39l - The Calling of the Nephite "12." The Resurrected Christ's Ancient American Version of His Sermon on the Mount Has an Adjusted Point of View!

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TODAY'S THEME

In 34 A.D. the resurrected Lord Jesus Christ called and set apart twelve apostles of the Nephite Nation in the Western Hemisphere as a key step in setting up his kingdom among them too, as he had done during his mortal ministry among his fellow Jewish followers in Palestine. The painting I used is one which is used to depict the setting apart of the Twelve in Palestine. I used it because to my knowledge there isn't a painting available of that particular event in ancient Central America. 

Jesus Ordaining the Twelve in Palestine -by Harry Anderson (I am using this painting to remind us of the ordination of the Twelve in Central America.) 

3 Nephi 12: 1 AND it came to pass that when Jesus had spoken these words unto Nephi, and to those who had been called, (now the number of them who had been called, and received power and authority to baptize, was twelve) and behold, he stretched forth his hand unto the multitude, and cried unto them, saying: Blessed are ye if ye shall give heed unto the words of these twelve whom I have chosen from among you to minister unto you, and to be your servants; and unto them I have given power that they may baptize you with water; and after that ye are baptized with water, behold, I will baptize you with fire and with the Holy Ghost; therefore blessed are ye if ye shall believe in me and be baptized, after that ye have seen me and know that I am.

2 And again, more blessed are they who shall believe in your words because that ye shall testify that ye have seen me, and that ye know that I am. Yea, blessed are they who shall believe in your words, and come down into the depths of humility and be baptized, for they shall be visited with fire and with the Holy Ghost, and shall receive a remission of their sins. (emphasis added)

The Resurrected Savior, Jesus Christ Teaches the Nephites in Ancient Central America -by John Scott

In Chapters Twelve through Fourteen of 3 Nephi in the Book of Mormon, Another Testament of Jesus Christ, is recorded a sermon given by the Resurrected Jesus Christ to the Nephites of Ancient Central America who were the remaining more righteous citizens of the Nephite Nation after a great cataclysm had destroyed a larger and very wicked portion of their people.

That discourse is very similar to the one recorded in the New Testament, Matthew Chapters Five through Seven, which is commonly referred to as The Sermon on the Mount. We should expect that which the then, immortal and glorified, Jesus Christ had chosen to teach the Nephite-Lamanite people who were to be his followers at that time in the Western Hemisphere, would be very similar to that which he had taught his flock in Palestine during his mortal ministry there. We should expect that he would be teaching in each of his two sermons, the basic principles of his unchanging gospel.

In this present post I will have the space to only compare Chapter Twelve of 3 Nephi to Chapter Five of Matthew. There appear to be, besides many key similarities, a few insignificant differences between the two sermons. and also some very significant differences! I will quote just a portion of our Lord's Sermon on the Mount as recorded in Matthew, Chapter 5 allowing us to compare what was said by Him in those passages there in Palestine with that which He said near the temple in the Land Bountiful (in Central America) for the purpose of identifying significant differences that exist between these two very similar sermons which were both given by Jesus Christ, the one in Palestine as a mortal and the one near the temple in the Land Bountiful in Ancient Central Americas by Him as an immortal resurrected being. I hope we can learn something very significant about the reasons for there being striking differences between these two otherwise very similar sermons.

I have used the brown print I typically use when quoting from the Bible in my blog when quoting Matthew Chapter 5. When quoting what the Savior taught his fold in the Americas as is recorded in 3 Nephi Chapter 12 I have used the blue print I typically use  when quoting Latter-day Scriptures. I will use red print when making interspersed clarifying comments.

One might expect that which Jesus taught both groups; his followers in Palestine on a mount, depicted in this painting and then his Nephite followers in the Land, Bountiful near the temple there, to be very similar if not identical in most of what He teaches because they can be identified as key points of doctrine of his unchanging gospel. 

The first two verses of Chapter 5 of Matthew and Chapter 12 of 3 Nephi are basically introductory and therefore I won't compare them. Please note also that I have skipped over verses four and five in both 3 Nephi Chapter 12 and Matthew 5 because they are word for word identical!

The Sermon on the Mount in Palestine -by Carl Heinrich Bloch

Matthew 5:3 Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

3 Nephi 12: 3 Yea, blessed are the poor in spirit who come unto me, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. (emphasis added)

Note: It appears that Jesus in his mortal ministry did not yet use the words, "who come unto me," because he had not yet experienced His Atonement, Death, and Resurrection, which brought on his glorified state, which is surely the reason that would cause mortals to seek to come unto him, He who had become fully their God!)

Matthew 5: 6 Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.

3 Nephi 12: 6 And blessed are all they who do hunger and thirst after righteousness, for they shall be filled with the Holy Ghost.

