Book of Mormon II - Day 4

Thought:  In this day when the Bible is being downgraded by many who have mingled philosophies of the world with Bible scriptures to nullify their true meaning, how fortunate that our eternal Heavenly Father, who is always concerned about the spiritual well-being of His children, has given to us a companion book of scriptures, known as the Book of Mormon, as a defense for the truths of the Bible that were written and spoken by the prophets as the Lord directed. …“By this second witness we may know more certainly the meaning of the teachings of the ancient prophets and, indeed, of the Master and His disciples as they lived and taught among men. This should inspire all who would be honest seekers after truth to put these two sacred scriptures together and study them as one book, understanding, as we do, their true relationship.” (Harold B. Lee, Ye Are the Light of the World, Salt Lake City, Utah: Deseret Book, 1974, pp. 89–91.)

Books of the Week: The Book of Mormon Testifies -(1952) Sidney Branton Sperry (1895 –, 1977) one of three who began the scholarly and systematic study of the Book of Mormon in the mid-20th century — the other two being John L. Sorenson and Hugh W. Nibley. He is credited for giving the passages in 2 Nephi 4 the name "The Psalm of Nephi"                                           BofM Institute Student Manuals.

Gary's "GREEN VERSES" Jacob-Words of Mormon

Mosiah 1:6	The best way to know the scriptures are true is to have them regularly "before our eyes"
Mosiah 2:21	Our goal is service is not to get even with God, but to show Him our gratitude and love.
Mosiah 3:19	To put off the "Natural Man" we need to concentrate on following the Spirit.
Mosiah 4:30	We need to fight off inappropriate thoughts, not just inappropriate deeds.
Mosiah 5:2	My goal is to lose my disposition to do evil. To do so I must do good continually.
Mosiah 6:1	We are not a congregation or church of numbers but of individuals whose names are important.
Mosiah 7:33	Turn to God w/ 1)Full purpose of heart, 2)Trusting Him, 3)Serving w/ ALL diligence= no bondage.
Mosiah 8:16	Definition of a seer.
Mosiah 9:3	Do I ever find myself being "over zealous" to accomplish my worldly desires?
Mosiah 10:11	The weakest among us are those who think that they don't need the strength of the Lord.
Mosiah 11:2	Our choices are to keep God's commandment or to walk after the desires of our own hearts.
Mosiah 12:30	I love the confidence in the Lord of Abinadi. He's in chains telling the king to tremble.
Mosiah 13:3	Abinadi has his eye single to his assignment. Let me finish my job, then do what you want w/ me.
Mosiah 14:5	A beautiful reminder of what the Savior did for each of us.
Mosiah 15:1	Jesus was no ordinary man.
Mosiah 16:1	What a wonderful day it will be when everyone understands the mission of Jesus.
Mosiah 17:4	What a tragedy it would have been if Alma had not written the words of the previous chapters.
Mosiah 18:29	We should impart to others according to their needs and their wants.
Mosiah 19:14	I am charmed with the beauty of my wife.
Mosiah 20:11	We can do so much if we are motivated by love.
Mosiah 21:16	God usually blesses us by degrees. Oft times we forget to give Him credit.
Mosiah 22:14	Are my records ready to be turned in?
Mosiah 23:14	I want to be a teacher and father and husband and friend who can be trusted.
Mosiah 24:12	This has something to do with "praying always"
Mosiah 25:22-23	This should be true in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Even with almost 3,000 Stakes and 28,000 wards and branches. This week's General Conference help with that goal.
Mosiah 26:3	Unbelief disqualifies us from being able to understand the Gospel!
Mosiah 27:14	Are there people in our life who can be blessed with testimony because of our prayers?
Mosiah 28:3	They are desirous to teach people who do not appear to be worthy, but they love ALL.
Mosiah 29:26-27	At election time each year I ask myself how we are doing as a nation in wanting that which is right.

Alma 43-63

Just a note or two to begin. First I would call you attention to the end of the notes from last week. Two articles about war in the Book of Mormon. The first by Eugene England called, "Moroni and His Captains"from the Sept, 1977 Ensign which says that the story of the last 21 chapters in the Book of Alma is the story of great men and their examples. The 2nd by Tom Valletta, "The Captain and the Covenant" in the book, Alma, The Testimony Of The Word. Brother Valletta sees these chapters as emphasizing the importance of being a covenant people. I really enjoyed both of these and suggest that you find them on line. I also really like the idea that I noted in the last paragraph that we need to continually improve ourselves and the Church in the ongoing War which began in the pre-earth life against the forces of evil. The defenses which were sufficient in previous battles will not be sufficient as the tools of temptation improve. Today I would like to go chapter by chapter and teach some of my favorite "Liken the Scriptures Unto Us Messages". I borrowed heavily from John Bytheway's online notes from his book, "Righteous Warriors: Lessons from the War Chapters in the Book of Mormon".

