45e I Intend this Blog Post of Mine to Stand as an Introduction to the Book of Mormon, Something Each of You Members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Can Share With Your Non-LDS Friends and Relatives, and Something Which Those of You Who are Not (Yet) Members of that Church Can View With Interest. The Mormon Messages Video Presented Herein Featuring Elder Jeffrey R. Holland of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Followed by Paintings with Explanations of Them, Will Hopefully Help You in Your Efforts to Learn About and/or Share the Book of Mormon.

To Access This Blog's Index, Please Scroll Down To the Fifth Paragraph From the End of This Post! For Those of You Who May Be In a Hurry to Access it, Here it is now: Neil Birch's Blog Index.

Dear Readers of this Blog, please note that Google advertisements may appear in this blog post. They were not solicited by me and I do not profit from them. I did request particularly that Google not place them within scriptures which I often use in my blog posts. It appears they have honored that request of mine. Thank you Google!

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TODAY'S THEME

Elder Jeffrey R. Holland 

I, J. Neil Birch, author of this blog post now invite you to view and listen to this message addressed to each of you by the above Apostle of the Lord Jesus Christ in our world today!

A VIDEO: An Introduction to the Book of Mormon

Now after your having listened to Elder Holland's engaging remarks, I follow up by Inviting  you to View professional  paintings of  a Number of  Key Individuals and events which are Featured in the Book of Mormon, Another Testament of Jesus Christ or had something significant to do with its being published in the State of New York in the year 1830. Along with each of those paintings I will briefly explain the key roles the individuals shown in them have regarding this additional scripture which was given us by God our Heavenly Father to bear Witness in our day on earth of the Truthfulness of the Gospel of His Son, Jesus Christ!

Liahona  -by Arnold Friberg

The first individuals featured in the Book of Mormon, Another Testament of Jesus Christ which I intend to portray through professionally done paintings are Lehi and his third eldest son, Nephi. After being called of God to Leave Jerusalem, their ancestral home and to be led to an unknown land to which Heavenly Father Intends to Lead them Father Lehi (with the red turbine) holding something they called "Liahona" which would serve as a compass or guide for them in their journey to their promised land to which God, our Heavenly Father intended to lead them. Nephi  is standing to the right of his father, Lehi and has placed his left hand on his father's back.

Lehi and His People Arrive in the Promised Land . - By Arnold Friberg

We have been told by Joseph Smith who translated the Book of Mormon into the English language by the power of God that after a very long journey both by land and by sea beginning in about 600 B.C. that the land Lehi and his family accepted as their promised land to which they had been led was in the Western part of the Americas.

Various specific sites in the Americas have been suggested by a number of professional persons as the actual site where Lehi and his family and relatives and at least one friend actually landed after a long and arduous journey from Jerusalem in Palestine. Of those various sites suggested I am personally convinced that Lehi's group (and actually two other groups who were led by God, one, centuries before Father Lehi's time, and the other not long after Lehi and his group arrived there); landed in an area which now makes up two states of the present-day Country of Mexico, which area has a Mediterranean Climate very similar to that in Palestine from whence that people, (we call them Nephites), came. This very similar climate to that in Palestine made it possible for the seeds they had brought with them to easily germinate and bountifully produce the food that was so essential for their survival in that new land.

A very large number of specifically detailed geographical statements made within the pages of the Book of Mormon agree exactly with what is known regarding the Baja California portion of the present day country of Mexico, including its very prolific agriculture productivity. Thus I can ask again here as I always do through the Title of my Blog: Have You Really Read the Book of Mormon?

Of  those of us who advocate that location, members of the Lynn A. Rosenvall Family of Calgary, Alberta, Canada and Utah, were the first to come to that conclusion. He and his son, David indicate that eventually during the times described within the Book of Mormon, some descendants of Father Lehi and his sons moved from what we know as Baja California further North into what is now known as San Diego, California (U.S.A.) and perhaps even further Northward into what we know as the Los Angeles, California (U.S.A.) area with their equally similar Mediterranean climate.*

The surely most significant history found within the pages of the Book of Mormon, Another Testament of Jesus Christ was of His sacred visit among them after His resurrection and ascension into Heaven.

The Resurrected Jesus Christ Descends from the Sky to Visit and Bless the Nephite-Lamanite people in Ancient America.  - by Arnold Friberg

Recorded within the sacred pages of the Book of Third Nephi in the Book of Mormon are detailed accounts of His visit among the Nephite people (which the Lord Jesus Christ had foretold his apostles in Palestine during His lifetime.) 

