Category Archives: Book of Mormon

I Would Not Hear

21 Sunday Jul 2013

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The Lord told Adam that he “shalt” eat by the sweat of his brow all his days (KJV). Since then, there have been many who, rather than rely on the Lord for their bounty (the Lord multiplies crops, orchards, gardens, fruits, vegetables and grains, rebuking the devourer for the sake of the righteous), they rely on the arm of their own flesh; on their own industry. The more I ponder Amulek, the more I see just how much I was like Amulek. He was industrious and a man of means and of money and of reputation. He was the CEO of his own company.

2 I am Amulek; I am the son of Giddonah, who was the son of Ishmael, who was a descendant of Aminadi; and it was that same Aminadi who interpreted the writing which was upon the wall of the temple, which was written by the finger of God.

3 And Aminadi was a descendant of Nephi, who was the son of Lehi, who came out of the land of Jerusalem, who was a descendant of Manasseh, who was the son of Joseph who was sold into Egypt by the hands of his brethren.

4 And behold, I am also a man of no small reputation among all those who know me; yea, and behold, I have many kindreds and friends, and I have also acquired much riches by the hand of my industry.

5 Nevertheless, after all this, I never have known much of the ways of the Lord, and his mysteries and marvelous power. I said I never had known much of these things; but behold, I mistake, for I have seen much of his mysteries and his marvelous power; yea, even in the preservation of the lives of this people.

6 Nevertheless, I did harden my heart, for I was called many times and I would not hear; therefore I knew concerning these things, yet I would not know; therefore I went on rebelling against God, in the wickedness of my heart, even until the fourth day of this seventh month, which is in the tenth year of the reign of the judges.

I’ve been a business owner since I was a teenager. When you are a business owner, you rely on yourself and your cunning and intellect and and planning and organizing. You rely on people for your business as they are your potential customers and clients. You influence their agency. Where is the Lord in all this? It cannot be right to ask God to bless people so that they will buy from you, patronize your business and make you rich and prosperous. And I used to pray such things as a business owner for many years.

I don’t know how many times I did not fulfill callings such as home teaching, because I was too busy managing, organizing, making contacts, etc. I shudder to think how I will look back on my life and seeing how often I passed someone in need of my substance or succor. How often did I not come to someone in need because I was too busy getting gain (as described in the Book of Mormon)?

My life is in a much different place now. I have simplified my life considerably and am trying to simplify it further–in fact as far as I can. The more I cast off the world, the less I need money to subsist or even to be entertained. You can buy anything in this world with money. But you can also get by well enough without it, or at least, in a modern world without much at all. If you have no debt, you don’t need money. It is irrelevant. And then you can focus so much more time on helping and serving others. My heart is in a much better place today. Truly a rich man is not fit for Zion. He ignores its call. Those who labor in Zion labor for Zion.

Ye Ask Not

26 Monday Nov 2012

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2 Nephi 32 is one of the most pivotal chapters of the entire Book of Mormon, in my opinion. What does it mean to come unto Christ? What does it mean to make our calling and election sure?

1 And now, behold, my beloved brethren, I suppose that ye ponder somewhat in your hearts concerning that which ye should do after ye have entered in by the way. But, behold, why do ye ponder these things in your hearts?
2 Do ye not remember that I said unto you that after ye had received the Holy Ghost ye could speak with the tongue of angels? And now, how could ye speak with the tongue of angels save it were by the Holy Ghost?
3 Angels speak by the power of the Holy Ghost; wherefore, they speak the words of Christ. Wherefore, I said unto you, feast upon the words of Christ; for behold, the words of Christ will tell you all things what ye should do.
4 Wherefore, now after I have spoken these words, if ye cannot understand them it will be because ye ask not, neither do ye knock; wherefore, ye are not brought into the light, but must perish in the dark.
5 For behold, again I say unto you that if ye will enter in by the way, and receive the Holy Ghost, it will show unto you all things what ye should do.
6 Behold, this is the doctrine of Christ, and there will be no more doctrine given until after he shall manifest himself unto you in the flesh. And when he shall manifest himself unto you in the flesh, the things which he shall say unto you shall ye observe to do.
7 And now I, Nephi, cannot say more; the Spirit stoppeth mine utterance, and I am left to mourn because of the unbelief*, and the wickedness, and the ignorance, and the stiffneckedness of men; for they will not search knowledge, nor understand great knowledge, when it is given unto them in plainness, even as plain as word can be.

