For the Security of thy Descendents with the Descendents of My Son

If ye [Zoram, former servant of Laban] shall keep the commandments of the Lord, the Lord hath consecrated this land for the security of thy seed with the seed of my son (2 Nephi 1: 31).

 I've noticed this many times before but never offered myself enough time to contemplate the ramifications.  This promise is offered through divine appointment by the prophet Lehi.  Its substance is the same as the blessings promised to the descendents of each of Lehi's sons, contingent in each case upon the obedience of the individual son.

Is it odd that so many generations should be affected by the choices of these individual men?  The sons were Laman, Lemuel, Sam, Nephi, Jacob and Joseph (and the unnamed sons of their family-friend Ishmael).  Zoram was not a son but he nevertheless remained a loyal friend to this family as he participated in the deep sacrifices associated with their migration to America.

Perhaps these promises should be seen less as the effectual cause of the blessings foretold and more like a prophesy of the eventualities that would naturally stem from the choices being made.

The divide between those friendly and those not friendly to Nephi was deep.  It involved serious behavioral choices affecting the developing cultures of the peoples involved.  These blessings were a promise and a dire warning about the importance of their current choices, about their loyalty to Nephi and their willingness to obey the commandments of God.

Jesus' Grand Hometown Announcement

And Jesus returned in the power of the Spirit into Galilee: and there went out a fame of him through all the region round about.  And he taught in their synagogues, being glorified of all. (Luke 4: 14-15)

By way of review, let me comment that Jesus is here returning from his time of fasting in the wilderness.  He had gone into the wilderness to fast and to be with God.  While there, he also was met by Satan, of which we read in verses 1 through 13. 

And now, the experience passed, he returns with spiritual power.  He is ready to begin his formal adult ministry -- a ministry that will end with his crucifixion and resurrection.

Verse 15 mentions that Jesus taught in the people's synagogues.  I am left with the impression that in the course of his ministry up to this time, he had taught in many synagogues and had been well received.  As the story goes, however, he eventually travels through his home town of Nazareth and there receives a different kind of response. 

Let me quote the scriptures, and comment further as we go.

And he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up: and, as his custom was, he went into the synagogue on the sabbath day, and stood up for to read. 

Here reveals something about Jesus' pattern of preaching.  He had developed a custom of entering the local synagogue, wherever he was at the time, and standing up to read from the scriptures as part of the pattern of sabbath worship. 

I wonder, however, what did he do other days?  He must have preached in their streets, and in their homes, and in any place he could gain an ear to listen.

And there was delivered unto him the book of the prophet Esaias. And when he had opened the book, he found the place where it was written,

The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised,  To preach the acceptable year of the Lord.

And he closed the book, and he gave it again to the minister, and sat down. And the eyes of all them that were in the synagogue were fastened on him.  And he began to say unto them, This day is this scripture fulfilled in your ears.  (Luke 4: 16-21)

First, its interesting to see briefly into the pattern of worship in the Lord's day.  A minister, someone of authority who kept the scriptures and apparently directed the group's discussion, provided and then received the scriptures back from Jesus after his reading. 

After reading his text, Jesus actually sits down -- and all the people look at him anticipating some kind of commentary and explanation.  "Why did you read that Jesus?  What does it mean to us today?"

This scripture foretells the coming of the Messiah.  More specifically, it foretells the Messiah engaged in preaching the Gospel while simultaneously healing many kinds of spiritual and physical afflictions.

The people to whom Jesus spoke -- the congregation in his hometown synagogue in Nazareth -- were aware that Jesus had been preaching throughout Galilee.  They knew of the miracles he had performed in other communities. So, when Jesus reads the prophesy of Isaiah about the Messiah's ministry and states that today the prophecy is fulfilled in their hearing, they knew what he meant.

Jesus was saying unambiguously that he is the Messiah, that he is the one of which Isaiah prophesied so many years before.

In the Beginning Was the Word

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made. In him was life; and the life was the light of men (John 1: 1-4).

When I consider the person of Jesus, Jeshua, Emanuel, God With Us, I am moved to wonder and admiration. This man, this brother, this Savior, this final example whose life I seek to emulate, my small ways following his great ways. When I ponder my best friend, where he has been, what he has accomplished, what he continues to do for the family of his Father, my heart swells with gratitude that I ever knew him.

I do not marvel nor fall back in disbelief. I am humbled to know this truth for he is the light of men, my light, my life. He is a Man of Holiness walking a road that I am also meant to walk. "Come, follow me" he says.

He was in the beginning with God and indeed at the beginning of God's plans, there was Jesus, Jehovah, the great I Am. He was also a God -- the second member of the Godhead, which is the great presidency of the universe. He was (and is) the "Word of my power" as referred to by Elohim, the Eternal Father of us all.