Please Note: Jesus did not include in this comparable New Testament scripture the words, "they shall be filled with the Holy Ghost," which were used in 3 Nephi 12:6. His apostles in Palestine had not yet received the Gift of the Holy Ghost at the time of Jesus' Sermon on the Mount. They received that sacred gift only after His Resurrection.

Acts 1: 4 And, being assembled together with them (His Apostles in Palestine), (He, Jesus) commanded them that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father, which, saith he, ye have heard of me. (clarification added)

5 For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence.

6 When they therefore were come together, they asked of him, saying, Lord, wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel?

7 And he said unto them, It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in his own power.

8 But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth. (emphasis added)


Go Ye Therefore and Teach All Nations -by Harry Anderson



The Ascension -by Harry Anderson

Acts 1: 9 And when he had spoken these things, while they beheld, he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight.

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Matthew: 5:18 for verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled.

3 Nephi 12:18 For verily I say unto you, one jot nor one tittle hath not passed away from the law, but in me it hath all been fulfilled. (emphasis added)

Note: As you may have already determined, in the Matthew version of this verse it is written in the future tense. However, in the 3 Nephi version you will have noted it is written in the past tense. By then, Jesus personally had fulfilled the Law (of Moses) by His Atonement, Death and Resurrection!

Matthew 5:19 Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.


3 Nephi 12:19 And behold, I have given you the law and the commandments of my Father, that ye shall believe in me, and that ye shall repent of your sins, and come unto me with a broken heart and a contrite spirit. Behold, ye have the commandments before you, and the law (of Moses) is fulfilled. (emphasis and clarification added)

It would also seem to me that only then was Jesus actually able to fully know personally through His great atonement and sacrifice the full meaning of: a broken heart and a contrite spirit. The Savior just before descending from the heavens to be with the Nephites near His Temple had previously emphasized that phrase:

3 Nephi 9:20 And ye shall offer for a sacrifice unto me a broken heart and a contrite spirit, And whoso cometh unto me with a broken heart and a contrite spirit, him will I baptize with fire and with the Holy Ghost, even as the Lamanites, because of their faith in me at the time of their conversion, were baptized with fire and with the Holy Ghost, and they knew it not.

Again, those words were spoken by the Resurrected Jesus Christ from the heavens in the darkness that covered those Nephites and probably others who had survived the holocaust which the Lord had put into action Himself.

See (3 Nephi 9: 12) And many great destructions have I caused to come upon this land, and upon this people, because of their wickedness and their abominations.

Matthew 5: 20 For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven.

 Nephi 12:20 Therefore come unto me and be ye saved; for verily I say unto you, that except ye shall keep my commandments, which I have commanded you at this time, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven. (emphasis added)

In that scripture the Resurrected and Glorified Savior of Mankind doesn't refer to just righteousness as was the case in Matthew 5:20, but to "my commandments," in speaking to the Nephites after His resurrection.

Once again I present a scriptural verse that comes from the time when the resurrected Redeemer of the World, Jesus Christ spoke from the Heavens just before descending to speak with the Nephites:

3 Nephi 9:18 I am the light and the life of the world. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end.

19 And ye shall offer up unto me no more the shedding of blood; yea, your sacrifices and your burnt offerings shall be done away, for I will accept none of your sacrifices and your burnt offerings.

20 And ye shall offer for a sacrifice unto me a broken heart and a contrite spirit. (emphasis added)

Please Note: One difference between those two verses is that while in 3 Nephi 12:20 the Savior says, "come unto me and be ye saved," he also mentions keeping his commandments. He doesn't say that in Matthew 5:20.

Then too, the very last verse of each chapter we considered from each book ought to be compared:

Matthew 5: 48: "Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect."

3Nephi 12: 48 Therefore I would that ye should be perfect even as I, or your Father who is in heaven is perfect.

That verse 48 in each of the two books is the perfect way to end this comparison of the two chapters, one from the New Testament and the other from the Book of Mormon, Another Testament of Jesus Christ. I will refrain from further comment recognizing that you won't need any assistance from me in recognizing that the comparison of those two last verses caps the discussion very surely and decisively!

The issue of possible plagiarism of the Sermon on the Mount that has been raised by disbelievers of the Book of Mormon, Another Testament of Jesus Christ, that may possibly have been considered by some of you readers too has just faded away into the clear blue blue sky!

Thank you for your patience with me as we went through much effort in comparing these two special and very true chapters!


The comparison of our Savior Jesus Christ's words before and after His sacred atoning sacrifice and resurrection using both sets of holy and sacred scriptures, the New Testament and the Book of Mormon tells us that which our Savior and God has done!

Blessed be His name for ever and ever and may each of us strive with all of our hearts, might, minds and strength to try to be worthy of what He has done for each of us and for each of our Loved Ones!

In Case you would like to Read and Listen to Matthew Chapter Five and/or III Nephi Chapter 12, Here is Your Opportunity!

