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| 312.1 | Chapter 1 | MUDIS3::WILLOUGHBY | FRANKly speaking | Thu Aug 30 1990 06:21 | 174 |
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THE BOOK OF MORMON
THE SECOND BOOK OF NEPHI.
An account of the death of Lehi. Nephi's brethren rebel against him. The Lord
warns Nephi to depart into the wilderness. His journeyings in the wilderness
and so forth.
CHAPTER 1
(A land of liberty, blessed for the righteous but cursed for the wicked - )
(Lehi's exhortation. )
1. And now it came to pass that after I, Nephi, had made an end of teaching
my brethren, our father, Lehi, also spake many things unto them, and
rehearsed unto them, how great things the Lord had done for them in
bringing them out of the land of Jerusalem.
2. And he spake unto them concerning their rebellions upon the waters, and
the mercies of God in sparing their lives, that they were not swallowed
up in the sea.
3. And he also spake unto them concerning the land of promise, which they
had obtained-how merciful the Lord had been in warning us that we should
flee out of the land of Jerusalem.
4. For, behold, said he, I have seen a vision, in which I know that Jerusalem
is destroyed; and had we remained in Jerusalem we should also have perished.
5. But, said he, notwithstanding our afflictions, we have obtained a land of
promise, a land which is choice above all other lands; a land which the
Lord God hath covenanted with me should be a land for the inheritance of
my seed. Yea, the Lord hath covenanted this land unto me, and to my
children forever, and also all those who should be led out of other
countries by the hand of the Lord.
6. Wherefore, I, Lehi, prophesy according to the workings of the Spirit
which is in me, that there shall none come into this land save they shall
be brought by the hand of the Lord.
7. Wherefore, this land is consecrated unto him whom he shall bring. And
if it so be that they shall serve him according to the commandments which
he hath given, it shall be a land of liberty unto them; wherefore, they
shall never be brought down into captivity; if so, it shall be because of
iniquity; for if iniquity shall abound cursed shall be the land for their
sakes, but unto the righteous it shall be blessed forever.
8. And behold, it is wisdom that this land should be kept as yet from the
knowledge of other nations; for behold, many nations would overrun the
land, that there would be no place for an inheritance.
9. Wherefore, I, Lehi, have obtained a promise, that inasmuch as those whom
the Lord God shall bring out of the land of Jerusalem shall keep his
commandments, they shall prosper upon the face of this land; and they
shall be kept from all other nations, that they may possess this land
unto themselves. And if it so be that they shall keep his commandments
they shall be blessed upon the face of this land, and there shall be none
to molest them, nor to take away the land of their inheritance; and they
shall dwell safely forever.
10. But behold, when the time cometh that they shall dwindle in unbelief, after
they have received so great blessings from the hand of the Lord - having a
knowledge of the creation of the earth, and all men, knowing the great and
marvelous works of the Lord from the creation of the world; having power
given them to do all things by faith; having all the commandments from the
beginning, and having been brought by his infinite goodness into this
precious land of promise-behold, I say, if the day shall come that they will
reject the Holy One of Israel, the true Messiah, their Redeemer and their
God, behold, the judgments of him that is just shall rest upon them.
11. Yea, he will bring other nations unto them, and he will give unto them
power, and he will take away from them the lands of their possessions,
and he will cause them to be scattered and smitten.
12. Yea, as one generation passeth to another there shall be bloodsheds, and
great visitations among them; wherefore, my sons, I would that ye would
remember; yea, I would that ye would hearken unto my words.
13. O that ye would awake; awake from a deep sleep, yea, even from the sleep
of hell, and shake off the awful chains by which ye are bound, which are
the chains which bind the children of men, that they are carried away
captive down to the eternal gulf of misery and woe.
14. Awake! and arise from the dust, and hear the words of a trembling parent,
whose limbs ye must soon lay down in the cold and silent grave, from whence
no traveler can return; a few more days and I go the way of all the earth.
15. But behold, the Lord hath redeemed my soul from hell; I have beheld his
glory, and I am encircled about eternally in the arms of his love.
16. And I desire that ye should remember to observe the statutes and the
judgments of the Lord; behold, this hath been the anxiety of my soul
from the beginning.
17. My heart hath been weighed down with sorrow from time to time, for I have
feared, lest for the hardness of your hearts the Lord your God should come
out in the fulness of his wrath upon you, that ye be cut off and destroyed
forever;
18. Or, that a cursing should come upon you for the space of many generations;
and ye are visited by sword, and by famine, and are hated, and are led
according to the will and captivity of the devil.
19. O my sons, that these things might not come upon you, but that ye might be
a choice and a favored people of the Lord. But behold, his will be done;
for his ways are righteousness forever.
20. And he hath said that: Inasmuch as ye shall keep my commandments ye shall
prosper in the land; but inasmuch as ye will not keep my commandments ye
shall be cut off from my presence.
21. And now that my soul might have joy in you, and that my heart might leave
this world with gladness because of you, that I might not be brought down
with grief and sorrow to the grave, arise from the dust, my sons, and be
men, and be determined in one mind and in one heart, united in all things,
that ye may not come down into captivity;
22. That ye may not be cursed with a sore cursing; and also, that ye may not
incur the displeasure of a just God upon you, unto the destruction, yea,
the eternal destruction of both soul and body.
23. Awake, my sons; put on the armor of righteousness. Shake off the chains
with which ye are bound, and come forth out of obscurity, and arise from
the dust.
24. Rebel no more against your brother, whose views have been glorious, and who
hath kept the commandments from the time that we left Jerusalem; and who
hath been an instrument in the hands of God, in bringing us forth into the
land of promise; for were it not for him, we must have perished with hunger
in the wilderness; nevertheless, ye sought to take away his life; yea, and
he hath suffered much sorrow because of you.
25. And I exceedingly fear and tremble because of you, lest he shall suffer
again; for behold, ye have accused him that he sought power and authority
over you; but I know that he hath not sought for power nor authority over
you, but he hath sought the glory of God, and you own eternal welfare.
26. And ye have murmured because he hath been plain unto you. Ye say that he
hath used sharpness; ye say that he hath been angry with you; but behold,
his sharpness was the sharpness of the power of the word of God, which was
in him; and that which ye call anger was the truth, according to that which
is in God, which he could not restrain, manifesting boldly concerning your
iniquities.
27. And it must needs be that the power of God must be with him, even unto his
commanding you that ye must obey. But behold, it was not he, but it was the
Spirit of the Lord which was in him, which opened his mouth to utterance
that he could not shut it.
28. And now my son, Laman, and also Lemuel and Sam, and also my sons who are
the sons of Ishmael, behold, if ye will hearken unto the voice of Nephi
ye shall not perish. And if ye will hearken unto him I leave unto you a
blessing, yea, even my first blessing.
29. But if ye will not hearken unto him I take away my first blessing, yea,
even my blessing, and it shall rest upon him.
30. And now, Zoram, I speak unto you: Behold, thou art the servant of Laban;
nevertheless, thou hast been brought out of the land of Jerusalem, and I
know that thou art a true friend unto my son, Nephi, forever.
31. Wherefore, because thou hast been faithful thy seed shall be blessed with
his seed, that they dwell in prosperity long upon the face of this land;
and nothing, save it shall be iniquity among them, shall harm or disturb
their prosperity upon the face of this land forever.
32. Wherefore, if ye shall keep the commandments of the Lord, the Lord hath
consecrated this land for the security of thy seed with the seed of my son.
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| 312.2 | Chapter 2 | MUDIS3::WILLOUGHBY | FRANKly speaking | Thu Aug 30 1990 07:01 | 158 |
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CHAPTER 2
(Lehi to his son Jacob - Opposition necessary in all things - The forbidden )
(fruit and the tree of life - Adam fell that men might be - Messiah, the great )
(Mediator, to redeem mankind. )
1. And now, Jacob, I speak unto you: Thou art my first-born in the days of
my tribulation in the wilderness. And behold, in thy childhood thou hast
suffered afflictions and much sorrow, because of the rudeness of thy
brethren.
2. Nevertheless, Jacob, my first-born in the wilderness, thou knowest the
greatness of God; and he shall consecrate thine afflictions for thy gain.
3. Wherefore, thy soul shall be blessed, and thou shalt dwell safely with thy
brother, Nephi; and thy days shall be spent in the service of thy God.
Wherefore, I know that thou art redeemed, because of the righteousness of
thy Redeemer; for thou hast beheld that in the fulness of time he cometh
to bring salvation unto men.
4. And thou hast beheld in thy youth his glory; wherefore, thou art blessed
even as they unto whom he shall minister in the flesh; for the Spirit is
the same, yesterday, today, and forever. And the way is prepared from the
fall of man, and salvation is free.
5. And men are instructed sufficiently that they know good from evil. And the
law is given unto men. And by the law no flesh is justified; or, by the
law men are cut off. Yea, by the temporal law they were cut off; and also,
by the spiritual law they perish from that which is good, and become
miserable forever.
6. Wherefore, redemption cometh in and through the Holy Messiah; for he is
full of grace and truth.
7. Behold he offereth himself a sacrifice for sin, to answer the ends of the
law, unto all those who have a broken heart and a contrite spirit; and unto
none else can the ends of the law be answered.
8. Wherefore, how great the importance to make these things known unto the
inhabitants of the earth, that they may know that there is no flesh that
can dwell in the presence of God, save it be though the merits, and mercy,
and grace of the Holy Messiah, who layeth down his life according to the
flesh, and taketh it again by the power of the Spirit, that he may bring
to pass the resurrection of the dead, being the first that should rise.
9. Wherefore, he is the firstfruits unto God, inasmuch as he shall make
intercession for all the children of men; and they that believe in him
shall be saved.
10. And because of the intercession for all, all men come unto God; wherefore,
they stand in the presence of him, to be judged of him according to the
truth and holiness which is in him. Wherefore, the ends of the law which
the Holy One hath given, unto the inflicting of the punishment which is
affixed, which punishment that is affixed is in opposition to that of the
happiness which is affixed, to answer the ends of the atonement -
11. For it must needs be, that there is an opposition in all things. If not
so, my first-born in the wilderness, righteousness could not be brought to
pass, neither wickedness, neither holiness nor misery, neither good nor bad.
Wherefore, all things must needs be a compound in one; wherefore, if it
should be one body it must needs remain as dead, having no life neither
death, nor corruption nor incorruption, happiness nor misery, neither
sense or insensibility.
12. Wherefore, it must needs have been created for a thing of naught; wherefore
there would have been no purpose in the end of its creation. Wherefore,
this thing must needs destroy the wisdom of God and his eternal purposes,
and also the power, and the mercy, and the justice of God.
13. And if ye shall say there is no law, ye shall also say there is no sin. If
ye shall say there is no sin, ye shall also say there is no righteousness.
And if there be no righteousness there be no happiness. And if there be no
righteousness nor happiness there be no punishment nor misery. And if these
things are not there is no God. And if there is no God we are not, neither
the earth; for there could have been no creation of things, neither to act
nor to be acted upon; wherefore, all things must have vanished away.
14. And now, my sons, I speak unto you these things for your profit and
learning; for there is a God, and he hath created all things, both the
heavens and the earth, and all things that in them are, both things to
act and things to be acted upon.
15. And to bring about his eternal purposes in the end of man, after he had
created our first parents, and the beasts of the field and the fowls of
the air, and in fine, all things which are created, it must needs be that
there was an opposition; even the forbidden fruit in opposition to the tree
of life; the one being sweet and the other bitter.
16. Wherefore, the Lord God gave unto man that he should act for himself.
Wherefore, man could not act for himself save it should be that he was
enticed by the one or the other.
17. And I, Lehi, according to the things which I have read, must needs suppose
that an angel of God, according to that which is written, had fallen from
heaven; wherefore, he became a devil, having sought that which was evil
before God.
18. And because he had fallen from heaven, and had become miserable forever,
he sought also the misery of all mankind. Wherefore, he said unto Eve,
yea, even that old serpent, who is the devil, who is the father of all
lies, wherefore he said: Partake of the forbidden fruit, and ye shall not
die, but ye shall be as God, knowing good and evil.
19. And after Adam and Eve had partaken of the forbidden fruit they were driven
out of the garden of Eden, to till the earth.
20. And they have brought forth children; yea, even the family of all the earth.
21. And the days of the children of men were prolonged according to the will of
God, that they might repent while in the flesh; wherefore, their state
became a state of probation, and their time was lengthened, according to
the commandments which the Lord God gave unto the children of men. For he
gave commandment that all men must repent; for he showed unto all men that
they were lost, because of the transgression of their parents.
22. And now, behold, if Adam had not transgressed he would not have fallen, but
he would have remained in the garden of Eden. And all things which were
created must have remained in the same state in which they were after they
were created; and they must have remained forever, and had no end.
23. And they would have had not children; wherefore they would have remained
in a state of innocence, having no joy, for they knew no misery; doing no
good, for they knew no sin.
24. But behold, all things have been done in the wisdom of him who knoweth all
things.
25. Adam fell that men might be; and men are, that they might have joy.
26. And the Messiah cometh in the fulness of time, that he may redeem the
children of men from the fall. And because that they are redeemed from
the fall they have become free forever, knowing good from evil; to act
for themselves and not to be acted upon, save it be by the punishment
of the law at the great and last day, according to the commandments
which God hath given.
27. Wherefore, men are free according to the flesh; and all things are given
them which are expedient unto man. And they are free to choose liberty
and eternal life, through the great Mediator of all men, or to choose
captivity and death, according to the captivity and power of the devil;
for he seeketh that all men might be miserable like unto himself.
28. And now, my sons, I would that ye should look to the great Mediator, and
hearken unto his great commandments; and be faithful unto his words, and
choose eternal life, according to the will of his Holy Spirit;
29. And not choose eternal death, according to the will of the flesh and
the evil which is therein, which giveth the spirit of the devil power
to captivate, to bring you down to hell, that he may reign over you in
his own kingdom.
30. I have spoken these few words unto you all, my sons, in the last days of
my probation; and I have chosen the good part, according to the words of
the prophet. And I have none other object save it be the everlasting
welfare of your souls. Amen.
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| 312.3 | Chapter 3 | MUDIS3::WILLOUGHBY | FRANKly speaking | Thu Aug 30 1990 07:06 | 124 |
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CHAPTER 3
(Lehi to his son Joseph - A prophecy by Joseph in Egypt - A choice seer )
(foretold - The mission of Moses - Hebrew and Nephite scriptures. )
1. And now I speak unto you, Joseph, my last-born. Thou wast born in the
wilderness of mine afflictions; yea, in the days of my greatest sorrow
did thy mother bear thee.
2. And may the Lord consecrate also unto thee this land, which is a most
precious land, for thine inheritance and the inheritance of thy seed
with thy brethren, for thy security forever, if it so be that ye shall
keep the commandments of the Holy One of Israel.
3. And now, Joseph, my last-born, whom I have brought out of the wilderness
of mine afflictions, may the Lord bless thee forever, for they seed shall
not utterly be destroyed.
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.
5. Wherefore, Joseph truly saw our day. And he obtained a promise of the Lord,
that out of the fruit of his loins the Lord God would raise up a righteous
branch unto the house of Israel; not the Messiah, but a branch which was to
be broken off, nevertheless, to be remembered in the covenants of the Lord
that the Messiah should be made manifest unto them in the latter days, in
the spirit of power, unto the bringing of them out of darkness unto light -
yea, out of hidden darkness and out of captivity unto freedom.
6. For Joseph truly testified, saying: A seer shall the Lord my God raise up,
who shall be a choice seer unto the fruit of my loins.
7. Yea, Joseph truly said: Thus saith the Lord unto me: A choice seer will I
raise up out of the fruit of thy loins; and he shall be esteemed highly
among the fruit of thy loins. And unto him will I give commandment that
he shall do a work for the fruit of thy loins, his brethren, which shall
be of great worth unto them, even to the bringing of them to the knowledge
of the covenants which I have made with thy fathers.
8. And I will give unto him a commandment that he shall do none other work,
save the work which I shall command him. And I will make him great in
mine eyes; for he shall do my work.
9. And he shall be great like unto Moses, whom I have said I would raise up
unto you, to deliver my people, O house of Israel.
10. And Moses will I raise up, to deliver thy people out of the land of Egypt.
11. But a seer will I raise up out of the fruit of thy loins; and unto him will
I give power to bring forth my word unto the seed of thy loins-and not to
the bringing forth my word only, saith the Lord, but to the convincing them
of my word, which shall have already gone forth among them.
12. Wherefore, the fruit of thy loins shall write; and the fruit of the loins
of Judah shall write; and that which shall be written by the fruit of thy
loins, and also that which shall be written by the fruit of the loins of
Judah, shall grow together, unto the confounding of false doctrines and
laying down of contentions, and establishing peace among the fruit of thy
loins, and bringing them to the knowledge of their fathers in the latter
days, and also to the knowledge of my covenants, saith the Lord.
13. And out of weakness he shall be made strong, in that day when my work shall
commence among all my people, unto the restoring thee, O house of Israel,
saith the Lord.
14. And thus prophesied Joseph, saying: Behold, that seer will the Lord bless;
and they that seek to destroy him shall be confounded; for this promise,
which I have obtained of the Lord, of the fruit of my loins, shall be
fulfilled. Behold, I am sure of the fulfilling of this promise;
15. And his name shall be called after me; and it shall be after the name of
his father. And he shall be like unto me; for the thing, which the Lord
shall bring forth by his hand, by the power of the Lord shall bring my
people unto salvation.