John 10:16 And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd.

Jesus Christ Visits The Americas. -by John Scott

Within the sacred pages of the Book of Mormon, Another Testament of Jesus Christ in the Book of 3Nephi are recorded the sacred words of our Savior Jesus Christ to His Israelite people (they called themselves  Nephites) who had migrated originally from Jerusalem (in 600 B.C.) to the Americas.

Abinadi Appearing Before King Noah -by Arnold Friberg

As is true in the Holy Bible, in the pages of the Book of Mormon are recorded accounts of people whose leaders have led them into wickedness causing God to send His holy prophets to reprimand them and to attempt to lead them back to the truth of the Holy Gospel of  His Son, Jesus Christ. In the King's court depicted above, the prophet Abinadi clearly and effectively prophesied of the future coming of Jesus Christ, the Savior of Mankind to redeem those who believe in Him and to bring about the eventual resurrection of all of us.

As pictured above, in a section of a certain Nephite King's court, (to the king's left in the scene above) are seated his priests who were as wicked as their king. However, one of them named Alma, believed in the teachings of Abinadi and recorded that prophet's teachings. Alma soon repented and escaped from the kingdom along with other believers in the coming of Jesus Christ about whom the great and good prophet, Abinadi had taught.

King Noah put Abinadi to death by fire! And as Abinadi had prophesied, the King also eventually suffered death by fire!

It is evident that the descendants of Father Lehi and his sons eventually, centuries after the coming of the Resurrected Jesus Christ to teach and bless them, and after they had totally apostatised  from His Gospel, migrated out of their original land in the Americas and settled in what is now a a part of the rest of the Nation of Mexico and countries South of there, and most likely extending eventually into South America and to the North into what are now western states of the United States of America.

Mormon Abridging The Plates -by Tom Lovell

The Book of Mormon was named after a Prophet of God who lived in the Americas from about 322 A.D. to about, Perhaps, A.D. 384. He was commanded by God to abridge the records who had been written and kept among his people since the days of Father Lehi and his righteous son, Nephi.

Mormon, a general in his nation's army was killed in the line of duty and the records given him by God on which he put together the key parts of the history of their people was turned over to his righteous son, Moroni. Moroni evidently eventually during the surely very lonely last part of his life, transported those sacred records to what is now known as the State of New York (U.S.A.) and buried them in the earth.

Moroni Burying the Plates. -by Tom Lovell

Many centuries later in the early 1800s Moroni who had died and had been resurrected through the power of the resurrection brought about by our Savior Jesus Christ, appeared to a young American man by the name of Joseph Smith who lived in Palmyra, New York

The Angel Moroni Appears to Joseph Smith. -by Tom Lovell

Joseph Smith Receives the Golden Plates from  Moroni,  who had been resurrected  and was an Angel of God.

Joseph Smith Translating the Book of Mormon -by Del Parson

I, J. Neil Birch invite each of you who do not yet have one, obtain your own personal copy of the Book of  Mormon, Another Testament of Jesus Christ; in whatever language you prefer, and read it from cover to cover. You will never regret having done so! If you sincerely ask Heavenly Father to know of its truthfulness, He will reveal that to you!


You may want to go back up to the link to Elder Jeffrey R. Holland's talk which is basically an invitation to each of you obtain your own copy of the Book of Mormon and read it prayerfully. I invite you to experience that video once again. If you do so you perhaps after having read part or all of  that book will be motivated to ask your Heavenly Father to help you know for yourself of the Book of Mormon, Another Testament of Jesus Christ's truthfulness! 


* In case you would like to investigate personally the matter of Book of Mormon Geography presented briefly in the first part of this blog post, I refer you to that which the Lynn A.Rosenvall family has presented:  A Choice Land


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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 OPEN NEIL BIRCH'S BLOG INDEX: To Either Read the Full Index Item Which Refers To This BlogPost, (Or To Search The Index For Any Other BlogPost You Desire To Access): After You Have Read All of This Paragraph, Please Scroll Back Up and Click on The Following: (This) Book of Mormon Focused Blog Post is One You May Want to e-mail Your friends and Relatives Who are Not Yet Members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. A Video Featuring Elder Jeffrey R. Holland is Included -Post 45e. When The Picture of Our Savior and Redeemer, Jesus Christ Sitting Next To a Little Boy Comes onto Your Screen, Please Scroll Down To Your Target Item.