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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 Atoning Sacrifice of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ Has Opened up the Doors of Exaltation and Salvation for Each of us!  -Post 39l. 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.

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 my Spanish Blog: Its content is translated from the English in this blog.

Neil Birch

39k - There Was A Great Purpose In Jesus Christ's Going to the Americas to Minister Among the Nephites Soon After His Ascension Into Heaven!

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



The Ascension -by Harry Anderson



In this, the third in a series of posts in which we have been learning about the Savior's Ministry among the descendants of Father Lehi, the Nephites; I will make an effort to help you more fully understand just what our Resurrected Savior, Jesus Christ's purpose was during his extended ministry to this nation of Israelites living in the Western Hemisphere of this earth. Actually, it consisted of a series of visits in a relatively short span of time.

I now quote a scripture I've used in several previous posts in describing our Savior's sacred "job description."

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

When our Savior undertakes to save those who are of his sheep fold he surely sets forth a plan that will bring about their being saved if they, his followers, choose to continue to live worthily. The scriptures emphasize the free agency (or the power to choose) of mankind. Here is one example of many others.

Joshua 24:15 And if it seem evil unto you to serve the LORD, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD. (emphasis added)

Many of Jesus' flock who were in Palestine, chose to follow him faithfully and were witnesses of his atonement and resurrection. The Lord successfully taught and prepared his apostles, and then left the work in their hands of preaching the gospel to others of the House of Israel and soon afterwards, under the guidance of his Spirit, to the Gentiles also.

After his ascension into Heaven, the Savior then went on to the Western Hemisphere to gather his "other sheep" about which He had told them (See John 10:16).

However, his apostles and other followers in Palestine did not understand who those other sheep were. We know that because in the Book of Mormon, Another Testament of Jesus Christ, Jesus told the Nephites to whom he came, this:

3 Nephi 15: 21 And verily I say unto you, that ye are they of whom I said: Other sheep I have which are not of this fold; them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd.

22 And they understood me not, for they supposed it had been the Gentiles; for they understood not that the Gentiles should be converted through their preaching.

23 And they understood me not that I said they shall hear my voice; and they understood me not that the Gentiles should not at any time hear my voice—that I should not manifest myself unto them save it were by the Holy Ghost.

24 But behold, ye have both heard my voice, and seen me; and ye are my sheep, and ye are numbered among those whom the Father hath given me.

(The Nephites had been helped since the days of Father Lehi and his fourth son Nephi, to prepare for the coming of Jesus Christ to minister to their descendants in their promised land located in the Western Hemisphere, most likely, in what we now call, Central America.)


This preparation was helped along by all of the many faithful prophets among them over the 634 years from when they left Jerusalem to when the Savior appeared to them not long after his resurrection.

The key prophet who worked very hard preparing the faithful Nephites from even before our Savior's birth was also named Nephi, as was his father. He was a direct descendant of Nephi, the son of Lehi. Now, the bigger picture of what had happened earlier among the Nephites of which our Lord and Savior had full knowledge was that while those who were being prepared through the prophecies and teachings of faithful Nephi, there were many Nephites who were scorning his and the words of another significant prophet, Samuel the Lamanite.

3Nephi 7:19 And in the name of Jesus did he cast out devils and unclean spirits; and even his brother did he raise from the dead, after he had been stoned and suffered death by the people.

You may remember that those scorners had been foiled in their plot to execute all the believers of the prophecies of Samuel if the signs he had prophesied of, concerning the coming of the Lord, did not appear by a certain day.

You have read before in these posts, that after praying all day long this prophet, Nephi, was told by the voice of the Lord, that he, Jesus Christ, would be born the following day and that the signs would each appear then as Samuel the Lamanite prophet had prophesied. When all these signs then appeared, the planned execution was foiled and it was those who had chosen not to follow the prophets who were distraught:

The holy scriptures, of both the Old World, the Bible; and the Book of Mormon, in the New World are filled with examples of disruptive natural disasters in the past, such as the great flood of Noah's day that eliminated all human life except for Noah and his family. God, our Heavenly Father and His Son, Jesus Christ, allowed that because most all living souls had at that time, rejected God's way of life and had instead, fully endorsed Satan's plans for their lives.

3Nephi 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. (emphasis added)

Noah's Preaching Scorned -by Harry Anderson



The Ark is Loaded -by Clark Kelley Price

Mortal life is something which Satan and his followers couldn't have because they had rejected Heavenly Father's plan which had been endorsed by and defended by Jesus Christ at the time we were all (including Satan and his followers) in the spirit world where we all had spirit bodies instead of mortal bodies because this earth had not yet been formed.

After the Great Flood, Noah and his family lived righteously for a time and then the pattern of apostasy which has so sadly been oft repeated in this world's history appeared again. Now in our day and time on earth, it has again raised its very ugly head.

