3 - And it came to pass that while they were thus conversing one with another, they heard a voice as if it came out of heaven; and they cast their eyes round about, for they understood not the voice which they heard; and it was not a harsh voice, neither was it a loud voice; nevertheless, and notwithstanding it being a small voice it did pierce them that did hear to the center, insomuch that there was no part of their frame that it did not cause to quake; yea, it did pierce them to the very soul, and did cause their hearts to burn.
Did all of the people that were there hear the voice? "...it did pierce them that did hear.." What about this voice, as described here, is different from the traditional view of the "still, small voice"? What is the significance of their frames quaking and their hearts burning? Was this the baptism of a cleansing fire for these people? If so, why did it happen at this moment? What were they cleansed of? Was it in preparation for something else to come later?
4 - And it came to pass that again they heard the voice, and they understood it not.
5 - And again the third time they did hear the voice, and did open their ears to hear it; and their eyes were towards the sound thereof; and they did look steadfastly towards heaven, from whence the sound came.
What does it mean to open your ears in a spiritual sense? Is this doing a combination of something physical and spiritual? Look up the first footnote for the word 'open' (Job 36:15). How would this verse apply to the Nephites at that time? How would it apply to you? Is this a pattern and a type to recognize the process of how ones ears are opened? What does looking steadfastly towards heaven imply? Did they expect to hear more at this time? Were they distracted once they had heard the voice three times?
6 - And behold, the third time they did understand the voice which they heard; and it said unto them:
Father in heaven had to call three times, once for each level of separation (Celestial -> Terrestrial -> Telestial) from Him to this earth. Was the baptism by fire and the opening of their ears to prepare them to hear a message from a celestial being? Does that happen to all that go through this process? Did the Father repeat the same message three times before they heard it?
...Great things 2 ponder upon.
June 6, 2012
June 5, 2012
3 Nephi 11:1-2
1 - And now it came to pass that there were a great multitude gathered together, of the people of Nephi, round about the temple which was in the land Bountiful; and they were marveling and wondering one with another, and were showing one to another the great and marvelous change which had taken place.
Could there have been more than one temple in the lands of the Nephites? Look at the scriptures in the footnote for "gathered". Is the fact that there were more than one temple in the lands of the Nephites why the specific temple in the land Bountiful needed singled out? Why was everyone gathered at the temple? Remember, this was almost a year after the signs of the death and resurrection of Jesus (info here). Was there a yearly ceremony that took place at the temple? Could they have gathered for that and been discussing what had gone before? Hugh Nibley suggested that the reason that they gathered could have been for something like the Egyptian end of year ceremony. This ceremony in the Egyptian form had elements of death and resurrection of a deity in it.
2 - And they were also conversing about this Jesus Christ, of whom the sign had been given concerning his death.
So those gathered recognized that the experiences that they had experienced earlier that year fulfilled the prophecies about Jesus. Did they understand at this time that he was resurrected? Did they know what that meant? Even the apostles in Israel had a hard time understanding what that would mean. Was there a connection between their recognition that the signs had happened and the reason that they were gathered? Could there have been some confusion as to how they should proceed?
...Great things 2 ponder upon.
Could there have been more than one temple in the lands of the Nephites? Look at the scriptures in the footnote for "gathered". Is the fact that there were more than one temple in the lands of the Nephites why the specific temple in the land Bountiful needed singled out? Why was everyone gathered at the temple? Remember, this was almost a year after the signs of the death and resurrection of Jesus (info here). Was there a yearly ceremony that took place at the temple? Could they have gathered for that and been discussing what had gone before? Hugh Nibley suggested that the reason that they gathered could have been for something like the Egyptian end of year ceremony. This ceremony in the Egyptian form had elements of death and resurrection of a deity in it.
2 - And they were also conversing about this Jesus Christ, of whom the sign had been given concerning his death.
So those gathered recognized that the experiences that they had experienced earlier that year fulfilled the prophecies about Jesus. Did they understand at this time that he was resurrected? Did they know what that meant? Even the apostles in Israel had a hard time understanding what that would mean. Was there a connection between their recognition that the signs had happened and the reason that they were gathered? Could there have been some confusion as to how they should proceed?
...Great things 2 ponder upon.
June 4, 2012
3 Nephi 10:16 - 19 Prophecy Before Linked to Prophecy After
16 - Yea, the prophet Zenos did testify of these things, and also Zenock spake concerning these things, because they testified particularly concerning us, who are the remnant of their seed.
