To Access This Blog's Index, Please Scroll Down To the Fifth Paragraph From the End of This Post!
Please note, at the regular end of this post 41w, I have added a (partial) response comment to the Comment submitted by BOMC (Arlin Nusbaum) found in the Comments at the end of my Post 41v.
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Preparation for TODAY'S THEME:
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Joseph, Son of Jacob is Being Sold To Merchants Traveling to Egypt! - Painting: Ted Henninger |
In this painting Joseph, the eleventh son of Jacob, (Israel), is being sold by his jealous brothers to merchants for twenty pieces of silver.
These traders then took Joseph to Egypt and sold him to Potiphar, one of Pharaoh’s officers, the captain of Pharaoh's guard."
Remember what you can of Joseph's dreams in that scripture you just read. His dreams indicated that Joseph would come to be like royalty of the highest degree. His telling of those dreams is what caused his brothers to be jealous of him to the extent of determining to "get rid of Joseph "once and for all."
I must remind you, however, that his oldest brother, Reuben, did not want his youngest brother harmed. He showed feelings of responsibility for Joseph's safety. When his plans to return him to their father didn't work out, Reuben was very upset. Reuben, the oldest brother, you get high marks for that! You didn't always do what is right, but your intentions were right in this case.
If you have seen the ever popular musical, "Joseph and His Amazing Technicolor Dream Coat", you will have seen, with some alterations, the story of Joseph, Who Was Sold Into Egypt. Perhaps that musical has been produced in your country as well as in the United States of America. It has been very popular here.
Angry at Joseph for resisting her advances, this woman accused him of making advances on her. Potiphar had him imprisoned in the king's prison, a place where the king's prisoners were kept. Read about this in Genesis Chapter 39.
An additional scriptural account, (Genesis, chapter 41) tells us how Joseph, who was worthy to possess the gift of Prophecy and Revelation (or the testimony of Jesus), was brought, by the use of that gift, from the lowly status of a Hebrew slave and jail prisoner to becoming second in command over all of Egypt, just under Pharaoh.
Through this spiritual gift Joseph had learned to use, God was able to lead him to the point where, as second in command to Pharaoh, Joseph was able to have the nation of Egypt fully prepared when a great famine struck all that part of the world including the land where his father, Jacob, and the rest of his family lived.
Many of you may have read in the Old Testament, the touching story of Joseph being reunited with his brothers and eventually with his father who had deeply, and for a long time, mourned the supposed death of his favorite son. (Please read, when you have time, Genesis Chapters 42 though 50.)
I'm sure you'll agree with me that seventeen year old Joseph's dreams about his family bowing down before him, were proven to be true. Those dreams had come to him through the gift of Prophecy and Revelation which God had granted him!
These traders then took Joseph to Egypt and sold him to Potiphar, one of Pharaoh’s officers, the captain of Pharaoh's guard."
Remember what you can of Joseph's dreams in that scripture you just read. His dreams indicated that Joseph would come to be like royalty of the highest degree. His telling of those dreams is what caused his brothers to be jealous of him to the extent of determining to "get rid of Joseph "once and for all."
I must remind you, however, that his oldest brother, Reuben, did not want his youngest brother harmed. He showed feelings of responsibility for Joseph's safety. When his plans to return him to their father didn't work out, Reuben was very upset. Reuben, the oldest brother, you get high marks for that! You didn't always do what is right, but your intentions were right in this case.
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| Joseph Successfully Resisted Potiphar's Wife - Painting: Del Parson |
Angry at Joseph for resisting her advances, this woman accused him of making advances on her. Potiphar had him imprisoned in the king's prison, a place where the king's prisoners were kept. Read about this in Genesis Chapter 39.
An additional scriptural account, (Genesis, chapter 41) tells us how Joseph, who was worthy to possess the gift of Prophecy and Revelation (or the testimony of Jesus), was brought, by the use of that gift, from the lowly status of a Hebrew slave and jail prisoner to becoming second in command over all of Egypt, just under Pharaoh.
Through this spiritual gift Joseph had learned to use, God was able to lead him to the point where, as second in command to Pharaoh, Joseph was able to have the nation of Egypt fully prepared when a great famine struck all that part of the world including the land where his father, Jacob, and the rest of his family lived.
Many of you may have read in the Old Testament, the touching story of Joseph being reunited with his brothers and eventually with his father who had deeply, and for a long time, mourned the supposed death of his favorite son. (Please read, when you have time, Genesis Chapters 42 though 50.)
