ParaTed2k

Join Date 12/2004

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Lehi Prophesies of Christ.

CHAPTER 9

1 And all these things did my father see, and hear, and speak, as he dwelt in a tent, in the ^avalley of Lemuel, and also a great many more things, which cannot be written upon these plates. 2 And now, as I have spoken concerning these plates, behold they are not the plates upon which I make a full account of the history of my people; for the ^aplates upon which I make a full account of my people I have given the name of Nephi; wherefore, they are called the plates of Nephi, after mine own name; and these plates also are called the plates of Nephi. 3 Nevertheless, I have received a commandment of the Lord that I should make these plates, for the special ^apurpose that there should be an account engraven of the ^bministry of my people. 4 Upon the other plates should be engraven an account of the reign of the kings, and the wars and contentions of my people; wherefore these plates are for the more part of the ministry; and the ^aother plates are for the more part of the reign of the kings and the wars and contentions of my people. 5 Wherefore, the Lord hath commanded me to make these plates for a ^awise purpose in him, which purpose I know not. 6 But the Lord ^aknoweth all things from the beginning; wherefore, he prepareth a way to accomplish all his works among the children of men; for behold, he hath all ^bpower unto the fulfilling of all his words. And thus it is. Amen.

Even though Chapter 9 is only 6 verses long, there are a few points here I'd like to make before we move on. Apparently Nephi kept 2 sets of records, both of which he called, "The Plates of Nephi". In the larger plates he kept a secular record for more historical purposes. The smaller plates are the ones that would be passed down through the ages, then be compiled by Mormon and hidden from the Lamanites by Moroni.

Verses 5 & 6 is interesting to me. Nephi says that the Lord commanded him to keep both sets of records, but never told him what the purposes of the historical set would be... but Nephi kept them anyway. Nephi kept the commandment through nothing but faith. It doesn't matter why, it only matters that the Lord told him it was important.

How often have we learned something important (either spiritually or not), but because we don't know why it's important, we quit doing it? Do we have to know the "why" of everything we do, even if we do know that it's important? Shouldn't the fact that we know it's important be enough? Does it have to be important to us to be important to someone that it gets done?

Just something to think about.

CHAPTER 10

Lehi prophesies of the fall of Jerusalem to Babylon. That many Jews will be captured and enslaved or killed. However, he also talks of hope and faith, that the Jews will regain the promised land and thrive there once agian.

He also prophies of the birth and ministry of Jesus Christ, the redeemer of all mankind. He teaches of the fallen state of man and the need for Christ to pay the price for our sins so we can be made clean from our sins, if we rely on, and have faith in Him.

He also taught about the prophet sent to prepare the people for the coming Messiah. The very John the Baptist spoken of by the prophet Esaias (Isaiah) "The ^avoice of him that crieth in the wilderness, ^bPrepare ye the ^cway of the Lord, make straight in the desert a ^dhighway for our God." He prephesies that John the Baptist would be baptized in Bethabara, with water, as he would baptize Christ.

He foretold of Jesus's ministry, how He will teach the Jews the Gospel, and of the dwindling of the Jews in unbelief and after His death, He would show himself, by the power of the Holy Ghost, to the Gentiles. He spoke of the scattering of Israel, again offering hope because they would also be gathered again, after the Gentiles receved the Gospel. Then both Jew and Gentile will "be grafted together" with the knowledge of Christ, the "true Messiah, their Lord and their Redeemer".

14 And after the house of ^aIsrael should be scattered they should be ^bgathered together again; or, in fine, after the ^cGentiles had received the fulness of the ^dGospel, the natural branches of the ^eolive-tree, or the ^fremnants of the house of ^gIsrael, should be grafted in, or ^hcome to the knowledge of the true Messiah, their Lord and their Redeemer.

Then, once again, Nephi becomes the example of what we should all do when we hear or read words being claimed as the Word of God. He took his question to God, in the name of Jesus Christ, to learn for himself if what his father taught. By the power of the Holy Ghost he did learn the truthfullness of what Lehi was saying. Just as we can learn the same way. Our Heavenly Father is there for us, to help us learn truth from error. That we can know the "mysteries of God" if we just seek them out, and ask Him in faith.

Because we will all someday stand before the final judgement, but Our Heavenly Father wants us to return to Him, not be cast off because we are unclean and refused to accept Christ and repent of our sins.