16. Yea, thus prophesied Joseph: I am sure of this thing, even as I am sure
of the promise of Moses; for the Lord hath said unto me, I will preserve
thy seed forever.
17. And the Lord hath said: I will raise up a Moses; and I will give power unto
him in a rod; and I will give judgment unto him in writing. Yet I will not
loose his tongue, that he shall speak much, for I will not make him mighty
in speaking. But I will write unto him my law, by the finger of mine own
hand; and I will make a spokesman for him.
18. And the Lord said unto me also: I will raise up unto the fruit of thy
loins; and I will make for him a spokesman. And I, behold, I will give
unto him that he shall write the writing of the fruit of thy loins, unto
the fruit of thy loins; and the spokesman of thy loins shall declare it.
19. And the words which he shall write shall be the words which are expedient
in the wisdom should go forth unto the fruit of thy loins. And it shall
be as if the fruit of thy loins had cried unto them from the dust; for I
know their faith.
20. And they shall cry from the dust; yea, even repentance unto their brethren,
even after many generations have gone by them. And it shall come to pass
that their cry shall go, even according to the simpleness of their words.
21. Because of their faith their words shall proceed forth out of my mouth
unto their brethren who are the fruit of thy loins; and the weakness of
their words will I make strong in their faith, unto the remembering of my
covenant which I made unto thy fathers.
22. And now, behold, my son Joseph, after this manner did my father of old
prophesy.
23. Wherefore, because of this covenant thou art blessed; for thy seed shall
not be destroyed, for they shall hearken unto the words of the book.
24. And there shall rise up one mighty among them, who shall do much good, both
in word and in deed, being an instrument in the hands of God, with exceeding
faith, to work mighty wonders, and do that thing which is great in the sight
of God unto the bringing to pass much restoration unto the house of Israel,
and unto the seed of thy brethren.
25. And now, blessed art thou, Joseph. Behold, thou art little; wherefore
hearken unto the words of thy brother, Nephi, and it shall be done unto
thee even according to the words which I have spoken. Remember the words
of thy dying father. Amen.
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| 312.4 | Chapter 4 | MUDIS3::WILLOUGHBY | FRANKly speaking | Thu Aug 30 1990 07:09 | 150 |
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CHAPTER 4
(Lehi blesses the sons and daughters of Laman and Lemuel - Blessings upon )
(Ishmael's household and upon Sam and his posterity - death of Lehi - Further )
(rebellion. )
1. And now, I, Nephi, speak concerning the prophecies of which my father hath
spoken, concerning Joseph, who was carried into Egypt.
2. For behold, he truly prophesied concerning all his seed. And the prophecies
which he wrote, there are not many greater. And he prophesied concerning
us, and our future generations; and they are written upon the plates of
brass.
3. Wherefore, after my father had made an end of speaking concerning the
prophecies of Joseph, he called the children of Laman, his sons, and his
daughters, and said unto them: Behold, my sons, and my daughters, who are
the sons and the daughters of my first-born, I would that ye should give
ear unto my words.
4. For the Lord God hath said that: Inasmuch as ye shall keep my commandments
ye shall prosper in the land; and inasmuch as ye will not keep my
commandments ye shall be cut off from my presence.
5. But behold, my sons and my daughters, I cannot go down to my grave save I
should leave a blessing upon you; for behold, I know that if ye are brought
up in the way ye should go ye will not depart from it.
6. Wherefore, if yea are cursed, behold, I leave my blessing upon you, that
the cursing may be taken from you and be answered upon the heads of your
parents.
7. Wherefore, because of my blessing the Lord God will not suffer that ye shall
perish; wherefore, he will be merciful unto you and unto your seed forever.
8. And it came to pass that after my father had made an end of speaking to the
sons and daughters of Laman, he caused the sons and daughters of Lemuel to
be brought before him.
9. And he spake unto them, saying: Behold, my sons and daughters, who are the
sons and the daughters of my second son; behold I leave unto you the same
blessing which I left unto the sons and daughters of Laman; wherefore, thou
shalt not utterly be destroyed; but in the end thy seed shall be blessed.
10. And it came to pass that when my father had made an end of speaking unto
them, behold, he spoke 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.
12. And it came to pass after my father, Lehi, had spoken unto all his
household, according to the feelings of his heart and the Spirit of
the Lord which was in him, he waxed old. And it came to pass that he
died, and was buried.
13. And it came to pass that not many days after his death, Laman and Lemuel
and the sons of Ishmael were angry with me because of the admonitions of
the Lord.
14. For I, Nephi, was constrained to speak unto them, according to his word;
for I had spoken many things unto them, and also my father, before his
death; many of which sayings are written upon mine other plates; for a
more history part are written upon mine other plates.
15. And upon these I write the things of my soul, and many of the scriptures
which are engraven upon the plates of brass. For my soul delighteth in the
scriptures, and my heart pondereth them, and writeth them for the learning
and the profit of my children.
16. Behold, my soul delighteth in the things of the Lord; and my heart pondereth
continually upon the things which I have seen and heard.
17. Nevertheless, notwithstanding the great goodness of the Lord, in showing me
his great and marvelous works, my heart exclaimeth: O wretched man that I
am! Yea, my heart sorroweth because of my flesh; my soul grieveth because
of mine iniquities.
18. I am encompassed about, because of the temptations and the sins which do
easily beset me.
19. And when I desire to rejoice, my heart groaneth because of my sins;
nevertheless, I know in whom I have trusted.
20. My God hath been my support; he hath led me through mine afflictions in the
wilderness; and he hath preserved me upon the waters of the great deep.
21. He hath filled me with his love, even unto the consuming of my flesh.
22. He hath confounded mine enemies, unto the causing them to quake before me.
23. Behold, he hath heard my cry by day, and he hath given me knowledge by
visions in the night- time.
24. And by day have I waxed bold in mighty prayer before him; yea, my voice have
I sent up on high; and angels came down and ministered unto me.
25. And upon the wings of his Spirit hath my body been carried away upon
exceedingly high mountains. And mine eyes have beheld great things,
yea, even too great for man; therefore I was bidden that I should not
write them.
26. O then, if I have seen so great things, if the Lord in his condescension
unto the children of men hath visited men in so much mercy, why should my
heart weep and my soul linger in the valley of sorrow, and my flesh waste
away, and my strength slacken, because of mine afflictions?
27. And why should I yield to sin, because of my flesh? Yea, why should I give
way to temptations, that the evil one have place in my heart to destroy my
peace and afflict my soul? Why am I angry because of mine enemy?
28. Awake, my soul! No longer droop in sin. Rejoice, O my heart, and give place
no more for the enemy of my soul.
29. Do not anger again because of mine enemies. Do not slacken my strength
because of mine afflictions.
30. Rejoice, O my heart, and cry unto the Lord, and say: O Lord, I will praise
thee forever; yea, my soul will rejoice in thee, my God, and the rock of my
salvation.
31. O Lord, wilt thou redeem my soul? Wilt thou deliver me out of the hands of
mine enemies? Wilt thou make me that I may shake at the appearance of sin?
32. May the gates of hell be shut continually before me, because that my heart
is broken and my spirit is contrite! O Lord, wilt thou not shut the gates
of thy righteousness before me, that I may walk in the path of the low
valley, that I may be strict in the plain road!
33. O Lord, wilt thou encircle me around in the robe of thy righteousness!
O Lord, wilt thou make a way for mine escape before mine enemies! Wilt
thou make my path straight before me, and hedge not up my way, but the ways
of mine enemy.
34. O Lord, I have trusted in thee, and I will trust in thee forever. I will
not put my trust in the arm of flesh; for I know that cursed is he that
putteth his trust in the arm of flesh. Yea, cursed is he that putteth
his trust in man or maketh flesh his arm.
35. Yea, I know that God will give liberally to him that asketh. Yea, my God
will give me, if I ask not amiss; therefore I will lift up my voice unto
thee; yea, I will cry unto thee, my God, the rock of my righteousness.
Behold, my voice shall forever ascend up unto thee, my rock and mine
everlasting God. Amen.
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| 312.5 | Chapter 5 | MUDIS3::WILLOUGHBY | FRANKly speaking | Thu Aug 30 1990 07:13 | 141 |
|
CHAPTER 5
(Nephi, warned of God, separates from those who seek his life - Zoram, Sam, )
(Jacob and Joseph and others accompany him - The sword of Laban - A temple )
(built - Nephi a king or protector - The rebellious cursed with a dark skin - )
(Priests and teachers consecrated. )
1. Behold, it came to pass that I, Nephi, did cry much unto the Lord my God,
because of the anger of my brethren.
2. But behold, their anger did increase against me, insomuch that they did seek
to take away my life.
3. Yea, they did murmur against me saying: Our younger brother thinks to rule
over us; and we have had much trial because of him; wherefore, now let us
slay him, that we may not be afflicted more because of his words. For
behold, we will not have him to be our ruler; for it belongs unto us, who
are the elder brethren, to rule over this people.
4. Now I do not write upon these plates all the words which they murmured
against me. But it sufficeth me to say, that they did seek to take away my
life.
5. And it came to pass that the Lord did warn me, that I, Nephi, should depart
from them and flee into the wilderness, and all those who would go with me.
6. Wherefore, it came to pass that I Nephi, did take my family, and also Zoram
and his family, and Sam, mine elder brother and his family, and Jacob and
Joseph, my younger brethren, and also my sisters, and all those who would go
with me. And all those who would go with me were those who believed in the
warnings and the revelations of God; wherefore, they did hearken unto my
words.
7. And we did take our tents and whatsoever things were possible for us, and
did journey in the wilderness for the space of many days. And after we had
journeyed for the space of many days we did pitch our tents.
8. And my people would that we should call the name of the place Nephi;
wherefore, we did call it Nephi.
9. And all those who were with me did take upon them to call themselves the
people of Nephi.
10. And we did observe to keep the judgments, and the statutes, and the
commandments of the Lord in all things, according to the law of Moses.
11. And the Lord was with us; and we did prosper exceedingly; for we did sow
seed, and we did reap again in abundance. And we began to raise flocks,
and herds, and animals of every kind.
12. And I, Nephi, had also brought the records which were engraven upon the
plates of brass; and also the ball, or compass, which was prepared for my
father by the hand of the Lord, according to that which is written.
13. And it came to pass that we began to prosper exceedingly, and to multiply
in the land.
14. And I, Nephi, did take the sword of Laban, and after the manner of it did
make many swords, lest by any means the people who were now called the
Lamanites should come upon us and destroy us; for I knew their hatred
towards me and my children and those who were called my people.
15. And I did teach my people to build buildings, and to work in all manner of
wood, and of iron, and of copper, and of brass, and of steel, and of gold,
and of silver, and of precious ores, which were in great abundance.
16. And I, Nephi, did build a temple; and I did construct it after the manner
of the temple of Solomon save it were not built of so many precious things;
for they were not to be found upon the land, wherefore, it could not be
built like unto Solomon's temple. But the manner of the construction was
like unto the temple of Solomon; and the workmanship thereof was exceedingly
fine.
17. And it came to pass that I, Nephi, did cause my people to be industrious,
and to labor with their hands.
18. And it came to pass that they would that I should be their king. But I,
Nephi, was desirous that they should have no king; nevertheless, I did for
them according to that which was in my power.
19. And behold, the words of the Lord had been fulfilled unto my brethren, which
he spake concerning them, that I should be their ruler and their teacher.
Wherefore, I had been their ruler and their teacher, according to the
commandments of the Lord, until the time they sought to take away my life.
20. Wherefore, the word of the Lord was fulfilled which he spake unto me, saying
that: Inasmuch as they will not hearken unto thy words they shall be cut off
from the presence of the Lord. And behold, they were cut off from his
presence.
21. And he had caused the cursing to come upon them, yea, even a sore cursing,
because of their iniquity. For behold, they had hardened their hearts
against him that they had become like unto a flint; wherefore, as they were
white, and exceedingly fair and delightsome, that they might not be enticing
unto my people the Lord God did cause a skin of blackness to come upon them.
22. And thus saith the Lord God: I will cause that they shall be loathsome unto
thy people, save they shall repent of their iniquities.
23. And cursed shall be the seed of him that mixeth with their seed; for they
shall be cursed even with the same cursing. And the Lord spake it, and it
was done.
24. And because of their cursing which was upon them they did become an idle
people, full of mischief and subtlety, and did seek in the wilderness for
beasts of prey.
25. And the Lord God said unto me: They shall be a scourge unto thy seed,
to stir them up in remembrance of me; and inasmuch as they will not
remember me, and hearken unto my words, they shall scourge them even
unto destruction.
26. And it came to pass that I, Nephi, did consecrate Jacob and Joseph, that
they should be priests and teachers over the land of my people.
27. And it came to pass that we lived after the manner of happiness.
28. And thirty years had passed away from the time we left Jerusalem.
29. And I, Nephi, had kept the records upon my plates, which I had made, of my
people thus far.
30. And it came to pass that the Lord God said unto me: Make other plates;
and thou shalt engraven many things upon them which are good in my sight,
for the profit of thy people.
31. Wherefore, I, Nephi, to be obedient to the commandments of the Lord, went
and made these plates upon which I have engraven these things.
32. And I engraved that which is pleasing unto God. And if my people are pleased
with the things of God they will be pleased with mine engravings which are
upon these plates.
33. And if people desire to know the more particular part of the history of my
people they must search mine other plates.
34. And it sufficeth me to say that forty years had passed away, and we had
already had wars and contentions with our brethren.
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| 312.6 | Chapter 6 | MUDIS3::WILLOUGHBY | FRANKly speaking | Thu Aug 30 1990 10:52 | 98 |
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CHAPTER 6
(Jacob's exhortation to the people--He cites the prophecies of Isaiah. )
1. The words of Jacob, the brother of Nephi, which he spake unto the people of
Nephi:
2. Behold, my beloved brethren, I, Jacob, having been called of God, and
ordained after the manner of his holy order, and having been consecrated
by my brother Nephi, unto whom ye look as a king or a protector, and on
whom ye depend for safety, behold ye know that I have spoken unto you
exceedingly.
3. Nevertheless, I speak unto you again; for I am desirous for the welfare
of your souls. yea, mine anxiety is great for you; and ye yourselves
know that it ever has been. For I have exhorted you with all diligence;
and I have taught you the words of my father; and I have spoken unto you
concerning all things which are written, from the creation of the world.
4. And now, behold, I would speak unto you concerning things which are, and
which are to come; wherefore, I will read you the words of Isaiah. And
they are the words which my brother has desired that I should speak unto
you. And I speak unto you for your sakes, that ye may learn and glorify
the name of your God.
5. And now, the words which I shall read are they which Isaiah spake concerning
all the house of Israel; wherefore, they may be likened unto you, for ye
are of the house of Israel. And there are many things which have been
spoken by Isaiah which may be likened unto you, because ye are of the house
of Israel.
6. And now, these are the words: Thus saith the Lord God: Behold, I will lift
up mine hand to the Gentiles, and set up my standard to the people; and they
shall bring thy sons in their arms, and thy daughters shall be carried upon
their shoulders.
7. And kings shall be thy nursing fathers, and their queens thy nursing
mothers; they shall bow down to thee with their faces 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 wait for me.
8. And now I, Jacob, would speak somewhat concerning these words. For behold,
the Lord has shown me that those who were at Jerusalem, from whence we came,
have been slain and carried away captive.
9. Nevertheless, the Lord has shown unto me that they should return again.
And he also has shown unto me that the Lord God, the Holy One of Israel,
should manifest himself unto them in the flesh; and after he should
manifest himself they should scourge him and crucify him, according to
the words of the angel who spake it unto me.
10. And after they have hardened their hearts and stiffened their necks
against the Holy One of Israel, behold, the judgments of the Holy One
of Israel shall come upon them. And the day cometh that they shall be
smitten and afflicted.
11. Wherefore, after they are driven to and fro, for thus saith the angel,
many shall be afflicted in the flesh, and shall not be suffered to
perish, because of the prayers of the faithful; they shall be scattered,
and smitten, and hated; nevertheless, the Lord will be merciful unto them,
that when they shall come to the knowledge of their Redeemer, they shall
be gathered together again to the lands of their inheritance.
12. And blessed are the Gentiles, they of whom the prophet has written; for
behold, if so be that they shall repent and fight not against Zion, and
do not unite themselves to that great and abominable church, they shall
be saved; for the Lord God will fulfil his covenants which he has made
unto his children; and for this cause the prophet has written these things.
13. Wherefore, they that fight against Zion and the covenant people of the Lord
shall lick up the dust of their feet; and the people of the Lord shall not
be ashamed. For the people of the Lord are they who wait for him; for they
still wait for the coming of the Messiah.
14. And behold, according to the words of the prophet, the Messiah will set
himself again the second time to recover them; wherefore, he will manifest
himself unto them in power and great glory, unto the destruction of their
enemies, when that day cometh when they shall believe in him; and none will
destroy that believe in him.
15. And they that believe not in him shall be destroyed, both by fire, and by
temptest, and by earthquakes, and by bloodsheds, and by pestilence and by
famine. And they shall know that the Lord is God, the Holy One of Israel.
16. For shall the prey be taken from the mighty, or the lawful captive
delivered?
