Enos 1:1 Behold, it came to pass that I, Enos, knowing my father that he was a just man-for he taught me in his language, and also in the nurture and admonition of the Lord-and blessed be the name of my God for it.
Does this settle the nature vs. nurture battle? Is nurture more important than nature in child development? I'm a big believer in nature, but here as well as in Ephesians, it commends the practice of bringing children up in the nurture of the Lord.
The reason that Enos knows his father was just is because he taught him in his language. Is teaching children really a good way to help them to know us as parents? Do they recognize us through what we teach them after they have grown?
Monday, March 26, 2012
Saturday, March 24, 2012
Jacob 7
Jacob 7:21 And when the multitude had witnessed that he spake these things as he was about to give up the ghost, they were astonished exceedingly; insomuch that the power of God came down upon them, and they were overcome that they fell to the earth. What's with all the passing out in the Book of Mormon? It seems like people are constantly being overcome by teh spirit so that they fall to the earth. I don't know anybody who has been overcome in this way. I suppose, though, the book o Mormon spans quite a bit more time than I have been alive, so maybe I will see it sometime.
Friday, March 23, 2012
Jacob 7
Jacob 7:20 And it came to pass that when he had said these words he could say no more, and he gave up the ghost. Sherem died after requesting a sign from God that Jacob was correct in his belief in Christ. The sign was that he fell down, didn't die for many days while he lay unconscious, and then woke up long enough to say he was wrong and die. (The scripture says he "gave up the ghost" but really, it was taken from him. Nobody bug Christ really has the power to choose whether they live or die but that's completely beside the point.)
In Jeremiah, when a prophet named Hananiah was preaching falsely to the people, the Lord sent Jeremiah to say, you're going to die for lying to the people in the name of the Lord. 15 Then said the prophet Jeremiah unto Hananiah the prophet, Hear now, Hananiah; The Lord hath not sent thee; but thou makest this people to trust in a lie. 16 Therefore thus saith the Lord; Behold, I will cast thee from off the face of the earth: this year thou shalt die, because thou hast taught rebellion against the Lord. 17 So Hananiah the prophet died the same year in the seventh month. If the lord was in the business of killing people who say things in his name without permission, why are there so many churches on the earth? What makes the determination of when it's a capital crime and when to let it go? In the circumstance with Hananiah, the people believed him to be a literal prophet of God, invested with authority to speak in the name of the Lord. But that wasn't true in Sherem's case. He wasn't the prophet, and everyone knew it.
In Jeremiah, when a prophet named Hananiah was preaching falsely to the people, the Lord sent Jeremiah to say, you're going to die for lying to the people in the name of the Lord. 15 Then said the prophet Jeremiah unto Hananiah the prophet, Hear now, Hananiah; The Lord hath not sent thee; but thou makest this people to trust in a lie. 16 Therefore thus saith the Lord; Behold, I will cast thee from off the face of the earth: this year thou shalt die, because thou hast taught rebellion against the Lord. 17 So Hananiah the prophet died the same year in the seventh month. If the lord was in the business of killing people who say things in his name without permission, why are there so many churches on the earth? What makes the determination of when it's a capital crime and when to let it go? In the circumstance with Hananiah, the people believed him to be a literal prophet of God, invested with authority to speak in the name of the Lord. But that wasn't true in Sherem's case. He wasn't the prophet, and everyone knew it.
Thursday, March 22, 2012
Jacob 7
Jacob 7:11 Behold, I say unto you that none of the prophets have written, nor prophesied, save they have spoken concerning this Christ.
None of the prophets have written or prophesied without including Christ? This is why I wonder if the scriptures of other religions are actually some of the records we're supposed to find that testify of Christ. I do not see Christ in every book of scripture I read, and I find some of the "messianic" psalms to be a convenient stretch. They sometimes read more like something David is saying about his own feelings and later, for convenience' sake, someone says, hmmm, Christ must have felt like that at such and such point in his life, so that makes this poem that David wrote as a hobby about his own life actually prophetic in nature. Maybe. Maybe not.
7:15 And it came to pass that when I, Jacob, had spoken these words, the power of the Lord came upon him, insomuch that he fell to the earth. And it came to pass that he was nourished for the space of many days. Does this mean he was nourished by God while he was in a coma or nourished and cared for by Jacob and his peers? I like the idea of him being nourished by God better.
