37c - Mormon and Moroni Were Assigned by Jesus Christ to Prepare the Book of Mormon for Future Translation. - Mormon's Role #2.

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

General (Prophet) Mormon, Ready for Battle and is Presently Inscribing Sacred Records -by Tom Lovell 

The Prophet, Mormon, according to the part of his record we read in my just previous post (37b), and according to what we will again read about him in this post, lived in the most challenging period of Nephite history. Their unrighteousness ultimately led to the demise of the Nephites as a nation. The Nephite remnant became Lamanites.

In about A.D. 327-328 Mormon tells us that when he was yet a boy (according to our U.S.A. way of looking at age), he was considered a man by his people:

Mormon 2: 1 AND it came to pass in that same year there began to be a war again between the Nephites and the Lamanites. And notwithstanding I being young, was large in stature; therefore the people of Nephi appointed me that I should be their leader, or the leader of their armies.

2 Therefore it came to pass that in my sixteenth year I did go forth at the head of an army of the Nephites, against the Lamanites; therefore three hundred and twenty and six years had passed away. (since the visits of the Resurrected Jesus Christ with the Nephites)

3 And it came to pass that in the three hundred and twenty and seventh year the Lamanites did come upon us with exceedingly great power, insomuch that they did frighten my armies; therefore they would not fight, and they began to retreat towards the north countries. (emphasis and clarification added)

In this post, I'm first giving you information about Mormon's life so that you can see how challenging were his life circumstances. It is apparent that he was raised by righteous parents. His father (whose name was also Mormon) and his mother whose name isn't mentioned by Mormon (Possibly that is a cultural matter possibly shared with other Israelites ) must have taught him to have a very different view than most all of the other Nephites had about what was going on in their nation.

Before I end this post (37c), you will read one of Mormon's own personal inspired comments which is from among a good number of them which he interspersed throughout the record that he eventually was assigned by God to write.

That which was to become our Book of Mormon, Another Testament of Jesus Christ is clear evidence that from the exceedingly difficult circumstances Mormon had been living in throughout all of his life, he had gained great wisdom about the importance of living righteously.

Remember from what you read in post 37b, that the prophet Amaron had chosen Mormon, son of Mormon when he was only ten years of age to eventually write a record of, (in which Amaron surely and prophetically knew would contain), the horrid details of what was happening among his (Amaron's and Mormon's) people because the greater part of them had forsaken that which the Lord, Jesus Christ had personally taught them soon after His resurrection, and after having lived, as a united righteous people, on a very high spiritual and temporal level; and in every way, for over 200 years!

Evidently things had become so horrid and evil that Amaron told ten year old Mormon that the task he was asking him to take upon himself at age twenty-four, was the writing of the history of that which would be taking place during his (Mormon's) life and was to be written by him (Mormon) on the Plates of Nephi. Perhaps little did young Mormon know what horrid and evil events he would be recording on the Plates of Nephi. The Golden Plates upon which the Book of Mormon was to be eventually written was to be, in our day, The Book of Mormon, Another Testament of Jesus Christ, were not apparently mentioned at that time.

In other words, the readers of the Book of Mormon (you and I and many many countless others since 1830 when it was first published) were to be spared the greater part of the terribly evil details of that which would happen during Mormon's and his son, Moroni's lifetimes.

In searching for the most evil actions reported by Mormon, I found this which Mormon wrote in a letter to his son Moroni:

Moroni 9:7 And now I write somewhat concerning the sufferings of this people. For according to the knowledge which I have received from Amoron, behold, the Lamanites have many prisoners, which they took from the tower of Sherrizah; and there were men, women, and children.

8 And the husbands and fathers of those women and children they have slain; and they feed the women upon the flesh of their husbands, and the children upon the flesh of their fathers; and no water, save a little, do they give unto them.

9 And notwithstanding this great abomination of the Lamanites, it doth not exceed that of our people in Moriantum. For behold, many of the daughters of the Lamanites have they taken prisoners; and after depriving them of that which was most dear and precious above all things, which is chastity and virtue—

10 And after they had done this thing, they did murder them in a most cruel manner, torturing their bodies even unto death; and after they have done this, they devour their flesh like unto wild beasts, because of the hardness of their hearts; and they do it for a token of bravery.

11 O my beloved son, how can a people like this, that are without civilization—

12 (And only a few years have passed away, and they were a civil and a delightsome people)

13 But O my son, how can a people like this, whose delight is in so much abomination—

14 How can we expect that God will stay his hand in judgment against us?

15 Behold, my heart cries: Wo unto this people. Come out in judgment, O God, and hide their sins, and wickedness, and abominations from before thy face! (emphasis added)

Dear Esteemed Prophet Mormon, (Whom we expect to meet sometime in the afterlife where you have gone already.)

We, Neil Birch, author of this blog, along with the Readers of this blog, recognize that the above 15 verses from chapter 9 of your son, Moroni's book,  contained descriptions of extremely gross iniquities committed by both the Nephites and the Lamanites.

We recognize that those descriptions of great evils committed were written by you in a letter to your son which he only afterwards, most likely after you had died, inscribed them onto the golden plates which you had earlier turned over to him.

We surmise that the record which you began writing at age twenty-four on the plates of Nephi (which had been passed on from the original Nephi, son of Lehi who had fled Jerusalem) contained many such reports and some of even more ghastly exceedingly evil actions perpetuated by both sides of your conflict, both by the Lamanites and the Nephites!

I'm grateful we don't have the record which is contained on the Plates of Nephi! We, (and I'm speaking for my blog readers too), never wanted to read about all the atrocities most likely described on those plates which were no doubt even more more wicked and gruesome than that which is described in the scripture just above. We have to ask, "How could that even be possible?" 

We can see, however, that the records contained on the Plates of Nephi could be made available to the apostles who will assist the Lord on that great Judgement Day. We all will be judged by that which has been written! (See 3Nephi 27:26)

Mormon 3:18 -Yea, behold, I write unto all the ends of the earth; yea, unto you, twelve tribes of Israel, who shall be judged according to your works by the twelve whom Jesus chose to be his disciples in the land of Jerusalem.

19 And I write also unto the remnant of this people, who shall also be judged by the twelve whom Jesus chose in this land; and they shall be judged by the other twelve whom Jesus chose in the land of Jerusalem.

