2 Nephi 12

(All of my own thoughts are in red type.5/20 Green 2/21 Orange 4/22 Brown 2023

Chapter 12

Isaiah sees the latter-day temple, gathering of Israel, and millennial judgment did I always think the judgment was pre-millennial? Is the millennial judgment when the wicked are destroyed? and peace—The proud and wicked will be brought low at is it "at" like it was for the Nephites before He appeared or is it literally "at"? I would think it's before so those who are left are worthy to see him. Or maybe not...maybe "every knee must bow" first? the Second Coming—Compare Isaiah 2. About 559–545 B.C.

  1 ^aThe word that Isaiah, the son of Amoz, saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem: seeing them in the last days...
  2 And it shall come to pass in the last days,  here in the beginning of Isaiah he establishes that his vision was concerning OUR day! We should know these prophecies! ^awhen the ^bmountain of the Lord’s ^chouse shall be established in the top of the ^dmountains, and shall be exalted above the hills, and all nations shall flow unto it. We've been taught the 'mountain of the Lord's house' in the 'top of the mountains' is the Salt Lake Temple/Church headquarters. 'All nations' came to SLC during the 2002 Winter Olympics and other times. We also had something pertaining to the United Nations here in 2019 I personally feel, to be true to the words, that all nations need to come to the temple seeking endowment. And 'flow' suggests a steady stream. I wonder if it's after it's a second capital of the New Jerusalem, but it would make more sense that all nations would flow unto 'that' temple, so it would make this scripture refer to before that. Gileadi says "mountain" means "nation" or "Kingdom"  and "house" is the temple. From that place Jehovah directs the affairs of his people and of all nations.
  3 And many ^apeople shall go and say, Come ye, and let us go up to the ^bmountain of the Lord, to the ^chouse of the God of Jacob; and he will teach us of his ways, and we will ^dwalk in his paths; for out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem. I am hoping that we'll soon have a worldwide conversion of millions. They will not need to literally come to the SL Temple. Not sure about the phrase, "and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem". That sounds like after Christ comes...it could refer to Christ's words that he gave in the New Testament. That came "out of Jerusalem"... maybe it's during the next Civil War when visionaries say millions will flee to the rocky mountains for safety. Gilieadi says it's the end time exodus to Zion.
  4 And he shall ^ajudge among the nations, and shall rebuke many people: and they shall beat their swords into plow-shares, and their spears into pruning-hooks this sounds like either people repent and/or they don't have to defend themselves anymore against their enemies—nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more. This definitely sounds like Millennium.
  5 O house of Jacob, come ye and let us walk in the light of the Lord; yea, come, for ye have all ^agone astray, every one to his ^bwicked ways.The house of Jacob is Israel. This sounds present day... It is getting easier and easier to see how we have ALL gone astray to some extent...
  6 Therefore, O Lord, thou hast forsaken thy people, the house of Jacob, because they be replenished from the east, and hearken unto ^asoothsayers like the ^bPhilistines, and they please themselves in the children of strangers. The Lord doesn't really forsake. We just forsake him. The sins here are relying on others for our needs, confidence in the future, and the pleasures of the flesh. If this is likened to us, Gentile Israel, then it could be saying that we buy all our goods from China and listen to people who pretend to have prophetic powers (think YouTube?) and engage in child sex trafficking....Is it any wonder that we feel forsaken? For so so many have forsaken God! Gileadi says "Jacob" is a spiritual category of people who do not repent and follow the customs of the culture. They turn to pagan sources for spiritual light, cutting themselves off from the light Jehovah provides/is.
  7 Their land also is full of silver and gold, neither is there any end of their ^atreasures; their land is also full of horses, neither is there any end of their chariots. We live in much abundance. Definitely us today. A sign the Day of Judgement approaches quickly.
  8 Their land is also full of ^aidols; they worship the work of their own hands, that which their own fingers have made. We worship all kinds of things: movie stars/singer, sports, homes, cars, electronics, fine clothes, etc and our phones!
  9 And the mean man ^aboweth ^bnot down, and the great man humbleth himself not, therefore, forgive him not. There is no repentance, so there can be no forgiveness. Pride is our downfall as a society. We have replaced gratitude to God with our self-sufficiency. We have forgotten the blessings of God and the blessings of His covenants given to our righteous ancestors that we benefit from.
  10 O ye wicked ones, enter into the rock, and ^ahide thee in the dust, Gileadi says "dust" is the final de-created state of the wicked for the fear of the Lord and the glory of his majesty shall smite thee. The wicked cannot endure the presence of the Lord. Just his glory will cause you to faint, let alone his judgment.
  11 And it shall come to pass that the ^alofty looks of man shall be humbled, and the haughtiness of men shall be bowed down, and the Lord alone shall be exalted in that day. Every knee shall bow. The Great and Spacious Building will fall. The righteous experience a reversal of circumstances.
  12 For the ^aday of the Lord of Hosts soon cometh upon all nations, yea, upon every one; yea, upon the ^bproud and lofty, and upon every one who is lifted up, and he shall be brought low. This judgment is not just on America. It's all nations.
  13 Yea, and the day of the Lord shall come upon all the ^acedars of Lebanon, for they are high and lifted up; and upon all the oaks of Bashan; 'ceders' and 'oaks' represent people
  14 And upon all the ^ahigh mountains, and upon all the hills,  'mountains' and 'hills' represent large and small nations and upon all the nations which are lifted up, and upon every people;
  15 And upon every ^ahigh tower, and upon every fenced wall; 'towers' and 'walls' represent human institutions
  16 And upon all the ships of the ^asea, and upon all the ships of Tarshish, and upon all pleasant pictures. 'ships' represent the shipping industry
  17 And the loftiness of man shall be bowed down, and the ^ahaughtiness of men shall be made low; and the Lord alone shall be exalted in ^bthat day. Clearly NONE shall be exempt. Christ alone will reign and all will acknowledge Him.
  18 And the idols he shall utterly abolish. Our idols are our wealth, the works of our hands, man and his institutions. People have become their own gods. They think their prosperity is their own doing.
  19 And they shall go into the holes of the rocks, and into the caves of the earth, for the fear of the Lord shall come upon them and the ^aglory of his majesty shall smite them, when he ariseth to shake terribly the earth.
  20 In that day a man shall cast his idols of silver, and his idols of gold, which he hath made for himself to worship, to the moles and to the bats; which he at first took with him into the caves and holes of the rocks.
  21 To go into the clefts of the rocks, and into the tops of the ragged rocks, for the fear of the Lord shall come upon them and the majesty of his glory shall smite them, when he ariseth to shake terribly the earth. Literal earthquakes?
  22 Cease ye from man, whose breath is in his nostrils; for wherein is he to be accounted of? The wicked may be told by Satan there is a way to hide or escape, but the very breath we breathe comes from our creator and we are in His hands. Gileadi says "the things of this world are but a shadow of God's world. Only the word of God endures forever. Preoccupation with what is of man robs a person of what is of God.

