39b - While Jesus was Growing up Perfectly, the Nephites of Ancient America were Struggling to be Prepared for the Resurrected Jesus' Visit.

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TODAY'S THEME

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

BOTH THE HOLY BIBLE AND THE BOOK OF MORMON, TESTIFY OF JESUS CHRIST

Later in this post, we will begin examining the preparatory challenges faced by the descendants of Father Lehi. These challenges which, if handled well, would have them fully ready for the visit to be made by Jesus Christ in their promised land (in the Americas) soon after his resurrection .

The believing portion of the Nephite-Lamanite nation had been greatly encouraged by the appearance of the signs at the time of the birth of the Savior of the World which had been foretold by their prophets. They were very grateful to have been saved from being executed by the unbelievers for their having expressed their belief that the signs of His birth would soon be seen.

However, it seems that a larger portion of the believers than we'd like to think was the case, needed to face constant adversity in order to keep progressing actively toward the needed level of preparation to be sufficiently ready for the visit of the resurrected Jesus Christ which also had been foretold by all of their prophets.

In earlier posts when telling of preparations among Lehi's people for the First Christmas, I overlooked telling you of one short verse of scripture which, in my view, is very significant. I'm sure that the sentence I highlighted in red below accurately describes why many descendants of Father Lehi were able to remain faithful over the many centuries.

Jarom, 1: 11, Wherefore, the prophets, and the priests, and the teachers, did labor diligently, exhorting with all long-suffering the people to diligence; teaching the law of Moses, and the intent for which it was given; persuading them to look forward unto the Messiah, and believe in him to come as though he already was. And after this manner did they teach them. (emphasis added)

In my mind that scripture elevates the worth of the law of Moses and all the practices that came with it, many notches. It helps me to see more clearly that those practices played an important, and might we say, effective, role in bringing many who were of the House of Israel to Christ.

I will first use in this post, verses from the New Testament, along with matching paintings, first by a world renown artist, of Jesus Christ, as a twelve year old in the temple in Jerusalem. Then secondly, a painting by a very good LDS painter of Jesus as a teenager, showing Jesus learning the trade taught him by his step-father, Joseph.

To me this demonstrates how the young, Jesus of Nazareth, under the over-all guidance of his actual father, (our Heavenly Father), was being guided and prepared to perfectly and lovingly fulfill his eternal role as the Savior and Redeemer of all mankind (which includes both you and me). He especially was being prepared by his supremely wise actual father to become the perfect sacrifice which would be required of him in Gethsemane and on Calvary Hill.



Jesus in the Temple at Jerusalem -by Heinrich Hofmann

We should also say that after all of that, he would ready to visit, after his resurrection, the Nephite-Lamanites in the Western Hemisphere and the other lost tribes of Israel wherever they may have been scattered throughout the world as was promised in John 10:16.
The scriptures make it clear that Jesus was successful in living without sinning. He was preparing, with our Heavenly Father's (his both heavenly and actual father's) guidance to be fully qualified for His ultimate eternal "job",

I feel that Jesus' eternal "job description" is marvelously described by him in the following scripture: It appears to me that twelve year old Jesus knew very well who his actual father was and and that he had been directed by him when teaching those "doctors" in the temple.

As was done in that land then, Jesus followed in the footsteps of Joseph who was surely considered by all others except for Mary and Jesus himself, and Joseph, as his actual father and had begun learning a trade, in this case, Joseph's carpentry trade. I'm personally sure that if young Jesus had accidentally hurt himself using the tools they used, he would have never used foul language. He was continuing toward his hugely unique destiny perfectly.

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

Luke 2: 42 And when he was twelve years old, they went up to Jerusalem after the custom of the feast.

43 And when they had fulfilled the days, as they returned, the child Jesus tarried behind in Jerusalem; and Joseph and his mother knew not of it.

44 But they, supposing him to have been in the company, went a day's journey; and they sought him among their kinsfolk and acquaintance.

45 And when they found him not, they turned back again to Jerusalem, seeking him.

46 And it came to pass, that after three days they found him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the doctors, both hearing them, and asking them questions.

47 And all that heard him were astonished at his understanding and answers.

48 And when they saw him, they were amazed: and his mother said unto him, Son, why hast thou thus dealt with us? behold, thy father and I have sought thee sorrowing.

49 And he said unto them, How is it that ye sought me? wist ye not that I must be about my Father's business?

50 And they understood not the saying which he spake unto them.

51 And he went down with them, and came to Nazareth, and was subject unto them: but his mother kept all these sayings in her heart.

