3 - And it came to pass that there came a voice again unto the people, and all the people did hear, and did witness of it, saying:
Once again, what does it signify to hear the voice of Christ and to witness of it? What do witnesses do? Do gospel ordinances make use of witnesses? Is this the same context?
4 - O ye people of these great cities which have fallen, who are descendants of Jacob, yeah, who are of the house of Israel, how oft have I gathered you as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and have nourished you.
Why is the Lord referencing their ancestor Jacob? Didn't they know that they were descendents of Jacob/Israel? What was Jacob promised by the Lord? How could that relate to "the house of Israel"? Who lives in houses? What do the promises made to the Fathers (ancient patriarchs) have to do with the Nephites at this time? Do they have anything to do with us? Is Christ reminding them of these promises? How does one qualify to have these same promises extended to them? Can we do it of ourselves, by ourselves? Is it necessary that we be "gathered" and "nourished"? Look up the footnote for "gathered" ( Helaman 7:19 ). What must be done to qualify to be gathered? What qualifies for scattering? Look up the second footnote for "nourished" ( 1 Nephi 17:3 ). What must one do to be qualified to be nourished? Have we been commanded to seek and receive the promises made to the Fathers? What is the way to have the means provided to us to accomplish that as outlined in 1 Nephi 17:3?
5 - And again, how oft would I have gathered you as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, yea, O ye people of the house of Israel, ye that dwell at Jerusalem, as ye that have fallen; yea, how oft would I have gathered you as a hen gathereth her chickens, and ye would not.
How many times does Christ use the analogy of a hen gathering her chickens under her wings in verses 4, 5, and 6? If Christ says it that many times, is it important to pay attention? If Mormon caused the same thing to be written in his compilation that many times, is it important to pay attention? Did Mormon understand what Christ meant by that analogy? Do we? If not, is Mormon trying to get our attention? Was Christ trying to get the attention of the Nephites here? The Lord repeats the phrase "the house of Israel" again. Why? Is he drawing attention to something? Why does Christ mention those that dwell at Jerusalem to those who are hearing his voice on the American continent? Is he trying to tell the Nephites something about the state of the people from whence they came? Is he trying to tell the Nephites something about themselves? (1 Nephi 19:11).
6 - O ye house of Israel whom I have spared, how oft will I gather you as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, if ye will repent and return unto me with full purpose of heart.
Do you want to be gathered by Him as a hen gathereth her chickens? What two things must each individual do to have this happen to them? What does "full purpose of heart" mean? Something similar to "eye single to his glory"? Something similar to "a broken heart and a contrite spirit"? If one doesn't doe these things with a "full" purpose of heart, but with a "partially full" purpose of heart, is this mocking God? What happens to those who do that? How do you get your heart more "full" of purpose? Is the second of the two things mentioned above dependent on the first? Do "listening" and "doing" have a place in that process as well?
7 - But if not, O house of Israel, the places of your dwellings shall become desolate until the time of the fulfilling of the covenant to your fathers.
What does it mean to have "places of your dwellings shall be come desolate"? Is this purely physical, or is there also a spiritual component of this as well? What is implied by a spiritual dwelling to become desolate? What does that mean when associated with the "house of Israel"? Does it have something to do with promises extended to the Fathers? To descendents of Israel? Which covenant(s) that were made to their fathers is Christ referring to? Have they been fulfilled? Are they in the process of being fulfilled? Is that fulfillment still a future event from now?
8 - And now it came to pass that after the people had heard these words, behold, they began to weep and howl again because of the loss of their kindred and friends.
Why would the people start to weep and howl now? They had heard things that caused them to stop that and be silent for many hours. Did it have something to do with the fact that they understood the relationships between being "gathered" and "nourished" by Christ, the promises extended by God to the fathers/patriarchs, and being of the "house of Israel". Once they understood this and heard the voice of Christ lamenting that those who were destroyed ( their kindred and friends ) in the recent upheaval of nature at the time of his death had refused to be qualify themselves to be gathered and nourished by Him, were they lamenting the eternal consequences of that refusal that were going to be laid upon those that had perished?
... Great things 2 ponder upon.