What is meant by "who are the remnant of their seed"? Is this referencing the literal seed of Zenos and Zenock? Is this referencing the seed of Israel? Is this referencing spiritual seed? Is it referencing many or all of the above? It is apparent that these prophets who went on before had seen that there would be a branch of Israel that was broken off and would witness the signs of the crucifixion and resurrection of Christ. It was very important for them to testify and write these things down. Why was there no record of this in the Old Testament that we have? Who would have been behind this "losing" of these prophecies?
17 - Behold, our father Jacob also testified concerning a remnant of the seed of Joseph. And behold, are not we a remnant of the seed of Joseph? And these things which testify of us, are they not written upon the plates of brass which our father Lehi brought out of Jerusalem?
Even Jacob (Israel) what would happen to the remnant of his seed. Is this a pattern that we see in the scriptures? How many prophets are shown what will happen to their seed? Is this something that can be shown to each one of us? Could this be one of the reasons that it was important for the Lord to have Lehi go back and get the plates of brass? Think of all of the times that the plates of brass are referenced throughout the Book of Mormon.
18 - And it came to pass that in the ending of the thirty and fourth year, behold, I will show unto you that the people of Nephi who were spared, and also those who had been called Lamanites, who had been spared, did have great favors shown unto them, and great blessings poured out upon their heads, insomuch that soon after the ascension of Christ into heaven he did truly manifest himself unto them--
Which ascension of Christ into heaven is being referenced here? Look at the footnote for "ascension". Which one does that reference? Why would Mormon have been shown this in vision?
19 - Showing his body unto them, and ministering unto them; and an account of his ministry shall be given hereafter. Therefore for this time I make an end of my sayings.
Why was it important for Mormon to point out that Christ appeared in his body to them? What other doctrine of the Gospel of Christ makes mention of Christ appearing in bodily form? Did this apply to those to who Christ appeared to here in the Americas? Is the account that follows a type of what to expect for all who receive it? Why did Mormon pause here? Could it have been because he needed to compose and gather his thoughts to write about what happened next? If it was so important for Mormon to get the correct thoughts down, how important should it be for us to study and contemplate all of the details of the experiences detailed in the following chapters? How often do you think about those things?
... Great things 2 ponder upon.
What is meant by "who are the remnant of their seed"? Is this referencing the literal seed of Zenos and Zenock? Is this referencing the seed of Israel? Is this referencing spiritual seed? Is it referencing many or all of the above? It is apparent that these prophets who went on before had seen that there would be a branch of Israel that was broken off and would witness the signs of the crucifixion and resurrection of Christ. It was very important for them to testify and write these things down. Why was there no record of this in the Old Testament that we have? Who would have been behind this "losing" of these prophecies?
17 - Behold, our father Jacob also testified concerning a remnant of the seed of Joseph. And behold, are not we a remnant of the seed of Joseph? And these things which testify of us, are they not written upon the plates of brass which our father Lehi brought out of Jerusalem?
Even Jacob (Israel) what would happen to the remnant of his seed. Is this a pattern that we see in the scriptures? How many prophets are shown what will happen to their seed? Is this something that can be shown to each one of us? Could this be one of the reasons that it was important for the Lord to have Lehi go back and get the plates of brass? Think of all of the times that the plates of brass are referenced throughout the Book of Mormon.
18 - And it came to pass that in the ending of the thirty and fourth year, behold, I will show unto you that the people of Nephi who were spared, and also those who had been called Lamanites, who had been spared, did have great favors shown unto them, and great blessings poured out upon their heads, insomuch that soon after the ascension of Christ into heaven he did truly manifest himself unto them--
Which ascension of Christ into heaven is being referenced here? Look at the footnote for "ascension". Which one does that reference? Why would Mormon have been shown this in vision?
19 - Showing his body unto them, and ministering unto them; and an account of his ministry shall be given hereafter. Therefore for this time I make an end of my sayings.
Why was it important for Mormon to point out that Christ appeared in his body to them? What other doctrine of the Gospel of Christ makes mention of Christ appearing in bodily form? Did this apply to those to who Christ appeared to here in the Americas? Is the account that follows a type of what to expect for all who receive it? Why did Mormon pause here? Could it have been because he needed to compose and gather his thoughts to write about what happened next? If it was so important for Mormon to get the correct thoughts down, how important should it be for us to study and contemplate all of the details of the experiences detailed in the following chapters? How often do you think about those things?
... Great things 2 ponder upon.
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