The Agency of Man

https://youtu.be/b1AuihZKh1w

They Have Become A Burden

They Have Become a Burden

(Isaiah 1:14)

I attended an Elders' Quorum Meeting recently where the instructor led a discussion on Elder Gong's Conference Talk "We Each Have a Story," a talk that I found instructive and edifying.  I especially liked the way Elder Gong ended his talk by praising God's plan of happiness and Jesus Christ's Atonement, and his plea to all of us to go find our family members and bring them home to Christ

However, as is the practice, the instructor had us read some of the talk and then discuss it, and if it were not for a comment I made there would have been no mention of Jesus or his Atonement. There was no reference as to why we should find our family members. What happened to the Lord's command that we say nothing but repentance? Shouldn't it at least be mentioned once in awhile in meetings?

I kept thinking about what Isaiah said: "Your monthly and regular meetings my soul detests. They have become a burden on me; I am weary of putting up with them" (Isaiah 1:14).  

This instruction followed a Sacrament Meeting where a member of the High Council gave us a list of things to do that would rival any that the Jews had come up with.  He did, however, include Jesus on the list but only as a means to encourage us to do everything in our power to become like Jesus. 

Isaiah's prophecy about our meetings was echoed by Joseph Smith who said 

"...how vain and trifling 

have been our Spirits, 

our conferences, 

our councils, 

our meetings, 

our private as well 

as public conversations, 

too low, 

too mean, 

too vulgar, 

too condescending, 

for the dignified Characters 

of the called and chosen of God..." (History, 1838-1856 C-1 [2 November 1838-31 July 1842].

For a church that is supposed to nourish its members with "the good word of God, to keep them in the right way, to keep them continually watchful unto prayer, relying alone upon the merits of Christ, who was the author and finisher of their faith" (Moroni 6:4) we fall way short. Bottomless pit?  What better way to describe "hell?"

Some may think that Conference talks are the word of God, but to assume so, without knowing the word of God is to be ignorant of God's words. Sure the word of God may be spoken there, but not always, and in local meetings, not frequently. We have substituted the pulpit narrative for the scripture narrative. Our meetings have become more of a forum for quotes from conference talks, and in Relief Society and Elders Quorum these talks are the dictated subject matter. But what joy when the scripture narrative is given us from the pulpit!

When scriptures are quoted, they are often misinterpreted, as if those who quote them don’t understand their true or full meaning and connections. Never having been taught more than a prooftexting approach to the scriptures—of finding “proof” for a particular doctrine or interpretation—we forgo the trouble of searching and putting the pieces together and instead resort to cherry-picking what appeals and rejecting what doesn’t. Are we nearing a time when conformity to the pulpit narrative takes precedence to heeding what the scriptures say, which foresaw and forewarned against these very developments?

Is it really a surprise that young people are leaving the church in greater numbers?  They are not getting fed!  It is hard to live on cliches, platitudes, dogmas, tenets and lists of things to do or not do. They are getting religion instead of truth (the word of God). (D&C 84:45)

At a subsequent Sacrament meeting the talks were more of the same. While both were organized and delivered well, they both missed the mark. An analogy that somehow translated into developing faith and another talk on faith that was mostly quotes from Conference talks given to support the "assigned" topic. I sent a link of an article to the first speaker about how faith comes by hearing the word of God. Hopefully he will read it.

And I must admit that when I was their age, I did the same. Why? Because it made me look good, as in look at me I am an example. Later after being schooled in the word of God I gave a talk in a Sacrament Meeting where I shared my progression from being one of the good guys to recognizing that I  am a chief sinner. The name of this talk was I am a Sinner. I shared the horror of finding out that I had been worshipping an imaginary image of myself as one of the good guys. After giving this talk, the Bishopric in their next weekly message, which was included in the Sacrament Meeting program titled their message "For Those of Us Who are Not Sinners," where they quoted from a general authority to support their message. I immediately thought of Jacob saying:

"But behold, the Jews were a stiffnecked people; and they despised the words of plainness (translate words of God), and killed the prophets, and sought for things that they could not understand. Wherefore, because of their blindness, which blindness came by looking beyond the mark, they must needs fall; for God hath taken away his plainness from them, and delivered unto them many things which they cannot understand, because they desired it. And because they desired it God hath done it, that they may stumble" (Jacob 4:14 emphasis added).

This is also true for the Ephraimite Gentiles or better known as "members" of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. And while we have not killed the prophets as in causing their death, we have killed the prophets of the Old and New Testament and of the Book of Mormon by calling them 'dead' prophets and putting our trust in the 'living prophets--pulpit prophets, while just giving lip service to the others, who by the way, are very much alive! 

See Mythical Category of Dead Prophets

Now the prophets spoken of by Jacob include those who just show up, are not part of the hierarchy, historical prophets like Abinadi and Samuel the Lamanite, and many other such prophets who are mentioned, although not by name) in the Book of Mormon (Ether 11:1; Helaman 9:2; 13:25-26: Jarom 1:4), and like those prophesied to come forth, and many who are already here in numbers prior the the Lord's Second Coming. 

See An Example of What Has Been and Shall Be. 

Also see www.owlofthedesert.com/blog series on "Would God That All the Lord's People Were Prophets."

