39r - Side by Side, Both the Bible and the Book of Mormon Guide Our Lives in the Right Direction!

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 Bible and the Book of Mormon Testify of Jesus Christ, by -Greg K. Olsen



In both the Bible and the Book of Mormon, Another Testament of Jesus Christ, we are taught, among many other things, to serve one another!

Galatians 5: 13 For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another.
14 For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this; Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.

Mosiah 2:17 And behold, I tell you these things that ye may learn wisdom; that ye may learn that when ye are in the service of your fellow beings ye are only in the service of your God.

There are two sections to this post. They are both important. Do not skip the second portion below because it contains a General Conference talk by President Ezra Taft Benson in which he emphasizes the importance of : The Book of Mormon, Another Testament of Jesus Christ!

He provided many scriptural references and I have provided links for each and every one of them for you! I suggest you click on every one of those scriptural links. Doing so will increase the impact of your reading of his remarkable talk considerably!

Here is Part One of this Post!
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Service to others brings us true joy!

Service -by Robert Casey

The following Deseret News article is one in a series of reports on Welfare Service provided by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints throughout the entire world, I have been providing you in this blog in the last several months.

Millionaire to begin third tour for charity in Haiti (Published: Sunday, Feb. 21, 2010 in the Deseret News)
by Cynthia Kimball Humphreys

Cynthia Kimball Humphreys is an author, cancer survivor, consultant, speaker, success coach, and trainer. She is a co-founder of Every1Counts, LLC, an organization that helps people and teams find greatness through coaching and training. She has appeared in People magazine, on Comcast Newsmakers and CNN.








Cynthia Kimball Humphreys
For the Deseret News
Published: Sunday, Feb. 21, 2010 4:11 p.m. MST

When JEREMY JOHNSON, 34, of Washington County, was watching the aftermath of the earthquake that ravaged Haiti on his TV, he felt prompted to go there and help, "I have to be there," he remembers thinking.

During an interview with him recently at his home office in St. George, he added, "I'm so glad I did it even though there were many reasons not to do it."

A press release Johnson later e-mailed me tallied the good they'd done. "(Citation X [Johnson's personal plane] ) ... completed 40 missions, carried 254 passengers, including injured children and surgeons, and moved over 25,000 pounds of cargo and supplies," he said, "Our three helicopters flew hundreds of missions and ... moved nearly 100,000 pounds of food, medicine, supplies."

Now on Thursday, Johnson will deploy for his next and third relief tour -- of which I'll be along to document the five-day tour -- with a goal to find a place where he can secure land to eventually build houses.
"They just need basic shelter," he said. They're scared to live in brick houses now. we could take one of their worries away by providing houses. Even a tin hut they would be thankful for."

Johnson's mission is to come up with a plan to build houses, ultimately, before the rainy season. Until then, tent cities may have to suffice.

"They have two basic needs: eat and sleep. If we can take one of those away," he said, shaking his head with emotion after being overcome with thoughts from his two relief tours, "I feel like, what do soldiers have when they come back from war?" he asked.

"Post Traumatic Stress Disorder?" "Yeah," he says choked up, "but it's not that. It's just that your're not prepared for what you see. There's so much suffering. You just want to stop the hurt so bad."

I sat there watching and listening to this gentle spiritual giant, a man who has it all -- loving and supportive family, a successful Internet business and a self-made millionaire, who uses his own private plane and helicopters to shuttle doctors and supplies into Haiti, and adoptees and the injured out. He reminded me not of the prince who when Christ asked him to give up all his riches and follow him, refused, but of another kind of prince who not only shares his wealth, but time and service and does not hesitate to follow Christ. Not in the least bit.

"None of this stuff means anything aymore," he says, pointing to things around his office and perhaps alluding to his home and even other material possessions.

"We all gave them our extra clothes and our shoes," he says humbly. "We flew back barefoot. Now every time we go there, we need to leave our shoes ... it's a ritual."

Prior to the earthquake, Haitians were a people enabled by world aid. But Johnson's solution is to teach these people self-sufficiency.

Namely, bring young Haitians to Utah, in some kind of foreign exchange program, and teach and train them skills that they can take back to their villages to rebuild the Haitian economy. If all goes as he plans, after first talking to state government officials, he envisions lining up prospective host families and is even in the process of putting an application together.

"Agriculture is key to the future of Haiti. They have to grow food they can eat," he says.

And for those skeptics who wonder why Johnson and others are jet-setting off to help Haitians when they're not providing aid domestically, Johnson's got an answer: "There's so much opportunity in our country. We have a choice. We can at least get a job at somewhere like McDonald's. They don't have a choice. A lot of people there just want an opportunity. They just want a job. They want to work. People beg us for a job."
Johnson alludes to a LDS hymn, (which) says, "Because we have been given much, we too must give," and smiles.

"If we could just realize that our hardships are nothing. It's hard when you heard these words, but when you see it," he said, pausing again because he's overcome with emotion. "How lucky all of us are that we have a government and education and jobs even if they're not the best jobs. Complaining about our next meal or not having hot water, working 60 hours a week — most of the things we complain about are blessings."

Later this week I will be in Haiti following and learning from this man, while documenting our experiences, with plans to leave the Haitian people with not only love and support, but my extra clothes, and shoes, too. I'll then fly home barefoot because it would be rude to break a tradition.

To help with Haitian relief efforts go to Utah Haiti Relief at

www.utahhaitirelief.org/.

Cynthia Kimball Humphreys is a professional speaker and trainer. She writes a column for weekly newspapers in southern Utah and is a southern Utah correspondent for Deseret News. She can be reached at kimball@every1counts.net. Her column, "GR8NESS," appears on deseretnews.com monthly.

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PART 2 OF THIS POST

Most of you readers of my blog are very familiar with the Holy Bible, both the Old and New Testaments. Like most of you, members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints treasure both of those scriptures.

In our Church's Sunday School curriculum each of them are focused upon during an entire year (throughout the entire world), wherever the thirteen million plus members of this church reside. Study materials are provided by the Church in a huge number of different languages. It is surprising to learn how technologically adept this church is in meeting the needs of its members wherever they may live and whatever language they may speak.