I'm sure you'll agree with me that seventeen year old Joseph's dreams about his family bowing down before him, were proven to be true. Those dreams had come to him through the gift of Prophecy and Revelation which God had granted him!
TODAY'S THEME
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Father Lehi, at God's Command, Unsuccessfully Calls His Fellow Citizens to Repentance - Painting: Del Parson |
Now let's go to the Book of Mormon account of Father Lehi and his family. Just above is a painting in which Lehi is preaching to others in Jerusalem. (600 B.C.)
After unbelieving people in Jerusalem sought to kill Lehi, the Lord commanded him to take his family out of Jerusalem. The Lord then lead them through the Arabian Peninsula on their way to their promised land (which was to be in the Western Hemisphere.) The final portion of their trip was by ship, which the Lord instructed Nephi, Lehi and Sariah's third oldest son, to build.
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Lehi's Family's Long Journey By Sea Nears Its End - Painting: Arnold Friberg |
Please read and (if you so choose) listen also to II Nephi 3:1-25.
Here are, as I see them, the key points Lehi was inspired to make in his blessing of his youngest son, Joseph:
1. Lehi and his family are descendants of the Joseph who was sold into Egypt.
2. The Lord promised Joseph through his father Lehi's blessing that He, the Lord, would appear to his descendants in their promised land (Central America) after His atonement, crucifixion and resurrection.
3. The Lord also promised to raise up a choice seer to help Lehi's descendants in the latter-days. (in our day)
4. That seer would only do the work the Lord gave him to do.
5. That seer would, like Moses, deliver his people, Israel, from bondage.
6. That seer would bring forth the Lord's word, the Book of Mormon which was to confirm the truths contained in an earlier book of scriptures, the Bible.
7. In the blessing he was giving, Lehi told his son Joseph that religious confusion would be stopped among his descendants in the last days (our days) when those two scriptures would be used together. Speaking of that Latter-day Seer:
II Nephi 3:13 And out of weakness he shall be made strong, in that day when my work shall commence among all my people, unto the restoring thee, O house of Israel, saith the Lord.
14 And thus prophesied Joseph (who was sold into Egypt), saying: Behold, that seer will the Lord bless; and they that seek to destroy him shall be confounded; for this promise, which I have obtained of the Lord, of the fruit of my loins, shall be fulfilled. Behold, I am sure of the fulfilling of this promise;
15 And his name (Joseph) shall be called after me; and it shall be after the name of his father. And he shall be like unto me; for the thing, which the Lord shall bring forth by his hand, by the power of the Lord shall bring my people unto salvation.
16 Yea, thus prophesied Joseph (who was sold into Egypt): I am sure of this thing, even as I am sure of the promise of Moses; for the Lord hath said unto me, I will preserve thy seed forever.(Clarification and Emphasis Added)8. The Lord, through Father Lehi's prophetic blessing, told Joseph, the son of Lehi, that the efforts of others to destroy that seer (Joseph Smith) would be prevented until that seer had finished his work!
9. The work done by this promised seer would bring salvation to this Joseph's descendants (we call them Lamanites), and eventually bring about the gathering of all Israel.
11. The Lord, through Father Lehi's prophetic blessing, promised Lehi,'s son, Joseph that his posterity would last forever (echoing the promise given to his ancestor Joseph, who was sold into Egypt.
12. The Latter-day descendants of this Joseph, son of Lehi were to hear words of salvation that shall "cry from the dust" in the latter-days. The record contained on the golden plates from which the Book of Mormon was translated have provided that.
According to what the Lord told Joseph who had been sold into Egypt, this mighty Latter-day seer would become an instrument in the hands of God in bringing about much restoration to the House of Israel in our time, including the Books of Moses and Abraham. in the first half of the Nineteenth Century).
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Joseph Smith Translates the Book of Mormon While Oliver Cowdery, His Scribe Records. - Painting: Del Parson |
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The Prophet, Joseph Smith, Organizes the Relief Society of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. - Painting: Walter Rane |
The Book of Mormon is the word of God spoken of by Joseph who was sold into Egypt, perhaps not long before he died. He promised that this modern day Joseph would bring forth God's word which along with the Bible would stop religious confusion.
That which has been shown in this blog post, "The Three Josephs" really shows the tight eternal bond that exists between Joseph, the Prophet who had been sold into Egypt, Lehi's son, Joseph and the latter-day prophet of God: Joseph Smith, Jr.