Well, that pattern of apostasy had also, in great measure, taken place in the Western Hemisphere by A.D. 34. The unbelievers there,who were living according to their lusts and unrighteous desires, suffered the consequences of their choices. I'd like you to once again read and listen to Chapter 8 of 3Nephi from the Book of Mormon so you can remember more clearly what their choices of living styles brought them. Its not a very pretty picture:

3 Nephi 8: 1-25

Now, after having read that many times in my life, reading and listening to it again made me shudder and grieve for those who died in the destruction they had, in effect, brought upon themselves as was the case of the many millions who lost their lives in the great flood of Noah's day, by not heeding Noah's pleas to join him and his family in their ark.

Now perhaps would be the best time for you and me to read and listen again to Chapter Nine of 3Nephi, in which we learn that the people who remained after the cataclysmic seismic event had taken the lives of so many, heard the voice of Jesus Christ speaking to them from the sky.

You may have listened to and read this chapter in a very recent post of mine. Please listen again! After really absorbing this scripture you will much better understand why the Nephites to whom the resurrected Jesus appeared, were so teachable and so willing to obey him. In following posts we will learn more about the Savior's words and actions and the reactions of the Nephite people.

We should understand that our Savior, Jesus Christ, had a plan and it would surely result in eternal blessings for this people among whom he was ministering and would bring great blessings to their posterity. Wait and see! You can't even begin to imagine the great results that would come from his ministry among them! Please follow the instructions given above regarding listening to as well as reading these scriptural links.

 3 Nephi 9:1-22

Again, I realize that you may have read and listened to both of these chapters in a fairly recent post. However, I suggested you read both of them again so you can more fully comprehend that the events described show us much about the divine plan our Savior, Jesus Christ had for this people that would result in over two hundred years of righteous living and eternal salvation for millions of Nephites.
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Please left click on the link just below to view this most recent Mormon Messages video. Until about Christmas Day of December, 2009, this will link you to a Very Special Christmas Message. These messages are changed automatically on a regular basis.

Mormon Messages

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Also, just in case you have not yet had the opportunity of experiencing the very special Brigham Young University Video first shown in this blog in December 2008, which I have been offering again this year in recent posts. Here it is again for you to view if you so choose.






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



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TO ACCESS NEIL BIRCH'S BLOG INDEX To Either Read the Full Index Item Which Refers To This Blog Post, (Or An Item Which Refers To Any Other Blog Post You May Desire To Access): After Reading All of This Paragraph Please Click on the Following: Jesus Christ, Had a Great Purpose in Going To Minister Among the Nephites After . . . -Post 39k. When You See the Picture of Our Savior Jesus Christ Sitting Next To a Little Boy, 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

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I deeply appreciate your readership and very much hope you you will find that which was presented to you in these, my blog posts, very beneficial.

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

39j - The Resurrected Jesus Christ Teaches The Nephites In America That Which He Had Taught His Flock In Palestine During His Mortal Ministry There!

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

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TODAY'S THEME

Jesus Christ Teaches the Nephites at Bountiful -by John Scott

You will now have the special opportunity of reading more of the initial teachings Jesus gave to the Nephite people in the beginning of his ministry among them in their homeland in the Western Hemisphere not long after His resurrection in Jerusalem.

You will first read of Jesus' call to twelve Nephite men to be his disciples (apostles) who were to serve the people there.

Being that you are most likely acquainted with the four Gospels of the New Testament, you may quickly recognize that the teachings you will soon be reading, are very similar to those Jesus provided His followers in Palestine when still in mortality. It only makes sense that the Savior of the World would teach basically the same things to this branch of the house of Israel (some of the other sheep of his fold - John 10:16) as He had taught His flock in Palestine during His mortality.

This demonstrates that Jesus is the same person as before, with the exception being, that he is now resurrected and glorified for all eternity.


3 Nephi 12: 1-48

I remind you: that which is written in each chapter in the greater portion of the Book of Mormon (such as the chapter you just listened to and read) is a condensed collection (Abridgement is the correct English language translation of the Nephite Hebrew word Mormon used) put together by the prophet Mormon who was born in about A.D. 312.

In this sub-book, 3Nephi, Mormon has made it clear that his record is taken from the writings of this prophet, Nephi who was chosen by our Savior as one of his twelve disciples in that land and to whom He had spoken through the power of His Holy Spirit just before He was born into this life in the village of Bethlehem in Palestine, assuring Nephi that the prophesied signs would be given that night

(thus saving their lives from the hands of the unbelievers who had set the date for their being killed if the prophesied signs did not appear by then)

 and that he would be born the next day.

It is clearly indicated by Mormon that the words given us in our Book of Mormon passages such as the one given just above, are the exact words our (and their) Savior spoke to them In this particular chapter which you have just read and listened to, I believe each principle the Lord Jesus Christ taught the Nephites, applies equally to you and me. I hope you easily agree! When we live by each of these principles in the spirit by which He taught them, we can be sure of rich spiritual blessings in this life and then in time, be promised eternal life by Him.