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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

Post 45d From Time to Time I Desire to Re-Acquaint the Readers of My Blog With Those Posts Which I Consider Particularly Faith Promoting. For This Week's Post I Have Chosen to Publish My Post Which I Published About Two and a Half Years Ago Which I Entitled, "A Letter to My Granddaughter JoJo." Even if You Viewed it Previously I'm sure You Will Enjoy Your Experience in Viewing it Once Again! Neil Birch

To Access This Blog's Index, Please Scroll Down To the Fifth Paragraph From the End of This Post! For Those of You Who May Be In a Hurry to Access it, Here it is: Neil Birch's Blog Index.

Dear Readers of this Blog, please note that Google advertisements may appear in this blog post. They were not solicited by me and I do not profit from them. I did request particularly that Google not place them within scriptures which I often use in my blog posts. It appears they have honored that request of mine. Thank you Google!

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TODAY'S THEME

Christ's Image. -by Heinrich Hofmann

Dear Blog Readers, as mentioned Above in the Introduction to this Blog Post I have Chosen to Have You Have the Opportunity of Viewing One of my Most Appreciated Posts of the Past (because of the large numbers of viewers Who Have Viewed It When Published Previously!

A Letter to My Granddaughter, JoJo

Please Read This Now: A Note to Each of the Readers of this Blog Post: You will end up being in my past Blog Post 42d after Viewing and Listening to the Mormon Tabernacle Choir in performing  Handel's Hallelujah Chorus. You can end right there instead of attempting to return to this my blog Post 45d in Which You Began. The Best to Each of You in Your Very Important Lives!


J. Neil Birch
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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 OPEN NEIL BIRCH'S BLOG INDEX: To Either Read the Full Index Item Which Refers To This BlogPost, (Or To Search The Index For Any Other BlogPost You Desire To Access): After You Have Read All of This Paragraph, Please Scroll Back Up and Click on The Following: A Letter to My Granddaughter, JoJo;  When The Picture of Our Savior and Redeemer, Jesus Christ Sitting Next To a Little Boy Comes onto Your Screen, Please Scroll Down To Your Target Item.


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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

Post 45c: There is a National Holiday this Week in the United States of America Where I Live. Actually it is the Fourth of July Holiday, the Birthday of Our Nation, a Truly American Holiday! An Older Post of Mine (35c) Which I've Copied into This Current Blog Post (45c) Is Not Directly About the Fourth of July Holiday or Even About the U.S.A. but It is Clearly About the Book of Mormon and How in that Sacred Book it is Prophesied that the Gospel of Jesus Christ Was to Be Restored After it Had Been Taken Away Through Apostasy. True World History Makes it Clear that the Gospel and Church of Jesus Christ Was Taken From the Earth After All of Jesus' Apostles Were Killed, (Except for John Whom Jesus Promised Would Continue Living Until His (Jesus') Second Coming. The Lord Has Also Let Us Know Through the Book of Mormon, Another Testament of Jesus Christ, that a Free Country (The U.S.A.) Would be Set up Whose Main Function Will be to Provide a Place Where Jesus's Church Could be Restored! P.S. Don't overlook the comment at the End of This Post Which was Submitted by An Appreciative Full-time LDS Missionary!

FRIDAY, MARCH 6, 2009

35c - The Book of Mormon, Another Testament of Jesus Christ

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 Brother of Jared Sees the Finger of the Lord -by Arnold Friberg

The Book of Mormon, Ether Chapter 3:6 And it came to pass that when the brother of Jared had said these words, behold, the Lord stretched forth his hand and touched the stones one by one with his finger. And the veil was taken from off the eyes of the brother of Jared, and he saw the finger of the Lord; and it was as the finger of a man, like unto flesh and blood; and the brother of Jared fell down before the Lord, for he was struck with fear.

7 And the Lord saw that the brother of Jared had fallen to the earth; and the Lord said unto him: Arise, why hast thou fallen?

8 And he saith unto the Lord: I saw the finger of the Lord, and I feared lest he should smite me; for I knew not that the Lord had flesh and blood.

9 And the Lord said unto him: Because of thy faith thou hast seen that I shall take upon me flesh and blood; and never has man come before me with such exceeding faith as thou hast; for were it not so ye could not have seen my finger. Sawest thou more than this?

