Well our peaceful message is simply this;
God wants to call prophets. Because he loves us, he wants us to know his son, Jesus Christ, and the atonement he has made for men so that we too may be healed and washed clean from our sins. God wants all to be partakers of eternal life with him in the kingdom of his father, which is also our father.Our message is that he does and that he did again in the final days before his return. The only true way to understand the will of the Lord is by knowing it through his prophets.
Even Isaiah has said,
"For all tables are full of vomit and filthiness, so that there is no place clean.
Whom shall he teach knowledge? and whom shall he make to understand doctrine? them that are weaned from the milk, and drawn from the breasts." - Isaiah 28:8-9
Vomit meaning "partially consumed word of God spewed out having been influenced by men's interpretation." Filthiness = (blushes) erm... well, yeah. (Poop) Digested food or digested word of God. Even excrement has SOME un-digested nutrients left in it. God's word with lost meaning or lost in translation. Who is up for Poop Soup? Apparently much of the world is.
Wouldn't you and I rather take our nourishment from Mother's breast?
Most Christians consider us [Mormons] as a lesser version of Christianity because they assume that our gospel looks different than the one the way they understand it. Mainstream Christians only understand the gospel based on the source in which they draw forth living waters. What we claim, as Latter-day Saints, is access to these living waters from the "Rock," or a pure stream of living water. Just as Moses smote the rock and water came out to replenish the children of Israel, modern prophets do this for us today. [Compare Numbers Chapter 20]
Our water definitely looks different than water that has traveled downstream, picking up sediments and other influences of the earth as it travels across the ground heading towards the oceans and seas... but how can one know whether we are "Main Spring" Christians or not? We don't just say, "Hey, we're LDS! Hear and believe our message." by means of "Scriptural or Doctrinal Knowledge"
We're not converted by spiritualism either...
The Lord has promised that we could know for assurance that we have living prophets today by testing the fruits of that prophet responsible for the restoration. One way to do so is to read the Book of Mormon and ask God if this work comes from him and then subsequently, had chosen Joseph to be a prophet.
Moroni, the last steward to the Book of Mormon therein gives us a promise;
3 Behold, I would exhort you that when ye shall read these things, if it be wisdom in God that ye should read them, that ye would remember how merciful the Lord hath been unto the children of men, from the creation of Adam even down until the time that ye shall receive these things, and ponder it in your hearts.
4 And when ye shall receive these things, I would exhort you that ye would ask God, the Eternal Father, in the name of Christ, if these things are not true; and if ye shall ask with a sincere heart, with real intent, having faith in Christ, he will manifest the truth of it unto you, by the power of the Holy Ghost.
5 And by the power of the Holy Ghost ye may know the truth of all things.
Moroni 10:3-5
The experiment has been set forth in the realm of human learning and in the laboratories of our minds. What most folks now have permission to do is simply discover for themselves. Men can ignore it altogether by whatever reason they can imagine; they can listen to the opinions of others and choose not to test these things out. They can also just be disaffected by the whole thing and never get around to it. But Christ has promised great blessings to those who become,
"As a little child..." For theirs is the kingdom of heaven and always has been. But none can say that the opportunity was not provided them who now live on the earth and come into contact with it.
The question on my mind is; Who will humble themselves enough to test these things out? Satan has been busy hardening hearts even since the days of Jesus when he speaks to his disciples saying,
"He hath blinded their eyes, and hardened their heart; that they should not see with their eyes, nor understand with their heart, and be converted, and I should heal them." John 12:40
My prayer for all men is that they soften their hearts to make the experiment, setting aside all previous opinions had by men about this book or the church that preaches from it.
If Einstein had conceded to the previous concepts written about the Universe; most of which, were made by Newton his hero, he might not ever have pushed through that barrier of understanding enough to test his theory of general relativity. In like manner, regardless of your previous understanding of things, I would exhort you, as Moroni did, that you test these things out for yourself.
