Book of Mormon II - Day 5

Thought:  The Book of Mormon is a sacred record containing information that is found in no other book. The Lord has commanded us to divide with all his children the truths of the everlasting Gospel that have been revealed to prepare them for a place in the Celestial kingdom. …“It fills my heart with joy to know that every man who will read it [the Book of Mormon] prayerfully, every man who will desire to know whether it be of God or not has the promise, not of Joseph Smith or any living being, but the promise of our Heavenly Father that they shall know of a surety that it is of God. …“These two books [the Book of Mormon and the Bible] hand in hand teach us all where we came from, why we are here, where we may go, and they both contain the advice, the loving advice of our Heavenly Father intended to inspire us to do that which will enrich our lives here and prepare us for eternal happiness.” (George Albert Smith CR, Apr. 1936, pp. 13–16.)

Books of the Week: A Testament for Our Times-Dunford   Doctrinal Commentary of the BoM 1-4

Gary's "GREEN VERSES" Alma 1-30

Alma 1:27	Ever notice how many times "costly apparel" is mentioned in a negative way in the BoM?
Alma 2:28	The Lord give deliverance after mighty prayer.
Alma 3:19	We bring upon ourselves the condemnation we receive.
Alma 3:27	The problem with receiving wages from Satan is that the checks always bounce.
Alma 4:10	Another reminder of our responsibility to be good examples & the accountability if we don't.
Alma 5:14, 26	It is important to gain a testimony and just as important to keep it alive and growing.
Alma 6:6	It appears that it is appropriate to prayer that those who are not here can be here next time.
Alma 7:11	A reminder of the wide range of Christ's understanding because of His suffering for us.
Alma 8:15	When we have been faithful we have reason to "lift up our heads" even when its not going well.
Alma 9:20-22	It is important to stop and remember how often we have been delivered from our problems.
Alma 10:6	Amulek knew, yet he would not know. That appears to be a very common occurrence today.
Alma 11:43	A classic clarification of the resurrection.
Alma 12:10-11	How we gain and lose testimonies.
Alma 13:2	When we are ordained to the Priesthood we are to act in a manner like unto the Son
Alma 14:11	A significant reason why God allows some of us to persecute others of us.
Alma 15:16	Some has sacrificed much to serve in the Kingdom.
Alma 16:16	Isn't it great to live in a day when this is happening in preparation for Christ's 2nd coming?
Alma 17:2	The happy reunion scripture. I love reunions with those from my past who are still faithful.
Alma 18:32	God knows our thoughts and our intents, thus His judgments are always just.
Alma 19:32	The converts of Ammon had the Mosiah 5:2 experience; no desire to do evil. How about us?
Alma 20:26	Nothing is more impressive to a parent than someone who really loves their child. True w/ God.
Alma 21:9	There is no other way than through the Savior.
Alma 22:18	A great prayer!. What are we willing to give away to have our sins remitted.
Alma 23:6	That is what you call a great retention rate. President Hinckley would have been grateful.
Alma 24:30	The results of apostasy
Alma 25:6	Loss and hard times oft times stirs us up to righteousness
Alma 25:17	When we serve well God answers our prayers and verifies His word in every particular.
Alma 26:37	God is the God of the whole earth and ALL the people on the face thereof.
Alma 27:27	Oh to be distinguished in this way as a person, a family or a church.
Alma 28:13-14	A great motivation to serve in the Kingdom!
Alma 29:4	I need to ask myself more often, "what is it that I REALLY desire?
Alma 30:60	Another great reminder that Lucifer, and those who follow him, are selfish.

 

Helaman (my personal Book of Mormon hero) 1-9

 

Helaman is an example of "Annalistic writing. From 52-23 BC every year but one is mentioned.

Helaman 1 (ch. 1& 2 - no mention of Christ 2 of 6 in Book of Mormon)

Vs. 1 & 2 - Do we live in a time of serious difficulty and is there a serious contention for choosing the leaders of today?

Vs. 11 - birds of a feather flock together. Most of the dumb things I have done were done to impress my friends. (Nate Moore)

Vs. 16 - Coriantumr was a dissenter, large, mighty and wise. Sounds a little familiar.