2 Nephi 11

(All of my own thoughts are in blue type. red 5/20 Green 2/21 Orange 4/22  Brown 2023

Chapter 11

Jacob saw his Redeemer—The law of Moses typifies Christ and proves He will come. About 559–545 B.C.

1 And now, ^aJacob spake many more things to my people at that time; nevertheless only these things have I caused to be ^bwritten, for the things which I have written sufficeth me. Nephi is still alive and keeping the record, but his younger brother Jacob is teaching the people. No older brother jealousy going on here...what has been written, though not all that Jacob said, is all that needs to be written. I'm thinking now, he's saying that he, Jacob, actually wrote it, but on Nephi's plates.
  2 And now I, Nephi, write ^amore of the words of ^bIsaiah, for my soul delighteth in his words. Too bad that we, as a church, don't seem to "delight" in the words of Isaiah. Even though Jesus commands us to study them and they were written in large part for our day, we don't give them any special treatment in Sunday School and find them too difficult to understand on our own. Avraham Gileadi is a great resource for feasting on the words of Isaiah. For I will liken his words unto my people, and I will send them forth unto all my children, He's not saying they were written for his people, but he found ways to "liken" them, so they could learn from them for he verily ^csaw my ^dRedeemer, even as I have seen him. I  love that Nephi so freely shares that he saw Jesus Christ. If our leaders have seen him (which we want to assume, if they are called to be a witness of Him), why do they not openly share that like Nephi did?
  3 And my brother, Jacob, also has ^aseen him as I have seen him; wherefore, I will send their words the words of Isaiah and the words of Jacob forth unto my children to prove unto them that my words are true. Wherefore, by the words of ^bthree, Isaiah, Jacob, Nephi God hath said, I will establish my word. Nevertheless, God sendeth more ^cwitnesses, and he proveth all his words. The law of witnesses is part of the Lord's program. He proves his word by more than one witness. 
  4 Behold, my soul delighteth in ^aproving unto my people the truth of the ^bcoming of Christ; for, for this end hath the ^claw of Moses been given; and all things which have been given of God from the beginning of the world, unto man, are the ^dtypifying of him. Look for Christ in EVERYTHING! 
  5 And also my soul delighteth in the ^acovenants of the Lord which he hath made to our fathers; His heart has been "turned to his fathers"! yea, my soul delighteth in his ^bgrace, and in his justice, and power, and mercy in the great and eternal plan of ^cdeliverance from death.
  6 And my soul delighteth in proving unto my people that ^asave Christ should come all men must perish. This knowledge is necessary to truly have a "broken heart/contrite spirit", which is necessary to be "born again".
  7 For if there be ^ano Christ there be no God; and if there be no God we are not, for there could have been no ^bcreation. But there is a God, and ^che is Christ, and he cometh in the fulness of his own time. Not just the 'fulness of time' but the 'fulness of HIS OWN time'. What do you think that means? What is the difference?
  8 And now I write ^asome of the words of Isaiah, that whoso of my people shall see these words may lift up their hearts and rejoice for all men. Now these are the words, and ye may liken them unto you and unto all men. I have been looking at the scriptures for certain proofs about Christ's coming as well. I also 'delight' in proving what I believe, in the hopes that others will believe and have hope and desire to turn their hearts fully to God.

2 Nephi 10

(All of my own thoughts are in blue type. 5/20 red  2/21 Orange 4/22 Brown 2023 

Chapter 10

Jacob explains that the Jews will crucify their God—They will be scattered until they begin to believe in Him—America will be a land of liberty where no king will rule—Seems like there are a few who would like to be king:(Does this apply to the anti-christ? Maybe he doesn't rule from America? Reconcile yourselves to God and gain salvation through His grace. Do you know how to "reconcile" yourself to God? About 559–545 B.C.

