36d - Nephi Saw Far Into the Future - Book of Mormon Prophecies are Fulfilled in Our Day

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TODAY'S THEME

Nephi Subdues His Rebellious Brothers -by Arnold Friberg

He may have been his father Lehi's fourth oldest son, but Nephi showed by his faithfulness that he was determined and able to take the lead in doing that which God had commanded his father to accomplish.

1. When it seemed that getting the brass plates from Laban was impossible, Nephi humbly followed the Lord's guidance and through dangerous and difficult circumstances obtained those sacred records which were to keep the righteous part of their family on the right track. (1 Nephi 4:6-26)

2. When they were at the point of starvation on their trek across the Arabian Peninsula, while even Father Lehi complained to the Lord, Nephi humbled himself and through the Lord's guidance was able to replace his broken bow and kill the wild animals needed to sustain them. (1 Nephi 16:18-32)

3. When his two eldest brothers, Laman and Lemuel rebelled against their father and him in their task of building a ship to cross the great ocean, Nephi stood firm. The brothers finally worked together with him and the very serviceable ship was built. 1 Nephi 18:1-25

Painting: Arnold Friberg

Lehi and his Family Finally View the Promised Land

While the two oldest brothers complained about what the Lord had commanded their father to do, Nephi humbled himself and sought to find out from the Lord His purposes for them. He was therefore blessed with mighty visions and through the spirit of prophecy and revelation and was able to foretell their and their descendants future and as it turned out, to prophesy of others (the Gentiles) future coming to their promised land to which they had already been guided.

In Chapter 13 of 1Nephi Nephi is told by an angel of God about the future of the Americas.

At first Nephi is shown something which was to happen in what we now know as Europe:

Medieval Churches in Southern Europe

1Nephi 13:
1 AND it came to pass that the angel spake unto me, saying: Look! And I looked and beheld many nations and kingdoms.

2 And the angel said unto me: What beholdest thou? And I said: I behold many nations and kingdoms.

3 And he said unto me: These are the nations and kingdoms of the Gentiles.

4 And it came to pass that I saw among the nations of the Gentiles the formation of a great church.

5 And the angel said unto me: Behold the formation of a church which is most abominable above all other churches, which slayeth the saints of God, yea, and tortureth them and bindeth them down, and yoketh them with a yoke of iron, and bringeth them down into captivity.

6 And it came to pass that I beheld this great and abominable church; and I saw the devil that he was the founder of it.

7 And I also saw gold, and silver, and silks, and scarlets, and fine-twined linen, and all manner of precious clothing; and I saw many harlots.

8 And the angel spake unto me, saying: Behold the gold, and the silver, and the silks, and the scarlets, and the fine-twined linen, and the precious clothing, and the harlots, are the desires of this great and abominable church.

9 And also for the praise of the world do they destroy the saints of God, and bring them down into captivity.

10 And it came to pass that I looked and beheld many waters; and they divided the Gentiles from the seed of my brethren.

11 And it came to pass that the angel said unto me: Behold the wrath of God is upon the seed of thy brethren.

Painting of Christopher Columbus -by (artist unknown)

12 And I looked and beheld a man among the Gentiles, who was separated from the seed of my brethren by the many waters; and I beheld the Spirit of God, that it came down and wrought upon the man; and he went forth upon the many waters, even unto the seed of my brethren, who were in the promised land. (emphasis added)



Photo of Columbus' Replica Ships

The Aztec Indians, Later conquered by Hernando Cortéz

Continuing by the power of the Spirit of Prophecy and Revelation the Angel of the Lord in Chapter 13 of I Nephi informs Nephi of a significant set of happenings which was to bring about eventually a free nation: the United States of America.

It was just today, July 4th (2011) that nation celebrated its Fourth of July annual Holiday which has been celebrated annually since 1776 when Declaration of Independence (from Great Britain) was announced allowing this free nation to eventually be formed in which I, and many of you (but not all of you) readers of this blog post live! 

We who live in this nation cherish our freedom. We know that many of you readers of this blog live in free nations too. However, back in 1776 there were really no nations that really had much freedom to celebrate.

Nephi, son of Lehi, whose words as recorded in I Nephi, Chapter 13 of the Book of Mormon, by the Spirit of Prophecy and Revelation which originates with the Lord Jesus Christ and our Heavenly Father and the Holy Ghost, tells us:

I Nephi 13:13 And it came to pass that I beheld the Spirit of God, that it wrought upon other Gentiles; and they went forth out of captivity, upon the many waters.

14 And it came to pass that I beheld many multitudes of the Gentiles upon the land of promise; and I beheld the wrath of God, that it was upon the seed of my brethren (the American Indians); and they were scattered before the Gentiles and were smitten.

