CHAPTER 37
The plates of brass and other scriptures are preserved to bring souls to salvation—I need to never forget this is the number one goal. It is not to expose evil or bring down the deep state. It's to save souls from being deceived and invite them to the light of the gospel and then the journey to salvation. The Jaredites were destroyed because of their wickedness—Their secret oaths and covenants must be kept from the people—Counsel with the Lord in all your doings—As the Liahona guided the Nephites, so the word of Christ leads men to eternal life. About 74 B.C.
1 And now, my son Helaman, I command you...not "ask", but command. Is the duty that strong? that ye take the arecords which have been bentrusted with me; He is talking about all the records, including the Jaredite record.
2 And I also command you that ye keep a arecord of this people, according as I have done, upon the plates of Nephi, and keep all these things sacred which I have kept, even as I have kept them; for it is for a bwise purpose that they are kept. What is this "wise purpose"? If it includes the Jaredite record (The sealed portion of the Book of Mormon was 1/2 to 2/3 of the Golden Plates. The Lord said in Ether 3:27 that He would show them to us "in His own due time") then perhaps among His "wise purposes" would be the revealing of Secret Combinations. Is the way God reveals the Secret Combinations through this sealed record? Does it make plain their workings? That would be amazing. I'm not sure of what value they are for us if we don't get them in time to learn from them, though.
3 And these aplates of brass, which contain these engravings, which have the records of the holy scriptures upon them, which have the bgenealogy of our forefathers, even from the beginning—Never forget who you are and where you came from. Learn from the past.
4 Behold, it has been prophesied by our fathers, that they should be kept and ahanded down from one generation to another, and be kept and preserved by the hand of the Lord until they should go forth unto every nation, kindred, tongue, and people, that they shall know of the bmysteries contained thereon. We know this is partly fulfilled by the coming forth of The Book of Mormon, but we don't have all of it yet and among the greatest "mysteries" to men on earth is the reality of Secret Combinations and their hidden works of darkness...
5 And now behold, if they are kept they must retain their brightness; what does this mean? That the gold metal doesn't fade and their imprinted words are unreadable? That the message stays pure and clear to the reader? yea, and they will retain their brightness; yea, and also shall all the plates which do contain that which is holy writ.
6 Now ye may suppose that this is afoolishness in me; what is he calling foolishness? That keeping a record can have a great future purpose? but behold I say unto you, that by bsmall and simple things are great things brought to pass; and small means in many instances doth confound the wise.
7 And the Lord God doth work by ameans to bring about his great and eternal purposes; and by very bsmall means the Lord doth cconfound the wise and bringeth about the salvation of many souls. What are the "means" that God references here? The footnote references the idea that God's ways and thoughts are not ours and that He has many ways to accomplish His work. Some are grand and some are small and some are unexpected and some are known. Do we not need the "wise" to be confounded by the truth they refuse to see about "evil and conspiring men in the last days"? I love this footnote for "small"... D&C 123:16 16 You know, brethren, that a very large ship is benefited very much by a very small helm in the time of a storm, by being kept workways with the wind and the waves.
8 And now, it has hitherto been wisdom in God that these things should be preserved; for behold, athey have benlarged the memory of this people, yea, and convinced many of the error of their ways, and brought them to the cknowledge of their God unto the salvation of their souls. This would, of course, be the end purpose in God exposing and destroying the Secret Combinations - so they could no longer blind the minds of God's children. Alma just taught in the last chapter that it is the word that leads men to believe. Sister Nelson just taught that we have to be careful when we think we are right and others are wrong, to not force our beliefs on them, but that does not negate the fact that there is "a right and a wrong to every question." The principle she was teaching was that we don't use force to change people's minds. God uses His word and the Spirit to invite, but we use our agency to receive. There is a difference between defending truth and righteousness and forcing it on others. Silence is not God's way of inviting others to be convinced of the truth. "O that I were an angel, and could have the wish of mine heart, that I might go forth and speak with the of God, with a voice to shake the earth, and cry repentance unto every people! Yea, I would declare unto every soul, as with the voice of thunder, repentance and the plan of redemption, that they should repent and unto our God, that there might not be more sorrow upon all the face of the earth. (Alma 29:1-2)
9 Yea, I say unto you, awere it not for these things that these records do contain, which are on these plates, Ammon and his brethren could not have bconvinced so many thousands of the Lamanites of the incorrect tradition of their fathers; yea, these records and their cwords brought them unto repentance; that is, they brought them to the knowledge of the Lord their God, and to rejoice in Jesus Christ their Redeemer. It sounds like he is saying that the records were the proof that the Lamanites needed to change their thinking. It wasn't just the testimony of the missionaries. They had access to the actual record of past events so they could see for themselves where their father's went astray. Will we need to see future records revealed to be convinced as well?