10 And he answered: Nay; Lord, show thyself unto me.

11 And the Lord said unto him: Believest thou the words which I shall speak?

12 And he answered: Yea, Lord, I know that thou speakest the truth, for thou art a God of truth, and canst not lie.

13 And when he had said these words, behold, the Lord showed himself unto him, and said: Because thou knowest these things ye are redeemed from the fall; therefore ye are brought back into my presence; therefore I show myself unto you.

14 Behold, I am he who was prepared from the foundation of the world to redeem my people. Behold, I am Jesus Christ. I am the Father and the Son. In me shall all mankind have life, and that eternally, even they who shall believe on my name; and they shall become my sons and my daughters.

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"I hear Joseph Smith's voice everytime I read it (The Book of Mormon). He was a farmer. He was young. He was unlettered and he put this all together. So you have this rough hewn kind of text ..." Alex Caldiero, poet and scholar, Utah Valley University, Orem, Utah, U.S.A. (Clarification Added)

Viewers of this blog post, please answer this question: 
Did you see in the Book of Mormon scripture above, TODAY'S THEME, the writing of a "young, unlettered farmer?" Or can 
you see "this rough hewn kind of text" that this young uneducated farmer was supposed to have "put all together?"

In my blog posts 1 and 2, I refer to the words of a scholar taken from the PBS Video, "The Mormons," shown in prime time television in early May of 2007.

I have referred back to those words frequently, in my posts. In fact, I derived the title of this blog, "Have You Really Read the Book of Mormon?" from the thoughts that first came to me after listening to Alex Caldiero's words (quoted in the paragraph just below the photograph) in the PBS video.

This morning I decided to go back to that video and get his
exact words for you to read. I carefully copied them and they
are recorded just below the photo of Professor Caldiero above.
If you have been reading my blog posts right along or have otherwise seriously and prayerfully studied the Book of Mormon, it will be easy for you to know that Alex Caldiero did not actually read the Book of Mormon, Another Testament of Jesus Christ. Instead, you will realize it must be his very uninformed
viewpoint that caused him to say that the words of the book of Mormon are the rough hewn kind of text an uneducated farm
boy had just put all together.

There was much in that PBS video with which I strongly disagree. I found that many other members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints agree with me on that.

There is an allegation by one of the "experts" shown in it, that the report of the resurrection of Jesus Christ was just a conspiracy brought about by Jesus's twelve apostles and is the "scandal of Christianity." In my view that charge is scandalous! 


There were some very good parts in the video, but too much of it was incorrect and biased. Professor Caldiero also saying in that PBS video that the Book of Mormon was "beautiful in all of its imperfections" is far "off-base." 


Any diligent and honest student of the Book of Mormon, like some of you may be, would be able to say:  "It, along with the Holy Bible, contains the inspired words of God through His holy prophets." A case in point are the inspired words of the prophet named, The Brother of Jared, which are quoted in TODAY'S THEME.

Some background for you on the Brother of Jared and his people:

The Book of Mormon, Mosiah 8: 8 (In about 121 B.C.) And they (some Nephites) were lost in the wilderness for the space of many days, yet they were diligent, and found not the land of Zarahemla but returned to this land, having traveled in a land among many waters, having discovered a land which was covered with bones of men, and of beasts, and was also covered with ruins of buildings of every kind, having discovered a land which had been peopled with a people who were as numerous as the hosts of Israel.

9 And for a testimony that the things that they had said are true they have brought twenty-four plates which are filled with engravings, and they are of pure gold. (date and clarification added)

The record of the people which had been engraved upon the golden plates was later translated by the use of the Urim and Thummim* by the Nephite King, Prophet and Seer, Mosiah(*interpreters used by prophets who are also seers. (Mosiah 8:13; Exodus 28:30)

In the Book of Ether, one of the individual books within the Book of Mormon, Another Testament of Jesus Christ, is told the history of a people who lived at the time of the confounding of languages at the Tower of Babel. They were led by the Lord across Southwestern Asia and across the Pacific Ocean to Ancient America, many centuries before the Nephites were led there by the Lord through the help of the compass called, Liahona.

I now invite you to read (and also listen to if you choose to) the scripture from which you can learn from this early chapter in the Book of Ether much more about this ancient people. The only record of them is  found in the Book of Mormon. However, there are untranslated portions of the Jaredite's golden plates. With the Lord willing, someday we may have that part of their history too:

Ether 2:1-25

As when you have read previous portions of the Book of Mormon, you will have just read a complex true history of people who were led by the Lord, in His pre-mortal state. Of course, in the Book of III Nephi there are accounts of His also leading people in His post-mortal (Resurrected) state.