52 And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favour with God and man.

Painting: Del Parson

Jesus Working with Joseph in the Carpentry Shop

In a smaller, yet different painting below of Jesus as he sat teaching and learning in the Temple, he was twelve years of age.

In that same year the Nephite-Lamanites were having great difficulties and were not doing well in becoming prepared for Jesus' visit just twenty-two years away.

Jesus' growth and development was coming along just as it was to be expected from the Son of God. Nonetheless His mother, Mary, was mortal and so then was He. Therefore, like all of us, he had much adversity to go through then and throughout His life, but he surely at some point in time, had made his calling and election sure.

He would visit the Nephites-Lamanites in His resurrected body, and would be fully prepared. By the way, I have a particular fondness for this last painting I used in this post because I believe you can see Mary and Joseph in it. How special they both were and still are to Jesus the Christ.

Jesus Teaching in the Temple -by Grant Romney Clawson

Please click on the link below to read about the Nephite-Lamanite peoples' progress. You'll also become aware of great tribulations and back-sliding among them. Don't give up on them! A good number of them will be there when he, the Savior of Mankind, comes to visit them after his resurrection.

3 Nephi 2: 1-19

Mormon Messages

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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 of each is translated from the English in this blog.

Neil Birch

Dear Blog Readers: Please continuing reading. The following is a special comment I have composed that I'd like you to read after having read the Post you have just read.

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SPECIAL COMMENT

I attempted to do this using the Google Comment section of this post. However, Google let me know that that which I had written was too long for the space they allow.
The ideas I have used in this Special Comment came to me while still lying in bed awake this Friday morning.

I'm now quoting from an e-mail I wrote Monday to a Deseret News columnist, Erin Stewart: Monday, Nov 16, 2009 at 9:45 AM

Subject: Thank You for Your Column this morning in the Deseret News.
"Forgive me, but I can't remember ever having read your column before. I hope that's not a masculine thing. As I read it I laughed out loud in a very appreciative way of laughing. That got my wife's attention (she then read your column also).

It takes the keen sensitivities of a mother to get the responses you got from your baby daughter. I am as sure as anything, after reading your column today, that babes bring memories with them from the Spirit World. Those memories probably help shape their spiritual attitudes. Of course the things like your daughter told you don't linger long in their minds! however, I'd expect that daughter to be on the more spiritual side of things than many other children!

I have nine children, five daughters and four sons and two step-sons. I retired from LDS Social Services where I did counseling, adoption and birth mother work and Indian Placement work.

On page 24 of the October 2009 Ensign I'm mentioned as one of the bloggers who followed Elder M. Russell Ballard's counsel that Church members blog about the Gospel. I invite you to check in on my blog by clicking on: http://varsinainen.blogspot.com/
Thanks again for your column today. I'll have to check in on it again!

Neil Birch

This is the e-mail Erin Stewart replied with:

Neil,

Thanks for your note! Children are amazing, aren't they? I'll check out your blog! Thanks for reading, Erin

At this point I want to comment on the subject of Erin's Monday DesNews article. I urge you readers of this Comment to check in on the Deseret News of Monday, Nov. 16 (2009) (deseretnews.com) to read what she said.

I believe, like Erin, that we each lived in the Spirit World with our Heavenly parents before coming here into life by being born to our dear mothers and fathers.

As Erin indicates in her column she believes very young children may have some lingering memories of that place from which they come. I'm sure they don't generally last very long.

Now I assert my personal conviction that we each come from a previous loving environment with a Heavenly Father and Mother. I will apply that to what I've been writing in this my most recent post, 39b regarding the truth that Jesus Christ's actual father of his earthly body is our Heavenly Father, the father of our spirit bodies and of Jesus' spirit body also.

As I wrote Post 39b I found myself struggling hard to get everything just right. I asked myself why was I trying so hard. Then, I realized that I know all births are very important, but the birth and life of Jesus Christ is hugely significant for all of us!

Of course, there is much that believers can say about that subject, but I will focus on one part of the history of the birth of our Savior, Jesus Christ which involves a Book of Mormon prophet, by the name of Nephi. This event occurred in the year A.D. 1, most likely on the night of April 5 of that year (by our calendars).

