Book of Mormon Feast
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1 Now I, Moroni, write somewhat as seemeth me good; and I write unto my brethren, the Lamanites; and I would that they should know that more than four hundred and twenty years have passed away since the sign was given of the coming of Christ.
The Book of Mormon Miracle: 25 Reasons to Believe, by Randal A. Wright. Chapter 23 – Lessons Learned from the Book of Mormon
Dr. Wright writes, “One of the most powerful ways to read the Book of Mormon is to
ask, ‘What lesson can I learn from this verse?’” Because the Book of Mormon is so
much more than a history book – it is a thousand-
He writes, in the section entitled “Love your enemy,” “Think about what happened
to the entire Nephite nation and to Moroni’s family and friends thirty-
Other lessons learned include “The fate of the wicked in the Book of Mormon” and “Family influence and tradition.”
2 And I seal up these records, after I have spoken a few words by way of exhortation unto you.
3 Behold, I would exhort you that when ye shall read these things, if it be wisdom in God that ye should read them, that ye would remember how merciful the Lord hath been unto the children of men, from the creation of Adam even down unto the time that ye shall receive these things, and ponder it in your hearts.
4 And when ye shall receive these things, I would exhort you that ye would ask God, the Eternal Father, in the name of Christ, if these things are not true; and if ye shall ask with a sincere heart, with real intent, having faith in Christ, he will manifest the truth of it unto you, by the power of the Holy Ghost.
The Literary Masterpiece Called The Book of Mormon.
James T. Duke.
CFI. Springville, Utah. 2004
Chapter 20 – Exergasia, Exegesis, Hyperbole, Understatement, and Antenantiosis
Wow, what a mouthful and a brainful those topic names are! They are all explained, with a generous sample of examples, in this chapter.
“For me, the classic example of antenantiosis in the Book of Mormon is found in Moroni’s promise regarding those who read the Book of Mormon. . . . I have frequently wondered why Moroni put the word ‘not’ in that sentence. I just didn’t understand that Moroni was using a figure of speech often used in the Bible. . . . By putting the sentence quoted above in the negative, Moroni was really emphasizing the positive in a special way and causing the reader to think more deeply about the point he was making.”
Seven Claims of the Book of Mormon: A Collection of Evidences.
John A. Widstoe and Franklin S. Harris, Jr.
Claim Seven: The Book offers a certain test of its authenticity.
Brother Widstoe writes eloquently and invitingly of knowing the truth:
“The divine test of the truth of the Book of Mormon implies that man possesses powers other than those of the physical senses that may confirm the evidence of eyes or ears. That is, there resides in every human being spiritual powers which once put into operation may yield certain evidence concerning the things about us. Every earnest seeker after truth, whether in or out of scientific laboratories or university libraries, can bear witness to the help that comes from out of the unseen world.
“When the Book of Mormon was first published, the present mass of evidence in behalf of the truth of the Book was not available, yet thousands of intelligent, honest persons became convinced of its truth. The people read the Book, weighed its statements in the balance of reason and applied Moroni’s test. The assurance came to them, an assurance strengthened by every advance in sound knowledge. The way to truth? Yes, it may be found easily, but only by paying the eternal price of truth. The way is through the higher logic, the convincing teaching of the spirit of truth by the operations of the mind and the eager outreaching of the spirit to God. Whoever would find truth must: (1) Desire truth, (2) Pray for it, (3) Study, and (4) Practice it. Those who do so will find truth, the glorious and priceless possession called a testimony or complete assurance of truth, which becomes the great gift of God to its possessor.
Is truth worth the effort necessary to secure it?
Truth is the only enduring possession of man, the only power that lifts man into permanent joy. It is the final justification of life. Human days are valueless if truth is not worth every sacrifice of life. Those who have lived most have lived by truth. So speaks the voice of human experience.”
5 And by the power of the Holy Ghost ye may know the truth of all things.
6 And whatsoever thing is good is just and true; wherefore, nothing that is good denieth the Christ, but acknowledgeth that he is.
7 And ye may know that he is, by the power of the Holy Ghost; wherefore 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, the same today and tomorrow, and forever.
8 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 there are different ways that these gifts are administered; but it is the same God who worketh all in all; and they are given by the manifestations of the Spirit of God unto men, to profit them.
9 For behold, to one is given by the Spirit of God, that he may teach the word of wisdom;
10 And to another, that he may teach the word of knowledge by the same Spirit;
11 And to another, exceedingly great faith; and to another, the gifts of healing by the same Spirit;
12 And again, to another, that he may work mighty miracles;
13 And again, to another, that he may prophesy concerning all things;
14 And again, to another, the beholding of angels and ministering spirits;
15 And again, to another, all kinds of tongues;
16 And again, to another, the interpretation of languages and of divers kinds of tongues.
17 And all these gifts come by the Spirit of Christ; and they come unto every man severally, according as he will.
18 And I would exhort you, my beloved brethren, that ye remember that every good gift cometh of Christ.
19 And I would exhort you, my beloved brethren, that ye remember 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.
20 Wherefore, there must be faith; and if there must be faith there must also be hope; and if there must be hope there must also be charity.
21 And except ye have charity ye can in nowise be saved in the kingdom of God; neither can ye be saved in the kingdom of God if ye have not faith; neither can ye if ye have no hope.
22 And if ye have no hope ye must needs be in despair; and despair cometh because of iniquity.
23 And Christ truly said unto our fathers: If ye have faith ye can do all things which are expedient unto me.
24 And now I speak unto all the ends of the earth -
25 And wo be unto the children of men if this be the case; for there shall be none that doeth good among you, no not one. For if there be one among you that doeth good, he shall work by the power and gifts of God.
26 And wo unto them who shall do these things away and die, for they die in their sins, and they cannot be saved in the kingdom of God; and I speak it according to the words of Christ; and I lie not.
27 And 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, like as one crying from the dead, yea, even as one speaking out of the dust?
28 I declare these things unto the fulfilling of the prophecies.
And behold, they shall proceed forth out of the mouth of the everlasting God; and his word shall hiss forth from generation to generation.
29 And God shall show unto you, that that which I have written is true.
30 And again I would exhort you that ye would come unto Christ, and lay hold upon every good gift, and touch not the evil gift, nor the unclean thing.
31 And awake, and arise from the dust, O Jerusalem; yea, and put on thy beautiful garments, O daughter of Zion; and strengthen thy stakes and enlarge thy borders forever, that thou mayest no more be confounded, that the covenants of the Eternal Father which he hath made unto thee, O house of Israel, may be fulfilled.
32 Yea, come unto Christ, and be perfected in him, and deny yourselves of all ungodliness; and if ye shall deny yourselves of all ungodliness and love God with all your might, mind and strength, then is his grace sufficient for you, that by his grace ye may be perfect in Christ; and if by the grace of God ye are perfect in Christ, ye can in nowise deny the power of God.
33 And again, if ye by the grace of God are perfect in Christ, and deny not his power, then are ye sanctified in Christ by the grace of God, through the shedding of the blood of Christ, which is in the covenant of the Father unto the remission of your sins, that ye become holy, without spot.
34 And now I bid unto all, farewell. I soon go to rest in the paradise of God, until my spirit and body shall again reunite, and I am brought forth triumphant through the air, to meet you before the pleasing bar of the great Jehovah, the Eternal Judge of both quick and dead. Amen.