You have surely begun to see the wisdom in the Lord in providing the Book of Mormon to guide its readers back to Him. THE BOOK OF MORMON IS TRULY ANOTHER TESTAMENT OF JESUS CHRIST!

Jesus the Christ -by Del Parson

Surely you readers have easily ascertained that the words of the Book of Mormon, Another Testament of Jesus Christ are not words that a young unlettered farmer from the State of New York in the United States of America in 1830 just "put together."

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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 OPEN NEIL BIRCH'S BLOG INDEX: To Either Read the Full Index Item Which Refers To This BlogPost, (Or To Search The Index For Any Other BlogPost You Desire To Access): After You Have Read All of This Paragraph, Please Scroll Back Up and Click on The Following:The Book of Mormon Reveals Profound Matters . . . Post 35c; When The Picture of Our Savior and Redeemer, Jesus Christ Sitting Next To a Little Boy Comes onto Your Screen, Please Scroll Down To Your Target Item Or Use the Alphabetical Scrolling Device (When It Has Been Installed).


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"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

45b: We Can Learn Directly From the Book of Mormon Some of the Significant Geography of the Specific Land Where The Nephites Settled in the Americas After a Lengthy Ocean Voyage. That Geography Tells Us Where in the Americas They Were Led To!

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


Dear Readers of this Blog, please note that Google advertisements will appear throughout this blog post. They were not solicited by me and I do not profit from any of them. I did request particularly that Google not place their ads within scriptures which I often use within each of my blog posts. Hopefully they have honored that request of mine.

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TODAY'S THEME:

Lehi and His People Arrive in the Promised Land -by Arnold Friberg

In this painting (used often by me in many of my previous blog posts) by famous artist, Arnold Friberg who created many artistic depictions of scenes used for the famous Cecil B. DeMill movie, The Ten Commandments, we view Father Lehi, his wife Sariah along with son, Nephi to their right and his just younger brother, Jacob, along with others.

They had been guided by the Lord on a long oceanic voyage from the East coast of Arabia and then most likely along the same tidal currents used by ocean voyagers for centuries afterward such as the Portuguese and Spaniards, closer to our time on earth, by sailing, most likely, in a Northeasterly direction and then eventually being propelled forward by those same prevailing currents in a Southerly direction, thus reaching their Promised Land to which the Lord their God had guided them.

In the above scene depicted by Arnold Friberg, Father Lehi and other members of his family along with some members of another family whose father was a relative of Lehi's,  are viewing their promised land to which the Lord God had just guided them:  Just exactly where in the Americas was that land to which they had been guided?

Later on this is what Father Lehi told his family about their promised land to which they had been guided by the power of the Holy Ghost:

2 Nephi 1: 3 And he (father Lehi) also spake unto them concerning the land of promise, which they had obtained—how merciful the Lord had been in warning us that we should flee out of the land of Jerusalem.

4 For, behold, said he, I have seen a vision, in which I know that Jerusalem is destroyed; and had we remained in Jerusalem we should also have perished.

5 But, said he, notwithstanding our afflictions, we have obtained a land of promise, a land which is choice above all other lands; a land which the Lord God hath covenanted with me should be a land for the inheritance of my seed. Yea, the Lord hath covenanted this land unto me, and to my children forever, and also all those who should be led out of other countries by the hand of the Lord.

6 Wherefore, I, Lehi, prophesy according to the workings of the Spirit which is in me, that there shall none come into this land (which I personally believe along with many other Latter-day Saints (members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints) has been extended by Latter-day prophets to refer to all of the Americas) save they shall be brought by the hand of the Lord.

7 Wherefore, this land is consecrated unto him whom he shall bring. And if it so be that they shall serve him according to the commandments which he hath given, it shall be a land of liberty unto them; wherefore, they shall never be brought down into captivity; if so, it shall be because of iniquity; for if iniquity shall abound cursed shall be the land for their sakes, but unto the righteous it shall be blessed forever.

8 And behold, it is wisdom that this land should be kept as yet from the knowledge of other nations; for behold, many nations would overrun the land, that there would be no place for an inheritance.