February 22, 2012
February 17, 2012
3 Nephi 10:1-2 Initial Nephite Silence
1 - And now behold, it came to pass that all the people of the land did hear these sayings, and did witness of it. And after these sayings there was silence in the land for the space of many hours;
Who was it that heard the voice of Christ and what he had testified about? Look up the footnote for the word 'hear' ( 1 Nephi 19:11 ). What was the manner of visitation of the Lord promised by Zenos for the righteous? What was the manner of visitation of the Lord promised by Zenos for those who were not righteous? Which ones happened on the American continents? Which ones did those who heard his voice from the heavens in the Americas experience? Why? What can that mean in other instances when the Lord has made know that there will be different things happening based on the righteousness of the people? What do the words 'did hear these sayings' mean? What does it mean to 'witness of it'? What does hearing and witnessing of the words which they had heard imply? Why was there silence in the land? Why weren't they talking to each other about what they had just heard? This verse says that everyone heard it, so why weren't they talking?
2 - For so great was the astonishment of the people that they did cease lamenting and howling for the loss of their kindred which had been slain; therefore there was silence in all the land for the space of many hours.
What astonished the people? What could cause them to stop mourning the violent deaths of their relatives? Go back to Chapter 9 and look at what the voice of the Lord said:
9:13 - 1st invitation given by the Lord.
9:14 - 2nd invitation from the Lord. Did they think they had been forgotten by the heavens?
9:15 - The Lord identifies himself in a context (1st) for the people to recognize.
9:16 - The Lord identifies himself in another context (2nd) for the people to recognize.
9:17 - 3rd invitation from the Lord. Is the same invitation as in 9:14? How many times in the scriptures is the term 'sons of God' used? The Lord identifies himself in another context (3rd ) for the people to recognize.
9:18 - The Lord identifies himself in another context (4th) for the people to recognize.
9:19, 20 - The Lord gives new doctrine given and ties it in to a grand spiritual experience that was well-known to the people so that they would know what to expect as a result of obedience to this new direction. This blessing had happened before as a result of obedience and will continue to happen as a result of obedience to the new doctrine given them by the Lord.
9:21 - The Lord identifies himself again in the same context that he did the 3rd time. If the Lord repeats himself, is that important? Should we pay attention? Should we ponder as to why?
9:22 - 4th invitation given from the Lord.
There is a lot there to ponder. Wouldn't you if you were suddenly given instruction and invitations by the voice of the Lord after passing through what must have seemed almost unbearable experiences just prior? In the experiences that these Nephites went through, is there a type that we should be aware of? Lots to ponder, maybe even for the 'space of many hours'?
... Great things 2 ponder upon
Who was it that heard the voice of Christ and what he had testified about? Look up the footnote for the word 'hear' ( 1 Nephi 19:11 ). What was the manner of visitation of the Lord promised by Zenos for the righteous? What was the manner of visitation of the Lord promised by Zenos for those who were not righteous? Which ones happened on the American continents? Which ones did those who heard his voice from the heavens in the Americas experience? Why? What can that mean in other instances when the Lord has made know that there will be different things happening based on the righteousness of the people? What do the words 'did hear these sayings' mean? What does it mean to 'witness of it'? What does hearing and witnessing of the words which they had heard imply? Why was there silence in the land? Why weren't they talking to each other about what they had just heard? This verse says that everyone heard it, so why weren't they talking?
2 - For so great was the astonishment of the people that they did cease lamenting and howling for the loss of their kindred which had been slain; therefore there was silence in all the land for the space of many hours.
What astonished the people? What could cause them to stop mourning the violent deaths of their relatives? Go back to Chapter 9 and look at what the voice of the Lord said:
9:13 - 1st invitation given by the Lord.
9:14 - 2nd invitation from the Lord. Did they think they had been forgotten by the heavens?
9:15 - The Lord identifies himself in a context (1st) for the people to recognize.
9:16 - The Lord identifies himself in another context (2nd) for the people to recognize.
9:17 - 3rd invitation from the Lord. Is the same invitation as in 9:14? How many times in the scriptures is the term 'sons of God' used? The Lord identifies himself in another context (3rd ) for the people to recognize.
9:18 - The Lord identifies himself in another context (4th) for the people to recognize.
9:19, 20 - The Lord gives new doctrine given and ties it in to a grand spiritual experience that was well-known to the people so that they would know what to expect as a result of obedience to this new direction. This blessing had happened before as a result of obedience and will continue to happen as a result of obedience to the new doctrine given them by the Lord.