As Jacob says blindness comes by looking beyond the mark, and the mark is Christ. Instead of feeding each other with the words of life, we feed each other with words that give no life.

It should not shock us or surprise us that we are the ones these prophets will call to repentance. Isaiah prophesied and said the following concerning us.

Instead of obtaining revelation from Jehovah (vv 9, 14, 16, 26, 29), we water down his word until it is ineffectual in empowering his people (vv 10-13; Isaiah 32:6).

When his people’s devotion to Jehovah becomes but a shallow version of his law and word, it lacks the power to withstand evil.

(28:9–10) Although Jehovah wants to give his people “instruction” and “revelation,” we are but babes and sucklings who haven’t developed far enough to digest more than milk: “Everyone who uses milk is unskillful in the word of righteousness, for he is a babe” (Hebrews 5:13). Ephraim’s (our) mode of learning is still “line upon line, line upon line, precept upon precept, precept upon precept, here a little, there a little” (saw lasaw saw lasaw qaw laqaw qaw laqaw ze‘ir sam ze‘ir sam). Assonance and alliteration parody their rote method of learning that consists of parroting back what their leaders teach.

Each poetic allegory (vv 23-26, 27-29) reiterates Isaiah chapter 28’s theme of the need for divine revelation and its lack among the people of Ephraim that leaves them unprepared for Jehovah’s Day of Judgment. (v 29)—hark back to verse 9: “Whom shall he give instruction? Whom shall he enlighten with revelation?” and to Jehovah’s taking steps to restore his revelation to “those who believe it” (v 16).

Your wine diluted with water. Besides its literal meaning, the idea of “wine” metaphorically signifies spiritual nourishment: “You who have no money, come, buy wine and milk with no money and at no cost” (Isaiah 55:1). Those who teach God’s word, in effect, have watered it down until it no longer nourishes his people: “Their heart ponders impiety—how to practice hypocrisy and preach perverse things concerning Jehovah, leaving the hungry soul empty, depriving the thirsty [soul] of drink” (Isaiah 32:6). What passes for God’s word has become but a diminished version of his gospel in its fullness.

Precepts of men prevent people from receiving more of God’s word as Isaiah teaches it. If people haven’t heard something a thousand times, then it can’t be true. Although what they believe may have no basis of fact, they won’t search the scriptures to see if those things are so (Acts 17:11). Ought not a prophet who saw our day, who so eloquently spells it out, be our daily walk and talk?

These epitomize the Isaiah and Book of Mormon scriptures narrative.

 

They also parallel the Lord’s people “in Zion” subscribing to “precepts of men,” which in the end cause them to deny him; his current wife becoming a harlot, her people’s indulging the sins of Sodom, leading to the Lord’s remarrying his first wife—the house of Israel—in their place; the olive tree of Zenos’ allegory bearing all kinds of fruit—none of it any good—causing the Lord of the vineyard to appoint his end-time servant to call other servants to help him graft the natural branches back into their mother tree, to cut off the bad and cast them out of the vineyard.

Is it any wonder that we are the wild fruit spoken of by Jacob in the Allegory of the Olive Tree? Is it any wonder that we look beyond the mark? Is it any wonder that as the wild fruit we will be cut down and cast into the fire?

"Then if our hearts have been hardened, yea, if we have hardened our hearts against the word, insomuch that it has not been found in us, then will our state be awful, for then we shall be condemned.

For our words will condemn us, yea, all our works will condemn us; we shall not be found spotless; and our thoughts will also condemn us; and in this awful state we shall not dare to look up to our God; and we would fain be glad if we could command the rocks and the mountains to fall upon us to hide us from his presence.

But this cannot be; we must come forth and stand before him in his glory, and in his power, and in his might, majesty, and dominion, and acknowledge to our everlasting shame that all his judgments are just; that he is just in all his works, and that he is merciful unto the children of men, and that he has all power to save every man that believeth on his name and bringeth forth fruit meet for repentance" (Alma 12:13-15 emphasis added).

What a night and day (literally) difference between the pulpit narrative and the scripture narrative! 

Really?

Last year in the local news in Utah, I saw where Utah Senator Mike Lee compared Donald Trump to Book of Mormon hero Captain Moroni.  At the time I read Lee's comparison, I saw that over 400 people wrote a comment. Most were critical of Lee, but many supported it. I am not sure which bothered me more, Lee's comparison or the many others who agreed. He later tried to excuse it by saying Moroni was not a prophet  and that he didn't mean to offend people.

Let me begin by saying that Donald Trump is the antitheses of Moroni. Trump has none of the qualities, character or courage of Moroni. In fact if I were to compare Donald Trump to a Book of Mormon character, it would be Amalickiah, who, it is recorded was "desirous to be a King" (Alma 46:4).  Amalickiah was a "man of many flattering words," who won a great personal following, had obtained "power by fraud and deceit" (Alma 48:7), and "led away the hearts of many people" (Alma 46:10). "A large and a strong man" of imposing presence (Alma 46:3); and to a powerful and persuasive rhetoric he added the fierce resolve to one who "had sworn to drink the blood of Moroni," his chief opponent (Alma 51:9). Shrewd and calculating, "a man of cunning device" (Alma 46:10), he knew how to preserve himself: "He did not come down himself to battle" (Alma 49:11). Amalickiah was willing to pay any price to gain his objective, for he "did care not for the blood of his people" (Alma 49:10).

