Wednesday, March 11, 2009

35d - The Book of Mormon, Another Testament of Jesus Christ

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

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With this post, I am just now shifting to a series of TODAY'S THEMES from which we will learn from most of the prophets, who testify of the Lord Jesus Christ, whose words are recorded in the Book of Mormon, Another Testament of Jesus Christ.

I promise you that if you continue reading this blog, a new post of which is published about every three or four days, the sure knowledge these prophets provided about our Savior, Jesus Christ and about His gospel and the crucial role it should play in our lives, will become very believable and sure to you, more so than ever before in your lives.

That promise will apply only if you pray to the Lord that, through His spirit you will guided in your reading and contemplation. I'll be praying for each of you also.
I am personally convinced that the only lasting help those of us who are living now can get in facing the extremely threatening forces that are presently rapidly growing all about us, is that which comes from aligning ourselves with the Savior and His Plan of Salvation.

Unfortunately, we live in a day when faith in His plan is blatantly lacking. Many from all walks of life today have come to believe that science and man's educated knowledge is the only source of salvation for mankind. I have written below personal beliefs such as my statement which I quote from my just previous post:

"There was much in that PBS video ('The Mormons, May 2007')with which I strongly disagree. I find that many other Mormons' agree with me on that. There is the allegation by one of the so-called experts shown in that video, that the report of the resurrection of Jesus Christ was just a conspiracy brought about by Jesus' twelve apostles and is the 'scandal of Christianity.' In my view that charge is scandalous! (clarification added)
TODAY'S THEME

We begin this new series with Father Lehi's words:
1. Lehi (between 588 and 570 B.C.)
II Nephi 2:2 Nevertheless, Jacob, my first-born in the
wilderness, thou knowest the greatness of God; and he shall consecrate thine afflictions for thy gain.
3 Wherefore, thy soul shall be blessed, and thou shalt dwell safely with thy brother, Nephi; and thy days shall be spent in the service of thy God. Wherefore, I know that thou art redeemed, because of the righteousness of thy Redeemer; for thou hast beheld that in the fulness of time he cometh to bring salvation unto men.
4 And thou hast beheld in thy youth his glory; wherefore, thou art blessed even as they unto whom he shall minister in the flesh; for the Spirit is the same, yesterday, today, and forever. And the way is prepared from the fall of man, and salvation is free.
5 And men are instructed sufficiently that they know good from evil. And the law (The Law of Moses) is given unto men. And by the law no flesh is justified; or, by the law men are cut off. Yea, by the temporal law they were cut off; and also, by the spiritual law they perish from that which is good, and become miserable forever.
6 Wherefore, redemption cometh in and through the
Holy Messiah; for he is full of grace and truth.
7 Behold, he offereth himself a sacrifice for sin, to answer the ends of the law, unto all those who have a broken heart and a contrite spirit; and unto none else can the ends of the law be answered.
8 Wherefore, how great the importance to make these
things known unto the inhabitants of the earth, that they may know that there is no flesh that can dwell in the presence of God, save it be through the merits, and mercy, and grace of the Holy Messiah, who layeth down his life according to the flesh, and taketh it again by the power of the Spirit, that he may bring to pass the resurrection of the dead, being the first that should rise.
9 Wherefore, he is the firstfruits unto God, inasmuch as he shall make intercession for all the children of men; and they that believe in him shall be saved.
10 And because of the intercession for all, all men come unto God; wherefore, they stand in the presence of him, to be judged of him according to the truth and holiness which is in him. Wherefore, the ends of the law which the Holy One hath given, unto the inflicting of the punishment which is affixed, which punishment that is affixed is in opposition to that of the happiness which is affixed, to answer the ends of the atonement. (clarification added)
I will add one more quote from my just previous post:
"I hear Joseph Smith's voice every time I read it (The Book of Mormon). He was a farmer. He was young. He was unlettered and he put this all together. So you have this rough hewn kind of text ..." Alex Caldiero, poet and scholar, Utah Valley University. (clarification added)


Professor Alex Caldiero


Dear Intelligent and well-read readers. Please once again, read through Father Lehi's words to his son, Jacob which I have quoted as TODAY'S THEME above. Certainly, Professor Caldiero couldn't be referring to anything similar to that Book of Mormon passage which you just read. (a young farmer boy's voice, rough hewn kind of text!)

I strongly assert that Father Lehi's words quote in TODAY'S THEME were prompted and guided by the Spirit of our Pre-mortal Lord and Savior, whose image I have inserted below:

Jesus the Christ -by Heinrich Hoffman

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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 You Have Read All of This Paragraph, Please Scroll Back Up And Click on the Following: (Father) Lehi Testified of Jesus Christ - Post 35d.When You See the Picture of Our Savior Jesus Christ Sitting Next To a Little Boy, Please, Scroll Down To Your Target Item Or Use The Alphabetical Scrolling Device (When It Has Been Installed.)

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Neil Birch