The Book of Mormon

by Joseph Smith Jr.

13 For how knoweth a man the master whom he has not served, and who is a stranger unto him, and is far from the thoughts and intents of his heart?

Mosiah 5:13 Come to know God by serving him...

13 For how knoweth a man the master whom he has not served, and who is a stranger unto him, and is far from the thoughts and intents of his heart?

One of many ways we come to know Christ; serving and lifting others

15 Therefore, I would that ye should be steadfast and immovable, always abounding in good works, that Christ, the Lord God Omnipotent, may seal you his, that you may be brought to heaven, that ye may have everlasting salvation and eternal life, through the wisdom, and power, and justice, and mercy of him who created all things, in heaven and in earth, who is God above all. Amen.

Mosiah 5:15

the Lord hath said: I will not succor my people in the day of their transgression; but I will hedge up their ways that they prosper not; and their doings shall be as a stumbling block before them.

One of many reasons to carefully observe...

If my people shall sow filthiness they shall reap the chaff thereof in the whirlwind; and the effect thereof is poison. 31 And again he saith: If my people shall sow filthiness they shall reap the east wind, which bringeth immediate destruction. 32 And now, behold, the promise of the Lord is fulfilled, and ye are smitten and afflicted. 33 But if ye will turn to the Lord with full purpose of heart, and put your trust in him, and serve him with all diligence of mind, if ye do this, he will, according to his own will and pleasure, deliver you out of bondage.

This is our time now...no doubt...

If my people shall sow filthiness they shall reap the chaff thereof in the whirlwind; and the effect thereof is poison. 31 And again he saith: If my people shall sow filthiness they shall reap the east wind, which bringeth immediate destruction. 32 And now, behold, the promise of the Lord is fulfilled, and ye are smitten and afflicted. 33 But if ye will turn to the Lord with full purpose of heart, and put your trust in him, and serve him wit...

The result of...

If my people shall sow filthiness they shall reap the chaff thereof in the whirlwind; and the effect thereof is poison. 31 And again he saith: If my people shall sow filthiness they shall reap the east wind, which bringeth immediate destruction. 32 And now, behold, the promise of the Lord is fulfilled, and ye are smitten and afflicted. 33 But if ye will turn to the Lord with full purpose of heart, and put your trust in him, and serve him wit...

Mosiah 7

If my people shall sow filthiness they shall reap the chaff thereof in the whirlwind; and the effect thereof is poison. 31 And again he saith: If my people shall sow filthiness they shall reap the east wind, which bringeth immediate destruction. 32 And now, behold, the promise of the Lord is fulfilled, and ye are smitten and afflicted. 33 But if ye will turn to the Lord with full purpose of heart, and put your trust in him, and serve him wit...

Freed from bondage...

20 O how marvelous are the works of the Lord, and how long doth he suffer with his people; yea, and how blind and impenetrable are the understandings of the children of men; for they will not seek wisdom, neither do they desire that she should rule over them! 21 Yea, they are as a wild flock which fleeth from the shepherd, and scattereth, and are driven, and are devoured by the beasts of the forest.

What color is the dress... did you truely look and study the issue? No! You just think you know.

20 O how marvelous are the works of the Lord, and how long doth he suffer with his people; yea, and how blind and impenetrable are the understandings of the children of men; for they will not seek wisdom, neither do they desire that she should rule over them! 21 Yea, they are as a wild flock which fleeth from the shepherd, and scattereth, and are driven, and are devoured by the beasts of the forest.

How wise are you?

like a dumb ass.

This phrase has been around a while. This the result of ignoring the warning of the prophets.

Are you priests, and pretend to teach this people,

and when we shall see him there is no beauty that we should desire him.

4 Surely he has borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows; yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. 5 But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities; the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.

The Isaiah chapters are nothing less than poetry to my soul.

6 All we, like sheep, have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the Lord hath laid on him the iniquities of us all. 7 He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth; he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb so he opened not his mouth. 8 He was taken from prison and from judgment; and who shall declare his generation? For he was cut off out of the land of the living; for the transgressions of my people was he stricken. 9 And he made his grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death; because he had done no evil, neither was any deceit in his mouth.

Powerful poetic teachings of the mission and purpose of Jesus Christ

3 The Father, because he was conceived by the power of God; and the Son, because of the flesh; thus becoming the Father and Son—

The Father is Elohim. Yet in Hebrew elohim is plural. One person one day then two another?

they are one God,

'They' meaning more than one distinct person. Yet one in purpose in a way like the apostles are one.

will of the Son being swallowed up in the will of the Father.