Those of the Nephites who did not believe in the coming of the Savior Jesus Christ into the world had set a day on which they would kill all of the believers in that event.
I now quote from the Book of Mormon, Another Testament of Jesus Christ Now, you may ask, how does this tie into Erin Stewart's Monday Column?

I want to show that the Savior of the World went, #1, through the same birth process each of us did and #2 His life mission was so crucial to each of us and our eternal destinies.

3Nephi 1:12 And it came to pass that he cried mightily unto the Lord all that day; and behold, the voice of the Lord came unto him, saying:

13 Lift up your head and be of good cheer; for behold, the time is at hand, and on this night shall the sign be given, and on the morrow come I into the world, to show unto the world that I will fulfil all that which I have caused to be spoken by the mouth of my holy prophets.

14 Behold, I come unto my own, to fulfil all things which I have made known unto the children of men from the foundation of the world, and to do the will, both of the Father and of the Son—of the Father because of me, and of the Son because of my flesh. And behold, the time is at hand, and this night shall the sign be given.

15 And it came to pass that the words which came unto Nephi were fulfilled, according as they had been spoken; for behold, at the going down of the sun there was no darkness; and the people began to be astonished because there was no darkness when the night came.

16 And there were many, who had not believed the words of the prophets, who fell to the earth and became as if they were dead, for they knew that the great plan of destruction which they had laid for those who believed in the words of the prophets had been frustrated; for the sign which had been given was already at hand.



Simeon Reverencing The Christ Child -by Greg K. Olsen



As I wrote this most recent post of mine, 39b I thought to myself, what would it have been like to be one of Mary and Joseph's children who grew up with Jesus. I wonder if any of them noticed his special spirit and had any idea of what he would eventually do for each of them and for us by bringing about the atonement and sacrifice that is so essential to our true success in life and in eternity.



In Favor With God -by Simon Dewey

I suspect that Jesus' mother, Mary saw his uniqueness often. Perhaps, at times she might have overlooked it, but as we are told in Luke 2:51 after Joseph and Mary who had inadvertently overlooked that Jesus was not with them, they had traveled for one day toward their home in Nazareth, they retrieved 12 year old Jesus from the temple in Jerusalem where they, after three days searching, found him teaching and being taught by wise men there,

..."but his mother kept all these sayings in her heart."

Most of us know babies are precious, especially mothers like Erin Stewart know that, but Mary, Mother of Jesus for sure knew that he was extra special, but then again, I'm sure she loved all of her children equally!



Brother Joseph (Smith) -by David Lindsley



This is longer than I intended it to be, but there is just one more thing I want to add. If Joseph Smith, or someone else he knew, actually "made up" the Book of Mormon how could he, or they, have possibly made up such an experience that was had by Nephi, as quoted above, in being told by the Lord's Spirit, just before he was to be born:

3Nephi 1:13 Lift up your head and be of good cheer; for behold, the time is at hand, and on this night shall the sign be given, and on the morrow come I into the world, to show unto the world that I will fulfil all that which I have caused to be spoken by the mouth of my holy prophets.

I certify that is true scripture. It was not made up by any man!

One more thing. As Joseph Smith and his brother Hyrum were in the Carthage jail in June of 1844, both of them knowing that the end of their lives was near, why did they bear such strong testimonies of the truthfulness of the Book of Mormon to the jailers there.

They knew they would be killed. The mob had been gathering outside the jail where they were being held (allegedly for their protection by the directions of the Governor of Illinois, Thomas Ford.)

How could Joseph and Hyrum Smith blaspheme before God just before dying, testifying of the truthfulness of the Book of Mormon if it had just been "made up" by them or someone else they knew?

Just like Nephi's experience with hearing the Lord tell him that ..."on the morrow I come into the world." things like that just couldn't be made up!

Each of our babies are little miracles too. I'm so grateful that I am the parent of nine dear children and step-parent of two. I'm also glad that many of you readers are parents too!

I hope each of you will continue to read my blog posts in this present series as I continue tell how Jesus prepared to fulfill his earthly mission and how the Nephites in Ancient America were preparing for his visits with them after his resurrection.

Erin Stewart, I hope you were able to read this comment. Thanks again for being the kind of mother you are and also the kind of columnist and Latter-Day Saint you are!

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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 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: The Nephites in Ancient America Were Struggling to be Prepared for the Resurrected Savior's Visit. - Post 39b. 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).

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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 in it. 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

39a - The Nephites of Ancient America Were Being Prepared for The Birth of Jesus and His Subsequent Visit to Them After His Resurrection.

