Gary Poll: Book of Mormon Day 7

Book of Mormon Day 7

1. Thought: If one were to ask a casual reader of the Book of Mormon to name the principal character in that book, the responses would undoubtedly vary. For one thing, any record covering more than a thousand years of history—with all the persons such a history would include—is unlikely to have any single, central figure emerge over such an extended period as the principal character. Nonetheless, after acknowledging that limitation, perhaps some might list any one of several favorite, or at least memorable, persons. Such names as Mormon, the abridger for whom the book is named; or Nephi, the book’s early and very recognizable young prophet; or Alma, to whom so many pages are devoted; or Moroni, the fearless captain who flew the title of liberty; or his namesake, who concluded the book and delivered it some fourteen hundred years later to the young Joseph Smith—these would undoubtedly be among some of those figures mentioned.

All of these responses would be provocative, but they would also be decidedly incorrect. The principal and commanding figure in the Book of Mormon, from first chapter to last, is the Lord Jesus Christ, of whom the book is truly “another testament.” From the first page—indeed, from the book’s title page—to the last declaration in the text, this testament reveals, demonstrates, examines, and underscores the divine mission of Jesus Christ as recorded in the sacred accounts of two New World dispensations, accounts written for the benefit of a third dispensation, the last and greatest of all dispensations, the dispensation of the fulness of times. This sacred record, written by prophets and preserved by angels, was written for one crucial, fundamental, eternally essential reason: “to the convincing of the Jew and Gentile that Jesus is the Christ, the Eternal God, manifesting himself unto all nations” (Book of Mormon, title page).

CHRIST IN THE BOOK OF MORMON

BOOK	CHAPTERS	PAGE	# OF VERSES	# OF REFERENCES	% OF VERSES
1 NEPHI	22	1	587	150	25%
2 NEPHI	33	53	779	576	74%
JACOB	7	117	203	151	74%
ENOS	1	136	27	22	81%
JAROM	1	138	15	8	53%
OMNI	1	140	30	20	67%
MORMON	1	143	18	13	72%
MOSIAH	29	145	785	484	62%
ALMA	63	207	1979	917	46%
HELAMAN	16	368	497	225	45%
3 NEPHI	30	406	775	290	37%
4 NEPHI	1	465	49	42	86%
MORMON	9	469	222	189	85%
ETHER	15	487	433	218	50%
MORONI	10	518	163	166	102%