15 And I beheld the Spirit of the Lord, that it was upon the Gentiles, and they did prosper and obtain the land for their inheritance; and I beheld that they were white, and exceedingly fair and beautiful, like unto my people before they were slain (The Nephites of the Prophets Mormon and Moroni's day).

16 And it came to pass that I, Nephi, beheld that the Gentiles who had gone forth out of captivity did humble themselves before the Lord; and the power of the Lord was with them.

17 And I beheld that their mother Gentiles were gathered together upon the waters, and upon the land also, to battle against them.

18 And I beheld that the power of God was with them, and also that the wrath of God was upon all those that were gathered together against them to battle.

19 And I, Nephi, beheld that the Gentiles that had gone out of captivity were delivered by the power of God out of the hands of all other nations. (emphasis and clarification added)

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


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TO ACCESS NEIL BIRCH'S BLOG INDEX To Either Read the Full Index Item Which Refers To This Blog Post, (Or An Item Which Refers To Any Other Blog Post You May Desire To Access): After Reading All of This Paragraph Please Click on the Following: (The) Book of Mormon Prophet, Nephi, Son of Lehi, Saw Far Into . . . - Post 36d. When You See the Picture of Our Savior Jesus Christ Sitting Next To a Little Boy, Please, Scroll Down To Your Target Item Or Use The Alphabetic Scrolling Device (When It Has Been Installed.)


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"Have You Really Read the Book of Mormon?" Legal /Statement. Thank you for visiting. The author retains intellectual property and creative licensing rights. Permission to use or reprint must be given in writing. © Est.2008 Neil Birch Legal /Statement.
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I deeply appreciate your readership and hope you found very beneficial that which was presented to you in this blog post.

If you have any questions about what you have read or viewed in this post or in any previous posts of mine, or if you even have a curiosity about the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and or its teachings, please e-mail me. I'm Neil and my e-mail address is: jneilmelva@gmail.com. If you contact me I'll get back to you just as soon as possible.

I invite you to let your friends and relatives know about this blog if you think they would be interested. Please be advised that I have an additional blog. It is in Spanish:  Its content is translated from the English in this blog.

Neil Birch

36c - The Prophet Daniel Interpreted Nebuchadnezzar's Dream - Book of Mormon (& Bible) Prophecies are Fulfilled in Our Day

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TODAY'S THEME



A Stone Cut Out of a Mountain Without Hands -by Grant Romney Clawson

The title under the painting above is a key phrase in an interpretation of a dream by a young Jewish prophet, Daniel. King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon (in about 590 B.C.) had forgotten a dream which was very troubling to him. None of the wisemen in his kingdom could tell him either the details of his dream or it meaning, except the young Jew, Daniel, who had turned to his God for help in doing that. The king had threatened to kill all of them, including Daniel, if they couldn't help him.

In the painting above you will see the stone as it is rolling rapidly down from the mountain (in the background) and is about to strike the image (statue of an ancient warrior - perhaps a warrior king) that Daniel has described in great detail to the king.

The man in white clothing is Daniel, who, not long before, had been taken captive into Babylon, along with many other Jews, just a few years after Father Lehi and his family and friends had left Jerusalem and were being led by the Lord to Central America (or were there already).

The Lord had told Lehi and his fourth oldest son, Nephi that Jerusalem was to soon be destroyed and that some of their people, the Jews, would be taken into captivity. They most likely had never known Daniel, but surely they knew many who had been destroyed by the Babylonians and some who, like Daniel, were eventually taken captive into Babylonia.

Daniel told the king that God had revealed the dream and its meaning to him, (Daniel), in a night vision.

In this painting young Daniel by the spirit of prophecy and revelation is depicted interpreting the dream that greatly troubled Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon. By that same gift of God, Daniel had given the king each of the intricate details of his dream. The king had forgotten them but he evidently was sure that the dream meant something he should understand.

Nebuchadnezzar was very pleased that Daniel's god helped him to remember and understand the dream that had troubled him so much. Because of this, Nebuchadnezzar elevated Daniel to a high position in his government.

Please read and Listen to: Daniel 2:1-47

Let me emphasize verses 44 and 45 of that chapter by quoting them:

44. And in the days of these kings shall the God of heaven set up a kingdom, which shall never be destroyed: and the kingdom shall not be left to other people, but it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand forever.

45. Forasmuch as thou sawest that the stone was cut out of the
mountain without hands, and that it brake in pieces the iron, the brass, the clay, the silver, and the gold; the great God hath made it known to the king what shall come to pass here-after: and the dream is certain, and the interpretation thereof sure. (emphasis added)

You will now have the opportunity of reading the personal account of the individual who was chosen by God to begin the establishment of His latter-day kingdom that was foretold anciently in the prophet Daniel's interpretation of Nebuchadnezzar's dream.