  1 And now I, Jacob, speak unto you again, my beloved brethren, concerning this righteous branch them? of which I have spoken.
  2 For behold, the promises which we have obtained are promises unto us according to the flesh; I believe this expression means "in this life" wherefore, as it has been shown unto me that many of our children shall perish in the flesh because of unbelief, this makes me really sad, for those who were brought up in ignorance. How different their lives would have been if they had been brought up in truth. Does the justice in this have anything to do with the pre-existence? When we read "whatever intelligence we obtain in this life, we will have so much the advantage in the next" have anything to do with the "intelligence" we obtained in the pre-existence and the "advantage" we have in this life? That's not to say that they are not eligible for all the Father hath. It is possible that the mercy of Christ will cover the disadvantage they had in this world. Perhaps they were valiant and sent to lesser conditions as a protection, through the Atonement? Or they could not have been given advantage here because of their works there....Hard to say. Good thing we don't have to make that judgment. The promises they obtained were important because he was shown many of his posterity do not live up to their privileges. The promise is they will not utterly be lost. And maybe if the day comes they are restored to the truth, they can save their ancestors who strayed. nevertheless, God will be merciful unto many; Is this because of the prayers and faithfulness of their fathers and the covenants God made with them? Or is it because it's not the children's fault they were brought up in ignorance? and our children shall be restored, This sounds like ALL of them will be restored! that they may come to that which will give them the true knowledge of their Redeemer. How do they come to this true knowledge? The Book of Mormon? The next life? Spirit Prison? The millennium? The End Time Servant? Visits from Christ? The Ten Tribes? Dreams? Visions? Powerful Preaching? Miracles? 
  3 Wherefore, as I said unto you, it must needs be expedient that Christ—for in the last night the angel spake unto me This makes it sound like the angel taught him more than one night Why doesn't this happen anymore? Notice he openly tells them an angel had visited him in the night. It wasn't kept a secret or considered too sacred to share. Is it a "half hour of silence" thing? that this should be his name Did he not know His name before last night? Or did the angel just make a point of saying it so he knew if for himself?—should come among the Jews, among those who are the more wicked part of the world; and they shall crucify him—for thus it behooveth our God, and there is none other nation on earth that would crucify their God. There is a bit of a quandary here...for it was necessary that Christ was crucified, so someone had to do it, yet they will be punished for centuries because of it. Lots of innocent children of a small group of people that chose an evil, but necessary act. If Satan really wanted to frustrate God's plan, he would have tempted no one so no one would have crucified Christ. He would not have tempted Eve to eat the forbidden fruit and no one would have been born. But then, there would be no power for him. No one to rule over. No glory. Maybe he knows God is more powerful and WILL accomplish the work of salvation, so he's just either taking all the spoils he can get, or he falsely believes he can choose out of the whole "system" and find another way to live through the eternities. 
  4 For should the mighty miracles be wrought among other nations they would repent, and know that he be their God. The Jews witnessed "mighty miracles" so they would repent and know that he is God. I am praying the unbelieving Gentiles will receive the same opportunity. I hope we, in the church, don't reject Him or his forerunner, like the Jews did.
  5 But because of priestcrafts and iniquities, money for control and sin that poisons the will they at Jerusalem will stiffen their necks so they can't 'turn' their face to the Lord against him, that he be crucified.
 6 Wherefore, because of their iniquities, Sin can be that which results from our fallen nature. Trespassing can be when we give in to temptation and do that which we know we shouldn't. Iniquity refers to a premeditated choice; to continue without repentance. destructions, famines, pestilences, and bloodshed shall come upon them; and they who shall not be destroyed shall be scattered among all nations. We should always ask if we are experiencing bad things if it is because of iniquity. What determines if we are destroyed or spared?
  7 But behold, thus saith the Lord God: When the day cometh It will come...that they shall believe in me, that I am Christ, then have I covenanted with their fathers that they shall be restored in the flesh, upon the earth, unto the lands of their inheritance. We talk of the Jews being restored to their homeland in 1968. But I don't think they were restored as "believing in Christ" Jews, so maybe the 'restoration' to their lands is still future.
  8 And it shall come to pass that they shall be gathered in from their long dispersion, from the isles of the sea, and from the four parts of the earth; and the nations of the Gentiles shall be great in the eyes of me, saith God, in carrying them forth to the lands of their inheritance. We must play a part in restoring them to their lands of inheritance. I think we've played a great role in that thus far. Just this last year, Pres. Trump moved the US Embassy to Jerusalem, to signify that we recognize it as the capital of Israel. Did we have a part in the 1968 returning?
  9 Yea, the kings of the Gentiles shall be nursing fathers unto them, and their queens shall become nursing mothers; wherefore, the promises of the Lord are great unto the Gentiles, for he hath spoken it, and who can dispute? This would seem to refer endowed members of the church. For no Gentile nation has kings and queens. What does it mean to be "nursing" mothers and fathers? Will we be teaching them how to participate in and administer the ordinances of God? We have been taught this in the Book of Mormon in 1 Nephi 21; 2 Nephi 6; each of them quoting Isaiah. It must be important that we see this as our mission in these latter days! And know what our "great promises" are!
  10 But behold, this land, said God, shall be a land of thine inheritance, and the Gentiles shall be blessed upon the land. "This land" must be the US, because it is the land where the Gentiles have been blessed and his seed were standing.
  11 And this land shall be a land of liberty unto the Gentiles, and there shall be no kings upon the land, who shall raise up unto the Gentiles.
  12 And I will fortify this land against all other nations. 
  13 And he that fighteth against Zion shall perish, saith God. This is why we are completely safe once the New Jerusalem is established. Is He calling the land "Zion" before the New Jerusalem? 
 14 For he that raiseth up a king against me shall perish, So I don't have to be afraid Obama will become king....for I, the Lord, the king of heaven, will be their king, and I will be a light unto them forever, that hear my words. Sounds like New Jerusalem Zion now...maybe this is when the "great promises" to the Gentiles are realized...
  15 Wherefore, for this cause, that my covenants may be fulfilled which I have made unto the children of men, that I will do unto them while they are in the flesh, this should be a cross reference to other verses that use the expression "in the flesh" as it clearly means this life!  I must needs destroy the secret works of darkness, and of murders, and of abominations. I am hoping hoping hoping that this is going to happen asap to usher in a 'season of spirituality' that Pres. Ballard referred to.The coming weeks will usher in a spiritual season with general conference, Palm Sunday and Easter, said President Ballard. “The Lord Jesus Christ loves us with a love beyond our ability to comprehend,” he said. “The kingdom of God will continue to roll forth.” Then he added, “Everything is going to be just fine as we turn our hearts to our Father in Heaven and look to Him and to the Savior as the Redeemer of all mankind.” It's 2023 and this hasn't happened yet. But I'm going to see a movie today called "Jesus Revolution" that shows the religious revival of the 70's. There are reports all over the country of revivals on college campuses. I know author James Prout believes it's coming and he leans a lot on a deceased visionary/preacher that says he saw it. 
  16 Wherefore, he that fighteth against Zion, both Jew and Gentile, both bond and free, both male and female, shall perish; for they are they who are the whore of all the earth; for they who are not for me are against me, saith our God. No middle ground here...
  17 For I will fulfil my promises which I have made unto the children of men, that I will do unto them while they are in the flesh— This expression "in the flesh" is used several times in this chapter. Footnote again to when Adam says "in the flesh I shall see God" - he means in this life, before he dies...
  18 Wherefore, my beloved brethren, thus saith our God: I will afflict thy seed by the hand of the Gentiles; nevertheless, I will soften the hearts of the Gentiles, that they shall be like unto a father to them; Has this happened? wherefore, the Gentiles shall be blessed and numbered among the house of Israel.
  19 Wherefore, I will consecrate this land unto thy seed, and them who shall be numbered among thy seed, the converted Gentiles forever, for the land of their inheritance; for it is a choice land, saith God unto me, above all other lands, is this because the Garden of Eden was here? wherefore I will have all men that dwell thereon that they shall worship me, saith God. Everyone who lives here is under this covenant. Eventually, no one will live here who does not worship God. There is no other way to share this "news" about this land to it's inhabitants than through the Book of Mormon. Seems like this would be a key message that missionaries share with those in the USA. 
  20 And now, my beloved brethren, seeing that our merciful God has given us so great knowledge concerning these things, let us remember him, and lay aside our sins, and not hang down our heads, for we are not cast off; nevertheless, we have been driven out of the land of our inheritance; but we have been led to a better land, for the Lord has made the sea our path, and we are upon an isle of the sea. Here is evidence that they considered America "the isle of the sea"
  21 But great are the promises of the Lord unto them who are upon the isles of the sea; wherefore as it says isles, there must needs be more than this, and they are inhabited also by our brethren. They must know that God has led others away and led them to other lands (isles)
  22 For behold, the Lord God has led away from time to time from the house of Israel, according to his will and pleasure. The people of Zarahemla are a testimony of this...And now behold, the Lord remembereth all them who have been broken off, wherefore he remembereth us also. Strong vineyard imagery here..broken off branches, transplanted to other parts of the vineyard...
  23Therefore, cheer up your hearts, and remember that ye are free to act for yourselves—to choose the way of everlasting death or the way of eternal life. Even though your posterity chooses wrong, you don't have to choose that today. We are each free to choose.