9:21 - The Lord identifies himself again in the same context that he did the 3rd time. If the Lord repeats himself, is that important? Should we pay attention? Should we ponder as to why?
9:22 - 4th invitation given from the Lord.
There is a lot there to ponder. Wouldn't you if you were suddenly given instruction and invitations by the voice of the Lord after passing through what must have seemed almost unbearable experiences just prior? In the experiences that these Nephites went through, is there a type that we should be aware of? Lots to ponder, maybe even for the 'space of many hours'?
... Great things 2 ponder upon
February 9, 2012
3 Nephi 9:19-22 -- The First Words of Christ to the Nephites after the Crucifixion, Part 3
19 - And ye shall offer up unto me no more the shedding of blood; yeah, your sacrifices and your burnt offerings shall be done away, for I will accept none of your sacrifices and your burnt offerings.
Why were these sacrifices and burnt offerings being done away with? Wasn't there original purpose to be a type and point the children of Israel towards Christ? When did sacrifices start? With Moses? With Adam? Was animal sacrifice done before the time of Moses? Why were the laws of animal sacrifice given to Moses to give the children of Israel? Is there a difference between the sacrifices that Adam gave and the sacrifices that the Israelites after Moses gave? Which are being referenced here?
20 - And ye shall offer for a sacrifice unto me a broken heart and a contrite spirit. And whoso cometh unto me with a broken heart and a contrite spirit, him will I baptize with fire and with the Holy Ghost, even as the Lamanites, because of their faith in me at the time of their conversion, were baptized with fire and with the Holy Ghost, and they knew it not.
What does a broken heart mean? Does it have something to do with the desires of the natural man? What does a contrite spirit mean? Does it have something to do with obedience? With willing obedience? How does one come to him with those? In the context of the statement that Jesus says here, who needs to move? What does that imply that you have to do with your broken heart and contrite spirit? Isn't it sufficient to have those attributes, or is there more to it? Why is a baptism of fire mentioned separately from the baptism of the Holy Ghost? Are these two different things? Is the order of these two baptisms mentioned important? Is one a preparation for the other? What kind of preparation would need to be done to the heart of a person so that the Holy Ghost could reside there in such abundance as to be baptized in the Holy Ghost? Would sin be there? The Lamanites had this happen to them and they didn't notice it! When did this happen? How did they not notice it? Do all people who have these to baptisms happen to them not notice it? If that were the case, how come Mormon takes the time to engrave on the plates that in that particular case, they didn't notice it happening to them? Why would their circumstances be any different?
21 - Behold, I have come unto the world to bring redemption unto the world, to save the world from sin.
Is redemption and to save from sin the same thing? Is there more implied by redemption?
22 - Therefore, who repenteth and cometh unto me as a little child, him will I receive, for of such is the kingdom of God. Behold, for such I have laid down my life, and have taken it up again; therefore repent, and come unto me ye ends of the earth, and be saved.
In verse 20 we are asked to come unto him with a broken heart and a contrite spirit. In this verse we are asked to come unto him as a little child. Is there a relationship between being as a little child and having a broken heart and a contrite spirit? What does repentance have to do with having those attributes? How to little children trust in their parents before the age of accountability? Is the only way to obtain that state again after the age of accountability through repentance? What is implied by the use of the word receive? Is this different than letting in? Is this different than acknowledging you made it? How would you receive someone you hadn't seen in a long time? Is there somewhere we are taught about this? Why is it so important to know about the meaning of the word receive in this case? Could it be that Christ himself said that for the ones that repent, become as a child and have a broken heart and a contrite spirit, and are received of him are those who he came to start the atonement for and no one else?
... Great things 2 ponder upon.
Why were these sacrifices and burnt offerings being done away with? Wasn't there original purpose to be a type and point the children of Israel towards Christ? When did sacrifices start? With Moses? With Adam? Was animal sacrifice done before the time of Moses? Why were the laws of animal sacrifice given to Moses to give the children of Israel? Is there a difference between the sacrifices that Adam gave and the sacrifices that the Israelites after Moses gave? Which are being referenced here?