None of the prophets have written or prophesied without including Christ? This is why I wonder if the scriptures of other religions are actually some of the records we're supposed to find that testify of Christ. I do not see Christ in every book of scripture I read, and I find some of the "messianic" psalms to be a convenient stretch. They sometimes read more like something David is saying about his own feelings and later, for convenience' sake, someone says, hmmm, Christ must have felt like that at such and such point in his life, so that makes this poem that David wrote as a hobby about his own life actually prophetic in nature. Maybe. Maybe not.
7:15 And it came to pass that when I, Jacob, had spoken these words, the power of the Lord came upon him, insomuch that he fell to the earth. And it came to pass that he was nourished for the space of many days. Does this mean he was nourished by God while he was in a coma or nourished and cared for by Jacob and his peers? I like the idea of him being nourished by God better.
Wednesday, March 21, 2012
Jacob 7
Jacob 7:4 And he was learned, that he had a perfect knowledge of the language of the people; wherefore, he could use much flattery, and much power of speech, according to the power of the devil.
Sherem came to argue with Jacob about wheth Christ would come or not and Jacob makes a point to highlight Sherem's learning. This makes me wonder whether they had organized education or if it was just parents teaching their children. I wonder if Jacob considered himself learned. He could after all, inscribe his commentary into the Book of Mormon.
7:7 And ye have led away much of this people that they pervert the right way of God, and keep not the law of Moses which is the right way.
Sherem wants them to adhere to the law of Moses, implying that (a) he didn't think they were and (b) the law of Moses was pleasing unto the people. That's a very interesting thought, that the law of Moses in all it's strictness could be easier to live with than the belief in Christ.
Sherem came to argue with Jacob about wheth Christ would come or not and Jacob makes a point to highlight Sherem's learning. This makes me wonder whether they had organized education or if it was just parents teaching their children. I wonder if Jacob considered himself learned. He could after all, inscribe his commentary into the Book of Mormon.
7:7 And ye have led away much of this people that they pervert the right way of God, and keep not the law of Moses which is the right way.
Sherem wants them to adhere to the law of Moses, implying that (a) he didn't think they were and (b) the law of Moses was pleasing unto the people. That's a very interesting thought, that the law of Moses in all it's strictness could be easier to live with than the belief in Christ.
Saturday, March 17, 2012
Jacob 5
Lets track the Nephites throughout the chapter.
Jacob 5:25 And he said unto the servant: Look hither and behold the last. Behold, this have I planted in a good spot of ground; and I have nourished it this long time, and only a part of the tree hath brought forth tame fruit, and the other part of the tree hath brought forth wild fruit; behold, I have nourished this tree like unto the others.
26 And it came to pass that the Lord of the vineyard said unto the servant: Pluck off the branches that have not brought forth good fruit, and cast them into the fire.
27 But behold, the servant said unto him: Let us prune it, and dig about it, and nourish it a little longer, that perhaps it may bring forth good fruit unto thee, that thou canst lay it up against the season. this is the first clear reference to th Nephites. They were planted in the promised land, and only half of them were good.
5:39 And it came to pass that they went down into the nethermost parts of the vineyard. And it came to pass that they beheld that the fruit of the natural branches had become corrupt also; yea, the first and the second and also the last; and they had all become corrupt.
40 And the wild fruit of the last had overcome that part of the tree which brought forth good fruit, even that the branch had withered away and died. and here we are at the beginning of this dispensation, where the Nephites had all perished and the Lamanites had overcome them. He continues to say, 43 And behold this last, whose branch hath withered away, I did plant in a good spot of ground; yea, even that which was choice unto me above all other parts of the land of my vineyard.
44 And thou beheldest that I also cut down that which cumbered this spot of ground, that I might plant this tree in the stead thereof.
45 And thou beheldest that a part thereof brought forth good fruit, and a part thereof brought forth wild fruit; and because I plucked not the branches thereof and cast them into the fire, behold, they have overcome the good branch that it hath withered away., speaking of the Jaredites who were inhabiting the land prior to the Nephites.
Jacob 5:25 And he said unto the servant: Look hither and behold the last. Behold, this have I planted in a good spot of ground; and I have nourished it this long time, and only a part of the tree hath brought forth tame fruit, and the other part of the tree hath brought forth wild fruit; behold, I have nourished this tree like unto the others.
26 And it came to pass that the Lord of the vineyard said unto the servant: Pluck off the branches that have not brought forth good fruit, and cast them into the fire.