Please note the great care the Heavenly Messenger takes in preparing this young man who is almost 18 years of age for the huge task ahead of him.

jstestimony

You have just learned about the coming forth of the Book of Mormon, about which in Joseph Smith's later years, he said: "The Book of Mormon is the keystone of our Religion."

Here are three paintings and a photo that depict important events you have just read about and perhaps listened to.

The Angel Moroni Appears to Joseph Smith -by Tom Lovell

The Hill Cumorah

The Golden Plates



Moroni Gives Joseph Smith the Golden Plates -by Kenneth Riley

When you have time you may want to review my blog post 20, in which the present Presiding Bishop of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, H. David Burton in an LDS General Conference talk, reviews the many humanitarian projects this church accomplished during the year, 2007, through the voluntary efforts of a goodly portion of the over thirteen million members of the Church.

I now give you the opportunity of reading a quote from a member of the First Presidency of this church, President Henry B. Eyring. It is from his speech given at the same general priesthood session of the Church's April conference in April 2008 where Bishop Burton gave his speech reporting the Church's Humanitarian efforts during the year, 2007.

"I have seen the miracle of that growth in charity in the hearts of priesthood holders, So have many of you. And so have many outside the Church. I was in the office of President Gordon B. Hinckley when he was asked to take a phone call. He spoke briefly on the phone and then returned to our conversation. But he took a moment to explain. He said that the call was from the president of the United States, who was flying over Utah in Air Force One on his way to Washington.

The president of the United States had called to thank President Hinckley for what priesthood holders had done in the aftermath of a hurricane. The president of the United States had said that it was a miracle that we were able to get so many people, so quickly, working together so well. He praised our people by saying that we knew how to do things."

In ending this blogpost, I take the liberty of saying: That which was accomplished in humanitarian services in 2007 and for many years before that and in 2008 and now in 2009 and into the future, is what we should expect from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints with its population growing from thirteen million members to a much larger number in years to come.

Of course, this is the Lord's latter-day kingdom, or the Stone Cut out of the Mountain without Hands which Nebuchadnezzar saw and was helped by Daniel to understand by the power of the gift of prophecy and revelation which he, the Prophet Daniel, used in interprepting the king's dream.

This church, under the direction of a living prophet, is striving to do all of those things our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ would have us do in preparation for His Second Coming.

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

This church regularly accomplishes much more than that which I have been able to describe here. Through the gift of Prophecy and Revelation which ordinary worthy members of the this church can possess, the young, the elderly, both male and female, from every race, are led to Heavenly Peace and Security in this world of rapidly increasing turmoil, temptation and disasters.

Family Prayer - And Serving Others

Photos provided by lds.org

I have entitled this post, a part of the series:

Book of Mormon (and Bible) Prophecies are Fulfilled in Our Day, The Prophet Daniel Interpreted Nebuchadnezzar's Dream.

 I added the (and Bible) part for this post. After all, the Holy Bible and the Book of Mormon are one in the hand of our Lord. His holy gift of Prophecy and Revelation was used by the Lord's servants (prophets) in both books to present His word.



The Holy Bible and the Book of Mormon Another Testament of Jesus Christ Stand Together

You can expect my next blogpost in about three to four days from the date given at the beginning of this post. I'll look forward to sharing things again with you at that time.

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



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TO ACCESS NEIL BIRCH'S BLOG INDEX To Either Read the Full Index Item Which Refers To This Blog Post, (Or An Item Which Refers To Any Other Blog Post You May Desire To Access): After Reading All of This Paragraph Please Click on the Following: The Book of Mormon Plays a Key Role in Bringing About the Fulfillment of . . .- Post 36c. 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

36b - "A Bible, We Have Got a Bible and We Need No More Bible" - A Book of Mormon Prophecy is 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



559-545 B.C.2 Nephi: 29: 6 Thou fool, that shall say: A Bible, we have got a Bible, and we need no more Bible. Have ye obtained a Bible save it were by the Jews?

7 Know ye not that there are more nations than one? Know ye not that I, the Lord your God, have created all men, and that I remember those who are upon the isles of the sea; and that I rule in the heavens above and in the earth beneath; and I bring forth my word unto the children of men, yea, even upon all the nations of the earth?

8 Wherefore murmur ye, because that ye shall receive more of my word? Know ye not that the testimony of two nations is a witness unto you that I am God, that I remember one nation like unto another? Wherefore, I speak the same words unto one nation like unto another. And when the two nations shall run together the testimony of the two nations shall run together also. (emphasis added)



The Holy Bible and the Book of Mormon Stand Side by Side -by Greg K. Olsen



As the title of this blog post refers to, "A Bible, We have Got a Bible and We Need No More Bible" is a prophecy made by a Book of Mormon prophet about a commonly held religious bias held by many in our day in the world's history. How did Nephi know this truth? He knew it because he possessed the spirit of prophecy and revelation that allowed him to speak the words of Jesus Christ that had been revealed to him. Jesus knows all there is to know about past, present and future thoughts and actions of all mankind.