Amalickiah could always count on a strong backing by the king-men. "And those people who were wroth were also desirous that he should be their king" (Alma 46:4).

Moroni was caught off guard by the vicious and deceitful nature that his own guileless spirit was slow to anticipate. "When Moroni, who was the chief commander of the armies,...had heard of these dissensions, he was angry with Amalickiah" (Alma 46:11), and he reacted in a quick and spectacular manner; the drastic measures that he took to alert the people to show that they needed waking up in a great hurry. "He rent his coat,...took a piece thereof, and wrote upon it--In memory of our God, our religion, and freedom, and our peace, our wives and our children" (Alma 46:12). He put the torn garment on a pole and called it the "title of liberty" (Alma 46:13), and went forth among the people, calling upon them "with a loud voice." Hearing Moroni, and seeing the banner, "the people came running together" (Alma 46:19-21).

Unlike Trump and his disregard of the Constitution, Moroni was wholly dedicated to defending that constitution which Mosiah had given the nation when he laid down his kingship, in which the sum of wisdom was equality. Mosiah said, "For thus saith the Lord: Ye shall not esteem one flesh above another, or one man shall not think of himself above another" (Mosiah 23:7). He tells us what kind of equality is indispensable if a people are to enjoy liberty, namely "that every man should have an equal chance throughout all the land...to answer for his own sins" (Mosiah 29:38).

This is what Moroni was willing to fight for. He knew that the King-men would destroy any equality and Moroni had a grand passion for equality, without which, according to the Book of Mormon, there can be no freedom.  Moroni was a great warrior, a great general but above all he wanted peace. Because of his magnanimous nature as a lover of peace and fair play, he always called the enemy his brothers, with whom he was loathe to contend. He held no grudges and at the end of the fighting he proposed a settlement. He refused to take advantage of the enemy who was too drunk to fight because that would be an "injustice" (Alma 55:19). With never a thought of punishing a beaten foe (Donald Trump?), Moroni sought no reprisals even after the gravest provocations. He was satisfied to take his defeated adversaries at their word and trust them to return to their homes or settle among the Nephites as they chose (Alma 44:6; 11, 19-20).

Moroni was the greatest of all the Book of Mormon warriors, and yet he was the most magnanimous, and he tells us why:  "And we have suffered...all this that perhaps we might be the means of saving some soul, and we supposed that our joy would be full if perhaps we could be the means of saving some" (Alma 26:30). He knew that the harder way of winning over an enemy was the better way, and all his converts underwent a most marvelous change of heart; "Now there was not one soul among all the people who had been converted unto the Lord that would take up arms against their brethren; nay, they would not even make any preparations for war; yea, and also their king commanded them that they should not" (Alma 24:6).

At the sight of Amalickiah, the king-men's idea of a Nephite patriot, leading a Lamanite army against the Nephites, they saw him in his true colors after having been won over "by fraud and deceit" and they were willing to switch to the faithful Moroni.

The freemen are the Nephites who supported Moroni in his opposition to a dangerous coalition led by Amalickiah. The king-men's combination consisted of rich Nephites who were outraged by what they considered interference by "Helaman and his brethren" in their private affairs. Other king-men included monarchists, influential and intriguing families, a self-styled aristocracy, social climbers "lifted up in their hearts" by their new wealth (Alma 45:24), haughty and aspiring judges, power-hungry officials (Mike Lee?), including "almost all the lawyers and the high priests"--men taking advantage of church positions (3 Nephi 6:27), and many ordinary church members beguiled by the powerful and impressive rhetoric of Amalikiah.  Only one comprehensive label fits that combination.

The freemen were not left wing, not at all. For them there were no wings--equality was their watchword, and their torn, trampled garments and tattered "title of liberty" announced to all that they considered themselves nothing more than God's typically weak and fallible children, whom he loves all alike. They were not militant, but were peace-loving, noncompetitive, and friendly, appealing to the power of the word of God over the sword. Like Moroni they were "taught never to give offense," and never aggressive, but they were terrible indeed when the king-men pushed them too far, but quick to spare and forgive. They were not class conscious, but prized equality among the greatest of blessings. In their personal lives, they placed no great value on the accumulation of wealth and abhorred displays of status and prestige like the Trump Tower. They were not desirous or envious of power and authority; they recognized that they were "despised" by the more success-oriented king-men of the world. They shunned the climate of conspiracy in which the king-men delighted, and avoided aristocratic pretenses and aspirations as well.  

None of these qualities are found in Donald Trump nor in his enablers like Senator Lee, who at one time could not hold back his disdain for Trump, who called on Trump to step away from the presidental nomination after the Access Hollywood Tape, but because he wanted to be in the circle of power perhaps he sold himself and his values to support Donald Trump and violated his Oath of Office to uphold and defend the constitution and its liberties for all people. And to even think that Donald Trump could be compared to Captain Moroni stretches the credibility of all reason and fact, and is, to put it simply, embarrassingly ignorant.