My prayer is that you rely on God alone to know this "Marvelous work and a wonder" long prophesied by Isaiah should come about in our day. (Isaiah 29:11-14) That you may be the fruit harvested in the Lord's vineyard as well as a laborer in the vineyard, as the days of the Lord's return draw ever so close; even in the 11th hour does he call laborers to help lay up fruit against the season.
Josh Nelson
P.S. We believe we have a living prophet today just as God continued calling prophets after Moses. Joseph Smith was a modern day Moses for the contemporary gathering of Israel and in like manner, we have a prophet on the earth today. We have had modern day versions of Joshua, and Samuel and Isaiah and more. Thomas S. Monson is the current prophet and by him, we better understand the mission of Jesus Christ and how to be saved in the kingdom
Showing posts with label Church of Jesus Christ Latter Day Saints. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Church of Jesus Christ Latter Day Saints. Show all posts
Thursday, January 14, 2010
Tuesday, November 24, 2009
Our Articles of Faith
1 We believe in God, the Eternal Father, and in His Son, Jesus Christ, and in the Holy Ghost.
2 We believe that men will be punished for their own sins, and not for Adam’s transgression.
3 We believe that through the Atonement of Christ, all mankind may be saved, by obedience to the laws and ordinances of the Gospel.
4 We believe that the first principles and ordinances of the Gospel are: first, Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ; second, Repentance; third, Baptism by immersion for the remission of sins; fourth, Laying on of hands for the gift of the Holy Ghost.
5 We believe that a man must be called of God, by prophecy, and by the laying on of hands by those who are in authority, to preach the Gospel and administer in the ordinances thereof.
6 We believe in the same organization that existed in the Primitive Church, namely, apostles, prophets, pastors, teachers, evangelists, and so forth.
7 We believe in the gift of tongues, prophecy, revelation, visions, healing,interpretation of tongues, and so forth.
8 We believe the Bible to be the word of God as far as it is translated correctly; we also believe the Book of Mormon to be the word of God.
9 We believe all that God has revealed, all that He does now reveal, and we believe that He will yet reveal many great and important things pertaining to the Kingdom of God.
10 We believe in the literal gathering of Israel and in the restoration of the Ten Tribes; that Zion (the New Jerusalem) will be built upon the American continent; that Christ will reign personally upon the earth; and, that the earth will be renewed and receive its paradisiacal glory.
11 We claim the privilege of worshiping Almighty God according to the dictates of our own conscience, and allow all men the same privilege, let them worship how, where, or what they may.
12 We believe in being subject to kings, presidents, rulers, and magistrates, in obeying, honoring, and sustaining the law.
13 We believe in being honest, true, chaste,benevolent, virtuous, and in doing good to all men; indeed, we may say that we follow the admonition of Paul—We believe all things, we hope all things, we have endured many things, and hope to be able to endure all things. If there is anything virtuous, lovely, or of good report or praiseworthy, we seek after these things.
Joseph Smith
Los Artículos de Fe - versión escrita en español
1 Creemos en Dios, el Eterno Padre, y en su Hijo, Jesucristo, y en el Espíritu Santo.
2 Creemos que los hombres serán castigados por sus propios pecados, y no por la transgresión de Adán.
3 Creemos que a través de la expiación de Cristo, todo el género humano puede salvarse, mediante la obediencia a las leyes y ordenanzas del Evangelio.
4 Creemos que los primeros principios y ordenanzas del Evangelio son: primero, la fe en el Señor Jesucristo, en segundo lugar, el arrepentimiento, en tercer lugar, el bautismo por inmersión para la remisión de los pecados; cuarto, Imposición de manos para comunicar el don del Santo Ghost.
5 Creemos que el hombre debe ser llamado por Dios, por la profecía, y por la imposición de manos, por aquellos que tienen la autoridad para predicar el evangelio y administrar sus ordenanzas.
6 Creemos en la misma organización que existió en la Iglesia primitiva, es decir, apóstoles, profetas, pastores, maestros, evangelistas, etc.
