Commentary On The Book of Mormon, Bible and More

Repentance Means Being Real About Yourself

2011-02-05T04:42:00.000-08:00

I am reading about the story of Nephi and his brothers and their differences in being contrite. I am also reading about Lehigh's wife and her feelings of sorrow as she thinks that she has lost her sons because of Lehigh's commandment to them to go back to Jerusalem. She murmured. After the return of their sons, the wife of Lehi repented of her murmurings. Being angry is not being humble. It is not being repentant.

I believe that God has commanded us to repent. He wants us to be awake. He wants us to be conscious of our being. When he commands us to repent I believe that he is commanding us to be aware of our Celts. I believe that he desires that we own ourselves completely. We own both the choices we make of righteousness and the choices we make of sin. Having a broken heart and contrite spirit is, I believe, the epitome of what God desires of us when he commands us to repent.

When God pointed out the Pharisees in his time he was quick to distinguish the righteousness the Pharisees from the righteousness of heaven. He pointed out that the reward of the Pharisee was the feeling of being perceived as a good or righteous. Truly being righteous was not a priority of the Pharisees. Being perceived as righteous was the priority. A person who prefers being seen as righteous does not know God, fears man or flesh, and is not perfect.

God tires of worship that is not real. In the Old Testament he mentions about the fact that he was filled with the offerings of sin and the burnt offerings that were being given by the people of Israel. The spirit of the people of Israel is what God was feeling. God perceived that the spirit of the people was not in the right place. They were going to the actions of performing the sacrifice their hearts were not in it.

I wonder to what extent these issues apply to us today. How many of us are mean like the people of Israel performing sacrifices instead of bringing a broken heart and contrite spirit with us in our life. I wonder how many of us are Pharisees who seek out the honors of men. I have gone to leave that these people are here with us now. And I have got to believe that I am guilty of similar ways and being. So if I live in denial that I truly am not repentant and I really do not bring a broken heart and contrite spirit. And if I care to be thought well of Barb to be perceived as righteous by others, my intent his vein, and I do not belong to God.

Praying in behalf of his People

2011-02-03T02:45:00.000-08:00

I am inspired by the love that Lehi feels for his people. What love does one have for another when he or she prays in behalf of them? Being concerned for their welfare. Caring for their spiritual being and their conduct.

I feel this for my family, and I feel this for my neighbors in general. I really love seeing the love that is exhibited in one person for another group of people. I imagine someone kneeling there and earnestly praying. Having charity is what is being manifested I believe. The pure love of Christ.

I am reminded of references in the Scriptures that indicate that teachers and representatives of God who are to teach the principles of the gospel carry the responsibility of and accountability of the sins of their people. There is a balance of knowledge and ignorance of sin. But sin is knowing to do well and doing it not. So the people who sin are live in sin know to do well. So what is the reason for the accountability of the teacher?

If the people already know that they are sending the narrowly know what is right and wrong. So what is the role of the accountable teacher? Him that the acknowledgment of one individual of the sin in another has some value. In this case it is the acknowledgment of one individual the prophet of the sin of another individual or individuals. I am reminded of the references to ridding oneself of the blood of the sins of people.this accountability is met with declaring the sins of the people acknowledging them and then declaring repentance which is alignment with what is right.

This alignment is offered by Jesus through his atonement. The imbalance in the universe that is caused by our sin is compensated for by his atonement.

I wonder who I am the teacher of. I wonder if I am the teacher of anyone whose blood of their sins are on my garments. I know that the blood of my sins are on my garments but is there blood on my garments of the sins of others?

Do I "choose in" to this accountability for the spiritual welfare of others? Or is this accountability given to me by God? In any case I know that I must be prepared now for either of these choices to be made either mine or God's.

Was Laban the High Priest?

2011-02-01T04:53:00.001-08:00

I have often thought that Laban whom Nephi killed was a political figure, but I have recently wondered if he was actually a church figure - possibly the High Priest.

Some of the reasons I suspect this is. He was responsible for the church records (Brass Plates). There is a reference to the "brethren of the Church" and the "elders of the Jews" with whom he met.

I wonder if he knew Lehi, and I wonder if he was one of those who had sought to kill Lehi when Lehi prophesied of the destruction of Jerusalem.

If he was the High Priest, then he would have been similar to those who sought to kill Jesus some 600 years later.