17. But thus saith the Lord: Even the captives of the mighty shall be taken
away, and the prey of the terrible shall be delivered; for the Mighty God
shall deliver his covenant people. For thus saith the Lord: I will contend
with them that contendeth with thee-
18. And I will feed them that oppress thee, with their own flesh; and they shall
be drunken with their own blood as with sweet wine; and all flesh shall know
that I the Lord am thy Savior and thy Redeemer, the Mighty One of Jacob.
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| 312.7 | Chapter 7 | MUDIS3::WILLOUGHBY | FRANKly speaking | Thu Aug 30 1990 11:09 | 49 |
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CHAPTER 7
(Jacob's teachings continued--Compare Isaiah 50. )
1. Yea, for thus saith the Lord: Have I put thee away, or have I cast thee
off forever? For thus saith the Lord: Where is the bill of your mother's
divorcement? To whom have I put thee away, or to which of my creditors
have I sold you? Yea, to whom have ye sold yourselves, and for your
transgressions is your mother put away.
2. Wherefore, when I came, there was no man; when I called, yea, there was
none to answer. O house of Israel, is my hand shortened at all that it
cannot redeem, or have I no power to deliver? Behold at my rebuke I dry
up the sea, I make their rivers a wilderness and their fish to stink
because the waters are dried up, and they die because of thirst.
3. I clothe the heavens with blackness, and I make sackcloth their covering.
4. The Lord God hath given me the tongue of the learned, that I should know
how to speak a word in season unto thee, O house of Israel. When ye are
weary he waketh morning by morning. He waketh mine ear to hear as the
learned.
5. The Lord God hath opened mine ear, and I was not rebellious, neither turned
away back.
6. I gave my back to the smiter, and my cheeks to them that plucked off the
hair. I hid not my face from shame and spitting.
7. For the Lord God will help me, therefore shall I not be confounded.
Therefore have I set my face like a flint, and I know that I shall not be
ashamed.
8. And the Lord is near, and he justifieth me. Who will contend with me?
Let us stand together. Who is mine adversary? Let him come near me,
and I will smite him with the strength of my mouth.
9. For the Lord God will help me. And all they who shall condemn me, behold,
all they shall wax old as a garment, and the moth shall eat them up.
10. Who is among you that feareth the Lord, that obeyeth the voice of his
servant, that walketh in darkness and hath no light?
11. Behold all ye that kindle fire, that compass yourselves about with sparks,
walk in the light of your fire and in the sparks which ye have kindled.
This shall ye have of mine hand-ye shall lie down in sorrow.
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| 312.8 | Chapter 8 | MUDIS3::WILLOUGHBY | FRANKly speaking | Thu Aug 30 1990 11:17 | 99 |
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CHAPTER 8
(Jacob's teachings continued--Compare Isaiah 51. )
1. Hearken unto me, ye that follow after righteousness. Look unto the rock
from whence ye are hewn, and to the hold of the pit from whence ye are
digged.
2. Look unto Abraham, your father, and unto Sarah, she that bare you; for I
called him alone, and blessed him.
3. For the Lord shall comfort Zion, he will comfort all her waste places; and
he will make her wilderness like Eden, and the desert like the garden of
the Lord. Joy and gladness shall be found therein, thanksgiving and the
voice of melody.
4. Hearken unto me, my people; and give ear unto me, O my nation; for a law
shall proceed from me, and I will make my judgment to rest for a light for
the people.
5. My righteousness is near; my salvation is gone forth, and mine arm shall
judge the people. The isles shall wait upon me, and on mine arm shall they
trust.
6. Lift up your eyes to the heavens, and look upon the earth beneath; for the
heavens shall vanish away like smoke, and the earth shall wax old like a
garment; and they that dwell therein shall die in like manner. But my
salvation shall be forever, and my righteousness shall not be abolished.
7. Hearken unto me, ye that know righteousness, the people in whose heart I
have written my law, fear ye not the reproach of me, neither be ye afraid
of their revilings.
8. For the moth shall eat them up like a garment, and the worm shall eat them
like wool. But my righteousness shall be forever, and my salvation from
generation to generation.
9. Awake, awake! Put on strength, O arm of the Lord; awake as in the ancient
days. Art thou not he that hath cut Rahab, and wounded the dragon?
10. Art thou not he who hath dried the sea, the waters of the great deep; that
hath made the depths of the sea a way for the ransomed to pass over?
11. Therefore, the redeemed of the Lord shall return, and come with singing unto
Zion; and everlasting joy and holiness shall be upon their heads; and they
shall obtain gladness and joy; sorrow and mourning shall flee away.
12. I am he; yea, I am he that comforteth you. Behold, who art thou, that thou
shouldst be afraid of man, who shall die, and of the son of man, who shall
be made like unto grass?
13. And forgettest the Lord thy maker, that hath stretched forth the heavens,
and laid the foundations of the earth, and hast feared continually every
day, because of the fury of the oppressor, as if he were ready to destroy?
And where is the fury of the oppressor?
14. The captive exile hasteneth, that he may be loosed, and that he should not
die in the pit, nor that his bread should fail.
15. But I am the Lord thy God, whose waves roared; the Lord of Hosts is my name.
16. And I have put my words in thy mouth, and have covered thee in the shadow
of mine hand, that I may plant the heavens and lay the foundations of the
earth, and say unto Zion: Behold, thou art my people.
17. Awake, awake, stand up, O Jerusalem, which hast drunk at the hand of
the Lord the cup of his fury- thou hast drunken the dregs of the cup
of trembling wrung out-
18. And none to guide her among all the sons she hath brought forth; neither
that taketh her by the hand, of all the sons she hath brought up.
19. These two sons are come unto thee, who shall be sorry for thee-thy
desolation and destruction, and the famine and the sword-and by whom
shall I comfort thee?
20. Thy sons have fainted, save these two; they lie at the head of all streets;
as a wild bull in a net, they are full of the fury of the Lord, the rebuke
of thy God.
21. Therefore hear now this, thou afflicted, and drunken, and not with wine:
22. Thus saith thy Lord, the Lord and thy God pleadeth the cause of his people;
behold, I have taken out of thine hand the cup of trembling, the dregs of
the cup of my fury; thou shalt no more drink it again.
23. But I will put it into the hand of them that afflict thee; who have said to
my soul: Bow down, that we may go over-and thou has laid thy body as the
ground and as the street to them that went over.
24. Awake, awake, put on thy strength, O Zion; put on thy beautiful garments,
O Jerusalem, the holy city; for henceforth there shall no more come into
thee the uncircumcised and the unclean.
25. Shake thyself from the dust; arise, sit down, O Jerusalem; loose thyself
from the bands of thy neck, O captive daughter of Zion.
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| 312.9 | Chapter 9 | MUDIS3::WILLOUGHBY | FRANKly speaking | Thu Aug 30 1990 11:20 | 267 |
|
CHAPTER 9
(Jacob's teachings continued--The infinite atonement--The Savior's sufferings )
(foreseen--Where there is no law there is no punishment. )
1. And now, my beloved brethren, I have read these things that ye might
know concerning the covenants of the Lord that he has covenanted with
all the house of Israel-
2. That he has spoken unto the Jews, by the mouth of his holy prophets,
even from the beginning down, from generation to generation, until
the time comes that they shall be restored to the true church
and fold of God; when they shall be gathered home to the lands of
their inheritance, and shall be established in all their lands of
promise.
3. Behold, my beloved brethren, I speak unto you these things that
ye may rejoice, and lift up your heads forever, because of the
blessings which the Lord God shall bestow upon your children.
4. For I know that ye have searched much, many of you, to know of
things to come; wherefore I know that ye know that our flesh must
waste away and die; nevertheless, in our bodies we shall see God.
5. Yea, I know that ye know that in the body he shall show himself to
those at Jerusalem, from whence we came; for it is expedient that
it should be among them; for it behooveth the great Creator that
he suffereth himself to become subject unto men in the flesh, and
die for all men, that all men might become subject unto him.
6. For as death hath passed upon all men, to fulfil the merciful plan
of the great Creator, there must needs be a power of resurrection,
and the resurrection must needs come unto man by reason of the
fall; and the fall came by reason of transgression; and because
man became fallen they were cut off from the presence of the Lord.
7. Wherefore, it must needs be an infinite atonement-save it should be
an infinite atonement this corruption could not put on incorruption.
Wherefore, the first judgment which came upon man must needs have
remained to an endless duration. And if so, this flesh must have
laid down to rot and to crumble to its mother earth, to rise no more.
8. O the wisdom of God, his mercy and grace! For behold, if the flesh
should rise no more our spirits must become subject to that angel
who fell from before the presence of the Eternal God, and became
the devil, to rise no more.
9. And our spirits must have become like unto him, and we become
devils, angels to a devil, to be shut out from the presence of
our God, and to remain with the father of lies, in misery, like
unto himself; yea, to that being who beguiled our first parents,
who transformeth himself nigh unto an angel of light, and stirreth
up the children of men unto secret combinations of murder and all
manner of secret works of darkness.
10. O how great the goodness of our God, who prepareth a way for our
escape from the grasp of this awful monster; yea, that monster,
death and hell, which I call the death of the body, and also the
death of the spirit.
11. And because of the way of deliverance of our God, the Holy One of
Israel, this death, of which I have spoken, which is the temporal,
shall deliver up its dead; which death is the grave.
12. And this death of which I have spoken, which is the spiritual death,
shall deliver up its dead; which spiritual death is hell; wherefore,
death and hell must deliver up their dead, and hell must deliver up
its captive spirits, and the grave must deliver up its captive bodies,
and the bodies and the spirits of men will be restored one to the other;
and it is by the power of the resurrection of the Holy One of Israel.
13. O how great the plan of our God! For on the other hand, the paradise
of God must deliver up the spirits of the righteous, and the grave
deliver up the body fo the righteous; and the spirit and the body
is restored to itself again, and all men become incorruptible, and
immortal, and they are living souls, having a perfect knowledge
like unto us in the flesh, save it be that our knowledge shall be
perfect.
14. Wherefore, we shall have a perfect knowledge of all our guilt, and
our uncleanness, and our nakedness; and the righteous shall have a
perfect knowledge of their enjoyment, and their righteousness, being
clothed with purity, yea, even with the robe of righteousness.
15. And it shall come to pass that when all men shall have passed from
this first death unto life, insomuch as they have become immortal,
they must appear before the judgment-seat of the Holy One of Israel;
and then cometh the judgment, and then must they be judged according
to the holy judgment of God.
16. And assuredly, as the Lord liveth, for the Lord God hath spoken it,
and it is his eternal word, which cannot pass away, that they who are
righteous shall be righteous still, and they who are filthy shall be
filthy still; wherefore, they who are filthy are the devil and his
angels and they shall go away into everlasting fire, prepared for
them; and their torment is as a lake of fire and brimstone, whose
flame ascendeth up forever and ever and has no end.
17. O the greatness and the justice of our God! For he executeth all his
words, and they have gone forth out of his mouth, and his law must
be fulfilled.
18. But, behold, the righteous, the saints of the Holy One of Israel,
they who have believed in the Holy One of Israel, they who have
endured the crosses of the world, and despised the same of it, they
shall inherit the kingdom of God, which was prepared for them from
the foundation of the world, and their joy shall be full forever.
19. O the greatness of the mercy of our God, the Holy One of Israel!
For he delivereth his saints from that awful monster the devil,
and death, and hell, and that lake of fire and brimstone, which
is endless torment.
20. O how great the holiness of our God! For he knoweth all things,
and there is not anything save he knows it.
21. And he cometh into the world that he may save al men if they will
hearken unto his voice; for behold, he suffereth the pains of every
living creature, both men, women, and children, who belong to the
family of Adam.
22. And he suffereth this that the resurrection might pass upon all
men, that all might stand before him at the great and judgment day.
23. And he commandeth all men that they must repent, and be baptized in
his name, having perfect faith in the Holy One of Israel, or they
cannot be saved in the kingdom of God.
24. And if they will not repent and believe in his name, and be baptized
in his name, and endure to the end, they must be damned; for the Lord
God, the Holy One of Israel, has spoken it.
25. Wherefore, he has given a law; and where there is no law given there
is no punishment; and where there is no punishment there is no
condemnation; and where there is no condemnation the mercies of the
Holy One of Israel have claim upon them, because of the atonement; for
they are delivered by the power of him.
26. For the atonement satisfieth the demands of his justice upon all those
who have not the law given to them, that they are delivered from that
awful monster, death and hell, and the devil, and the lake of fire and
brimstone, which is endless torment; and they are restored to that God
who gave them breath, which is the Holy One of Israel.
27. But wo unto him that has the law given, yea, that has all the commandments
of God, like unto us, and that transgresseth them, and that wasteth the days
of his probation, for awful is his state!
28. O that cunning plan of the evil one! O the vainness, and the frailties,
and the foolishness of men! When they are learned they think they are
wise, and they hearken not unto the counsel of God, for they set it aside,
supposing they know of themselves, wherefore, their wisdom is foolishness
and it profiteth them not. And they shall perish.
29. But to be learned is good if they hearken unto the counsels fo God.
30. But wo unto the rich, who are rich as to the things of the world.
For because they are rich they despise the poor, and they persecute
the meek, and their hearts are upon their treasures; wherefore, their
treasure is their god. And behold, their treasure shall perish with
them also.
31. And wo unto the deaf that will not hear; for they shall perish.
32. Wo unto the blind that will not see; for they shall perish also.
33. Wo unto the uncircumcised of heart, for a knowledge of their
iniquities shall smite them at the last day.
34. Wo unto the liar, for he shall be thrust down to hell.
35. Wo unto the murderer who deliberately killeth, for he shall die.
36. Wo unto them who commit whoredoms, for they shall be thrust down to hell.
37. Yea, wo unto those that worship idols, for the devil of all devils
delighteth in them.
38. And, in fine, wo unto all those who die in their sins; for they shall
return to God, and behold his face, and remain in their sins.
39. O, my beloved brethren, remember the awfulness in transgressing against
that Holy God, and also the awfulness of yielding to the enticings of
that cunning one. Remember, to be carnally-minded is death, and to be
spiritually-minded is life eternal.
40. O, my beloved brethren, give ear to my words. Remember the greatness of
the Holy One of Israel. Do not say that I have spoken hard things against
you; for if ye do, ye will revile against the truth; for I have spoken the
words of your Maker. I know that the words of truth are hard against all
uncleanness, but the righteous fear them not, for they love the truth and
are not shaken.
41. O then, my beloved brethren, come unto the Lord, the Holy One. Remember
that his paths are righteous. Behold, the way for man is narrow, but it
lieth in a straight course before him, and the keeper of the gate is the
Holy One of Israel; and he employeth no servant there; and there is none
other way save it be by the gate; for he cannot be deceived, for the Lord
God is his name.
42. And whoso knocketh, to him will he open; and the wise, and the learned,
and they that are rich, who are puffed up because of their learning, and
their wisdom, and their riches-yea, they are they whom he despiseth; and
save they shall cast these things away, and consider themselves fools
before God, and come down in the depths of humility, he will not open
unto them.
43. But the things of the wise and the prudent shall be hid from them
forever-yea, that happiness which is prepared for the saints.
44. O, my beloved brethren, remember my words. Behold, I take off my
garments, and I shake them before you; I pray the God of my salvation
that he view me with his all-searching eye; wherefore, ye shall know
at the last day, when all men shall be judged of heir works, that the
God of Israel did witness that I shook your iniquities from my soul,
and that I stand with brightness before him, and am rid of your blood.
45. O, my beloved brethren, turn away from your sins; shake off the chains
of him that would bind you fast; come unto that God who is the rock of
your salvation.
46. Prepare your souls for that glorious day when justice shall be
administered unto the righteous, even the day of judgment, that ye may
not shrink with awful fear; that ye may not remember your awful guilt
in perfectness, and be constrained to exclaim: Holy, holy are thy
judgments, O Lord God Almighty-but I know my guilt; I transgressed thy
law, and my transgressions are mine; and the devil hath obtained me,
that I am a prey to his awful misery.
47. But behold, my brethren, is it expedient that I should awake you to
an awful reality of these things? Would I harrow up your souls if
your minds were pure? Would I be plain unto you according to the
plainness of the truth if ye were freed from sin?
48. Behold, if ye were holy I would speak unto you of holiness; but as
ye are not holy, and ye look upon me as a teacher, it must needs be
expedient that I teach you the consequences of sin.
49. Behold, my soul abhorreth sin, and my heart delighteth in righteousness;
and I will praise the holy name of my God.
50. Come, my brethren, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters;
and he that hath no money, come and buy and eat; yea, come buy wine
and milk without money and without price.
51. Wherefore, do not spend money for that which is of no worth, nor your
labor for that which cannot satisfy. Hearken diligently unto me, and
remember the words which I have spoken; and come unto the Holy One of
Israel, and feast upon that which perisheth not, neither can be corrupted,
and let your soul delight in fatness.
52. Behold, my beloved brethren, remember the words of your God; pray unto
him continually by day, and give thanks unto his holy name by night.
Let your hearts rejoice.
53. And behold how great the covenants of the Lord, and how great his
condescensions unto the children of men; and because of his greatness,
and his grace and mercy, he has promised unto us that our seed shall
not utterly be destroyed, according to the flesh, but that he would
preserve them; and in future generations they shall become a righteous
branch unto the house of Israel.
54. And now, my brethren, I would speak unto you more; but on the morrow
I will declare unto you the remainder of my words. Amen.