Actually, the Old Testament is our focus throughout the entire year of 2010. The New Testament will be the focus of this church during 2011. The Book of Mormon, Another Testament of Jesus Christ will also be an important focus during this series of annual curriculum focusing, as will be our Doctrine and Covenants, including our Church History.

Because many of you viewers of this blog are very aware of the importance of the Holy Bible, both the Old and New Testaments, I would now like you learn the importance of the Book of Mormon, Another Testament of Jesus Christ, important, not only to members of our church, but also, to all people throughout the earth.

Please keep in mind as you read this following LDS Church General Conference Speech of a former prophet, president of the church to which I belong, that he, former President Benson, although emphasizing the importance of the Book of Mormon, also greatly values both the Old and New Testaments.

I have copied a foot note I placed at the end of President Benson's talk, right here so that you can know something about his personal distinguished history.

I should add that he grew up on a farm in Southern Idaho. He was a very successful farmer there and was professionally involved with the State of Idaho in the important function of state government in helping agriculture to succeed. Here is my footnote that I've transposed here for your convenience!

*Ezra Taft Benson, (now deceased), served for about seven or eight years as the Secretary of Agriculture of the Government of the United States of America under the leadership of U.S.A president, Dwight W. Eisenhower while on leave as a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He later served as the President of that Church until his death.

Ezra Taft Benson, “The Book of Mormon—Keystone of Our Religion,” Ensign, Nov 1986, p 4

In my opinion this is one of the most important talks ever given in a general conference of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints!

My beloved brethren and sisters, today I would like to speak about one of the most significant gifts given to the world in modern times. The gift I am thinking of is more important than any of the inventions that have come out of the industrial and technological revolutions. This is a gift of greater value to mankind than even the many wonderful advances we have seen in modern medicine. It is of greater worth to mankind than the development of flight or space travel. I speak of the gift of the Book of Mormon, given to mankind 156 years ago. (emphasis by highlighting was added by this blogger.)

This gift was prepared by the hand of the Lord over a period of more than a thousand years, then hidden up by Him so that it would be preserved in its purity for our generation. Perhaps there is nothing that testifies more clearly of the importance of this modern book of scripture than what the Lord Himself has said about it.

By His own mouth He has borne witness (1) that it is true D. and C. 17:6  (2) that it contains the truth and His words D. and C. 19:26, (3) that it was translated by power from on high D. and C. 20:8 (4) that it contains the fulness of the gospel of Jesus Christ D. and C.20: 9, D. and C. 42:12, (5) that it was given by inspiration and confirmed by the ministering of angels D. and C. 20:10, (6) that it gives evidence that the holy scriptures are true D. and C. 20:11, and (7) that those who receive it in faith shall receive eternal life D. and C. 20:14.

A second powerful testimony to the importance of the Book of Mormon is to note where the Lord placed its coming forth in the timetable of the unfolding Restoration. The only thing that preceded it was the First Vision. In that marvelous manifestation, the Prophet Joseph Smith learned the true nature of God and that God had a work for him to do. The coming forth of the Book of Mormon was the next thing to follow.

Think of that in terms of what it implies. The coming forth of the Book of Mormon preceded the restoration of the priesthood. It was published just a few days before the Church was organized. The Saints were given the Book of Mormon to read before they were given the revelations outlining such great doctrines as the three degrees of glory, celestial marriage, or work for the dead. It came before priesthood quorums and Church organization. Doesn’t this tell us something about how the Lord views this sacred work?

Once we realize how the Lord feels about this book, it should not surprise us that He also gives us solemn warnings about how we receive it. After indicating that those who receive the Book of Mormon with faith, working righteousness, will receive a crown of eternal glory (see D. and C. 20:14, the Lord follows with this warning: “But those who harden their hearts in unbelief, and reject it, it shall turn to their own condemnation” D. and C. 20:15.

In 1829, the Lord warned the Saints that they are not to trifle with sacred things D. and C. 6:12. Surely the Book of Mormon is a sacred thing, and yet many trifle with it, or in other words, take it lightly, treat it as though it is of little importance.

In 1832, as some early missionaries returned from their fields of labor, the Lord reproved them for treating the Book of Mormon lightly. As a result of that attitude, he said, their minds had been darkened. Not only had treating this sacred book lightly brought a loss of light to themselves, it had also brought the whole Church under condemnation, even all the children of Zion. And then the Lord said, “And they shall remain under this condemnation until they repent and remember the new covenant, even the Book of Mormon” D. and C. 84:54-57.

Has the fact that we have had the Book of Mormon with us for over a century and a half made it seem less significant to us today? Do we remember the new covenant, even the Book of Mormon? In the Bible we have the Old Testament and the New Testament. The word testament is the English rendering of a Greek word that can also be translated as covenant. Is this what the Lord meant when He called the Book of Mormon the “new covenant”? It is indeed another testament or witness of Jesus. This is one of the reasons why we have recently added the words “Another Testament of Jesus Christ” to the title of the Book of Mormon. (Emphasis by Highlighting was added by this blogger.)

If the early Saints were rebuked for treating the Book of Mormon lightly, are we under any less condemnation if we do the same? The Lord Himself bears testimony that it is of eternal significance. Can a small number of us bring the whole Church under condemnation because we trifle with sacred things? What will we say at the Judgment when we stand before Him and meet His probing gaze if we are among those described as forgetting the new covenant?

There are three great reasons why Latter-day Saints should make the study of the Book of Mormon a lifetime pursuit.

The first is that the Book of Mormon is the keystone of our religion. This was the Prophet Joseph Smith’s statement. He testified that “the Book of Mormon was the most correct of any book on earth, and the keystone of our religion” (Introduction to the Book of Mormon). A keystone is the central stone in an arch. It holds all the other stones in place, and if removed, the arch crumbles.

There are three ways in which the Book of Mormon is the keystone of our religion. It is the keystone in our witness of Christ. It is the keystone of our doctrine. It is the keystone of testimony.

