The Book of Mormon

by Joseph Smith Jr.

Ye do not remember the Lord your God in the things with which he hath blessed you, but ye do always remember your riches, not to thank the Lord your God for them; yea, your hearts are not drawn out unto the Lord, but they do swell with great pride,

How important it is to thank our Father for every nice thing we have and show it by our actions.

if a prophet come among you and declareth unto you the word of the Lord, which testifieth of your sins and iniquities, ye are angry with him, and cast him out and seek all manner of ways to destroy him; yea, you will say that he is a false prophet,

My FB friends who left the church do you feel this way or do you feel more compassion?

if a man shall come among you and shall say: Do this, and there is no iniquity; do that and ye shall not suffer; yea, he will say: Walk after the pride of your own hearts; yea, walk after the pride of your eyes, and do whatsoever your heart desireth—and if a man shall come among you and say this, ye will receive him, and say that he is a prophet. 28 Yea, ye will lift him up, and ye will give unto him of your substance; ye will give unto him of your gold, and of your silver, and ye will clothe him with costly apparel; and because he speaketh flattering words unto you, and he saith that all is well, then ye will not find fault with him.

Is this how you feel at times even to a small degree; my FB friends who have left the Church?

which ye know at this time are solid, or the more part of it is one solid mass, shall be broken up; 22 Yea, they shall be rent in twain, and shall ever after be found in seams and in cracks, and in broken fragments upon the face of the whole earth, yea, both above the earth and beneath. 23 And behold, there shall be great tempests, and there shall be many mountains laid low, like unto a valley, and there shall be many places which are now called valleys which shall become mountains, whose height is great.

There is to be found ever after...

which ye know at this time are solid, or the more part of it is one solid mass, shall be broken up; 22 Yea, they shall be rent in twain, and shall ever after be found in seams and in cracks, and in broken fragments upon the face of the whole earth, yea, both above the earth and beneath. 23 And behold, there shall be great tempests, and there shall be many mountains laid low, like unto a valley, and there shall be many places which are now called valleys which shall become mountains, whose height is great.

Geological changes; specific time. No evidence found today. Space-time shift parallel universe? There has to be some kind of explination. There are too many other reasons to believe this book and this issue of no geologic evidence, which could and should be found today is not found.

ye are free; ye are permitted to act for yourselves; for behold, God hath given unto you a knowledge and he hath made you free. 31 He hath given unto you that ye might know good from evil, and he hath given unto you that ye might choose life or death; and ye can do good and be restored unto that which is good, or have that which is good restored unto you; or ye can do evil, and have that which is evil restored unto you.

"You all are free; you all are permited to act for yourselves..."

ye are free; ye are permitted to act for yourselves; for behold, God hath given unto you a knowledge and he hath made you free. 31 He hath given unto you that ye might know good from evil, and he hath given unto you that ye might choose life or death; and ye can do good and be restored unto that which is good, or have that which is good restored unto you; or ye can do evil, and have that which is evil restored unto you.

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ye are free; ye are permitted to act for yourselves; for behold, God hath given unto you a knowledge and he hath made you free. 31 He hath given unto you that ye might know good from evil, and he hath given unto you that ye might choose life or death; and ye can do good and be restored unto that which is good, or have that which is g...

But if we fully understood the consequences of our choices we all would choose the good.

ye are free; ye are permitted to act for yourselves; for behold, God hath given unto you a knowledge and he hath made you free. 31 He hath given unto you that ye might know good from evil, and he hath given unto you that ye might choose life or death; and ye can do good and be restored unto that which is good, or have that which is g...

You...

he loved, and also hath he chastened them; yea, in the days of their iniquities hath he chastened them because he loveth them.

I must be loved...

who fell to the earth and became as if they were dead,

It is often that when the peoples of the Book of Mormon become astonished that they fall to the earth and pass out. In population genetics, perhaps this is genetic trait selected and passed by those who in battle passed-out and where left for dead but were not dead and thus they survived and passed on this ‘pass-out’ gene which proved beneficial to the population and their progeny as a survival mechanism in time of war. The pass-out gene would also be manifest in other astonishing events.

were so exceedingly astonished that they fell to the earth.

The 'pass-out gene'

became for themselves,

interesting phrase. Unusual.

began to be less and less astonished at a sign or a wonder from heaven, insomuch that they began to be hard in their hearts, and blind in their minds, and began to disbelieve all which they had heard and seen—

The human predicament

Nephi, who was the father of Nephi, who had the charge of the records, did not return to the land of Zarahemla, and could nowhere be found in all the land.

Maybe he is still on the earth like John and the three Nephites. If so we could say the 4 Nephites

And their curse was taken from them, and their skin became white like unto the Nephites; 16 And their young men and their daughters became exceedingly fair, and they were numbered among the Nephites, and were called Nephites.