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| 312.10 | Chapter 10 | MUDIS3::WILLOUGHBY | FRANKly speaking | Thu Aug 30 1990 11:28 | 116 |
|
CHAPTER 10
(Jacob's teachings continued--The coming of Christ--No kings upon the land of )
(promise--they who fight against Zion shall perish. )
1. And now I, Jacob, speak unto you again, my beloved brethren, concerning
this righteous branch of which I have spoken.
2. For behold, the promises which we have obtained are promises unto us
according to the flesh; wherefore, as it has been shown unto me that
many of our children shall perish in the flesh because of unbelief,
nevertheless, God will be merciful unto many; and our children shall
be restored, that they may come to that which will give them the true
knowledge of their Redeemer.
3. Wherefore, as I said unto you, it must needs be expedient that Christ-for
in the last night the angel spake unto me that this should be his name-
should come among the Jews, among those who are the more wicked part of the
world; and they shall crucify him-for thus it behooveth our God, and there
is none other nation on earth that would crucify their God.
4. For should the mighty miracles be wrought among other nations they would
repent, and know that he be their God.
5. But because of priestcrafts and iniquities, they at Jerusalem will stiffen
their necks against him, that he be crucified.
6. Wherefore, because of their iniquities, destructions, famines, pestilences,
and bloodshed shall come upon them; and they who shall not be destroyed
shall be scattered among all nations.
7. But behold, thus saith the Lord God: When the day cometh that they shall
believe in me, that I am Christ, then have I covenanted with their fathers
that they shall be restored in the flesh, upon the earth, unto the lands of
their inheritance.
8. And it shall come to pass that they shall be gathered in from the isles
of the sea, and from the four parts of the earth; and the nations of the
Gentiles shall be great in the eyes of me, saith God, in carrying them
forth to the lands of their inheritance.
9. Yea, the kings of the Gentiles shall be nursing fathers unto them, and
their queens shall become nursing mothers; wherefore, the promises of the
Lord are great unto the Gentiles, for he hath spoken it, and who can
dispute?
10. But behold, this land, said God, shall be a land of thine inheritance,
and the Gentiles shall be blessed upon the land.
11. And this land shall be a land of liberty unto the Gentiles, and there
shall be no kings upon the land, who shall raise up unto the Gentiles.
12. And I will fortify this land against all other nations.
13. And he that fighteth against Zion shall perish, saith God.
14. For he that riseth up a king against me shall perish, for I, the Lord,
the king of heaven, will be their king, and I will be a light unto them
forever, that hear my words.
15. Wherefore, for this cause, that my covenants may be fulfilled which I
have made unto the children of men, that I will do unto them while they
are in the flesh, I must needs destroy the secret works of darkness, and
of murders and of abominations.
16. Wherefore, he that fighteth against Zion, both Jew and Gentile, both
bond and free, both male and female, shall perish; for they are they who
are the whore of all the earth; for they who are not for me are against me,
saith our God.
17. For I will fulfil my promises which I have made unto the children of
men, that I will do unto them while they are in the flesh-
18. Wherefore, my beloved brethren, thus saith our God: I will afflict thy
seed by the hand of the Gentiles; nevertheless, I will soften the hearts
of the Gentiles, that they shall be like unto a father to them; wherefore,
the Gentiles shall be blessed and numbered among the house of Israel.
19. Wherefore, I will consecrate this land unto thy seed, and them who shall
be numbered among thy seed, forever, for the land of their inheritance;
for it is a choice land, saith God unto me, above all other lands,
wherefore I will have all men that dwell thereon that they shall worship
me, saith God.
20. And now, my beloved brethren, seeing that our merciful God has given us
so great knowledge concerning these things, let us remember him, and lay
aside our sins, and not hang down our heads, for we are not cast off;
nevertheless, we have been driven out of the land of our inheritance; but
we have been led to a better land, for the Lord has made the sea our path,
and we are upon an isle of the sea.
21. But great are the promises of the Lord unto them who are upon the isles
of the sea; wherefore as it says isles, there must needs be more than this,
and they are inhabited by our brethren.
22. For behold, the Lord God has led away from time to time from the house
of Israel, according to his will and pleasure. And now behold, the Lord
remembereth all them who have been broken off, wherefore he remembereth us
also.
23. Therefore, cheer up your hearts, and remember that ye are free to act
for yourselves-to choose the way of everlasting death or the way of eternal
life.
24. Wherefore, my beloved brethren, reconcile yourselves to the will of God,
and not to the will of the devil and the flesh; and remember, after ye
are reconciled unto God, that it is only in and through the grace of God
that ye are saved.
25. Wherefore, may God raise you from death by the power of the resurrection,
and also from everlasting death by the power of the atonement, that ye may
be received into the eternal kingdom of God that ye may praise him through
grace divine. Amen.
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| 312.11 | Chapter 11 | MUDIS3::WILLOUGHBY | FRANKly speaking | Fri Aug 31 1990 04:02 | 43 |
|
CHAPTER 11
(Jacob's teachings continued--Witnesses for the word of God--Types of the )
(Redeemer. )
1. And now, Jacob spake many more things to my people at that time;
nevertheless only these things have I caused to be written for the
things which I have written sufficeth me.
2. And now I, Nephi, write more of the words of Isaiah, for my soul
delighteth in his words. For I will liken his words unto my people,
and I will send them forth unto all my children, for he verily saw my
Redeemer, even as I have seen him.
3. And my brother, Jacob, also has seen him as I have seen him; wherefore,
I will send their words forth unto my children to prove unto them that
my words are true. Wherefore, by the words of three, God hath said, I
will establish my word. Nevertheless, God sendeth more witnesses, and he
proveth all his words.
4. Behold, my soul delighteth in proving unto my people the truth of the
coming of Christ; for, for this end hath the law of Moses been given;
and all things which have been given of God from the beginning of the
world, unto man, are the typifying of him.
5. And also my soul delighteth in the covenants of the Lord which he hath
made to our fathers; yea, my soul delighteth in his grace, and in his
justice, and power, and mercy in the great and eternal plan of deliverance
from death.
6. And my soul delighteth in proving unto my people that save Christ should
come all men must perish.
7. For if there be no Christ there be no God; and if there be no God we are
not, for there could have been no creation. But there is a God, and he
is Christ, and he cometh in the fulness of his own time.
8. And now I write some of the words of Isaiah, that whoso of my people shall
see these words may lift up their hearts and rejoice for all men. Now these
are the words, and ye may liken them unto you and unto all men.
|
| 312.12 | Chapter 12 | MUDIS3::WILLOUGHBY | FRANKly speaking | Fri Aug 31 1990 04:04 | 82 |
|
CHAPTER 12
(Prophecies as recorded on the brass plates--Compare Isaiah 2. )
1. The word that Isaiah, the son of Amos, saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem:
2. And it shall come to pass in the last days, when the mountain of the
Lord's house shall be established in the top of the mountains, and
shall be exalted above the hills, and all nations shall flow unto it.
3. And many people shall go and say, Come ye, and let us go up to the
mountain of the Lord, to the house of the God of Jacob; and he will
teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths; for out of Zion
shall go forth the law, and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem.
4. And he shall judge among the nations, and shall rebuke many people:
and they shall beat their swords into plow-shares, and their spears
into pruning-hooks - nation shall not lift up sword against nation,
neither shall they learn war any more.
5. O house of Jacob, come ye and let us walk in the light of the Lord;
yea, come, for ye have all gone` astray, every one to his wicked ways.
6. Therefore, O Lord, thou has forsaken thy people, the house of Jacob,
because they be replenished from the east, and hearken unto soothsayers
like the Philistines, and they please themselves in the children of
strangers.
7. Their land also is full of silver and gold, neither is there any end
of their treasures; their land is also full of horses, neither is
there any end of their chariots.
8. Their land is also full of idols; they worship the work of their own
hands, that which their own fingers have made.
9. And the mean man boweth not down, and the great man humbleth himself
not, therefore, forgive him not.
10. O ye wicked ones, enter into the rock, and hide thee in the dust, for
the fear of the Lord and the glory of his majesty shall smite thee.
11. And it shall come to pass that the lofty looks of man shall be humbled,
and the haughtiness of men shall be bowed down, and the Lord alone shall
be exalted in that day.
12. For the day of the Lord of Hosts soon cometh upon all nations, yea,
upon every one; yea, upon the proud and lofty, and upon every one who
is lifted up, and he shall be brought low.
13. Yea, and the day of the Lord shall come upon all the cedars of Lebanon,
for they are high and lifted up; and upon all the oaks of Bashan;
14. And upon all the high mountains, and upon all the hills, and upon all
the nations which are lifted up, and upon every people;
15. And upon every high tower, and upon every fenced wall;
16. And upon all the ships of the sea, and upon all the ships of Tarshish,
and upon all pleasant pictures.
17. And the loftiness of man shall be bowed down, and the haughtiness of
men shall be made low; and the Lord alone shall be exalted in that day.
18. And the idols he shall utterly abolish.
19. And they shall go into the holes of the rocks, and into the caves of
the earth, for the fear of the Lord shall come upon them and the glory
of his majesty shall smite them, when he ariseth to shake terribly the
earth.
20. In that day a man shall cast his idols of silver, and his idols of gold,
which he hath made for himself to worship, to the moles and to the bats;
21. To go into the clefts of the rocks, and into the tops of the ragged rocks,
for the fear of the Lord shall come upon them and the majesty of his glory
shall smite them, when he ariseth to shake terribly the earth.
22. Cease ye from man, whose breath is in his nostrils; for wherein is he to
be accounted of?
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| 312.13 | Chapter 13 | MUDIS3::WILLOUGHBY | FRANKly speaking | Fri Aug 31 1990 06:31 | 90 |
|
CHAPTER 13
(Scriptures from the brass plates continued--Compare Isaiah 3. )
1. For behold, the Lord, the Lord of Hosts, doth take away from Jerusalem,
and from Judah, the stay and the staff, the whole staff of bread, and
the whole stay of water-
2. The mighty man, and the man of war, the judge, and the prophet, and
the prudent, and the ancient;
3. The captain of fifty, and the honorable man, and the counselor, and
the cunning artificer, and the eloquent orator.
4. And I will give children unto them to be their princes, and babes
shall rule over them.
5. And the people shall be oppressed, every one by another, and every
one by his neighbor; the child shall behave himself proudly against
the ancient, and the base against the honorable.
6. When a man shall take hold of his brother of the house of his father,
and shall say: Thou has clothing, be thou our ruler, and let not this
ruin come under thy hand-
7. In that day shall he swear, saying; I will not be a healer; for in my
house there is neither bread nor clothing; make me not a ruler of the
people.
8. For Jerusalem is ruined, and Judah is fallen, because of their tongues
and their doings have been against the Lord, to provoke the eyes of his
glory.
9. The show of their countenance doth witness against them, and doth declare
their sin to be even as Sodom, and they cannot hide it. Wo unto their
souls, for they have rewarded evil unto themselves!
10. Say unto the righteous that it is well with them; for they shall eat the
fruit of their doings.
11. Wo unto the wicked, for they shall perish; for the reward of their hands
shall be upon them!
12. And my people, children are their oppressors, and women rule over them.
O my people, they who lead thee cause thee to err and destroy the way
of thy paths.
13. The Lord standeth up to plead and standeth to judge the people.
14. The Lord will enter into judgment with the ancients of his people and
the princes thereof; for ye have eaten up the vineyard and the spoil
of the poor in your houses.
15. What mean ye? Ye beat my people to pieces, and grind the faces of the
poor, saith the Lord God of Hosts.
16. Moreover, the Lord saith: Because the daughters of Zion are haughty,
and walk with stretched forth necks and wanton eyes, walking and
mincing as they go, and making a tinkling with their feet-
17. Therefore the Lord will smite with a scab the crown of the head of
the daughters of Zion, and the Lord will discover their secret parts.
18. In that day the Lord will take away the bravery of their tinkling
ornaments, and cauls, and round tires like the moon;
19. The chains and the bracelets, and the mufflers;
20. The bonnets, and the ornaments of the legs, and the headbands, and
the tablets, and the ear-rings;
21. The rings, and nose jewels;
22. The changeable suits of apparel, and the mantles, and the wimples,
and the crisping-pins;
23. The glasses, and the fine linen, and hoods, and the veils.
24. And it shall come to pass, instead of sweet smell there shall be
stink; and instead of a girdle, a rent; and instead of well set hair,
baldness; and instead of a stomacher, a girding of sackcloth; burning
instead of beauty.
25. Thy men shall fall by the sword and thy mighty in the war.
26. And her gates shall lament and mourn; and she shall be desolate, and
shall sit upon the ground.
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| 312.14 | Chapter 14 | MUDIS3::WILLOUGHBY | FRANKly speaking | Fri Aug 31 1990 06:33 | 30 |
|
CHAPTER 14
(Scriptures from the brass plates continued--Compare Isaiah 4. )
1. And in that day, seven women shall take hold of one man, saying:
We will eat our own bread, and wear our own apparel; only let us
be called by thy name to take away our reproach.
2. In that day shall the branch of the Lord be beautiful and glorious;
the fruit of the earth excellent and comely to them that are escaped
of Israel.
3. And it shall come to pass, they that are left in Zion and remain in
Jerusalem shall be called holy, every one that is written among the
living in Jerusalem-
4. When the Lord shall have washed away the filth of the daughters of
Zion, and shall have purged the blood of Jerusalem from the midst
thereof by the spirit of judgment and by the spirit of burning.
5. And the Lord will create upon every dwelling- place of mount Zion,
and upon her assemblies, a cloud and smoke by day and the shining
of a flaming fire by night; for upon all the glory of Zion shall
be a defence.
6. And there shall be a tabernacle for a shadow in the daytime from the
heat, and for a place of refuge and a covert from storm and from rain.
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| 312.15 | Chapter 15 | MUDIS3::WILLOUGHBY | FRANKly speaking | Fri Aug 31 1990 06:35 | 114 |
|
CHAPTER 15
(Scriptures from the brass plates continued--Compare Isaiah 5. )
1. And then will I sing to my well-beloved a song of my beloved, touching
his vineyard. My well- beloved hath a vineyard in a very fruitful hill.
2. And he fenced it, and gathered out the stones thereof, and planted it
with the choicest vine, and built a tower in the midst of it, and also
made a wine-press therein; and he looked that it should bring forth
grapes, and it brought forth wild grapes.
3. And now, O inhabitants of Jerusalem, and men of Judah, judge, I pray
you, betwixt me and my vineyard.
4. What could have been done more to my vineyard that I have not done in
it? Wherefore, when I looked that it should bring forth grapes it
brought forth wild grapes.
5. And now go to; I will tell you that I will do to my vineyard - I will
take away the hedge thereof, and it shall be eaten up; and I will
break down the wall thereof, and it shall be trodden down;
6. And I will lay it waste; it shall not be pruned nor digged; but there
shall come up briers and thorns; I will also command the clouds that
they rain no rain upon it.
7. For the vineyard of the Lord of Hosts is the house of Israel, and the
men of Judah his pleasant plant; and he looked for judgment, and behold,
oppression; for righteousness, but behold, a cry.
8. Wo unto them that join house to house, till there can be no place, that
they may be placed alone in the midst of the earth!
9. In mine ears, said the Lord of Hosts, of a truth many houses shall be
desolate, and great and fair cities without inhabitant.
10. Yea, ten acres of vineyard shall yield one bath, and the seed of a homer
shall yield an ephah.
11. Wo unto them that rise up early in the morning, that they may follow
strong drink, that continue until night, and wine inflame them!
12. And the harp, and the viol, the tabret, and pipe, and wine are in their
feasts; but they regard not the work of the Lord, neither consider the
operation of his hands.
13. Therefore, my people are gone into captivity, because they have no
knowledge; and their honorable men are famished, and their multitude
dried up with thirst.
14. Therefore, hell hath enlarged herself, and opened her mouth without
measure; and their glory, and their multitude, and their pomp and he
that rejoiceth, shall descend into it.
15. And the mean man shall be brought down, and the mighty man shall be
humbled, and the eyes of the lofty shall be humbled.
16. But the Lord of Hosts shall be exalted in judgment, and God that is
holy shall be sanctified in righteousness.
17. Then shall the lambs feed after their manner, and the waste places of
the fat ones shall strangers eat.
18. Wo unto them that draw iniquity with cords of vanity, and sin as it
were with a cart rope;
19. That say: Let him make speed, hasten his work, that he may see it;
and let the counsel of the Holy One of Israel draw nigh and come,
that we may know it.
20. Wo unto them that call evil good, and good evil, that put darkness
for light, and light for darkness, that put bitter for sweet, and
sweet for bitter!
21. Wo unto the wise in their own eyes and prudent in their own sight!
22. Wo unto the mighty to drink wine, and men of strength to mingle
strong drink;
23. Who justify the wicked for reward, and take away the righteousness
of the righteous from him!
24. Therefore, as the fire devoureth the stubble, and the flame consumeth
the chaff, their root shall be rottenness, and their blossoms shall go
up as dust; because they have cast away the law of the Lord of Hosts,
and despised the word of the Holy One of Israel.
25. Therefore, is the anger of the Lord kindled against his people, and
he hath stretched forth his hand against them, and hath smitten them;
and the hills did tremble, and their carcasses were torn in the midst
of the streets. For all this his anger is not turned away, but his
hand is stretched out still.