Our hearts.
The seat of our emotions.
Where we "feel".
A thought in your mind is just a thought.
If you "feel" something about that thought it has moved into your heart.
Only then will you act.
We never act without first thinking...
then feeling.
Where are the choice-points? 
First - between the thought and the feeling.
Second between the feeling and the action.
If we can become aware of our thoughts and sort them before we embrace them, we can spare ourselves a lot of negative feelings.
Truth from error.
Jesus Christ is Truth and our only sure guide in this process.
If a thought has wrongly passed into your heart and has produced a negative emotion, then you have another choice.
Recognize the feeling as one you don't want to keep or act on.
Kick it back into your head and re-think it.
What is truth?
When you find Truth, you will be free of that negative emotion.
You will feel something different.
Something better.
Now you can act. 
Now you can influence.
Choose you...this day...
To "cheer up your heart" and remember.
You are free to "act for yourself"
To choose misery
Or happiness.    

(Video: "Seattle "PikePlace Fish Co.")

24 Wherefore, my beloved brethren, reconcile yourselves to the will of God, and not to the will of the devil and the flesh; and remember, after ye are reconciled unto God, that it is only in and through the grace of God that ye are saved. "born again" language. Some definitions of "reconciled" are: to find a way in which two situations or beliefs that are opposed to each other can agree and exist together; If two people are reconciled, they become friendly again after having argued so seriously that they kept apart; To reconcile yourself to a situation is to accept it even if it is unpleasant or painful, because it cannot be changed; To reestablish a close relationship between; To settle or resolve; To bring (oneself) to accept. These definitions explain well what it means to be reconciled to God. The natural man is opposed to God's will and we must learn how to subdue the natural man so it can exist with the Spirit. We have all been sent out of God's presence and must become a "friend of Jesus" and reconcile with Him for the sins we have put Him through; The promises and decrees of God will all come to pass. We must reconcile ourselves to this truth, even if the changes we have to make feel unpleasant or painful. There is only One Way. It cannot be changed!
  25 Wherefore, may God raise you from death by the power of the resurrection, and also from everlasting death by the power of the atonement, that ye may be received into the eternal kingdom of God, that ye may praise him through grace divine. Amen.