15 239 531 6580 3471 53%

ALL BUT 6 OF THE 239 CHAPTERS MENTION THE SAVIOR

101 BOOK OF MORMON TITLES FOR CHRIST

1. Almighty (2 Nephi 23:6)

2. Almighty God (Jacob 2:10)

3. Alpha and Omega (3 Nephi 9:18)

4. Being (Mosiah 4:19)

5. Beloved (2 Nephi 31:15)

6. Beloved Son (2 Nephi 31:11)

7. Christ (2 Nephi 10:3)

8. Christ Jesus (Alma 5:44)

9. Christ the Son (Alma 11:44)

10. Counselor (2 Nephi 19:6)

11. Creator (2 Nephi 9:5)

12. Eternal Father (Mosiah 15:4)

13. Eternal God (1 Nephi 12:18)

14. Eternal Head (Helaman 13:38)

15. Eternal Judge (Moroni 10:34)

16. Everlasting Father (2 Nephi 19:6)

17. Everlasting God (1 Nephi 15:15)

18. Father (Jacob 7:22)

19. Father of heaven (1 Nephi 22:9)

20. Father of heaven and of earth (Helaman 14:12)

21. Founder of peace (Mosiah 15:18)

22. God (2 Nephi 1:22)

23. God of Abraham (1 Nephi 19:10)

24. God of Abraham, & Isaac, & Jacob (Mosiah 7:19)

25. God of Abraham, and of Isaac, and the God of Jacob (1 Nephi 19:10)

26. God of Isaac (Alma 29:11)

27. God of Israel (1 Nephi 19:7)

28. God of Jacob (2 Nephi 12:3)

29. God of miracles (2 Nephi 27:23)

30. God of nature (1 Nephi 19:12)

31. God of the whole earth (3 Nephi 11:14)

32. Good shepherd (Alma 5:38)

33. Great Creator (2 Nephi 9:5)

34. Great Spirit (Alma 18:2)

35. Head (Jacob 4:17)

36. Holy child (Moroni 8:3)

37. Holy God (2 Nephi 9:39)

38. Holy Messiah (2 Nephi 2:6)

39. Holy One (2 Nephi 2:10)

40. Holy One of Israel (1 Nephi 19:14)

41. Holy One of Jacob (2 Nephi 27:34)

42. Husband (3 Nephi 22:5)

43. Immanuel (2 Nephi 18:8)

44. Jehovah (Moroni 10:34)

45. Jesus (2 Nephi 31:10)

46. Jesus Christ (2 Nephi 25:19)

47. Keeper of the Gate (2 Nephi 9:41)

48. King (2 Nephi 16:5)

49. King of Heaven (2 Nephi 10:14)

50. Lamb (1 Nephi 13:35)

51. Lamb of God (1 Nephi 10:10)

52. Lord (1 Nephi 10:14)

53. Lord God (2 Nephi 1:5)

54. Lord God Almighty (2 Nephi 9:46)

55. Lord God Omnipotent (Mosiah 3:21)

56. Lord God of Hosts (2 Nephi 13:15)

57. Lord Jehovah (2 Nephi 22:2)

58. Lord Jesus (Moroni 6:6)

59. Lord Jesus Christ (Mosiah 3:12)

60. Lord of Hosts (1 Nephi 20:2)

61. Lord of the Vineyard (Jacob 5:8)

62. Lord Omnipotent (Mosiah 3:5)

63. Maker (2 Nephi 9:40)

64. Man (3 Nephi 11:8)

65. Master (Jacob 5:4)

66. Mediator (2 Nephi 2:28)

67. Messiah (1:19)

68. Mighty God (2 Nephi 6:17)

69. Mighty One of Israel (1 Nephi 22:12)

70. Mighty One of Jacob (1 Nephi 21:26)

71. Most High (2 Nephi 24:14)

72. Most High God (Alma 26:14)

73. Only Begotten of the Father (2 Ne.5:12)

74. Only Begotten Son (Jacob 4:5)

75. Prince of Peace (2 Nephi 19:6)

76. Prophet (1 Nephi 22:20)

77. Rabbanah (Alma 18:13)

78. Redeemer (1 Nephi 10:6)

79. Redeemer of Israel (1 Nephi 21:7)

80. Redeemer of the world (1 Nephi 10:5)

81. Rock (1 Nephi 15:15)

82. Savior (2 Nephi 31:13)

83. Savior Jesus Christ (3 Nephi 5:20)

84. Savior of the world (1 Nephi 10:4)

85. Shepherd (1 Nephi 13:41)

86. Son (2 Nephi 31:13)

87. Son of God (1 Nephi 10:17)

88. Son of Righteousness (Ether 9:22)

89. Son of the Eternal Father (1 Nephi 11:21)

90. Son of the everlasting God (1 Nephi 11:32)

91. Son of the living God (2 Nephi 31:16)

92. Son of the most high God (1 Nephi 11:6)

93. Stone (Jacob 4:16)

94. Supreme Being (Alma 11:22)

95. Supreme Creator (Alma 30:44)

96. True and living God (1 Nephi 17:30)

97. True Messiah (2 Nephi 1:10)

98. True Shepherd (Helaman 15:13)

99. True vine (1 Nephi 15:15)

100. Well Beloved (Helaman 5:47)

101. Wonderful (2 Nephi 19:6)

Susan Easton Black, Finding Christ Through the Book of Mormon, pp. 16-18 also Jeffrey R. Holland, Christ and the New Covenant, pp. 353-355.

2. Book: Latter-Day Commentary on the Book of Mormon-compiled by K. Douglas Bassett - The files & notes of a seminary and Institute teacher. Very helpful and well done.

3. Gary's Green Verses

Date	Chapter	Verse	Comments
Feb. 23	2 Nephi 32	2, 8, 9	Feasting on scripture and praying always. 2 great keys
Feb. 24.	2 Nephi 33	4	I know that God will consecrate my prayers for the gain of my people. GREAT
Feb. 25	Jacob 1	19	The scariest verse in the scriptures!
Feb. 26	Jacob 2	18-19	A key to setting priorities in our life
Feb. 27	Jacob 3	1	Blessings God gives to the pure in heart who live in a world of filthiness
Feb. 28	Jacob 4	10	I probably ought to read this verse every day before and after I pray
Feb. 29	Jacob 5	75	This long chapter has a very happy ending and it involves us today
March 1	Jacob 6	12	My son Ryan's verse of choice for his MIC & a great summary of how to live.