TODAY'S THEME is just a portion of the scripture I'd like you to read. The entire chapter 29 of II Nephi was revealed by the pre-mortal Jesus Christ to His prophet Nephi, son of Lehi through the power of His gift of Revelation and Prophecy. This was done sometime during the years: 559 to 545 B.C.

2 Nephi 29:1-14

I would like you to focus on verse 13 of Chapter 29. I will quote it here.

13 And it shall come to pass that the Jews shall have the words of the Nephites, and the Nephites shall have the words of the Jews; and the Nephites and the Jews shall have the words of the lost tribes of Israel; and the lost tribes of Israel shall have the words of the Nephites and the Jews. (emphasis added)

We learn from the Lord's words in verse 13, that the Holy Bible, or as He puts it, the "words of the Jews" is only one of the books that contain His holy word. We do now have the Book of Mormon and the Bible which contain His word. We do not yet have the words contained in the books that the lost tribes of Israel wrote.

Now I would like you to read and listen to the chapter that follows the one you just read.


2 Nephi 30:1-18

Thank you for reading and listening also to chapter 30. I'd like to emphasize the first six verses of that chapter by suggesting that you read them again here. With highlighted italics I then will clarify Nephi's words as to how they apply to our day and time.

The resurrected Lord Jesus Christ also prophesied of the re-establishment of His Church in the Latter-days among the Gentiles (non-Israelites) who would have driven their descendants (the Native Americans) from their established lands. He told them that the record of their people from the time they left Jerusalem until there ceased to be prophets among them to continue recording their history, would be an important means of restoring His Gospel in the Latter-days. This of course was to become: The Book of Mormon, Another Testament of Jesus Christ.

2 Nephi 30: 1 AND now behold, my beloved brethren, I would speak unto you; for I, Nephi, would not suffer that ye should suppose that ye are more righteous than the Gentiles shall be. For behold, except ye shall keep the commandments of God ye shall all likewise perish; and because of the words which have been spoken ye need not suppose that the Gentiles are utterly destroyed.

2 For behold, I say unto you that as many of the Gentiles as will repent are the covenant people of the Lord; and as many of the Jews as will not repent shall be cast off; for the Lord covenanteth with none save it be with them that repent and believe in his Son, who is the Holy One of Israel.

3 And now, I would prophesy somewhat more concerning the Jews and the Gentiles. For after the book of which I have spoken shall come forth, and be written unto the Gentiles, and sealed up again unto the Lord, there shall be many which shall believe the words which are written; and they shall carry them forth unto the remnant of our seed.

4 And then shall the remnant of our seed know concerning us, how that we came out from Jerusalem, and that they are descendants of the Jews.

5 And the gospel of Jesus Christ shall be declared among them; wherefore, they shall be restored unto the knowledge of their fathers, and also to the knowledge of Jesus Christ, which was had among their fathers.

6 And then shall they rejoice; for they shall know that it is a blessing unto them from the hand of God; and their scales of darkness shall begin to fall from their eyes; and many generations shall not pass away among them, save they shall be a pure and a delightsome people.

I will now call upon the writings of a great "Mormon" scholar, Hugh W. Nibley, Phd. who was on the faculty of Brigham Young University in Provo, Utah for many years. He died within the last three or four years.

Hugh W. Nibley, Phd

In a book, "The World and the Prophets" by Dr. Hugh W. Nibley, an expert on the history of early Christianity, (taken from a series of radio lectures he delivered on KSL (Salt Lake City, Utah) Radio in 1954) very astutely (he studied the original documents in their original languages of Greek, Latin and others) points out that those same things the resurrected Lord Jesus Christ warned the Nephites about,

Book of Mormon, 3Nephi 29: 6 Yea, wo unto him that shall deny the revelations of the Lord, and that shall say the Lord no longer worketh by revelation, or by prophecy, or by gifts, or by tongues, or by healings, or by the power of the Holy Ghost! (emphasis added)

actually also apply directly to the ancient Christian Church and to those churches that later came from them and make up the Christian churches of our day. Today's Christian churches do not believe in present day revelation, prophesy, use of the gift of tongues, nor in healing, nor in the blessings of the gift of the Holy Ghost in their personal lives.

I quote from Professor Nibley's book cited above, the following: (excerpts from Chapter 8, pages 63-64) I found Dr. Nibley's book in a Salt Lake County Library (Utah, USA) but if you would like to listen to the recording of his very intense and interesting entire lecture series, you can order your own copy of the CD.  The World and the Prophets 

The Gnostic library in Egypt has not so much revived as accelerated the study of the most baffling and portentous episode in church history, the rise of the Gnostics. The latest survey of the whole field, an impressive corroborative work by a number of Dutch scholars, sees in the Gnostic crisis the end of the primitive church and the moment at which 'Christianity enters upon a new phase of its history.' (ref. cited) In this great revolution of the second century, the whole orientation of the church changed completely. What brought this about? It was the ceasing of prophetic voices. the continuing demand in the church for the spiritual gifts, specially the gift of prophecy, gave rise to an army of quacks and fakirs who, though discredited in time, left their mark permanently and conspicuously on the Christian church. These were the Gnostics, so-called."