9 Wherefore, I, Lehi, have obtained a promise, that inasmuch as those whom the Lord God shall bring out of the land of Jerusalem shall keep his commandments, they shall prosper upon the face of this land; and they shall be kept from all other nations, that they may possess this land unto themselves. And if it so be that they shall keep his commandments they shall be blessed upon the face of this land, and there shall be none to molest them, nor to take away the land of their inheritance; and they shall dwell safely forever. (between 588 and 570 B.C. emphasis and clarification added by Neil  Birch)

Now, just exactly where was this specific promised land located in the Americas to which Lehi was guided by the Lord God? Many of you who already are members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, which publishes the Book of Mormon, Another Testament of Jesus Christ, will say that Lehi and those with him arrived somewhere in the Americas in about 589 B.C.

But where exactly in the Americas did that ship built by Nephi with the guidance of the Lord God and through the labors of Nephi and his brothers, end up after their long oceanic voyage?

This has been at times perhaps a somewhat contentious question and many Latter-day Saints have offered their differing scholarly opinions as to exactly where Lehi and his family landed. Those opinions actually differ widely!

Through the much appreciated guidance of my oldest of nine children, Jane, I attended at her suggestion, along with her, a meeting several months ago on a Friday night where a father who is a professional, University trained geographer, who was assisted by one of his sons, led out in presenting on the subject of "Where in the Americas did the Nephites Settle." This occurred at a meeting held at a "Mexican-Mormon Museum" located not far from the Provo (Utah) Temple of their and my and my daughter, Jane's church, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The professional geographer father provided the main, very interesting and in my view, a very beneficial presentation.

I have read a number of articles written by various other scholarly members of our church, in which their individual opinions of the actual landing sites of Lehi's ship have been expressed. I was impressed with some of their lines of reasoning, but was not compelled to fully accept any one of their opinions on the subject.

As you may have guessed by now I have become convinced that although this is still a disputed subject among some members of the Lord's restored church, the evidence is quite overwhelming, in my personal opinion now, as to where Lehi, his family, and some relatives and at least one unrelated friend landed in the Americas. I'm now convinced it was actually located in the Southern end of what is now Baja-California, which is part of the present-day nation of Mexico, thanks to the much convincing information gathered by the above mentioned geographer.

Although having viewed their videos a number of  times, after attending that meeting I became even more impressed with the great work done by the father, (the professional geographer) and his son along with others who worked with them.

I soon will invite each of you to involve yourselves in viewing an electronic presentation produced by them by which you will have the opportunity of trying to decide for yourselves, whether or not I,  J. Neil Birch am wise in supporting that which is presented in this presentation which makes up the bulk of this post.

Now before inviting you to view that electronic presentation, I ask a very pertinent (but out of necessity, a very long) question:

Inasmuch as some individuals in this world of ours feel that the Book of Mormon, Another Testament of Jesus Christ, was merely made up by Joseph Smith (and they most likely would list others who worked closely with him, supposedly, in their opinions, writing it all on their own or borrowing some of it from some unknown author or authors), would it not be a helpful additional proof of that book's solid truthfulness, (along side the spiritual witness that is promised each of us within the pages of that sacred book) if the Prophets Mormon and Moroni's alleged facts stated within the Book of Mormon have been substantiated as actual geographical truths, such as the electronic presentation you will soon experience at the end of this post, in my humble opinion, clearly does?

After viewing the videos presented below you will have to ask yourselves the question, how did Joseph Smith get all of that geography so accurately placed unless, as he told us, it was revealed to him by the God of Heaven as he translated that which was inscribed on plates of Gold by the Prophet Mormon along with other prophets who lived in the Ancient Americas.

I believe that with all of that precise geography being right on target (as I very firmly believe), we have solid evidence that the Book of Mormon was not made up by Joseph Smith or anyone else.

You are hereby invited to make comments regarding your stand on what you have learned in this blog post, in the Comments section which you will find at the very end of this blog post. There is quite a bit of information for you to consider but I feel you will find that it has been provided in a very interesting and informative manner.

Please remember that there are given limits set by Google as to how long your Comments can be. I will look forward to reading what some of you may write. Be sure to not overlook each of the sections of this following electronic link to which I will guide you. The videos will take some time to view and listen to, but they are very much worth the time it will take.

After attending the meeting this earlier this year on that Friday night in Provo, Utah I was very impressed with how the geographer father I mentioned above who presented appears to be very qualified in dealing with this very interesting and challenging subject because of his geographical skills.