After we were baptized, did we receive the Holy Ghost? Or did we take for granted that it was placed upon us like a mantle to give it no further thought? Now that we have all of Nephi’s words, have we followed them? He laid out his life for us, giving us a precise pattern to follow that we might be brought to the veil. And now if none of this makes sense, even after Nephi plainly explains to us in his two books, it is because we have not asked or knocked. This is what he tried drilling into Laman and Lemuel’s thick skulls:

6 And it came to pass that after I had received strength I spake unto my brethren, desiring to know of them the cause of their disputations.
7 And they said: Behold, we cannot understand the words which our father hath spoken concerning the natural branches of the olive tree, and also concerning the Gentiles.
8 And I said unto them: Have ye inquired of the Lord?
9 And they said unto me: We have not; for the Lord maketh no such thing known unto us.
10 Behold, I said unto them: How is it that ye do not keep the commandments of the Lord? How is it that ye will perish, because of the hardness of your hearts?
11 Do ye not remember the things which the Lord hath said?—If ye will not harden your hearts, and ask me in faith, believing that ye shall receive, with diligence in keeping my commandments, surely these things shall be made known unto you.

His brothers argued about doctrine. This is something we see often in life. Why? Because we do not inquire of the Lord. And is our faith sufficient to inquire earnestly? Furthermore, are we worthy of further light and knowledge? These are two important factors, as Nephi indicates in 2 Nephi 32. If we have received the Holy Ghost–if we have taken it to be our personal guide; if we have become sanctified, it is because we have put off the natural man. King Benjamin discusses this as well in the book of Mosiah.

We may need to read First and Second Nephi over and over and over again until we see the pattern–until we understand why we are still under condemnation, and how we can have this condemnation removed from us individually.

And why does Nephi write about the Spirit and of Angels and of Christ manifesting Himself in the flesh? Didn’t he experience these things? He is giving us the pattern. He is telling the reader, “what are you waiting for?” If you have entered in by the way, if you have been sanctified by the Holy Spirit and have put off the natural man–in other words, we have absolutely no desire to go back to our old sinful ways. We have no desire to be idle or idolatrous. Monday night football doesn’t mean anything to us anymore. Television, video games and all other worldly time killers seem so meaningless now. By this time, we have experience the Holy Spirit in our lives so profoundly that coming unto Christ becomes our sole desire and our primary pursuit. So Nephi asks us, “what are you waiting for?”

“Have ye inquired of the Lord?”

And if we’re still puzzling about this, read the book of Enos. Read it again.

While we LDS believe in modern day revelations, ministering of angels, and communion with our Savior, do we really believe that it is something available to each of us today? If not, then we have completely missed what Nephi and so many others have tried to teach us. Moroni makes a summary of these teachings in one final effort before sealing up the record, which we read in his seventh and tenth chapters. In chapter seven he gives us the words of his father, Mormon:

Moroni 7

26 And after that he came men also were saved by faith in his name; and by faith, they become the sons of God. And as surely as Christ liveth he spake these words unto our fathers, saying:Whatsoever thing ye shall ask the Father in my name, which is good, in faith believing that ye shall receive, behold, it shall be done unto you.
27 Wherefore, my beloved brethren, have miracles ceased because Christ hath ascended into heaven, and hath sat down on the right hand of God, to claim of the Father his rights of mercy which he hath upon the children of men?
28 For he hath answered the ends of the law, and he claimeth all those who have faith in him; and they who have faith in him will cleave unto every good thing; wherefore he advocateth the cause of the children of men; and he dwelleth eternally in the heavens.
29 And because he hath done this, my beloved brethren, have miracles ceased? Behold I say unto you, Nay; neither have angels ceased to minister unto the children of men.
…
36 Or have angels ceased to appear unto the children of men? Or has he withheld the power of the Holy Ghost from them? Or will he, so long as time shall last, or the earth shall stand, or there shall be one man upon the face thereof to be saved?
37 Behold I say unto you, Nay; for it is by faith that miracles are wrought; and it is by faith that angels appear and minister unto men; wherefore, if these things have ceased wo be unto the children of men, for it is because of *unbelief, and all is vain.
38 For no man can be saved, according to the words of Christ, save they shall have faith in his name; wherefore, if these things have ceased, then has faith ceased also; and awful is the state of man, for they are as though there had been no redemption made.
39 But behold, my beloved brethren, I judge better things of you, for I judge that ye have faith in Christ because of your meekness; for if ye have not faith in him then ye are not fit to be numbered among the people of his church.