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TODAY'S THEME

Please note, this post is the first in a series of posts which I began running in November 2008. Because we are presently (November 2009) rapidly approaching the Christmas Season once again, I feel it appropriate to view this series of blog posts again. I will be modifying them some.

One clarification: It was revealed to the Prophet Joseph Smith in the early 1830s that Christ was born on April 6, A.D. 1, instead of on December 25, A.D.1. Latter-day Saints throughout the world still celebrate Christmas on December 25th of each year along with others who believe in Christ.

Because of the above I have not attempted to synchronize this series of posts with the commonly accepted date for Christmas. However, I'm running this series of posts about Christmas events now to help prepare you for the Christmas season as it is known in our day.

(A child's pencil drawing of the new star that appeared at the birth of Jesus.)Many Nephites and Lamanite believers (as recorded in the Book of Mormon, Another Testament of Jesus Christ) were looking forward to seeing the signs that Samuel, the Lamanite prophet had fortold that they would soon see.

The prophet Nephi's day-long fervent prayer in which he plead for his people to be saved from the planned massacre, was answered in these words by Christ's spirit, which was very soon to be clothed upon with a mortal body (as happens to each mortal at birth):

III Nephi 1:13 Lift up your head and be of good cheer; for behold, the time is at hand, and on this night shall the sign be given, and on the morrow come I into the world, to show unto the world that I will fulfil all that which I have caused to be spoken by the mouth of my holy prophets.



The Birth of Jesus Christ in Bethelem -by Carl Heinrich Bloch

This happened in Central America among the Nephites:

III Nephi 1:19 And it came to pass that there was no darkness in all that night, but it was as light as though it was mid-day. And it came to pass that the sun did rise in the morning again, according to its proper order; and they knew that it was the day that the Lord should be born, because of the sign which had been given.

20 And it had come to pass, yea, all things, every whit, according to the words of the prophets.

21 And it came to pass also that a new star did appear, according to the word.

With the appearance of those signs, Nephi and his people were snatched from an imminent massacre at the hands of the unbelievers, many of whom appeared to have gone into a state of shock:

III Nephi 1:16 And there were many, who had not believed the words of the prophets who fell to the earth and became as if they were dead, for they knew that the great plan of destruction which they had laid for those who believed in the words of the prophets had been frustrated; for the sign which had been given was already at hand.

With that rescue could we expect all to become easy for the believing descendants of Lehi, of the Nephite-Lamanite nation? We should expect that for them to be fully prepared for the visit of their Redeemer and Savior Jesus Christ in about 34 years, much more preparation was necessary.

How does the Lord prepare His people? Looking back on the history of the Nephite people it appears that challenges and tribulations are the way the Lord had prepared them in the past. Here is an example:



Alma the Elder Baptizing in the Waters of Mormon -by Arnold Friberg

   Mormon Messages

Mosiah 18:30 And now it came to pass that all this was done in Mormon, yea, by the waters of Mormon, in the forest that was near the waters of Mormon; yea, the place of Mormon, the waters of Mormon, the forest of Mormon, how beautiful are they to the eyes of them who there came to the knowledge of their Redeemer; yea, and how blessed are they, for they shall sing to his praise forever.

31 And these things were done in the borders of the land, that they might not come to the knowledge of the king.

32 But behold, it came to pass that the king, having discovered a movement among the people, sent his servants to watch them. Therefore on the day that they were assembling themselves together to hear the word of the Lord they were discovered unto the king.

33 And now the king said that Alma was stirring up the people to rebellion against him; therefore he sent his army to destroy them.

34 And it came to pass that Alma and the people of the Lord were apprised of the coming of the king's army; therefore they took their tents and their families and departed into the wilderness.

35 And they were in number about four hundred and fifty souls. (emphasis added)

Alma and his people, as you readers of the Book of Mormon may remember, went through much tribulation for a number of years, but eventually, through the spiritual strength obtained by remaining very faithful through that tribulation, they became the foundation for Jesus Christ's Church in the large land of Zarahemla where the Prophet-King Mosiah reigned. That tribulation helped prepare them (or rather, their believing descendants) for the coming of Christ to America after his resurrection from the dead.

In the next several blogs of this series we will see how the Lord continued to prepare His people for His visit to them just after His resurrection.
You may want to ask yourselves: Have I been prepared for spiritual advancement by difficulties in my life? It could be! It happened to me.