We know that we, all of our Heavenly Father's children who have lived on Earth, must eventually face the Lord's Holy judgment. Therefore we should realize that:

3Nephi 27:26 And behold, all things are written by the Father; therefore out of the books which shall be written shall the world be judged.

Blog Readers: You will soon have the opportunity to read Helaman, Chapter 11 (which Mormon wrote later in his life upon the Gold Plates) in order to prepare you and me and all mankind to try to understand that Mormon could see in the actions of Nephites who lived long before his own time on earth, many of the same patterns of living that people during his lifetime had gone back to, even though Mormon's and his peoples' ancestors several generations before had actually been taught, converted and greatly blessed personally by the Resurrected Lord Jesus Christ, Himself!

As you will before long learn from this series of posts, Mormon was also very concerned that we, in our day, will have to face similar challenges as did his ancestors and his people during his lifetime!

Dear Readers, please keep in mind that that which you will be reading next, occurred many years prior to Mormon's lifetime, nonetheless as I've been saying, many of the patterns that occurred during his lifetime were very similar.

(but perhaps much more inexcusable because those Nephites who were involved in the events told about in Helaman Chapter 11 had not had the sublime experience of having been taught on continuing occasions by their resurrected Lord and Savior as did Mormon's people's ancestors a few generations back who certainly had passed on to their posterity accounts of those sacred occasions and had been raising their children so that they could follow in the "Master's footsteps.")

Helaman 11:1-38

You have just read about the up and down things that were going on among the Nephites and Lamanites in about B.C. 20 - 6, I now want to expose you to Mormon's wise commentary below which I feel was a response to the events described in Helaman, Chapter 11 to which you have just read and listened.
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However, I am very positive that this commentary of Mormon's was particularly intended for us in our day. After telling us about the Nephites' wickedness he described in Helaman 11, Mormon surely, by the prophetic power of the Spirit of God that he possessed, knew that we, in our day would sorely need to know these truths upon which Mormon bases his inspired advice.

Are you fully convinced that Mormon was directing the above words to us? There is no doubt in in my mind that that was his intention. The entire Book of Mormon, Another Testament of Jesus Christ was written for our benefit, to help prepare a people who will be ready for The Second Coming of Jesus Christ! I am very positive that Mormon wrote the following for our benefit:

Helaman, CHAPTER 12 (Chapter Heading) Men are unstable and foolish and quick to do evil—The Lord chastens his people—The nothingness of men compared with the power of God—In the day of judgment men shall gain everlasting life or everlasting damnation. (About 6 B.C.)

1 AND thus we can behold how false, and also the unsteadiness of the hearts of the children of men; yea, we can see that the Lord in his great infinite goodness doth bless and prosper those who put their trust in him.

2 Yea, and we may see at the very time when he doth prosper his people, yea, in the increase of their fields, their flocks and their herds, and in gold, and in silver, and in all manner of precious things of every kind and art; sparing their lives, and delivering them out of the hands of their enemies; softening the hearts of their enemies that they should not declare wars against them; yea, and in fine, doing all things for the welfare and happiness of his people; yea, then is the time that they do harden their hearts, and do forget the Lord their God, and do trample under their feet the Holy One—(The Lord Jesus Christ) yea, and this because of their ease, and their exceedingly great prosperity.

3 And thus we see that except the Lord doth chasten his people with many afflictions, yea, except he doth visit them with death and with terror, and with famine and with all manner of pestilence, they will not remember him.

4 O how foolish, and how vain, and how evil, and devilish, and how quick to do iniquity, and how slow to do good, are the children of men; yea, how quick to hearken unto the words of the evil one, and to set their hearts upon the vain things of the world!

5 Yea, how quick to be lifted up in pride; yea, how quick to boast, and do all manner of that which is iniquity; and how slow are they to remember the Lord their God, and to give ear unto his counsels, yea, how slow to walk in wisdom's paths!

6 Behold, they do not desire that the Lord their God, who hath created them, should rule and reign over them; notwithstanding his great goodness and his mercy towards them, they do set at naught his counsels, and they will not that he should be their guide.

7 O how great is the nothingness of the children of men; yea, even they are less than the dust of the earth.

8 For behold, the dust of the earth moveth hither and thither, to the dividing asunder, at the command of our great and everlasting God.

9 Yea, behold at his voice do the hills and the mountains tremble and quake.

10 And by the power of his voice they are broken up, and become smooth, yea, even like unto a valley.

11 Yea, by the power of his voice doth the whole earth shake;

12 Yea, by the power of his voice, do the foundations rock, even to the very center.
13 Yea, and if he say unto the earth—Move—it is moved.

14 Yea, if he say unto the earth—Thou shalt go back, that it lengthen out the day for many hours—it is done;

15 And thus, according to his word the earth goeth back, and it appeareth unto man that the sun standeth still; yea, and behold, this is so; for surely it is the earth that moveth and not the sun.

16 And behold, also, if he say unto the waters of the great deep—Be thou dried up—it is done.

17 Behold, if he say unto this mountain—Be thou raised up, and come over and fall upon that city, that it be buried up—behold it is done.

18 And behold, if a man hide up a treasure in the earth, and the Lord shall say—Let it be accursed, because of the iniquity of him who hath hid it up—behold, it shall be accursed.

19 And if the Lord shall say—Be thou accursed, that no man shall find thee from this time henceforth and forever—behold, no man getteth it henceforth and forever.

20 And behold, if the Lord shall say unto a man—Because of thine iniquities, thou shalt be accursed forever—it shall be done.

21 And if the Lord shall say—Because of thine iniquities thou shalt be cut off from my presence—he will cause that it shall be so.

22 And wo unto him to whom he shall say this, for it shall be unto him that will do iniquity, and he cannot be saved; therefore, for this cause, that men might be saved, hath repentance been declared.

23 Therefore, blessed are they who will repent and hearken unto the voice of the Lord their God; for these are they that shall be saved.

24 And may God grant, in his great fulness, that men might be brought unto repentance and good works, that they might be restored unto grace for grace, according to their works.