I have never met Donald Trump. I have, however, heard him and read extensively about him. I have listened to him, have seen his tweets, and have read almost every book written by those who either worked for him, were part of his family or part of his administration. They all tell the same story. He is nothing like Moroni. I would have loved to see him be a good president, and to overcome his narcissism, his racism and hate for those who do not fall at his feet and worship him, but it did not happen and it will never happen. One thing I know for sure. He cannot hold a candle to Captain Moroni! Moroni would never use bone spurs, real or invented, as an excuse not to defend the liberty of his people.

Postscript- See this Article dated June 21, 2022 in the Salt Lake Tribune

Deny Not The Gifts of God

As I have searched Moroni 10 and scriptural links to Moroni 10, I am impressed with the vision Moroni had with respect to the idea that perhaps in our day we would 'deny the gifts of God.' Why else would he be so bold as to 'exhort' us to not deny the gifts and power of God, and to do so with so much fervor? He was so concerned that he emphasized his exhortations over and over again. But as with many Book of Mormon prophet writers, he was right on, since we have not heeded his warning and do in fact, for the most part, deny the gifts of God. 

Let's look at what he says: 

"I would exhort you that 

ye deny not the power of God; 

for he worketh by power, 

according to the faith 

of the children of men....  

And again, I exhort you, 

my brethren, that 

ye deny not the gifts of God, 

for they are many; and 

they come from the same God....

and they are given by the 

manifestations of the Spirit of God 

unto men, to profit them" 

(Moroni 10:7-8 emphasis added).  

Moroni then enumerates several of the Gifts of the Spirit, and then writes: 

"And all these gifts 

come by the Spirit of Christ...

and I would exhort you, 

my beloved brethren, 

that ye remember 

that every good gift 

cometh of Christ. 

 

And I would exhort you, 

my beloved brethren, 

that he is the same 

yesterday, today, and forever, 

and that all these gifts 

of which I have spoken, 

which are spiritual, 

never will be done away, 

even as long as the world shall stand, 

only according to the 

unbelief of the children of men" 

(Moroni 10:18-19 emphasis added).

Moroni's heartfelt plea is further emphasized in verse 25 where he says, "that if the day cometh that the power and gifts of God shall be done away among you, it shall be because of unbelief" (Moroni 10:25 emphasis added).

We can link 'unbelief' to another scripture speaking of us in D&C 84:54-55, where the Lord tells Joseph that our "minds in times past have been darkened because of unbelief, and because (we) have treated lightly the things (we) have received--which vanity and unbelief have brought the whole church under condemnation" (emphasis added).

So is Moroni's exhortation directed at us?

Based on my experience as an active church member for all of my life, and as one who has served as, and worked with many other leaders at ward and stake levels, I can say that for the most part we have and do "deny the gifts of God.'

Not once have I ever been asked by a Bishop, Elders Quorum President, High Priest Group Leader or Stake President if I have any Gifts of the Spirit, and I believe that to be true of most people. Nor did I ever inquire of any of my ward members when I was a Bishop, and this is true of many former sitting bishops whom I have asked.

As I was taught more by the Lord about His gifts of the spirit I tried to bring up spiritual gifts in meetings, ward councils and high councils, in an attempt to call attention to Moroni's exhortation to not deny the Gifts of God, but which fell on deaf ears.

I do not say this to be critical but to simply point out the fact that Moroni's concerns concerning us were well founded and prophetic, at least based on my experience. Spiritual gifts as real gifts are not even on our radar.

I was even told once that we should not talk to others of our spiritual gifts, and could never understand this since these gifts are given to 'profit' all of us, and as a result we should know of and share our gifts with this caution: "Make not thy gift known unto any save it be those who are of thy faith. Trifle not with sacred things" (D&C 6:10 emphasis added). Also Paul says, speaking of spiritual gifts, "seek that ye may excel to the edifying of the church" (1 Corinthians 14:12 emphasis added). 

"For what doth it profit a man if a gift is bestowed upon him, and he receive not the gift? Behold, he rejoices not in that which is given unto him, neither rejoices in him who is the giver of the gift" (D&C 88:33). And I would add that what doth it profit a man if a gift is bestowed upon others, and he receive not the gift? Behold, he rejoices not in that which is given unto others, neither rejoices in Him who is the giver of the gift.

My experience with lessons on the Gifts of the Spirit have always consisted of 'talking about' but never really understanding how denying the Gifts of God is also denying the power of God, and directly correlates to our lack of faith and our unbelief. Other than occasionally identifying a few of the gifts in Moroni 10, D&C 46 and 1 Corinthians 12 in lessons, I have never been instructed in family or church on the importance of spiritual gifts in our pursuit to do good.

Before I continue, let me write something about what 'good' is and how it is tied to the use of the Gifts of the Spirit. Moroni also teaches us that "in Christ there should come every good thing" and "all things which are good cometh of Christ" (Moroni 7:22;24 emphasis added). He also tells us that only by faith can we lay hold upon every good thing (Moroni 7:25). So if we are to be the means of doing 'good' we can only do 'good' through Christ. Our own goodness just does not cut it and no amount of human goodness amounts to doing the type of 'good' Moroni is writing of.