(spoken of course, in their native Hebraic language after being translated like this people regularly did into modified Egyptian characters in their writings which was their practical custom followed by them in order to save space.).

That which I shall now highlight for you is something that may not directly apply in our lives, because none of us (most likely) has been living under the Law of Moses, but perhaps you can see some application as you contemplate that which Jesus spoke to the Nephites.

Because we haven't ever lived under the Law of Moses, we can't very easily imagine the difficult transition these Nephites were being asked to make. However, reading some of the Apostle Paul's words regarding the difficulty the people he was teaching the Gospel of Jesus Christ had, in giving up living by the Law of Moses, should help us understand the necessity of Jesus saying what He did in verses 46-48 above to these Israelites who had also been living the Law of Moses since their ancestor, Lehi left Jerusalem.

Perhaps these words of our Savior to the Nephites help us better recognize the transition their (and our) Savior desired of them. Don't we understand these principles more clearly, or like new, after we have really focused on what He said?

I hope there has been much which you have read in this blog post today that helped you and me more fully realize that these people, the Nephites, truly existed, and were another part of Jesus' flock which He chose, at that time, (because He had promised them through their prophet, Nephi) to visit and teach. Hopefully, we have learned that we must learn and live more fully the same principles He taught them.

Mormon 9: 32 And now, behold, we have written this record according to our knowledge, in the characters which are called among us the reformed Egyptian, being handed down and altered by us, according to our manner of speech.

33 And if our plates had been sufficiently large we should have written in Hebrew; but the Hebrew hath been altered by us also; and if we could have written in Hebrew, behold, ye would have had no imperfection in our record.

34 But the Lord knoweth the things which we have written, and also that none other people (not including their Resurrected Lord and Savior who in life spoke a language closely related to theirs and no doubt possessed the Godly gift of knowing all languages) knoweth our language; and because that none other people knoweth our language, therefore he hath prepared means for the interpretation thereof. (clarification added)35 And these things are written that we may rid our garments of the blood of our brethren, who have dwindled in unbelief.

3 Nephi 12: 46 Therefore those things which were of old time, which were under the law, in me are all fulfilled.

47 Old things are done away, and all things have become new.

48 Therefore I would that ye should be perfect even as I, or your Father who is in heaven is perfect.

Galations 3:24 Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith.

25 But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster.

26 For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus.

3Nephi 12:47 Old things are done away, and all things have become new.



Alex Caldiero



I have to ask a question of Professor Caldeiro of the Utah Valley University in Orem, Utah (Who spoke on the PBS Video: "The Mormons" in late March and early April of 2007) Are the words quoted in this Blog post from the Book of Mormon, Another Testament of Jesus Christ, just words put together by an uneducated and poor farm boy as you indicated in your presentation in that video?

Shame on you for having the gall to say that. I doubt that you have ever really read the Book of Mormon, Another Testament of Jesus Christ! There are other so-called "experts" like you on the Book of Mormon who say the kinds of things you said about it, and none of them have ever read any of it!

I have a special love for the Nephite-Lamanite people and their descendants. I worked for a good number of years for the Indian Placement Program of the LDS (Mormon) Church, where LDS American Indian children were helped to improve the quality of their education by living with a volunteer LDS foster family during the school year, and then returning home to their own families on the "Indian Reservations" (where the schools, at that time, were generally not of a very high quality) for the summer vacation.

I have at times, wondered who the other lost sheep were who were also of our Savior's flock that He refers to in John 10:16.

16 And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd.

Early in the Book of Mormon, Another Testament of Jesus Christ, the Lord Jesus Christ in His pre-mortal life, inspired Nephi, the fourth son of Lehi to write the following words: (this doesn't answer my question but does promise an answer in the future):

II Nephi 29:13 And it shall come to pass that the Jews shall have the words of the Nephites, and the Nephites shall have the words of the Jews; and the Nephites and the Jews shall have the words of the lost tribes of Israel; and the lost tribes of Israel shall have the words of the Nephites and the Jews. (emphasis added)

I remind you of the inspiring and uplifting Christmas Video I embedded at the end of my just previous blog post (39i). In case you haven't seen that, I have just now embedded that video here in this post:

 

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




TO ACCESS NEIL BIRCH'S BLOG INDEX To Either Read the Full Index Item Which Refers To This Blog Post, (Or An Item Which Refers To Any Other Blog Post You May Desire To Access): After Reading All of This Paragraph Please Click on the Following: Jesus Christ, Our Resurrected Savior Begins His Long Expected Ministry . . In Central America In A.D. 34,-Post 39j. When You See the Picture of Our Savior Jesus Christ Sitting Next To a Little Boy, 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

I deeply appreciate your readership and very much hope you you will find that which was presented to you in these, my blog posts, very beneficial.