25 And I would that all men might be saved. But we read that in the great and last day there are some who shall be cast out, yea, who shall be cast off from the presence of the Lord;

26 Yea, who shall be consigned to a state of endless misery, fulfilling the words which say: They that have done good shall have everlasting life; and they that have done evil shall have everlasting damnation. And thus it is. Amen. (emphasis and clarification added)

As I may have said before, the people of Mormon's time never saw nor did they read The Book of Mormon, Another Testament of Jesus Christ. By the Spirit of Prophecy and Revelation, Mormon knew we would need to read, believe in and trust in his words (Chapter 12 of Helaman) above, for the rewards are great, and on the other hand when we forsake what he taught us, the punishment will be worse than we could ever imagine!

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I want you blog readers to know that I really put a lot of thought into what picture/s I could show you in this post which could effectively demonstrate that faithful members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints take very seriously Mormon's poignant words found in Helaman Chapter 12. At first, I didn't know what pictures, if any, I would show. Then the following just happened:

My dear wife, Melva suggested at about 4:00 p.m. today, the Fourth of July, 2009, the Independence Day Holiday (for those who live in the U.S.A.) that we ought to get into our 2005 Dodge Stratus car and after heading over to the "Artic Circle" (Drive - Through Restaurant) for some "Huckleberry" milkshakes, as a simple and inexpensive way of celebrating this important holiday, instead of going to a fireworks demonstration which we usually have done on this holiday, but instead drive over to see one of the four LDS temples that are now in this Salt Lake Valley. Until very recently there were only two. One of the newer ones, the Oquirrh Mountain Utah Temple, is not yet dedicated, but will be next month.

Official LDS Temple Photo

Draper Utah Temple

I suggested to Melva that we drive down about twenty miles to first view the Draper Temple which was just recently dedicated as a House of the Lord. It has been functioning as that for just several months. Because it is a holiday here today the temple was closed, but we enjoyed its beauty and both of us reminisced about its and all LDS temples' purposes.

I personally thought: "right here in this sacred building, a House of the Lord, members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints who are living worthily (righteously would probably be the way the prophet, Mormon would put it if he spoke english) come as often as possible to renew their covenants made with the Lord, in a temple, to live righteously."

"Dear Prophet Mormon, we love you for the great gift of the Book of Mormon, Another Testament of Jesus Christ, about which, as our first prophet in our time, Joseph Smith, taught: "the Book of Mormon is the Keystone of our Religion." Of course, you Mormon, surely have met him and embraced one another in the Spirit World by now.


I lived in Draper briefly sometime ago before the temple was built there. Because I came to appreciate that once "little city" before, I really enjoy viewing this marvelous temple located there whenever I can. We drove all around it and noticed the beautiful landscaping and the sheer beauty of this "House of the Lord." Of course, Our "Lord" being the Resurrected Jesus Christ who is before too long, scheduled to return to earth when His people are prepared for Him to do so.

Official LDS Temple Photo Oquirrh Mountain Utah Temple

As Melva and I finished viewing the Draper Temple, I suggested that we drive Northwest to view the new Oquirrh Mountain Temple which will be dedicated next month. We attended the open house there recently. And again, because of the National Holiday, it was easier viewing this temple too, because there was no traffic, only us.

Official Temple Photo
The Jordan River Utah Temple

Before our mission to Finland several years ago, both Melva and I served in The Jordan River Utah Temple as temple workers. The landscaping of all LDS Temples is superior, but to me it seems particularly beautiful at this temple.

We didn't plan together to view all four of the temples that are located in the Salt Lake Valley today. The plan just materialized. After driving around this temple, I reminded Melva that each of us were sealed to our own parents in the Salt Lake Temple, in her case when she was an adult living in Wasatch County, Utah. In my case it was when I was a baby living with my parents in Roseville, California.

Official Temple Photo

The Salt Lake Temple

Such a grand edifice! It took forty years to build! This temple means so much to both of us for many reasons, and our sealings to our parents is not the least important!

A Final Comment to the Great Prophet Mormon in the World of Spirits:

"We deeply appreciate your counsel given us in Helaman, Chapter 12. We continue to need it and will keep on heeding it. Even in Utah, the news we learn every day from various news media, tells us of all kinds of wickedness that is taking place right here, in the United States of America and even right here in Utah, it is taking place constantly!

"At the same time, in Utah and throughout the United States and in many many countries of the World, the Lord Jesus Christ has a people preparing for His Second Coming which you, Dear Mormon advised us to do through the Book of Mormon and also through the teachings of living prophets of our day. Many things the Lord has commanded us to do through His Latter-day prophets, many of us are striving valiantly to do."

"Our happy drive from temple to temple today reminded both of us, Melva and me, of how much spiritual strength comes from having made temple covenants which we strive mightily to keep, and from having a sealing link to our children and to our parents and with ancestors back along the line."

"We will continue to remember your counsel given us in Helaman Chapter 12 and will follow the guidance of our Church prophet and all the other assigned spiritual leaders. We also will continue to make the Book of Mormon, Another Testament of Jesus Christ, our personal guidebook."

It was a Happy Fourth of July, celebrated in a different way than usual by Melva and I. We did hear the fireworks from nearby Murray Park from within the house and outside in our backyard too after returning home just before dark.

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The following link, when clicked upon, will allow you to view a Mormon Messages Video. You will find it very well done and hopefully applicable to you and to your particular needs.


Mormon Message


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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: Mormon and Moroni were Assigned by Jesus Christ to Prepare . . . Post 37c (Mormon's Role #2). 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).


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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

37b - Mormon and Moroni Were Assigned by Jesus Christ to Prepare the Book of Mormon for Future Translation. Mormon's Role #1

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 Prophet Mormon's Role Was Key to Providing what came to be Named, The Book of Mormon, Another Testament of Jesus Christ.

Mormon Inscribing Records on Golden Plates -by Tom Lovell

Mormon took his divinely assigned task very seriously; that of bringing together centuries of writing by inspired Nephite prophets (plus inserting key comments from time to time to assist readers) in preparing a book of scripture which he knew the Lord would, by His effective means cause it to play a key role in preparing His people for His (Jesus Christ's) Second Coming at the beginning of the long prophesied MILLENNIUM.



The Second Coming of the Lord Jesus Christ -by Harry Anderson

I desire that you, the readers of this blog post, learn how and why Mormon was chosen for the role he was to have in preparing the book which was to be Another Testament of Jesus Christ which itself would have a very key role in preparing people on earth for that Long Awaited Millennial Day.

