begin the Great Millennium prophesied of by prophets since Adam's day, God's latter-day prophets and apostles whom He has called, are examples of those mentioned in verse 61 above. All faithful members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints can, through worthiness and effort be included as the servants mentioned in the allegory.

A Footnote to the Description of Olive Cultivation Found in Zenos's Allegory of the Tame and Wild Olive Trees:

To those who might claim that Joseph Smith or some other person from Nineteenth Century New England made up everything in the Book of Mormon I relate the following:

About twenty years ago while riding in a car from Salt Lake City to Sacramento, California with several people I knew and several I did not know before, one of the latter told us the following as we happened to be discussing the Book of Mormon: This middle-aged LDS lady told all of us that her husband, who was not with us at the time, was highly educated in matters agricultural. She said that he had specialized for a time on olive cultivation.

They were from the Sacramento area of Northern California where there is a good amount of olive cultivation. She had often heard him tell how accurate the description in the Fifth Chapter of Jacob by the ancient prophet, Zenos is of how olive trees should be cultivated and handled from planting to harvesting and even to eventual disposal.

To me this stands as sure evidence that Joseph Smith and others in New England and New York in his time could not have made up that part of the Book of Mormon. The Fifth Chapter of Jacob was always a part of the Book of Mormon. Nothing of the basic account was ever added later.

I believe that the Neal A. Maxwell Institute at Brigham Young University at Provo, Utah has accumulated statements from other professional olive cultivators who verify the same thing, often providing verifiable details to back up their findings.

* This footnote is regarding the Prophet, Zenos whose prophecy you read in this post. Zenos was quoted by Jacob, son of Lehi, from the scriptures they had brought with them from Jerusalem. It was inscribed on the Brass Plates they had obtained from the treasury of a Jewish Leader, Laban. You will not be able to find any of Zenos's writings in the Old Testament even though he lived and prophesied during Old Testament times. The Brass Plates of Laban contained many scriptures found in our Old Testament, but also additional ones such as Zenos' prophecies and significant others who I won't name here.

_________________

The following link, when clicked upon, will allow you to view the latest Mormon Messages Video. You will find it very well done and surely will be applicable to your particular needs.

Mormon Messages

Here is another video for you to view. It is one the LDS Church produced about one year ago and was recently awarded Internationally for representing good parenting! When it first came out it was an instant favorite for me. I laugh good and hard every time I view it! I can see why it won that award. I think you will enjoy it too when you see it.

I'd enjoy hearing your remarks about this video, either by typing in a comment to me at the bottom of the post or by using my e-mail given near the bottom of the post to let me know what you think about this video! I added this video to my just previous post about a day after first publishing it. You may have seen it or you may have not seen it so I inserted it here!

The Video Mentioned by Neil Birch

____________


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: Zenos Saw Far Into the Future - Book of Mormon Prophecies are Fulfilled in Our Day. -Post 38w. 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.)


____________________

"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

38v - The Book of Mormon is a Great Gift from God to Us! We should treat it as such!

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

****

TODAY'S THEME

Painting: Tom Lovell

Moroni Prays to the Lord While Preparing to Bury the Plates of Gold

Painting: Arnold Friberg

The Brother of Jared Sees the Finger of the Lord

The paragraph and scripture below highlight what I have chosen for my TODAY'S THEME:

Many others besides Mormon and Moroni, by the Spirit of Prophecy and Revelation, throughout history, and in our day as well as in the day of Jesus' original apostles, and long before in all ages of mankind, were and are able to speak the words Jesus Christ would have them speak. Therefore they they are His words.

Please note: The following are words of the Lord Jesus Christ as He revealed them to His Latter-day Prophet, Joseph Smith at Kirtland, Ohio, U.S.A. on September 22 and 23, 1832.

D. and C 84: 53 And by this you may know the righteous from the wicked, and that the whole world groaneth under sin and darkness even now.

54 And your minds in times past have been darkened because of unbelief, and because you have treated lightly the things you have received—

55 Which vanity and unbelief have brought the whole church under condemnation.

56 And this condemnation resteth upon the children of Zion, even all.

57 And they shall remain under this condemnation until they repent and remember the new covenant, even the Book of Mormon and the former commandments which I have given them, not only to say, but to do according to that which I have written—

58 That they may bring forth fruit meet for their Father's kingdom; otherwise there remaineth a scourge and judgment to be poured out upon the children of Zion.

Please take note that in verse 57 the Lord said: "not only to say, but to do according "to that which I have written"-- Did you catch that? the Lord is saying that His writings are found in the:

Book of Mormon, Another Testament of Jesus Christ.

We, I and you readers of this blog post, all know that the Prophets Mormon's and Moroni's writings are found in the Book of Mormon. Why would the Lord say, "that which I have written?"

First, let me simply say: that which the prophets Mormon and Moroni wrote throughout that part of the Book of Mormon that they abridged (condensed), was done by them, in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, our Savior and Redeemer.

Secondly, that which I quoted above from the Doctrine and Covenants of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints was what Joseph Smith was inspired to write, in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. While Joseph Smith, or more likely, one of his scribes, was writing what Joseph Smith was dictating to him by the power of the Spirit of the Holy Ghost. Therefore the words that were written were the Lord's Own Words!