No one has ever taught me, as far as I can remember, except Moroni and other Book of Mormon prophet writers, that we can only do 'good' through the gifts and power of God. 

And how does He define good? 

"For behold, my brethern, it is given unto you to judge, that ye may know good from evil; and the way to judge is as plain, that ye may know with a perfect knowledge, as the daylight is from the dark night. ...I will show unto you the way to judge; for every thing which inviteth to do good, and to persuade to believe in Christ, is sent forth by the power and gift of Christ.... But whatsoever thing persuadeth men to do evil, and believe not in Christ, and deny him, and serve not God, then ye may know with a perfect knowledge it is of the devil..." (Moroni 7:15-17).

Moroni warns us that if the gifts of God are done way among us because of unbelief,

"there shall be none 

that doeth good among you, 

no not one" 

(Moroni 10:25 emphasis added).

None! Not one!

This connection between good and the gifts of God is of critical importance, and lays at our feet the warning given to us by Moroni, and begs the question: how much 'good' are we really doing if we are not doing good through the power and gifts of God?  According to Moroni, NONE. To me this is staggering.

And he makes this crystal clear when he says:  

"For if there be one 

among you

that doeth good, 

he shall work 

by the power 

and gifts of God" 

(Moroni 10:25 emphasis added).

Doing good = work by power and gifts of God.

For emphasis Moroni warns that 

"I speak it according 

to the words of Christ 

and I lie not" 

(Moroni 10:26).

And he doesn't leave it at that!  He says: 

"I exhort you 

to remember these things; 

for the time speedily cometh 

that ye shall know that I lie not, 

for ye shall see me 

at the bar of God; 

and the Lord God 

will say unto you:  

Did I not declare 

my words unto you, 

which were written by this man...

I declare these things unto 

the fulfilling of the prophesies" 

(Moroni 10:27-28 emphasis added)?

Is Moroni prophesying that we will deny the power and gifts of God? The answer is yes.  We don't have to look far (ourselves) to see that we have denied the gifts and power of God, and continue to do so. Maybe we don't deny all the gifts, such as the gift of healing, but we do deny most of them and do not seek out those who have gifts, so that the gifts of God can be used to benefit the whole. I am sure the Church uses people with the gift of tongues to translate Books of Mormon and other Church publications. But how about you?

Let me illustrate by asking you the following questions. 

Who do you know in your family, your ward, your stake, or beyond, that has the gift to teach God's wisdom or to teach the word of God? 

Do you know anyone who has the gift of healing, the gift of great faith, or the gift of prophecy? 

And if you do have you ever asked them to use their gifts for your benefit? Your family's benefit? Your class's benefit? Your ward's benefit? Your stake's benefit?

Is there more of an emphasis on talents than on the gifts of God? 

Have you ever sought out someone with a gift of the spirit, for example, to be someone with the gift of knowledge that can teach you and your family? 

How can you do 'good' if you do not know what 'good' means and do not work by the power and gifts of God?

I know many who have gifts of the Spirit, and I have benefited from God's gifts to them because I have desired the benefit and He has led me to them.

My plea to whomever reads this, is to become aware of Moroni's exhortation, seek out gifts and encourage others to ask for gifts. Rejoice in the gifts and He who is the giver of the gifts. This is especially critical concerning the gifts of wisdom and knowledge and the gift to teach wisdom and/or knowledge; or the gift of prophecy, and others, or what I call the forgotten gifts. By doing so we can tap into His power and do what He defines as good.

I would like to illustrate one way that we deny the power and gifts of God while being deluded into thinking that we are doing good. We seek to counsel in our own ways and rely on human wisdom and talents to solve problems. We seek 'not the Lord's counsel," and we ignore God's word and the power it has in getting people in the way and keeping them there (D&C 1:19; 56:14; 2 Nephi 31).

Think about a typical ward council meeting where the Bishopric, quorum and auxiliary leaders gather to counsel. Someone may be assigned a 'spiritual thought' and then an agenda is followed where ward issues are discussed. More often than not (in fact in my experience with ward councils--never) the welfare of the soul is not considered. The welfare of the person is, but the solutions are a result of handbooks, traditions, talents, and members of the council conversing among themselves.

We deny the power of God in these councils because we ignore those with gifts of the spirit. We treat lightly the word of God which as Alma says, if used (and if used by someone with the gift of knowledge) will do more good than anything else. As a result no good is done even though we pretend it is.

It does not need to be this way and shouldn't be. The sword of truth (the word of God) should be foremost in our councils, and if it isn't then we may help a few members with some problems, but we won't save their souls. See Ten Reasons Why for an example of what happens when we don't use His words.

We must remember that our work is to teach repentance? Why? So that all may obtain the mercy of God (Alma 42:31). And we must use those with the gifts of the spirit. Otherwise we deny the gifts and power of God and will not do good.

An Example of What Has Been And Shall Be

An Example of What Has Been And Shall Be

This Post is inspired by a post on www.owlofthedesert.com/blog

Jesus told the Nephites concerning Isaiah that "all things that he spake have been and shall be" (3 Nephi 23:3).  The Book of Mormon prophet writers also selected events in their history that would be types of events that would happen in the last days. One in particular is very specific in its detail and is found in 3 Nephi 6-10. These events happened just before Christ came to the Nephites, and are prophetic types of endtime events that will occur prior to the Lord's second coming.