The Nephite people, of whom Mormon was a part of, had rapidly deteriorated from the state of superb righteousness, that had lasted about 200 years after the Resurrected Jesus Christ had visited them in their homeland of what is most likely known as Central America in the Western Hemisphere of our day. It was known by them as their Promised Land.

Mormon and his son, Moroni's, ancestor, Lehi of Jerusalem, in 600 B.C. was guided along with his family and a relatively few others to come to their "Promised Land" by the hand of the Lord.

To learn how Mormon was chosen for his key role in bringing about the Book of Mormon, Another Testament of Jesus Christ, please readclick on the scriptural link below after reading the following instructions.

Mormon 1:1-19

Now that you have read and listened to that chapter I'd like to call your attention to several verses you have just read:

Mormon 1:
2 And about the time that Ammaron hid up the records unto the Lord, he came unto me, (I being about ten years of age, and I began to be learned somewhat after the manner of the learning of my people) and Ammaron said unto me: I perceive that thou art a sober child, and art quick to observe;

3 Therefore, when ye are about twenty and four years old I would that ye should remember the things that ye have observed concerning this people; and when ye are of that age go to the land Antum, unto a hill which shall be called Shim; and there have I deposited unto the Lord all the sacred engravings concerning this people.

4 And behold, ye shall take the plates of Nephi unto yourself, and the remainder shall ye leave in the place where they are; and ye shall engrave on the plates of Nephi all the things that ye have observed concerning this people.

5 And I, Mormon, being a descendant of Nephi, (and my father's name was Mormon) I remembered the things which Ammaron commanded me. (emphasis added)

Thus, the Prophet Ammaron evidently received an inspired impression of ten year old Mormon when he said: "I perceive that thou art a sober child, and art quick to observe."

Thus Ammaron enlisted Mormon, adding him to a vast select number of inspired Nephites over the previous (approximately) six centuries who had followed their inspired ancestors, Lehi, Nephi and Jacob) in keeping a careful and complete record of the more spiritually insightful history of their people.

Now I'd like you to read and listen to Mormon, Chapter 2 also.

Mormon 2: 1-29

I now desire to help you focus on verses 16-19 from that which you just read and listened to:

Mormon 2:16 And it came to pass that in the three hundred and forty and fifth year the Nephites did begin to flee before the Lamanites; and they were pursued until they came even to the land of Jashon, before it was possible to stop them in their retreat.

17 And now, the city of Jashon was near the land where Ammaron had deposited the records unto the Lord, that they might not be destroyed. And behold I had gone according to the word of Ammaron, and taken the plates of Nephi, and did make a record according to the words of Ammaron.

18 And upon the plates of Nephi I did make a full account of all the wickedness and abominations; but upon these plates I did forbear to make a full account of their wickedness and abominations, for behold, a continual scene of wickedness and abominations has been before mine eyes ever since I have been sufficient to behold the ways of man.

19 And wo is me because of their wickedness; for my heart has been filled with sorrow because of their wickedness, all my days; nevertheless, I know that I shall be lifted up at the last day. (emphasis added)

I sobbed out loud as I typed the part I highlighted in red italics in verse 18.

There is one small part of chapter 3 of the (sub) Book of Mormon I want you to also read. In it, this courageous (I don't think that word comes up to what this saintly man "was really made of") prophet, Mormon, tells us what is most important to him: We of the LDS Faith (or Mormons as we are often called) might say "Mormon was bearing his testimony." Actually what he says here I think is much more than bearing testimony. He is, in effect pouring out his whole soul!

Mormon 3:16 And it came to pass that I utterly refused to go up against mine enemies; and I did even as the Lord had commanded me; and I did stand as an idle witness to manifest unto the world the things which I saw and heard, according to the manifestations of the Spirit which had testified of things to come.

17 Therefore I write unto you, Gentiles (He's speaking now to you and me here - we are at least partly, Gentiles), and also unto you, house of Israel, when the work shall commence, that ye shall be about to prepare to return to the land of your inheritance;

18 Yea, behold, I write unto all the ends of the earth; yea, unto you, twelve tribes of Israel, who shall be judged according to your works by the twelve whom Jesus chose to be his disciples in the land of Jerusalem.

19 And I write also unto the remnant of this people, (the Lamanites of our day) who shall also be judged by the twelve whom Jesus chose in this land; and they shall be judged by the other twelve whom Jesus chose in the land of Jerusalem.

20 And these things doth the Spirit manifest unto me; therefore I write unto you all. And for this cause I write unto you, that ye may know that ye must all stand before the judgment-seat of Christ, yea, every soul who belongs to the whole human family of Adam; and ye must stand to be judged of your works, whether they be good or evil;

21 And also that ye may believe the gospel of Jesus Christ, which ye shall have among you; (The Holy Bible) and also that the Jews, the covenant people of the Lord, shall have other witness (The Book of Mormon) besides him whom they saw and heard, that Jesus, whom they slew, was the very Christ and the very God.

22 And I would that I could persuade all ye ends of the earth to repent and prepare to stand before the judgment-seat of Christ. (emphasis and clarification added)

I needed that and I would guess you needed that also. It brought me to tears several times as I read it. How about you? If it didn't affect you the way it did me, try reading it again later on.

The Bible and the Book of Mormon, Another Testament of Jesus Christ Stand Side by Side -by Greg K. Olsen

The painting I just inserted into the end of this post illustrates what the great work of Mormon has brought about, the joining of the Holy Bible which is a Testament of Jesus Christ, with the Book of Mormon, Another Testament of Jesus Christ.

Mormon, we thank you from the bottom of our hearts!

There is much more to be said about the role of the Prophet Mormon in bringing about the Book of Mormon, Another Testament of Jesus Christ. This will be given in upcoming posts in this current series. There will also be more about Moroni's role.

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Mormon Messages

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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.

____________

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: Mormon's Role: - Post 37b. 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.)

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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.