7 Creemos en el don de lenguas, profecía, revelación, visiones, sanidades, interpretación de lenguas, y así sucesivamente.
8 Creemos que la Biblia es la palabra de Dios hasta donde esté traducida correctamente, también creemos que el Libro de Mormón es la palabra de Dios.
9 Creemos todo lo que Dios ha revelado, todo lo que actualmente revela, y creemos que aún revelará muchos grandes e importantes asuntos pertenecientes al reino de Dios.
10 Creemos en la congregación literal de Israel y en la restauración de las Diez Tribus, que Sión (la Nueva Jerusalén) será edificada sobre el continente americano, que Cristo reinará personalmente sobre la tierra, y que la tierra será renovada y recibirá su gloria paradisíaca.
11 Reclamamos el derecho de adorar a Dios Todopoderoso conforme a los dictados de nuestra conciencia, y permitir que todos los hombres el mismo privilegio: que adoren cómo, dónde o lo que deseen.
12 Creemos en estar sujetos a los reyes, presidentes, gobernantes y magistrados, en obedecer, honrar y sostener la ley.
13 Creemos en ser honrados, verídicos, castos, benevolentes, virtuosos y en hacer el bien a todos los hombres, de hecho, podemos decir que seguimos la admonición de Pablo-Creemos que todas las cosas, esperamos que todas las cosas, hemos soportado muchas las cosas, y espero ser capaz de soportar todas las cosas. Si hay algo virtuoso, o bello, o de buena reputación, o digno de alabanza, buscamos después de estas cosas.
Joseph Smith
http://scriptures.lds.org/en/a_of_f/1
2 We believe that men will be punished for their own sins, and not for Adam’s transgression.
3 We believe that through the Atonement of Christ, all mankind may be saved, by obedience to the laws and ordinances of the Gospel.
4 We believe that the first principles and ordinances of the Gospel are: first, Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ; second, Repentance; third, Baptism by immersion for the remission of sins; fourth, Laying on of hands for the gift of the Holy Ghost.
5 We believe that a man must be called of God, by prophecy, and by the laying on of hands by those who are in authority, to preach the Gospel and administer in the ordinances thereof.
6 We believe in the same organization that existed in the Primitive Church, namely, apostles, prophets, pastors, teachers, evangelists, and so forth.
7 We believe in the gift of tongues, prophecy, revelation, visions, healing,interpretation of tongues, and so forth.
8 We believe the Bible to be the word of God as far as it is translated correctly; we also believe the Book of Mormon to be the word of God.
9 We believe all that God has revealed, all that He does now reveal, and we believe that He will yet reveal many great and important things pertaining to the Kingdom of God.
10 We believe in the literal gathering of Israel and in the restoration of the Ten Tribes; that Zion (the New Jerusalem) will be built upon the American continent; that Christ will reign personally upon the earth; and, that the earth will be renewed and receive its paradisiacal glory.
11 We claim the privilege of worshiping Almighty God according to the dictates of our own conscience, and allow all men the same privilege, let them worship how, where, or what they may.
12 We believe in being subject to kings, presidents, rulers, and magistrates, in obeying, honoring, and sustaining the law.
13 We believe in being honest, true, chaste,benevolent, virtuous, and in doing good to all men; indeed, we may say that we follow the admonition of Paul—We believe all things, we hope all things, we have endured many things, and hope to be able to endure all things. If there is anything virtuous, lovely, or of good report or praiseworthy, we seek after these things.
Joseph Smith
Los Artículos de Fe - versión escrita en español
1 Creemos en Dios, el Eterno Padre, y en su Hijo, Jesucristo, y en el Espíritu Santo.
2 Creemos que los hombres serán castigados por sus propios pecados, y no por la transgresión de Adán.
3 Creemos que a través de la expiación de Cristo, todo el género humano puede salvarse, mediante la obediencia a las leyes y ordenanzas del Evangelio.