What? We are not fit to be numbered among the people of Zion? Why not? It is because we have not diligently sought to come unto Christ. Angels call us to repentance, they teach us sacred truths. It is the Holy Spirit’s job to bring us to Christ and if we knock as Enos knocked, it will be opened–the veil will part for us. And Christ will teach us greater things. And He will introduce us to His Father.

This is the pattern. This is what Nephi painstakingly explains to us. This is what he experienced, as did Jacob and Enos, and many others. This is the entire point of of Jacob’s explanation of the allegory of the tame and wild olive trees. We are the fruit of the harvest. This is what Jacob was so excited to teach his people. It’s up to us to follow in their footsteps. This is what the Book of Mormon is about.

Have you experienced miracles in your life? Have you experienced the ministering of angels? Have you heard the Saviors voice? Have you parted the veil and found yourself in His embrace? Have you received the Second Comforter?

Have ye knocked?

Then I would exhort you to go on and continue to call upon God until you make your calling and election sure for yourselves; by obtaining this more sure word of prophecy, and wait patiently for the promise until you obtain it. –Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, p. 299

 

Prince Ammon

30 Sunday Sep 2012

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Throughout scriptural history, we read about lineages and genealogies, whether in the Old Testament or in the New Testament. It was evidently customary for the nations of Israel to recognize who was the son of who as far back as tradition holds. This is how we learn in the first chapter of Matthew of Jesus Christ’s birthright to the throne of David, had He chosen to claim it.

When Mosiah discovered the land of Zarahemla, he learns of their genealogy after they had been taught the language of the Nephites and this is how they learned of their common history. There are examples in the Book of Mormon where someone recited his lineage before declaring his message. I believe that Ammon, the eldest son of King Mosiah, was being modest in his record keeping and left out a few parts. I think his introduction to the Lamanite king was more ceremonial than we read about.

I believe it went something like this: Ammon is brought bound before the king and he bows before Lamoni, recites his lineage as it is customary in the land. “Behold, O king, I am Ammon from the land of Zarahemla. I am the son of Mosiah, who is the son of Benjamin, who is the son of Mosiah…who was the son of Lehi who came out of Jerusalem during the reign of King Zedekiah.” And thus we discover that Lamoni was a descendant of Ishmael. Lamoni, the son of the king over all the Lamanites in the land of Ishmael was not ignorant of who the king of the Nephites in Zarahemla was and that before him knelt the heir to the throne in Zarahemla. Lamoni must have thought, “What does the prince of the Nephites want to do with us?”

Alma 17:22 And the king inquired of Ammon if it were his desire to dwell in the land among the Lamanites, or among his people.
23 And Ammon said unto him: Yea, I desire to dwell among this people for a time; yea, and perhaps until the day I die.

Lamoni, awestruck, was impressed–so impressed that he has Ammon’s bands removed.

24 And it came to pass that king Lamoni was much pleased with Ammon, and caused that his bands should be loosed; and he would that Ammon should take one of his daughters to wife.

I don’t think Lamoni was so intent on uniting kingdoms as he was simply wishing to honor the young prince in return. But Ammon politely declined, either because he was already married, perhaps with children back in Zarahemla, or his mind was otherwise simply single in purpose. His only desire was to serve and not rule. And he became King Lamoni’s servant by tending his flocks of sheep. What a fitting task for one who became a shepherd of a Lamanite nation. By the time he had proven himself a strong and loyal servant, his strength and royalty had been acknowledged and recognized:

Alma 18:13 And one of the king’s servants said unto him, Rabbanah, which is, being interpreted, powerful or great king, considering their kings to be powerful; and thus he said unto him: Rabbanah, the king desireth thee to stay.