20 - And ye shall offer for a sacrifice unto me a broken heart and a contrite spirit. And whoso cometh unto me with a broken heart and a contrite spirit, him will I baptize with fire and with the Holy Ghost, even as the Lamanites, because of their faith in me at the time of their conversion, were baptized with fire and with the Holy Ghost, and they knew it not.
What does a broken heart mean? Does it have something to do with the desires of the natural man? What does a contrite spirit mean? Does it have something to do with obedience? With willing obedience? How does one come to him with those? In the context of the statement that Jesus says here, who needs to move? What does that imply that you have to do with your broken heart and contrite spirit? Isn't it sufficient to have those attributes, or is there more to it? Why is a baptism of fire mentioned separately from the baptism of the Holy Ghost? Are these two different things? Is the order of these two baptisms mentioned important? Is one a preparation for the other? What kind of preparation would need to be done to the heart of a person so that the Holy Ghost could reside there in such abundance as to be baptized in the Holy Ghost? Would sin be there? The Lamanites had this happen to them and they didn't notice it! When did this happen? How did they not notice it? Do all people who have these to baptisms happen to them not notice it? If that were the case, how come Mormon takes the time to engrave on the plates that in that particular case, they didn't notice it happening to them? Why would their circumstances be any different?
21 - Behold, I have come unto the world to bring redemption unto the world, to save the world from sin.
Is redemption and to save from sin the same thing? Is there more implied by redemption?
22 - Therefore, who repenteth and cometh unto me as a little child, him will I receive, for of such is the kingdom of God. Behold, for such I have laid down my life, and have taken it up again; therefore repent, and come unto me ye ends of the earth, and be saved.
In verse 20 we are asked to come unto him with a broken heart and a contrite spirit. In this verse we are asked to come unto him as a little child. Is there a relationship between being as a little child and having a broken heart and a contrite spirit? What does repentance have to do with having those attributes? How to little children trust in their parents before the age of accountability? Is the only way to obtain that state again after the age of accountability through repentance? What is implied by the use of the word receive? Is this different than letting in? Is this different than acknowledging you made it? How would you receive someone you hadn't seen in a long time? Is there somewhere we are taught about this? Why is it so important to know about the meaning of the word receive in this case? Could it be that Christ himself said that for the ones that repent, become as a child and have a broken heart and a contrite spirit, and are received of him are those who he came to start the atonement for and no one else?
... Great things 2 ponder upon.
February 4, 2012
3 Nephi 9:13-18 -- The First Words of Christ to the Nephites after the Crucifixion, Part 2
13 - 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?
Why do righteous still need to repent? Does that mean that the common definition of righteousness, as it is most commonly used is misleading? Is righteousness a process, not a destination reached once certain tasks are accomplished? What does Christ mean here by the word 'converted'? Does it mean being a member of a church? Does it mean something else?
14 - Yeah, verily I say unto you, if ye will come unto me ye shall have eternal life. Behold, mine arm of mercy is extended towards you, and whosoever will come, him will I receive; and blessed are those who come unto me.
What does it mean to come unto him? It must be important, it is repeated in this verse three times. What does coming unto Christ have to do with eternal life? What are the multiple possible meanings of 'arm of mercy is extended towards you'? How does Christ receive a person? Remember that Enos was called 'blessed' ( Enos 5, 27 ). Could that definition of blessed apply here?
15 - Behold, I am Jesus Christ the Son of God. I created the heavens and the earth, and all things that in them are. I was with the Father from the beginning. I am in the Father, and the Father in me; and in me hath the Father glorified his name.
This verse along with the previous verse sums up much sacred instruction, some of which you may have already received. They that have ears to hear, let them hear! There is some very deep and very sacred doctrine referenced in these two verses that must be sought for, received, pondered and understood by the Spirit by each person truly seeking eternal life.
16 - I came unto my own, and my own received me not. And the scriptures concerning my coming are fulfilled.
Who are his own referenced here? The Israelites of his just his time? The Israelites of all times? Are you an Israelite? What does your patriarchal blessing say? In what way could he "come unto my own" and have it apply to you? Is this just a one time event in our lives? Who limits how many times this can happen in our lives?
17 - And as many as have received me, to them have I given to become the sons of God; and even so will I to as many as shall believe on my name, for behold, by me redemption cometh, and in me is the law of Moses fulfilled.