That which has been shown in this blog post, "The Three Josephs" really shows the tight eternal bond that exists between Joseph, the Prophet who had been sold into Egypt, Lehi's son, Joseph and the latter-day prophet of God: Joseph Smith, Jr.
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COMMENT by Neil Birch in Reply to Arlin Nusbaum's (BOMC) Comment made at the end of my Post 41v.
I have just added this section to my most recent Post 41w as a reply to the most recent Comment made by "BOMC" (Arlin Nusbaum) submitted at the end of my Post 41v.
In my Comment submitted in reply to his I indicated I would send my reponse to his Comment in an e-mail to him because it was too long to be accepted by Google's Comment Section. In my actual very brief comment to his comment I indicated that I would send him my comment by e-mail if he would provide me with his e-mail address. Arlin evidently decided against doing that. That was probably best as providing his e-mail could be an invasion of his privacy. I shouldn't have suggested that!
In my Comment submitted in reply to his I indicated I would send my reponse to his Comment in an e-mail to him because it was too long to be accepted by Google's Comment Section. In my actual very brief comment to his comment I indicated that I would send him my comment by e-mail if he would provide me with his e-mail address. Arlin evidently decided against doing that. That was probably best as providing his e-mail could be an invasion of his privacy. I shouldn't have suggested that!
Because I can't e-mail Arlin I decided to add This Comment to this post in which I have discussed the prophecy given through Father Lehi to his sixth son, Joseph.
My new friend, Arlin, (we are friends because we both accept the Book of Mormon as containing vital inspired words of God and having been translated by the power of God.) I must say that what is written in II Nephi 3: 1-25 is very convincing regarding that which members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints affirm that the Prophet Joseph Smith not only succeeded in translating the Book of Mormon by inspiration received from God (by several means) but did all that was expected of him before the end of his life, including founding Jesus' church. It is sure that the work begun by Joseph Smith was continued by those church prophets who have succeeded him, including those who are leading it now and who will be leading the church in the future.
Arlin, Either Professor Terryl Givens or Richard L. Bushman indicated that the Urim and Thummim was used only very briefly in the translating of the Book of Mormon. I will provide that quote in my next post. (41x)
Arlin, Either Professor Terryl Givens or Richard L. Bushman indicated that the Urim and Thummim was used only very briefly in the translating of the Book of Mormon. I will provide that quote in my next post. (41x)
Thank you very much for your comment to which I'm responding. I understand now why you use the title, "Book of Mormon Christian." I highly respect you for your faith in the Book of Mormon. However, as shown in the Book of Mormon scriptures above and some below, you are way off track regarding what is taught in them about the mission of Joseph Smith and the church which was founded by the Lord through him!
Now, Arlin, (I hope you don't mind my calling you by your first name.) I, Neil, have copied the following from the Book of Mormon for you (I have run this one by you previously). I would like to put a number of this sort of B.of M. messages before you and my blog viewers to more adequately answer some if not all of the questions you asked of me in your most recent Comment.
Now, Arlin, (I hope you don't mind my calling you by your first name.) I, Neil, have copied the following from the Book of Mormon for you (I have run this one by you previously). I would like to put a number of this sort of B.of M. messages before you and my blog viewers to more adequately answer some if not all of the questions you asked of me in your most recent Comment.
The prophet Nephi, son of Lehi, wrote:
I Nephi 14:10, "And he (the angel) said unto me: Behold there are two churches only; the one is the church of the Lamb of God and the other is the church of the devil. . .
12 "And it came to pass that I beheld the church of the Lamb of God and its numbers were few, . . .nevertheless, I beheld that the church of the Lamb, who were the saints of God, were also upon all the face of the earth; and their dominions upon the face of the earth were small. . .
14 And it came to pass that I, Nephi, beheld the power of the Lamb of God, that it descended upon the saints of the church of the Lamb, and upon the covenant people of the Lord, who were scattered upon all the face of the earth; and they were armed with righteousness and with the power of God in great glory." . . .
17 . . . then at that day, (in the distant future from Nephi's perspective) the work of the Father shall commence, in preparing the way for the fulfilling of his covenants, which he hath made to his people who are of the house of Israel." (Clarification and Emphasis Added)
The above set of verses fully supports what was written in II Nephi 3: 13-16 which was dealt with above.