Notice it never said to take the word of ParaTed2k, or even of Nephi. So I won't ask you to take my word for any of this either. Show faith in He who the only righteous faith can be shown. A good friend of mine told me that I was one of her "spiritual advisors", which I admit made me feel great! However, I reminded her that the advice I give her, and the things we talk about are nothing new, and don't come from me. I'm happy to be part of her spiritual development, but only as a tool in the hand of Christ. My only hope is that I can help anyone seeking the Gospel of Jesus Christ, but in the end, it won't be anything I did that brings anyone to Christ, it will be because they prayed to God for the truth, and through the Holy Ghost, the truth was made known to them.

17 And it came to pass after I, Nephi, having heard all the ^awords of my father, concerning the things which he saw in a ^bvision, and also the things which he spake by the power of the Holy Ghost, which power he received by faith on the Son of God—and the Son of God was the ^cMessiah who should come—I, Nephi, was ^ddesirous also that I might see, and hear, and know of these things, by the power of the ^eHoly Ghost, which is the ^fgift of God unto ^gall those who diligently seek him, as well in times of ^hold as in the time that he should manifest himself unto the children of men. 18 For he is the ^asame yesterday, to-day, and forever; and the way is prepared for all men from the foundation of the world, if it so be that they repent and come unto him. 19 For he that diligently ^aseeketh shall find; and the ^bmysteries of God shall be unfolded unto them, by the power of the ^cHoly Ghost, as well in these times as in times of old, and as well in times of old as in times to come; wherefore, the ^dcourse of the Lord is one eternal round. 20 Therefore remember, O man, for all thy doings thou shalt be brought into ^ajudgment. 21 Wherefore, if ye have sought to do ^awickedly in the days of your ^bprobation, then ye are found ^cunclean before the judgment-seat of God; and no unclean thing can dwell with God; wherefore, ye must be cast off forever. 22 And the Holy Ghost giveth ^aauthority that I should speak these things, and deny them not. 1 Nephi 10:17-22

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Do we have to know the "why" of everything we do, even if we do know that it's important? Shouldn't the fact that we know it's important be enough? Does it have to be important to us to be important to someone that it gets done?

And thus the paradox. Blind faith is not conducive to science. And man was given the inquisitiveness to explore science and discover what God has created. And Why. So for some (not all men are scientists or scientifically inclined) the need to know why is a never ending and very important factor in faith and belief.

I belong to that part that must question and can never rely on blind faith. yes, I have faith, which means I BELIEVE and do not know. But it is a rational one that while I was born to my faith, I did not fully accept it until I found the answers (of course not all answers).

For those who can accept blind faith, they are like the innocents. And probably a lot happier than those of us who must always question and seek the answer to why.

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Yes, there is within many of us (probably most of us) the need to learn the "why" of things. However, I didn't say the "why" is never important, I only asked if there was a need to know the "why" of everything.

I'll use a scientific example here. We know that what we call gravity exists as a force. We have even learned to quantify its effects on matter. However, we have no idea what it is, or why it does what it does.

It is important enough to for physicists to study it, and I'm sure in time someone will figure out what it is, and maybe even why it happens. However, is knowing why it happens as important as learning to live with it, or better yet, harness it for our good?

If there is truth in the universe, it is important to know. However, we can't base our acceptance of truth on whether we know why it is true or not.

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I only asked if there was a need to know the "why" of everything.

With me, there is (and thus my defect). I found out the "why" about gravity. If it is important (and we are discussing important things here), then I must know the why. The why does not have to be the end answer - i.e. boiling down the equation of life to 2+2=4 - but it has to bring it to something that makes sense to me.

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I think it is within most of us to want to know the why of things; however some are driven by it more than others.

I also think that we're supposed to ask why for most things (even spiritual things). Yes, we are told that faith is a necessary part of spiritual growth, but I also think that if we rely completely on faith, we miss both the point and the opportunity to grow.

For instance, I think that we are supposed to take the scriptures as being the word of God on faith, however, God gave us scriptures, prayer and others tools to learn from while we were here. He gave them to us for a reason, and I do think He expects us to use them.

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however, God gave us scriptures, prayer and others tools to learn from while we were here. He gave them to us for a reason, and I do think He expects us to use them.

Some of us (it may be said) might be abusing them!

But I thank you for this opportunity. It has been about 4 years since I commented in the religious forums, and I do not intend to start doing so in most areas. But being educated on your religion, and being able to discuss it in a calm and rational way has been good. I do not debate religion as that is always a lose-lose proposition in my eyes.

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