27 But behold, the servant said unto him: Let us prune it, and dig about it, and nourish it a little longer, that perhaps it may bring forth good fruit unto thee, that thou canst lay it up against the season. this is the first clear reference to th Nephites. They were planted in the promised land, and only half of them were good.
5:39 And it came to pass that they went down into the nethermost parts of the vineyard. And it came to pass that they beheld that the fruit of the natural branches had become corrupt also; yea, the first and the second and also the last; and they had all become corrupt.
40 And the wild fruit of the last had overcome that part of the tree which brought forth good fruit, even that the branch had withered away and died. and here we are at the beginning of this dispensation, where the Nephites had all perished and the Lamanites had overcome them. He continues to say, 43 And behold this last, whose branch hath withered away, I did plant in a good spot of ground; yea, even that which was choice unto me above all other parts of the land of my vineyard.
44 And thou beheldest that I also cut down that which cumbered this spot of ground, that I might plant this tree in the stead thereof.
45 And thou beheldest that a part thereof brought forth good fruit, and a part thereof brought forth wild fruit; and because I plucked not the branches thereof and cast them into the fire, behold, they have overcome the good branch that it hath withered away., speaking of the Jaredites who were inhabiting the land prior to the Nephites.
Wednesday, March 14, 2012
Jacob 5
This theme of people joining the family of Abraham is a favorite of Paul's. He revisits it again in Galatians 3:7-9 Know ye therefore that they which are of faith, the same are the children of Abraham.
8 And the scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the heathen through faith, preached before the gospel unto Abraham, saying, In thee shall all nations be blessed.
9 So then they which be of faith are blessed with faithful Abraham. joining the seed of Abraham is one of the great blessings of the gospel, in that we are able to partake of the blessings promised to him: specific lands throughout eternity, infinite posterity, and the priesthood. I've always thought that the property one feels a little out of place with the other two, almost like it isn't eternal enough, but I haven't really ever understood the whole new heaven new earth thing with this earth becoming the celestial kingdom after the resurrection anyway, so perhaps someday Abraham will explain it to me if he's got a minute.
Jacob 5:18 And he said unto the servant: Behold, the branches of the wild tree have taken hold of the moisture of the root thereof, that the root thereof hath brought forth much strength; and because of the much strength of the root thereof the wild branches have brought forth tame fruit. Now, if we had not grafted in these branches, the tree thereof would have perished. And now, behold, I shall lay up much fruit, which the tree thereof hath brought forth; and the fruit thereof I shall lay up against the season, unto mine own self.
I wonder how literally we're intended to take this allegory. Now that I have a rudimentary knowledge of the way grafting works, I understand that the strength of the roots flows to the newly grafted branches (in real trees) only if you cut off any natural branches that are growing higher on the trunk than the graft. Is the success of Christianity a direct result of the Romans sacking Israel and the dispersion of the Lord's covenant people? Could Christianity have flourished (in the world outside of Israel) if it had not been rejected there?
8 And the scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the heathen through faith, preached before the gospel unto Abraham, saying, In thee shall all nations be blessed.
9 So then they which be of faith are blessed with faithful Abraham. joining the seed of Abraham is one of the great blessings of the gospel, in that we are able to partake of the blessings promised to him: specific lands throughout eternity, infinite posterity, and the priesthood. I've always thought that the property one feels a little out of place with the other two, almost like it isn't eternal enough, but I haven't really ever understood the whole new heaven new earth thing with this earth becoming the celestial kingdom after the resurrection anyway, so perhaps someday Abraham will explain it to me if he's got a minute.
Jacob 5:18 And he said unto the servant: Behold, the branches of the wild tree have taken hold of the moisture of the root thereof, that the root thereof hath brought forth much strength; and because of the much strength of the root thereof the wild branches have brought forth tame fruit. Now, if we had not grafted in these branches, the tree thereof would have perished. And now, behold, I shall lay up much fruit, which the tree thereof hath brought forth; and the fruit thereof I shall lay up against the season, unto mine own self.
I wonder how literally we're intended to take this allegory. Now that I have a rudimentary knowledge of the way grafting works, I understand that the strength of the roots flows to the newly grafted branches (in real trees) only if you cut off any natural branches that are growing higher on the trunk than the graft. Is the success of Christianity a direct result of the Romans sacking Israel and the dispersion of the Lord's covenant people? Could Christianity have flourished (in the world outside of Israel) if it had not been rejected there?
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