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: The content of it is translated from the English in this blog.

Neil Birch

39h - The Promise Made is Fulfilled: Events Occur in Ancient America to Open the Way for Christ's Ministry There! Mormon MessagesVideo at end of Post!

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

TODAY'S THEME



Nephi Son of Lehi Treking Across the Wilderness -by Scott Snow

                                                                              
Nephi, the fourth son of Father Lehi, is shown here as he along with the rest of his father's family, relatives and even a conscripted man who had quickly become a loyal friend; were crossing the Arabian Peninsula about 600 B.C. on their way to their promised land, which we now know as Central America.



Lehi and His People Arrive in the Promised Land -by Arnold Friberg

(Nephi is standing to the right of his mother)

After Lehi's family and their relatives and friend had been in the Americas for some time, and had been through many difficulties, but nonetheless were well established in their promised land to which the Lord had led them; the prophet, Nephi, son of Lehi who had become the leader of the nation upon the death of Father Lehi, wrote these words of great significance and feeling:

2 Nephi 33:3 But I, Nephi, have written what I have written, and I esteem it as of great worth, and especially unto my people. For I pray continually for them by day, and mine eyes water my pillow by night, because of them; and I cry unto my God in faith, and I know that he will hear my cry.

4 And I know that the Lord God will consecrate my prayers for the gain of my people. And the words which I have written in weakness will be made strong unto them; for it persuadeth them to do good; it maketh known unto them of their fathers; and it speaketh of Jesus, and persuadeth them to believe in him, and to endure to the end, which is life eternal.

5 And it speaketh harshly against sin, according to the plainness of the truth; wherefore, no man will be angry at the words which I have written save he shall be of the spirit of the devil.

6 I glory in plainness; I glory in truth; I glory in my Jesus, for he hath redeemed my soul from hell.

7 I have charity for my people, and great faith in Christ that I shall meet many souls spotless at his judgment-seat.

Now I ask you to read this next scripture. In it the same Nephi who wrote the above, of [600 - 515 B.C.], bares his soul, making it clear that what the Lord Jesus wants of his people is that they live righteously and do so with a humble heart as he did.

 (Note: Because you will be starting 14 verses down the page it will be difficult to coordinate the listening function that is available.  II Nephi 4:14-35

Now in the first chapter from the Book of 3 Nephi I provide for you to listen to and to read. In Chapter 8 you will find what happened to many of Nephi's descendants.

Not all of those living in the Americas at the time of the resurrection of Jesus Christ were pure descendants of his father, Lehi, as the Book of Mormon elsewhere makes clear, but Lehi's posterity are the majority among those discussed in this chapter.

He whose record, the Prophet Mormon used to write much of the Book of 3 Nephi, was named Nephi, after his great and righteous ancestor whose writings we have just read. The history recorded here occurred in A.D. 34.

You may want to use the listen function because you will begin with verse 1. 3 Nephi 8:1-25

I have read that chapter many times in my almost seventy eight years of life, but this time, after having been very emotionally involved in writing this series of posts, my grief for the disaster described in this chapter had a greater emotional impact on me than I had expected. What occurred was decreed by Heavenly Father and His Son, Jesus, (who are totally in agreement with one another in whatever they decree), because of the great wickedness of many in the Nephite Nation at the time of the Savior's crucifixion.

My emotions, and perhaps yours too, were very surely deeply involved in the Savior's ministry and in his having accomplished the great atonement and resurrection for all mankind which were reviewed in my recent posts. We were also very deeply inspired and felt well informed when viewing and hearing the witness of one of Jesus' living apostles of our day.

Also, each of us have surely been rooting for a good number of Father Lehi's posterity to succeed in living faithfully and enduring persecutions, and in fine, following the example of their prophet, Nephi, so that when Christ appears to them after his resurrection, they will be alive because they have remained faithful to all that their prophets had taught them. The righteous among them were saved! We are informed of this in the book of 3 Nephi of the Book of Mormon, Another Witness of Jesus Christ.

After I had just read and listened to all of Chapter 8, I involuntarily uttered the word, WOW! Then I felt great sorrow for those who were destroyed who were not only descendants of Lehi and many of the other great prophets whose life stories are told in the Book of Mormon, but also of Joseph, who was sold into Egypt (one of the greatest prophets of all time in my opinion) who knew, according to Father Lehi, by the spirit of Prophecy and Revelation, that he, Joseph, would have posterity on this earth until the end of time.

What happened in Central America soon after the crucifixion of our Savior, did not invalidate the promise the Lord made to Joseph who was sold into Egypt. A good number of his and Lehi's and Nephi's descendants were still living after that great cataclysm brought about by a exceedingly huge seismic event.* I was so emotionally involved in reading and listening to Chapter 8 that I momentarily neglected to read and listen, to Chapter 9 so as to better understand what happened to those Nephites who had remained faithful to Christ. I have now done so and suggest that you do so also right now! Listening will work this time because we start at verse 1.