2 Nephi 9

(All of my own thoughts are in blue type.5/20  red 2021 orange 4/22 Brown 2023)

CHAPTER 9

Jews shall be gathered in all their lands of promise so more than one land of promise?—Atonement ransoms man from the fall—The bodies of the dead shall come forth from the grave, and their spirits from hell and from paradise—They shall be judged—Atonement saves from death, hell, the devil, and endless torment—The righteous to be saved in the kingdom of God—Penalties for sins set forth—The Holy One of Israel is the keeper of the gate. Between 559 and 545 B.C.

  1 And now, my beloved brethren, I have read these things that ye might know concerning the ^acovenants of the Lord that he has covenanted with all the house of Israel— Why is it important that we know what covenants the Lord has made? Why is important that we do not doubt they will be fulfilled? Someone pointed out to me that Isaac and Jacob secured or renewed these covenants with God for themselves and didn't just rely on the promise made to Abraham. Are we supposed to do the same? 

 

"Elder Nelson Talks About Covenants" 

It is thought by some that Jacob read to his people from Isaiah during the annual Feast of the Tabernacle holiday, where it is common to renew covenants with God. This takes place in Sept/Oct. This last Sept the entire General Relief Society Meeting was about keeping our covenants and several talks in General Conference. Coincidence?
  2 That he has spoken unto the Jews, by the mouth of his holy prophets, even from the beginning down, from generation to generation, until the time comes that they shall be ^arestored to the true church and fold of God; when they shall be ^bgathered home to the ^clands of their inheritance, and shall be established in all their lands of promise. This is a prophecy and promise for our day. How has He spoken to the Jews, by holy prophets, through today? Does our prophet speaking "to the world" satisfy this statement?

  3 Behold, my beloved brethren, I speak unto you these things that ye may rejoice, and ^alift up your heads forever, as opposed to hanging them down in fear because of the blessings which the Lord God shall bestow upon your children. One commentary I read stated, "beyond the assurance of your own personal salvation, the greatest promise God can give the righteous is to bless their posterity." The covenant promises are to give us hope. Why was it important to Mormon, who saw our day, that we have these words to give us hope?  

Luke 21: 25-36 ¶^aAnd there shall be signs in the sun, and in the ^bmoon, and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring;

26 Men’s hearts ^afailing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth: for the powers of heaven shall be ^bshaken.

27 And then shall they see the Son of man coming in a ^acloud with power and great glory.

28 And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your ^aredemption draweth nigh.

29 And he spake to them a parable; Behold the ^afig tree, and all the trees;

30 When they now shoot forth, ye see and know of your own selves that summer is now nigh at hand.

31 So likewise ye, when ye see these things come to pass, know ye that the kingdom of God is nigh at hand.

32 Verily I say unto you, ^aThis generation shall not pass away, till all be fulfilled. the generation that sees these things just stated...

33 Heaven and earth shall pass away: but my words shall not pass away.

34 ¶And take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with ^asurfeiting, and drunkenness, and ^bcares of this life, and so that ^cday come upon you ^dunawares.

35 For as a ^asnare shall it come on all them that dwell on the face of the whole earth. A snare is a trap that is not seen that we walk right in to

36 ^aWatch ye therefore, and ^bpray always, ^cthat ye may be accounted ^dworthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the ^eSon of man.

(video: "Men's Hearts Shall Fail Them")

  4 For I know that ye have searched much, many of you, to know of things to come Here we see, that the mysteries and knowledge of God are available to all those that "search much" for them; that it is okay to want to know of things to come - in fact, these very scriptures were written for our day, that we might know of things to come if we would search these pages. They are a pre-telling of our very own history and future! Pres Hinckley said, "the Book of Mormon is as current as the morning newspaper".  And so it is! wherefore I know that ye know that our ^aflesh must waste away and die; nevertheless, in our ^bbodies we shall see God. since the phrase "in our bodies we shall see God" follows the phrase -"our flesh must waste away and die", it seems that the time when all men shall see God "in their bodies" is after the resurrection. Jacob affirms the doctrine that all mankind will be resurrected with perfect bodies. Yet he continues with the mortal body...so maybe not. Could be talking about seeing God in our earthly days...

  5 Yea, I know that ye know that in the body he shall show himself unto those at Jerusalem, from whence we came; It is important that the people do not forget that they are of the House of Israel and are tied to the covenants God made with Abraham for it is expedient that it should be among them; for it behooveth the great ^aCreator that he ^bsuffereth himself this affirms that Jesus Christ is the creator of this earth to become ^csubject unto man in the flesh, and ^ddie for ^eall men, that all men might become subject unto him. This is a beautiful phrase...one of many in the scriptures, that show God's thoughts and ways are not man's. We lose our life to find it; To be chief among (wo)men, we must be the servant of all; We are strongest when we are weak; the way "up" to God is by falling "down" on our knees.  (See "Falling To Heaven:Suprpising Path to Happiness" by James Farrell)  The way we allow ourselves to become subject to Christ is by accepting that He allowed Himself to become subject to man. Through that subjecting, the atonement was wrought and He purchased all mankind with His blood. Now, we are subject to Him for our eternal salvation. If we reject that atonement, then we can pay the price of our sins for ourselves - D&C 19:15 Therefore I command you to repent—repent, lest I smite you by the rod of my mouth, and by my wrath, and by my anger, and your sufferings be sore—how sore you know not, how exquisite you know not, yea, how hard to bear you know not."