As the Word of God's power Jesus created all things under the direction of his and our Father.

We will go down, for there is space there, and we will take of these materials, and we will make an earth whereon these may dwell.  And we will prove them herewith, to see if they will do all things whatsoever the Lord their God shall command them (Abraham 3: 24-25).

How is he the life and light of men (of all persons)? In the beginning, as God the Father made his plans, this Eldest Brother offered himself as the foreordained Savior of mankind.

And the Lord said: Whom shall I send? And one answered like unto the Son of Man: Here am I, send me (Abraham 3: 27)

He was thus anointed the Christ (in Greek) the Messiah (in Hebrew) the Anointed One (in English). It was the anticipation of his mortal life and atonement that even in those pre-mortal realms caused the morning stars and all the sons and daughters of God to shout for joy. We were among those sons and daughters.  We are the very same sons and daughters.

With his pre-mortal promise to offer himself as a sacrifice for sin and a balm for suffering, we took courage and by the word of our testimony (our faith in him) we overcame Lucifer, that once promising Son of the Morning, who sought to bring down the throne of God.

Jesus gave us life and light from the beginning because his atonement (though yet future), even then (before we were born) gave us the promise of the resurrection and of eternal life.  Moreover, his words and his example show us the path to attain every promise.

The light and life he gives is also evident in mortality.  It's not only something otherwordly.  The principles of the atonement, of his gospel, and of the lifestyle his teachings require combine to form the only sure foundation for freedom and prosperity in this world.

Unique Aspects of the Four Gospels

Biblical scholars have observed characteristics that are unique to each of the four testimonies of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. I hope to observe these myself as I study the new testament this year and for the rest of my life. The following is paraphrased from Lesson 1 of The Life and Teachings of Jesus & His Apostles.

The Testimony of Matthew contains a heavy emphasis on how Jesus' life fulfilled prophecies of the Old Testament.

Mark's writing is the most brief of the four and stresses the miracles of Jesus. Some believe that Mark associated closely with Peter during his ministry and see an influence from Peter's writings in Mark's book.

Luke portrays a particularly compassionate picture of the Savior. He emphasizes forgiveness and love with the message that sinners can find peace in Jesus.

John's testimony reveals a more intimate view of the Savior, emphasizing his relationships with other, including his relationship with God the Father. His emphasizes the divine in Christ with less details about specific events of Christ's ministry.

Where to Find the Personality of Christ

As we look to see the life and personality of the Master, we must include an investigation of the words, actions and personalities of his disciples. Much of Jesus' personal history has been either lost or possibly never written (at least not here on earth). But we can glimpse more of him by viewing the lives of men who knew him -- the ones who strove to emulate him as his disciples in the ministry of the early church.

I suggest that as we read, we watch for anything that sheds light upon the personality of each disciple, particular as it might reveal their virtues, love, compassion, strengths, etc. Then ask, did the disciple observe this trait in their Master? Did their experiences with him serve to magnify this virtue in themselves?

This will help in the endeavor. Coming to know Christ, however, will still require more.

"To learn of Christ necessitates the study of the scriptures and the testimonies of those who know him. We come to know him through prayer and the inspiration and revelation that God had has promised to those who keep his commandments." (Ezra Taft Benson, CR Oct 1972).

Furthermore:

"He that keepeth his commandments receiveth truth and light, until he is glorified in truth and knoweth all things." (Doctrine & Covenants 93: 28)

Promise and a Curse - American Liberty

For behold, this is a land which is choice above all other lands; wherefore he that doth possess it shall serve God or shall be swept off; for it is the everlasting decree of God. And it is not until the fulness of iniquity among the children of the land, that they are swept off.

And this cometh unto you, O ye Gentiles, that ye may know the decrees of God—that ye may repent, and not continue in your iniquities until the fulness come, that ye may not bring down the fulness of the wrath of God upon you as the inhabitants of the land have hitherto done.

Behold, this is a choice land, and whatsoever nation shall possess it shall be free from bondage, and from captivity, and from all other nations under heaven, if they will but serve the God of the land, who is Jesus Christ, who hath been manifested by the things which we have written.

Either 2: 8-12

Title Page of The Book of Mormon

THE
BOOK OF MORMON
AN ACCOUNT
WRITTEN BY
THE HAND OF MORMON
UPON PLATES
TAKEN FROM THE PLATES OF
NEPHI

Wherefore, it is an abridgment of the record of the people of Nephi, and also of the Lamanites—Written to the Lamanites, who are a remnant of the house of Israel; and also to Jew and Gentile—Written by way of commandment, and also by the spirit of prophecy and of revelation—Written and sealed up, and hid up unto the Lord, that they might not be destroyed—To come forth by the gift and power of God unto the interpretation thereof—Sealed by the hand of Moroni, and hid up unto the Lord, to come forth in due time by way of the Gentile—The interpretation thereof by the gift of God.