3 Nephi 9:1-22

In summary; you have just read that the remaining Nephites, heard the Voice of Christ announcing the destruction of many people because of their wickedness and proclaiming His divinity. You then read that He also announced that the Law of Moses was fulfilled and that He invites all mankind to come unto him and be saved.

To bring you further along in your understanding of what happened to the Nephites who survived the great earthquakes, I now invite you to also read and listen to 3Nephi, Chapter 10. In it Mormon, the compiler of the Book of Mormon, Another Testament of Jesus Christ, tells us that the people heard the voice of Christ speak to them from heaven so as to prepare them for His imminent visit.

3 Nephi 10:1-19

Modern scientists who have studied firsthand the damage caused by huge seismic earthquakes, and the way that damage came about, after having read the description given in 3 Nephi of the kinds of damage that was reported and the way in which it all happened, is just what these knowledgeable scientists reported that they would exactly expect from such a very huge seismic event. They don't happen all the time, but have occurred and have been studied in the recent past by experts.

This is strong evidence that neither Joseph Smith nor any other man in 1830 could have made up the Book of Mormon. In that day they couldn't have come up with such accurate details of the damage caused by a seismic catastrophe and the accurate description of what was actually happening to bring it about.

A perhaps, very similar cataclysm occurred on August 7, 1883, well past Joseph Smith's lifetime. You can read about a book written about that event

Krakatoa, the Day the World Exploded

When one really reads the Book of Mormon, the evidences of its truthfulness appear in great abundance, as hopefully you personally have been finding out, along with the sure witness of the Spirit that it is God's word.

____________

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: Jesus' Promise To Visit His Other "Sheep" Is Made Possible by Events . . . Post 39h. When You See the Picture of Our Savior Jesus Christ Sitting Next To a Little Boy, 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.
____________________

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

39g - Jesus Accomplishes All That His Prophets Prophesied He Would. He Brings About The Atonement And The Resurrection Which Will Impact All Mankind!

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



The Lord Jesus Christ -by Heinrich Hofmann



In this post the long awaited key events prophesied for ages regarding the Mortal Mission of the Holy Messiah are described. Jesus Christ fulfilled his crucial, all important mission. He opened the door to forgiveness, resurrection and to Eternal Life to all of us.



The Prophet Isaiah Foretells Christ's Birth -by Harry Anderson

Isaiah 7: 14 Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel (God with us). (The definition of the word, Immanuel, was added)

In previous posts I have quoted prophecies from the Book of Mormon regarding these sacred events: Nephi (between 600 and 592 B.C.), Enos (between 544 and 421 B.C), Omni (between 279 and 130 B.C.), Abinadi (148 B.C.), Benjamin (about 124 B.C.).

I also have referred to the testimonies of Father Lehi, Nephi's father, and Nephi's brother, Jacob, and Alma who was converted through the bold teachings of the martyr, Abinadi, and Alma the younger and the four sons of Mosiah. Mosiah testified of Him too. There were many others.

The events described in this post show that the above listed, were all true prophets! The Book of Mormon is indeed, Another Testament of Jesus Christ!



The Bible and the Book of Mormon are Companion Scriptures -by Greg K. Olsen



Jesus Praying in the Garden of Gethsemane -by Harry Anderson

This is the Apostle Luke's account of the Atonement in the Garden of Gethsemane.

Luke 22: 39 ¶ And he came out, and went, as he was wont, to the mount of Olives; and his disciples also followed him.

40 And when he was at the place, he said unto them, Pray that ye enter not into temptation.

41 And he was withdrawn from them about a stone's cast, and kneeled down, and prayed,

42 Saying, Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done.

43 And there appeared an angel unto him from heaven, strengthening him.

44 And being in an agony he prayed more earnestly: and his sweat was as it were great drops of blood falling down to the ground.

45 And when he rose up from prayer, and was come to his disciples, he found them sleeping for sorrow,

46 And said unto them, Why sleep ye? rise and pray, lest ye enter into temptation.

Jesus is Brought into the High Priest's House -by Ted Henninger

The Betrayal of Jesus.

Mark 42 Rise up, let us go; lo, he that betrayeth me is at hand.

43 ¶ And immediately, while he yet spake, cometh Judas, one of the twelve, and with him a great multitude with swords and staves, from the chief priests and the scribes and the elders.

44 And he that betrayed him had given them a token, saying, Whomsoever I shall kiss, that same is he; take him, and lead him away safely.

45 And as soon as he was come, he goeth straightway to him, and saith, Master, master; and kissed him.

46 ¶ And they laid their hands on him, and took him.