4. What the Book of Mormon Teaches about Israel

The name Israel (Hebrew for "God rules" or "God shines" "let God prevail") has two particularly distinctive modern applications to Latter-day Saints. First, it refers to members of the Church. Second, it points to modern descendants of ancient Israelite stock, who, because of God's fidelity to ancient covenants made with their forebears, are to become recipients of his blessings in the latter days. Ideally, a true Israelite is one who both recognizes the prevailing of God and also prevails with God through earnest prayer and covenant righteousness.

Israel is the name God gave to Jacob (Gen. 32:28: 35:10 After his posterity settled in the land of Canaan, the name Israel referred to the league of tribes and later the united monarchy of Saul, David, and Solomon was known as Israel. Following Solomon's death, the name Israel denoted the northern kingdom while the name Judah designated the southern realm. In the New Testament, the name Israel refers to the people of God designating those who are, or will be, gathered to Jesus Christ.

The Holy One of Israel is name for the Savior used 34 times in the Old Testament, most frequently by Isaiah, who cites it 28 times. The term is used frequently in the Book of Mormon, especially in 1 and 2 Nephi. Identified as Christ in 2 Ne. 25:29.

Latter-day Saints apply the name Israel to themselves. First, Moses appeared to Joseph Smith, and Oliver Cowdery in the Kirtland Temple on April 3, 1836, and conferred on them the keys, or authorization, for "the gathering of Israel" (D&C 110:11); Second, Latter-day Saints learn from patriarchal blessings that they are literally of the lineage of Israel. It is the particular responsibility of Israel to carry the message of the restored gospel to the world, and Ephraim has the responsibility of directing this work (D&C 133:26-34; cf. TPJS, p. 163). Those who are not of Israel's lineage become such through adoption at the time of their baptism and reception of the Holy Ghost (2 Nephi 30:1-2; TPJS, pp. 149-50). Third, Elijah restoring the sealing powers for turning the hearts of the children to the promises made to their ancestors (Mal. 4:5-6; D&C 2:1-3; JS-H 1:38-39)

The Book of Mormon Peoples were literally of Israel. Those who journeyed to the Western Hemisphere from Jerusalem with Lehi around 600 B.C. were descended from Joseph of Egypt through his sons Manasseh and Ephraim (Alma 10:3; 1 Ne. 5:14-16; Erastus Snow, JD 23:184-85). A second group had links to the royal house of Judah through Mulek, son of Zedekiah (Hel. 6:10,; Hel. 8:21; Omni 1:14-16).

In the New Testament era Gentiles were offered a broad opportunity to become full partakers of Israel's blessings. Jesus limited his personal ministry to Israelites (Matt. 15:24; 3 Ne. 15:23) and told the Twelve to proselytize only among Israel (Matt. 10:5) John the Baptist proclaimed that "God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham" (Matt. 3:9). Peter learned that the righteous in "every nation" who hearken to God are "accepted with him" (Acts 10:35).

SCATTERING- Possession of the promised land was one of the blessings of God's covenant with Israel, therefore possession was conditional upon obedience to the commandments. Moses prophesied that if they were rebellious God would scatter them from one end of the earth to another. (Dt. 4:27; 28:64)

The scattering occurred in three primary phases: (1) the Assyrian captivity of the northern kingdom of ten of the tribes of Israel (c. 722 B.C.); (2) the Babylonian captivity of the kingdom of Judah (c.605- 587 B.C.); and (3) the destruction of the Judean state and second temple by Rome (A.D. 66-70). While other cases of scattering occurred, these phases accomplished the Lord's purposes of punishing his covenant people by scattering them; but he mercifully made preparation for gathering their descendants in the latter years when they "come to the knowledge of their Redeemer" (2 Ne. 6:8-14).