10 And who knoweth but what they will be the ameans of bringing many thousands of them, yea, and also many thousands of our bstiffnecked brethren, the Nephites, who are now hardening their hearts in sin and iniquities, to the knowledge of their Redeemer?
11 Now these mysteries are not yet fully made known unto me; But 'partly' known?? therefore I shall forbear. Great statement, "I shall forbear"...meaning I will resist trying to guess.
12 And it may suffice if I only say they are preserved for a awise purpose, which purpose is known unto God; He has said this twice now. What is this "wise purpose"? Is it more than just for sharing the Gospel? Is there some great "end time" purpose yet ahead? Is there yet a "marvelous work and a wonder" to be made known? for he doth bcounsel in wisdom over all his works, and his paths are straight, and his course is cone eternal round.
13 O remember, remember, my son Helaman, how astrict are the commandments of God. ...no one likes to hear this. Our "snowflake" generation doesn't want to be pushed too hard. They want tolerance and love, but not strict commandments And he said: bIf ye will keep my commandments ye shall cprosper in the land—but if ye keep not his commandments ye shall be cut off from his presence. This is the grand motivation throughout the Book of Mormon. We get to see what happens to a people who are cut off from the Lord. It's hard to connect to a consequence that may take generations to happen, but we are to care about our children and grandchildren and their future happiness as much as our own.
14 And now remember, my son, that God has aentrusted you with these things, which are bsacred, which he has kept sacred, and also which he will keep and cpreserve for a dwise purpose in him, that he may show forth his power unto future generations. Third time! We are among the "future generations" and God promises to "show forth his power" to us in these Latter Days. The footnote for this wise purpose is: 1 Nephi 9:6 But the Lord knoweth 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 power unto the fulfilling of all his words. And thus it is. Amen. This is after Nephi is commanded to make two records. We typically think that this "wise purpose" is because Joseph will lose the first 116 pages from the first record and God will not want him to re-translate. But...what if there is another, even greater "wise purpose"? The lost manuscript truly showed that God is wise to have forseen what would happen and prepare for it, but did it really show God's power at that time or now? I am thinking the "wise purpose" that will show God's power is still coming. I can't wait!
15 And now behold, I tell you by the spirit of prophecy, that if ye transgress the commandments of God, behold, these things which are sacred shall be taken away from you by the power of God, and ye shall be delivered up unto Satan, that he may sift you as chaff before the wind. Is this warning for everyone? Or just Helaman if he doesn't keep the records sacred? If it's for all, then we can lose the sacred we've been given and be left to the power of Satan. Have the Saints, collectively, transgressed the commandments of God, that our sacred temple worship has been taken away from us, (covid lockdowns) and we have been left to the buffeting of the adversary and "every wind of doctrine"? Hmmm...
16 But if ye keep the commandments of God, and do with these things which are sacred according to that which the Lord doth command you, (for you must appeal unto the Lord for all things whatsoever ye must do with them) behold, no power of earth or hell can atake them from you, for God is powerful to the fulfilling of all his words. This is a promise you can take to the bank! This is a great motivation to keep the commandments of God. No power of earth or hell (and that feels like A LOT of power) can keep God from fulfilling His word! Why are we not holding fast to this promise as a church? We don't need to cave to man and corrupt governments! God is POWERFUL!
17 For he will fulfil all his apromises which he shall make unto you, for he has fulfilled his promises which he has made unto our fathers.
18 For he promised unto them that he would apreserve these things for a wise purpose in him, that he might show forth his power unto future generations. Fourth time! And second time saying that the "wise purpose" will show his power unto future generations. Remember Pres Nelson recently said, "Our Savior and Redeemer, Jesus Christ, will perform some of His mightiest works between now and when He comes again. We will see miraculous indications that God the Father and His Son, Jesus Christ, preside over this Church in majesty and glory."
19 And now behold, one purpose Is this a clue that there is more than one "wise purpose"? hath he fulfilled, even to the restoration of amany thousands of the Lamanites to the knowledge of the truth; and he hath shown forth his power in them, and he will also still show forth his power in them unto bfuture generations; therefore they shall be preserved. We know the Lamanites would not have been preserved if they had not been converted by the power of God. He will do that again. Perhaps the "wise purpose" that shows forth great power" is some massive conversion of the Lamanites to the gospel through a powerful miraculous means. Maybe the sealed portion is revealed to them...maybe "they" bring them forth...
20 Therefore I command you, my son Helaman, that ye be diligent in fulfilling all my words, and that ye be diligent in keeping the commandments of God as they are written.