16 For behold, I, God, have suffered these things for all, that they might not suffer if they would repent;

17 But if they would not repent they must suffer even as I;

18 Which suffering caused myself, even God, the greatest of all, to tremble because of pain, and to bleed at every pore, and to suffer both body and spirit—and would that I might not drink the bitter cup, and shrink—

(Video: "Addiction: You Will Be Freed")

The doctrine of the creation, the fall, the atonement, the resurrection - our Father's great Plan of Happiness - answers all questions of who am I, why am I here, and where am I going. (My Dad just published a book on this very topic. see: https://www.lulu.com/shop/travis-glenn-haws/who-and-what-am-i-why-am-i-here-on-this-earth/paperback/product-21447976.html?page=1&pageSize=4)We were created by a Loving Heavenly Father; His literal spirit children. He created this earth for us. We are born into a mortal world, subject to temptation, to see if we will choose to follow the Spirit's promptings back into the presence of the Father. The Atonement allows us to repent when we choose wrong and provides the way back into the Father's presence. For more on this I invite you to read this blog (unblogmysoul.wordpress.com) online or as found in the book Journey to the Veil.

 6 For as ^adeath hath passed upon all men, to fulfil the merciful ^bplan of the great Creator, God's plan is MERCIFUL...don't forget that. However...to get mercy, you must give it. Don't forget that either! there must needs be a power of ^cresurrection, and the resurrection must needs come unto man by reason of the ^dfall; and the fall came by reason of ^etransgression; It is important to understand that Adam and Eve transgressed by breaking the law. They did not sin, however, because they were not partaking out of willful rebellion. There is a difference. Adam and Eve had to be given a choice. He was commanded to multiply (first) and not eat of the tree (second). If he kept the second he could not keep the first and visa versa. If there was a sin committed, it was that they trusted Satan more than God and in their own reason. and because man became fallen they were ^fcut off from the ^gpresence of the Lord. Eve looked "outside" of God for answers. We transgress when we do the same. Keep your eye on the Lord. HE is and has all the answers you need!

  7 Wherefore, it must needs be an ^ainfinite ^batonement—"infinite" could mean that Christ was an "infinite" being; and also that it is "infinite" in who it covers It also could mean that the effects of the atonement are infinite and last forever save it should be an infinite atonement this corruption could not put on incorruption. Wherefore, the ^cfirst judgment which came upon man must needs have ^dremained to an endless duration. And if so, this flesh must have laid down to rot and to crumble to its mother earth, to rise no more.

  8 O the ^awisdom of God, his ^bmercy and ^cgrace! He offers us this gift of life beyond death out of his mercy and loving grace. Not because we "earn" it or are entitled to it. For behold, if the ^dflesh should rise no more our spirits must become subject to that angel who ^efell from before the presence of the Eternal God, and became the ^fdevil, to rise no more.

  9 And our spirits must have become ^alike unto him, and we become devils, ^bangels to a ^cdevil, to be ^dshut out from the presence of our God, and to remain with the father of ^elies, in misery, like unto himself; yea, to that being who ^fbeguiled our first parents, who ^gtransformeth himself nigh unto an ^hangel of light, I wish we had more examples of this. There is one instance where Joseph Smith experienced this. D&C 120:20 And again, what do we hear? Glad tidings from Cumorah! Moroni, an angel from heaven, declaring the fulfilment of the prophets—the book to be revealed. A voice of the Lord in the wilderness of Fayette, Seneca county, declaring the three witnesses to bear record of the book! The voice of Michael on the banks of the Susquehanna, detecting the devil when he appeared as an angel of light! The Prophet Joseph Smith taught: “An angel of God never has wings. Some will say that they have seen a spirit; that he offered them his hand, but they did not touch it. This is a lie. First, it is contrary to the plan of God: a spirit cannot come but in glory; an angel has flesh and bones; we see not their glory. The devil may appear as an angel of light. Ask God to reveal it; if it be of the devil, he will flee from you; if of God, He will manifest Himself, or make it manifest. We may come to Jesus and ask Him; He will know all about it.” (History of the Church, 3:392.) President Charles W. Penrose explained, Satan attempts to deceive by counterfeiting the light that accompanies the spirit of a just man made perfect. A just man made perfect who comes as a messenger will appear in his glory, “for that is the only way he can appear” (D&C 129:6). The Prophet Joseph Smith once said, “Wicked spirits have their bounds, limits and laws, by which they are governed … and, it is very evident that they possess a power that none but those who have the priesthood can control” (History of the Church, 4:576). The Prophet taught that when the devil is offered a hand to shake, “he will offer you his hand” (D&C 129:8). The mortal will feel nothing, because the devil is an unembodied spirit. He can therefore be distinguished in this manner from a righteous spirit or angel sent from God. The just man will not attempt to deceive (see D&C 129:7); an angel of Satan will not refrain from trying to deceive. and ⁱstirreth up the children of men unto ^jsecret combinations of murder and all manner of secret works of darkness. We don’t even begin to know how bad this is...and if you think you do have an idea of how bad this is you are quickly labeled a "conspiracy theorist/nut"...but you're not.

  10 O how great the ^agoodness of our God, who prepareth a way for our ^bescape from the grasp of this awful monster; yea, that monster, ^cdeath and ^dhell, which I call the death of the body, and also the death of the spirit.

  11 And because of the way of ^adeliverance resurrection of our God, the Holy One of Israel, this ^bdeath, of which I have spoken, which is the temporal, shall deliver up its dead; which death is the grave.