Jesus is the Christ, the Eternal God

2011-01-31T03:47:00.000-08:00

http://lds.org/scriptures/bofm/bofm-title?lang=eng

Notice that Moroni, the author of the title page to the Book of Mormon refers to Jesus Christ as the Eternal God. I prefer this over the popular reference of Jesus Christ as the eldest spiritual brother. I actually refute those references because they override God's (Jesus Christ's) role as the father of all our brothers and sisters who are spiritually begotten (born again) to Jesus who becomes our spiritual father. Jesus is, therefore, actually my spirit father...not my spirit brother.

Glory of God is Intelligence which is Light and Truth

2007-12-27T07:24:00.000-08:00

http://scriptures.lds.org/en/dc/93/43-44#43
THEDOCTRINE AND COVENANTSOF THE CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST OF LATTER-DAY SAINTS
SECTION 93
36 The aglory of God is bintelligence, or, in other words, clight and truth.

37 Light and truth forsake that aevil one.

38 Every aspirit of man was binnocent in the beginning; and God having credeemed man from the dfall, men became again, in their infant state, einnocent before God.

39 And that awicked one cometh and btaketh away light and truth, through cdisobedience, from the children of men, and because of the dtradition of their fathers.

40 But I have commanded you to bring up your achildren in blight and truth.

41 But verily I say unto you, my servant Frederick G. Williams, you have continued under this condemnation;

42 You have not ataught your children light and truth, according to the commandments; and that wicked one hath power, as yet, over you, and this is the cause of your baffliction.

43 And now a commandment I give unto you—if you will be delivered you shall set in aorder your own house, for there are many things that are not right in your house.

44 Verily, I say unto my servant Sidney Rigdon, that in some things he hath not kept the commandments concerning his children; therefore, first set in order thy house.

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Having an eye single to the glory of God means that if the glory of God is intelligence and light and truth, then I must be committed to intelligence, to light and truth, and to teaching that to my children. It is obvious that the Lord holds the father responsible for the teaching of light and truth to the children. How I will do this is by studying the scriptures every evening with them and praying and fasting with them. They only have me, and God only has me.

Ask, Knock and Have an Eye Single to the Glory of God

2007-12-26T04:57:00.000-08:00

THEDOCTRINE AND COVENANTSOF THE CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST OF LATTER-DAY SAINTS
SECTION 88
62 And again, verily I say unto you, my afriends, I leave these bsayings with you to cponder in your hearts, with this commandment which I give unto you, that ye shall dcall upon me while I am near—

63 aDraw bnear unto me and I will draw near unto you; cseek me diligently and ye shall dfind me; ask, and ye shall receive; knock, and it shall be opened unto you.

64 Whatsoever ye aask the Father in my name it shall be given unto you, that is bexpedient for you;

65 And if ye ask anything that is not aexpedient for you, it shall turn unto your bcondemnation.

66 Behold, that which you hear is as the avoice of one crying in the wilderness—in the wilderness, because you cannot see him—my voice, because my voice is bSpirit; my Spirit is truth; ctruth abideth and hath no end; and if it be in you it shall abound.

67 And if your eye be asingle to my bglory, your whole bodies shall be filled with light, and there shall be no darkness in you; and that body which is filled with light ccomprehendeth all things.

68 Therefore, asanctify yourselves that your bminds become csingle to God, and the days will come that you shall dsee him; for he will unveil his face unto you, and it shall be in his own time, and in his own way, and according to his own will.

My Comments:
Having an eye single to His glory will cause that my whole body shall be filled with light... having no darkness in me. This will also enable me to See Him which is my only goal in this life. Obtaining the gift of Charity is next to that.

Isn't that interesting that the God of this earth would want for me to have an eye single to His glory? The "world" (Dr. Wayne D. Dwyer for example) would NOT teach that about the God of the universe. The world would not teach that this God would COMMAND his children to LOVE HIM... and yet He does command them to love Him. He does command them to have an eye SINGLE TO HIS GLORY.

What does it mean to have an eye single to His glory? To have no other ambition but to glorify God.