"Paul had prophesied that 'whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away' (I Corinthians 13:8)"

"Here the so-called original text uses the identical word for the failing of prophecies and the vanishing of knowledge, katargethesontai, 'to be taken out of circulation,' 'to be made inoperative,' used both times in the future indicative. There is no sense of contingency here; the whole statement is simple and emphatic: 'Such prophecies as there are shall be stopped; such tongues as there are shall be made to cease (pausontai) such gnosis as there is shall be done away with.' These gifts were not simply to fade away; they were going to be taken away.

They were already weak enough; We have these gifts now only in a limited form, Paul explains in the following verses, and then he makes the significant remark: 'But for the present time there remain 'faith, hope, and love, these three.' The colorless 'and now' of the King James is not fair to the emphatic nuni day, 'but at this time' of the 'original,' and while the 'abideth' of our English Bible emphasizes the quality of lasting and reliable firmness the original menei does not mean 'to be firm' at all, but simply to stay behind.

The emphatic 'these three' that remain is in obvious contrast to the three that are going to be taken away, namely, the gift of prophecy, the gift of tongues, and the gnosis--the greatest gift of all."

"Gnosis means the act of knowing, and in some contexts it can be translated simply as "knowledge." But not when Paul uses it! His frequent use of the word leaves us in no doubt as what it conveyed to the early Christians. for them it was exactly what we would translate as "a testimony of the gospel." 'But I think any price is worth paying for the supreme value of the gnosis of Christ Jesus my Lord,' writes Paul to the Phillippians (3:8), 'for which I have sacrificed everything, counting all but dung in comparison with acquiring Christ as my fortune." How often we have heard such expressions as that--'I would not exhange my testimony of the gospel of Jesus Christ for all the wealth in the world!' . . ." (Emphasis added)

Blogger's Summary:

After asking you to read and listen to the words of the great prophet, Nephi, you should realize that through Nephi's prophesying, the Lord is telling each of us in His Book of Mormon that we should not say the Bible is the only source of God's words.

We are told very clearly that there is a great purpose for the Lord having had a modern-day prophet, Joseph Smith translate the Book of Mormon, Another Testament of Jesus Christ for the definite purpose of showing that the Book of Mormon will make it very understandable that Christ's true church must believe in and use the great Christian gifts of prophecy, the gift of tongues, and the gnosis. (testimony kind of knowledge)

I do not blame any of you readers who may have mistakenly felt sure that any of the Christian churches of our day are truly representative of what Christ's church was, originally, by His own direction and that of His holy apostles. However, with the assistance of the quote (ICorinthians 13:8) from the Apostle Paul I made above, and from the Book of Mormon prophets such as Nephi and many others and especially of our Lord, Jesus Christ who personally appeared to the Nephites and personally used those gifts, (Prophecy, Revelation and Spiritual knowledge), the certain truth comes out clearly: that the Catholic Church and all the churches that emerged from the Great Restoration are not representative of Christ's Church that was originally set up.

The very insightful views of Hugh W. Nibley, can help you rejoice in our Savior having chosen to re-establish His Church in our day and time: The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. This allows the gifts of prophecy, Revelation and Spiritual knowledge to once again be made available to even the least of the members of Christ's one and only authorized church.

I have inserted below a drawing of an experience from the life of Dr. Nibley. He was an non-commissioned officer in US Army Intelligence and was involved in the D Day Attack on Normandy, France on June 6, 1944. If you look closely at the drawing you will see a book in his right hand. That book would be the Book of Mormon. He actually carried it with him in his pocket or pack sack (and studied it regularly) throughout his lengthy time of dedicated service in Europe during World War II.

Slightly Modified Drawing: Chris Maggio

Hugh W. Nibley on Normandy Beach on D-Day of World War II

I end this post by reminding you of the re-establishment of Jesus Christ's Church in 1830. I have posted for you the following paintings which illustrate key events that occurred during the bringing forth of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

By the gift of the Spirit of Prophecy and Revelation, I, an ordinary member of that church tell you that I know that Jesus Christ's Church which He personally established and which was directed by Him through His apostles after He ascended into Heaven as a resurrected being, has been re-established in our day. I know the Book of Mormon, Another Testament of Jesus Christ was given to us, along with the Holy Bible, to lead us in the direction the Lord wants us to move in.

I urge you, when you feel the Spirit influencing you, to contact the full-time missionaries of this church to teach you and consider following the Lord's commandment of being baptized by those having authority from Christ.