We see that today with many fair skinned hispanics.

did march forth by thousands and by tens of thousands, until they had all gone forth to the place which had been appointed that they should gather themselves together, to defend themselves against their enemies.

No evidence found today of these masses of people keeps many from rich and pure doctrine

33 And their hearts were swollen with joy, unto the gushing out of many tears, because of the great goodness of God in delivering them out of the hands of their enemies; and they knew it was because of their repentance and their humility that they had been delivered from an everlasting destruction.

This kind of joy has to be met with the strongest knowledge and vision of the alternative.

33 And their hearts were swollen with joy, unto the gushing out of many tears, because of the great goodness of God in delivering them out of the hands of their enemies; and they knew it was because of their repentance and their humility that they had been delivered from an everlasting destruction.

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and did serve God with all diligence day and night.

Missionaries, bishops, etc. do this. I can do more than I do especially for my wife and children.

9 But behold there are records which do contain all the proceedings of this people; and a shorter but true account was given by Nephi. 10 Therefore I have made my record of these things according to the record of Nephi, which was engraven on the plates which were called the plates of Nephi. 11 And behold, I do make the record on plates which I have made with mine own hands. 12 And behold, I am called Mormon, being called after the land of Mormon, the land in which Alma did establish the church among the people, yea, the first church which was established among them after their transgression.

It would so wonderful to have and read these other records...

9 But behold there are records which do contain all the proceedings of this people; and a shorter but true account was given by Nephi. 10 Therefore I have made my record of these things according to the record of Nephi, which was engraven on the plates which were called the plates of Nephi. 11 And behold, I do make the record on plates which I have made with mine own hands. 12 And behold, I am called Mormon, being called after the land of Mormon, the land in which Alma did establish the church among the people, yea, the first church which was established among them after their transgression.

Mormon speaking...

9 But behold there are records which do contain all the proceedings of this people; and a shorter but true account was given by Nephi. 10 Therefore I have made my record of these things according to the record of Nephi, which was engraven on the plates which were called the plates of Nephi. 11 And behold, I do make the record on plates which I have made with mine own hands. 12 And behold, I am called Mormon, being called after the land of Mormon, the land in which Alma d...

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I am a disciple of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. I have been called of him to declare his word among his people, that they might have everlasting life. 14 And it hath become expedient that I, according to the will of God, that the prayers of those who have gone hence, who were the holy ones, should be fulfilled according to their faith, should make a record of these things which have been done— 15 Yea, a small record of that which hath taken place from the time that Lehi left Jerusalem, even down until the present time.

Mormon is a true disciple. What drives one's desire to be such?

I am a disciple of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. I have been called of him to declare his word among his people, that they might have everlasting life. 14 And it hath become expedient that I, according to the will of God, that the prayers of those who have gone hence, who were the holy ones, should be fulfilled according to their faith, should make a record of these things which have been done— 15 Yea, a small record of that which hath taken place from the time that Lehi left Jerusalem, even down until the present time.

This is the prophet Mormon writing...

I am Mormon, and a pure descendant of Lehi.

Lineage is important to Mormon. Why would he say anything about it otherwise?

that he hath given me and my people so much knowledge unto the salvation of our souls.

Helps answer my previous question. Am I lacking something?

21 Surely he hath blessed the house of Jacob, and hath been merciful unto the seed of Joseph. 22 And insomuch as the children of Lehi have kept his commandments he hath blessed them and prospered them according to his word. 23 Yea, and surely shall he again bring a remnant of the seed of Joseph to the knowledge of the Lord their God. 24 And as surely as the Lord liveth, will he gather in from the four quarters of the earth all the remnant of the seed of Jacob, who are scattered abroad upon all the face of the earth. 25 And as he hath covenanted with all the house of Jacob, even so shall the covenant wherewith he hath covenanted with the house of Jacob be fulfilled in his own due time, unto the restoring all the house of Jacob unto the knowledge of the covenant that he hath covenanted with them.

Responsibility comes with linage.

21 Surely he hath blessed the house of Jacob, and hath been merciful unto the seed of Joseph. 22 And insomuch as the children of Lehi have kept his commandments he hath blessed them and prospered them according to his word. 23 Yea, and surely shall he again bring a remnant of the seed of Joseph to the knowledge of the Lord their God. 24 And as surely as the Lord liveth, will he gather in from the four quarters of the earth all the remnant of the seed of Jacob, who are scattered abroad upon all the face of the earth. 25 And as he hath covenanted with all the house of Jacob, even so shall the covenant wherewith he hath covenanted with the house of Jacob be fulfilled in his own due time, unto the restoring all the house of Jacob unto the knowledge of the covenant that he hath covenanted with them.

A theme repeated often in this book. It is a main theses. Why is the covenant of Israel so vital?