Vs. 18 - See, No Time for Contention, CR April, 1978, Marvin J. Ashton.

              I never had imagined that New York City would be attacked.

              Until the Nephites weakened from within no foreign could destroy them.

              Until the USA weakens from within no foreign power can destroy it.

              Until we weaken from within no power can destroy us.\

Helaman 2

Vs. 2 - Helaman the 2nd becomes the 6th Chief Judge (Alma, Nephihah, Pahoran, Pahoran, Pacumeni)

Vs. 4 - The reason they are called the Gadianton Robbers and not Kishkumen's Krooks.

Vs. 8-9 - "The importance of the disposition and orientation of the heart in ancient Near Eastern cultures is monumental. For instance, the final judgment scene in ancient Egyptian religious imagery is the "weighing of the heart" ceremony-where an individual's heart is weighed against the feather of Ma'at (goddess of truth). The more evil a person's deeds in life, the heavier his heart would weigh, until it weighed more than Ma'at, and then horrible consequences awaited thte candidate. The llighter the heart, the more righteous the person was." Ogden p. 80-81)

Vs. 13 - "Our nation will continue to degenerate unless we read and heed the words of the God of this land, Jesus Christ, and quit building up and upholding the secret combinations which the Book of Mormon tells us proved to be the downfall of both previous American civilizations. (ETB, A Witness and A Warning, p. 6)

Helaman 3

Vs. 15- Many wagon loads. (Brigham Young quoting Oliver)

Vs. 20-21, 37 - Helaman II is my hero.

Vs. 24-25 - "In the time of prosperity, which we are now enjoying, it is highly proper for the Latter-day Saints to get out of debt...Our experience in the years that have led us to the conclusion that we have periods of prosperity, followed by periods of depression...I can pay more of my debts to my neighbors...after I have met my honest obligations with the Lord, than I can by neglecting the latter; and you can do the same. If you desire to prosper, and to be free men and women and a free people, first meet your just obligations to God, and then meet your obligations to your fellow men." (Joseph F. Smith, Gospel Doctrine p. 259-60)

Vs. 29 - Why the word of God is called a 2 edge sword

Vs. 35 - Sanctification - Becoming pure, holy, free of sin. Sanctification occurs by the power of the Holy Ghost and is only possible through the Atonement of Jesus Christ (Alma 13:11-12; Moroni 10:33; Moses 6:60). Obedience to the first principles and ordinances of the Gospel is an integral part of the process of sanctification. Jesus said, "Now this is the commandment, Repent all ye ends of the earth and come unto me and be baptized in my name, that ye may be sanctified by the reception of the Holy Ghost, that ye may stand spotless before me at the last day" (3 Nephi 27:20) Mormon included fasting, praying and yielding one's heart to God as factors leading to sanctification (Helaman 3:35). Alma taught that individuals who are sanctified cannot "look upon sin save it were with abhorrence" (Alma 13:11-12).
Justification God's declaring an individual righteous, guiltless, and thereby worthy of salvation, Inasmuch as no one who is unclean or unjustified, can be saved in the kingdom of God (1 Nephi 15:34; 3 Nephi 27:19), and inasmuch as all mankind fall short of keeping the laws of God, "by the law no flesh is justified, or by the law mean are cut off," (2 Nephi 2:5). There is no way for mankind to reclaim themselves from this unjustified state, but God can reclaim the repentant soul, imputing righteousness to him because of the Atonement-"mercy can satisfy the demands of justice, and encircles them in the arms of safety" (Alma 42:12-23). Thus God justifies righteous, covenant persons through the merits of the atonement of Jesus Christ (2 Nephi 2:7-11: Alma 34:9), while the wicked are not justified, standing condemned before the law (Alma 11:40-41; 34:16; 41:15; 42:22) I stole those definitions from Largey's Book of Mormon Reference Companion, which I love.