The Book of Mormon is the keystone in our witness of Jesus Christ, who is Himself the cornerstone of everything we do. It bears witness of His reality with power and clarity. Unlike the Bible, which passed through generations of copyists, translators, and corrupt religionists who tampered with the text, the Book of Mormon came from writer to reader in just one inspired step of translation. Therefore, its testimony of the Master is clear, undiluted, and full of power. But it does even more. Much of the Christian world today rejects the divinity of the Savior. They question His miraculous birth, His perfect life, and the reality of His glorious resurrection. The Book of Mormon teaches in plain and unmistakable terms about the truth of all of those. It also provides the most complete explanation of the doctrine of the Atonement. Truly, this divinely inspired book is a keystone in bearing witness to the world that Jesus is the Christ (see title page of the Book of Mormon).

The Book of Mormon is also the keystone of the doctrine of the Resurrection. As mentioned before, the Lord Himself has stated that the Book of Mormon contains the “fulness of the gospel of Jesus Christ” D. and C. 20:9. That does not mean it contains every teaching, every doctrine ever revealed. Rather, it means that in the Book of Mormon we will find the fulness of those doctrines required for our salvation. And they are taught plainly and simply so that even children can learn the ways of salvation and exaltation. The Book of Mormon offers so much that broadens our understandings of the doctrines of salvation. Without it, much of what is taught in other scriptures would not be nearly so plain and precious.

Finally, the Book of Mormon is the keystone of testimony. Just as the arch crumbles if the keystone is removed, so does all the Church stand or fall with the truthfulness of the Book of Mormon. The enemies of the Church understand this clearly. This is why they go to such great lengths to try to disprove the Book of Mormon, for if it can be discredited, the Prophet Joseph Smith goes with it. So does our claim to priesthood keys, and revelation, and the restored Church. But in like manner, if the Book of Mormon be true—and millions have now testified that they have the witness of the Spirit that it is indeed true—then one must accept the claims of the Restoration and all that accompanies it.

Yes, my beloved brothers and sisters, the Book of Mormon is the keystone of our religion—the keystone of our testimony, the keystone of our doctrine, and the keystone in the witness of our Lord and Savior.

The second great reason why we must make the Book of Mormon a center focus of study is that it was written for our day. The Nephites never had the book; neither did the Lamanites of ancient times. It was meant for us. Mormon wrote near the end of the Nephite civilization. Under the inspiration of God, who sees all things from the beginning, he abridged centuries of records, choosing the stories, speeches, and events that would be most helpful to us.

Each of the major writers of the Book of Mormon testified that he wrote for future generations. Nephi said: “The Lord God promised unto me that these things which I write shall be kept and preserved, and handed down unto my seed, from generation to generation” 2 Ne 25:21. His brother Jacob, who succeeded him, wrote similar words: “For [Nephi] said that the history of his people should be engraven upon his other plates, and that I should preserve these plates and hand them down unto my seed, from generation to generation” Jacob 1:3. Enos and Jarom both indicated that they too were writing not for their own peoples but for future generations See Enos 1: 15-16 and Jarom 1:2

Mormon himself said, “Yea, I speak unto you, ye remnant of the house of Israel” (Morm. 7: 1) And Moroni, the last of the inspired writers, actually saw our day and time. “Behold,” he said, “the Lord hath shown unto me great and marvelous things concerning that which must shortly come, at that day when these things shall come forth among you.

“Behold, I speak unto you as if ye were present, and yet ye are not. But behold, Jesus Christ hath shown you unto me, and I know your doing” Mormon 8:34-35.

If they saw our day and chose those things which would be of greatest worth to us, is not that how we should study the Book of Mormon? We should constantly ask ourselves, “Why did the Lord inspire Mormon (or Moroni or Alma) to include that in his record? What lesson can I learn from that to help me live in this day and age?”

And there is example after example of how that question will be answered. For example, in the Book of Mormon we find a pattern for preparing for the Second Coming. A major portion of the book centers on the few decades just prior to Christ’s coming to America. By careful study of that time period, we can determine why some were destroyed in the terrible judgments that preceded His coming and what brought others to stand at the temple in the land of Bountiful and thrust their hands into the wounds of His hands and feet.

From the Book of Mormon we learn how disciples of Christ live in times of war. From the Book of Mormon we see the evils of secret combinations portrayed in graphic and chilling reality. In the Book of Mormon we find lessons for dealing with persecution and apostasy. We learn much about how to do missionary work. And more than anywhere else, we see in the Book of Mormon the dangers of materialism and setting our hearts on the things of the world. Can anyone doubt that this book was meant for us and that in it we find great power, great comfort, and great protection?

The third reason why the Book of Mormon is of such value to Latter-day Saints is given in the same statement by the Prophet Joseph Smith cited previously. He said, “I told the brethren that the Book of Mormon was the most correct of any book on earth, and the keystone of our religion, and a man would get nearer to God by abiding by its precepts, than by any other book” (History of the Church, 4:461). That is the third reason for studying the book. It helps us draw nearer to God. Is there not something deep in our hearts that longs to draw nearer to God, to be more like Him in our daily walk, to feel His presence with us constantly? If so, then the Book of Mormon will help us do so more than any other book.

It is not just that the Book of Mormon teaches us truth, though it indeed does that. It is not just that the Book of Mormon bears testimony of Christ, though it indeed does that, too. But there is something more. There is a power in the book which will begin to flow into your lives the moment you begin a serious study of the book. You will find greater power to resist temptation. You will find the power to avoid deception. You will find the power to stay on the strait and narrow path. The scriptures are called “the words of life” D. and C. 84:85, and nowhere is that more true than it is of the Book of Mormon. When you begin to hunger and thirst after those words, you will find life in greater and greater abundance.

Our beloved brother, President Marion G. Romney, who celebrated his eighty-ninth birthday last month and who knows of himself of the power that resides in this book, testified of the blessings that can come into the lives of those who will read and study the Book of Mormon. He said:

“I feel certain that if, in our homes, parents will read from the Book of Mormon prayerfully and regularly, both by themselves and with their children, the spirit of that great book will come to permeate our homes and all who dwell therein. The spirit of reverence will increase; mutual respect and consideration for each other will grow. The spirit of contention will depart. Parents will counsel their children in greater love and wisdom. Children will be more responsive and submissive to the counsel of their parents. Righteousness will increase. Faith, hope, and charity—the pure love of Christ—will abound in our homes and lives, bringing in their wake peace, joy, and happiness” (Ensign, May 1980, p. 67).