Is the use of the word 'received' here the same as it was in the previous verse? What is the difference between the 'sons of God' and the 'sons of man' used elsewhere in the scriptures? Why the words 'given to become' rather than 'have made'? What does it mean when Christ says 'by me redemption cometh'? He spoke this after his crucifixion, so wasn't the atonement for our sins already accomplished? Maybe not? The word 'cometh' is future referencing. How does our redemption through Christ come after the events of his mortal life? Reference verses 14 and 15 of this chapter.
18 - I am the light and the life of the world. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end.
The path to eternal life has certain commonalities for all people everywhere who wish to walk it. There are other things to be learned while walking it that are particular to each individual person. Through the Spirit of Christ you personalized revelation concerning your progress and lessons for you in particular to learn upon the path to eternal life. How often do we make covenants concerning having the Spirit of Christ? Listen next time you are in sacrament meeting. The path to eternal life begins with baptism (Alpha). What is Omega? Is it an event? Is it a promise received when we have progressed to a certain point? Is it a state of being that can even be achieved in mortality?
... Great things 2 ponder upon.
Why do righteous still need to repent? Does that mean that the common definition of righteousness, as it is most commonly used is misleading? Is righteousness a process, not a destination reached once certain tasks are accomplished? What does Christ mean here by the word 'converted'? Does it mean being a member of a church? Does it mean something else?
14 - Yeah, verily I say unto you, if ye will come unto me ye shall have eternal life. Behold, mine arm of mercy is extended towards you, and whosoever will come, him will I receive; and blessed are those who come unto me.
What does it mean to come unto him? It must be important, it is repeated in this verse three times. What does coming unto Christ have to do with eternal life? What are the multiple possible meanings of 'arm of mercy is extended towards you'? How does Christ receive a person? Remember that Enos was called 'blessed' ( Enos 5, 27 ). Could that definition of blessed apply here?
15 - Behold, I am Jesus Christ the Son of God. I created the heavens and the earth, and all things that in them are. I was with the Father from the beginning. I am in the Father, and the Father in me; and in me hath the Father glorified his name.
This verse along with the previous verse sums up much sacred instruction, some of which you may have already received. They that have ears to hear, let them hear! There is some very deep and very sacred doctrine referenced in these two verses that must be sought for, received, pondered and understood by the Spirit by each person truly seeking eternal life.
16 - I came unto my own, and my own received me not. And the scriptures concerning my coming are fulfilled.
Who are his own referenced here? The Israelites of his just his time? The Israelites of all times? Are you an Israelite? What does your patriarchal blessing say? In what way could he "come unto my own" and have it apply to you? Is this just a one time event in our lives? Who limits how many times this can happen in our lives?
17 - And as many as have received me, to them have I given to become the sons of God; and even so will I to as many as shall believe on my name, for behold, by me redemption cometh, and in me is the law of Moses fulfilled.
Is the use of the word 'received' here the same as it was in the previous verse? What is the difference between the 'sons of God' and the 'sons of man' used elsewhere in the scriptures? Why the words 'given to become' rather than 'have made'? What does it mean when Christ says 'by me redemption cometh'? He spoke this after his crucifixion, so wasn't the atonement for our sins already accomplished? Maybe not? The word 'cometh' is future referencing. How does our redemption through Christ come after the events of his mortal life? Reference verses 14 and 15 of this chapter.
18 - I am the light and the life of the world. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end.
The path to eternal life has certain commonalities for all people everywhere who wish to walk it. There are other things to be learned while walking it that are particular to each individual person. Through the Spirit of Christ you personalized revelation concerning your progress and lessons for you in particular to learn upon the path to eternal life. How often do we make covenants concerning having the Spirit of Christ? Listen next time you are in sacrament meeting. The path to eternal life begins with baptism (Alpha). What is Omega? Is it an event? Is it a promise received when we have progressed to a certain point? Is it a state of being that can even be achieved in mortality?
... Great things 2 ponder upon.
February 1, 2012
3 Nephi 9:1-12 -- The First Words of Christ to the Nephites after the Crucifixion, Part 1
This chapter takes place after the natural destruction had finished on the American continent after the death of Christ. This is on or about the third day after the Crucifixion ( 3 Nephi 8:23 ). So this was not near the end of the 34th year, that Mormon told us that Christ manifested himself in the flesh ( 3 Nephi 10:18-19 ). The events of 3 Nephi 9 take place almost a year before Christ appeared unto them.