___________

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

37a - Mormon and Moroni Were Assigned by Jesus Christ to Prepare the Book of Mormon for Future Translation - Moroni's Role #1

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

Moroni's Role in the Coming Forth of the Book of Mormon, Another Testament of Jesus Christ

The Mortal Moroni Burying the Plates of Gold -by Tom Lovell

After Moroni's father, Mormon had finished his abridgement work with the writings he had etched onto the Golden Plates which he had provided so as to ensure that the precious writings on them would endure the ravages of time and the elements buried underground (from approximately A.D. 421 to A.D. 1823), he, Mormon, then entrusted those the golden plates containing the sacred writings, to his faithful son, Moroni.

Look again at the artist's depiction of Moroni preparing to bury the sacred records from which the Book of Mormon, Another Testament of Jesus Christ, was recorded in "reformed" Egyptian hieroglyphics.

Notice that Moroni was praying before he buried the plates. That is an illustration of the special devotion Moroni had to this very important project his dear father had entrusted him with. A dedicated man of faith and action - this Moroni, son of Mormon and a prophet of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Both father and son, were prophets of the Resurrected Jesus Christ and testified by the Spirit of Prophecy and Revelation of the realities contained in the Gospel of Jesus Christ and His being the Son of God, The Savior of Those who believe in and are faithful to Him.

Revelation 19: 10 And I fell at his feet to worship him. And he said unto me, See thou do it not: I am thy fellowservant, and of thy brethren that have the testimony of Jesus: worship God: for the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.

This is something all of the prophets, in all ages of time possessed, including Moroni and his father, Mormon, two very special and significant prophets who wrote to all of those who seek to know Jesus Christ.

I now provide you the very special opportunity of reading the words with which Moroni ends the sub-book named by his father and him, "The Book of Mormon." These are mighty and spiritual words directed to "those who do not believe in Christ" and calls them to repentence.

If you perhaps fit the category of readers mentioned in the highlighted quote, two lines above, please consider saying a silent prayer in your heart asking Your Heavenly Father to open your mind and heart and to forgive you of your sins and allow the Spirit of the Lord to penetrate you to your very soul and assure you that which you will now have the opportunity of reading and listening to, are the inspired words that will assure you with great spiritual impact so you will know that Jesus Christ is your living Savior.

Please read (and listen to) the following chapter:

Mormon 9:1-37

After you prayed as suggested by me above you may have received the special witness you may have asked for. If you did ask for it, but did not receive the the witness that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, allow yourself to, in time, be humbled until you have "a broken heart and a contrite spirit" which will have prepared you to receive that witness. That may require you to study the entire Book of Mormon, Another Testament of Jesus Christ and even requesting that full-time missionaries of the Church of Jesus Christ come to teach you in your home or apartment. If you do not know how to contact them please use my e-mail found in the final section of this post.

Let me know the name of the city in which you live, and the state or region of the country in which it is located. If you request that of me by e-mail, I will send you the phone number and address of the nearest LDS Mission office to where you live. I will e-mail you soon after receiving your e-mail giving you the information you will need to contact the nearest LDS Mission office to you. I will not share your e-mail address with anyone including the LDS missionaries. That is my sure word.

I will end this post about Moroni's role in bringing forth the Book of Mormon, Another Testament of Jesus Christ by quoting in its entirety the Title page of that Book. It was written by Moroni.

THE
BOOK OF MORMON

AN ACCOUNT WRITTEN BY

THE HAND OF MORMON

UPON PLATES
TAKEN FROM THE PLATES OF NEPHI

Wherefore, it is an abridgment of the record of the people of Nephi, and also of the Lamanites—Written to the Lamanites, who are a remnant of the house of Israel; and also to Jew and Gentile—Written by way of commandment, and also by the spirit of prophecy and of revelation—Written and sealed up, and hid up unto the Lord, that they might not be destroyed—To come forth by the gift and power of God unto the interpretation thereof—Sealed by the hand of Moroni, and hid up unto the Lord, to come forth in due time by way of the Gentile—The interpretation thereof by the gift of God.

An abridgment taken from the Book of Ether also, which is a record of the people of Jared, who were scattered at the time the Lord confounded the language of the people, when they were building a tower to get to heaven—Which is to show unto the remnant of the House of Israel what great things the Lord hath done for their fathers; and that they may know the covenants of the Lord, that they are not cast off forever—And also to the convincing of the Jew and Gentile that JESUS is the CHRIST, the ETERNAL GOD, manifesting himself unto all nations—And now, if there are faults they are the mistakes of men; wherefore, condemn not the things of God, that ye may be found spotless at the judgment-seat of Christ.

TRANSLATED BY JOSEPH SMITH, JUN.Published by
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
Salt Lake City, Utah, USA
1988
First English edition published in 1830

Painting: Tom Lovell




The Angel Moroni Visits Young Joseph Smith in his upstairs bedroom -by Tom Lovell



This is another painting done by the same LDS artist who painted the lead painting, depicting this time the resurrected Moroni appearing to the young Joseph Smith in his small upstairs bedroom in the Smith farm home in upstate New York during the night of September 21, 1823.

As shown by Moroni's experience there is actually a resurrection for each of us. Because of his righteousness during his earthly life and his assignment along with his father, Mormon, regarding the Book of Mormon, Moroni is an example of how our existence and even our responsibilities in God's work can continue on after death.

In this series 37, of which this post is the first, I will feature Moroni and some more of his work with the Book of Mormon later after featuring his father, Mormon beginning with my next blog post.

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Mormon Messages

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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: Mormon and Moroni were Assigned by Jesus Christ to Prepare . . .  -Post 37a. 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.)

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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

36i - Jesus Christ Teaches the Nephites that Tithing is His Law in All Times - Taught in the Book of Mormon for us in our Day

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 Lord's Law of the Tithe - Our Obligation Which Brings Manifold Blessings When We Obey it. Our ward bishop is the Lord's steward in this important matter.

Doctrine and Covenants 119:4 And after that, those who have thus been tithed shall pay one-tenth of all their interest annually; and this shall be a standing law unto them forever, for my holy priesthood, saith the Lord.

Paying a full and honest tithe is a basic requirement in order to be a worthy member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. It is just one of many obligations the Lord expects of His Saints. By much experience members of this church learn that paying an honest and full tithing brings blessings of all kinds, often way beyond what they ever hoped for.

Tithing is not a requirement of the Lord just for our day and time. It actually has been a basic requirement of God since man's beginning on the Earth.

Genesis 14:
18 And Melchizedek king of Salem brought forth bread and wine: and he was the priest of the most high God.