26. And he will lift up an ensign to the nations from far, and will hiss
unto them from the end of the earth; and behold, they shall come with
speed swiftly; none shall be weary nor stumble among them.
27. None shall slumber nor sleep; neither shall the girdle of their loins
be loosed, nor the latchet of their shoes be broken;
28. Whose arrows shall be sharp, and all their bows bent, and their horses'
hoofs shall be counted like flint, and their wheels like a whirlwind,
their roaring like a lion.
29. They shall roar like young lions; yea, they shall roar, and lay hold
of the prey, and shall carry away safe, and none shall deliver.
30. And in that day they shall roar against them like the roaring of the
sea; and if they look unto the land, behold, darkness and sorrow, and
the light is darkened in the heavens thereof.
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| 312.16 | Chapter 16 | MUDIS3::WILLOUGHBY | FRANKly speaking | Fri Aug 31 1990 06:37 | 51 |
|
CHAPTER 16
(Scriptures from the brass plates continued--Compare Isaiah 6. )
1. In the year that king Uzziah died, I saw also the Lord sitting upon
a throne, high and lifted up, and his train filled the temple.
2. Above it stood the seraphim; each one had six wings; with twain he
covered his face, and with twain he covered his feet, and with twain
he did fly.
3. And one cried unto another, and said: Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord
of Hosts; the whole earth is full of his glory.
4. And the posts of the door moved at the voice of him that cried, and
the house was filled with smoke.
5. Then said I: Wo is unto me! for I am undone; because I am a man of
unclean lips; and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips;
for mine eyes have seen the King, the Lord of Hosts.
6. Then flew one of the seraphim unto me, having a live coal in his
hand, which he had taken with the tongs from off the altar;
7. And he laid it upon my mouth, and said: Lo, this has touched thy
lips; and thine iniquity is taken away, and thy sin purged.
8. Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying: Whom shall I send, and
who will go for us? Then I said: Here am I; send me.
9. And he said: Go and tell this people--Hear ye indeed, but they
understood not; and see ye indeed, but they perceived not.
10. Make the heart of this people fat, and make their ears heavy, and
shut their eyes--lest they see with their eyes, and hear with their
ears, and understand with their heart, and be converted and be healed.
11. Then said I: Lord, how long? And he said: Until the cities be wasted
without inhabitant, and the houses without man, and the land be
utterly desolate;
12. And the Lord have removed men far away, for there shall be a great
forsaking in the midst of the land.
13. But yet there shall be a tenth, and they shall return, and shall be
eaten, as a teil-tree, and as an oak whose substance is in them when
they cast their leaves; so the holy seed shall be the substance
thereof.
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| 312.17 | Chapter 17 | MUDIS3::WILLOUGHBY | FRANKly speaking | Fri Aug 31 1990 06:38 | 97 |
|
CHAPTER 17
(Scriptures from the brass plates continued--Compare Isaiah 7. )
1. And it came to pass in the days of Ahaz the son of Jotham, the son
of Uzziah, king of Judah, that Rezin, king of Syria, and Pekah the
son of Remaliah, king of Israel, went up toward Jerusalem to war
against it, but could not prevail against it.
2. And it was told the house of David, saying: Syria is confederate
with Ephraim. And his heart was moved, and the heart of his people,
as the trees of the wood are moved with the wind.
3. Then said the Lord unto Isaiah: Go forth now to meet Ahaz, thou and
Shearjashub thy son, at the end of conduit of the upper pool in the
highway of the fuller's field;
4. And said unto him; Take heed, and be quiet; fear not, neither be
faint-hearted for the two tails of these smoking firebrands, for
the fierce anger of Rezin with Syria, and the son of Remaliah.
5. Because Syria, Ephraim, and the son of Remaliah, have taken evil
council against thee, saying;
6. Let us go up against Judah and vex it, and let us make a breach
therein for us, and set a king in the midst of it, yea, the son of
Tabeal.
7. Thus saith the Lord God: It shall not stand, neither shall it come
to pass.
8. For the head of Syria is Damascus, and the head of Damascus, Rezin;
and within three score and five years shall Ephraim be broken that it
be not a people.
9. And the head of Ephraim is Samaria, and the head of Samaria is
Remaliah's son. If ye will not believe surely ye shall not be
established.
10. Moreover, the Lord spake again unto Ahaz, saying;
11. Ask thee a sign of the Lord thy God; ask it either in the depths,
or in the heights above.
12. But Ahaz said: I will not ask, neither will I tempt the Lord.
13. And he said: Hear ye now, O house of David; is it a small thing for
you to weary men, but will ye weary my God also?
14. Therefore, the Lord himself shall give you a sign--Behold, a virgin
shall conceive, and shall bear a son, and shall call his name
Immanuel.
15. Butter and honey shall he eat, that he may know to refuse the evil
and choose the good.
16. For before the child shall know to refuse the evil and choose the
good, the land that thou abhorrest shall be forsaken of both her
kings.
17. The Lord shall bring upon thee, and upon thy people, and thy
father's house, days that have not come from the day that Ephraim
departed from Judah, the king of Assyria.
18. And it shall come to pass in that day that the Lord shall hiss for
the fly that is in the uttermost part of Egypt, and for the bee that
is the land of Assyria.
19. And they shall come, and shall rest all of them in the desolate
valleys, and in the holes of the rocks, and upon all thorns, and upon
all bushes.
20. In the same day shall the Lord shave with a razor that is hired, by
them beyond the river, by the king of Assyria, the head, and the hair
of the feet; and it shall also consume the beard.
21. And it shall come to pass in that day, a man shall nourish a young
cow and two sheep.
22. And it shall come to pass, for the abundance of milk they shall
give he shall eat butter; for butter and honey shall everyone eat
that is left in the land.
23. And it shall come to pass in that day, every place shall be, where
there were a thousand vines at a thousand silverlings, which shall
be for briers and thorns.
24. With arrows and with bows shall man come thither, because all the
lands shall become briers and thorns.
25. And all hills that shall be digged with the mattock, there shall
not come thither the fear of briers and thorns; but it shall be
for the sending forth of oxen, and the treading of lesser cattle.
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| 312.18 | Chapter 18 | MUDIS3::WILLOUGHBY | FRANKly speaking | Fri Aug 31 1990 06:40 | 79 |
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CHAPTER 18
(Scriptures from the brass plates continued--Compare Isaiah 8. )
1. Moreover, the word of the Lord said unto me: Take thee a great roll,
and write in it with a man's pen, Maher-shalal-hash-baz.
2. And I took unto me faithful witnesses to record, Uriah the priest,
and Zechariah the son of Jeberechiah.
3. And I went unto the prophetess; and she conceived and bare a son.
Then said the Lord to me; Call his name, Maher-shalal-hash-baz.
4. For behold, the child shall not have knowledge to cry, My father,
and my mother, before the riches of Damascus and the spoil Samaria
shall be taken away before the king of Assyria.
5. The Lord spake also unto me again, saying:
6. Forasmuch as this people refuseth the waters of Shiloah that go
softly, and rejoice in Rezin and Remaliah's son;
7. Now therefore, behold, the Lord bringeth up upon them the waters of
the river, strong and many, even the king of Assyria and all his
glory; and he shall come up over all his channels, and go over all his
banks.
8. And he shall pass through Judah; he overflow and go over, he shall
reach even to the neck; and the stretching out of his wings shall fill
the breadth of thy land, O Immanuel.
9. Associate yourselves, O ye people, and ye shall be broken in pieces;
and give ear all ye of far countries; gird yourselves, and ye shall be
broken in pieces; gird yourselves, and ye shall be broken in pieces.
10. Take counsel together, and it shall come to naught; speak the word,
and it shall not stand for God is with us.
11. For the Lord spake thus unto me with a strong hand, and instructed
me that I should not walk in the way of this people, saying:
12. Say ye not, A confederacy, to all to whom this people shall say, A
confederacy; neither fear ye their fear, nor be afraid.
13. Sanctify the Lord of Hosts himself, and let him be your fear, and
let him be your dread.
14. And he shall be your sanctuary; but for a stone of stumbling, and
for a rock of offense to both the houses of Israel for a gin and a
snare to the inhabitants of Jerusalem.
15. And many among them shall stumble and fall, and be broken, and be
snared, and be taken.
16. Bind up the testimony, seal the law among my disciples.
17. And I will wait upon the Lord, that hideth his face from the house
of Jacob, and I will look for him.
18. Behold, I and the children whom the Lord hath given me are for and
for wonders in Israel from the Lord of Hosts, which dwelleth in Mount
Zion.
19. And when they shall say unto you: Seek unto them that have familiar
spirits, and unto wizards that peep and mutter--should not a people
seek unto God for the living to hear from the dead?
20. To the law and to the testimony; and if they speak not according to
his word, it is because there is no light in them.
21. And they shall pass through it hardly bestead and hungry; and it
shall come to pass that when they shall be hungry, they shall fret
themselves, and curse their king and their God, and look upward.
22. And they shall look unto the earth and behold trouble, and
darkness, dimness of anguish, and shall be driven to darkness.
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| 312.19 | Chapter 19 | MUDIS3::WILLOUGHBY | FRANKly speaking | Fri Aug 31 1990 06:42 | 83 |
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CHAPTER 19
(Scriptures from the brass plates continued--Compare Isaiah 9. )
1. Nevertheless, the dimness shall not be such as to was in her
vexation, when at first he lightly afflicted the land of Naphtali,
and afterwards did more grievously afflict by the way of the Red
Sea beyond Jordan in Galilee of the nations.
2. The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light; they
that dwell in the land of the shadow of death, upon them hath the
light shined.
3. Thou hast multiplied the nation, increased the joy--they joy before
thee according to the joy in harvest, and as men rejoice when they
divide the spoil.
4. For thou hast broken the yoke of his burden, and the staff of his
shoulder, the rod of his oppressor.
5. For every battle of the warrior is with confused noise, and garments
rolled in blood; but this shall be with burning and fuel of fire.
6. For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given; and the
government shall be upon his shoulder; and his name shall be called,
Wonderful, Counselor, The Mighty God, The Everlasting Father, The
Prince of Peace.
7. Of the increase of government and peace there is no end, upon the
throne of David, and upon his kingdom to order it, and to establish
it with judgement and with justice from henceforth, even forever.
The zeal of the Lord of Hosts will perform this.
8. The Lord sent his word unto Jacob and it hath lighted upon Israel.
9. And all the people shall know, even Ephraim and the inhabitants of
Samaria, that say in the pride and stoutness of heart:
10. The bricks are fallen down, but we will build with hewn stones; the
sycamores are cut down, but we will change them into cedars.
11. Therefore the Lord shall set up the adversaries of Rezin against
him, and join his enemies together;
12. The Syrians before and the Philistines behind; and they shall
devour Israel with open mouth. For all this his anger is not turned
away, but his hand is stretched out still.
13. For the people turneth not unto him that smiteth them, neither do
they seek the Lord of Hosts.
14. Therefore will the Lord cut off from Israel head and tail, branch
and rush in one day.
15. The ancient, he is the head; and the prophet that teacheth lies, he
is the tail.
16. For the leaders of this people cause them to err; and they that are
led of them are destroyed.
17. Therefore the Lord shall have no joy in their young men, neither shall
have mercy on their fatherless and widows; for every one of them is a
hypocrite and evildoer, and every mouth speaketh folly. For all this
his anger is not turned away, but his hand is stretched out still.
18. For wickedness burneth as the fire; it shall devour the briers and
thorns, and shall kindle in the thickets of the forests, and they
shall mount up like the lifting up of smoke.
19. Through the wrath of the Lord of Hosts is the land darkened, and
the people shall be as the fuel of the fire; no man shall spare his
brother.
20. And he shall snatch on the right hand and be hungry; and he shall
eat on the left hand and they shall not be satisfied; they shall
eat every man the flesh of his own arm--
21. Manasseh, Ephraim; and Ephraim and Manasseh; they together shall be
against Judah. For all this his anger is not turned away, but his
hand is stretched out still.
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| 312.20 | Chapter 20 | MUDIS3::WILLOUGHBY | FRANKly speaking | Fri Aug 31 1990 06:44 | 126 |
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CHAPTER 20
Scriptures from the brass plates continued--Compare Isaiah 10.
1. Wo unto them that decree unrighteous decrees, and that write
grievousness which they prescribed;
2. To turn the needy away from judgement, and to take away the right
from the poor of my people, that widows may be their prey, and that
they may rob the fatherless!
3. And what will do in the day of visitation, and in the desolation
which shall come from far? to whom will ye flee for help? and where
will ye leave your glory?
4. Without me they shall bow down under the prisoners, and they shall
fall under the slain. For all his anger is not turned away, but his
hand is stretched out still.
5. O Assyrian, the rod of mine anger, and the staff in their hand is
their indignation.
6. I will send him against a hypocritical nation, and against thy
people of my wrath will I give him a charge to take the spoil, and
take the prey, and to tread them down like the mire of the streets.
7. Howbeit he meaneth not so, neither doth his heart think so; but in
his heart it is to destroy and cut off nations not a few.
8. For he saith: Are not my princes altogether kings?
9. Is not Calno as Carchemish? Is not Hamath as Arpad? Is not Samaria
as Damascus? Is not Hamath as Arpad? Is not Samaria as Damascus?
10. As my hand hath founded the kingdoms of the idols, and whose graven
images did excel them of Jerusalem and of Samaria;
11. Shall I not, as I have done unto Samaria and her idols, so do to
Jerusalem and to her idols?
12. Wherefore it shall come to pass that when the Lord hath performed
his whole work upon Mount Zion and upon Jerusalem, I will punish
the fruit of the stout heart of the king of Assyria, and the glory
of his high looks.
13. For he saith: By the strength of my hand and my wisdom I have done
these things; for I am prudent; and I have moved the borders of the
people, and have robbed their treasures, and have put down the
inhabitants like a valiant man;
14. And my hand hath found as a nest the riches of the people; and as
one gathereth eggs that are left have I gathered all the earth; and
there was none that moved the wing, or opened the mouth, or peeped.
15. Shall the ax boast itself against him that heweth therewith? Shall
the saw magnify itself against him that shaketh it? As if the rod
should shake itself against them them that lift it up, or as if the
staff should lift up itself as if it were no wood!
16. Therefore shall the Lord, the Lord of Hosts, send among his fat
ones, leanness; and under his glory he shall kindle a burning of
a fire.
17. And the light of Israel shall be for a fire, and his Holy One for a
flame, and shall burn and shall devour his thorns and his briers in
one day;
18. And shall consume the glory of his forest, and of his fruitful field,
both soul and body; and they shall be as when a standard-bearer fainteth.
19. And the rest of the trees of his forest shall be few, that a child
may write them.
20. And it shall come to pass in that day, that the remnant of Israel,
and such as are escaped of the house of Jacob, shall no more stay
upon him that smote them, but shall stay upon the Lord, the Holy
One of Israel, in truth.
21. The remnant shall return, yea, even the remnant of Jacob, unto the
Mighty God.
22. For though thy people Israel be as the sand of the sea, yet a remnant
of them shall return; the consumption decreed shall overflow with
righteousness.
23. For the Lord God of Hosts shall make a consumption, even determined
in all the land.
24. Therefore, thus saith the Lord God of Hosts; O my people that dwellest
in Zion, be not afraid of the Assyrain; he shall smite thee with a rod,
and shall lift up his staff against thee, after the manner of Egypt.
25. For yet a very little while, and the indignation shall cease, and mine
anger in their destruction.
26. And the Lord of Hosts shall stir up a scourge for him according to
the slaughter of Midian at the rock of Oreb; and as his rod upon the
sea so shall he lift it up after the manner of Eygpt.
27. And it shall come to pass in that day that his burden shall be taken
away from off thy shoulders, and his yoke from off thy neck, and the
yoke shall be destroyed because of the anointing.
28. He is come to Aiath, he is passed to Migron; at Michmash he hath laid
up his carriages.
29. They are gone over the passage; they have taken up their lodging at
Geba; Ramath is afraid; Gibeah of Saul is fled.
30. Lift up the voice, O daughter of Gallim; cause it to be heard unto
Laish, O poor Anathoth.
31. Madmenah is removed; the inhabitants of Gebim gather themselves to flee.
32. As yet shall he remain at Nob that day; he shall shake his hand against
the mount of the daughter of Zion, the hill of Jerusalem.
33. Behold, the Lord, the Lord of Hosts shall lop the bough with terror;
and the high ones of stature shall be hewn down; and the haughty shall
be humbled.
34. And he shall cut down the thickets of the forest with iron, and Lebanon
shall fall by a mighty one.
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| 312.21 | Chapter 21 | MUDIS3::WILLOUGHBY | FRANKly speaking | Fri Aug 31 1990 06:47 | 68 |
|
CHAPTER 21
(Scriptures from the brass plates continued--Compare Isaiah 11. )
1. And there shall come forth a rod out of the stem of Jesse, and a
branch shall grow out of his roots.
2. And the Spirit of the Lord shall rest upon him, the spirit of wisdom
and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of
knowledge and of the fear of the Lord;
3. And shall make him of quick understanding in the fear of the Lord;
and he shall not judge after the sight of his eyes, neither reprove
after the hearing of his ears.
4. But with righteousness shall he judge the poor, and reprove with
equity for the meek of the earth; and he shall smite the earth with
the rod of his mouth, and with the breath of his lips shall he slay
the wicked.