4 Creemos que los primeros principios y ordenanzas del Evangelio son: primero, la fe en el Señor Jesucristo, en segundo lugar, el arrepentimiento, en tercer lugar, el bautismo por inmersión para la remisión de los pecados; cuarto, Imposición de manos para comunicar el don del Santo Ghost.
5 Creemos que el hombre debe ser llamado por Dios, por la profecía, y por la imposición de manos, por aquellos que tienen la autoridad para predicar el evangelio y administrar sus ordenanzas.
6 Creemos en la misma organización que existió en la Iglesia primitiva, es decir, apóstoles, profetas, pastores, maestros, evangelistas, etc.
7 Creemos en el don de lenguas, profecía, revelación, visiones, sanidades, interpretación de lenguas, y así sucesivamente.
8 Creemos que la Biblia es la palabra de Dios hasta donde esté traducida correctamente, también creemos que el Libro de Mormón es la palabra de Dios.
9 Creemos todo lo que Dios ha revelado, todo lo que actualmente revela, y creemos que aún revelará muchos grandes e importantes asuntos pertenecientes al reino de Dios.
10 Creemos en la congregación literal de Israel y en la restauración de las Diez Tribus, que Sión (la Nueva Jerusalén) será edificada sobre el continente americano, que Cristo reinará personalmente sobre la tierra, y que la tierra será renovada y recibirá su gloria paradisíaca.
11 Reclamamos el derecho de adorar a Dios Todopoderoso conforme a los dictados de nuestra conciencia, y permitir que todos los hombres el mismo privilegio: que adoren cómo, dónde o lo que deseen.
12 Creemos en estar sujetos a los reyes, presidentes, gobernantes y magistrados, en obedecer, honrar y sostener la ley.
13 Creemos en ser honrados, verídicos, castos, benevolentes, virtuosos y en hacer el bien a todos los hombres, de hecho, podemos decir que seguimos la admonición de Pablo-Creemos que todas las cosas, esperamos que todas las cosas, hemos soportado muchas las cosas, y espero ser capaz de soportar todas las cosas. Si hay algo virtuoso, o bello, o de buena reputación, o digno de alabanza, buscamos después de estas cosas.
Joseph Smith
http://scriptures.lds.org/en/a_of_f/1
Wednesday, October 28, 2009
Trick of Treat - How the world views the Book of Mormon for Good or for Evil
While most people fit into one of these two categories, it's safe to say there isn't only "TWO" types of people but for the sake of this article, let's assume that there are either people "for" or "against" God revealing the works of his people from any dispensation. These two groups can be summed up in "One of Two ways"
The Book of Mormon is a trick!
A fiendishly clever counterfeit that poses as the word of God.
or
The Book of Mormon is a treat!
An example of the Love our father in heaven has for all of his children.
I am here to declare that it is an ABSOLUTE treat and that it declares unto the world that Jesus Is The Christ.
I have noticed in my dealings with any and all of my fellow man, that this question nearly comes up all the time.
Why do you even want this "Book of Mormon" when the bible is enough?
It comes up either in acute curiosity or sometimes with foul language from those that mis-understand the goodness of God and his gifts.
One You Tuber once said, "Book of Mormon, WHAT A LOAD OF "censored", how can Mormons claims to be Christians when they follow such inconcievable "censored"? Even Jehovahs Witnesses and Catholics follow Bible alone..."
They almost mean to ask us, "Why can't you be happy enough with the Bible?"
Its not all about that. Even if Joseph Smith only translated one sentence of the "Book of Mormon" and for sake of humor, lets say it was this one:
"My father Lehi dwelt in a tent" (which is an actual verse in Nephi)
And if Joseph translated one verse and Joseph Smith passes away in middle of the night and the Lord decided to go ahead and make Oliver Cowdry in the contemporary prophet, Joseph Smith would have still been responsible for helping to bring forth the Book of Mormon.