Mormon Message


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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 Nephites in Ancient America Were Being Prepared for the Birth of the Savior and His Subsequent Visit After His Resurrection - Post39a. 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

38z - Captain Moroni, a God-Fearing Nephite Warrior Set a Righteous Example.

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TODAY'S THEME

Captain Moroni and the Title of Liberty -by Arnold Friberg

Alma 46:
10 Yea, we see that Amalickiah, because he was a man of cunning device and a man of many flattering words, that he led away the hearts of many people to do wickedly; yea, and to seek to destroy the church of God, and to destroy the foundation of liberty which God had granted unto them, or which blessing God had sent upon the face of the land for the righteous' sake.

11 And now it came to pass that when Moroni, who was the chief commander of the armies of the Nephites, had heard of these dissensions, he was angry with Amalickiah.

12 And it came to pass that he rent his coat; and he took a piece thereof, and wrote upon it—In memory of our God, our religion, and freedom, and our peace, our wives, and our children—and he fastened it upon the end of a pole.

13 And he fastened on his head-plate, and his breastplate, and his shields, and girded on his armor about his loins; and he took the pole, which had on the end thereof his rent coat, (and he called it the title of liberty) and he bowed himself to the earth, and he prayed mightily unto his God for the blessings of liberty to rest upon his brethren, so long as there should a band of Christians remain to possess the land— (emphasis added)

Those two verses of scriptures were written by the Prophet, Mormon. Could we ever question why Mormon, a general in the Nephite army in the last days of the Nephite people (from the time he was still in his teens), would name his son: Moroni?

Alma 48: 11 And Moroni was a strong and a mighty man; he was a man of a perfect understanding; yea, a man that did not delight in bloodshed; a man whose soul did joy in the liberty and the freedom of his country, and his brethren from bondage and slavery;

12 Yea, a man whose heart did swell with thanksgiving to his God, for the many privileges and blessings which he bestowed upon his people; a man who did labor exceedingly for the welfare and safety of his people.

13 Yea, and he was a man who was firm in the faith of Christ, and he had sworn with an oath to defend his people, his rights, and his country, and his religion, even to the loss of his blood.

14 Now the Nephites were taught to defend themselves against their enemies, even to the shedding of blood if it were necessary; yea, and they were also taught never to give an offense, yea, and never to raise the sword except it were against an enemy, except it were to preserve their lives.

15 And this was their faith, that by so doing God would prosper them in the land, or in other words, if they were faithful in keeping the commandments of God that he would prosper them in the land; yea, warn them to flee, or to prepare for war, according to their danger;

16 And also, that God would make it known unto them whither they should go to defend themselves against their enemies, and by so doing, the Lord would deliver them; and this was the faith of Moroni, and his heart did glory in it; not in the shedding of blood but in doing good, in preserving his people, yea, in keeping the commandments of God, yea, and resisting iniquity.

17 Yea, verily, verily I say unto you, if all men had been, and were, and ever would be, like unto Moroni, behold, the very powers of hell would have been shaken forever; yea, the devil would never have power over the hearts of the children of men.

18 Behold, he was a man like unto Ammon, the son of Mosiah, yea, and even the other sons of Mosiah, yea, and also Alma and his sons, for they were all men of God. (This Moroni lived in about 72 B.C. Clarification added)

I, Neil Birch, author of this blog, submit that the Prophet Mormon gave us in the scriptures above, words that he was inspired by Jesus Christ, his and our, Lord and Master, to write.

I also submit that those inspired scriptural words set the example for the entire world in our day and age or in any day and age of this world's history regarding WAR!

I have copied the following from an article I just this morning read in the LDS CHURCH NEWS published for the Week Ending: November 14, 2009.

"Mormon Mustang" pilot valiant in war, faithful in Church. Captain Moroni's example guides 90-year-old veteran" (Written by Marianne Holman, Church News Staff writer)

Published: Wednesday, Nov. 11, 2009 (appeared in LDS Church News, Week Ending November 14, 2009)

Photo: Lisa B. Wilson

Brigadier General Roland Wright stands in front of a P-51 Mustang in Rexburg, Idaho Oct. 23, 2009. The "Mormon Mustang" is the same kind of plane he flew in World War II, the Korean War and Vietnam.

Years after his last flight piloting his "Mormon Mustang," 90-year-old retired Brigadier General Roland R. Wright headed for the clouds and an aerial view of the farm hills and temple in Rexburg, Idaho, on Oct. 23. Brother Wright, who has flown P-51 Mustang planes in three separate wars, gladly accepted the invitation for another chance to fly in the restored plane.