5. And with righteousness shall be the girdle of his loins, and
faithfulness the girdle of his reins.
6. The wolf shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down
with the kid, and the calf and the young lion and fatling together;
and a little child shall lead them.
7. And the cow and the bear shall feed; their young ones shall lie down
together; and the lion shall eat straw like the ox.
8. And the suckling child shall play on the hole of the asp, and the
weaned child shall put his hand on the cockatrice's den.
9. They shall not hurt nor destroy in my holy mountain, for the earth
shall be full of the knowledge of the Lord, as the waters cover the sea.
10. And in that day there shall be a root of Jesse, which shall stand
for an ensign of the people; to it shall the Gentiles seek; and his
rest shall be glorious.
11. And it shall come to pass in that day that the Lord shall set his
hand again the second time to recover the remnant of his people which
shall be left, from Assyria, and from Eygpt, and from Pathros, and
from Cush, and from Elam, and from Shinar, and from Hamath, and from
the islands of the sea.
12. And he shall set up a ensign for the nations, and shall assemble
the outcasts of Israel, and gather together the dispersed of Judah
from the four corners of the earth.
13. The envy of Ephraim also shall depart, and the adversaries of Judah
shall be cut off; Ephraim shall not envy Judah, and Judah shall not
vex Ephraim.
14. But they shall fly upon the shoulders of the Philistines towards the
west; they shall spoil them of the east together; they shall lay their
hand upon Edom and Moab; and the children of Ammon shall obey them.
15. And the Lord shall utterly destroy the tongue of the Egyptian sea;
and with his mighty wind he shall shake his hand over the river, and
shall smite it in the seven streams, and make men go over dry shod.
16. And there shall be a highway for the remnant of his people which shall
be left, from Assyria, like as it was to Israel in the day that he came
up out of the land of Eygpt.
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| 312.22 | Chapter 22 | MUDIS3::WILLOUGHBY | FRANKly speaking | Fri Aug 31 1990 06:49 | 26 |
|
CHAPTER 22
(Scriptures from the brass plates continued--Compare Isaiah 12. )
1. And in that day thou shalt say: O Lord, I will praise thee; though
thou wast angry with me thine anger is turned away, and thou
comfortedest me.
2. Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and not be afraid; for
the Lord Jehovah is my strength and my song; he also has become my
salvation.
3. Therefore, with joy ye draw water out of the wells of salvation.
4. And in that day shall ye say: Praise the Lord, call upon his name,
declare his doings among the people, make mention that his name is
exalted.
5. Sing unto the Lord; for he hath done excellent things; this is known
in all the earth.
6. Cry and shout, thou inhabitant of Zion; for great is the Holy One of
Israel in the midst of thee.
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| 312.23 | Chapter 23 | MUDIS3::WILLOUGHBY | FRANKly speaking | Fri Aug 31 1990 06:50 | 80 |
|
CHAPTER 23
(Scriptures from the brass plates continued--Compare Isaiah 13. )
1. The burden of Babylon, which Isaiah the son of Amos did see.
2. Lift ye up a banner upon the high mountain, exalt the voice unto
them, shake the hand, that they may go into the gates of the nobles.
3. I have commanded my sanctified ones, I have also called my mighty
ones, for mine anger is not upon them that rejoice in my highness.
4. The noise of the multitude in the mountains like as of a great
people, a tumultuous noise of the kingdoms of nation gathered
together, the Lord of Hosts mustereth the hosts of the battle.
5. They come from a far country, from the end of heaven, yea, the Lord,
and the weapons of his indignation, to destroy the whole land.
6. Howl ye, for the day of the Lord is at hand; it shall come as a
destruction from the Almighty.
7. Therefore shall all hands be faint; every man's heart shall melt;
8. And they shall be afraid; pangs and sorrows shall take hold of them;
they shall be amazed one at another; their faces shall be as flames.
9. Behold, the day of the Lord cometh, cruel both with wrath an fierce
anger, to lay the land desolate; and he shall destroy the sinners
thereof out of it.
10. For the stars of heaven and the constellations thereof shall not
give their light; the sun shall be darkened in her going forth, and
the moon shall not cause her light to shine.
11. And I will punish the world for evil, and the wicked for their
iniquity; I will cause the arrogancy of the proud to cease, and will
lay down the haughtiness of the terrible.
12. I will make a man more precious than fine gold; even a man than the
golden wedge of Ophir.
13. Therefore, I will shake the heavens, and the earth shall remove out
of her place, in the wrath of the Lord of Hosts, and in the day of his
fierce anger.
14. And it shall be as the chased roe, and as a sheep that no man taketh up;
and they shall every man turn to his own people, and flee every one into
his own land.
15. Every one that is proud shall be thrust down through; yea, and every one
that is joined to the wicked shall fall by the sword.
16. Their children also shall be dashed to pieces before their eyes; their
houses shall be spoiled and wives ravished.
17. Behold, I will stir up the Medes against them, which shall not regard
silver and gold, nor shall they delight in it.
18. Their bows shall also dash the young men to pieces, and they have no
pity on the fruit of the womb; their eyes shall not spare children.
19. And Babylon, the glory of kingdoms, the beauty of the Chaldees'
excellency, shall as when God overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah.
20. It shall never be inhabited, neither shall it be dwelt in from generation
to generation: neither shall the Arabian pitch tent there; neither shall
the shepherds make their fold there.
21. But wild beasts of the desert shall lie there; and their houses shall be
full of doleful creatures; and owls shall dwell there, and satyrs shall
dance there.
22. And the wild beasts of the islands shall cry in their desolate houses,
and dragons in their pleasant palaces; and her time is near to come,
and her day shall not be prolonged. For I will destroy her speedily;
yea, for I will be merciful unto my people, but the wicked shall perish.
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| 312.24 | Chapter 24 | MUDIS3::WILLOUGHBY | FRANKly speaking | Fri Aug 31 1990 06:57 | 117 |
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CHAPTER 24
(Scriptures from the brass plates continued--Compare Isaiah 14. )
1. For the Lord will have mercy on Jacob, and will yet choose Israel,
and set them in their own land; and the strangers shall be joined
with them, and they shall cleave to the house of Jacob.
2. And the people shall take them and bring them to their place; yea,
from far unto the ends of the earth; and they shall return to their
lands of promise. And the house of Israel shall possess them, and the
land of the Lord shall be for servants and handmaids; and they shall
take them captives unto whom they were captives; and they shall over
their oppressors.
3. And it shall come to pass in that day that the Lord shall give thee
rest, from thy sorrow, and from thy fear, and from the hard bondage
wherein thou wast made to serve.
4. And it shall come to pass in that day, that thou shalt take up this
proverb against the king of Babylon, and say: How hath the oppressor
ceased, the golden city ceased!
5. The Lord hath broken the staff of the wicked, the scepters of the
rulers.
6. He who smote the people in wrath in a continual stroke, he that has
ruled the nations in anger, is persecuted, and none hindereth.
7. The whole earth is at rest, and is quiet; they break forth into singing.
8. Yea, the fir-trees rejoice at thee, and also the cedars of Lebanon,
saying: Since thou art laid down no feller is come up against us.
9. Hell from beneath is moved for thee to meet thee at thy coming; it
stirreth up the dead for thee, even all the chief ones of the earth;
it hath up from their thrones all the kings of the nations.
10. All they shall speak and say unto thee: Art thou also become weak
as we? Art thou become like unto us?
11. Thy pomp is brought down to the grave; the noise of thy viols is
not heard; the worm is spread under thee, and the worms cover thee.
12. How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! Art
thou cut down to the ground, which did weaken the nations!
13. For thou hast said in thy heart: I will ascend into heaven, I will
exalt my throne above the stars of God; I will sit also upon the mount
of the congregation, in the sides of the north;
14. I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the Most
High.
15. Yet thou shalt be brought down to hell, to sides of the pit.
16. They that see thee shall narrowly look upon thee, and shall consider thee,
and shall say: Is this the man that made the earth to tremble, that did
shake kingdoms?
17. And made the world as a wilderness, and destroyed the cities thereof,
and opened not the house of his prisoners?
18. All the kings of the nations, yea, all of them, lie in glory, every one
of them in his own house.
19. But thou art cast out of thy grave like an abominable branch, and the
remnant of those that are slain, thrust through with a sword, that go
down to the stones of the pit; as a carcass trodden under feet.
20. Thou shalt not be joined with them in burial, because thou hast
destroyed thy land and slain thy people; the seed of evildoers
shall never be renowned.
21. Prepare slaughter for his children for the iniquities of their fathers,
they do not rise, nor posses the land, nor fill the face of the world
with cities.
22. For I will rise up against them, saith the Lord of Hosts, and cut off
from Babylon the name, and remnant, and son, and nephew, saith the Lord.
23. I will also make it a possession for the bittern, and pools of water;
and I will sweep it with the besom of destruction, saith the Lord of
Hosts.
24. The Lord of Hosts hath sworn, saying: Surely as I have thought, so
shall it come to pass; and as I have purposed, so shall it stand--
25. That I will bring the Assyrian in my land, and upon my mountains tread
him under foot; then shall his yoke depart from off them, and his burden
depart from off their shoulders.
26. This is the purpose that is proposed upon the whole earth; and this
is the hand that is stretched out upon all nations.
27. For the Lord of Hosts hath purposed, and who shall disannul? And his
hand is stretched out, and who shall turn it back?
28. In the year that king Ahaz died was this burden.
29. Rejoice not thou, whole Palestina, because of him that smote thee is
broken; for out of the serpent's root shall come forth a cockatrice,
and his fruit shall be a fiery flying serpent.
30. And the first-born of the poor shall feed, and the needy shall lie
down in safety; and I will kill thy root with famine, and he shall
slay thy remnant.
31. Howl, O gate; cry, O city; thou, whole Palestina, art dissolved; for
there shall come from the north a smoke, and none shall be alone in
his appointed times.
32. What shall answer the messengers of the nations? That the Lord hath
founded Zion, and the poor of his people shall trust in it.
|
| 312.25 | Chapter 25 | MUDIS3::WILLOUGHBY | FRANKly speaking | Fri Aug 31 1990 07:01 | 186 |
|
CHAPTER 25
(Nephi's comments--His prediction of the scattering and subsequent gathering )
(of Israel--Time of the Messiah's advent specified. )
1. Now I, Nephi, do speak somewhat concerning the words which I have
written, which have been spoken by the mouth of Isaiah. For behold,
Isaiah spake many things which were hard for many of my people to
understand; for they knew not concerning the manner of prophesying
among the Jews.
2. For I, Nephi, have not taught them many things concerning the manner
of the Jews; for their works were works of darkness, and their doings
were doings of abominations.
3. Wherefore, I write unto my people, unto all those that shall receive
thereafter these things which I write, that they may know the
judgements of God, that they come upon all nations, according to the
word that he hath spoken.
4. Wherefore, hearken, O my people, which are of the house of Israel,
and give ear unto my words; for because the words of Isaiah are not
plain unto you, nevertheless they are plain unto all those that are
filled with spirit of prophecy. But I give unto you a prophecy,
according to the spirit which is in me; wherefore I shall prophesy
according to the plainness which hath been with me from the time I
came out of Jerusalem with my father; for behold, my soul delighteth
in plainness unto my people, that they may learn.
5. Yea, and my soul delighteth in the words of Isaiah, for I came out
from Jerusalem, and mine eyes hath beheld the things of the Jews, and
I know that the Jews do understand the things of the prophets, and
there is none other people that understand the things which were
spoken unto the Jews like unto them, save it be that they are taught
after the manner of the things of the Jews.
6. But behold, I, Nephi, have not taught my children after the manner
of the Jews; but behold, I, of myself, have dwelt at Jerusalem,
wherefore I know the concerns of the regions round about; and I have
made mention unto my children concerning the judgements of God, which
hath come to pass among the Jews, unto my children, according to all
that Isaiah hath spoken, and I do not write them.
7. But behold, I proceed with mine own prophecy, according to my
plainness; in the which I know that no man can err; nevertheless, in
the days that the prophecies of Isaiah shall be fulfilled men shall
know of a surety, at the times when they shall come to pass.
8. Wherefore, they are of worth unto the children of men, and he that
supposeth that they are not, unto them will I speak particularly, and
confine the words unto mine own people; for I know that they shall be
of great worth unto them in the last days; for in that day they shall
understand them; wherefore, for their good have I written them.
9. And as one generation hath been destroyed among the Jews because of
iniquity, even so have they been destroyed from generation to
generation according to their iniquities; never hath any of them been
destroyed save it were foretold them by the prophets of the Lord.
10. Wherefore, it hath been told them concerning the destruction which
should come upon them, immediately after my father left Jerusalem;
nevertheless, they hardened their hearts; and according to the
prophecy they have been destroyed, save it be those which are carried
away captive into Babylon.
11. And now this I speak because of the spirit which is in me. And
notwithstanding they have been carried away they shall return again,
and possess the land of Jerusalem; wherefore, they shall be restored
again to the land of their inheritance.
12. But, behold, they shall have wars, and rumors of wars; and when the
day cometh that the Only Begotten of the Father, yea, even the Father
of heaven and of earth, shall manifest himself unto them in the flesh,
behold, they will reject him, because of their iniquities, and the
hardness of their hearts, and the stiffness of their necks.
13. Behold, they will crucify him; and after he is laid in a sepulchre
for the space of three days he shall rise again from the dead, with
healing in his wings; and all those who shall believe on his name
shall be saved in the kingdom of God. Wherefore, my soul delighteth to
prophesy concerning him, for I have seen his day, and my heart doth
magnify his holy name.
14. And behold it shall come to pass that after the Messiah hath risen
from the dead, and hath manifested himself unto his people, unto as
many as will believe on his name, behold, Jerusalem shall be destroyed
again; for wo unto them that fight against God and the people of his
church.
15. Wherefore, the Jews shall be scattered among all nations; yea, and
also Babylon shall be destroyed; wherefore, the Jews shall be
scattered by other nations.
16. And after they have been scattered, and the Lord God hath scourged
them by other nations for the space of many generations, yea, even
down from generation to generation until they shall be persuaded to
believe in Christ, the Son of God, and the atonement, which is
infinite for all mankind--and when that day shall come that they shall
in Christ, and worship the Father in his name, pure hearts and clean
hands, and look not forward any more for another Messiah, then, at
that time, the day will come that it must needs be expedient that they
should believe these things.
17. And the Lord will set his hand again the second time to restore his
people from their lost and fallen state. Wherefore, he will proceed to
do a marvelous work and a wonder among the children of men.
18. Wherefore, he shall bring forth his words unto them, which shall
judge them at the last day, for they shall be given them for the
purpose of convincing them of the true Messiah, who was rejected by
them; and unto the convincing of them that they need not look forward
any more for a Messiah to come, for there should not any come, save it
should be a false Messiah which should deceive the people; for there
is save one Messiah spoken of by the prophets, and that Messiah is he
who should be rejected of the Jews.
19. For according to the words of the prophets, the Messiah cometh in
six hundred years from the time my father left Jerusalem; and
according to the words of the prophets, and also the word of the angel
of God, his name shall be Jesus Christ, the Son of God.
20. And now, my brethren, I have spoken plainly that ye cannot err. And
as the Lord God liveth that brought Israel up out of the land of
Egypt, and gave unto Moses power that he should heal the nations after
they have been bitten by the poisonous serpents, if they would cast
their eyes unto the serpent which he did raise up before them, and
also gave him power that he should smite the rock and the water should
come forth; yea, behold I say unto you, that as these things are true,
and as the Lord God liveth, there is none other name given heaven save
it be the this Jesus Christ, of which I have spoken, whereby man can
be saved.
21. Wherefore, for this cause hath the Lord God promised unto me that
these things which I write shall be kept and preserved, and handed
down unto my seed, from generation to generation, that the promise may
be fulfilled unto Joseph, that his seed should never perish as long as
the earth should stand.
22. Wherefore, these things shall go from generation to generation as
long as the earth shall stand; and they shall go according to the will
and pleasure of God; and the nations who shall possess them shall be
judged of them according to the words which is written.
23. For we labor diligently to write, to persuade our children, and also
our brethren, to believe in Christ, and to be reconciled to God; for
we know that it is by grace that we can be saved, after all we can do.
24. And, notwithstanding we believe in Christ, we keep the law of Moses,
and look forward with steadfastness unto Christ, until the law shall
be fulfilled.
25. For, for this end was the law given; wherefore the law hath become
dead unto us, and we are made alive in Christ because of our faith;
yet we keep the law because of the commandments.
26. And we talk of Christ, we rejoice in Christ, we preach of Christ, we
prophesy of Christ, and we write according to our prophecies, that
our children may know to what source they may look for remission of
their sins.
27. Wherefore, we speak concerning the law that our children may know
the deadness of the law; and they, by knowing the deadness of the law,
may look forward unto that life which is in Christ, and know for what
end the law was given. And after the law is fulfilled in Christ, that
they need not harden their hearts against him when the law ought to be
done away.
28. And now behold, my people, ye are a stiffnecked people; wherefore,
I have spoken plainly unto you, that ye cannot misunderstand. And the
words which I have spoken shall stand as a testimony against you; for
they are sufficient to teach any man the right way; for the right way
is to believe in Christ and deny him not; for by denying him ye also
deny the prophets and the law.