If you want my assistance in locating the nearest mission office of this church, please use my e-mail address given below to ask for my assistance. If you e-mail me your city and state and nation I will let you know by return e-mail their address and phone number. They will be happy to assist you as you desire.



Joseph Smith's Vision of the Father and the Son -Tom Lovell



The Angel Moroni Appears to Joseph Smith -by Tom Lovell



Joseph Smith Translating the Book of Mormon -by Del Parson

  The Book of Mormon's Inspired Translation
(A) Book of Mormon Prophecy Is Fulfilled In Our Day. . .

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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: A Bible, A Bible, We Don't Need Another Bible. -Post 36b. 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.)


____________



"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

36a - The Three Josephs - Book of Mormon Prophecies are Fulfilled in Our Day. Part I

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

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Preparation for TODAY'S THEME:

Please read (and Listen to) Genesis 37:1-36

Joseph, Son of Jacob, Is Being Sold Into Bondage in Egypt -by Ted Henninger

In this painting Joseph, the eleventh son of Jacob, (Israel), is being sold by his jealous brothers to traders for twenty pieces of silver.

These traders then took Joseph to Egypt and sold him to Potiphar, one of Pharaoh’s officers, the captain of Pharaoh's guard."

Remember what you can of Joseph's dreams in that scripture you just read. His dreams indicated that Joseph would come to be like royalty of the highest degree. His telling of those dreams is what caused his brothers to be jealous of him to the point that they were very desirous of "getting rid of him."

I must remind you, however, that his oldest brother, Reuben, did not want his youngest brother harmed and when his plans to return him to their father didn't work out, Reuben was very upset. Reuben, you get high marks for that! You didn't always do what is right, but your intentions were right in this case.

Potipher's Wife Has Evil Intentions Regarding Joseph -by Del Parson

If you have seen the ever popular musical, "Joseph and His Amazing Technicolor Dream Coat", you will have seen, with some alterations, the story of Joseph, Who Was Sold Into Egypt. Perhaps that musical has been produced in your country as well as in the United States of America. It has been very popular here.
In this painting Joseph is shown successfully avoiding the advances of Potiphar's wife.

Angry at Joseph for resisting her advances, this woman accused him of making advances on her. Potiphar had him imprisoned in the king's prison, a place where the king's prisoners were kept. Read about this in Genesis Chapter 39.

An additional scriptural account, (Genesis, chapter 41) tells us how Joseph, who was worthy to possess the gift of Prophecy and Revelation (or the testimony of Jesus), was brought, by the use of that gift, from the lowly status of a Hebrew slave and jail prisoner to becoming second in command over all of Egypt, just under Pharaoh.

Through this spiritual gift Joseph had learned to use, God was able to lead him to the point where, as second in command to Pharaoh, Joseph was able to have the nation of Egypt fully prepared when a great famine struck all that part of the world including the land where his father, Jacob, and the rest of his family lived.

Many of you may have read in the Old Testament, the touching story of Joseph being reunited with his brothers and eventually with his father who had deeply, and for a long time, mourned the supposed death of his favorite son. (Please read, when you have time, Genesis Chapters 42 though 50.)

I'm sure you'll agree with me that seventeen year old Joseph's dreams about his family bowing down before him, were proven to be true. Those dreams had come to seventeen year old Joseph through the gift of God!

TODAY'S THEME

Father Lehi Preaching to Citizens of Jerusalem -by Del Parson

Now let's go to an account of Father Lehi and his family. Here is a painting  in which Lehi is preaching to citizens of Jerusalem who don't appreciate his message. (600 B.C.)

When unbelieving people in Jerusalem sought to kill Lehi, the Lord commanded him to take his family out of Jerusalem. The Lord then lead them to and across the Arabian Peninsula on their way to their promised land (which was to be in the Western Hemisphere).

Lehi didn't die until they had become firmly established in what is now, the area of Central America. Shortly before Lehi died, he gave blessings to each of his sons.

Arriving at Their Promised Land -by Arnold Friberg

Besides, Laman, Lemuel, Sam and Nephi, Lehi and his wife, Sariah, became the parents of two more sons, Jacob and Joseph while still traveling eastward on the Arabian Peninsula to the seashore, where by the Lord's guidance through Nephi, a ship was built and they were guided to Central America.
Please read (and Listen to, if you so desire) Lehi's blessing he gave his youngest son, Joseph:  II Nephi 3:1-25:

Here are, as I see them, are the key points Lehi made in his blessing of his youngest son, Joseph:

1. Lehi and his family are descendants of Joseph who was sold into Egypt.

2. The Lord promised Joseph that He, the Lord, would appear to his descendants in their promised land (Central America) after his death and resurrection.