Written by Third Nephi, the son of Nephi, who was the son of Helaman, who was the son of Helaman, who was the son of Alma, who was the son of Alma, being a descendant of Nephi who was the son of Lehi.

Note the pattern of how the word of God was taught from father to son.

From God to Abinadi

From Abinadi to Alma

From Alma to Alma

From Alma to Helaman

From Helaman to Helaman

From Helaman to Nephi

From Nephi to Nephi

What have we done with the word of God we have received? I think our pattern would be more like this:

The Word of God--

Stays in the scriptures

On our tables and

In our phones.

Nibbled on,

Maybe even read.

Left by the way side

Choked by the cares.

Seldomly searched

Not treasured up

Feasted upon? No.

Replaced by talks,

Success in the world

Behavioral examples.

From father to son

From father to daughter

From son to son

From daughter to daughter 

Not only are the events in 3 Nephi 6 described in detail, but they reflect the latter pattern of the word of God, and how apostasy is generational, as we come to understand (or not) that the catalyst for these events is the same catalyst for the same type of events occurring before the Lord's second coming.

I will put this in verse form so you will be able to see more clearly not only the events but the sequence of events and why these events happened, and why they will happen again.

3 Nephi 6

And they began again 

to prosper and to wax great...

and there was great 

order in the land

and they had formed 

their laws according 

to equity and justice 

(vs 4)

Now there was nothing 

in all the land

to hinder the people 

from prospering continually

except they should fall into transgression (vs 5)

Their appointed leaders 

had established this 

great peace in the land (vs 6)

There were many cities 

built anew, and

there were many old cities repaired (vs 7)

and there were many 

highways cast up,

and many roads made,

which led from city to city

and from land to land

and from place to place (vs 8)

and the people 

had continual peace (vs 9)

So far so good.  Perhaps America right after WWII? 

But then trouble starts.

There began to be 

some disputings 

among the people

and some were 

lifted up unto pride

and boastings 

because of their

exceedingly great riches,

yea, even unto 

great persecutions. (vs 10)

It always starts with some having more than others, then being proud (even thankful), and then being self righteous. But all the while persecuting or separating themselves from, or treating as nonexistent, the poor, reminding us that "it is not given that one man should possess that which is above another, wherefore the world lieth in sin" (D&C 49:21).

For there were many 

merchants in the land,

and many lawyers,

and many officers. (vs 11)

Having bought into Satan's economic plan, they were out to get all they could, and were even lauded for their success. Even their education differed.

And the people began to be 

distinguished by ranks,

according to their riches

and their chances for learning,

yea, some were ignorant

because of their poverty,

and others did receive learning

because of their riches. (vs. 12)

What was the result?

Some were lifted up in pride,

and others were 

exceedingly humble;

some did return 

railing for railing

While others would receive

railing and persecution

and all manner of afflictions,

and would not turn 

and revile again,

but were humble 

and penitent before God. (vs 13)

Railing means to complain and criticize or protest strongly and persistently about others. 

Revile means to criticize in an abusive or insulting manner.

Certainly a lot of that today both in and out of the church.  

But thank goodness for those who will not 'turn and revile" in retaliation, but are humble and penitent before God.

And thus there 

became great inequality 

in all the land,

insomuch that the church

began to be broken up, yea...

the church was broken up

in all the land

save it were among a few

who were converted

unto the true faith;

and they would not 

depart from it. 

for they were firm,

and steadfast,

and immovable,

willing with all diligence

to keep the commandments 

of the Lord. (vs 14)

Notice it was not the Nephites who were faithful, but the Lamanites, and it was the Nephites failure to repent that was the catalyst for the events which took place shortly thereafter, as it will be our (Ephraimite Gentiles) failure to repent that will be the cause of these same type of events just prior to the Lord coming again. It is always the Lord's people who are the catalyst for these judgments. 

Now the cause 

of this iniquity

of the people was this---

Satan had great power,

unto the stirring 

up of the people

to do all manner 

of iniquity,

and to the puffing 

them up with pride,

tempting them to 

seek for power,

and authority,

and riches,

and the vain things 

of the world. (vs 15)

And thus Satan did lead away

the hearts of the people

to do all manner of iniquity... (vs 16)

As a result they were (we are) in a state of awful wickedness (vs. 17)

Now the question is who are they? This is were the rubber hits the road, because we cannot say it was because of all those other wicked people--those Democrats, those Republicans, those liberals, those conservatives, those white people, those black people, those gay and lesbian people, those terrorists, those non-Mormons, those immigrants--you get the idea.  Nephi makes it very clear who 'they' are!  

Now they did 

not sin ignorantly,

for they knew 

the will of God

concerning them,

for it had been 

taught them;

therefore they did

willfully rebel 

against God. (vs. 18)

And Nephi has already identified the sin--the vain things of the world, money, and the pride--and who--those who had been taught the will of God concerning them, and that His people (the Nephites) (and in our time the Mormon/Ephraimite Gentiles) willfully rebelled against God.

But the Lord never gives up.