1 - And it came to pass that there was a voice heard among all the inhabitants of the earth, upon all the face of this land, crying:
Interesting to note who heard this voice. It wasn't just a group of people in a particular place.
2 - Wo, wo, wo unto this people; wo unto the inhabitants of the whole earth except they shall repent; for the devil laugheth, and his angels rejoice, because of the slain of the fair sons and daughters of my people; and it is because of their iniquity and abominations that they are fallen!
What is meant by "wo"? Why does Christ pronounce three wo's upon the people of this land? Why is just one wo pronounced upon the inhabitants of the whole earth? Is there a difference? What must you do to make sure that the wo's don't apply to you? Is iniquity and abomination the opposite of repentance? Are there other choices? What is the definition of iniquity? What is the definition of abomination?
5 - And behold, that great city Moronihah have I covered with earth, and the inhabitants thereof, to hide their iniquities and their abominations from before my face, that the blood of prophets and the saints shall not come any more unto me against them.
This is is the first city mentioned in relation to the blood of prophets and the saints. Why would prophets and saints be mentioned separately? Is there a difference? The idea of what a prophet does is fairly common. However, what makes someone be called a saint?
7 - Yea, and the city of Onihah and the inhabitants thereof, and the city of Mocum and the inhabitants thereof, and the city of Jerusalem and the inhabitants thereof; and waters have I caused to come up in the stead thereof, to hide their wickedness and abominations from before my face, and the blood of the prophets and the saints shall not come up any more unto me against them.
These are the second, third, and fourth cities mentioned in relation to the blood of prophets and saints.
8 - And behold, the city of Gadiandi, and the city of Gadiomnah, and the city of Jacob, and the city of Gimgimno, all these have I caused to be sunk, and made hills and valleys in the places thereof; and the inhabitants thereof have I buried up in the depths of the earth, to hide their wickedness and abominations from before my face, that the blood of the prophets and the saints should not come up any more unto me against them.
These are the fifth, sixth, seventh, and eighth cities mentioned in relation to the blood of prophets and saints.
9 - And behold, that great city Jacobugath, which was inhabited by the people of king Jacob, have I caused to be burned with fire because of their sins and their wickedness, which was above all the wickedness of the whole earth, because of their secret murders and combinations; for it was they that did destroy the peace of my people and the government of the land; therefore I did cause them to be burned, to destroy them from before my face, that the blood of the prophets and the saints should not come up unto me any more against them.
This is the ninth city mentioned in relation to the blood of prophets and saints. The previous cities that have been mentioned in relation to the blood of prophets were buried in one form or another. Here the list is started of those cities that are burned with fire. Why? How wicked were the inhabitants of the city of Jacobugath? Does "whole earth" just mean the Americas, or does it literally mean all of the world?
10 - And behold, the city of Laman, and the city of Josh, and the city of Gad, and the city of Kishkumen, have I caused to be burned with fire, and the inhabitants thereof, because of their wickedness in casting out the prophets, and stoning those whom I did send to declare unto them concerning their wickedness and their abominations.
These are the tenth, eleventh, twelveth, and thirteenth cities mentioned in relation to the blood of prophets and saints. The prophets were cast out. There was another group that was stoned. Was this other group what is meant in previous versus by saints? Who designates one a as being a saint? Is it possible to cast the prophets out and stone those sent to declare by the Lord without physically doing these things? If so, is it possible to experience spiritual destruction as a result? Could this be related to the greater things and lesser portions mentioned in earlier posts? ( 3 Nephi 26; Alma 12 )
11 - And because they did cast them all out, that there were none righteous among them, I did send down fire and destroy them, that their wickedness and abominations might be hid from before my face, and the blood of the prophets and the saints whom I sent among them might not cry unto me from the ground against them.
Is this a universal law that happens when there is not a single righteous person in a city? Is there some other qualification that must happen as well before destruction? Could this also be applied to an individual person?
12 - And many great destructions have I caused to come upon this land, and upon this people, because of their wickedness and their abominations.
Was the land destroyed because it was wicked, or because the people were wicked? If it was because the people wicked, why did God allow it to happen? Could it be a testimony to future generations?