Another angle to this: In the Preface of the recent first publication: THE JOSEPH SMITH PAPERS, one of the editors of that book reminds its readers that there are those who have developed the skill of identifying authors by the way they put their words together forming their own unique style of expressing things, (That particular editor was one of those with that learned skill) can rather easily identify which individual of several individuals wrote a particular statement by examining the unique pattern style of that which was written.

The aforementioned Joseph Smith Papers editor wrote in that book's Preface that by that skill which he has learned, it is very easy for him to differentiate between Joseph Smith's own words and the words which the Lord Jesus Christ had "spoken" through Joseph Smith.

Going back to the original premise of TODAY'S THEME, perhaps you may still question my interpretation of "that which I have written" from D. and C. 84 above. Please bear with me as I attempt to define and clarify the "The Spirit of Revelation and Prophecy." I have done this in a number of posts I have published since beginning this Blog in March 2008. I will now excerpt the following from my Post 19, "The Spirit of Prophecy and Revelation"

Painting: Greg K. OlsenIn Luke 2:26-27 we read regarding Simeon:

26 And it was revealed unto him by the Holy Ghost, that he should not see death, before he had seen the Lord's Christ.

27 And he came by the Spirit into the temple: and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him after the custom of the law. . .

Anna also expressed her gratitude for having seen Him, the baby Jesus.

Please click on the link just below to read the full account: (After you have finished reading this, please click on the white arrow with the blue background which is on the upper left hand of your screen, to take you back to this blog post.

Luke 2:25-39

Please note that these two, Simeon and Anna, were not prophets of ancient Israel, but relatively speaking, just common folk. However, it is not surprising that they, by the Spirit of Prophecy and Revelation, identified the long expected Messiah. Doing things by that spirit was something that occurred often in Israel over the centuries including in this century.

Please note that Luke termed Anna, a prophetess. Women. as well as men, can possess the Spirit of prophecy and revelation! Members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, both men and women, of all ages, can possess this gift, but must live worthily to use it. In Revelations 19:10 the Apostle John wrote:

"... for the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy."

Because the Book of Mormon is another Testament of Jesus Christ we must expect much evidence of there being many instances of "prophecy and revelation" throughout that sacred record as well as in the Bible, which is a Testament of Jesus Christ, both in the Old and in the New Testaments.

I will begin here to give you one example from the Book of Ether, an example of the words of Jesus Christ which the Prophet, Moroni wrote along with a brief comment from me afterwards.

This example is Ether, Chapter Four. I will provide you a link to click onto so you may read and listen to it at the same time. Please follow these instructions:

After you have clicked on the link below and when the scripture is on your screen, please scroll up and click on the word, Listen, which you will see on the upper left hand side of your computer screen. When you hear the voice reading the words of the scripture you can click on the minus (-) sign you will see on the Audio Window which has come onto your screen, so it will be removed and be non-distracting. After you have finished reading and listening to this chapter, please click on the white left arrow in a blue background. This will bring you back to this post.

Ether 4:1-19

Comment: The words of the Lord Jesus Christ spoken by his prophet, Moroni, son of Mormon, invite you and I to rise to a higher spiritual level, at which we would be using the power of the Spirit of Prophecy and Revelation. This invitation is emphasized in verses 14-19. I will print them here so you can prayerfully review them:

Ether 4: 14 Come unto me, O ye house of Israel, and it shall be made manifest unto you how great things the Father hath laid up for you, from the foundation of the world; and it hath not come unto you, because of unbelief.

15 Behold, when ye shall rend that veil of unbelief which doth cause you to remain in your awful state of wickedness, and hardness of heart, and blindness of mind, then shall the great and marvelous things which have been hid up from the foundation of the world from you—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.

16 And then shall my revelations which I have caused to be written by my servant John (the apostle, John, the Revelator) be unfolded in the eyes of all the people. Remember, when ye see these things, ye shall know that the time is at hand that they shall be made manifest in very deed.

17 Therefore, when ye shall receive this record (The Book of Mormon) ye may know that the work of the Father has commenced upon all the face of the land.

18 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.

19 And blessed is he that is found faithful unto my name at the last day, for he shall be lifted up to dwell in the kingdom prepared for him from the foundation of the world. And behold it is I (Jesus Christ) that hath spoken it. Amen. (Emphasis and Clarification Added)

That is a scripture you may want to mark in your Book of Mormon, Another Testament of Jesus Christ, so that you can return to it often to study and pray about being blessed as the Savior promises you can be blessed.

In the next Post, we will review other things that the prophet Moroni wrote in the name of the Lord, Jesus Christ.


Mormon Messages

Here is another video for you to view. It is one the LDS Church produced about one year ago and was recently given an International award for representing good parenting! When it first came out it was an instant favorite for me.

I laugh good and hard every time I view it! I can see why it won that award. I think you will laugh when you see it too. Please click on the link below. This will tell you about the International Award. Then double click on the ARROW you see in the middle of the screen to actually view the video. I'd enjoy hearing your remarks about this video, either by typing in a comment to me at the bottom of the post or by using my e-mail given near the bottom of the post to let me know what you think about this video!

http://newsroom.lds.org/blog/2009/10/noral-group-international-awards-mormon-swashbucklers-best-psa.html

____________


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: Book of Mormon is a Great Gift to Us. We Should Treat it as Such. -Post 38v  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.) 

____________

"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: http://varsinaisella.blogspot.com/ Its content is translated from the English in this blog.

Neil Birch