There was no contention present during that meeting. I was very impressed with all those with whom I spoke  as to both of their honest characters and perhaps more especially with the father who is such an accomplished professional. After having read his conclusions regarding the actual whereabouts of the Book of Mormon lands, as I read the Book of Mormon now I have a mental map of those lands which makes a lot of sense and even helps me to more fully enjoy reading that Book of Books!

Please don't overlook any of the sections of that which is provided below (Under the title of: "A Choice Land" (the videos will take quite a bit of time to view fully but they are very worth the time it will take you.). You will be guided by the authors of this presentation you will be viewing as to the order in which you may view each of the sections of their presentation. You most likely will first choose to view their geography photos of portions of Baja California. Please do not overlook the videos. I found them very informative. However, it will take quite a bit of time to watch all of those videos, but you can come back later to view those you didn't have time for at first.

A Choice Land!

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


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TO ACCESS NEIL BIRCH'S BLOG INDEX: To Either Read the Full Index Item Which Refers To This Blog Post, (Or To Search The Index For Any Other Blog Post You Desire To Access), After You Have Read All of This Paragraph, Please Scroll Back Up And Click on the Following: Geographical Location of the Book of Mormon Lands, A Strong Possibility -Post 45b. When The Picture of Our Savior, Jesus Christ Sitting Next To a Little Boy Comes Onto Your Screen, 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 in it. 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

Post 45a: In my LDS Church Priesthood Class Several Sundays Ago, Our Instructor Asked Each of Us LDS High Priests In Attendance That Day To Tell Him Our Favorite Scripture! The One Which Was Our Teacher's Favorite Happens Also to Be Mine. Also (It is the Scripture I've Listed First, just below the Painting of Our Savior, Jesus Christ Wearing a Red Tunic.) I Decided to Model this Particular Post After Our Class Experience That Particular Sunday. I Have Begun it By Featuring Several Scriptures Which Illustrate Strikingly Different Ways in Which Jesus Christ's "Work and His Glory" is Being Brought About Today! I Do That By Showing Three Other Scriptures Which Aptly illustrate this too. I Have Also Used Selected Paintings and a Video Which Help Me Illustrate These! Next: I Give Each of You the Opportunity to List At Least One of Your Favorite Scriptures Which Also Illustrate How Jesus' Work and His Glory has been or is Now Being Brought About!. I invite You to do This by Using the Comment Feature of this Blog Post. (Please Just Use Your First Name When Using the Google Comment Feature of this Blog if You So Choose! I Intend then to Use What You Send Me Through Your Comments, in Next Week's Post. I Will Try to Match a Picture to Each Scripture You Provide. (You Are Welcome to Suggest a Matching Picture, If You Know of One and Describe it and by Giving it's Painter's Name, etc. I'm Really Counting on Some of You to Do This! (Don't be Timid! Please be Bold! Your Friend, Neil Birch

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

Dear Readers of this Blog, please note that Google advertisements may appear in this blog post. They were not solicited by me and I do not profit from them. I did request particularly that Google not place them within scriptures which I often use in my blog posts. It appears they have honored that request of mine. Thank you Google!

I discovered an add that was placed in a scripture I used in a previous blog. I respectfully withdraw my previous "Thank you."

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TODAY'S THEME

Jesus the Christ -by Del Parson

Moses 1:39  For behold, this is my work and my glory—to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man.

That  most favorite scripture of mine (and that of at least one friend of mine) serves to lead me to begin presenting several other scriptures which illustrate our Savior's eternal work in bringing to pass the immortality and eternal life of man. This present life of each of ours and and of that of the dear woman which is illustrated next is a key part of that sequence of saving events our Lord has brought about during His lifetime and forever after by His matchless power!

"Who Touched Me? "-Artist Unknown

Unknown Artist's Conception of  the Woman Who Touched Jesus  Desiring to be Healed of  Her Bleeding.

Just as I had found those two paintings above which illustrate this marvelous healing by our Savior, Jesus Christ, during His mortal lifetime, I was able to also find an applicable matching Mormon Messages (You Tube) Video. I decided to leave these two paintings of that same healing here in this post. That artist did his or her very best, however it is very difficult to match the illustrative power of a Mormon Messages video which has done in a part of Goshen, Utah which was made to appear like it is part of ancient Palestine during our Savior's life there. Before viewing that superb video please now read the New Testament scripture that so aptly describes that sacred event.