By Joseph Smith becoming a prophet, it was useful in the reopening the communication channel between God and Man and that is a very important thing! For many purposes that could take up volumes of time and giga-bytes of space here on Blogger, I'll stick to the topic at hand: Trick or Treat?
Perhaps its not all their fault for being skeptical of the Book of Mormon.
After all, it is an idea so foreign to their understanding, that some can't help but look at it with a doubtful eye.
They are not taught by their seminaries or their pastors or their teachers that God goes about his work "causing all people to write the things of God" to later become a testimony and a witness that he is God... but the Book of Mormon isn't about just ANY group of people.
It would be "easier" on the world if it were a trick then the cunning and craftiness of Man could continue interpreting the scriptures how they pleased, mankind would continue to try and "secularize" the words of God, following ONLY those things they consider more important and ignoring many of the "Plain and Precious" things which entails the Gospel of Jesus Christ. The Book of Mormon helps to condemn such foolishness of men.
It can be so easily missed by the learned and by those who "draw near unto him with their lips only" because to "TRULY KNOW" the savior, one must have that personal relationship with him. Believe Christ and not just "Believe in him." Even the Jew and the Muslim believes in him and calls him a "Great Prophet" and an "ICON worthy of mention." What separates True Christians from Johnny Christians is the simple fact that "real followers of Jesus actually follow him and are doers of the word" and "knowers of the word are content with being experts on the words of Christ"
The purpose of the Book of Mormon is to "Testify of Christ and his divinity" and any true believer in Christ would have to agree that Jesus Christ is divine! They feast upon the words of Christ that teach man all things that they must do for salvation!
(2 Ne. 32: 3)
What is this Book of Mormon anyhow?
"It is a record of God’s dealings with the ancient inhabitants of the Americas and contains, as does the Bible, the fulness of the everlasting gospel." ...
"The book was written by many ancient prophets by the spirit of prophecy and revelation. Their words, written on gold plates, were quoted and abridged by a prophet-historian named Mormon. The record gives an account of two great civilizations. One came from Jerusalem in 600 B.C., and afterward separated into two nations, known as the Nephites and the Lamanites. The other came much earlier when the Lord confounded the tongues at the Tower of Babel. This group is known as the Jaredites. After thousands of years, all were destroyed except the Lamanites, and they are among the ancestors of the American Indians. "
Introduction to "The Book Of Mormon"
But who were these "Nephites and Lamanites?" The bible doesn't mention them?
The Old Testament doesn't mention them by name but there are hints regarding this people and that of many others who the Lord has said would be among "The Isles of the Sea" as quoted by Isaiah. (See Isaiah 23: 2; 24:15; 42: 10)
The family of Lehi, and primarily Nephi, spoke of themselves as being part of this extended branch of the house of Israel and mentions several times that they are this people whom Isaiah had mentioned.
(1 Ne. 19: 10, 12, 16; 21: 8; 22: 4; 2 Ne. 10: 8, 20-21; 2 Ne. 29: 7)
2 Nephi Chapter 3: Verse 4
4 For behold, thou art the fruit of my loins; and I am a descendant of Joseph who was carried captive into Egypt. And great were the covenants of the Lord which he made unto Joseph.
So this people, being descendants of the House of Israel, also wrote of their prophesies and of their faithfulness to God while living upon the Promised Land or as many of us now know this land today as, "The American Continent" (primarily in Central America.)
Furthermore, the Old Testament dates back to as late of around 600 B.C. which was right along the time that the family of Lehi disappeared from the history of the Holy Land. (Perhaps if the Nephites had made a sea voyage back to Palestine at around 33 A.D. and handed over some of their scripture to Peter and his apostles, that 600 year gap could have been filled and it would have been included in most Christian churches and considered canonized but this is not what had been prophesied of Nephi should be the fate of the record of which they were creating.
Like Isaiah, who knew of the scattering and migration of many of the House of Israel, the Lord showed unto him the coming forth of a new record and called it
"The Stick of Joseph" or the "Record that would proceed forth from the seed of Joseph" and one day would become reunited with the "Stick of Judah" or the "Record of the Jews" at some future date.