  12 And this ^adeath of which I have spoken, which is the spiritual death, shall deliver up its dead; which spiritual death is ^bhell; wherefore, death and hell must ^cdeliver up their dead, and hell must deliver up its ^dcaptive ^espirits, and the grave must deliver up its captive ^fbodies, and the bodies and the ^gspirits of men will be ^hrestored one to the other; and it is by the power of the resurrection of the Holy One of Israel.

  13 O how great the ^aplan of our God! For on the other hand, the ^bparadise of God must deliver up the spirits of the righteous, and the grave deliver up the body of the righteous; and the spirit and the body is ^crestored to itself again, and all men become incorruptible, and ^dimmortal, and they are living souls, having a ^eperfect ^fknowledge like unto us in the flesh, save it be that our knowledge shall be perfect.

  14 Wherefore, we shall have a ^aperfect ^bknowledge of all our ^cguilt, and our ^duncleanness, and our ^enakedness; and the righteous shall have a perfect knowledge of their enjoyment, and their ^frighteousness, being ^gclothed with ^hpurity, yea, even with the ⁱrobe of righteousness. This is why our judgement will be so much self-imposed…

  15 And it shall come to pass that when all men shall have passed from this first death unto life, insomuch as they have become immortal, they must appear before the ^ajudgment-seat of the Holy One of Israel; and then cometh the ^bjudgment, and then must they be judged according to the holy judgment of God.

  16 And assuredly, as the Lord liveth, for the Lord God hath spoken it, and it is his eternal ^aword, which cannot ^bpass away, that they who are righteous shall be righteous still, and they who are ^cfilthy shall be ^dfilthy still; wherefore, they who are filthy are the ^edevil and his angels; and they shall go away into ^feverlasting fire, prepared for them; and their ^gtorment is as a ^hlake of fire and brimstone, whose flame ascendeth up forever and ever and has no end.

  17 O the greatness and the ^ajustice of our God! For he executeth all his words, and they have gone forth out of his mouth, and his law must be ^bfulfilled.

  18 But, behold, the ^arighteous, the ^bsaints of the Holy One of Israel, they who have believed in the Holy One of Israel, they who have endured the ^ccrosses of the world, and despised the shame of it, they shall ^dinherit the ^ekingdom of God, which was prepared for them ^ffrom the foundation of the world, and their ^gjoy shall be full ^hforever. These are YOUR promises! But be prepared to endure the "cross of the world" and to be despised and shamed.  

  19 O the greatness of the mercy of our God, the Holy One of Israel! For he ^adelivereth his saints from that ^bawful monster the devil, and death, and ^chell, and that lake of fire and brimstone, which is endless torment.

  20 O how great the ^aholiness of our God! For he ^bknoweth ^call things, and there is not anything save he knows it. Realize this when you pray…

  21 And he cometh into the world that he may ^asave all men if they will hearken unto his voice; which begins as the light of Christ (conscience) and is added upon by the Gift of the Holy Ghost for behold, he suffereth the pains of all men, yea, the ^bpains of every living creature, both men, women, and children, who belong to the family of ^cAdam. (even though many will not benefit from His atonement because they will not accept Him)

  22 And he suffereth this that the resurrection might pass upon all men, that all might stand before him at the great and judgment day. He gifts resurrection to ALL who have lived on the earth, even if they reject him.

  23 And he commandeth all men that they must ^arepent, and be ^bbaptized in his name, having perfect ^cfaith in the Holy One of Israel, or they cannot be saved in the kingdom of God. You cannot doubt Christ…

  24 And if they will not repent and believe in his ^aname, and be baptized in his name, and ^bendure to the end, This is the gospel… they must be ^cdamned; for the Lord God, the Holy One of Israel, has spoken it.

  25 Wherefore, he has given a ^alaw; and where there is ^bno ^claw given there is no ^dpunishment; and where there is no punishment there is no condemnation; and where there is no condemnation the mercies of the Holy One of Israel have claim upon them, because of the atonement; for they are delivered by the power of him.

  26 For the ^aatonement satisfieth the demands of his ^bjustice upon all those who ^chave not the ^dlaw given to them, that they are ^edelivered from that awful monster, death and ^fhell, and the devil, and the lake of fire and brimstone, which is endless torment; and they are restored to that God who gave them ^gbreath, which is the Holy One of Israel.

  27 But wo unto him that has the ^alaw given, yea, that has all the commandments of God, like unto us, and that ^btransgresseth them, and that ^cwasteth the days of his ^dprobation, don’t let this be you… for awful is his state! Distraction leads to wasted days...entertainment, social media, travel, hobbies, fashion, wealth creation....

  28 O that cunning ^aplan of the evil one! O the ^bvainness, and the frailties, and the ^cfoolishness of men! When they are ^dlearned they think they are ^ewise, and they ^fhearken not unto the ^gcounsel of God, for they set it aside, supposing they know of themselves, wherefore, their ^hwisdom is foolishness and it profiteth them not. And they shall perish. This is very specific counsel and promise to us in the last days…

  29 But to be ^alearned is good if they ^bhearken unto the ^ccounsels of God.

  30 But wo unto the ^arich, who are ^brich as to the things of the ^cworld. For because they are rich they despise the ^dpoor, and they persecute the meek, and their ^ehearts are upon their treasures; wherefore, their ^ftreasure is their god. And behold, their ^gtreasure shall perish with them also.

  31 And wo unto the deaf that will not ^ahear; for they shall perish.

  32 Wo unto the ^ablind that will not see; for they shall perish also. Notice these two groups "will not" hear and see, implying they've had the opportunity to hear and see, but choose not to.