D&C 4: 5

5 And afaith, bhope, ccharity and dlove, with an eeye single to the fglory of God, gqualify him for the work.

This is the qualifier for ALL actions to make them acceptable to God... to have God's approval. If all I do every day is done with an eye single to the glory of God, what might happen differently? If I create a home "with an eye single to the glory of God"... If I raise my children "with an eye single to the glory of God"... If I act as husband "with an eye single to the glory of God"... If I build a business "with an eye single to the glory of God"... If I work in my service roles "with an eye single to the glory of God"... If I work at my job "with an eye single to the glory of God"... If I interact with my children "with an eye single to the glory of God"... If I do my job at work "with an eye single to the glory of God"... If I gained knowledge "with an eye single to the glory of God"...If I interpret my burdens "with an eye single to the glory of God"... HOW WOULD MY LIFE BE DIFFERENT THEN?

2007-12-24T07:14:00.000-08:00

http://scriptures.lds.org/en/dc/45

THE DOCTRINE AND COVENANTS OF THE CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST OF LATTER-DAY SAINTS
SECTION 45
26 And in athat day shall be heard of bwars and rumors of wars, and the whole earth shall be in commotion, and men’s hearts shall cfail them, and they shall say that Christ ddelayeth his coming until the end of the earth.

27 And the alove of men shall wax cold, and biniquity shall abound.

28 And when the times of the aGentiles is come in, a blight shall break forth among them that sit in darkness, and it shall be the fulness of my cgospel;

29 But they areceive it not; for they perceive not the light, and they turn their bhearts from me because of the cprecepts of men.

30 And in that generation shall the atimes of the Gentiles be fulfilled.

My comments:
We are in the "times of the Gentiles." Jesus reestablished His Gospel in this, the fullness of times. Joseph Smith has received the revelations from Jesus and from the other messengers sent from His presence to restore the truth and the authority to the earth. How do I know? How can you know? Only by the revelation of the Holy Spirit. It is the Spirit's purpose to testify of truth and to testify of the Son. By prayer, pondering, faith and fasting, one can come to know of the truthfulness of all things.

Scattering and Restoration

2004-11-09T04:32:00.000-08:00

1 Nephi
7 7 And it meaneth that the time cometh that after all the house of Israel have been scattered and confounded, that the Lord God will raise up a mighty nation among the aGentiles•, yea, even upon the face of this land; and by them shall our seed be bscattered•.
8 8 And after our seed is scattered the Lord God will proceed to do a amarvelous• work among the bGentiles•, which shall be of great cworth• unto our seed; wherefore, it is likened unto their being nourished by the dGentiles and being carried in their arms and upon their shoulders.
9 9 And it shall also be of aworth• unto the Gentiles; and not only unto the Gentiles but bunto• all the chouse• of Israel, unto the making known of the dcovenants• of the Father of heaven unto Abraham, saying: In thy eseed shall all the kindreds of the earth be fblessed•.

So the entire house of Israel will be scattered and confounded, the God will raise up a mighty nation, the United States, which will then scatter the seed of Nephi and his brother Laman or, in other words, the American Indian. So did the "white man" do the will of God in scattering the "red man"? Or did they just do their own will which was known in advance by God?

Then after the scattering, the restoration of the Gospel to the Prophet Joseph Smith, the important information of which is knowing the covenants of the Father of heaven unto Abraham, namely In thy seed shall all the kindreds of the earth be blessed.

Kings Shall Be Thy Nursing Fathers

2004-11-07T20:45:00.000-08:00

22 22 Thus saith the Lord God: Behold, I will lift up mine hand to the aGentiles•, and set up my bstandard• to the people; and they shall bring thy sons in their carms•, and thy daughters shall be carried upon their shoulders.
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23 23 And akings• shall be thy bnursing• fathers, and their queens thy nursing mothers; they shall bow down to thee with their face towards the earth, and lick up the dust of thy feet; and thou shalt know that I am the Lord; for they shall not be ashamed that cwait• for me.

We the Gentiles who are not of the House of Israel will be called upon in the last days to support and uphold the covenant people of God. Those who are known to be the covenant people of God are the Jews. The Jews have been supported by the Americans and other European cultures.

Those who are not commonly known outside the LDS community to be descendents of Israel are those who live in Central and South America. Many of those people are coming to America and are being supported in a different way than the Jews. They come here and receive employment and other governmental services. They too are being supported by the Americans.