Alma 43: Prophets Know Where the Enemy Will Strike -Modern prophets have continually warned that in the latter-days, the adversary will attack marriage and family. More than thirty years ago, President Harold B. Lee stated, “Satan’s greatest threat today, is to destroy the family and make a mockery of the law of chastity and the sanctity of the marriage covenant” (Church News, August 19. 1972, 3). In 1995, The Proclamation to the World: The Family was issued. Prophets tell us where the enemy strike next. The spiritual message is clear: Keep your eyes on the living prophets, they know where the enemy will attack.

Alma 44: the Power of Faith in Christ in War and Peace - Read verses 3-4, and notice the number of times the word “faith” appears! Moroni never took credit for the Nephite successes, and always took the blame for their failures. The spiritual message is wonderful – faith in Christ is a power to be reckoned at all times, in all things and in all places, including war.

Alma 45: Declare the Word of God in Times of War - Alma the Younger prophesied the ultimate destruction of the Nephites, and departed out of the land.  See verse 21 The war chapters are very consistent on this point – spiritual preparation is always first. The spiritual message is clear: get your spiritual life in order, then prepare temporally for whatever may come.

Alma 46: Place Reminders of your Covenants Everywhere - What are Titles of Liberty Today? (General Conference, Proclamation on the Family, The Living Christ, Pictures of temples in our homes, Temple Garments, CTR rings. See verse 21 for the Nephite response. What is our response to such calls?

When Moroni lifted the title of liberty, he referred to the rent coat of Joseph who was sold into Egypt. (Alma 46:24.) In An Approach to the Book of Mormon, Hugh Nibley referred to a 10th-century B.C. collection in Persia of legends. One related that Joseph's brothers took his torn garment to their father as proof he was dead, but Jacob, after examining the garment, declared the way the cloth was torn indicated otherwise. Brother Nibley observed: ". . . aside from the great symbolic force of the tale, there can be no doubt that the story told by Moroni was one familiar to all the people, actually was one that circulated among the Jews in ancient times. . . . It was totally unknown to the world in which Joseph Smith lived." (See also Gospel Symbolism by Joseph Fielding McConkie p. 36-38)

Alma 47: Don’t Come Down from Your Mountain! - The scriptures contain many types and shadows of Christ, and my conviction is that the story of Amalickiah provides us with the opposite – a type and shadow of Satan. Think of the parallels! Amalickiah wanted to be king, he was cast out, and he took his followers with him. Similarly, Satan wanted to “exalt [his] throne above the stars of God (2 Nephi 24:13), was cast out, and took his followers with him. Amalickiah is described as cunning, flattering, and a murderer. Satan is also described as cunning, flattering, and a murderer. Amalickiah poisoned Lehonti “by degrees.” Satan leads us “carefully” or “by degrees” down to hell (2 Nephi 28:21). Amalickiah did “not care for the blood of his people” (Alma 49:10). Satan will “not support his children at the last day (Alma 30:60).    As Latter-day Saints, we have gone up to the “mountain of the Lord” and made covenants. Satan continually invites us to come down. We refuse. So he invites us to come down just a little. If we do, we subject ourselves to his power where we will eventually be poisoned by degrees. If we are wounded by a gunshot, or a sword, we know about it! But if we are slowly poisoned, we might not even realize it’s happening. Poison is a perfect metaphor for Satan’s tactics, because a victim of poison may not even realize what’s happening, and may still believe he’s in control up until the moment he dies.

Alma 48: Make Covenants, Then Make Swords - Vs. 1 - See Alma 1:5 (so much) Vs. 7 - Note the contrast in the Lamanite and the Nephite preparation. Vs. 11-13 - Moroni's 8 characteristics. Vs. 17 What if all men were like me?

Alma 49: Preparation! If We Are Prepared, We Shall Not Fear. - I call Alma 49 the “Boy Scout” chapter because of the Boy Scout motto: “Be Prepared.” Note the astonishment of the Lamanites as they come upon each expertly prepared Nephite city! (Verses 5, 8, 9). Note also, that because of the preparation of the Nephites, weak cities became strong (verse 14), a real-life parallel to that which happens when we come to the Lord with our weakness (Ether 12:27).

Alma 50: Ever increasing preparation -  Moroni continued to prepare his cities with a series of heaps, timbers, pickets and towers. Watchman were placed within each tower so that they could warn the inhabitants of incoming danger from afar. Note also vs. 12, 20, 22, 23 and 30.

Alma 51: The Enemy of Pride - The Kingmen nearly destroyed the Nephite society from within, while the Nephite armies were trying to protect the Nephites from the enemy without. Similarly, enemies of the Church from the outside may inflict a few blows, but we must beware of pride from within – of taking and giving offense, of gossiping and backbiting. I suspect that more people become less active from what happens within their own congregations than from attacks from outside the Church. Note vs. 22- The enemy attacks at a time of weakness! Vs. 31 Every man stronger. Vs. 34 - Teancum Gold medal in the Javelin toss for accuracy.