  33 Wo unto the ^auncircumcised of heart, for a knowledge of their iniquities shall smite them at the last day.

  34 Wo unto the ^aliar, for he shall be thrust down to ^bhell.

  35 Wo unto the ^amurderer who deliberately ^bkilleth, for he shall ^cdie.

  36 Wo unto them who commit ^awhoredoms, for they shall be thrust down to hell.

  37 Yea, wo unto those that ^aworship idols, for the devil of all devils delighteth in them.

  38 And, in fine, wo unto all those who die in their ^asins; for they shall ^breturn to God, and behold his face, and remain in their sins. Everyone is taken home to God after they die, and then go to spirit prison or spirit paradise.

  39 O, my beloved brethren, remember the awfulness in ^atransgressing against that Holy God, and also the awfulness of yielding to the enticings of that ^bcunning one. Remember, to be ^ccarnally-minded is ^ddeath, and to be ^espiritually-minded is ^flife ^geternal.

  40 O, my beloved brethren, give ear to my words. Remember the greatness of the Holy One of Israel. Do not say that I have spoken hard things against you; for if ye do, ye will ^arevile against the ^btruth; for I have spoken the words of your Maker. I know that the words of truth are ^chard against all ^duncleanness; but the ^erighteous fear them not, for they love the truth and are not shaken. This, right here, is why we should help each other in our wards and families to live truth. When we are corrected, we will not take the truth to be hard, but love the truth and are not shaken by being corrected, but humbly turn and repent with gratitude.

  41 O then, my beloved brethren, ^acome unto the Lord, the Holy One. Remember that his paths are righteous. Behold, the ^bway for man is ^cnarrow, but it lieth in a straight course before him, and the keeper of the ^dgate is the Holy One of Israel; and he employeth no servant there; We do not enter the gate from with the help of a mortal man. Only Jesus can let us enter. I believe the covenant path starts with the Baptism by Fire and the Holy Ghost; when we truly receive a remission of our sins. Before that, baptism by water is our witness that we are willing to enter the Gate, and our receiving the Holy Ghost is our witness we are willing to receive it and there is none other way save it be by the gate; for he cannot be deceived, for the Lord God is his name. A mortal Bishop can be deceived and someone unworthy can enter the waters of baptism or the temple. But Jesus is never deceived, and He opens the gate when He knows we are truly ready and willing and sufficiently humble and obedient.

  42 And whoso ^aknocketh, to him will he open; and the ^bwise, and the learned, and they that are rich, who are puffed up because of their ^clearning, and their ^dwisdom, and their riches—yea, they are they whom he despiseth; and save they shall cast these things away, and consider themselves ^efools think of the foolish virgins before God, and come down in the depths of ^fhumility, he will not open unto them.

  43 But the things of the wise and the ^aprudent shall be ^bhid from them forever—yea, that happiness which is prepared for the saints.

  44 O, my beloved brethren, remember my words. Behold, I take off my garments, and I shake them before you what is the meaning of this ritual…; I pray the God of my salvation that he view me with his ^aall-searching eye; wherefore, ye shall know at the last day, when all men shall be judged of their works, that the God of Israel did witness that I ^bshook your iniquities from my soul, and that I stand with brightness before him, and am ^crid of your blood.

  45 O, my beloved brethren, turn away from your sins; shake off the ^achains of him that would bind you fast; come unto that God who is the ^brock of your salvation.

  46 Prepare your souls for that glorious day when ^ajustice shall be administered unto the righteous, even the day of ^bjudgment, that ye may not shrink with awful fear; that ye may not remember your awful ^cguilt in perfectness, and be constrained to exclaim: Holy, holy are thy judgments, O Lord God ^dAlmighty—but I know my guilt; I transgressed thy law, and my transgressions are mine; and the devil hath ^eobtained me, that I am a prey to his awful misery.

  47 But behold, my brethren, is it expedient that I should awake you to an awful reality of these things? Would I harrow up your souls if your minds were pure? Would I be plain unto you according to the plainness of the truth if ye were freed from sin?

  48 Behold, if ye were holy I would speak unto you of holiness; but as ye are not holy, and ye look upon me as a ^ateacher, it must needs be expedient that I ^bteach you the consequences of sin. We need more of this kind of teaching today.

  49 Behold, my soul abhorreth sin, and my heart ^adelighteth in righteousness; and I will ^bpraise the holy name of my God.

  50 Come, my brethren, every one that ^athirsteth, come ye to the ^bwaters; and he that hath no ^cmoney, come buy and eat; yea, come buy wine and milk without money and without price. Is this world of "you can buy anything...with money", God offers all we need for free! Happiness is free!

  51 Wherefore, do not spend money for that which is of no worth, nor your ^alabor for that which cannot ^bsatisfy. Put this on your mirror… Hearken diligently unto me, and remember the words which I have spoken; and come unto the Holy One of Israel, and ^cfeast upon that which perisheth scriptures not, neither can be corrupted, and let your soul delight in fatness.

  52 Behold, my beloved brethren, remember the words of your God; pray unto him continually by day, and give ^athanks unto his holy name by night. Let your hearts ^brejoice. Put this on your mirror too…Remember, pray, gratitude, rejoice

  53 And behold how great the ^acovenants of the Lord, and how great his ^bcondescensions unto the children of men; and because of his greatness, and his ^cgrace and ^dmercy, he has promised unto us that our seed shall not utterly be destroyed, according to the flesh, but that he would ^epreserve them; and in future generations they shall become a righteous ^fbranch unto the house of Israel. Look for this!

  54 And now, my brethren, I would speak unto you more; but on the morrow I will declare unto you the remainder of my words. Amen. We need a direct General Conference talk like this chapter. Lay it out plain and straight, regardless of the risk!