19 And he blessed him, and said, Blessed be Abram of the most high God, possessor of heaven and earth:

20 And blessed be the most high God, which hath delivered thine enemies into thy hand. And he gave him tithes of all. (Emphasis Added)

And in addition:

Leviticus 27:30 And all the tithe of the land, whether of the seed of the land, or of the fruit of the tree, is the LORD's: it is holy unto the LORD. (Emphasis Added)

And again:

2 Chronicles 31: 5 ¶ And as soon as the commandment came abroad, the children of Israel brought in abundance the firstfruits of corn, wine, and oil, and honey, and of all the increase of the fields; and the tithe of all things brought they in abundantly.

6 And concerning the children of Israel and Judah, that dwelt in the cities of Judah, they also brought in the tithe of oxen and sheep, and the tithe of holy things which were consecrated unto the LORD their God, and laid them by heaps.

7 In the third month they began to lay the foundation of the heaps, and finished them in the seventh month.

8 And when Hezekiah and the princes came and saw the heaps, they blessed the LORD, and his people Israel.

9 Then Hezekiah questioned with the priests and the Levites concerning the heaps.

10 And Azariah the chief priest of the house of Zadok answered him, and said, Since the people began to bring the offerings (Tithing) into the house of the LORD, we have had enough to eat, and have left plenty: for the LORD hath blessed his people; and that which is left is this great store. (emphasis and clarification added)

In the just previous post I promised to have you study 3 Nephi, Chapter 24 which is about tithing, in this post. I have already commenced teaching about tithing using scriptures from the Doctrine and Covenants and the Old Testament.

So now we come to 3 Nephi, Chapter 24: These are the words of Malachi, whose book is found in our Old Testament but was not in the Nephites' Brass Plates (their version of the Old Testament). The Resurrected Jesus Christ quoted the following to the Nephites. As I mentioned earlier, Malachi's book was not in the Nephite's version of the Old Testament because Father Lehi and his family left Jerusalem at the command of the Lord before Malachi's time.

3 Nephi 24:9 Ye are cursed with a curse, for ye have robbed me, even this whole nation.

10 Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in my house; and prove me now herewith, saith the Lord of Hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing that there shall not be room enough to receive it.

11 And I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes, and he shall not destroy the fruits of your ground; neither shall your vine cast her fruit before the time in the fields, saith the Lord of
Hosts.

12 And all nations shall call you blessed, for ye shall be a delightsome land, saith the Lord of Hosts. (emphasis added)

I want you to know my personal experience with paying tithing. With their mother, I raised a large family of nine children, (five daughters and four sons.)

I was employed by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints for about 34 years before retiring. I loved the work I did. I didn't expect the salary to to be comparable to that which I could have earned working for a large business or even for the government. Nonetheless, we paid a full tithing. If we ever got behind, we eventually got caught up. I know personally that the blessings that come from paying a full and honest tithing are like we were told above in:

2 Chronicles: 31:10 . . . Since the people began to bring the offerings (Tithing) into the house of the LORD, we have had enough to eat, and have left plenty: for the LORD hath blessed his people;

1. Missionaries pay almost all of their own ongoing mission costs (Young male missionaries serve for two years (young female missionaries serve for one and a half years) They pay for their expenses from their own savings and from funds provided them by family and friends. Tithing pays for their travel (this includes the travel of older missionary married couples) to and from their missions and administrative mission costs, etc.







2. The planning, construction of and maintenance of the almost one hundred and forty six temples which are for the most part already built, are paid for by tithing funds. We have seen in a recent blog post of mine what great blessings come to not only Church members from the availability of these temples, but also to their dead ancestors who are "alive" in the World of Spirits.

1. and 2. Washington, D.C. and Buenos Aires, Argentina Temples

3. and 4 Preston, England and Manila, Philippines Temples



If you would like to view pictures of the LDS Church's Temples Built Since the Church Began You can do so here:  Temple Slide Show


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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.



____________


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: Tithing is the Lord's Law In All Times. . .- Post 36i. 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.

_____________

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

36h - Jesus Christ prophesys that Elijah will Appear to His Church in Our Day - Book of Mormon Prophecies are Fulfilled in Our Day

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 Prophet Elijah Appearing in the Kirtland, Ohio LDS Temple April 3, 1836 -by Dan Lewis

15 To turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the children to the fathers, lest the whole earth be smitten with a curse—

16 Therefore, the keys of this dispensation are committed into your hands; and by this ye may know that the great and dreadful day of the Lord is near, even at the doors. (emphasis added)

In the Book of Mormon, Another Testament of Jesus Christ, we read the following report about something our Resurrected Savior Jesus Christ commanded the Nephites living in Meso-America to write: (AD 34)

D. and C. 110: 13 After this vision had closed, another great and glorious vision burst upon us; for Elijah the prophet, who was taken to heaven without tasting death, stood before us, and said:

14 Behold, the time has fully come, which was spoken of by the mouth of Malachi—testifying that he [Elijah] should be sent, before the great and dreadful day of the Lord come—

3Nephi Chapter 24:1 AND it came to pass that he commanded them that they should write the words which the Father had given unto Malachi, which he should tell unto them. And it came to pass that after they were written he expounded them. . . (emphasis added)

The Nephites, of course, did not have the prophecies of Malachi because he was born and served his ministry after Father Lehi had left Jerusalem in 600 BC. Malachi's prophecies therefore could not have been recorded on the Plates of Brass which their ancestor, Lehi, brought with him when he journeyed to the Western Hemisphere.

In my next post I will deal with some of that which Malachi taught that is recorded in 3 Nephi 24. For now we will deal with what is recorded in the following chapter of 3 Nephi:

Book of Mormon, 3 Nephi Chapter 25 Chapter Heading: At the Second Coming the proud and wicked shall be burned as stubble—Elijah shall return before that great and dreadful day—(Compare Malachi 4. About A.D. 34)

1 FOR behold, the day cometh that shall burn as an oven; and all the proud, yea, and all that do wickedly, shall be stubble; and the day that cometh shall burn them up, saith the Lord of Hosts, that it shall leave them neither root nor branch.

2 But unto you that fear my name, shall the Son of righteousness arise with healing in his wings; and ye shall go forth and grow up as calves in the stall.