"The lost tribes are not lost in the sense that we do not know where they are. The scriptures plainly tell us they have been scattered among every nation, kindred, tongue, and people. How then are they lost? They are lost temporally in the sense that they are in many instances lost to the lands of their inheritance. Of greater importance, they are lost in a spiritual sense; they are lost to the gospel and its saving ordinances, they are lost to the priesthood and all the blessings that flow from it...They are so intermingled with the Gentiles of the world that they can only be identified by revelation-this revelation must come through ordained patriarchs, declaring to them their lineage and promised blessings as the chosen seed, but this only after they have found their way back to the fold of God...Our Israelite forebears were scattered because they rejected the gospel." (DCBM 1:10)

Numerous references to Israel's scattering appear in scripture. Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, Nephi_, and others wrote much concerning it (e.g., Isa. 50-53; Jer. 3;18; Ezek. 6:8-10;11-12;36; 2 Ne. 10). Perhaps the most notable of these is the prophecy of Zenos given "unto the house of Israel" and cited in the Book of Mormon by Jacob, son of Lehi (Jacob 5). In language similar to Isaiah 5:1-7 and echoed in Romans 11:17-24,Zenos compared the history of the house of Israel to an olive tree planted in a vineyard, likening it to a "tame olive tree" that begins to decay. Gentiles, represented in Zenos' allegory as branches from a wild olive tree, were grafted onto the tame tree to preserve its natural fruit. Servants assisted the lord of the vineyard in providing the best conditions for growth-digging, pruning, fertilizing, and finally transplanting, grafting, and pruning. Meanwhile, they planted branches of the mother tree in remote parts of the orchard. In three "visits" to the vineyard (Jacob 5:4, 16, 30), the lord and his servants labored to produce desirable olives that could be stored for "the season, which speedily cometh" (5:76). Finally, the desired fruit appeared, which greatly pleased the lord of the vineyard (5:38-75).

Joseph Fielding Smith, summed up this allegory thus: "It records the history of Israel down through the ages, the scattering of the tribes to all parts of the earth; …or in other words the mixing of the blood of Israel among the Gentiles by which the great blessings and promises of the Lord to Abraham are fulfilled" (Answers to Gospel Questions, Salt Lake City, 1963, Vol. 4, pp. 141-42).

Book of Mormon prophets and the resurrected Savior also spoke of the scattering. Reflecting on his people's situation in a new land, Nephi noted that they were part of scattered Israel that would one day be gathered (1 Ne. 22:3-12). Jacob observed, "We have been driven out of the land of our inheritance; but we have been led to a better land" (2 Ne. 10:20-22). The resurrected Jesus told hearers in the Americas that though the prophesied scattering was not yet complete, the promised gathering was certainly forthcoming (3 Ne. 20:11-18, 29-46; 21:1-9, 26-29). It is rare in the Book of Mormon to read about the scattering without reading about the gathering right after.

GATHERING Book of Mormon prophets affirmed that the Lord had not forgotten the ten tribes, and that they are keeping records that will yet be revealed (2 Ne. 29:12,13,14). When the resurrected Jesus Christ appeared in the Americas, he spoke of being commanded of the Father to minister unto the lost tribes, "for they are not lost unto the Father" (3 Ne. 17:4). Jesus also promised that the Lord's redemptive work in the last days would include "the tribes which have been lost" (3 Ne. 21:26).

Latter-day Saints "believe in the literal gathering of Israel and in the restoration of the Ten Tribes; [and] that Zion (the New Jerusalem) will be built upon the American continent" (A of F 10). In the LDS perspective, gathering Israel in the latter days consists of the following: (1) the spiritual gathering, which includes coming to know that Jesus is the Christ and joining The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints; (2) the assembling of Church members to organized stakes; and (3) the gathering of the descendants of Jacob's twelve sons-including the lost ten tribes (D&C 110:11)-to the lands of their inheritance.

The Book of Mormon and Doctrine and Covenants are seen as tools "to gather out mine elect" from all the earth (Moses 7:62;). The risen Jesus declared "that when the words of Isaiah should be fulfilled…then is the fulfilling of the covenant" that the Father made to gather Israel (3 Ne. 20:11-13). Further, he proclaimed that the Book of Mormon would come forth as a sign that scattered Israel was about to be gathered (3 Ne. 20-21). Nephiquoted Isaiah 48 an d 4 9,which he regarded as a herald of Israel's future gathering and glory (1 Ne. 20-22).