¶ The word of the Lord came again unto me, saying,
16 Moreover, thou son of man, take thee one stick, and write upon it, For Judah, and for the children of Israel his companions: then take another stick, and write upon it, For Joseph, the stick of Ephraim, and for all the house of Israel his companions:
17 And join them one to another into one stick; and they shall become one in thine hand. Ezekiel 37:15-17
There is "no record" of any writings of Joseph that exist in the Bible so one must acknowledge that this record should come forth from "The Seed of Joseph" in order to fulfill the prophesy of Ezekiel and be made known unto the remnants of the house of Israel at some future time. All words of the Lord shall come to pass and shall all be fulfilled and there is nothing that the Lord speaks through mouth of his holy prophets that shall not come to pass.
It is with a joyous heart that we as members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints have this record and it stands as a witness of Jesus Christ and that he speaks to all that are of the House of Israel as he did in the Holy Land, as he did unto the seed of Joseph, who occupied the Isles of the Sea, and he will yet reveal records which have not yet been uncovered that belong to the Lost tribes of Israel who were also commanded to write these things.
Nephi recognized that the records which he kept would aid to the convincing of the Jew and Gentile that Jesus is the Christ and that there would be more to come!!!
"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. 2 Ne. 29: 13
The Book of Mormon is this truly a "treat" and not the "trick" that it is so ignorantly referred to as from time to time.
It's purpose is to primarily convince the Jews and the Gentiles that Jesus is the Christ. By the hand of Mormon as it is written on the "Title Page" we learn that:
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
Many Christians know that the Jews are of the seed of Abraham and part of the Abrahamic Covenant which still stands today. God will bless all nations and kindreds of the earth through the "Abrahamic Covenant." This "lost tribe" of Israel is no more lost to the world and we now have their record.
There are many who believe in Christ but so few actually "believe him."
I echo the words of my heroes of the Book of Mormon.
Like unto Nephi, Ether, Benjamin, Mosiah, Alma the Elder, Alma the Younger, Ammon, Helaman, Mormon and Moroni that these are the words of Christ. As part of my testimony, I add the words of "Nephi" when he wrote:
And if they are not the words of Christ, judge ye—for Christ will show unto you, with power and great glory, that they are his words, at the last day; and you and I shall stand face to face before his bar; and ye shall know that I have been commanded of him to write these things, notwithstanding my weakness. 2 Nephi 33:11
I too will stand along side these men (who have since centuries passed away) at that great bar and testify that these things are true. For I used their words and through their testimonies, helped many to "Come unto Christ" through the precious truths that they wrote.
I know with no shade of any degree that this work is directed of the Lord of Hosts Those who have faith in Christ, and have ears to hear, shall recognize his voice when he calls for them. I truly know our lord and savior and know them to be his words. I know that we have a prophet of God on the earth today and his name is "Thomas S. Monson" and that he stands as a special witness of Jesus Christ for our day. God has restored the fullness of the Gospel on the earth and the work to "Bring to Pass the Immortality and Eternal Life of Man" is being directed by his prophet and apostles alive on the Earth today in his holy name I declare these things, even in the name of the resurrected Savior Jesus Christ, Amen.
The Book of Mormon is a trick!
A fiendishly clever counterfeit that poses as the word of God.
or
The Book of Mormon is a treat!
An example of the Love our father in heaven has for all of his children.
I am here to declare that it is an ABSOLUTE treat and that it declares unto the world that Jesus Is The Christ.
I have noticed in my dealings with any and all of my fellow man, that this question nearly comes up all the time.
Why do you even want this "Book of Mormon" when the bible is enough?
It comes up either in acute curiosity or sometimes with foul language from those that mis-understand the goodness of God and his gifts.
One You Tuber once said, "Book of Mormon, WHAT A LOAD OF "censored", how can Mormons claims to be Christians when they follow such inconcievable "censored"? Even Jehovahs Witnesses and Catholics follow Bible alone..."
