Moroni 6

(My highlights in orange, my thoughts in blue 12/2020 red type 11/20 orange 8/21 Brown 2022 -23.)

Repentant persons are baptized and fellowshipped—Church members who repent are forgiven—Meetings are conducted by the power of the Holy Ghost. About A.D. 401–21.

  1 And now I speak concerning baptism. Behold, elders, priests, and teachers were baptized; and they were not baptized save they brought forth ^afruit meet that they were ^bworthy of it. What did that look like? For sure you can’t “say” one thing and then “do” another....
  2 Neither did they receive any unto baptism save they came forth with a ^abroken ^bheart and a contrite spirit, and witnessed unto the church that they truly repented of all their sins. If a broken heart and contrite spirit were required fruits for baptism and true repentance, then it seems it would be the same required fruit to partake of the sacrament each week. I think we are taught that is what we bring to the altar (sacrament table) instead of a sacrificial lamb. “Broken” heart means humble and “Contrite” heart means honest and sincere (I think) I feel like I need to do better at preparing to take the Sacrament by spending some time, repenting. Now... truly, I should be repenting immediately after I sin and not wait until Saturday night. But I should inventory my heart and my life on Saturday and see if anything is left undone, so I can approach the Sacrament with a truly broken heart and contrite spirit.
  3 And none were received unto baptism save they ^atook upon them the name of Christ, having a determination to serve him to the end. This gives reference to the the Doctrine of Christ, that ends with "enduring to the end". When we take upon ourselves the name of Christ, we dedicate our lives to participating in the work of saving souls - the first one being our own, then like Enos, our family, then everyone else - enemies included. It takes determination to serve Christ all the days of our lives! This taking the name of Christ does not seem to be forward looking but present tense. They "took" upon them His name.
  4 And after they had been received unto baptism, and were wrought upon and ^acleansed Purified by the power of the Holy Ghost, they were numbered among the people of the ^bchurch of Christ; and their ^cnames were taken, that they might be remembered and nourished by the good word of God, This is what we do at church and with ministering It sounds like they received the baptism by fire and the Holy Ghost at their water baptism. Maybe not...it just says "after"...could be some time after, but it doesn't sound that way. Why does it not seem like that is something we could record happening today. Is it because so many of us are baptized at 8 and are not needing to be cleansed/purified yet? 
to keep them in the right way, this is the purpose of church and ministering This part has been completely lost on us today. It is so offensive for people to try to “keep others in the right way”. But it should be a communal spirit of “you help me stay on the path and I’ll help you”. But today everyone feels so “judged” that they don’t want anyone to tell them they are not in the right way. 
to keep them continually ^dwatchful unto prayer, What are we watching for? Prayer is key to everything! Today, I tried to influence the 2 girls I am tending to choose the right by saying a prayer outloud in front of them instead of correcting them. It worked most profoundly for the 8 year old:) “watching” seems to be a bit lost on us too. Any “watching” for secret combinations has failed even though they are blatantly taking over our world! And when you “see these things” it will turn you to your knees for Christ is the only solution to the evils around us. 
^erelying alone upon the merits of Christ, What do I rely on? This says I am to rely 'alone' upon Christ. What are the "merits" of Christ? Maybe this means His perfection and power alone to save?
who was the author and the finisher of their faith.He finishes our faith when we come into his presence - second comforter at which point we have knowledge
5 And the ^achurch did meet together ^boft, to ^cfast and to pray, and to speak one with another concerning the welfare of their souls. I love this. It's important to meet regularly. Important to fast. Important to pray. Important to speak with each other about the welfare of our souls. Gives new meaning to the greeting "how 'ya doing"? I would love this deeper conversation! Right now, with all that is going on in the church and the world with the "pandemic" it feels like the welfare of our souls is more and more at stake, but we don't talk about it at all because it has to do with questioning the "advice" of our prophet and it "feels" apostate to not follow him and to question. Both sides feel like the welfare of the soul is at stake but we don't know how to discuss without contention for some reason...
  6 And they did ^ameet together oft to partake of bread and wine, in ^bremembrance of the Lord Jesus. It is not enough to worship God. We must do it together and partake of the sacrament by those authorized to administer it to us. We do it every 7 days to witness that we have remembered Jesus the other six. Because I don't want to wear a mask to church, I didn't attend with others "in person" for a year and partook of the sacrament at home. It was too hard to go and feel like I'd be a distraction and a stumbling block for others (like a deacon passing the sacrament with wild green hair...) and to be honest, they would be a stumbling block for me as I would have a hard time not focusing on my sadness as to where we are as a church that no one questions, with faith, what is going on.
  7 And they were strict to observe that there should be ^ano iniquity among them; and whoso was found to commit iniquity, and ^bthree witnesses of the church did condemn them before the ^celders, and if they repented not, and ^dconfessed not, their names were ^eblotted out, and they were not ^fnumbered among the people of Christ. This sounds like it isn't just daily sins that were brought to the attention of the elders, but the kind that would warrant excommunication. The kind that is rebellious or false and could take others with them. (Although the footnote says, no lying, hardness, backbiting, or evil speaking. That sounds like the more common sins, not worthy of x. Maybe Moroni is saying we should be more willing to be watchful of one another and more strict to observe that we all stay in the path of righteousness....) Not gonna fly in our day. Too much political correctness about not judging others....
 8 But ^aas oft as they repented and sought forgiveness, with real ^bintent, they were ^cforgiven. This is key to a Zion society. We will not be perfect, but we should sorrow when we give in to temptation and repent quickly. Because we all do it, we should forgive quickly too.
 9 And their meetings were ^aconducted by the church after the manner of the workings of the Spirit, and by the ^bpower of the Holy Ghost; for as the power of the Holy Ghost led them whether to preach, or to exhort, or to pray, or to supplicate, or to sing, even so it was done. Even though the holders of the priesthood conduct meetings, they should remember they hold the keys to all spiritual blessings. Everything is to be done by the Spirit and for the spiritual blessings of others. It is never about organizational procedures (though necessary to bring order), or customs, or power, or authority. Everything is done to preach, correct, pray, supplicate (ask of others?), or sing. And again...the "Key" is that it is done by the power of the Holy Ghost. Without that we are just "another church"...

