Mormon 7

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

 CHAPTER 7

Mormon invites the Lamanites of the latter days to believe in Christ, accept His gospel, and be saved—All who believe the Bible will also believe the Book of Mormon. About A.D. 385.

  1 And now, behold, I would speak somewhat unto the ^aremnant of this people who are spared, if it so be that God may give unto them my words, that they may know of the things of their fathers; yea, I speak unto you, ye remnant of the house of Israel; and these are the words which I speak: When we see the Lamanites joining the Church or following a prophet in droves, we know this prophecy is being fulfilled. Don’t discount what is happening and who is converting them. Might be one of the 3 Nephites or John or the end time servant!.
  2 Know ye that ye are of the ^ahouse of Israel.
  3 Know ye that ye must come unto repentance, or ye cannot be saved.
  4 Know ye that ye must lay down your weapons of war, and delight no more in the shedding of blood, and take them not again, save it be that God shall ^acommand you. You can take up weapons of war, if God commands it. 
  5 Know ye that ye must come to the ^aknowledge of your fathers, and repent of all your sins and iniquities, remember that iniquities are inherited sins. We, the living, have to repent of those. This may be another interpretation of “they without us cannot be saved”. It may not just be temple work. It may be repentance by the posterity that are still living and suffering under the inherited sins of their ancestors and they need to repent of the sins committed because of these generational iniquities, thus freeing their ancestors too, as they leave no evidence that their sins have had any effect on their children. and ^bbelieve in Jesus Christ, that he is the Son of God, and that he was slain by the Jews, and by the power of the Father he hath risen again, whereby he hath gained the victory over the grave; and also in him is the sting of death swallowed up. what is the "sting" of death? Is it what we would have suffered if there was no resurrection? Or is it the sting of remorse for our sins that would be everlasting if there were no Atonement?
  6 And he bringeth to pass the ^aresurrection of the dead, whereby man must be raised to stand before his ^bjudgment-seat. There is a lot of mention of this fact by Mormon, that we will all have to stand before the judgment seat of God to account for our choices here on earth. It’s a very very big deal! Don’t ignore it or minimize it or pretend that it will not happen or be not be hard if you haven’t repented. 
  7 And he hath brought to pass the ^aredemption of the ^bworld, whereby he that is found ^cguiltless before him at the judgment day hath it given unto him to dwell in the presence of God in his kingdom, to sing ceaseless praises with the choirs above, unto the Father, and unto the Son, and unto the Holy Ghost, which are one God, in a state of ^ghappiness which hath no end. I think of all the energy that people expend trying to create a state of endless happiness here on earth. Can’t be done. Have to wait for it.... The only way to be found guiltless is through a remission of sins, which comes by fire and the Holy Ghost (the other half of baptism). This last phrase about the Godhead being one God could be used by some to say Mormon is teaching they are literally "one" being, like most of the Christian world believes. We know, especially because of Joseph Smith's experience they are not. I just read of a Christian medical-sharing group that doesn't let members of our church participate because they aren't Christian...
  8 Therefore repent, and be baptized in the name of Jesus, and lay hold upon the ^agospel of Christ, which shall be set before you, not only in this record but also in the record which shall come unto the Gentiles ^bfrom the Jews, which record shall come from the Gentiles ^cunto you. So believe the Bible and the Book of Mormon. 
  9 For behold, ^athis is ^bwritten for the intent that ye may ^cbelieve that; and if ^dye believe that ye will believe this also; and if ye believe this ye will know concerning your fathers, and also the marvelous works which were wrought by the power of God among them.
 10 And ye will also know that ye are a ^aremnant of the seed of Jacob; therefore ye are numbered among the people of the first covenant; Is this expression "first covenant" used elsewhere in the scriptures? If there is a "first" then is there a "second"? Is it referring to those gentiles who are adopted into the house of Israel as those of not of the original or first covenant? and if it so be that ye believe in Christ, and are baptized, first ^bwith water, then with fire and with the Holy Ghost, following the ^cexample of our Savior, according to that which he hath commanded us, it shall be well with you in the day of judgment. Amen. There’s that “day of judgment” again.... Here is another reference to the second baptism by fire and the Holy Ghost...