Christ gave up His 'will' to the Father or Christ took the Father's 'will' as his own displacing His

And little children also have eternal life.

wilfully rebelled against God, that have known the commandments

These are they for whom God must have the greatest sorrow. Those who...

the time shall come that the salvation of the Lord shall be declared to every nation, kindred, tongue, and people.

It is that time...

all mankind becoming carnal, sensual, devilish, knowing evil from good,

remaineth in his fallen state and the devil hath all power over him. Therefore he is as though there was no redemption made, being an enemy to God; and also is the devil an enemy to God.

He is the light and the life of the world; yea, a light that is endless, that can never be darkened; yea, and also a life which is endless, that there can be no more death.

I have read this passage dozens of times.. this morning is like the first time I have read it.

12 Having gone according to their own carnal wills and desires; having never called upon the Lord while the arms of mercy were extended towards them; for the arms of mercy were extended towards them, and they would not; they being warned of their iniquities and yet they would not depart from them; and they were commanded to repent and yet they would not repent. 13 And now, ought ye not to tremble and repent of your sins, and remember that only in and through Christ ye can be saved?

These will experience mental vastation and sorrow; will have a perfect view; nth degree regret

12 Having gone according to their own carnal wills and desires; having never called upon the Lord while the arms of mercy were extended towards them; for the arms of mercy were extended towards them, and they would not; they being warned of their iniquities and yet they would not depart from them; and they were commanded to repent and yet they would not repent. 13 And now, ought ye not to tremble and repent of your sins, and remember that only in and through Christ ye can be saved?

What is sin? 1. Anything that harms another. 2. Hate. 3. Selfishness. 4. Meaness. 5. etc.

12 Having gone according to their own carnal wills and desires; having never called upon the Lord while the arms of mercy were extended towards them; for the arms of mercy were extended towards them, and they would not; they being warned of their iniquities and yet they would not depart from them; and they were commanded to repent and yet they would not repent. 13 And now, ought ye ...

Dear 99, is this not true in your case? You seemed as defensive as 93 becomes from time to time.

12 Having gone according to their own carnal wills and desires; having never called upon the Lord while the arms of mercy were extended towards them; for the arms of mercy were extended towards them, and they would not; they being warned of their iniquities and yet they would not depart from them; and they were commanded to repent and yet they would not repent. 13 And now, ought ye ...

Warning: If you read this book consider yourself warned.

11 And now king Noah was about to release him, for he feared his word; for he feared that the judgments of God would come upon him. 12 But the priests lifted up their voices against him, and began to accuse him, saying: He has reviled the king. Therefore the king was stirred up in anger against him, and he delivered him up that he might be slain.

He almost did change his heart; in the heat of 1 fleeting moment he gave in to the fear of men.

as ye are desirous to come into the fold of God, and to be called his people, and are willing to bear one another’s burdens, that they may be light; 9 Yea, and are willing to mourn with those that mourn; yea, and comfort those that stand in need of comfort, and to stand as witnesses of God at all times and in all things, and in all places that ye may be in, even until death, that ye may be redeemed of God, and be numbered with those of the first resurrection, that ye may have eternal life— 10 Now I say unto you, if this be the desire of your hearts, what have you against being baptized in the name of the Lord, as a witness before him that ye have entered into a covenant with him, that ye will serve him and keep his commandments, that he may pour out his Spirit more abundantly upon you?

If this is your desire and are willing to do these things then become a member of the Church

as ye are desirous to come into the fold of God, and to be called his people, and are willing to bear one another’s burdens, that they may be light; 9 Yea, and are willing to mourn with those that mourn; yea, and comfort those that stand in need of comfort, and to stand as witnesses of God at all times and in all things, and in all places that ye may be in, even until death, that ye may be redeemed of God, and be numbered with those of the first resurrection, that ye may have eternal life— 10 Now I say unto you, if this be the desire of your hearts, what have you against being baptized in the name of the Lord, as a witness before him that ye have entered into a covenant with him, that ye will serve him and keep his commandments, that he may pour out his Spirit more abundantly upon you?

Those who are baptised into this church....

having their hearts knit together in unity and in love one towards another.

The value of a ward and can be found in our neighborhoods too. This is most ideal.

having their hearts knit together in unity and in love one towards another.

A ward or branch should be this way..

having their hearts knit together in unity and in love on...

The ideal purpose of belonging to a ward...

temporally and spiritually according to their needs and their wants.