These promises—increased love and harmony in the home, greater respect between parent and child, increased spirituality and righteousness—are not idle promises, but exactly what the Prophet Joseph Smith meant when he said the Book of Mormon will help us draw nearer to God.

Brethren and sisters, I implore you with all my heart that you consider with great solemnity the importance of the Book of Mormon to you personally and to the Church collectively.

Over ten years ago I made the following statement regarding the Book of Mormon:

“Do eternal consequences rest upon our response to this book? Yes, either to our blessing or our condemnation.

“Every Latter-day Saint should make the study of this book a lifetime pursuit. Otherwise he is placing his soul in jeopardy and neglecting that which could give spiritual and intellectual unity to his whole life. There is a difference between a convert who is built on the rock of Christ through the Book of Mormon and stays hold of that iron rod, and one who is not” (Ensign, May 1975, p. 65).

I reaffirm those words to you this day. Let us not remain under condemnation, with its scourge and judgment, by treating lightly this great and marvelous gift the Lord has given to us. Rather, let us win the promises associated with treasuring it up in our hearts.

In the Doctrine and Covenants, section 84, verses 54 to 58, we read:

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

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

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

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

“That they may bring forth fruit meet for their Father’s kingdom; otherwise there remaineth a scourge and judgment to be poured out upon the children of Zion.” D. and C. 84:54-58.

Since last general conference, I have received many letters from Saints, both young and old, from all over the world who accepted the challenge to read and study the Book of Mormon.

I have been thrilled by their accounts of how their lives have been changed and how they have drawn closer to the Lord as a result of their commitment. These glorious testimonies have reaffirmed to my soul the words of the Prophet Joseph Smith that the Book of Mormon is truly “the keystone of our religion” and that a man and woman will “get nearer to God by abiding by its precepts, than by any other book.”

This is my prayer, that the Book of Mormon may become the keystone of our lives, in the name of Jesus Christ, amen.

*Ezra Taft Benson, (now deceased), served for about seven or eight years as the Secretary of Agriculture of the Government of the United States of America while serving concurrently as a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He later served as the President of that Church until his death.

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Unselfish Service (a Mormon Messages Video)

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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) Book of Mormon." The Title of an LDS Church General Conference Address Given By President Ezra Taft Benson - Post 39r. 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). ___________

"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: Its content is translated from the English in this blog.

Neil Birch

39q - Our God, the Lord Jesus Christ, Requires All of Us to Serve Our Fellow Man!

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



King Benjamin's Farewell Address -by Gary Kapp

Mosiah: 2:17 And behold, I tell you these things that ye may learn wisdom; that ye may learn that when ye are in the service of your fellow beings ye are only in the service of your God.

Those were the words of King Benjamin, a Nephite prophet of God who lived in about 124 B.C. which are recorded in the Book of Mormon, Another Testament of Jesus Christ.

Members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints are taught that the words of the Book of Mormon, Another Testament of Jesus Christ are meant to guide us in our living.

A prophet of God of our day, Ezra Taft Benson* (since deceased) has said:

“The Book of Mormon—Keystone of Our Religion,” Ensign
Magazine, November 1986, page 4

My beloved brethren and sisters, today I would like to speak about one of the most significant gifts given to the world in modern times. The gift I am thinking of is more important than any of the inventions that have come out of the industrial and technological revolutions. This is a gift of greater value to mankind than even the many wonderful advances we have seen in modern medicine. It is of greater worth to mankind than the development of flight or space travel. I speak of the gift of the Book of Mormon, given to mankind 156 years ago.

This gift was prepared by the hand of the Lord over a period of more than a thousand years, then hidden up by Him so that it would be preserved in its purity for our generation. . .(emphasis added)

I will provide the entire text of that address given by the Prophet, Ezra Taft Benson at The General Conference of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (October 1986) in my next post. 39r.

In recent posts I have been providing information about world-wide service the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has been providing throughout the world, over a long period of time to alleviate stress to afflicted people of many nations throughout the world, regardless of their nationality, race or religious affiliation.

Most recently I have provided information about what the LDS Church is presently doing, in cooperation with others to provide assistance in the Caribbean nation of Haiti that was struck by a devastating 7.0 magnitude earthquake very recently.

Again I have copied an article from lds.org.

Church to build temporary housing in Haiti before rainy season
From lds.org
Published: Monday, Feb. 15, 2010

SALT LAKE CITY

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is launching an aggressive program to put as many as 600 urgently needed temporary housing kits into the hands of Haitian members before the rainy season starts in April. A single kit includes lumber, corrugated tin for the roof, cement and hurricane straps for the roof.

Copyright Intellctual Reserve, Inc.

Transitional housing allows people to prepare their own site and assemble a house from a kit.

The goal is to get families back on their properties by clearing away the rubble through organized service projects. Once properties are cleared, tents or the new temporary shelters can be set up. It is a continuing effort by the Church to restore normalcy and promote self-reliance.

“The principle of welfare should take place, where we help the people help themselves,” said Berthony Theodore, a senior Haitian Church leader.

Church welfare managers have assisted local Church leaders in establishing a well-stocked storehouse of life-sustaining supplies such as beans, rice and milk.

Orders are filled through local congregational leaders. Deliveries are then made to the nine Latter-day Saint meetinghouses that have been used as shelters for those displaced by the quake.

Copyright Intellectual Reserve, Inc.

Transitional housing allows people to prepare their own site and assemble a house from a kit.

Havens of safety and calm

Hundreds of families continue to seek shelter at the nine Latter-day Saint meetinghouses around Port-au-Prince four weeks after the temblor. The meetinghouses have become known as places of calm and security to those staying there.

Copyright Intellectual Reserve, Inc.

Jeannicia Alexandre, the LDS Relief Society president in a local congregation in Haiti, helps assemble temporary housing.

The Church has provided nearly 1,500 tents to those left homeless, and many now dot the property around the chapels. “A neighbor told me about this place and invited me to come,” said 16-year-old Cazy Lenlingy. “I am very happy to be here. Everyone has been kind and has received me well, thanks to God.”