They almost mean to ask us, "Why can't you be happy enough with the Bible?"
Its not all about that. Even if Joseph Smith only translated one sentence of the "Book of Mormon" and for sake of humor, lets say it was this one:
"My father Lehi dwelt in a tent" (which is an actual verse in Nephi)
And if Joseph translated one verse and Joseph Smith passes away in middle of the night and the Lord decided to go ahead and make Oliver Cowdry in the contemporary prophet, Joseph Smith would have still been responsible for helping to bring forth the Book of Mormon.
By Joseph Smith becoming a prophet, it was useful in the reopening the communication channel between God and Man and that is a very important thing! For many purposes that could take up volumes of time and giga-bytes of space here on Blogger, I'll stick to the topic at hand: Trick or Treat?
Perhaps its not all their fault for being skeptical of the Book of Mormon.
After all, it is an idea so foreign to their understanding, that some can't help but look at it with a doubtful eye.
They are not taught by their seminaries or their pastors or their teachers that God goes about his work "causing all people to write the things of God" to later become a testimony and a witness that he is God... but the Book of Mormon isn't about just ANY group of people.
It would be "easier" on the world if it were a trick then the cunning and craftiness of Man could continue interpreting the scriptures how they pleased, mankind would continue to try and "secularize" the words of God, following ONLY those things they consider more important and ignoring many of the "Plain and Precious" things which entails the Gospel of Jesus Christ. The Book of Mormon helps to condemn such foolishness of men.
It can be so easily missed by the learned and by those who "draw near unto him with their lips only" because to "TRULY KNOW" the savior, one must have that personal relationship with him. Believe Christ and not just "Believe in him." Even the Jew and the Muslim believes in him and calls him a "Great Prophet" and an "ICON worthy of mention." What separates True Christians from Johnny Christians is the simple fact that "real followers of Jesus actually follow him and are doers of the word" and "knowers of the word are content with being experts on the words of Christ"
The purpose of the Book of Mormon is to "Testify of Christ and his divinity" and any true believer in Christ would have to agree that Jesus Christ is divine! They feast upon the words of Christ that teach man all things that they must do for salvation!
(2 Ne. 32: 3)
What is this Book of Mormon anyhow?
"It is a record of God’s dealings with the ancient inhabitants of the Americas and contains, as does the Bible, the fulness of the everlasting gospel." ...
"The book was written by many ancient prophets by the spirit of prophecy and revelation. Their words, written on gold plates, were quoted and abridged by a prophet-historian named Mormon. The record gives an account of two great civilizations. One came from Jerusalem in 600 B.C., and afterward separated into two nations, known as the Nephites and the Lamanites. The other came much earlier when the Lord confounded the tongues at the Tower of Babel. This group is known as the Jaredites. After thousands of years, all were destroyed except the Lamanites, and they are among the ancestors of the American Indians. "
Introduction to "The Book Of Mormon"
But who were these "Nephites and Lamanites?" The bible doesn't mention them?
The Old Testament doesn't mention them by name but there are hints regarding this people and that of many others who the Lord has said would be among "The Isles of the Sea" as quoted by Isaiah. (See Isaiah 23: 2; 24:15; 42: 10)
The family of Lehi, and primarily Nephi, spoke of themselves as being part of this extended branch of the house of Israel and mentions several times that they are this people whom Isaiah had mentioned.
(1 Ne. 19: 10, 12, 16; 21: 8; 22: 4; 2 Ne. 10: 8, 20-21; 2 Ne. 29: 7)
2 Nephi Chapter 3: Verse 4
4 For behold, thou art the fruit of my loins; and I am a descendant of Joseph who was carried captive into Egypt. And great were the covenants of the Lord which he made unto Joseph.
So this people, being descendants of the House of Israel, also wrote of their prophesies and of their faithfulness to God while living upon the Promised Land or as many of us now know this land today as, "The American Continent" (primarily in Central America.)