21 And now, I will speak unto you concerning those atwenty-four plates, that ye keep them, that the bmysteries and the works of darkness, and their secret works, or the secret works of those people who have been destroyed, may be made cmanifest unto this people; yea, all their murders, and robbings, and their plunderings, and all their wickedness and abominations, may be made manifest unto this people; yea, and that ye preserve these dinterpreters.
22 For behold, the Lord saw that his people began to work in darkness, yea, work secret murders and abominations; therefore the Lord said, if they did not repent they should be destroyed from off the face of the earth.
23 And the Lord said: I will prepare unto my servant Gazelem, a astone, which shall shine forth in darkness unto light, that I may bdiscover unto my people who serve me, that I may discover unto them the works of their brethren, yea, their secret works, their works of darkness, and their wickedness and abominations. It is said that Joseph Smith had a stone that would shine and tell him the words on the plates. It could be this same kind of stone spoken of hear. Also, I think the Urim and Thummim was supposed to have two stone in a pair of glasses.
24 And now, my son, these ainterpreters were prepared that the word of God might be fulfilled, which he spake, saying:
25 I will abring forth out of darkness unto light all their secret works and their abominations; and except they repent I will bdestroy them from off the face of the earth; and I will bring to light all their secrets and abominations, unto every nation that shall hereafter possess the land. God will do this again! HE will bring forth out of darkness unto light all the secret works and abominations that are happening now. And except they repent THEY will be destroyed. Notice HE WILL bring to light all their secret abominations, specifically unto America. When and how will this happen? We need it to happen now. So many people are being deceived by them right now!
26 And now, my son, we see that they did not repent; therefore they have been destroyed, Unfortunately, sometimes the warning goes unheeded and destruction still results... and thus far the word of God has been fulfilled; yea, their asecret abominations have been brought out of darkness and made known unto us.
27 And now, my son, I command you that ye retain all their oaths, and their covenants, and their agreements in their secret abominations; yea, and all their asigns and their wonders ye shall bkeep from this people, that they know them not, lest peradventure they should fall into darkness also and be destroyed.
28 For behold, there is a acurse upon all this land, that destruction shall come upon all those workers of darkness, according to the power of God, when they are fully ripe; Notice the curse is upon the workers of darkness, according to the power of God. Certainly they must be fully ripe or very close to it! Maybe their destruction is the "marvelous work and a wonder" or the "wise purpose" therefore I desire that this people might not be destroyed.
29 Therefore ye shall keep these secret plans of their aoaths and their covenants from this people, and only their wickedness and their murders and their abominations shall ye make known unto them; and ye shall teach them to babhor such wickedness and abominations and murders; and ye shall also teach them that these people were destroyed on account of their wickedness and abominations and their murders. Satan is working hard to get society not to abhor his wickedness.
30 For behold, they amurdered all the prophets of the Lord who came among them to declare unto them concerning their iniquities; Will this happen again? I know that it is common for "whistle blowers" to be murdered, but are they prophets? Probably not... and the blood of those whom they murdered did cry unto the Lord their God for vengeance upon those who were their murderers; and thus the judgments of God did come upon these workers of darkness and secret bcombinations. Surely we will see God's judgments come upon the secret combinations. Just hoping it's before the final burning!
31 Yea, and acursed be the land forever and ever unto those workers of darkness and secret combinations, even unto destruction, except they repent before they are fully bripe. How can they repent unless their wickedness is exposed and they are shown the truth?
32 And now, my son, remember the words which I have spoken unto you; trust not those secret plans unto this people, but teach them an everlasting ahatred against sin and iniquity. Are we being taught this hatred for sin and iniquity? Or do we believe in tolerance and "not my business"...Do you believe you can hate sin and love the sinner? Sinners like to tell you that if you hate their sin you hate them too; that sinning doesn't make you broken (which I think they say means, fundamentally flawed). But if we are to cast off the natural man, then we were all born flawed and broken and need to be given new hearts and names and lives.
33 aPreach unto them repentance, and faith on the Lord Jesus Christ; Repentance and faith in Christ go hand in hand. If you have faith in Christ you will be repenting teach them to humble themselves and to be bmeek and lowly in heart; teach them to cwithstand every dtemptation of the devil, with their faith on the Lord Jesus Christ. Notice you withstand EVERY temptation WITH faith on the Lord.
34 Teach them to never be weary of good works, don't get tired of serving and loving your neighbor but to be meek and lowly in heart;2nd time said for such shall find arest to their souls. The "rest" only comes after the "work" and "effort" or it wouldn't be "rest". Also, elsewhere "rest" is equated with the "fullness of the Lord"; His presence
35 O, remember, my son, and alearn bwisdom in thy cyouth; Here comes the meaning of "wisdom" and the covenant to "remember Him always": yea, learn in
thy youth to keep the commandments of God.