Over 7,000 people originally took refuge at the meetinghouses, with those not of the Mormon faith making up more than two-thirds of the homeless.

Copyright Intellectual Reserve, Inc.

Haitians use a Church meetinghouse courtyard for temporary shelter

Doctors

The Church has sponsored several member teams of doctors to administer to the medical needs of the many people injured in the quake.

"I couldn't sit back on my couch and watch it if there was something I could do," said Dr. John Matheson of Kennewick, Washington, in a voice choked with emotion.

Volunteer doctors from the United States served side-by-side with Haitian pediatrician Gislaine St. Louis, a member of the Church.

“After the earthquake I closed my private clinic to devote my time to helping the children in these areas,” said Dr. St. Louis. “I love the children and want them to do better.”

When Dr. St. Louis and her fellow doctors began to visit the injured at various meetinghouses, word of mouth quickly spread throughout the community and dozens of patients began to trickle in for help. The doctors were making sure wounds treated immediately after the quake were healing properly and free from infection.

Copyright Intellectual Reserve, Inc.

The Church is launching an aggressive program to put temporary housing kits into the hands of Haitian members before the rainy season starts in April.

"What has touched me the most is seeing people congregate to the Church and seeing how quickly the Church organized after the initial disaster and responded,” Dr. St. Louis said.

Even with the chaos there often springs hope. Three doctors say the same day they arrived in Haiti they faced their first medical emergency.

"I noticed a woman breathing heavily and pushing. She was going into labor!" said Dr. Rodney Anderson of Vernal, Utah. Dr. Anderson knows all about labor. He has delivered more than 4,000 babies throughout his career. "I was hoping to deliver a baby while I was here. I just didn't think it would happen so soon," he said.

Doctors Matheson, Anderson and Craig Coleby of Houston, Texas, placed the expectant mother on a pingpong table and delivered a tiny but healthy baby boy.

The new mother, Noiselia Saintdor, said she and her five children were panicked after the earthquake destroyed their home. They were running down the street with nowhere to turn for safety.

"We are not members of this church but I prayed to God to know where to go," said Noiselia. She saw others going to the meetinghouse and followed.

"When I arrived I was really happy because of the security that I feel here," recalled Noiselia. “I am grateful for the people that have received us here and for everyone who is doing this great work.”

Future plans

Response teams on the ground in Port-au-Prince are continuing to assess the situation and coordinate with other nongovernment organizations and relief agencies. While details are still being worked out, future activities will likely include assisting in agricultural, water and mobility projects, providing employment assistance, providing continued support to temporary settlements, and continuing work with other relief agencies.

__________________

*Ezra Taft Benson, (since deceased), served for eight years as the Secretary of Agriculture in the cabinet of U.S.A. President, Dwight D. Eisenhower while on leave as a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. After President Eisenhower's two term presidency ended, Elder Benson returned as a full-time member of the LDS Quorum of the Twelve. He later served as the President of that Church. (This clarification was added to this Church News Article by Neil Birch, blogger.)

The following is The current Mormon Message!

Have I Done Any Good in the World Today?

____________

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 Lord Jesus Christ Requires All of Us to Serve Our Fellow Man -Post 39q. 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).

___________


 "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: Its content is translated from the English in this blog.

Neil Birch

39p - ..."the Lamanites Shall Blossom as the Rose!" Doctrine & Covenants: 49:24

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

Before launching into Today's Theme I will present to you a summary of the Welfare assistance the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has provided throughout the world since 1985. This is a follow-up to the information I have been providing as part of my most recent blog posts.

LDS Church News

Published: Saturday, Feb. 6, 2010

Welfare assistance since 1985
Since 1985 the Church has sent humanitarian aid around the world, including:
Total Monetary Assistance – $1,115,900,000
Countries served – 167
Food – 61,308 tons
Medical supplies – 12,829 tons
Clothing – 84,681 tons
Hygiene, newborn, and school kits – 8,600,000
Major responses to emergencies:
2010 - Haiti earthquake
2009 – Samoan/Tonga earthquake, Philippines Typhoon
2008 – China earthquake, Ethiopia famine
2007 – Peru earthquake, California wildfires
2006 – Indonesia earthquake, Lebanon war relief
2005 – U.S. hurricanes Katrina and Rita, Pakistan earthquake
2004 – 2007 – South Asia tsunami
2004 – Florida and Caribbean hurricanes
2003 – Africa floods and famine, Iraq and Liberia war relief
2002 – Europe and Chile flooding
2001 – El Salvador and Peru earthquakes, Afghanistan war relief
2000 – Mozambique and Brazil flooding, Belize hurricane
1999 – Kosovo war relief
1998 – Central America hurricane
1997 – U.S. Midwest flooding, North Korea crop failure
1996 – Bosnia, Croatia, Serbia war relief
1995 – Japan earthquake
1994 – Rwanda war relief

Under the leadership of their First Presidency and the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, has provided assistance to people in need throughout the world. This is just what the Lord, Jesus Christ would expect of his modern-day representatives!Now we come to that which is referred to in TODAY'S THEME: (I repeat this from the heading of this post): ..."the Lamanites Shall Blossom as the Rose!" Doctrine & Covenants: 49:24
When our Resurrected and Glorified Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ conducted his ministry among the Nephite-Lamanite people in ancient Central America, he was very clear about the record of that people he was then among, becoming, in the "Latter-days" (Our Days) something very important in assisting their descendants, who were to have all become Lamanites who would be living in our day and time, to be greatly blessed by the Latter-day Church which he would have established.

That record was to be: The Book of Mormon, Another Witness of Jesus Christ and his Church would be named: The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

The following article was copied by me from our most recent LDS Church News which we received this past Saturday with our regular newspaper, The Deseret News (Published in Salt Lake City, Utah, U.S.A.) You will learn from this article how a certain group of descendants of the Nephite-Lamanites among whom our Lord and Savior ministered anciently, are now, in our present day, being helped to "Blossom as the Rose." In their apecific case it is in regards to their learning to become a more healthy people.
Greenhouses 'above the clouds'Structures help Bolivians grow vegetables to improve their health
By Jason Swensen, Church News staff writer
Published: Saturday, Feb. 13, 2010
SURIQUINA, BOLIVIA
Bolivia's sprawling La Paz has been dubbed "The City in the Clouds" for good reason — resting at 12,000 feet above sea level, it's the highest elevated capital in the world.