"The Book of Mormon is central to this work. It declares the doctrine of the gathering. It causes people to learn about Jesus Christ, to believe His gospel, and to join His Church. In fact, if there were no Book of Mormon, the promised gathering of Israel would not occur." (RMNelson, Ensign, Nov. 2006, p. 80)

*The gathering of Israel continues in the post-earthly spirit world where Christ "organized his forces and appointed messengers…and commissioned them to go forth and carry the light of the gospel to them that were in darkness, even to all the spirits of men" so that they too may be gathered (D&C 138:30, 34;1 Pet. 3:18-19; 4:6). In the implementation of this gathering, ordinances such as baptism and confirmation are performed in latter-day temples by Church members on behalf of the dead (cf. 1 Cor. 15:29).

Missionaries were sent out after the Church was organized (1830) to gather both spiritual and bloodline Israel. In the spirit of gathering, many converts immigrated from the eastern states, Canada, Britain, and Western Europe, first to Ohio, then Missouri, Illinois, and eventually the Great Basin. Between 1840 and 1890, more than eighty thousand converts came from continental Europe and fifty-five thousand from Great Britain (P. A. M. Taylor, Expectations Westward [Edinburgh, 1965], p. 144).

"Every person who embraces the gospel becomes of the house of Israel. In other words, they become members of the chosen lineage...The great majority of those who become members of the Church are literal descendants of Abraham through Ephraim, son of Joseph. Those who are not literal descendants of Abraham and Israel must become such, and when they are baptized and confirmed they are grated into the tree and are entitled to all the rights and privileges as heirs." (JFS, Doctrines of Salvation 3:246) See also TPJS p. 149-150.

"Jesus Christ taught that there would eventually be 2 centers of gathering-the New Jerusalem and the Old Jerusalem (see 3 Nephi 20:21-22, 29) As Church membership expanded into other lands, President Kimball taught that the gathering place today is wherever someone lives: The gathering of Israel for Mexicans is in Mexico; in Scandinavia, for those of the northern countries; gathering place for the Germans is in Germany; and the Polynesians, in the islands; the Brazilians, in Brazil; for the Argentines, in Argentina." (Ensign, May 1975 p. 4)

The gathering of Israel includes the Lamanites. To their ancestors in the Americas, the resurrected Jesus promised: "This people will I establish in this land, unto the fulfilling of the covenant which I made with your father Jacob" (3 Ne. 20:22, 25;21:1-7).

The Book of Mormon states that the Jews "shall be gathered in from their long dispersion, from the isles of the sea, and from the four parts of the earth" (2 Ne. 10:8; 25:15-17). Moreover, Mormon, editor and compiler of the Book of Mormon, declared that "ye need not any longer hiss, nor spurn, nor make game of the Jews, nor any of the remnant of the house of Israel; for behold, the Lord remembereth his covenant unto them, and he will do unto them according to that which he hath sworn" (3 Ne. 29:8).

STATE OF ISRAEL. LDS leaders have viewed the creation of the modern state of Israel in the Middle East as a consequential world event but not as the complete fulfillment of prophecy. After noting the glory of God's work yet to be done among all branches of Israel and after discussing the redemption promised to Judah, Bruce R. McConkie, an apostle, wrote of the present immigration of a few million Jewish people to the Holy Land, "Is this the latter-day gathering of which the scriptures speak? No! It is not…. [It] is nonetheless part of divine plan" of a more complete gathering yet to occur (p. 229).

References: Encyclopedia of Mormonism (Ludlow editor); Book of Mormon Reference Companion (Largey editor); The Gathering of Israel in the Book of Mormon: A Consistent Pattern by Robert Millet in "Rediscovering the Book of Mormon"; The Destiny of the House of Israel by Daniel Ludlow in "Nurturing Faith Through The Book of Mormon"; God Will Fulfill His Covenants with the House of Israel by Leland Gentry in "Second Nephi, The Doctrinal Structure"; Nephi on the Destiny of Israel by Robert Millet in "Studies in Scripture Vol. 7"; Book of Mormon Student Manual p. 415-416.

Wednesday, February 29, 2012

Book of Mormon Day 7