Alma 52: Counselling with our Councils - vs. 19

Alma 53: Knowing What is True, Being True to What You Know - Vs. 14 - Covenants most important. The stripling warriors were men who were “true at all times in whatsoever thing they were entrusted” (verse 20). It’s one thing to know the Church is true. It’s another to be true to what you know. It’s one thing to wear a CTR ring. It’s another to actually choose the right. To know the Church is true is to be convinced. To be true to what you know is to be converted.

Alma 54: It's been 500 years-Let it Go! vs. 17 (Ray and Kendell)

Alma 55: When we are in the wrong, we usually know it. (vs. 1) Converts are some of our best soldiers (vs. 4) It is hard to fool someone wo remembers the Lord. (vs. 31)

Alma 56: The Righteous Need Not Fear Death. - Although Sunday school teachers, young men and young women advisors, seminary teachers and others assist young people in developing their gospel knowledge, the stripling warriors gave full credit to perhaps the most powerful, far-reaching teachers in the universe – mothers. Because they were true to what their mothers taught them, they had nothing to fear, including death. In Helaman’s letter to Moroni, Helaman declares, “Now they had never fought, yet they did not fear death.” Contrast this with one of the last battles in the Book of Mormon where the wicked Nephites see the Lamanites coming and are filled with “that awful fear of death which fills the breasts of all the wicked” (Mormon 6:7). The stripling warriors teach us that we need not fear anything – not even death, when our life is built on the gospel of Jesus Christ. See also vs. 8, 19 and vs. 21.

Alma 57: Some Were about to Give Way, Some Were Firm and Undaunted - President Ezra Taft Benson once called the youth of the Church “today’s sons of Helaman” (Teachings of Ezra Taft Benson, 520). That’s a lot to live up to. What if we were to compare the membership of the Church with the armies of the Nephites described in this chapter? In which group would we find ourselves?: “the remainder of our army were about to give way” or “those two thousand and sixty were firm and undaunted”? (Alma 57:20). In the Church today, some give way to the fashions of the world, others are firm and undaunted. Some give way to the media influences of the world, others are firm and undaunted. Choose wisely to which group you want to belong, because at the end of the day, those who “gave way” are dead, and those who were firm and undaunted were only wounded. The stripling warriors survived because they “observed to perform every word of command with exactness” (verse 21). That’s a powerful spiritual message.

Alma 58: The adversary remembers - New strategy always needed (vs. 1) Hard situations may lead us to sincere prayer. (vs. 9-10) Unconditional trust, regardless of circumstances. (vs. 37)

Alma 59 -  “It is better to prepare and prevent than it is to repair and repent” (Teachings of Ezra Taft Benson, 285). (vs. 9) When should we doubt the Lord's ability to deliver us? (vs, 11)

Alma 60: The death of a righteous person never frustrates the work of the Lord. (vs. 13) We often suffer because of the failings of others. (vs. 12) Where does wickedness often begin? (vs. 15) Moroni writes this letter to All the leaders of government. what would you write in a letter to government leaders of today? Moroni is a prophet leader. Why doesn't God tell Moroni that Pahoran is innocent? (vs. 33)

Alma 61: It is better to be kind that to be right. 7 times in his epistle in ch. 60m Moroni accuses Pahoran of sitting. In vs. 9, Pahoran says what he "stands" for. You've got to stand for something or else you'll fall for anything. God Has Not Commanded Us to Be Subject to Our Enemies. From what enemies in my life can I use God for my deliverance?  (vs. 13)

Alma 62 - Traitors were executed speedily. (vs. 10) People want to be free and good. Some just need a change in environment. (vs. 16-17) I would like to nominate Teancum for the best supporting actor award. (vs. 36-7)  How do I respond to afflictions? vs. 40-41

Alma 63 - A nice resume for Eternal Life. (vs. 2) How about Hagoth? "In conclusion it seems fair to state that although the Church has no official, published declaration on the origin of the Polynesians, there have been enough semi-official statements by prophets of the Lord to leave little doubt that the Church believes that the Polynesians are direct blood relatives of Lehi's colony and that Hagoth's lost ships provide at least one connection between the Americas and Polynesia. This is further supported by patriarchal blessings given to the members of the Church among these people and by oral traditions. The brief account of Hagoth recorded in the book of Alma is important to an understanding of the blessings given to the descendants of Joseph, as the inhabitants of the isles of the sea." (Robert E. Parsons in "Alma, The Testimony of the Word, p. 260) (vs. 5) Corianton on welfare mission (vs. 10)

Why are there so many wars in the Book of Mormon? Look around. The war which began in heaven continues on earth, and the Lord’s words show us how to prevail.