Jason Swensen, Deseret News

The snow-capped Andes surround the open lands of the Bolivian Altiplano. Located some 14,000 feet above sea level, the region's harsh environment renders impossible traditional farming of most plants.

Jason Swensen, Deseret News

Bernita Choque picks leafy green vegetables from her underground greenhouse. The vegetables will be used to make a vitamin-rich salad for her family of 11. The family lives on the Bolivian Altiplano. The Church's Benson Institute* and Welfare Department are helping people on the Altiplano grow vegetables in greenhouses to enrich their diets.

So what do you call a rural community some 2,000 feet above La Paz? In many ways, the tiny hamlets of the Bolivian Altiplano defy description. The region is at once enchanting and forbidding. First-time visitors marvel at the Altiplano's vast open landscapes, its alpaca herds and its breathtaking (literally, at 14,000 feet) views of the perpetually snow-capped Andes.
Still, there are daily reminders that this is tough land. Forget your sunblock and your skin will pay a painful price, even in chilly weather. Sudden cloudbursts can wash out mountain back roads within minutes. And Altiplano residents know if they miss the gas man making his weekly rounds through the community they'll have to go a week without.

Jason Swensen, Deseret News

In Bolivia's Altiplano, Bernita Choque said her children's health has improved since they began eating vegetables grown in the family greenhouse.

Jason Swensen, Deseret News

Benson Institute* workers Gustavo Vargas, left, and Elizabeth Garcia teach the Ignacio Choque family about utilizing good nutrition to ensure good health.

It's also impossible to grow a good tomato, cucumber or almost any other type of vegetable you would find stocked in the local produce section. The climate here is simply too harsh to sustain such crops. For Altiplano residents — including many Latter-day Saints — such scarcities of vitamin-rich vegetables can exact a lifelong toll on their physical health, intellectual development and spiritual growth.

Jason Swensen, Deseret News

An indigenous Bolivian woman outside her above-ground greenhouse that was built with the assistance of the Church's Benson Institute* in Bolivia.

"The majority of the people eat only meat products and potatoes, and they really don't have any other types of foods such as vegetables, which are needed for them to receive vitamins," said Elizabeth Garcia, administrator of the Church's Benson Institute* Office in Bolivia. Humanitarian workers such as Sister Garcia and her colleagues in the Church's Welfare Department were eager to incorporate invigorating vegetables into the Altiplano diet. So plans were developed about two years ago to assist the local members and many of their neighbors by building underground greenhouses outside their homes.

The greenhouses allow families "to grow green leafy vegetables, tomatoes, peppers or any other sort of vegetable they would want in [an environment] where the temperature stays consistent," said Wade Sperry, an agronomist working as a field operations manager for the Welfare Department.

Jason Swensen, Deseret News

Jason Swenson, Deseret News

Utilizing simple building materials and training provided by the Benson Institute*, the Altiplano members constructed the greenhouses and, for the first time, started growing and eating cucumbers, lettuce, beets and other healthful plants. Some 100 greenhouses have been built so far.

The greenhouses are relatively simple to build and easy to maintain, Brother Sperry said. Most are about five feet deep, five to six feet wide and 10 to 15 feet long. After the hole is dug, a wooden frame is constructed that typically rises about two feet above the ground. Fiberglass or plastic is then stretched across the top of the frame to form a roof.

Greenhouse farming is new to most here, so the Church provides all the training needed to grow a county fair-worthy crop.

"You teach the people here that they need 10 hours of sunlight to grow a good vegetable," Brother Sperry said. "They have to orient their greenhouse so the sun crosses lengthwise across the greenhouse. Different vegetables are planted at different depths. If you get the depth wrong they won't grow right."

The Church also provided new greenhouse owners with sufficient seed to produce a maiden harvest large enough to feed their families — and yield a few extra vegetables to sell so they could purchase the next round of seeds. Principles of self-sufficiency are championed in all aspects of the greenhouse project.

The Church's Altiplano program extends beyond building, operating and maintaining a greenhouse. For many here, vegetables remain an exotic food. "They have to get used to eating vegetables — they're not used to the flavor," Brother Sperry said.

So, Benson Institute* workers such as Sister Garcia, Gustavo Vargas and others have worked with the greenhouse owners, teaching them to make salads and how to cook their vegetables using salt and herbs. They also teach the families, including the young children, about ways nutrition works and how it can make them bigger, stronger, faster, smarter and even more spiritual.

Bernita Choque and her husband, Ignacio, have a large family. With nine children and another on the way, Sister Choque knows well it's important to keep her children well fed, healthy and happy. Their family greenhouse, she said, has helped make that possible.

"My children needed this type of nutrition; we're so happy and grateful for the help of the Benson Institute*," she said. "The children are happier and healthier. They don't seem to get sick much."

Sister Choque added she's blended vegetables into her family's diet. She often tosses together a spinach salad and enjoys cooking vegetable soup.

Altiplano resident Eulogio Ticona is not a member, but he's quick to add the Church has been instrumental in improving his young family's health by helping him build an above-ground greenhouse. His only son, Joel, 3, is being raised on a typical Altiplano diet supplemented with carrots, lettuce, peppers, cucumbers and other vegetables.

"I believe [the vegetables] are helping him with his intelligence," said Mr. Ticona. "He's learning his numbers and other things quickly. He's growing quickly."

Brother Sperry is certain that a program designed to improve physical health is also boosting the spiritual vigor of the members here. Greenhouses make excellent year-round classrooms for learning the Law of the Harvest.

"Whenever you get down and work in the soil and see the product of your labor growing and providing food, it adds a lot to one's spiritual strength," Brother Sperry said. The Altiplano greenhouses also provide families with daily opportunities to work together, shoulder-to-shoulder. Children of all ages learn they have a role in sustaining and helping their family.

