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TODAY'S THEME
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| Viewing the Promised Land -by Arnold Friberg |
The boy standing to the right of Nephi (Nephi's green shirt sleeve, showing on his right arm) is most likely, Jacob. Jacob was born earlier during their difficult sojourn through the deserts of the Arabian Peninsula. His younger brother, Joseph, was probably still a baby and therefore too young to be on deck as his family and close relatives view their promised land after a long and particularly at one point in time, dangerous ocean voyage.
The following is additional testimony regarding Jesus Christ along with teachings about His gospel. This was written by Jacob, the fifth son of Lehi and younger brother to Nephi. He, like Nephi, had become a prophet of God. He certainly was one of Lehi's righteous and believing sons:
II Nephi 10:1 AND now I, Jacob, speak unto you again, my beloved brethren, concerning this righteous branch of which I have spoken.
2 For behold, the promises which we have obtained are promises unto us according to the flesh; wherefore, as it has been shown unto me that many of our children shall perish in the flesh because of unbelief, nevertheless, God will be merciful unto many; and our children shall be restored, that they may come to that which will give them the true knowledge of their Redeemer.
3 Wherefore, as I said unto you, it must needs be expedient that Christ—for in the last night the angel spake unto me that this should be his name—should come among the Jews, among those who are the more wicked part of the world; and they shall crucify him—for thus it behooveth our God, and there is none other nation on earth that would crucify their God.
4 For should the mighty miracles be wrought among other nations they would repent, and know that he be their God.
5 But because of priestcrafts and iniquities, they at Jerusalem will stiffen their necks against him, that he be crucified.
II Nephi 9:40 O, my beloved brethren, give ear to my words. Remember the greatness of the Holy One of Israel. Do not say that I have spoken hard things against you; for if ye do, ye will revile against the truth; for I have spoken the words of your Maker. I know that the words of truth are hard against all uncleanness; but the righteous fear them not, for they love the truth and are not shaken.
41 O then, my beloved brethren, come unto the Lord, the Holy One. Remember that his paths are righteous. Behold, the way for man is narrow, but it lieth in a straight course before him, and the keeper of the gate is the Holy One of Israel; and he employeth no servant there; and there is none other way save it be by the gate; for he cannot be deceived, for the Lord God is his name.
42 And whoso knocketh, to him will he open; and the wise, and the learned, and they that are rich, who are puffed up because of their learning, and their wisdom, and their riches—yea, they are they whom he despiseth; and save they shall cast these things away, and consider themselves fools before God, and come down in the depths of humility, he will not open unto them.
43 But the things of the wise and the prudent shall be hid from them forever—yea, that happiness which is prepared for the saints.There again was Jacob's strong witness of the Son of God, Jesus Christ and of the importance of following Him. Now here is the last quote of Jacob's testifying I will give you in this post. Please feel the power and truthfulness of his testimony. Please also note the accuracy of his prophecy, regarding that which was said about many of the Jews living with Moses in the wilderness.
Jacob 1: 7 Wherefore we labored diligently among our people, that we might persuade them to come unto Christ, and partake of the goodness of God, that they might enter into his rest, lest by any means he should swear in his wrath they should not enter in, as in the provocation in the days of temptation while the children of Israel were in the wilderness. *
8 Wherefore, we would to God that we could persuade all men not to rebel against God, to provoke him to anger, but that all men would believe in Christ, and view his death, and suffer his cross and bear the shame of the world; wherefore, I, Jacob, take it upon me to fulfil the commandment of my brother Nephi. (emphasis added)
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| Jesus' Burial -by Carl Heinrich Bloch |
Jesus' Crucifixion -by Harry Anderson These three quotes from the prophet, Jacob, son of Lehi, younger brother and prophetic associate of Nephi, are sure evidence that the Book of Mormon, Another Testament of Jesus Christ is just what its title implies.
Thank you Jacob for your testimony! Thank you dear readers for trusting me to review correctly important teachings of a prophet of the Lord Jesus Christ which have benefited both you and me.
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At the end of my recent post, 40w, I gave you a link to a YouTube Video entitled: "Why Mormons Build Temples."
As a follow up to that I suggest you view this newer YouTube Video entitled: Blessings of the Temple.
New “Blessings of the Temple” Mormon Messages Video
I inserted the asterisk in TODAY'S THEME where Jacob had referred to: "as in the provocation in the days of temptation while the children of Israel were in the wilderness."
Now if you were wondering how Father Lehi's family could know about such Old Testament information, long before the Old Testament had been put together as a book, I would like you to know that Jacob and all of his father, Lehi's family possessed many of the same books which are in our Old Testament along with a significant number of additional books which are not in the Old Testament. Lehi and his family accessed those scriptures through the Brass Plates of Laban which his son, Nephi had obtained in Jerusalem. (see 1Nephi 3,4)
These scriptures had a significant influence on Lehi, his believing children and on their posterity.
Lehi and his family were able to bring that set of scriptures with them to their promised land in Ancient America only by the guidance of the Spirit of the Lord. They were even assisted by a holy angel to bring that about. The key to their eventual success was the faith and determination of Nephi, Lehi's fourth son along with the steady support of his brother, just older than him, Sam. The four brothers endured incredible difficulties by going back to Jerusalem where they finally, through much tribulation, Nephi was able to obtain the Plates of Brass on which the inspired records were engraved.
You may already be familiar with them, but if not, here are I Nephi, chapters 3, 4 and 5 from which you will learn about the obtaining of the brass plates. If you haven't read them before you will be surprised how fascinating Nephi's account of this is. Here are these three chapters for you to read:
1Nephi Chapter 3, Chapter 4, Chapter 5
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A Special Thank You Note Goes out to each of the twenty-five persons who have listed themselves as followers of this blog! I truly appreciate your continuing support! After reading all of this paragraph, please click on this sentence which you are now reading to access this Blog's INDEX. When the picture of our Savior, Jesus Christ with the little boy standing next to him comes on your screen, please scroll down to the entry, Followers to read the Index Entry there.
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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 Decide To Open), After You Have Read All of This Paragraph, Please Click on the Following: Jacob, the Fifth Son of Lehi, Testified of Jesus Christ. . . -Post 40y; When The Picture of Our Savior Jesus Christ Sitting Next to a Little Boy Comes Onto Your Screen, Please Scroll Down To Your Target Item Or Use the Alphabetical Scrolling Device (When It Has Been Installed).
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Neil Birch
