To Access This Blog's Index, Please Scroll Down To the Fifth Paragraph From the End of This Post!
****
TODAY'S THEME
 |
| A Stone Cut Out of a Mountain Without Hands -by Grant Romney Clawson |
The title under the painting above is a key phrase in an interpretation of a dream by a young Jewish prophet, Daniel. King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon (in about 590 B.C.) had forgotten a dream which was very troubling to him. None of the wisemen in his kingdom could tell him either the details of his dream or it meaning, except the young Jew, Daniel, who had turned to his God for help in doing that. The king had threatened to kill all of them, including Daniel, if they couldn't help him.
In the painting above you will see the stone as it is rolling rapidly down from the mountain (in the background) and is about to strike the image (statue of an ancient warrior - perhaps a warrior king) that Daniel has described in great detail to the king.The man in white clothing is Daniel, who, not long before, had been taken captive into Babylon, along with many other Jews, just a few years after Father Lehi and his family and friends had left Jerusalem and were being led by the Lord to Central America (or were there already).
The Lord had told Lehi and his fourth oldest son, Nephi that Jerusalem was to soon be destroyed and that some of their people, the Jews, would be taken into captivity. They most likely had never known Daniel, but surely they knew many who had been destroyed by the Babylonians and some who, like Daniel, were eventually taken captive into Babylonia.
Daniel told the king that God had revealed the dream and its meaning to him, (Daniel), in a night vision.
In this painting young Daniel by the spirit of prophecy and revelation is depicted interpreting the dream that greatly troubled Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon. By that same gift of God, Daniel had given the king each of the intricate details of his dream. The king had forgotten them but he evidently was sure that the dream meant something he should understand.
Nebuchadnezzar was very pleased that Daniel's god helped him to remember and understand the dream that had troubled him so much. Because of this, Nebuchadnezzar elevated Daniel to a high position in his government.
Please read and Listen to: Daniel 2:1-47
Let me emphasize verses 44 and 45 of that chapter by quoting them:
44. And in the days of these kings shall the God of heaven set up a kingdom, which shall never be destroyed: and the kingdom shall not be left to other people, but it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand forever.
45. Forasmuch as thou sawest that the stone was cut out of theYou will now have the opportunity of reading the personal account of the individual who was chosen by God to begin the establishment of His latter-day kingdom that was foretold anciently in the prophet Daniel's interpretation of Nebuchadnezzar's dream.
mountain without hands, and that it brake in pieces the iron, the brass, the clay, the silver, and the gold; the great God hath made it known to the king what shall come to pass here-after: and the dream is certain, and the interpretation thereof sure. (emphasis added)
Please note the great care the Heavenly Messenger takes in preparing this young man who is almost 18 years of age for the huge task ahead of him.
jstestimony
You have just learned about the coming forth of the Book of Mormon, about which in Joseph Smith's later years, he said: "The Book of Mormon is the keystone of our Religion."
Here are three paintings and a photo that depict important events you have just read about and perhaps listened to.
 |
The Angel Moroni Appears to Joseph Smith -by Tom Lovell |
 |
| The Hill Cumorah |
 |
| The Golden Plates |
 |
| Moroni Gives Joseph Smith the Golden Plates -by Kenneth Riley |
I now give you the opportunity of reading a quote from a member of the First Presidency of this church, President Henry B. Eyring. It is from his speech given at the same general priesthood session of the Church's April conference in April 2008 where Bishop Burton gave his speech reporting the Church's Humanitarian efforts during the year, 2007.
"I have seen the miracle of that growth in charity in the hearts of priesthood holders, So have many of you. And so have many outside the Church. I was in the office of President Gordon B. Hinckley when he was asked to take a phone call. He spoke briefly on the phone and then returned to our conversation. But he took a moment to explain. He said that the call was from the president of the United States, who was flying over Utah in Air Force One on his way to Washington.In ending this blogpost, I take the liberty of saying: That which was accomplished in humanitarian services in 2007 and for many years before that and in 2008 and now in 2009 and into the future, is what we should expect from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints with its population growing from thirteen million members to a much larger number in years to come.
The president of the United States had called to thank President Hinckley for what priesthood holders had done in the aftermath of a hurricane. The president of the United States had said that it was a miracle that we were able to get so many people, so quickly, working together so well. He praised our people by saying that we knew how to do things."
Of course, this is the Lord's latter-day kingdom, or the Stone Cut out of the Mountain without Hands which Nebuchadnezzar saw and was helped by Daniel to understand by the power of the gift of prophecy and revelation which he, the Prophet Daniel, used in interprepting the king's dream.
This church, under the direction of a living prophet, is striving to do all of those things our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ would have us do in preparation for His Second Coming.
 |
The Second Coming of the Lord Jesus Christ With the Hosts of Heaven -by Harry Anderson |
This church regularly accomplishes much more than that which I have been able to describe here. Through the gift of Prophecy and Revelation which ordinary worthy members of the this church can possess, the young, the elderly, both male and female, from every race, are led to Heavenly Peace and Security in this world of rapidly increasing turmoil, temptation and disasters.
Family Prayer - And Serving Others
Photos provided by lds.orgI have entitled this post, a part of the series:
Book of Mormon (and Bible) Prophecies are Fulfilled in Our Day, The Prophet Daniel Interpreted Nebuchadnezzar's Dream.I added the (and Bible) part for this post. After all, the Holy Bible and the Book of Mormon are one in the hand of our Lord. His holy gift of Prophecy and Revelation was used by the Lord's servants (prophets) in both books to present His word.
 |
| The Holy Bible and the Book of Mormon Another Testament of Jesus Christ Stand Together |
You can expect my next blogpost in about three to four days from the date given at the beginning of this post. I'll look forward to sharing things again with you at that time.
____________
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: The Book of Mormon Plays a Key Role in Bringing About the Fulfillment of . . .- Post 36c. When You See the Picture of Our Savior Jesus Christ Sitting Next To a Little Boy, Please, Scroll Down To Your Target Item Or Use The Alphabetic Scrolling Device (When It Has Been Installed.)
_____________
"Have You Really Read the Book of Mormon?" Legal /Statement. Thank you for visiting. The author retains intellectual property and creative licensing rights. Permission to use or reprint must be given in writing. © Est.2008 Neil Birch Legal /Statement.
____________
I deeply appreciate your readership and hope you found very beneficial, that which was presented to you in this blog post.
If you have any questions about what you have read or viewed in this post or in any previous posts of mine, or if you even have a curiosity about the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and or its teachings, please e-mail me. I'm Neil and my e-mail address is: jneilmelva@gmail.com. If you contact me I'll get back to you just as soon as possible.
I invite you to let your friends and relatives know about this blog if you think they would be interested. Please be advised that I also have an additional blog. It is in Spanish: Its content is translated from the English in this blog.
Neil Birch