"I had over 2,000 flying hours in that plane," Brother Wright said. "The engine had it's own sound and everyone that knows it knows you can't get enough of it."

Four planes flew that fall day over Rexburg, but the plane carrying Brother Wright has significance because of the inscription on the side of the plane. "Mormon Mustang" it reads, just as it read on Brother Wright's first plane flown in World War II.

"I was always really proud and glad to tell others what I was," Brother Wright said. "I felt that I was doing what I wanted to do and bringing the Church out of obscurity."

Private owners of the P-51 Mustangs learned of Brother Wright's story and invited him to fly in the restored "Mormon Mustang." For Brother Wright, it was a delight.

"It was a great day," he said. "I love flying airplanes and that was the ultimate fighter plane in World War II."

Brother Wright grew up on a farm in Blackfoot, Idaho. He remembers at a young age looking to the sky at the birds and having a strong desire to fly. When he was 14 years old, barnstormers came to town offering anyone a flight for 10 dollars. Young Roland scraped his money together and was able to take his first flight. From then on, he had a burning desire to become a fighter pilot.

Although his dream of becoming a pilot was important, Brother Wright knew he needed to serve a mission prior to his service in the armed forces. So when the time came, Brother Wright accepted a call to the Northern States Mission.

"The decisions you make have such an impact on the rest of life," he said. "The decision for me [to serve a mission] involved a seminary teacher. I had contemplated a mission and pursuing education. I had to make a decision. I was concerned about time. My teacher told me that the Lord makes up the time you spend on a mission, and to not worry about that. That changed my whole life."

Before he left, he received a gift that has forever stayed with him.

"When I went on my mission my older sister and her husband gave me a triple combination [of scriptures]," he said. "She wrote on the inside, 'Within the covers of this book you will find answers to life's greatest questions.' . . . I still find that all the answers you need are in those scriptures."

Toward the end of his mission, Brother Wright heard of the bombing at Pearl Harbor on Dec. 7, 1941, and recognized the need for enlisted men. He still had his dream of becoming a pilot; upon returning home he enlisted. He looked to the scriptures in preparing for transition from mission to military service.

"Captain Moroni helped me to make the transition of being a missionary to going to war," he said. Many of the principles Brother Wright learned as a missionary he applied as he enlisted to serve his country. The returned missionary learned that being a missionary continues beyond the mission field. He recognized that missionary work is an attitude of mind, and decided he would continue being a missionary long after his full-time mission.

After returning home from his mission, and only three weeks before entering military training, Brother Wright met Marjorie McDonough, who, after three years of correspondence, became his wife.

"In my mind I decided I'm taking no chances and I'm going to marry someone that is strong in the gospel," he said.

Not only did he want to continue strong Church service in his family life, he also wanted to continue serving in all aspects of life.

Because of this strong desire to continue missionary work, he decided to place the words "Mormon Mustang" on the fuselage of each of his P-51 Mustang planes. The plane represents, like qualities of a good missionary, strength, stamina and endurance.

After proper training, Brother Wright went on to serve in World War II, the Korean War and Vietnam. With every plane he flew, he lifted his own "Title of Liberty," declaring his plane a "Mormon Mustang."

Although he retired from the Air National Guard in 1976, Brother Wright carried with him the lessons he learned as a pilot as he continued to serve his country and in the Church. He and his wife faithfully served in many capacities the Church including president of the New York New York Mission from 1977-80 and director of the Washington D.C. Visitors Center from 1991-93. Sister Wright passed away in 1994.

When he served as mission president, he shared many stories of when he was a fighter pilot. He felt that they were great teaching tools that enabled many missionaries to strengthen their testimonies and become better.

Now a sealer in the Salt Lake Temple, Brother Wright still finds great joy in the gospel and continues to serve in the Church today.

Although he hasn't piloted a P-51 Mustang since 1954, he still finds great joy in remembering his time spent in the air in his "Mormon Mustangs." His experiences in the air and on the ground have given him a great appreciation for life and, most important, a deeper testimony of the restored gospel.

"I've written my own obituary," he said. "I've put in there an abundant and eventful life." --Liza B. Wilson contributed to this article. mholman@desnews.com

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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

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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 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: Captain Moroni Set a Good Example as a Warrior. Post 38z 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 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

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.)

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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.
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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
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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 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..
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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 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

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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