The Crucifixion of Jesus -by Harry Anderson

 Matthew 27: 33 And when they were come unto a place called Golgotha, that is to say, a place of a skull,

34 ¶ They gave him vinegar to drink mingled with gall: and when he had tasted thereof, he would not drink.

35 And they crucified him, and parted his garments, casting lots: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, They parted my garments among them, and upon my vesture did they cast lots.

36 And sitting down they watched him there;

37 And set up over his head his accusation written, THIS IS JESUS THE KING OF THE JEWS.

38 Then were there two thieves crucified with him, one on the right hand, and another on the left.

39 ¶ And they that passed by reviled him, wagging their heads,

40 And saying, Thou that destroyest the temple, and buildest it in three days, save thyself. If thou be the Son of God, come down from the cross.

41 Likewise also the chief priests mocking him, with the scribes and elders, said,

42 He saved others; himself he cannot save. If he be the King of Israel, let him now come down from the cross, and we will believe him.

43 He trusted in God; let him deliver him now, if he will have him: for he said, I am the Son of God.

44 The thieves also, which were crucified with him, cast the same in his teeth.

45 Now from the sixth hour there was darkness over all the land unto the ninth hour.

46 And about the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani? that is to say, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?

47 Some of them that stood there, when they heard that, said, This man calleth for Elias.

48 And straightway one of them ran, and took a spunge, and filled it with vinegar, and put it on a reed, and gave him to drink.

49 The rest said, Let be, let us see whether Elias will come to save him.

50 ¶ Jesus, when he had cried again with a loud voice, yielded up the ghost.

51 And, behold, the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom; and the earth did quake, and the rocks rent; 

The Burial of Christ -by Carl Heinrich Bloch

Mark: 15: 43 Joseph of Arimathæa, and honourable counsellor, which also waited for the kingdom of God, came, and went in boldly unto Pilate, and craved the body of Jesus.

44 And Pilate marvelled if he were already dead: and calling unto him the centurion, he asked him whether he had been any while dead.

45 And when he knew it of the centurion, he gave the body to Joseph.

46 And he bought fine linen, and took him down, and wrapped him in the linen, and laid him in a sepulchre which was hewn out of a rock, and rolled a stone unto the door of the sepulchre.

47 And Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of Joses beheld where he was laid.

Jesus Sealed Tomb

At this very point in the depiction of the greatest of all epics in the history of this world, I give you, my dear followers and all other readers who may be viewing this post, the opportunity of hearing the witness of one of the living apostles of our day regarding the greatness and neccessity of the atonement of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. (He is Elder Jeffrey R. Holland of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.)

None Were With Him

The Resurrected Lord Jesus -artist unknown



Mary and the Resurrected Lord Jesus -by Simon Dewey



John 20: 1-18



Behold My Hands and Feet -by Harry Anderson

John 20:19 ¶ Then the same day at evening, being the first day of the week, when the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled for fear of the Jews, came Jesus and stood in the midst, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you.

20 And when he had so said, he shewed unto them his hands and his side. Then were the disciples glad, when they saw the Lord.

Go Ye Therefore And Teach all Nations -by Harry Anderson

Matthew 28:16 ¶ Then the eleven disciples went away into Galilee, into a mountain where Jesus had appointed them.

17 And when they saw him, they worshipped him: but some doubted.

18 And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.

19 ¶ Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:

20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.



The Ascension -by Harry Anderson

Acts 1: 3 To whom also he shewed himself alive after his passion by many infallible proofs, being seen of them forty days, and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God:

4 And, being assembled together with them, commanded them that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father, which, saith he, ye have heard of me.

5 For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence.

6 When they therefore were come together, they asked of him, saying, Lord, wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel?

7 And he said unto them, It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in his own power.

8 But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judæa, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.

9 And when he had spoken these things, while they beheld, he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight.

10 And while they looked stedfastly toward heaven as he went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel;

11 Which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven.



Jesus the Christ -by Del Parson

John 10:14 I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine.

15 As the Father knoweth me, even so know I the Father: and I lay down my life for the sheep.

16 And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd.

17 Therefore doth my Father love me, because I lay down my life, that I might take it again.

18 No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This commandment have I received of my Father.

Sometime after His resurrection and appearance to His flock in Jerusalem, Jesus left that continent to tend to a part of his flock which was in Central America. In the next post we will learn about a cataclysmic event that occurred there just prior to his visit to His followers in Central America.

____________

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 BlogPost, (Or To Search The Index For Any Other BlogPost You Decide To Access), After You Have Read All of This Paragraph, Please Click on the Following: Jesus Offered Living Waters to the Jews and Would Later Offer That to the Nephites after His Resurrection. Part 2. -Post 39g.  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 Automatic Alphabetical 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 also have an additional blog. It is in Spanish:  Its content is translated from the English in this blog.

Neil Birch