"Everyone helps," said Sister Choque. "The little boys bring in water. They all help to collect the vegetables. Everyone helps."

While the Church's Welfare Department has been pivotal in building the greenhouses, the local leaders will determine the project's sustainability. Bishops, branch presidents and Relief Society leaders will play the deciding role in the program's long-term success, Brother Sperry said.

"It's satisfying," he added, "that the Church is providing the opportunity for these families to do this."
(*The Benson Institute is named after Ezra Taft Benson, since deceased, who served for about ten years as the Secretary of Agriculture of the Government of the United States of America while serving concurrently as a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He later served as the President of that Church.) (This clarification was added to this Church News article by this blogger, Neil Birch.)

J. Swensen - Deseret News
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Please left click on the following link to view this most recent Mormon Messages video.

Mormon Messages

___________

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





TO 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) Lamanites Shall Blossom As the Rose! . . . - Post 39p. 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.)
____________


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 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

39o - In Ancient America, Jesus, in giving the Same Basic Sermon He Gave as a Mortal in Palestine, Now Has His Father's Full Power!

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

****

TODAY'S THEME

I will continue Today's Theme of this post after I have finished updating you on the Relief Effort Launched by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the island nation of Haiti about which I wrote in my just previous blog post. Please feel free to scroll down to that if you have not yet read it, or desire to review it before reading this update!

UPDATE ON LDS CHURCH RELIEF EFFORT IN HAITI

Help for Haiti: a long-term effortWelfare manager outlines Church's humanitarian aid
By Sarah Jane Weaver Church News staff writer
Published: Saturday, Jan. 30, 2010

Latter-day Saint help and support in Haiti will be a long-term effort, said Dennis Lifferth, managing director of Church Welfare Services.

Photo: Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret NewsRESponse Doctors and volunteers unload water sent by the Church on Jan. 24 for earthquake victims.

Speaking to the Church News two weeks after a Jan. 12 earthquake leveled much of the Caribbean island nation — and more than a week after Church medical teams arrived in the country to offer help — Brother Lifferth said the next steps for Church relief in the devastated country are being developed "at this very moment."

"The Area presidency is considering how to help rebuild, how to help the members with employment and how to provide additional medical support," he said, noting that the Church will also work with the United Nations and other relief organizations to formulate long-term recovery needs and rebuild schools, hospitals and infrastructure.

"This will not end in the next week or two," he added. "This will be a long-term effort."

That, he explained, is one of the benefits of the Church's involvement. "They tend to take a long-term view," he said.

For example, the Church is still providing support in Indonesia and Peru years after disasters devastated those areas.

"The Church will be in Haiti for a long time, providing the help that is needed to rebuild," he pledged. Brother Lifferth said that already the Church response, led by the Caribbean Area Presidency, has been remarkable. In the two weeks following the disaster — which killed as estimated 200,000 (including 20 Latter-day Saints) and left more than a million homeless — the Church:

*Distributed more than 1 million pounds of food, water and other necessities to thousands of people. Five planes carrying relief supplies were sent to the country immediately. Another two planes are scheduled to arrive in Haiti this week. In addition, the Church purchased food locally. In total, the Church's contribution thus far equates to 25 truckloads, each carrying 40,000 pounds of food and other supplies.

*Shipped more than 2,000 tents for families forced to leave their homes. More than 1,000 additional tents are en route to the country.

*Provided medical doctors, medicine and wheelchairs for the injured. In the first few days after the initial quake, the Church called on 14 doctors and nurses and a pair of licensed social workers to participate in humanitarian aid. A half-dozen of them spoke Haitian Creole or French.

*Opened the doors of nine meetinghouses located in and around Port-au-Prince to provide shelter to members and their neighbors. According to a Church welfare report, the number of individuals taking refuge at meetinghouses continues to decrease slowly as people return to their homes or find better locations for refuge.

*Partnered with other charitable organizations, including Food for the Poor, International Relief and Development, American Red Cross, Islamic Relief, CARE and United Airlines. In addition, the Church is working closely with the United Nations to coordinate relief efforts on the ground.

*Organized priesthood leaders in Port-au-Prince to assess the needs and provide the direction for relief efforts. Local leaders organized the members and missionaries to load and unload the trucks carrying the supplies, to help and care for the injured, feed the people, and clean local meetinghouses and grounds. In addition, local leaders have offered hope and encouragement.

*Coordinated the donations of thousands of Latter-days Saints, who made "significant contributions" online and through Sunday contribution forms to help with relief efforts in Haiti.

*Purchased four additional vehicles for use in delivering supplies and moving aid workers, according to a Church welfare report. In addition, the former mission home is being renovated for use by the local priesthood emergency response committee and as a base for medical response.

Brother Lifferth said day by day, the conditions in Port-au-Prince are slowly improving. Traffic is flowing better. Commerce is slowly increasing and more food appears to be available on the streets. Medical clinics are functioning again.

"We are very pleased and grateful for the remarkable progress in Haiti," Brother Lifferth said.

The Caribbean Area Presidency has two major goals, Brother Lifferth noted. "The first is to provide relief to those who have been displaced or injured or are otherwise suffering from the effects of the earthquake. The second is to help the people continue along the path that leads to self reliance and self worth."

Brother Lifferth said the Church's quick response in Haiti was made possible because the organization had the needed supplies already stored in warehouses across the United States and could quickly assemble and have them ready to ship.

Second, he said, quick response was possible because of the number of friends and relationships that have been established by the Church over the years in emergency response. Specifically in Haiti, he added, the Church had established friends that made large warehouses and compounds available to the Church, where relief supplies could be held before they were distributed.

And finally, local priesthood leaders helped the Church assess the problems and immediately communicated needs.

"We are seeing a unique level of cooperation among all interested parties working together to help the Haitians solve their problems," he said. "It is remarkable."

Brother Lifferth said medical teams returning to headquarters reported "how profoundly grateful [the Haitians] are for the tremendous outpouring of support they have received."

Now we go back to Today's Theme: In Ancient America, Jesus, in giving the Same Basic Sermon He Gave as a Mortal in Palestine, Now Has His Father's Full Power!