21 Surely he hath blessed the house of Jacob, and hath been merciful unto the seed of Joseph. 22 And insomuch as the children of Lehi have kept his commandments he hath blessed them and prospered them according to his word. 23 Yea, and surely shall he again bring a remnant of the seed of Joseph to the knowledge of the Lord their God. 24 And as surely as the Lord liveth, will he gather in from the four quarters of the earth all the remnant of the seed of Jacob, who are scattered abroad upon all the face of the earth. 25 And as he hath covenanted with all the house of Jacob, even so shall the covenant wherewith he hath covenanted with ...

All races of people have unique gifts, blessings and expectations. Much is expected from Jacob

26 And then shall they know their Redeemer, who is Jesus Christ, the Son of God; and then shall they be gathered in from the four quarters of the earth unto their own lands, from whence they have been dispersed; yea, as the Lord liveth so shall it be. Amen.

Regarding Israel, the postarity of Jacob. Why is this covenant with Israel and Abraham so vital?

26 And then shall they know their Redeemer, who is Jesus Christ, the Son of God; and then shall they be gathered in from the four quarters of the earth unto their own lands, from whence they have been dispersed; yea, as the Lord liveth so shall it be. Amen.

One of the major reasons of this book for sure.

The Nephites prosper—Pride, wealth, and class distinctions arise—The Church is rent with dissensions—Satan leads the people in open rebellion—Many prophets cry repentance and are slain—Their murderers conspire to take over the government. About A.D. 26–30.

Another repeted theme in this book. It is the human condition. It is so even today.

there was great order in the land; and they had formed their laws according to equity and justice.

there began to be some disputings among the people; and some were lifted up unto pride and boastings because of their exceedingly great riches, yea, even unto great persecutions;

This is the main theme seen over and over again. The seed or first spark to the' human perdicament'

there began to be some disputings among the people; and some were lifted up unto pride and boastings because of their exceedingly great riches, yea, even unto great persecutions;

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the people began to be distinguished by ranks, according to their riches and their chances for learning; yea, some were ignorant because of their poverty, and others did receive great learning because of their riches.

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the people began to be distinguished by ranks, according to their riches and their chances for learning; yea, some were ignorant because of their poverty, and others did receive great learning because of their riches.

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13 Some were lifted up in pride, and others were exceedingly humble; some did return railing for railing, while others would receive railing and persecution and all manner of afflictions, and would not turn and revile again, but were humble and penitent before God.

Buddhists, Christians, Kalahari Bushmen; compair & contrast. Too many Christians fail this test.

13 Some were lifted up in pride, and others were exceedingly humble; some did return railing for railing, while others would receive railing and persecution and all manner of afflictions, and would not turn and revile again, but were humble and penitent before God.

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great ine...

the church began to be broken up; yea, insomuch that in the thirtieth year the church was broken up in all the land save it were among a few of the Lamanites who were converted unto the true faith; and they would not depart from it, for they were firm, and steadfast, and immovable, willing with all diligence to keep the commandments of the Lord.

Why are some so strong and immovable and others care less and give in to the base?

the church began to be broken up; yea, insomuch that in the thirtieth year the church was broken up in all the land save it were among a few of the Lamanites who were converted unto the true faith; and they would not depart from it, for they were firm, and steadfast, and immovable, willing with all diligence to keep the commandments of the Lord.

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the cause of this iniquity of the people was this—Satan had great power, unto the stirring up of the people to do all manner of iniquity, and to the puffing them up with pride, tempting them to seek for power, and authority, and riches, and the vain things of the world. 16 And thus Satan did lead away the hearts of the people to do all manner of iniquity; therefore they had enjoyed peace but a few years.

How does one stay firm and resist this great power?

the cause of this iniquity of the people was this—Satan had great power, unto the stirring up of the people to do all manner of iniquity, and to the puffing them up with pride, tempting them to seek for power, and authority, and riches, and the vain things of the world. 16 And thus Satan did lead away the hearts of the people to do all manner of iniquity; therefore they had enjoyed peace but a few years.

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18 Now they did not sin ignorantly, for they knew the will of God concerning them, for it had been taught unto them; therefore they did wilfully rebel against God.

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18 Now they did not sin ignorantly, for they knew the will of God concerning them, for it had been taught unto them; therefore they did wilfully rebel against God.

The very worst of the human condition. Why do some choose this path and others remain so firm?

there began to be men inspired from heaven and sent forth, standing among the people in all the land, preaching and testifying boldly of the sins and iniquities of the people, and testifying unto them concerning the redemption which the Lord would make for his people, or in other words, the resurrection of Christ; and they did testify boldly of his death and sufferings.

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there were many of the people who were exceedingly angry because of those who testified of these things; and those who were angry were chiefly the chief judges, and they who had been high priests and lawyers; yea, all those who were lawyers were angry with those who testified of these things.

Many were angry at Jesus during his day...

the more part of the people had turned from their righteousness, like the dog to his vomit, or like the sow to her wallowing in the mire.

Daily scipture reading and daily prayer is the best measure of protection from such...