 

The world needs self-discipline. You can find it in fasting and prayer. Our generation is sick for lack of self-control. Fasting and prayer help to instill this virtue. Robert L. Simpson, Conference Report, Oct. 1967, pp. 18-19

"In The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, members are encouraged to fast whenever their faith needs special fortification and to fast regularly once each month on fast day. On that day, we go without eating or drinking for two consecutive meals, commune with our Heavenly Father, and contribute a fast offering to help the poor. The offering should be at least equal to the value of the food that would have been eaten. Typically, the first Sunday of each month is designated as fast Sunday. On that day, members who are physically able are encouraged to fast, pray, bear witness to the truthfulness of the gospel, and pay a generous fast offering. “The law of the fast,” taught Elder Milton R. Hunter, “is probably as old as the human family. … In ancient times, prophet-leaders repeatedly gave to church members the commandment to observe the law of fasting and praying.” We observe that in the scriptures, fasting almost always is linked with prayer. Without prayer, fasting is not complete fasting; it’s simply going hungry. If we want our fasting to be more than just going without eating, we must lift our hearts, our minds, and our voices in communion with our Heavenly Father. Fasting, coupled with mighty prayer, is powerful. It can fill our minds with the revelations of the Spirit. It can strengthen us against times of temptation. Fasting and prayer can help develop within us courage and confidence. It can strengthen our character and build self-restraint and discipline. Often when we fast, our righteous prayers and petitions have greater power. Testimonies grow. We mature spiritually and emotionally and sanctify our souls. Each time we fast, we gain a little more control over our worldly appetites and passions. Fasting and prayer can help us in our families and in our daily work. They can help us magnify our callings in the Church. President Ezra Taft Benson taught: “If you want to get the spirit of your office and calling as a new president of a quorum, a new high [councilor], a new bishop [or, I might say, a Relief Society president]—try fasting for a period. I don’t mean just missing one meal, then eating twice as much the next meal. I mean really fasting, and praying during that period. It will do more to give you the real spirit of your office and calling and permit the Spirit to operate through you than anything I know.” The Prophet Joseph Smith taught: “Let this be an [example] to all saints, and there will never be any lack for bread: When the poor are starving, let those who have, fast one day and give what they otherwise would have eaten to the bishops for the poor, and every one will abound for a long time. … And so long as the saints will all live to this principle with glad hearts and cheerful countenances they will always have an abundance.”  Book of Mormon prophets taught the law of the fast: “Behold, now it came to pass that the people of Nephi were exceedingly rejoiced, because the Lord had again delivered them out of the hands of their enemies; therefore they gave thanks unto the Lord their God; yea, and they did fast much and pray much, and they did worship God with exceedingly great joy.” Be liberal in your giving, that you yourselves may grow. Don't give just for the benefit of the poor, but give for your own welfare. Give enough so that you can give yourself into the kingdom of God- (The Law of the Fast,  Joseph B. Wirthlin, Ensign, May, 2001)

If the members of the Church would double their fast offering contributions, the spirituality of the Church would double. We need to keep that in mind and be liberal in our contributions (MGRomney, Report of Welfare Agricultural Meeting, April 3, 1971 p. 8.

 

Helaman 4

Vs. 12-13 - 17 Nephite sins leading to a loss. Are we headed down the same path?

Vs. 22-24 - How do laws become corrupted? ( see 5:3 also)Notice the sllooww process. Beware of choosing to sin with the intent of repenting later. (See, M. Russell Ballard, "Keeping Covenant" Ensign May, 1993, p. 6-8)

Vs. 26 - "Anybody who watched the sixties understands how our society changed quickly." (NAMawell in Bruce Hafen's  "A Disciple's Life, p. 268)

Helaman 5

            "I would be happier to have my sons effective missionaries than to have them honored in high secular places. for there is no greater work in which to be engaged and the proselyting work does not end in death, but carries over into the life beyond. (Teachings of SWK p. 548)

 

Vs. 4 - Nephi yields Judgment seat to do missionary work.

Vs. 5, 6, 9, 10, 12, 14 - President Kimball said that "remember" may be the most important word in the dictionary. (Circles of Exaltation address to CES June 28, 1968) "remember" appears 240 times in the Book of Mormon. 15 times in vs. 5-14.