And there began 

to be men

inspired from heaven

and sent forth,

standing among the people

in all the land,

preaching and 

testifying boldly

of the sins and 

iniquities of the people,

and testifying unto them

concerning the redemption

which the Lord would make

for his people,

or in other words,

the resurrection of Christ;

and they did testify boldly

of his death and sufferings. (vs. 20)

These men just showed up or were already there.  Not necessarily church leaders like Nephi, but others who were among those described in verse 14 above, called by God (types like Samuel the Lamanite) , to say nothing but repentance and to prophecy and warn, of which I am one. And I know several others.

But what was the result?

Now there were many

of the people

who were exceedingly angry

because of those

who testified of these things;

and those who were angry

were chiefly the chief judges,

and they who had been high priests and lawyers... (vs 21)

In other words, those with the most to lose, including priesthood holders and church leaders.

And how many of such were there who testified of things pertaining to Christ?

Now there were 

many of those

who testified 

of the things 

pertaining

to Christ

who testified boldly,

who were taken 

and put to death (vs. 23)

Is it dangerous to so testify? Yes!

Because of the 

wickedness among 

the Lord's people--

Others did combine against 

the people of the Lord, 

and enter into a covenant 

to destroy them, and deliver 

those who were guilty 

from the grasp of justice. (vs. 29)

And they did set at defiance

the law and the rights

of their country,

and they did covenant 

one with another

to destroy the (government)

and establish a king

over the land,

that the land should 

no more

be at liberty

but should be 

subject unto kings. (vs. 30).

Happening right now in America. There are those who want to destroy democracy and do away with government, and destroy the liberties granted under the Constitution. There has only been one president in the America's history who claimed he was infallible, with absolute authority, and wanted to be our king. And even more frightening, there are many who support him still. And what is the catalyst? The apostasy of the Ephraimite Gentiles, not the American Gentiles--liberal or conservative. What we find in America today is the result of that apostasy. There is a reason Jacob saw that the Gentiles who were grafted into the mother tree would bring forth only wild fruit! 

Even more signs.  3 Nephi 7

And the people were divided

one against another;

and they did

separate one from another 

into tribes,

every man according to his

family and his kindred

and friends,

and thus they did destroy

the government of the land. (vs. 2)

Not yet happened, but it will, and attempts have been and continue to destroy democracy. And why?

...all this iniquity

had come upon the people

because they did yield

themselves unto 

the power of Satan. (vs. 5I)

And they (we) are not even aware. (See 2 Nephi 28 on how Satan leads us carefully down to hell.) 

And they did cause a great 

contention in the land,

insomuch that the

more righteous part

of the people had

nearly all become wicked;

yea there were but few

righteous men among them. (vs. 7)

More detail on secret oaths and combinations (men conspiring to destroy free elections) and and how tribes established their own laws. (vs 8-14).

And it came to pass that

Nephi--having been 

visited by angels

and also the voice of the Lord,

therefore having seen angels,

and being eyewitness, 

and having had power

given unto him

that he might know

concerning the ministry of Christ

and also eyewitness to their

quick return from righteousness

unto wickedness,

and abominations;

therefore, being grieved

for the hardness of their hearts

and the blindness of their minds--

went forth among them...

and began to testify boldly,

repentance

and remission of sins

through faith 

on the Lord Jesus Christ. (vs. 15-16)

Now most were angry with Nephi, as they were with Samuel, but there were some who did repent. This is an example of how the Lord even up to the last minute where no man can repent, will still do all in His power to give the people one more chance to repent and return to Him before the endtime destruction. Nephi and the Lord did recruit others unto this ministry.

But this is the last chance because the destruction follows just 8 years after they had peace in all the land! 3 Nephi 8.

...there arose 

a great storm,

such an one 

never had 

been known

in all the land (vs 5)

And there was 

also a great

and terrible tempest;

and there was 

terrible thunder,

insomuch that it did

shake the whole earth

as if it was about to 

divide asunder (vs. 6)

And there were 

exceedingly

sharp lightnings,

such as never had been known

in all the land (vs 7)

And the city of Zarahemla 

did take fire (vs. 8)

And the city of Moroni

did sink into the 

depths of the sea;

and the inhabitants 

thereof were drowned (vs 9)

And the earth was 

carried up upon

the city of Moronihah,

that in the place of the city

there became a great mountain (vs. 10)

And there was 

great and terrible

destruction in the 

land southward

(and northward) (vs 11-12)

To summarize the rest, many and great and notable cities were sunk, and many burned, and many were shaken, and the inhabitants thereof were slain, etc. And all this was done in the space of about three hours (vs 13-22).

And then the darkness that had been prophesied by Samuel the Lamanite came and lasted for three days, and there were the groanings of the people because of the darkness and the great destruction which had come upon them (vs 23).

And in one place 

they were heard saying:

O that we had repented

before this great 

and terrible day,

and then would 

our brethren

have been spared,

and they would not 

have been

burned in that great city Zarahemla. (vs, 24)

And those who were spared heard a voice which identified all of the cities that had been destroyed (vs. 3-11). 

But even these people still needed to repent.