Furthermore, the Old Testament dates back to as late of around 600 B.C. which was right along the time that the family of Lehi disappeared from the history of the Holy Land. (Perhaps if the Nephites had made a sea voyage back to Palestine at around 33 A.D. and handed over some of their scripture to Peter and his apostles, that 600 year gap could have been filled and it would have been included in most Christian churches and considered canonized but this is not what had been prophesied of Nephi should be the fate of the record of which they were creating.
Like Isaiah, who knew of the scattering and migration of many of the House of Israel, the Lord showed unto him the coming forth of a new record and called it
"The Stick of Joseph" or the "Record that would proceed forth from the seed of Joseph" and one day would become reunited with the "Stick of Judah" or the "Record of the Jews" at some future date.
¶ The word of the Lord came again unto me, saying,
16 Moreover, thou son of man, take thee one stick, and write upon it, For Judah, and for the children of Israel his companions: then take another stick, and write upon it, For Joseph, the stick of Ephraim, and for all the house of Israel his companions:
17 And join them one to another into one stick; and they shall become one in thine hand. Ezekiel 37:15-17
There is "no record" of any writings of Joseph that exist in the Bible so one must acknowledge that this record should come forth from "The Seed of Joseph" in order to fulfill the prophesy of Ezekiel and be made known unto the remnants of the house of Israel at some future time. All words of the Lord shall come to pass and shall all be fulfilled and there is nothing that the Lord speaks through mouth of his holy prophets that shall not come to pass.
It is with a joyous heart that we as members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints have this record and it stands as a witness of Jesus Christ and that he speaks to all that are of the House of Israel as he did in the Holy Land, as he did unto the seed of Joseph, who occupied the Isles of the Sea, and he will yet reveal records which have not yet been uncovered that belong to the Lost tribes of Israel who were also commanded to write these things.
Nephi recognized that the records which he kept would aid to the convincing of the Jew and Gentile that Jesus is the Christ and that there would be more to come!!!
"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. 2 Ne. 29: 13
The Book of Mormon is this truly a "treat" and not the "trick" that it is so ignorantly referred to as from time to time.
It's purpose is to primarily convince the Jews and the Gentiles that Jesus is the Christ. By the hand of Mormon as it is written on the "Title Page" we learn that:
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
Many Christians know that the Jews are of the seed of Abraham and part of the Abrahamic Covenant which still stands today. God will bless all nations and kindreds of the earth through the "Abrahamic Covenant." This "lost tribe" of Israel is no more lost to the world and we now have their record.
There are many who believe in Christ but so few actually "believe him."
I echo the words of my heroes of the Book of Mormon.
Like unto Nephi, Ether, Benjamin, Mosiah, Alma the Elder, Alma the Younger, Ammon, Helaman, Mormon and Moroni that these are the words of Christ. As part of my testimony, I add the words of "Nephi" when he wrote:
And if they are not the words of Christ, judge ye—for Christ will show unto you, with power and great glory, that they are his words, at the last day; and you and I shall stand face to face before his bar; and ye shall know that I have been commanded of him to write these things, notwithstanding my weakness. 2 Nephi 33:11
I too will stand along side these men (who have since centuries passed away) at that great bar and testify that these things are true. For I used their words and through their testimonies, helped many to "Come unto Christ" through the precious truths that they wrote.
I know with no shade of any degree that this work is directed of the Lord of Hosts Those who have faith in Christ, and have ears to hear, shall recognize his voice when he calls for them. I truly know our lord and savior and know them to be his words. I know that we have a prophet of God on the earth today and his name is "Thomas S. Monson" and that he stands as a special witness of Jesus Christ for our day. God has restored the fullness of the Gospel on the earth and the work to "Bring to Pass the Immortality and Eternal Life of Man" is being directed by his prophet and apostles alive on the Earth today in his holy name I declare these things, even in the name of the resurrected Savior Jesus Christ, Amen.
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