3 And ye shall tread down the wicked; for they shall be ashes under the soles of your feet in the day that I shall do this, saith the Lord of Hosts.

4 Remember ye the law of Moses, my servant, which I commanded unto him in Horeb for all Israel, with the statutes and judgments.

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. (emphasis added)

The key words of that scripture above, which from my point of view, fit TODAY'S THEME, I have marked in red.

President Joseph F. Smith of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints in 1918 revealed this about what the Lord Jesus Christ accomplished in his spirit body in the world of spirits between His death and resurrection.

You may want to use the Listen feature of this scripture: D. and  C. 138:

There are things I desire to comment on about which you have just read. The prophet Joseph F. Smith who received that revelation from the Lord Jesus Christ, was a nephew to Joseph Smith, Jr. the first prophet of the Restoration of the Gospel of Jesus Christ in what can be referred to as the "Latter-days."

What was taught in that scripture can give all of us bright hope which could remove our concern about family members we feel died without being qualified to be raised in the resurrection of the righteous about which Alma, the Nephite Prophet, taught us in my just previous post. That which you have just read in D. and C. 138 is surely calculated to turn the heart of the fathers to the children, and the heart of the children to their fathers.

That concern mentioned in the previous paragraph may possibly be extended to yourselves and your living family members. All of you can still be taught the Restored Gospel of Jesus Christ and become members of His authorized church, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and then seek to have the priesthood ordinances (such as baptism and granting the Gift of the Holy Ghost) done for your deceased ancestors.

The following inspired words taken from the scriptural link you have just read, can help you to relieve your concerns about your deceased ancestors not having had the opportunity to be taught the Gospel of Jesus Christ and its ordinances during their lifetimes.

As we just learned from this revelation, your deceased family members and all your ancestors can be taught the Gospel of Jesus Christ by His representatives on the other side of the veil.

If you have personally received all the necessary Gospel ordinances (such as baptism by immersion) yourselves, you can do your deceased loved ones' ordinances for them on their behalf, or you can allow Temple worthy LDS members you may or may not know personally, do these ordinances on their behalf. We call these: vicarious temple ordinances.There most likely is an LDS Temple (often referred to as The House of the Lord) available not too far from where you live. There are according to my count, 146 temples throughout the earth, including those presently under construction and those which are in the planning stages. Here is a map which will assist you knowing where in the worlds they are each located: directory map



Oquirrh Mountain Utah LDS Temple - South Jordan, Utah

 The revelation (D. and C. 138) you read today significantly adds directly to the pertinent information given by the Book of Mormon prophet, Alma the Younger regarding the resurrection of the dead which we studied in my just previous post.I will next tell you about an experience related to the above scripture, my wife and I enjoyed the day before this post was published.

My wife and I along with one of my wife's sons and his wife and three school-aged children, attended an open house of the LDS Church's newest temple, which is shown in the official LDS Temple photo above.

Melva and I have attended other temple open houses and have both witnessed something at this Temple Open House that we also had witnessed at each of the other temple open houses we have attended: There were a good number of parents with children of all ages there, some were LDS members but others were not. The guides did not ask for reverence there. It just seemed to come automatically.

Even the youngest children appeared to sense somehow the special spirit in that holy place. There was no acting out, no rudeness to one another, actually, no crying by any of them.

The guides were very kind and very willingly answered our questions and helped us with things we needed, like finding an elevator or a restroom. If you had been there with us I'm certain you would have made the same observations as we did. It wasn't the beautiful new temple or the helpful guides that kept everyone peaceful, including young children and babies, it was the spirit that could be actually felt that is a part of that building in some wonderful way.

I have heard others, including non-LDS friends, say the very same thing about the childrens' demeanor, as well of that of the adults, at these open houses. We were being led through the entire structure which took about an hour and a half. This included viewing a video in which LDS leaders explained temple matters.

This video will expand upon what I have telling you thus far in this post:

36g - Alma the Younger, in the Book of Alma, a Book Found in the Book of Mormon, Another Testament of Jesus Christ, Tells Us By the Means of the Spirit of Prophecy and Revelation What We Need to Know About the Resurrection From the Dead.

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

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TODAY'S THEME



Grieving for Lost Loved Ones - A Part of Life -Oil Painting: Robert Reid, 1888



They Who Loved Him Grieved the Death of Jesus -By Carl Heinrich Bloch



Why Weepest Thou -By Simon Dewey



Jesus' Resurrection, the First of all Resurrections, Brought Great Joy Where Once There Was Great Sorrow

The Prophet, Alma the Younger taught the Lord's Word regarding the Resurrection of the Dead:

You will notice in the scripture I have quoted below, that I have highlighted things which I feel are particularly important for you and I to know. I would encourage you to focus on those verses. Please try to identify those things in your life which you need to begin doing or need to stop doing which would help qualify you to be resurrected with the righteous and not with the unrighteous.

Book of Mormon, Alma 40:1 NOW my son, here is somewhat more I would say unto thee; for I perceive that thy mind is worried concerning the resurrection of the dead.

2 Behold, I say unto you, that there is no resurrection—or, I would say, in other words, that this mortal does not put on immortality, this corruption does not put on incorruption—until after the coming of Christ.

3 Behold, he bringeth to pass the resurrection of the dead. But behold, my son, the resurrection is not yet. Now, I unfold unto you a mystery; nevertheless, there are many mysteries which are kept, that no one knoweth them save God himself. But I show unto you one thing which I have inquired diligently of God that I might know—that is concerning the resurrection.

4 Behold, there is a time appointed that all shall come forth from the dead. Now when this time cometh no one knows; but God knoweth the time which is appointed.

5 Now, whether there shall be one time, or a second time, or a third time, that men shall come forth from the dead, it mattereth not; for God knoweth all these things; and it sufficeth me to know that this is the case—that there is a time appointed that all shall rise from the dead.

6 Now there must needs be a space betwixt the time of death and the time of the resurrection.

7 And now I would inquire what becometh of the souls of men from this time of death to the time appointed for the resurrection?

8 Now whether there is more than one time appointed for men to rise it mattereth not; for all do not die at once, and this mattereth not; all is as one day with God, and time only is measured unto men.