It is clear to me, and I believe to anyone who reads the above chapter of the Book of Mormon to will agree: there is only one (legally organized) church that holds the Book of Mormon to be the Word of God and owns its copy write, that it is: The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
It is clear to me, and I believe to anyone who reads the above chapter of the Book of Mormon to will agree: there is only one (legally organized) church that holds the Book of Mormon to be the Word of God and owns its copy write, that it is: The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
The Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (who have since changed their name and stopped using the Book of Mormon) does not accept The Book of Mormon as scripture any more. In my post 41v I refer all to a quote in my Post 41h.
You can click on the link just given you at the end of the previous paragraph. When you are in that post, please scroll down until you see Terryl Givens' photo. There you can read what Professor Givens said about the RLDS Church having changed their name and stopped accepting the Book of Mormon as scripture!
It is easy to discern that the angel who was speaking to Nephi was speaking of the Latter-days of this earth's history, Our Time On Earth.
Now, my key point is (as I reported in post 41v), there is only one Book of Mormon accepting church that matches the above description of the Church of the Lamb of God in our day and time. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is very literally established across the face of the entire earth (not in every nation, but new nations continue to be added continually.).
At the same time it meets the other key criteria given by Nephi in 1Nephi 14, i.e., its numbers are (relatively)few. The LDS Church membership is now fourteen million which reflects tremendous growth since it was established in April 1830 by the hand of the Lord.
I'm not sure of the estimated population of today's world, but it is huge compared to fourteen million. Therefore the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints easily meets the criteria set by the Lord in I Nephi 14, with its numbers of members being (relatively) few.
Despite its relatively small membership compared to the total population of our world it is having a huge impact throughout the world in very many positive and outstanding ways. this church (LDS Church) does amazing things, things such as assisting in a magnificent way in helping states (in the U.S.A.) and other nations when natural disasters take place. See my post: 39p Please click on this link: 39p
Also LDS temples have been built all over the world, thus fulfilling the promise that our (yours and my and that of all mankind) Savior made in:
3 Nephi 25:
5 Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord;
6 And he shall turn the heart of the fathers to the children, and the heart of the children to their fathers, lest I come and smite the earth with a curse.
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The Prophet Elijah (who never tasted death) Appears in the Kirtland Temple of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints to Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery- Painting: Dan Lewis |
Remember, the Lord Himself told all the readers of the Book of Mormon that event had to happen before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord;
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The Coming of the Great and Dreadful Day of the Lord! - Painting: Harry Anderson |
I must remind us that all of our Savior's prophecies recorded in the Book of Mormon must be fulfilled. Elijah appeared to Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery in the Kirtland (Ohio) Temple on April 3, 1836.
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| Salt Lake Temple of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints |
In those temples ordinances for the dead are done by their loving, living descendants or by others assisting them, thus fulfilling the promise made by the Prophet Malachi as quoted by our Resurrected Savior, Jesus Christ, as He spoke to His Nephite Flock in Ancient America soon after His resurrection and ascension into Heaven.
I hasten to suggest, Arlin, that Elijah would not have been able to appear, as promised in the Book of Mormon, in our day if the Lord's Church had not been established officially in our day and time and His Holy Temple erected and dedicated to Him was built through the devotion and faith of His Latter-day Saints under the direction of His First Latter-day prophet, Joseph Smith.
Arlin, I plan to reply to all of the statements you made in your most recent post, but I realized this post is much too long. Therefore, please return in five days (December 7th). About 1:00 a.m. Mountain Time my next post, 41x will be published. Somewhere in it I will respond to the rest of your statements made in your Comment at the end of my Post 41v.
May the Lord bless you Arlin and your family in all you may be doing! Your friend, and I hope you consider me as such, I didn't mean this comment to be so long, but what I wrote is pertinent to what we have been discussing in our ongoing exchange of comments.
Neil Birch
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In the United States of America we celebrated our Thanksgiving Holiday on November 25th and I failed to show you a Thanksgiving Video. I thought I ought to do that now. Here is: "The Spirit of Thanksgiving."
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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 Three Josephs Play Important Roles in Its Coming About. - Post 41w. 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.)
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"Have You Really Read the Book of Mormon?" Legal /Statement. Thank you for visiting. The author retains intellectual property and creative licensing rights. Permission to use or reprint must be given in writing. © Est.2008 Neil Birch Legal /Statement.
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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
Neil Birch