Vs. 12 - "Anchor your life in Jesus Christ your Redeemer. Make your Eternal Father and His Beloved Son the most important priority in your life. More important than life itself, more important than a beloved companion or children or anyone on earth. Make their will your central desire. Then all that you need for happiness will come to you." (Richard G. Scott, Ensign May, 1993, p. 32-34)

I nominate Nephi and Lehi as the world's greatest missionaries. WOW

Vs. 48 - "When messengers are sent to minister to the inhabitants of this earth, they are not strangers, but from the ranks of our kindred, friends, and fellow-beings and fellow-servants. The ancient prophets who died were those who came to visit their fellow creatures upon the earth. They came to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob; it was such beings—holy beings if you please—who waited upon the Savior and administered to him on the Mount. The angel that visited John, when an exile, and unfolded to his vision future events in the history of man upon the earth, was one who had been here, who had toiled and suffered in common with the people of God. … In like manner our fathers and mothers, brothers, sisters and friends who have passed away from this earth, having been faithful, and worthy to enjoy these rights and privileges, may have a mission given them to visit their relatives and friends upon the earth again, bringing from the divine Presence messages of love, of warning, or reproof and instruction, to those whom they had learned to love in the flesh." (Gospel Doctrine, Salt Lake City: Deseret Book Co., 1970, pp. 435–36) See DBMC 3:360

Helaman 6

Vs. 7-13 -

A) And behold, there was peace in all the land…

       B) Verses 7-8 describe trade and commerce between the Nephites and Lamanites

              C) And it came to pass that they became exceedingly rich, both the Lamanites and the

                      Nephites;

                      D) and they did have an exceeding plenty of gold, and of silver, and of all manner of

                            precious metals, both in the land south and in the land north.

                             E) Now the land south was called

                                    F) Lehi and

                                           G) the land north was called

                                                  H) Mulek which was after the son of

                                                          I) Zedekiah (i.e., “The right of the Lord”)

                                                          I’) for the Lord did bring

                                                  H’) Mulek into

                                           G’) the land north,

                                    F’) and Lehi

                             E’) into the land south

                      D’) and behold, there was all manner of gold in both these lands, and of silver, and of

                             precious ore of every kind; ….

              C’) and thus they did become rich

       B’) Verses 12-13 describe agriculture and business in both the lands between the Nephites and

            Lamanites

A’) …And thus the sixty and fourth year did pass away in peace.

       In order to compose such a chiasmus as the one above, the author must have been thoroughly acquainted with Hebrew: otherwise, the author would not have thought to equate "Zedekiah" with "the Lord." Joseph Smith did not study Hebrew until the Kirtland Period, at least 5 years after the Book of Mormon was published. (John Welch, "Reexploring the Book of Mormon" p. 230)

 

              Secret Combinations

1.       Power, gain and control of government are the motives (Ether 8:22, 25; Hel. 6:17; Moses 5:31)

2.       Require general wickedness to survive (Hel. 6:21,31,38)

3.       Thrive on secrecy, violation of which is a capital offense. (Hel. 5:22; 6:22, 25,26; Moses 5:29,50)

4.       Involve formal covenant making, oaths, signs and tokens (all perversions of true principles and sacred precepts). (Hel. 6:22; Moses 5:30-31; Ether 8:13,14)

5.       Use murder, violence, threat of violence, plunder, vice, whoredoms and flattery to get gain and power. (Hel. 2:4-5; 6:17,23; Ether 8:10; 3 Nephi 4:7)

6.       Operate on laws contrary to the laws of the country (Hel. 6:23)

7.       Satan is the grand conspirator and author (Hel. 6:26-30)

8.       Participants have court trials for their own people-not according to the laws of the land but according to their own set of laws. (Hel. 6:23-24)

9.       Seek to take governmental power as rapidly as possible. (Hel. 2:5; 6:39)

10.   Seek to overthrow freedom from others but seek to maintain freedom for themselves (Ether 8:25; Moses 5:28-33)

11.   Cause the destruction of nations (Alma 37:21, 26, 29; Helm 2:13; Ether 8:21-22)

12.   Are most abominable in God’s sight. (3 Nephi 9:9; Ether 8:18)

13.   Righteousness is the only cure. (Hel. 6:37; 3 Nephi 5:4-6) The cure for secret combinations is our open combinations-missionary work.

14.   Seem to flourish during times of prosperity (Hel. 6:17; 11:10)

15.   Profess piety and religion (Ether 8:14)