9 Therefore, there is a time appointed unto men that they shall rise from the dead; and there is a space between the time of death and the resurrection. And now, concerning this space of time, what becometh of the souls of men is the thing which I have inquired diligently of the Lord to know; and this is the thing of which I do know.

10 And when the time cometh when all shall rise, then shall they know that God knoweth all the times which are appointed unto man.

11 Now, concerning the state of the soul between death and the resurrection—Behold, it has been made known unto me by an angel, that the spirits of all men, as soon as they are departed from this mortal body, yea, the spirits of all men, whether they be good or evil, are taken home to that God who gave them life.

12 And then shall it come to pass, that the spirits of those who are righteous are received into a state of happiness, which is called paradise, a state of rest, a state of peace, where they shall rest from all their troubles and from all care, and sorrow.

13 And then shall it come to pass, that the spirits of the wicked, yea, who are evil—for behold, they have no part nor portion of the Spirit of the Lord; for behold, they chose evil works rather than good; therefore the spirit of the devil did enter into them, and take possession of their house—and these shall be cast out into outer darkness; there shall be weeping, and wailing, and gnashing of teeth, and this because of their own iniquity, being led captive by the will of the devil.

14 Now this is the state of the souls of the wicked, yea, in darkness, and a state of awful, fearful looking for the fiery indignation of the wrath of God upon them; thus they remain in this state, as well as the righteous in paradise, until the time of their resurrection.

15 Now, there are some that have understood that this state of happiness and this state of misery of the soul, before the resurrection, was a first resurrection. Yea, I admit it may be termed a resurrection, the raising of the spirit or the soul and their consignation to happiness or misery, according to the words which have been spoken.

16 And behold, again it hath been spoken, that there is a first resurrection, a resurrection of all those who have been, or who are, or who shall be, down to the resurrection of Christ from the dead.

17 Now, we do not suppose that this first resurrection, which is spoken of in this manner, can be the resurrection of the souls and their consignation to happiness or misery. Ye cannot suppose that this is what it meaneth.

18 Behold, I say unto you, Nay; but it meaneth the reuniting of the soul with the body, of those from the days of Adam down to the resurrection of Christ.

19 Now, whether the souls and the bodies of those of whom has been spoken shall all be reunited at once, the wicked as well as the righteous, I do not say; let it suffice, that I say that they all come forth; or in other words, their resurrection cometh to pass before the resurrection of those who die after the resurrection of Christ. (Please see the FOOTNOTE below!)

20 Now, my son, I do not say that their resurrection cometh at the resurrection of Christ; but behold, I give it as my opinion, that the souls and the bodies are reunited, of the righteous, at the resurrection of Christ, and his ascension into heaven.

21 But whether it be at his resurrection or after, I do not say; but this much I say, that there is a space between death and the resurrection of the body, and a state of the soul in happiness or in misery until the time which is appointed of God that the dead shall come forth, and be reunited, both soul and body, and be brought to stand before God, and be judged according to their works.

22 Yea, this bringeth about the restoration of those things of which has been spoken by the mouths of the prophets.

23 The soul shall be restored to the body, and the body to the soul; yea, and every limb and joint shall be restored to its body; yea, even a hair of the head shall not be lost; but all things shall be restored to their proper and perfect frame.

24 And now, my son, this is the restoration of which has been spoken by the mouths of the prophets—

25 And then shall the righteous shine forth in the kingdom of God.

26 But behold, an awful death cometh upon the wicked; for they die as to things pertaining to things of righteousness; for they are unclean, and no unclean thing can inherit the kingdom of God; but they are cast out, and consigned to partake of the fruits of their labors or their works, which have been evil; and they drink the dregs of a bitter cup. (Emphasis and Instruction Added)



Alma the Younger and the Four Sons of King Mosiah are Reprimanded by an Angel of God -by Gary Kapp



Alma the Younger, whose father (who was a prophet) and also named Alma, had earlier in his life felt pain and anguish as extremely as one can possibly feel when he and his closest associates in doing evil were rebuked by an Angel. This was a direct answer to the prayers of Alma, his father.

Here is a part of what Alma the Younger had to say about that phase of his life:

Alma 36: 17 And it came to pass that as I was thus racked with torment, while I was harrowed up by the memory of my many sins, behold, I remembered also to have heard my father prophesy unto the people concerning the coming of one Jesus Christ, a Son of God, to atone for the sins of the world.

18 Now, as my mind caught hold upon this thought, I cried within my heart: O Jesus, thou Son of God, have mercy on me, who am in the gall of bitterness, and am encircled about by the everlasting chains of death.

19 And now, behold, when I thought this, I could remember my pains no more; yea, I was harrowed up by the memory of my sins no more.

20 And oh, what joy, and what marvelous light I did behold; yea, my soul was filled with joy as exceeding as was my pain!

In my opinion, and I'd have to think that you'd agree with me, the words of Alma you have studied (in blue above) are much more believable and credible after learning that such a great change took place in Alma after he had allowed the atonement of Jesus Christ, our Savior and Redeemer to take away his great guilt and anguish. We thus know Alma believed in Christ! That kind of a change can take place in each of us too.

Before ending this post I'd like each of you to accept an assignment from me. Please make a private list of all the things you need to change in your life or even just begin such a list. Doing this could help you to become qualified for the resurrection of the righteous about which Alma taught us. Using such a list to help you increase your righteousness will most likely help you live as righteously as possible and know you have been forgiven as Alma did. This assignment is just for your benefit, and of course as you carry through in making those changes, that will eventually benefit those who love you so much, your family.

FOOTNOTE: It is reported in the following scripture that the recently resurrected  Jesus Christ (in A.D.34, (His was the very first of all resurrections as you will remember) asked an extremely important question of His Nephite apostles during a visit with them in Central America near their temple in the Land Bountiful. 

3Nephi 23:9 Verily I say unto you, I commanded my servant Samuel, the Lamanite, that he should testify unto this people, that at the day that the Father should glorify his name in me that there were many saints who should arise from the dead, and should appear unto many, and should minister unto them. And he said unto them: Was it not so?

10 And his disciples answered him and said: Yea, Lord, Samuel did prophesy according to thy words, and they were all fulfilled.

11 And Jesus said unto them: How be it that ye have not written this thing, that many saints did arise and appear unto many and did minister unto them?(emphasis added)

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Neil Birch