3. The Lord promised to raise up a choice seer to help Lehi's descendants in the latter-days. (in our day)

4. That seer would only do the work the Lord gave him to do.

Joseph Smith, Jr. Translating the Book of Mormon, Another Testament of Jesus Christ. Oliver Cowdery is Serving as his scribe -by Del Parson 

5. That seer, would, like Moses, deliver his people, Israel, from bondage. That seer would bring forth the Lord's word, the Book of Mormon which will confirm the truth of a first book of scriptures, the Bible.

6. That seer would bring forth the Lord's word, the Book of Mormon which will confirm the truth of a first book of scriptures, the Bible.

7. Lehi told his son, Joseph, that religious confusion would be stopped among his descendants in the last days, when those 2 scriptures are used together.

8. The Lord told that ancient Joseph that the efforts of others to destroy that seer would be prevented until that seer had finished his work.

9. This promised seer will also be named Joseph as will his father.

10. The work done by this promised seer will bring salvation to this ancient Joseph's descendants, and bring about the gathering of all Israel.

11. The Lord promised the ancient Joseph that his posterity would last forever.

12. The ancient Joseph's descendants' words shall "cry from the dust" to be heard by his descendants in the latter-days. The golden plates containing the Book of Mormon have done that.



According to what the Lord told Joseph who had been sold into Egypt, this mighty seer would become an instrument in the hands of God to bring much restoration to the House of Israel in our time. (beginning in 1820)

The Book of Mormon is the word of God spoken of by Joseph who was sold into Egypt, before he died. He promised that this modern day Joseph would bring forth God's word which along with the Bible would stop religious confusion.

This blog post really shows the tight bond between three Josephs, Joseph the Prophet who had been sold into Egypt, Lehi's son, Joseph and the latter-day prophet of God: Joseph Smith, Jr.

In this series of posts we will learn more about what Book of Mormon Prophets had to say about the work which the third Joseph, Joseph Smith, Jr. would do to further the work of the Resurrected Lord, Jesus Christ.


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





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TO ACCESS NEIL BIRCH'S BLOG INDEX To Either Read the Full Index Item Which Refers To This Blog Post, (Or An Item Which Refers To Any Other Blog Post You May Desire To Access): After Reading All of This Paragraph Please Click on the Following: (The) Book of Mormon - The Three Josephs Play Important Roles in Its Coming About. - Post 36a. When You See the Picture of Our Savior Jesus Christ Sitting Next To a Little Boy, Please, Scroll Down To Your Target Item Or Use The Alphabetic Scrolling Device (When It Has Been Installed.)
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"Have You Really Read the Book of Mormon?" Legal /Statement. Thank you for visiting. The author retains intellectual property and creative licensing rights. Permission to use or reprint must be given in writing. © Est.2008 Neil Birch Legal /Statement.
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I deeply appreciate your readership and hope you found very beneficial, that which was presented to you in this blog post.

If you have any questions about what you have read or viewed in this post or in any previous posts of mine, or if you even have a curiosity about the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and or its teachings, please e-mail me. I'm Neil and my e-mail address is: jneilmelva@gmail.com. If you contact me I'll get back to you just as soon as possible.

I invite you to let your friends and relatives know about this blog if you think they would be interested. Please be advised that I also have an additional blog. It is in Spanish:  Its content is translated from the English in this blog.

Neil Birch

35z - The Book of Mormon, Another Testament of Jesus Christ. The Resurrected Jesus Christ Taught Among the Nephites in Ancient Central America in A.D. 34 - Part V

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

This is the concluding post in the series in which the things the Resurrected Jesus Christ said and did among the Nephites in Ancient America are shown to be very strong testaments of His divine responsibility as the Son of God in all times and in all places, not just in Ancient Palestine where He was born and ministered.

About A.D. 34 3 Nephi CHAPTER 18 (Chapter Heading): Jesus institutes the sacrament among the Nephites—They are commanded to pray always in his name—Those who eat his flesh and drink his blood unworthily are damned—The disciples are given power to confer the Holy Ghost.

Jesus Blesses the Nephite Children -by Robert T. Barrett

About A.D. 34 3 Nephi CHAPTER 19 (Chapter Heading): The Twelve Disciples minister unto the people and pray for the Holy Ghost—They are baptized and receive the Holy Ghost and the ministering of angels—Jesus prays using words that cannot be written—He attests to the exceedingly great faith of these Nephites.

A.D. 34 3 Nephi CHAPTER 20 (Chapter Heading): Jesus provides bread and wine miraculously and again administers the sacrament unto them—The remnant of Jacob shall come to the knowledge of the Lord their God and shall inherit the Americas—Jesus is the prophet like unto Moses, and the Nephites are children of the prophets—Others of the Lord's people shall be gathered to Jerusalem.