Mosiah 21

(All of my own thoughts are in red type 6/20 Green 3/21 Orange 6/22 Brown 6/23.)

Chapter 21

Limhi’s people are smitten and defeated by the Lamanites—Limhi’s people meet Ammon and are converted—They tell Ammon of the twenty-four Jaredite plates. About 122–121 B.C.

  1 And it came to pass that Limhi and his people returned to the city of Nephi, and began to dwell in the land again in peace.
  2 And it came to pass that after many days the Lamanites began again to be stirred up in anger against the Nephites, There's always a few that Satan picks to keep this going and they began to come into the borders of the land round about.
  3 Now they durst not slay them, because of the ^aoath which their king had made unto Limhi; but they would smite them on their ^bcheeks, and exercise authority over them; and began to put heavy ^cburdens upon their backs, and drive them as they would a dumb ass—Technical obedience, but not without guile.
  4 Yea, all this was done that the ^aword of the Lord might be ^bfulfilled. NEON LIGHTS MESSAGE OF THE BOOK OF MORMON!  I think this goes back to Abinadi's prophecy concerning them if they didn't repent.
  5 And now the afflictions of the Nephites were great, and there was no way that they could deliver themselves out of their hands, for the Lamanites had ^asurrounded them on every side.
  6 And it came to pass that the people began to murmur with the king because of their afflictions; and they began to be desirous to go against them to battle. And they did afflict the king sorely with their complaints; therefore he granted unto them that they should do according to their desires. This is a type of the story in the NT where if you 'weary' the king with your complaints, he lets you have your way. God does that too. So....we better be asking for righteous things!
  7 And they gathered themselves together again, and put on their armor, and went forth against the Lamanites to drive them out of their land.
  8 And it came to pass that the Lamanites did beat them, and drove them back, and ^aslew many of them.
  9 And now there was a great ^amourning and lamentation among the people of Limhi, the widow mourning for her husband, the son and the daughter mourning for their father, and the brothers for their brethren.
 10 Now there were a great many ^awidows in the land, and they did cry mightily from day to day, for a great fear of the Lamanites had come upon them.
 11 And it came to pass that their continual cries did stir up the remainder of the people of Limhi to anger against the Lamanites; and they went again to battle, but they were driven back again, suffering much loss. Is this a message about the power and influence of women? If these women had preached repentance instead of feeling sorry for themselves they would have lost fewer people and repented sooner.
 12 Yea, they went again even the third time, and suffered in the like manner; and those that were not slain returned again to the city of Nephi.
 13 And they did humble themselves even to the dust, subjecting themselves to the ^ayoke of bondage, ^bsubmitting themselves to be smitten, and to be driven to and fro, and burdened, according to the desires of their enemies.
 14 And they did ^ahumble themselves even in the depths of humility; and they did cry mightily to God; yea, even all the day long did they cry unto their God that he would ^bdeliver them out of their afflictions.
 15 And now the Lord was ^aslow to hear their cry because of their iniquities; nevertheless the Lord did hear their ^bcries, and began to soften the hearts of the Lamanites that they began to ease their burdens; yet the Lord did not see fit to deliver them out of bondage. I think the Lord has been slow to hear our cries for the end to this pandemic because we first only complained about our burdens. It won't be until we humble ourselves in the depths of humility that he will hear us. He will deliver us when "He sees fit". Here we are 9 months later. Has our “bondage” delivered anything righteous to us? Do we even pray for the pandemic to be over? How do you pray for a false pandemic to end? You have to pray something different. That evil will be exposed...that people will “awaken” to their awful situation...that you’ll be led to those who are ready to “let God prevail” in their lives. It's now been 2 1/2 years. Covid is still "a thing". They just approved vaccines for infants and are pushing them even though we aren't in any kind of "emergency" and covid isn't deadly or dangerous for infants, but the vax is!  Biden warned that a 2nd pandemic is coming. New York just started given vaccines for MonkeyPox, which is just a shingles reaction to the vaccinated..sigh.
 16 And it came to pass that they began to prosper by degrees in the land, and began to raise grain more abundantly, and flocks, and herds, that they did not suffer with hunger. This is the human need that usually drives us to our knees so it makes sense it is the first need satisfied.  The “prosper by degrees” wording sounds like a “line upon line” concept. God gave them enough of a blessing to notice it, but not so much that they would stop calling upon Him. 