“Ammon and Lamoni” by Joseph F. Brickley:

I believe it is reasonable to conclude that Ammon had indeed remained with this people after having served them for fourteen years in their land, even long after having brought them back to the land of Zarahemla to inherit the land of Jershon and and lived with them, becoming their high priest. If he was still alive when they migrated north after the civil wars, it is possible that he and his family departed with them:

Helaman 3:12 And it came to pass that there were many of the people of Ammon, who were Lamanites by birth, did also go forth into this land.

No Samites

10 Monday Sep 2012

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After Nephi fled from his brethren with those who would follow him from the land of their first inheritance, they settled down in a place they chose to call Nephi. Two things have always stood out in my mind. The fact that Nephi had sisters and the fact that we never hear from Sam. Whether Nephi’s sisters were older and married to Ishmael’s sons, thus making this family the clear choice to bring them out of Jerusalem, or Lehi had at least two more daughters in the wilderness–or perhaps both are the case! It could well be that Nephi had older sisters married into Ishmael’s family and Lehi had at least one more daughter in the wilderness, and thus Nephi had sisters, as in plural.

Anyway, there have been commentaries on this matter for at least twenty years. One more thing that I want to mention is that I have noticed all my life how “silent” Sam is. I can’t help but feel that Sam wasn’t completely normal. He was obviously not deaf, blind or lame. He was strong and thus able to make the journey out of Jerusalem and back twice, once for the plates and once more for Ishmael’s family. Sam was intelligent and able to understand Nephi and believe all his words. His brothers had no problem smiting Nephi and Sam in the cavity of a rock after having fled Laban’s home, although the angel only acknowledged Nephi, at least according to Nephi’s account.

But we never once read about Sam commenting on anything. Sam was able to marry and have children. I, personally, can’t help but feel that Sam might have been unable to speak, as in, he might have been at the very least, mute. This is just speculation, of course but it begs the following questions: If Sam was as faithful as Nephi, then why was Sam not given the opportunity to lead or be a leader? Was he not mighty like Nephi? Why not? The only clue we have, which really isn’t much of a clue, but it does shed light on the fact that Sam was the “least of these.”

2 Nephi 4
10 And it came to pass that when my father had made an end of speaking unto them, behold, he spake unto the sons of Ishmael, yea, and even all his household.
11 And after he had made an end of speaking unto them, he spake unto Sam, saying: Blessed art thou, and thy seed; for thou shalt inherit the land like unto thy brother Nephi. And thy seed shall be numbered with his seed; and thou shalt be even like unto thy brother, and thy seed like unto his seed; and thou shalt be blessed in all thy days.

After Lehi blesses EVERYONE, even his grandchildren, he finally speaks to Sam. Rather than bless Sam according to his rank in the family, Lehi saves him for last. Lehi tells him that he is “like unto [his] brother.” Sam’s posterity becomes Nephi’s posterity. It’s just that simple. And the Book of Mormon history proved it. Nobody ever claimed to be a Samite. Many people, even wicked people claimed to be Zoramites, after Zoram who was pressed out of Jerusalem. So people hundreds and hundreds of years after Lehi, were well aware of their genealogy, but not a single Samite. Ever.

Jacob 1
12 And it came to pass that Nephi died.
13 Now the people which were not Lamanites were Nephites; nevertheless, they were called Nephites, Jacobites, Josephites, Zoramites, Lamanites, Lemuelites, and Ishmaelites.

This brings me back to my first scripture. Jacob said that “the people which were not Lamanites were Nephites; nevertheless, they were called Nephites, Jacobites, Josephites, Zoramites, Lamanites, Lemuelites, and Ishmaelites.” These were the people who went with Nephi. This means that there were indeed one or some children of Laman, maybe even Laman’s wife, as well as one or some children of Lemuel and possibly Lemuel’s wife, and some of Ishmael’s household who abandoned Laman and Lemuel in the land of their first inheritance to settle what they would call the city of Nephi. This may well have included some if not ALL of Nephi’s sisters, any of whom could have been married to Ishmael’s son. This was a very telling verse.