29. And now behold, I say unto you that the right way is to believe in
Christ, and deny him not; and Christ is the Holy One of Israel;
wherefore ye must bow down before him, and worship him with all your
might, mind, and strength, and your whole soul; and if ye do this ye
shall in nowise be cast out.
30. And, inasmuch as it shall be expedient, ye must keep the performances
and ordinances of God until the law shall be fulfilled which was given
unto Moses.
|
| 312.26 | Chapter 26 | MUDIS3::WILLOUGHBY | FRANKly speaking | Fri Aug 31 1990 07:08 | 173 |
|
CHAPTER 26
(Nephi's predictions continued--Christ to come to the Nephites--Their final )
(destruction--The days of the Gentiles. )
1. And after Christ shall have risen from the dead he shall show himself
unto to you, my children, and my beloved brethren; and the words which
he shall speak unto you shall be the law which ye shall do.
2. For behold, I say unto you that I have beheld that many generations
shall pass away, and there shall be great wars and contentions among
my people.
3. And after the Messiah shall come there shall be signs given unto my
people of his birth, and also of his death and resurrection; and great
and terrible shall that day be unto the wicked, for they shall perish;
and they shall perish because they cast out the prophets, and the
saints, and stone them, and slay them; wherefore the cry of the blood
of the saints shall ascend up to God from the ground against them.
4. Wherefore, all those who are proud, and that do wickedly, the day
that cometh shall burn them up, saith the Lord of Hosts, for they
shall be as stubble.
5. And they that kill the prophets, and the saints, the depths of the
earth shall swallow them up, saith the Lord of Hosts; and mountains
shall cover them, and whirlwinds shall carry them away, and buildings
shall fall upon them and crush them to pieces and grind them to powder.
6. And they shall be visited with thunderings, and lightnings and earthquakes,
and all manner of destructions, for the fire of the anger of the Lord shall
be kindled against them, and they shall be as stubble, and the day that
cometh shall consume them, saith the Lord of Hosts.
7. O the pain, and the anguish of my soul for the loss of the slain of
people! For I, Nephi, have seen it, and it well nigh consumeth me
before the presence of the Lord; but I must cry unto my God: Thy ways
are just.
8. But behold, the righteous that hearken unto the words of the prophets,
and destroy them not, but forward unto Christ with steadfastness for
the signs which are given, not withstanding all persecution--behold,
they are they which shall not perish.
9. But the son of righteousness shall appear unto them; and he shall
heal them, and shall have peace with him, until three generations
shall have passed away, and many of the fourth generation shall have
passed away in righteousness.
10. And when these things have passed away a speedy destruction cometh
unto my people; for, notwithstanding the pains of my soul, I have seen
it; wherefore, I know that it shall come to pass; and they shall sell
themselves for naught; for, for the reward of their pride and their
foolishness they shall reap destruction; for because they yield unto
the devil and choose works of darkness rather than light, therefore
they must go down to hell.
11. For the Spirit of the Lord will not always strive with man. And
when the Spirit ceaseth to strive with man then cometh speedy
destruction, and this grieveth my soul.
12. And as I spake concerning the convincing of the Jews, that Jesus is
the very Christ, it must needs be that the Gentiles be convinced also
that Jesus is the Christ, the Eternal God;
13. And that he manifesteth himself unto all those who believe in him,
by the power of the Holy Ghost; yea, unto every nation, kindred,
tongue, and people, working mighty miracles, signs, and wonders,
among the children of men according to their faith.
14. But behold, I prophesy unto you concerning the last days when the
Lord God shall bring these things forth unto the children of men.
15. And after my seed and the seed of my brethren shall have dwindled
in unbelief, and shall been smitten by the Gentiles; yea, after the
Lord God shall have camped against them round about, and shall have
laid up siege against them with a mount, and raised forts against
them; and after they shall have been brought down low in the dust,
even that they are not, yet the words of the righteous shall be
written, and the prayers of the faithful shall be heard, and all
those who have dwindled in unbelief shall not be forgotten.
16. For those who shall be destroyed shall speak unto them out of the
ground, and their speech shall be low out of the dust, and their
voice shall be as one that hath a familiar spirit; for the Lord
God will give unto him power, that he may whisper concerning them,
even as it were out of the ground; and their speech shall whisper
out of the dust.
17. For thus saith the Lord God: They shall write the things which
shall be done among them, and they shall be written and sealed
up in a book, and those who have dwindled in unbelief shall not
have them, for they seek to destroy the things of God.
18. Wherefore, as those who have been destroyed have been destroyed
speedily; and the multitude of their terrible ones shall be as
a chaff that passeth away-- yea, thus saith the Lord God: It
shall be at an instant, suddenly--
19. And it shall come to pass, that those who have dwindled in unbelief
shall be smitten by the hand of the Gentiles.
20. And the Gentiles are lifted up in the pride of their eyes, and have
stumbled, because of the greatness of their stumbling block, that
they have built up many churches; nevertheless, they put down the
power and miracles of God, and preach up unto themselves their own
wisdom and their own learning, that they may get gain and grind upon
the face of the poor.
21. And there are many churches built up which cause envyings, and strifes,
and malice.
22. And there are also secret combinations, even as in times of old,
according to the combinations of the devil, for the foundation of
all of these things; yea, the foundation of murder, and the works
of darkness; yea, and he leadeth them by the neck with a flaxen
cord, until he bindeth them with his strong cords forever.
23. For behold, my beloved brethren, I say unto you that the Lord God
worketh not in darkness.
24. He doth not anything save it be for the benefit of the world; for
he loveth the world, even that he layeth down his own life that he
may draw all men unto him. Wherefore, he commandeth none that they
shall not partake of his salvation.
25. Behold, doth he cry unto any, saying: Depart from me? Behold, I say
unto you, Nay; but he saith: Come unto me all ye ends of the earth,
buy milk and honey, without money and without price.
26. Behold, hath he commanded any that they should depart out of the
synagogues, or out of the houses of worship? Behold, I say unto you,
Nay.
27. Hath he commanded any that they should not partake of his salvation?
Behold I say unto you, Nay; but he hath given it free for all men;
and he hath commanded his people that they should persuade all men
to repentance.
28. Behold, hath the Lord commanded any of they should not partake of
his goodness? Behold I say unto you, Nay; but all men are privileged
the one like unto the other, and none are forbidden.
29. He commandeth that there shall be no priestcrafts; for, behold,
priestcrafts are that men preach and set themselves up for a light
unto the world, that they may gain and praise of the world; but they
seek not the welfare of Zion.
30. Behold, the Lord hath forbidden this thing; wherefore, the Lord God
hath given a commandment that all men should have charity, which
charity is love. And except they should have charity they were
nothing. Wherefore, if they should have charity they they would not
suffer the laborer in Zion to perish.
31. But the laborer in Zion shall labor for Zion; for if they labor for
money they shall perish.
32. And again, the Lord God hath commanded that men should not murder;
that they should not lie; that they should not steal; that they should
not take the name of the Lord their God in vain; that they should not
envy; that they should not have malice; that they should not contend
one with another; that they should not commit whoredoms; and that they
should do none of these things; for whoso doeth them shall perish.
33. For none of these iniquities come of the Lord; for he doeth that which
is good among the children of men; and he doeth nothing save it be plain
unto the children of men; and he inviteth them all to come unto him and
partake of his goodness; and he denieth none that come unto him, black
and white, bond and free, male and female; and he remembereth the heathen;
and all are alike unto God, both Jew and Gentile.
|
| 312.27 | Chapter 27 | MUDIS3::WILLOUGHBY | FRANKly speaking | Fri Aug 31 1990 07:14 | 161 |
|
CHAPTER 27
(Nephi's predictions continued--God's judgments upon the wicked--The sealed )
(book--The unlearned man--The three witnesses--A marvelous work and a wonder. )
1. But, behold, in the last days, or in the days of the Gentiles--yea,
behold all nations of the Gentiles and also the Jews, both those who
shall come upon this land and those shall be upon other lands, yea,
even upon all the lands of the earth, behold, they will be drunken
with iniquity and all manner of abominations--
2. And when that day shall come they shall be visited of the Lord of Hosts,
with thunder and with earthquake, and with a great noise, and with storm,
and with tempest, and with the flame of devouring fire.
3. And all the nations that fight against Zion, and that distress her,
shall be a dream of a night vision; yea, it shall be unto them, even
as unto a hungry man which dreameth, and behold he eateth but he
awaketh and his soul is empty; or like unto a thirsty man which which
dreameth, and behold he drinketh but he awaketh and behold he is
faint, and his soul hath appetite; yea, even so shall the multitude of
all nations be that fight against Mount Zion.
4. For behold, all ye that doeth iniquity, stay yourselves and wonder,
for ye shall cry out; yea, ye shall be drunken but not with wine,
ye shall stagger but not with strong drink.
5. For behold, the Lord hath poured out upon you the spirit of deep sleep.
For behold, ye have closed your eyes, and ye have rejected the prophets;
and your rulers, and the seers hath he covered because of your iniquity.
6. And it shall come to pass that the Lord God shall bring forth onto you
the words of a book, and they shall be the words of them that slumbered.
7. And behold the shall be sealed; and in the book shall be a revelation
from God, from the beginning of the world to the ending thereof.
8. Wherefore, because of the things which are sealed up, the things which
are sealed up shall not be delivered in the day of the wickedness and
abominations of the people. Wherefore the book shall be kept from them.
9. But the book shall be delivered unto a man, and he shall deliver the
words of the book, which are the words of those who have slumbered in
the dust, and he shall deliver these words unto another.
10. But the words which are sealed he shall not deliver, neither shall he
deliver the book. For the book shall be sealed by the power of God,
and the revelation which was sealed shall be kept in the book until
the own due time of the Lord, that they may come forth; for behold,
they reveal all things from the foundation of the world unto the end
thereof.
11. And the day cometh that the words of the book which were sealed shall
be read upon the house tops; and they shall be read by the power of
Christ; and all things shall be revealed unto the children of men
which ever been among the children of men, and which ever will be
unto the end of the earth.
12. Wherefore, at that day when the book shall be delivered unto the man
of whom I have spoken, the book shall be hid from the eyes of the world,
that the eyes of none shall behold it save it be that three witnesses
shall behold it, by the power of God, besides him to whom the book shall
be delivered; and they shall testify to the truth of the book and the
things therein.
13. And there is none other which shall view it, save it be as a few according
to the will of God, to bear testimony of his word unto the children of men;
for the Lord God hath said that the words of the faithful should speak as
if it were from the dead.
14. Wherefore, the Lord God will proceed forth the words of the book; and in
the mouth of as many witnesses as seemeth him good will he establish his
word; and wo be unto him that rejecteth the word of God.
15. But behold, it shall come to pass that the Lord God shall say unto him to
whom he shall deliver the book: Take these words which are not sealed and
deliver them to another, that he may show them unto the learned, saying:
Read this, I pray thee. And the learned shall say: Bring hither the book
and I will read them.
16. And now, because of the glory of the world and to get gain will they say
this, and not for the glory of God.
17. And the man shall say: I cannot bring the book for it is sealed.
18. Then shall the learned say: I cannot read it.
19. Wherefore it shall come to pass, that the Lord God will deliver again
the book and the words thereof to him that is not learned; and the man
that is not learned shall say: I am not learned.
20. Then shall the Lord God say unto him: The learned shall not read them,
for they have rejected them, and I am able to do mine own work; wherefore
thou shalt read the words which I have given unto thee.
21. Touch not the things which are sealed, for I will bring them forth in
mine own due time; for I will show unto the children of men that I am
able to do mine own work.
22. Wherefore, when thou hast read the words which I have commanded thee,
and obtained the witnesses which I have promised unto thee, then shalt
thou seal up the book again, and hide it up unto me, that I may preserve
the words which thou hast not read, until I shall see fit in mine own
wisdom to reveal all things unto the children of men.
23. For behold, I am God; and I am a God of miracles; and I will show unto
the world that I am the same yesterday, today, and forever; and I will
work not among the children of men save it be according to their faith.
24. And it shall come to pass that the Lord shall say unto him that shall
read the words that shall be delivered him:
25. Forasmuch as this people draw near unto me with their mouth, and with
their lips do honor me, but have removed their hearts far from me, and
their fear towards me is taught by the precepts of man--
26. Therefore, I will proceed to do a marvelous work among this people, yea,
even a marvelous work and a wonder, for the wisdom of their wise and
learned shall perish, and the understanding of their prudent men shall
be hid.
27. And wo unto them that seek deep to hide their counsel from the Lord!
And their works are in the dark; and they say: Who seeth us, and who
knoweth us? Surely, your turning of things upside down shall be esteemed
as the potter's clay. But behold I will show unto them, saith the Lord
of Hosts, that I know their works. For shall the work say of him that
made it, he made me not? Or shall the thing framed say of him that
framed it, he had no understanding?
28. But behold saith the Lord of Hosts: I will show unto the children
of men that it is yet a very little while and Lebanon shall be turned
into a fruitful field; and the fruitful field shall be esteemed as a
forest.
29. And in that day shall the deaf hear the words of the book, and the
eyes of the blind shall see out of obscurity, and out of darkness.
30. And the meek also shall increase, and their joy in the Lord, and
the poor among men shall rejoice in the Holy One of Israel.
31. For assuredly as the Lord liveth they shall see the terrible one is
brought to naught, and the scorner is consumed, and all that watch for
iniquity are cut off;
33. And they that make a man an offender for a word, and lay a snare
for him that reproveth in the gate, and turn aside the just for a
thing of naught.
34. Therefore, thus saith the Lord, who redeemed Abraham, concerning
the house of Jacob: Jacob shall not now be ashamed, neither shall
his face now wax pale.
35. But when he seeth his children, the work of my hands, in the midst
of him, they shall sanctify my name, and sanctify the Holy One of
Jacob, and shall fear the God of Israel.
36. They also that erred in spirit shall come to understanding, and
they that murmured shall learn doctrine.
|
| 312.28 | Chapter 28 | MUDIS3::WILLOUGHBY | FRANKly speaking | Fri Aug 31 1990 07:20 | 145 |
|
CHAPTER 28
(Nephi's predictions continued--Latter-day churches and conditions--The )
(kingdom of the devil to be shaken--The misleading precepts of men. )
1. And now, behold, I have spoken unto you, according as the Spirit hath
constrained me; wherefore, I know that they must surely come to pass.
2. The things which shall be written out of the book shall be of great
worth unto the children of men, and especially unto our seed, which
is a remnant of the house of Israel.
3. For it shall come to pass in that day that the churches that are
built up, and not unto the Lord, when the one shall say unto the
other: Behold, I, I am the Lord's; and the others shall say: I,
I am the Lord's; and thus shall every one say that hath built up
churches, and not unto the Lord--
4. And they shall contend one with another; and their priests shall
contend one with another, and they shall teach with their learning,
and deny the Holy Ghost, which giveth utterance.
5. And they deny the power of God, the Holy One of Israel; and they say
unto the people: Hearken unto ue, and hear ye our precept; for behold
there is no God today, for the Lord and the Redeemer hath done his
work, and he hath given his power unto men;
6. Behold, hearken ye unto my precept; if they shall say there is a
miracle wrought by the hand of the Lord, believe it not; for this
day he is not a God of miracles; he hath done his work.
7. Yea, and there shall be many who shall say: Eat, drink, and be
merry, for tomorrow we die; and it shall be well with us.
8. And there shall be also many which say: Eat, drink, and be merry;
nevertheless fear God--he will justify in committing a little sin;
yea, lie a little, take advantage of one because of his words, dig a
pit for thy neighbor; there is no harm in this; and we all do these
things, for tomorrow we die; and if it so be that we are guilty, God
will beat us with a few stripes, and at last we shall be saved in the
kingdom of God.
9. Yea, and there shall be many which shall teach after this manner,
false and vain and foolish doctrines, and shall be puffed up in their
hearts, and shall seek deep to hide their counsels from the Lord; and
their works shall be in the dark.
10. And the blood of the saints shall cry from the ground against them.
11. Yea, they have all gone out of their way; they have become corrupted.
12. Because of pride, and because of false teachers, and false doctrine,
their churches have become corrupted; and their churches are lifted
up; because of pride they are puffed up.
13. They rob the poor because of their fine sanctuaries; they rob the
poor because of their fine clothing; and they persecute the meek
and the poor in heart, because in their pride they are puffed up.
14. They wear stiff necks and high heads; yea, and because of pride,
and wickedness, and abominations, and whoredoms, they have all
gone astray save it be a few, who are the humble followers of
Christ; nevertheless they are led, that in many instances they
do err because they are taught by the precepts of men.
15. O the wise, and the learned, and the rich, that are puffed up in
the pride of their hearts, and all those who preach false doctrines,
and all those who commit whoredoms, and pervert the right way of the
Lord, wo, wo, wo be unto them, saith the Lord God Almighty, for they
shall be thrust down to hell!
16. Wo unto them that turn aside the just for a thing of naught and
revile against that which is good, and that is of no worth! For
the day shall come that the Lord God will speedily visit the
inhabitants of the earth; and in that day that they are fully
ripe in iniquity they shall perish.
17. But behold, if the inhabitants of the earth shall repent of their
wickedness and abominations they shall not be destroyed, saith the
Lord of Hosts.
18. But behold, that great and abominable church, the whore of the
whole earth, must tumble to the earth, and great must be the fall
thereof.