An abridgment taken from the Book of Ether also, which is a record of the people of Jared, who were scattered at the time the Lord confounded the language of the people, when they were building a tower to get to heaven—Which is to show unto the remnant of the House of Israel what great things the Lord hath done for their fathers; and that they may know the covenants of the Lord, that they are not cast off forever—And also to the convincing of the Jew and Gentile that Jesus is the Christ, the Eternal God, manifesting himself unto all nations—And now, if there are faults they are the mistakes of men; wherefore, condemn not the things of God, that ye may be found spotless at the judgment-seat of Christ.

TRANSLATED BY JOSEPH SMITH, Jun.

First English edition published in 1830

I feel the need to not leave anything out from the Title Page. It's a sacred record and to me there is something especially poignant about Moroni's title page. I assume that Moroni composed this page, and not Mormon, since it was Moroni's hand that sealed up the record unto the Lord. And at that time, his father Mormon was long since dead to mortality.

Although Moroni composed a large part of the Book - perhaps more than his Father Mormon -- yet he does not mention himself as author on the title page. This act of kindness and humility earns my respect. By reserving that space for Mormon's name alone, Moroni honored his father's lifetime of work preparing the word of God for future generations.

I suggested momentarily that Moroni's contribution may be even greater than his father Mormon's contribution; greater in the sense of the volume of words spent and the time period covered. How can this be? I believe it is.

Let's examine Moroni's literary works. First, he finished the record of his father, the Book of Mormon (not THE Book of Mormon). He also contributes his own book, the Book of Moroni.

Between those two books, we find the Book of Ether, which as the Title page indicates, is an abridgement taken from the Book of Ether and a record of the people of Jared. What the title page does not mention is that the Book of Ether included the Brother of Jared's record of the great vision he was shown on the mount while conversing with the pre-mortal Christ.

That unspeakable (literally) experience included seeing "all things" from the foundations of the world to the ends thereof. Written by the Brother of Jared in an unknown language, Moroni translated the record to his own language. It was then bound up as the "sealed" portion of the Book of Mormon plates. Joseph Smith, as far as we in the public know, never was commanded to translate that sealed portion, and so we wait.

As Joseph Smith described it, the sealed portion was much thicker than the portion he was commanded to translate. The part he translated and published is our present day Book of Mormon. Assuming the sealed part - the record of Jared's brother - was written on metal plates of the same thickness as the rest of the book, I must conclude that the volume of Moroni's contribution was greater than his father's. It also covered a far greater time-span -- the entire history of the earth at least.

Does it matter? Not in terms of honor given or respect earned. But it does remind me that the greater things were (and remain) "hid up" because of unbelief. It reminds me that these records are greater in terms of both wonder and volume.

The Book of Mormon we have contains the lesser things. It is the lesser part, given to both try and build our faith. According to Alma and also the Lord himself, if we as individuals do not repent and become worthy in Christ to receive the greater things, we will ultimately be condemned and the lesser things will be taken away.

Moreover, we are promised that the greater things are accessible to us and the Lord delights to honor those who love and serve him by revealing hidden things, even the greater mysteries of his works. That would include the sealed portion of the Book of Mormon.

Wherefore, it is an abridgment of the record of the people of Nephi, and also of the Lamanites

It is an abridgement of the record of the Nephites, I easily see how that is so. But how is it an abridgement of the record of the Lamanites? Does Moroni refer to the Lamanite history as recorded by the Nephites within their own records? Or are there other records that Mormon had access to? Records kept by someone among the Lamanite people?

—Written to the Lamanites, who are a remnant of the house of Israel; and also
to Jew and Gentile

Written to the Lamanites? Why don't the Nephite prophets write to their own people? We know the blood of the Nephite people are intermixed with the descendants of Laman and Lemuel. And there is the key! We tend to take these titles as a reference to the genetics, the blood, the genealogy. But these titles were political and cultural also.

The Nephite nation was destroyed. The Lamanitish nations and tribes lived on. Yes, there continues the blood of Nephi, Sam, Joseph, Jacob, etc. intermixed in that grand genealogy. But the nation, the culture, the history is Lamanite.

—Written to the Lamanites, who are a remnant of the house of Israel; and also to Jew and Gentile

And also to Jew and Gentile. Now there is a point for confusion. To whom does the prophet refer? Who is Jew? Who is Gentile? The terms mean different things depending on who is using them and in what context they are being used.

Jew clearly means those who are of Jerusalem, still awaiting the first coming of the Messiah all these years since his first coming -- and their posterity. But Lehi and his children were of that people,although separated and descended therefrom. So, they are of the Jews.