In Israel, God WILL Be Glorified

2004-08-17T13:07:00.000-07:00

1 Ne. 21: 3

3 And said unto me: Thou art my aservant•, O Israel, in whom I will be glorified.

There is no question in my mind that the Lord will be glorified in Israel. He said He would do it when he blessed Abraham. He will, in the end, prevail. Israel has its struggles, its ups and downs, its times of being scattered and gathered, but God WILL BE GLORIFIED without fail.

I like that, and I want to be a part of it too.

This earth is designed to glorify God. It is His earth. His work and glory. Now why don't we just buy into that goal. All things are created with a purpose - an end in mine.

In Israel, God will be glorified.

God Lets His Prophets See The Future

2004-08-12T08:36:00.000-07:00

1 Ne. 10: 17

17 17 And it came to pass after I, Nephi, having heard all the awords• of my father, concerning the things which he saw in a bvision•, and also the things which he spake by the power of the Holy Ghost, which power he received by faith on the Son of God—and the Son of God was the cMessiah who should come—I, Nephi, was ddesirous• also that I might see, and hear, and know of these things, by the power of the eHoly• Ghost, which is the fgift of God unto gall• those who diligently seek him, as well in times of hold• as in the time that he should manifest himself unto the children of men.

Having a dream and seeing into the future is what prophets do. I would like to do that... I need to have the right reasons - not to "consume it upon my lusts" that is. I need to have the correct priorities - for God's Glory and Kingdom.

I have to remember that I am in a "business" for God's profit here, and I'm like a servant who wants to be an employee. Prophets are employees of God. Missionaries are too. Some leaders too.

I would love to be employed by God. I guess I am... in my own home.

So pray for the sins and repentance of others and have visions of the future. Can it happen to me?

If You Know It's a Commandment, Then You Know It Can Be Done

2004-08-11T08:47:00.000-07:00

Nephi teaches us a great principle, And it came to pass that I, Nephi, said unto my father: I awill• go and do the things which the Lord hath commanded, for I know that the Lord giveth no bcommandments unto the children of men, save he shall cprepare• a way for them that they may accomplish the thing which he commandeth them." http://scriptures.lds.org/1_ne/3/7#7

Are there any commandments that you have that you are not doing? If you know that it is a commandment, then you can know that you can do it. It's the epitome of faith. Faith in God.

I have been commanded to have charity. I have also been commanded to pray for it will all my heart. I must be able to attain the gift of charity if I have been commanded to have it!

That is good news!

Prophets Pray For Others To Repent

2004-08-10T08:25:00.000-07:00

"Wherefore it came to pass that my father, Lehi, as he went forth prayed unto the Lord, yea, even with all his heart, in behalf of his people."

A true prophet is filled with the weight of the sins of his loved ones. He prays for their repentance. He weeps for their souls and their salvation.

What point of view does it require to be this way? What is the motivation? How is one filled with this anxiety for the souls of others? Where does it come from? Is it a desire? Is it charity?

Perhaps it is what is felt by those who have the gift of charity.

I know that I have a ways to go to get there. I'm too selfish, too uncaring, too proud to think that it is any of my business.

I'd like to change that.

Evil Is Often Branded As Good

2004-08-09T07:15:00.000-07:00

The irony of the Tower of Babel is that these folks were not recruited to build a tunnel to hell. They were recruited to build a tower to heaven. Now doesn't that sound like an inspired calling? Well, God was not pleased and cursed the people for participating in that project.

Evil is usually not branded as evil. It's usually branded as good in order to deceive you. We even may deceive ourselves occasionally because of our good intentions. So how does one discern the evil in an objective? That's the rub. How good are you at discerning something is evil although it is branded to be good?

What is good is what is God's will. We have a responsibility and an accountability to not be deceived. If we allow ourselves to be deceived, we are guilty of perpetuating evil. Integrity is in those who discern intentions and motivations that are righteous. We must expose those who exercise unrighteous dominion.

"We have learned by sad experience that it is the nature and disposition of almost all men, as soon as they get a little authority, as they suppose, they will immediately begin to exercise unrighteous• dominion." See http://scriptures.lds.org/dc/121/39#39

Don't be deceived when evil is branded as good and your leader trys to sell you what is not righteous or motivated with charity.

Studying The Book of Mormon

2004-08-08T06:24:00.000-07:00

The Book of Mormon is a controversial publication. I have been fortunate to know of its existence.