Luke 8: 43  ¶ And a woman having an issue of blood twelve years, which had spent all her living upon physicians, neither could be healed of any,

44  Came behind him, and touched the border of his garment: and immediately her issue of blood stanched.

45  And Jesus said, Who touched me?  When all denied, Peter and they that were with him said, Master, the multitude throng thee and press thee, and sayest thou, Who touched me?

46  And Jesus said, Somebody hath touched me: for I perceive that virtue is gone out of me.

47  And when the woman saw that she was not hid, she came trembling, and falling down before him, she declared unto him before all the people for what cause she had touched him and how she was healed immediately.

48  And he said unto her, Daughter, be of good comfort: thy faith hath made thee whole; go in peace.

A Video: A Woman of great faith is healed without our Savior, Jesus Christ knowing it beforehand!

Now I introduce a subject which is a very integral part of our Lord Jesus Christ's effort to "Bring to Pass the Immortality and Eternal Life of Man."

Elijah Appearing in the Kirtland Temple -by Dan Lewis

Doctrine and Covenants 138: 46  And Malachi, the prophet who testified of the coming of Elijah—of whom also Moroni spake to the Prophet Joseph Smith, declaring that he should come before the ushering in of the great and dreadful day of the Lord—were also there.

47  The Prophet Elijah was to plant in the hearts of the children the promises made to their fathers,

48  Foreshadowing the great work to be done in the temples of the Lord in the dispensation of the fulness of times, for the redemption of the dead, and the sealing of the children to their parents, lest the whole earth be smitten with a curse and utterly wasted at his coming. (The Second Coming of Jesus at the Beginning of the Millennium, Clarification by Neil Birch)

This will show you where temples of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints are located through-out the - World which have already been erected and in which the Lord's work for both the living and the dead is being done constantly!

I will end this post by featuring the photos of just five of the LDS Temples which are special to me because I either live near them right now or in the past have lived near where they are located, except for the final one. It is  the Manaus, Brazil Temple which I included because it is the most recent temple to be dedicated. I have never been there and most likely never will!

Salt Lake City, Utah Temple - As a very young child,
I was sealed in this Temple  for All Eternity to my parents:
 Phillip John and Virginia Jensen Birch. I was also sealed to my 
present wife, Melva in this Temple.

Manti Utah Temple - I was endowed in this temple
and a number of years later sealed to Judy, the mother of my 
nine children here.

Sacramento, California Temple -I was born in Sacramento
and lived there a number of times earlier in my life. I grew up in 
Roseville located about 15 miles from where that temple is now located. 
It was dedicated sometime in this past decade.

Jordan River (Utah) Temple I Served as an Ordinance Worker for
Three and a Half  Years in this Temple. It is the temple LDS members
of our LDS Stake are presently assigned to attend.

Helsinki, Finland Temple - I Served Two Missions in Finland.
My Wife and I Lived Two Miles from it During My Second Mission there, 
When It Was Under Construction.

Kansas City, Missouri Temple - This New Temple is Located
Within the boundaries of the LDS Ward Where My Family and I lived for Five Years.

Manaus, Brazil Temple - This is the Most Recent LDS Temple and was just Dedicated this month, June 2012.

I hasten to remind you of the opportunity I gave you in the Introduction to this Blog Post to advise me of your most favorite scripture by using the Comments Portion of this Blog which will appear as you scroll past my name given at the usual end of each blog post.(Please re-read the introduction to this blog post to be reminded of what I'm intending to do with what you will have sent me. Thanks for having chosen to view this blog post.

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DISCLAIMER

This Blog 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 To Search The Index For Any Other Blog Post You Desire To Access), After You Have Read All of This Paragraph, Please Scroll Back Up And Click on the Following: Jesus Christ Tells Us: "This is My Work and My Glory to Bring to Pass the Immortality and Eternal Life of Man" (A video on the New Testament Healing of a woman with a severe bleeding problem is included.  -Post 45a When The Picture of Our Savior, Jesus Christ Sitting Next To a Little Boy Comes Onto Your Screen, Please Scroll Down In The Index To Your Target Item Or Use the Alphabetical Scrolling Device (When It Has Been Installed).

___________

"Have You Really Read the Book of Mormon?" Legal /Statement. Thank you for visiting. The author retains intellectual property and creative licensing rights. Permission to use or reprint must be given in writing. © Est.2008 Neil Birch 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, 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 in it. 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