The Resurrected Jesus' Sermon at the Temple in the Land Bountiful -by John Scott



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



As you have no doubt just discerned, the teachings of Jesus in each of these two different sets of scriptures are identical in many ways! However, in verse 25 of 3 Nephi 13 we will find that the Lord begins specific instructions to his Twelve Apostles whom he has chosen there in Ancient America among the Nephite-Lamanite people. It appears to me that the shift from teaching the members of his church to teaching his apostles was, for some unknown reason, left out of verse 25 of Matthew, Chapter 26.

Certainly the instructions given in verses 25 through 27 in both scriptures weren't meant to apply to the general membership of his church, but only to his full-time apostles who serve him constantly and don't have the time to earn a living.

However, as you would have learned from my post 39l there are other significant differences between what is recorded in Chapter 12 of 3 Nephi (from the Book of Mormon) and in Chapter 5 of Matthew: Here is just one of a good number of such examples of significant differences:

AND BEFORE THAT, IN PALESTINE: As you would have learned from my Post 39l, it is very understandable that Jesus changed his words which he had spoken to his followers in Palestine, by adding the words, "even as I" in his same basic sermon he gave to the Nephites in Ancient Central America, near their temple.

It was logical and very informative for Jesus to add those words, "even as I" to his same basic message he was delivering to another portion of his flock who lived in a different part of the world, after his resurrection from the dead and glorification, or in other words: after having become fully perfect!

One thing that helps us know that Jesus had become fully God and equal to His Father in Heaven, is that he was able to tell the Nephites the following when he first spoke to them from the air after the great destruction had taken place in Ancient America among the more wicked portion of their nation: I would now like you to listen to that which the Lord told the Nephites out of the sky above them. III Nephi 9.

Sermon on the Mount

As promised in my just previous post, I will continue reviewing in this post that which the Lord told the Nephites (and all readers of the Book of Mormon, Another Testament of Jesus Christ) which I began in my post, 39m, in 3 Nephi, Chapters 13 and 14 from the Book of Mormon and then compare them to Chapters 6 and 7 of Matthew in the New Testament. I will not cover all of it in this post. It will be continued to at least the next post, "Post P" and perhaps beyond.

This post is planned as a follow-up to the comparison I made in my Post, 39l of that which was recorded in 3 Nephi, Chapter 12 to what was recorded in Matthew Chapter 5.

Please read the following quotation from Chapter 14 of 3 Nephi in which the Resurrected Jesus Christ delivers a sermon which he also gave in Palestine during his mortal ministry which you can read in Matthew, Chapter 6. I'm sure you'll agree with me that were we to live by Jesus' guidance given then in Ancient America, which was also given to those who heard Him teach in Palestine during His earthly ministry, that we would be at great peace with our God and ourselves. Now here are the same verses from Matthew, Chapter 6:

3 Nephi, Chapter 13: 24 ¶ No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.

25 And now it came to pass that when Jesus had spoken these words he looked upon the twelve whom he had chosen, and said unto them: Remember the words which I have spoken, For behold, ye are they whom I have chosen to minister unto this people. Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment?

26 Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they?

27 Which of you by taking thought can add one cubit unto his stature?

24 ¶ No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.

25 Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment?

26 Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they?

27 Which of you by taking thought can add one cubit unto his stature?

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

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

I suggest you use the Listen feature when this scripture is on your screen.

3 Nephi 9:1-22

I would like you to now focus on several passages which you have just read and listened to in Chapter 9 of 3 Nephi:

3 Behold, that great city Zarahemla have I burned with fire, and the inhabitants thereof.

4 And behold, that great city Moroni have I caused to be sunk in the depths of the sea, and the inhabitants thereof to be drowned.

5 And behold, that great city Moronihah have I covered with earth, and the inhabitants thereof, to hide their iniquities and their abominations from before my face, that the blood of the prophets and the saints shall not come any more unto me against them.

6 And behold, the city of Gilgal have I caused to be sunk, and the inhabitants thereof to be buried up in the depths of the earth; (emphasis added)

As shown so clearly above, The Lord Jesus Christ, after his glorification, is fully God, inasmuch as it appears that only then was He able to bring judgements on the wicked and has become equal in all aspects to his (and our) Heavenly Father's intentions and abilities. Clearly, Jesus, during his mortal mission would have been out-of-role if he had said that which is quoted just above!

Some very uninformed people who certainly could not have carefully compared such scriptures as we have above and much more extensively in my Post 39l, claim that the Sermon at the Temple as recorded in 3 Nephi of the Book of Mormon was simply a matter of plagerism!

As I have demonstrated in this post and other recent posts there are significant differences between the recorded words of Jesus before and then after, his atonement, crucifixion and resurrection, when he had become glorified! This is so because after glorification he became fully equal in his godly abilities to his (and our) Father in Heaven.

In my next post I will continue comparing the words of the Sermon on the Mount and the Sermon at the Temple so you will be more fully informed about this very important matter.

I Neil Birch, know personally by the witness of the Holy Ghost, that the Book of Mormon stands side by side with the New Testament as the word of God, written by one of His holy prophets, Mormon, using the records of many other prophets who preceded him, and finished by his faithful son, Moroni, who hid the golden plates, upon which the Book of Mormon was written, in New York State (U.S.A.) in a place where he led young Joseph Smith, Jr. to view them and then a few years later to take them out of their many centuries long hiding place in order to translate them, by the special means of help which God had prepared centuries before by a Nephite father (Mormon) and his son (Moroni.
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Here is a video I invite you to view.

In watching this video you will notice that the present Prophet, Seer and Revelator (President) of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Thomas S. Monson, is speaking to you and me about service to others. Look for the word, Haiti, on some of the boxes of goods which are being sent to the needy. I tell you that knowing that you have been reading earlier in this post about the service this church is providing to the victims of the huge earthquake and aftershocks that took place very recently in Haiti, along with the service of many others.

Have I Done Any Good in the World Today?
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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 Reading All of This Paragraph Please Click on the Following: Jesus Christ, in Ancient Central America, Gave the Same Basic Sermon He Gave As a Mortal in Palestine, By Then He Had His Father's Full Power - Post 39o. 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).
______________


"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: Its content is translated from the English in this blog.

Neil Birch