But the Nephite prophets choose primarily to draw distinction. And why not? They are separated. They have evolved in their language, their culture, their knowledge of the mysteries of God.

What about Gentile? Literally, the word means "the nations" and from the perspective of an Israelite, it means those who are not of the House of Israel. In The Book of Mormon especially, it came to mean a little bit more. This is from the Bible Dictionary:

The word Gentiles means the nations, and eventually came to be used to mean all those not of the house of Israel. It is first used in Genesis with reference to the descendants of Japheth (Gen. 10: 2-5).

As used throughout the scriptures it has a dual meaning, sometimes to designate peoples of non-Israelite lineage, and other times to designate nations that are without the gospel, even though there may be some Israelite blood therein. This latter usage is especially characteristic of the word as used in the Book of Mormon.

I suppose that Moroni's use of the term connotes multiple meanings. The record is written to those of the House of Israel and to those not - Jew and Gentile, as well as every other Israelite tribe's posterity. But it is also written to those who lack the fullness of the Gospel, regardless of their genealogy. And when used this way, the term Gentile may refer to nations that are full of the blood of Israel and yet stumbling without the light of the restoration.

My understanding, my belief is that we are now -- in 2009 -- within a period of history demarcated scripturally as the "fullness of the Gentiles." The first shall be last and the last shall be first. Peter first took the gospel to the Jews until the Lord commanded the church at last to go out into all the world and preach the gospel to the nations of the Gentiles.

In our day, the Gospel is born by the people of Joseph, primarily by Ephraim, first to the gentiles . And when the Gentiles have had their fill and have made their choice, then Joseph will at last take the restored gospel to the remnants of Israel, wherever they may be. During this period of preparation, while the Lord tries the Gentile nations, he is preparing the way for the fulfilment of his covenants with the Children of Israel.

When all has been prepared, and the Gentiles as a whole have rejected the restored gospel, then will the great shift take place. Then will be we observe the Children of Israel, in all their tribes, being restored to the knowledge of their fathers.

In this sense, the Gentiles are the nations of Europe and America -- and in America primarily North America. These are Christian nations, more or less, with great measures of the blood of Israel. They are Gentile because they have not accepted the restored Gospel. In this sense ALL nations are Gentile. And when they have had their fill, and made their choice, the Lord will draw his people Israel out from among them, gathering them home to the lands of their former inheritances.

Dallin H. Oaks, “The Evils of Gambling,” Ensign, Nov. 1972, 42

This topic comes up every once in a while. In the past, I was always willing to play a few games with cards. I put up with the low-key nagging from my conscience, telling myself that I would look up the topic one of these days -- and see what the prophets really have said. To me it was in the same category as drinking Coke or Pepsi. Sure, it's not so good for you but neither does it contradict church standards per se.

More recently, however, a new principle introduced itself to my thoughts on this question. It occurred to me that some people by virtue of genetics and personality are disposed to addictive gambling. My father may have been one of those and I believe it had hellish affects on our family.

As a child, I remember playing the roulette wheel at our neighborhood carnival. I knew nothing of gambling, probably didn't even realize that I was gambling. But I do remember how strangely pleasurable it was to put down a quarter or fifty cents and then hope my number came up on the wheel.

So, I ask, what if one or more of my children were to have this disposition? What if my son, who in many ways is like me, and probably like his grandfather, were to follow my example and play cards with his friends. How much closer would he then be to the temptation to gamble?

The use of "playing cards" obviously courts that temptation. It begs for that temptation. Especially if you ever play cards with or near others who do not hold a non-gambling conviction of their own.

It's not like the world is becoming a cleaner and more moral place. I would rather my children stay far away from these sinful life destroying addictive activities.

Here's what Elder Oaks had to say about it. I agree with him.

One type of gambling that has been vigorously criticized by our leaders is card playing. Cards may, of course, be played without playing for money, but the relationship between card playing and gambling is so close and the practice of card playing itself partakes of so many of the disadvantages of gambling that card playing has come under condemnation regardless of whether or not gambling is involved.

Elder Widtsoe criticized card playing on the grounds that it was habit forming and a waste of time. He declared:

It has been observed through centuries of experience that the habit of card playing becomes fixed upon a person and increases until he feels that a day without a game of cards is incomplete.

After an afternoon or evening at card-playing, nothing has been changed, no new knowledge, thoughts, or visions have come, no new hopes or aspirations have been generated, except for another opportunity to waste precious hours. It leads nowhere; it is a dead-end road. Dull and deadly is a life which does not seek to immerse itself in the rapidly moving stream of new and increasing knowledge and power. Time is required to keep up with the times. We dare not waste time on pastimes that starve the soul.

I guess that's all I have to say.