3 Nephi 24

 (All of my own thoughts are in red type 7/20 orange 7/21 Brown 2022-23) 

CHAPTER 24

The Lord’s messenger will prepare the way for the Second Coming—Christ will sit in judgment—Israel is commanded to pay tithes and offerings—A book of remembrance is kept—Compare Malachi 3. About A.D. 34.

  1 And it came to pass that he commanded them that they should write the words which the Father had given unto Malachi, which he should tell unto them. They would not have the words of Malachi on the brass plates. He came after they left Jerusalem.  And it came to pass that after they were written he expounded them. And these are the words which he did tell unto them, saying: Thus said the Father unto Malachi—Behold, I will ^asend my ^bmessenger, The Book of Mormon is a messenger according to the footnote: D&C 45:9 "And even so I have sent mine everlasting covenant into the world, to be a light to the world, and to be a standard for my people, and for the Gentiles to seek to it, and to be a messenger before my face to prepare the way before me." but that is not a person... and he see...it says "he" not "it" shall prepare the way before me, and the Lord whom ye seek shall suddenly ^ccome to his temple, even the ^dmessenger of the covenant, Jesus is the messenger of the covenant or could "even" mean "also"?  whom ye delight in; behold, he shall come, saith the Lord of Hosts.
  2 But who may ^aabide the day of his coming, We should want to know the answer so it can be us! and who shall stand when he appeareth? For he is like a  ^brefiner’s fire, and like fuller’s soap.
  3 And he shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver; and he shall purify the sons of Levi, and purge them as gold and silver, that they may ^coffer unto the Lord an offering in righteousness. I don't think this applies to me...not a "son of Levi" How does He "purify" them and "purge" them? 
  4 Then shall the offering of Judah and Jerusalem be pleasant unto the Lord, as in the days of old, and as in former years.
  5 And I will come ^anear to you to judgment; and I will be a swift witness against the ^bsorcerers, The Greek translation for this word in Hebrew is "pharmakia" which is the word "pharmacy/pharmaceutical" comes from. Revelations 18:23 And the light of a candle shall shine no more at all in thee; and the ^avoice of the bridegroom and of the bride shall be heard no more at all in thee: for thy merchants were the great men of the earth; for by thy ^bsorceries were all nations deceived.24 And in her was found the ^ablood of prophets, and of saints, and of all that were slain upon the earth. (https://misfitministries.org/sorceries-hebrew-and-greek/) pharmakeia- the use of medicine, spells, drugs, poisoning, or witchcraft. Sorcery that included drugs was normally accompanied by incantations with the intent to appeal to demonic powers using charms, amulets, etc. Many times these drugs were used to impress the patient with the mysterious working powers of the sorcerer. In order to give a deeper understanding of pharmakeia, the Greek word pharmakeus was used in place of the word sorcerer, poisoner, druggist, magician, or pharmacist. Pharmakeia is where we get the modern term for pharmacy. and against the adulterers, and against false ^cswearers, and against those that ^doppress the hireling in his wages, the widow and the ^efatherless, and that turn aside the ^fstranger, and fear not me, Good news if you are being persecuted by this group saith the Lord of Hosts.
  6 For ^aI am the Lord, I change not; therefore ye sons of Jacob are not  consumed. Protection for the righteous (unless you are a martyr?)
  7 Even from the days of your fathers ye are gone away from mine ^aordinances, and have not kept them. ^bReturn unto me and I will return unto you, self reflection very important saith the Lord of Hosts. But ye say: Wherein shall we return?
  8 Will a man rob God? Yet ye have robbed me. But ye say: Wherein have we robbed thee? In ^atithes and ^bofferings. Tithing is pretty easy to check the box, but offerings is harder...what is an acceptable offering? It's possible that the Lord is robbed of tithing, not by it not being paid, but by it not being used properly...
  9 Ye are cursed with a curse, for ye have robbed me, even this whole nation. Part of the covenant to worship God for this nation is to pay tithes and offerings. Pretty sure Americans don't know that...
 10 Bring ye all the ^atithes into the storehouse, that there may be ^bmeat in my house; and prove me now herewith, saith the Lord of Hosts, if I will not open you the ^cwindows of heaven, and pour you out a ^dblessing that there shall not be room enough to receive it. Interesting imagery... sounds like "rain" is what he will pour out from the windows of heaven. We are in a severe drought right now. 
 11 And I will rebuke the ^adevourer for your sakes, and he shall not destroy the fruits of your ground; neither shall your vine cast her fruit before the time in the fields, saith the Lord of Hosts. Still sounds like the windows of heaven pour out rain, because when that stops we have no crops. I think some people have stopped paying tithing in the church because they are not happy with how the church is spending and investing it. Is that adding to our condemnation?
 12 And all nations shall call you blessed, for ye shall be a delightsome land, saith the Lord of Hosts.
 13 Your words have been stout against me, saith the Lord. Yet ye say: What have we spoken against thee?
 14 Ye have ^asaid: It is ^bvain to serve God, and what doth it profit that we have kept his ^cordinances and that we have walked mournfully before the Lord of Hosts? I guess, in effect, when we disobey, we are saying "what does it matter?"
 15 And now we call the proud happy; yea, they that work wickedness are set up; yea, they that tempt God are even delivered. The media portrays the wicked as doing very well...
 16 Then they that feared the Lord ^aspake often one to another, and the Lord hearkened and heard; and a book of ^bremembrance was written before him for them that feared the Lord, and that thought upon his name. Do we speak often with others in the faith? Do we think upon His name? It's being recorded and given to the Lord? 
 17 And they shall be ^amine, saith the Lord of Hosts, in that day when I ^bmake up my jewels; and I will spare them as a man spareth his own son that serveth him.
 18 Then shall ye return and ^adiscern between the righteous and the wicked, between him that serveth God and him that serveth him not. Does that really take discernment? I guess it does if you don't know the hearts of people (which we don't) and if there are those that "appear" to be righteous who aren't really converted or are wolves in sheeps clothing...Never forget the eternal consequences. Fear God and not man. Fear not what man can do. God will exalt thee on high and make all things right. Do not fear to do good.