...Great things 2 ponder upon.
1 - And it came to pass that there was a voice heard among all the inhabitants of the earth, upon all the face of this land, crying:
Interesting to note who heard this voice. It wasn't just a group of people in a particular place.
2 - Wo, wo, wo unto this people; wo unto the inhabitants of the whole earth except they shall repent; for the devil laugheth, and his angels rejoice, because of the slain of the fair sons and daughters of my people; and it is because of their iniquity and abominations that they are fallen!
What is meant by "wo"? Why does Christ pronounce three wo's upon the people of this land? Why is just one wo pronounced upon the inhabitants of the whole earth? Is there a difference? What must you do to make sure that the wo's don't apply to you? Is iniquity and abomination the opposite of repentance? Are there other choices? What is the definition of iniquity? What is the definition of abomination?
5 - And behold, that great city Moronihah have I covered with earth, and the inhabitants thereof, to hide their iniquities and their abominations from before my face, that the blood of prophets and the saints shall not come any more unto me against them.
This is is the first city mentioned in relation to the blood of prophets and the saints. Why would prophets and saints be mentioned separately? Is there a difference? The idea of what a prophet does is fairly common. However, what makes someone be called a saint?
7 - Yea, and the city of Onihah and the inhabitants thereof, and the city of Mocum and the inhabitants thereof, and the city of Jerusalem and the inhabitants thereof; and waters have I caused to come up in the stead thereof, to hide their wickedness and abominations from before my face, and the blood of the prophets and the saints shall not come up any more unto me against them.
These are the second, third, and fourth cities mentioned in relation to the blood of prophets and saints.
8 - And behold, the city of Gadiandi, and the city of Gadiomnah, and the city of Jacob, and the city of Gimgimno, all these have I caused to be sunk, and made hills and valleys in the places thereof; and the inhabitants thereof have I buried up in the depths of the earth, to hide their wickedness and abominations from before my face, that the blood of the prophets and the saints should not come up any more unto me against them.
These are the fifth, sixth, seventh, and eighth cities mentioned in relation to the blood of prophets and saints.
9 - And behold, that great city Jacobugath, which was inhabited by the people of king Jacob, have I caused to be burned with fire because of their sins and their wickedness, which was above all the wickedness of the whole earth, because of their secret murders and combinations; for it was they that did destroy the peace of my people and the government of the land; therefore I did cause them to be burned, to destroy them from before my face, that the blood of the prophets and the saints should not come up unto me any more against them.
This is the ninth city mentioned in relation to the blood of prophets and saints. The previous cities that have been mentioned in relation to the blood of prophets were buried in one form or another. Here the list is started of those cities that are burned with fire. Why? How wicked were the inhabitants of the city of Jacobugath? Does "whole earth" just mean the Americas, or does it literally mean all of the world?
10 - And behold, the city of Laman, and the city of Josh, and the city of Gad, and the city of Kishkumen, have I caused to be burned with fire, and the inhabitants thereof, because of their wickedness in casting out the prophets, and stoning those whom I did send to declare unto them concerning their wickedness and their abominations.
These are the tenth, eleventh, twelveth, and thirteenth cities mentioned in relation to the blood of prophets and saints. The prophets were cast out. There was another group that was stoned. Was this other group what is meant in previous versus by saints? Who designates one a as being a saint? Is it possible to cast the prophets out and stone those sent to declare by the Lord without physically doing these things? If so, is it possible to experience spiritual destruction as a result? Could this be related to the greater things and lesser portions mentioned in earlier posts? ( 3 Nephi 26; Alma 12 )
11 - And because they did cast them all out, that there were none righteous among them, I did send down fire and destroy them, that their wickedness and abominations might be hid from before my face, and the blood of the prophets and the saints whom I sent among them might not cry unto me from the ground against them.
Is this a universal law that happens when there is not a single righteous person in a city? Is there some other qualification that must happen as well before destruction? Could this also be applied to an individual person?
12 - And many great destructions have I caused to come upon this land, and upon this people, because of their wickedness and their abominations.
Was the land destroyed because it was wicked, or because the people were wicked? If it was because the people wicked, why did God allow it to happen? Could it be a testimony to future generations?
...Great things 2 ponder upon.
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