Signers of the Declaration of Independence of the United States of America Shown Reviewing that Document Before its Actual Signing Took Place July 4, 1776 -by John Trumbull

About A.D. 34 3 Nephi CHAPTER 21 (Chapter Heading): Israel shall be gathered when the Book of Mormon comes forth—The Gentiles shall be established as a free people in America—They shall be saved if they believe and obey; otherwise they shall be cut off and destroyed—Israel shall build the New Jerusalem, and the lost tribes shall return. (Highlighted italics added for emphasis)



The Ancient Apostles, Peter, James and John Bestow the Melchizedek Priesthood Upon Joseph Smith and then on Oliver Cowdery -by Kenneth Riley



 

The Prophet Isaiah Writes of the Gathering of Christ's Israel in the Latter-days -by Harry Anderson

About A.D. 34 3 Nephi CHAPTER 22 (Chapter Heading): In the last days, Zion and her stakes shall be established, and Israel shall be gathered in mercy and tenderness—They shall triumph—Compare Isaiah 54.

Painting: Robert T. Barrett

About A.D. 34 3 Nephi CHAPTER 23 (Chapter Heading): Jesus approves the words of Isaiah—He commands the people to search the prophets—The words of Samuel the Lamanite concerning the resurrection are added to their records.

3Nephi 23: 4 Therefore give heed to my words; write the things which I have told you; and according to the time and the will of the Father they shall go forth unto the Gentiles.

5 And whosoever will hearken unto my words and repenteth and is baptized, the same shall be saved. Search the prophets, for many there be that testify of these things.

6 And now it came to pass that when Jesus had said these words he said unto them again, after he had expounded all the scriptures unto them which they had received, he said unto them: Behold, other scriptures I would that ye should write, that ye have not.

7 And it came to pass that he said unto Nephi: Bring forth the record which ye have kept.

8 And when Nephi had brought forth the records, and laid them before him, he cast his eyes upon them and said:

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?

12 And it came to pass that Nephi remembered that this thing had not been written.

13 And it came to pass that Jesus commanded that it should be written; therefore it was written according as he commanded. (emphasis added)

About A.D. 34 3Nephi CHAPTER 24 (Chapter Heading): The Lord's messenger shall prepare the way for the Second Coming—Christ shall sit in judgment—Israel is commanded to pay tithes and offerings—A book of remembrance is kept—Compare Malachi 3.

Painting: Dan Lewis

Elijah the Prophet, who never tasted death, appeared to modern day prophets in the Kirtland, Ohio LDS Temple April 3, 1836 (Malachi 4:5; D. and C. 110:13). Elijah gave them the power to seal the living to their dead which is an eternal sealing, and allowing the living to do essential priesthood ordinances for the dead to allow them to attain eternal life through the power of our Savior's blessed atonement.

Painting: Harry Anderson

The Second Coming of Jesus Christ and the Hosts of Heaven A.D. ?

About A.D. 34 3Nephi 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 CHAPTER 26 Jesus expounds all things from the beginning to the end—Babes and children utter marvelous things which cannot be written—Those in the Church of Christ have all things in common among them. (emphasis added)

Painting: Del Parson

About A.D. 34 CHAPTER 27 (Chapter Heading): Jesus commands them to call the Church in his name—His mission and atoning sacrifice constitute his gospel—Men are commanded to repent and be baptized that they may be sanctified by the Holy Ghost—They are to be even as Jesus is. (I dealt with this very important chapter in post 35t.) (Clarification Added)

Painting: Gary L. Kapp

Christ grants the Request of the Three Nephite Disciples

About A.D. 34–35 3Nephi CHAPTER 28 (Chapter Heading): Nine of the Twelve desire and are promised an inheritance in Christ's kingdom when they die—The Three Nephites desire and are given power over death so as to remain on the earth until Jesus comes again—They are translated and see things not lawful to utter, and they are now ministering among men.

Painting: Tom Lovell

The Prophet, Mormon, at the Lord's command, abridges the Records of the Nephites into what is named, The Book of Mormon. 331 - 345 A.D.

About A.D. 34–35 3 Nephi CHAPTER 29 (Chapter Heading): The coming forth of the Book of Mormon is a sign that the Lord has commenced to gather Israel and fulfill his covenants—Those who reject his Latter-day revelations and gifts shall be cursed.

Painting: Del Parson

Joseph Smith, assisted by his scribe, Oliver Cowdery, translates the Book of Mormon into the English language by the Gift of God sometime in 1829.

Two Photographs: Intellectual Reserve, Inc.
Missionaries of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

About A.D. 34–35 3 Nephi CHAPTER 30 (Chapter Heading): The Latter-day Gentiles are commanded to repent and come unto Christ and be numbered with the house of Israel.

Please view the LDS video: "Blessings of the Priesthood."  Presenter is Elder Robert D. Hales of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.


____________





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: Jesus Prophesied Before Leaving the Nephites that the Book of Mormon. . . Post 35z. 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 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, 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