30 And now it came to pass that all this was done in Mormon, yea, by the waters of Mormon, in the forest that was near the waters of Mormon; yea, the place of Mormon, the waters of Mormon, the forest of Mormon, how beautiful are they to the eyes of them who there came to the knowledge of their Redeemer; yea, and how blessed are they, for they shall sing to his praise forever.

You become more beautiful after becoming a member of his church and when singing hymns.

30 And now it came to pass that all this was done in Mormon, yea, by the waters of Mormon, in the forest that was near the waters of Mormon; yea, the place of Mormon, the waters of Mormon, the forest of Mormon, how beautiful are they to the eyes of them who there came to the knowledge of their Redeemer; yea, and how blessed are they, for they shall sing to his praise forever.

According to Jace Wright all of this was done in London.

caused that their fair daughters should stand forth and plead with the Lamanites that they would not slay them.

the Lamanites had compassion on them, for they were charmed with the beauty of their women.

Beautiful women have power to change hearts...

24 And it came to pass that after they had ended the ceremony, that they returned to the land of Nephi, rejoicing, because their wives and their children were not slain; and they told Gideon what they had done to the king.

Interesting it was a ceremonial act burning wicked king Noah at the stake.

and like dragons did they fight.

'Dragon' in midddle English means large serpent. From old French via Latin from Greek 'drakon'

they would smite them on their cheeks, and exercise authority over them; and began to put heavy burdens upon their backs, and drive them as they would a dumb ass—

A good reason for a good and wisely spent defense budget. Had Russia one the cold war...

13 And they did humble themselves even to the dust, subjecting themselves to the yoke of bondage, submitting themselves to be smitten, and to be driven to and fro, and burdened, according to the desires of their enemies. 14 And they did humble themselves even in the depths of humility; and they did cry mightily to God; yea, even all the day long did they cry unto their God that he would deliver them out of their afflictions. 15 And now the Lord was slow to hear their cry because of their iniquities; nevertheless the Lord did hear their cries, and began to soften the hearts of the Lamanites that they began to ease their burdens; yet the Lord did not see fit to deliver them out of bondage. 16 And it came to pass that they began to prosper by degrees in the land, and began to raise grain more abundantly, and flocks, and herds, that they did not suffer with hunger.

"...Saints of God will eventually 'cry unto the Lord day and night until deliverence comes' Maxwell

his people were desirous to be baptized; but there was none in the land that had authority from God. And Ammon declined doing this thing, considering himself an unworthy servant.

This Ammon had the priesthood but was not worthy. Not to be confused with the first Ammon

his people were desirous to be baptized; but there was none in the land that had authority from God. And Ammon declined doing this thing, considering himself an unworthy servant.

This Ammon was a good guy and was in the service of his king. Sounds like he had the priesthood.

Nevertheless the Lord seeth fit to chasten his people; yea, he trieth their patience and their faith. 22 Nevertheless—whosoever putteth his trust in him the same shall be lifted up at the last day. Yea, and thus it was with this people. 23 For behold, I will show unto you that they were brought into bondage, and none could deliver them but the Lord their God, yea, even the God of Abraham and Isaac and of Jacob.

Part of our mortal experience...

that ye may know of a surety that I, the Lord God, do visit my people in their afflictions.

.

19 And it came to pass that king Mosiah granted unto Alma that he might establish churches throughout all the land of Zarahemla; and gave him power to ordain priests and teachers over every church. 20 Now this was done because there were so many people that they could not all be governed by one teacher; neither could they all hear the word of God in one assembly; 21 Therefore they did assemble themselves together in different bodies, being called churches; every church having their priests and their teachers, and every priest preaching the word according as it was delivered to him by the mouth of Alma. 22 And thus, notwithstanding there being many churches they were all one church, yea, even the church of God; for there was nothing preached in all the churches except it were repentance and faith in God.

King Mosiah: Prophet and seer; yet no formal church policy or structure in place at Alma's arrival

being little children at the time he spake unto his people; and they did not believe the tradition of their fathers. 2 They did not believe what had been said concerning the resurrection of the dead, neither did they believe concerning the coming of Christ. 3 And now because of their unbelief they could not understand the word of God; and their hearts were hardened. 4 And they would not be baptized; neither would they join the church. And they were a separate people as to their faith, and remained so ever after, even in their carnal and sinful state; for they would not call upon the Lord their God.

Family Home Evening had not been estabished yet and the parents forgot Mosiah 4:11-12

people, must be born again; yea, born of God, changed from their carnal and fallen state, to a state of righteousness, being redeemed of God, becoming his sons and daughters;

All of us... all