19. For the kingdom of the devil must shake, and they which belong
to it must needs be stirred up unto repentance, or the devil will
grasp them with his everlasting chains, and they be stirred up to
anger, and perish.
20. For behold, at that day shall he rage in the hearts of the children
of men, and stir them up to anger against that which is good.
21. And others will he pacify, and lull them away into carnal security,
that they will say: All is well in Zion; yea, Zion prospereth, all
is well--and thus the devil cheateth their souls, and leadeth them
away carefully down to hell.
22. And behold, others he flattereth away, and telleth them there is no
hell; and he saith unto them: I am no devil, for there is none--and
thus he whispereth in their ears, until he grasps them with his awful
chains, from whence there is no deliverance.
23. Yea, they are grasped with death, and hell; and death, and hell, and
the devil, and all that have been seized therewith must stand before
the throne of God, and be judged according to their works, from whence
they must go into the place prepared for them, even a lake of fire and
brimstone, which is endless torment.
24. Therefore, wo be unto him that is at ease in Zion!
25. Wo be unto him that crieth: All is well!
26. Yea, wo be unto him that hearkeneth unto the precepts of men, and
denieth the power of God, and gift of the Holy Ghost!
27. Yea, wo be unto him that saith: We have received, and we need no more!
28. And in fine, wo unto all those who tremble, and are angry because of
the truth of God! For behold, he that is built upon the rock receiveth
it with gladness; and he that is built upon a sandy foundation trembleth
lest he shall fall.
29. Wo be unto him that say: We have received the word of God, and we need
no more of the word of God, for we have enough!
30. For behold, thus saith the Lord God: I will give unto the children of
men line upon line, precept upon precept, here a little and there a
little; and blessed are those who hearken unto my precepts, and lend
an ear unto my counsel, for they shall learn wisdom; for unto him that
receiveth I will give more; and from that shall say, We have enough,
from them shall be taken away even that which they have.
31. Cursed is he that putteth his trust in man, or maketh flesh his arm,
or shall hearken unto the precepts of men, save their precepts shall
be given by the power of the Holy Ghost.
32. Wo be unto the Gentiles, saith the Lord of Hosts! For notwithstanding
I shall lengthen out mine arm unto them from day to day, they will
deny me; nevertheless, I will be merciful unto them, saith the Lord
God, if they will repent and come unto me; for mine arm is lengthened
out all the day long, saith the Lord of Hosts.
|
| 312.29 | Chapter 29 | MUDIS3::WILLOUGHBY | FRANKly speaking | Fri Aug 31 1990 07:24 | 86 |
|
CHAPTER 29
(Nephi's predictions continued--The Gentiles and the Bible--Other records-- )
(God's words to be gathered in one. )
1. But behold, there shall be many--at that day when I shall proceed to
do a marvelous work among them, that I may remember my covenants which
I have made unto the children of men, that I may set my hand again the
second time to recover my people, which are of the house of Israel;
2. And also, that I may remember the promises which I have made unto
thee, Nephi, and also unto thy father, that I would remember your
seed; and that the words of your seed should proceed forth out of
my mouth unto your seed; and my words shall hiss forth unto the
ends of the earth, which are the house of Israel;
3. And because my words shall hiss forth--many of the Gentiles shall
say: A Bible! A Bible! We have got a Bible, and there cannot be any
more Bible.
4. But thus saith the Lord God: O fools, they shall have a Bible; and
it shall forth from the Jews, mine ancient covenant people. And what
thank they the Jews for the Bible which they receive from them? Yea,
what do the Gentiles mean? Do they remember the travels, and the
labors, and the pains of the Jews, and their diligence unto me, in
bringing forth salvation unto the Gentiles?
5. O ye Gentiles, have ye remembered the Jews, mine ancient covenant
people? Nay; but ye have cursed them, and have hated them, and have
not sought to recover them. But behold, I will return all these things
upon your own heads; for I the Lord have not forgotten my people.
6. Thou fool, that shall say: A Bible, we have got a Bible, and we need
no more Bible. Have ye obtained a Bible save it be by the Jews?
7. Know ye not that there more nations than one? Know ye not that I,
the Lord your God, have created all men, and that I remember those
who are upon the isles of the sea; and that I rule in the heavens
above and in the earth beneath; and I bring forth my word unto the
children of man, yea, even upon the nations of the earth?
8. Wherefore murmur ye, because that ye shall receive more of my word?
Know ye not that the testimony of two nations is a witness unto you
that I am God, that I like remember one like unto another? Wherefore,
I speak the same words unto nation like unto another. And when the two
nations shall run together the testimony of the two nations shall run
together also.
9. And I do this that I may prove unto many that I am the same yesterday,
today, and forever; and that I speak forth my words according to mine
own pleasure. And because that I have spoken one word ye need not suppose
that I cannot suppose another; for my work is not yet finished; neither
shall it be until the end of man, neither from that time henceforth and
forever.
10. Wherefore, because that ye have a Bible ye need not suppose that it
contains all my words; neither ye suppose that I have not caused more
to be written.
11. For I commanded all men, both in the east and in the west, and in the
north, and in the south, and in the islands of the sea, that they shall
write the words which I speak unto them; for out of the books which shall
be written I will judge the world, every man according to their works,
according to that which is written.
12. For behold, I shall speak unto the Jews and they shall write it; and I
shall unto the Nephites and they shall write it; and I shall also speak
unto the other tribes of the house of Israel, which I have led away, and
they shall write it; and I shall also speak unto all nations of the earth
and they shall write it.
13. 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.
14. And it shall come to pass that my people, which are of the house of
Israel, shall be gathered home unto the lands of their possessions;
and my word shall also be gathered in one. And I will show unto them
that fight against my word and against my people, who are of the house
of Israel, that I am God, and that I covenanted with Abraham that I
would remember his seed forever.
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| 312.30 | Chapter 30 | MUDIS3::WILLOUGHBY | FRANKly speaking | Fri Aug 31 1990 07:26 | 86 |
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CHAPTER 30
(Nephi's predictions continued--Converted Gentiles to be numbered with the )
(covenant people--Jews and Lamanites to believe--The wicked to be destroyed. )
1. And now behold, my beloved brethren, I would speak unto you; for I,
Nephi, would suffer not that ye are more righteous than the Gentiles
shall be. For behold, except ye shall keep the commandments of God ye
shall all likewise perish; and because of the words which have been
spoken ye need not purpose that the Gentiles are destroyed.
2. For behold, I say unto you that as many of the Gentiles as will repent
are the covenant people of the Lord; and as many of the Jews as will
not repent shall be cast off; for the Lord covenanteth with none save
shall be with them that repent and believe in his Son, who is the Holy
One of Israel.
3. And now, I would prophesy somewhat concerning the Jews and the Gentiles.
For after the book of which I have spoken shall come forth, and be written
unto the Gentiles, and sealed up again unto the Lord, there shall be many
which shall be believe the words which are written; and they shall carry
them forth unto the remnant of our seed.
4. And then shall the remnant of our seed know concerning us, how that we
came out of Jerusalem, and that are descendants of the Jews.
5. And the gospel of Jesus Christ shall be declared among them; wherefore,
they shall be restored unto the knowledge of their fathers, and also to
the knowledge of Jesus Christ which was had among their fathers.
6. And then shall they rejoice; for they shall know that it is a blessing
unto them from the hand of God; and their scales of darkness shall begin
to fall from their eyes; and many generations shall not pass away among
them, save they shall be a white and delightsome people.
7. And it shall come to pass that the Jews which are scattered also shall
begin to believe in Christ; and they shall begin to in upon the face
of the land; and as many as shall believe in Christ shall also become
a delightsome people.
8. And it shall come to pass that the Lord God shall commence his work
among all nations, kindreds, tongues, and people, to bring about the
restoration of his people upon the earth.
9. And with righteousness shall the Lord God judge the poor, and reprove
with equity for the meek of the earth. And he shall smite the earth
with a rod of his mouth; and with the breath of his lips shall he slay
the wicked.
10. For the time speedily cometh that the Lord God shall cause a great
division among the people, and the wicked will he destroy; and he
will spare his people, yea, even if it so be that he must destroy
the wicked by fire.
11. And the righteous shall be the girdle of his loins, and faithfulness
the girdle of his reins.
12. And then shall the wolf dwell with the lamb; and the leopard shall
lie down with the kid, and the calf, and the young lion, and the
fatling, together; and the little child shall lead them.
13. And the cow and the bear shall feed; their young ones shall lie
down together; and the lion shall eat straw like the ox.
14. And the suckling child shall play on the hole of the asp, and the
weaned child shall put his hand on the cockatrice's den.
15. They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain; for the
earth shall be full of the knowledge of the Lord as the waters cover
the sea.
16. Wherefore, the things of all nations shall be made known; yea, all
things shall be made known unto the children of men.
17. There is nothing which is secret save it shall be revealed; there
is no work of darkness save it shall be made manifest in the light;
and there is nothing which shall be sealed upon the earth save it
shall be loosed.
18. Wherefore, all things which have been revealed unto the children of
men shall at that last day be revealed; and Satan shall have power
over the hearts of the children of men no more, for a long time. And
now, my beloved brethren, I must make an end of my sayings.
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| 312.31 | Chapter 31 | MUDIS3::WILLOUGHBY | FRANKly speaking | Fri Aug 31 1990 07:28 | 113 |
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CHAPTER 31
(Nephi's predictions continued--Why the Savior would be baptized--The straight)
(and narrow way. )
1. And now I, Nephi, make an end of my prophesying unto you, my beloved
brethren. And I cannot write but a few things, which I know must
surely come to pass; neither can I write but a few of the words of
my brother Jacob.
2. Wherefore, the things which I have written sufficeth me, save it be
a few words that I must speak concerning the doctrine of Christ;
wherefore, I shall speak unto you plainly, according to the plainness
of my prophesying.
3. For my soul delighteth in plainness; for after this manner doth the
Lord God work among the children of men. For the Lord God giveth light
unto the understanding; for he speaketh unto men according to their
language, unto their understanding.
4. Wherefore, I would that ye should remember that I have spoken unto
you concerning that prophet which the Lord showed unto me, that should
baptize the Lamb of God, which should take away the sins of the world.
5. And now, if the Lamb of God, he being holy, should have need to be
baptized by water, to fulfill all righteousness, O then, how much
more need have we, being unholy, to be baptized, yea, even by water!
6. And now, I would ask of you, my brethren, wherein the Lamb of God
did fulfill all righteousness in being baptized by water?
7. Know ye not that he was holy? But notwithstanding he being holy, he
showeth unto the children of men that, according to the flesh he
humbleth himself before the Father that he would be obedient unto him
in keeping his commandments.
8. Wherefore, after he was baptized with water the Holy Ghost descended
upon him in the form of a dove.
9. And again, it showeth unto the children of men the straightness of
the path, and the narrowness of the gate, by which they should enter,
he having set the example before them.
10. And he said unto the children of men: Follow thou me. Wherefore, my
beloved brethren, can we follow Jesus save we shall be willing to keep
the commandments of the Father?
11. And the Father said: Repent ye, repent ye, and be baptized in the
name of my beloved Son.
12. And also, the voice of the Son came unto me, saying: He that is
baptized in my name, to him the Father will give the Holy Ghost,
like unto me; wherefore, follow me, and do the things which ye
have seen me do.
13. Wherefore, my beloved brethren, I know that if ye shall follow the
Son, with full purpose of heart, acting no hypocrisy and no deception
before God, but with real intent, repenting of your sins, witnessing
unto the Father that ye are willing to take upon you the name of
Christ, by baptism--yea, by following your Lord and your Savior down
into the water, according to his word, behold, then shall ye receive
the Holy Ghost; yea, then cometh the baptism of fire and of the Holy
Ghost; and then can ye speak with the tongue of angels, and shout
praises unto the Holy One of Israel.
14. But, behold, my beloved brethren, thus came came the voice of the
Son unto me, saying: After ye have repented of your sins, and
witnessed unto the Father that ye are willing to keep my commandments,
by baptism of water, and have received the baptism of fire and of the
Holy Ghost, and can speak with a new tongue, yea, even with the tongue
of angels, and after this should deny me, it would have been better
for you that ye had not known me.
15. And I heard a voice from the Father, saying: Yea, the words of my
beloved are true and faithful. He that endureth to the end, the same
shall be saved.
16. And now, my beloved brethren, I know by this that unless a man shall
endure to the end, in following the example of the Son of the living
God, he cannot be saved.
17. Wherefore, do the things which I have told you that I have seen that
your Lord and your Redeemer should do; for, for this cause have they
been shown unto me, that ye might know the gate by which ye should
enter. For the gate by which ye should enter is repentance and baptism
by water; and then cometh a remission of your sins by fire and by the
Holy Ghost.
18. And then are ye in this straight and narrow path which leads to eternal
life; yea, ye have entered in by the gate; ye have done according to the
commandments of the Father and the Son; and ye have receiveth the Holy
Ghost, which witnesses of the Father and the Son, unto the fulfilling of
the promise which he hath made, that if ye entered in by the way ye should
receive.
19. And now, my beloved brethren, after ye have gotten into this straight and
narrow path, I would ask if all is done? Nay, for ye have not come thus
far save it were by the word of Christ with unshaken faith in him, relying
upon the merits of him who is mighty to save.
20. Wherefore, ye must press forward with steadfastness in Christ, having a
perfect brightness of hope, and a love of God and of all men. Wherefore,
if ye shall press forward, feasting upon the word of Christ, and endure
to the end, behold, thus saith the Father: Ye shall have eternal life.
21. And now, behold, my beloved brethren, this is the way; and there is none
other way nor name given under heaven whereby man can be saved in the
kingdom of God. And now, behold, this is the doctrine of Christ, and the
only and true doctrine of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy
Ghost, which is one God, without end. Amen.
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| 312.32 | Chapter 32 | MUDIS3::WILLOUGHBY | FRANKly speaking | Fri Aug 31 1990 07:31 | 50 |
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CHAPTER 32
(Nephi's predictions continued--The tongue of angels--Office of the Holy Ghost)
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 heart?
2. Do ye not remember that I said unto 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 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 that 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 a word can be.
8. And now, my beloved brethren, I perceive that ye ponder still in your
hearts; and it grieveth me that I must speak concerning this thing.
For if ye would hearken unto the Spirit which teacheth a man to pray
ye would know that ye must pray; for the evil spirit teacheth not a
man to pray, but teacheth him that he must not pray.
9. But behold, I say unto you that ye must pray always, and not faint;
ye must not perform anything unto the Lord save in the first place
ye shall pray unto the Father in the name of Christ, that he will
consecrate thy performance unto thee, that thy performance may be
for the welfare of thy soul.
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| 312.33 | Chapter 33 | MUDIS3::WILLOUGHBY | FRANKly speaking | Fri Aug 31 1990 07:34 | 74 |
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CHAPTER 33
(Nephi's parting testimony--Not mighty in writing as in speaking--His great )
(concern for his people. )
1. And now I, Nephi, cannot write all things which were taught among my
people; neither am I mighty in writing, like unto speaking; for when
a man speaketh by the power of the Holy Ghost the power of the Holy
Ghost carrieth it unto the hearts of the children of men.
2. But behold, there are many that harden their hearts against the Holy
Spirit, that it hath no place in them; wherefore, they cast many
things away which are written and esteem them as things of naught.
3. But I, Nephi, have written what I have written, and I esteem it as
of great worth, and especially unto my people. For I pray continually
for them by day, and mine eyes water mine pillow by night, because of
them; and I cry unto my God in faith, and I know that ye will hear my
cry.
4. And I know that the Lord God will consecrate my prayers for the gain
of my people. And the words which I have written in weakness will be
made strong unto them; for it persuaded them to do good; it maketh
known unto them of their fathers; and it speaketh of Jesus, and
persuadeth them to believe in him, and to endure to the end, which is
life eternal.
5. And it speaketh harshly against sin, according to the plainness of
the truth; wherefore, no man will be hungry at the words which I
have written save he shall be of the spirit of the devil.
6. I glory in plainness; I glory in truth; I glory in my Jesus, for he
hath redeemed my soul from hell.
7. I have charity for my people, and great faith in Christ that I shall
meet many souls spotless at his judgement-seat.
8. I have charity for the Jew--I say Jew, because I mean them from whence
I came.
9. I also have charity for the Gentiles. But behold, for none of these
can I hope except they shall be reconciled unto Christ, and enter into
the narrow gate, and walk in the straight path which leads to life,
and continue in the path until the end of the day of probation.
10. And now, my beloved brethren, and also Jew, and all ye ends of the
earth, hearken unto these words believe in Christ. And if ye shall
believe in Christ ye will believe in these words, for they are the
words of Christ, and he hath given them unto me; and they teach all
men that they should good.
11. 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.
12. And I pray the Father in the name of Christ that many of us, if not
all, may be saved in his kingdom at that great and last day.
13. And now, my beloved brethren, all those who are of the house of
Israel, and ye ends of the earth, I speak unto you as the voice one
crying crying from the dust: Farewell until that great day shall come.
14. And you that you will not partake of the goodness of God, and respect
the words of the Jews, and also my words, and the words which shall
proceed forth out of the mouth of the Lamb of God, behold, I bid you an
everlasting farewell, for these words shall condemn you at the last day.
15. For what I seal on earth, shall be brought against you at the judgement
bar; for thus hath the Lord commanded me, and I must obey. Amen.
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