36 Yea, and
acry unto God for all thy support; yea,
let all thy bdoings be unto the Lord, and
whithersoever thou goest let it be in the Lord; yea,
let all thy cthoughts be directed unto the Lord; yea,
let the affections of thy heart be placed upon the Lord forever.
37 aCounsel with the Lord in all thy doings, and he will direct thee for bgood; yea,
when thou liest down at night lie down unto the Lord, that he may watch over you in your sleep; and
when thou risest in the cmorning let thy heart be full of thanks unto God; and
if ye do these things, ye shall be lifted up at the last day. Here's the term "at the last day" again!
38 And now, my son, I have somewhat to say concerning the thing which our fathers call a ball, or director—or our fathers called it aLiahona, which is, being interpreted, a compass; and the Lord prepared it.
39 And behold, there cannot any man work after the manner of so curious a workmanship. And behold, it was prepared to show unto our fathers the course which they should travel in the wilderness. God could have used any number of means to lead them. Tangible objects are easier for people like Laman and Lemuel to trust...
40 And it did work for them according to their afaith in God; therefore, if they had faith to believe that God could cause that those spindles should point the way they should go, behold, it was done; therefore they had this miracle, and also many other miracles wrought by the power of God, day by day. They had to believe in this daily miracle. They had other miracles day by day. For me, dinner on the table is a daily miracle:) Today, we have GPS on our phones to "point the way" to where we want to go. The difference is, GPS shows us where "we" want to go and the Liahona showed them where "God" wanted them to go.
41 Nevertheless, because those miracles were worked by asmall means it did show unto them marvelous works. They were bslothful, and forgot to exercise their faith and diligence and then those marvelous works ceased, and they did not progress in their journey; Is this why it took them 8 years to finally set sail? Is this where we are as a people? Have we been slothful? Was the question posed by the prophet 5 years ago "How do we increase faith" mean that we had fallen in our faith? What marvelous works have ceased? Have we been blocked in our progress? The Lord said these signs would follow them that believe: D&C 84:65 And these shall follow them that believe—
66 In my name they shall do many wonderful ;
67 In my they shall cast out devils;
68 In my name they shall the sick;
69 In my name they shall the eyes of the blind, and unstop the ears of the deaf;
70 And the tongue of the dumb shall speak;
71 And if any man shall administer unto them it shall not hurt them;
72 And the of a serpent shall not have power to harm them.
Do we see these signs abound among those we say they are believers today? Why not? vs 41 says it is because we are slothful and don't exercise our faith and diligence in that faith...Why are we not concerned about this? We should see the lack of these miracles as evidence that we need to repent.
42 Therefore, they tarried in the wilderness, or did anot travel a direct course, and were afflicted with hunger and thirst, because of their transgressions. Here God ties their trials to their slothfulness. We always need to ask God if our trials are because of our failure to be obedient. That is not always the case, but it is a possibility we should always rule out or respond to if true.
43 And now, my son, I would that ye should understand that these things are not without a ashadow; for
as our fathers were slothful to give heed to this compass (now these
things were temporal) they did not prosper; even so it is with things
which are spiritual.
44 For behold, it is as easy to give heed to the aword of Christ, which will point to you a straight course to eternal bliss,
as it was for our fathers to give heed to this compass, which would
point unto them a straight course to the promised land. Some people are equating the "easiness" of wearing a mask or taking the shot to this concept. But I believe the "easiness" is giving heed to the word of Christ and trusting that He will fight our enemies and give us success no matter how formidable the way before us.
45 And now I say, is there not a atype in this thing? For just as surely as this director did bring our
fathers, by following its course, to the promised land, shall the words
of Christ, if we follow their course, carry us beyond this vale of
sorrow into a far better land of promise. Another take on this, is that those who took the shot in faith, will be carried beyond this "vale of sorrow into a far better land of promise." I won't elaborate on what that could mean...
46 O my son, do not let us be aslothful because of the beasiness of the cway; for so was it with our fathers; for so was it prepared for them, that if they would dlook they might elive; even so it is with us. The way is prepared, and if we will look we may live forever. Look and live. The way has been prepared. Where are we to look? Christ. The scriptures. The prophets. The way has been prepared. It's easy to read and listen...so easy we often don't do it. Once again...the "easiness" refers to looking to Christ in order to live.
47 And now, my son, see that ye take acare of these sacred things, yea, see that ye blook to God and live. LOOK TO GOD AND LIVE! Quit living in fear of death. God is the source of your peace in this world and the world to come. Go unto this people and declare the word, and be sober. My son, farewell.
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