O all ye that are spared

because ye were 

more righteous

than they,

will ye not now 

return unto me,

and repent of your sins,

and be converted,

that I may heal you? (vs. 13)

The voice then teaches them what he requires of them--a broken heart and a contrite spirit (vs. 20-22). And for us to survive the same kind of carnage and destruction before the Lord's coming again, we need to do the same. We do know that only 2500 people were in the multitude who did see, hear and bear record of hearing Christ and seeing angels descending out of heaven (3 Nephi 17:16-25).

And what was the cause again of all this destruction? 

"And many great 

destructions have I 

caused to come upon 

this land, and upon this people, because of their (our) wickedness and their (our) abominations" (3 Nephi 9:12).

Let's summarize the what and in what order.

1. Disputings. "There began to be some disputings among the people" (3 Nephi 6:10). 

2. Pride and Boastings. "Some were lifted up unto pride and boastings" (3 Nephi 6:10). 

3. Riches unto Persecution. They had "exceedingly great riches, yea, even unto great persecutions" (3 Nephi 6:10). 

4. Distinguished by Status. "And the people began to be distinguished by ranks" (3 Nephi 6:12). 

5. Distinguished by Learning. "Some were ignorant because of their poverty, and others did receive great learning because of their riches" (3 Nephi 6:12). 

6. Inequality. "And thus there became a great inequality in all the land" (3 Nephi 6:14).

7. Church Breaks Up. "Insomuch that the church began to be broken up; yea, insomuch that in the thirtieth year the church was broken up in all the land" (3 Nephi 6:14).

8. Seeking Power and Authority. "Now the cause of this iniquity of the people was this ― Satan had great power . . . tempting them to seek for power, and authority, and riches, and the vain things of the world" (3 Nephi 6:15).

9. Willfully Disregarded God's Law. "Now they did not sin ignorantly, for they knew the will of God concerning them, for it had been taught unto them" (3 Nephi 6:18).

10. Anger from Church Members/Leaders. "Now there were many of the people who were exceedingly angry because of those who testified of these things; and those who were angry were chiefly the chief judges, and they who had been high priests" (3 Nephi 6:20-21).

11. Secrecy. "They did covenant one with another to destroy the governor, and to establish a king over the land, that the land should no more be at liberty but should be subject unto kings" (3 Nephi 6:30).

12. No unity--Breakup into Tribes. "The people were divided one against another; and they did separate one from another" (3 Nephi 7:2).

13. Seduction of the Righteous. "The more righteous part of the people had nearly all become wicked" (3 Nephi 7:7).

14. Rule of Men instead of Rule of Law. "They were not united as to their laws, and their manner of government, for they were established according to the minds of those who were their chiefs and their leaders" (3 Nephi 7:14).

15. Mighty Miracles Performed by God's Servant. "And Nephi [this was Nephi the son of Nephi, son of Helaman, son of Helaman, son of Alma, son of Alma who was a priest of King Noah] did minister with power and with great authority" (3 Nephi 7:17).

16. Destruction. There arose a great storm, such an one as never had been known in all the land, etc (3 Nephi 6:21).

Hopefully Jeremiah was not summarizing your response when he said:

"Therefore thou shalt speak 

all these words unto them; 

but they will not hearken to thee: 

thou shalt also call unto them; 

but they will not answer thee.

But thou shalt say unto them, 

This is a nation that obeyeth 

not the voice of the Lord their God, nor receiveth correction: 

truth is perished, 

and is cut off from their mouth" 

(Jeremiah 7:27-28).

If after reading this you still don't see how it affects you, consider this.  

It isn't that people wantonly disregard warnings. It's that they think it won't affect them. Consider tornado warnings, for example, where people who had been warned failed to seek shelter. The people who did not heed these warnings had one thing in common: they all lived in homes that had never been struck by a tornado. They inhabited a region prone to tornadoes, but had lived through many warnings. People could not imagine that all those tornados that had wound up hitting other people could instead have hit them, until one did.

Because my wife's grandparents had lived through WWI in France, they recognized the warnings that led to WWII, and to the extent possible prepared themselves against another invasion. But should it take living through one war to recognize the warning signs that will lead to another?

I think this is the reason Isaiah and Book of Mormon Prophet Writers use historical events, described in great detail, to tell us about what is coming. While we can only experience what happened in and around Zarahemla vicariously, by having it described so vividly and why, we cannot or at least should not ignore it. It happened and it will happen again, and for the same reasons.

We can choose our response to prophetic types.  

We can ignore them and perhaps there is a false sense of security we get by not acknowledging endtime prophecies.  

We can choose not to believe that this historical narrative and others like it actually occurred.

We can choose not to believe that this is a type of what is to come.

We can choose to believe that it did happen and that it will happen, but that it won't involve us or our children, grandchildren, or even great-grandchildren. 

We can choose to believe we need no repentance, and that if these events happen, only those who are wicked (not us good guys) will be affected.

You may choose to not believe these prophecies because you don't trust the source. You will attack the messenger and ignore the message. The danger here is that the Lord has told us these things will happen and why, and has sent the messengers. Will we shoot the messenger from the Lord who has been called to warn us? 

None of these choices, however, address the real question which requires a self-analysis of where we are individually. This requires that we liken His words to us.

It's what we fail to imagine that will destroy us.  

And at the same time, it is what we do imagine that will destroy us.