 17 Now there was a great number of women, more than there was of men; therefore king Limhi commanded that every man should ^aimpart to the support of the ^bwidows and their children, that they might not perish with hunger; and this they did because of the greatness of their number that had been slain. Enforced charity
 18 Now the people of Limhi kept together in a body as much as it was possible, strength in numbers and secured their grain and their flocks; Why did they have to secure it? Half of it went to the Lamanites anyways...you would think the Lamanites would want them to do well.
 19 And the king himself did not trust his person without the walls of the city, unless he took his guards with him, fearing that he might by some means fall into the hands of the Lamanites.
 20 And he caused that his people should watch the land round about, that by some means they might take those priests that fled into the wilderness, who had stolen the ^adaughters of the Lamanites, and that had caused such a great destruction to come upon them.
 21 For they were desirous to take them that they might ^apunish them; for they had come into the land of Nephi by night, and carried off their grain and many of their precious things; therefore they laid wait for them. The priests were so bold. Ah...so this is why they had to secure their fields and flocks...
 22 And it came to pass that there was no more disturbance between the Lamanites and the people of Limhi, even until the time that ^aAmmon and his brethren came into the land.
 23 And the king having been without the gates of the city with his guard, ^adiscovered Ammon and his brethren; and supposing them to be priests of Noah therefore he caused that they should be taken, and bound, and cast into ^bprison. And had they been the priests of Noah he would have caused that they should be put to death.
 24 But when he found that they were not, but that they were his brethren, and had come from the ^aland of Zarahemla, he was filled with exceedingly great joy.
 25 Now king Limhi had sent, previous to the coming of Ammon, a ^asmall number of men to ^bsearch for the land of Zarahemla; but they could not find it, and they were lost in the wilderness.
 26 Nevertheless, they did find a land which had been peopled; yea, a land which was covered with dry ^abones; yea, a land which had been peopled and which had been destroyed; and they, having supposed it to be the land of Zarahemla, returned to the land of Nephi, having arrived in the borders of the land not many days before the ^bcoming of Ammon .I didn't realize this happened so close to Ammon coming
 27 And they brought a ^arecord with them, even a record of the people whose bones they had found; and it was engraven on plates of ore.
 28 And now Limhi was again filled with joy on learning from the mouth of Ammon that king Mosiah had a ^agift from God, whereby he could ^binterpret such engravings; yea, and Ammon also did rejoice.
 29 Yet Ammon and his brethren were filled with sorrow because so many of their brethren had been ^aslain;
 30 And also that king Noah and his priests had caused the people to commit so many sins and iniquities against God; and they also did mourn for the ^adeath of Abinadi; and also for the ^bdeparture of Alma and the people that went with him, who had formed a church of God through the strength and power of God, and faith on the words which had been spoken by Abinadi.
 31 Yea, they did mourn for their departure, for they knew not whither they had fled. Now they would have gladly joined with them, for they themselves had entered into a ^acovenant with God to serve him and keep his commandments. when?  I think this is still referencing Ammon and his brethren...
 32 And now since the coming of Ammon, king Limhi had also entered into a covenant with God, and also many of his people, to serve him and keep his commandments. And yet they still had to suffer the consequences of their earlier sins...will that happen to us as well?
 33 And it came to pass that king Limhi and many of his people were desirous to be baptized; but there was none in the land that had ^aauthority from God. And Ammon declined doing this thing, considering himself an unworthy servant. As in 'not authorized' or as in 'not clean'?
 34 Therefore they did not at that time form themselves into a ^achurch, waiting upon the Spirit of the Lord. Now they were desirous to become even as Alma and his brethren, who had fled into the wilderness. I am impressed that they honored the concept of “authority” even more than the personal witness and covenant. Notice they still made the covenant and lived the commandments, but knew baptism was necessary. Was this from the teachings in the bible? Prophecy? Teachings from their fathers? 
 35 They were desirous to be baptized as a witness and a testimony that they were willing to serve God with all their hearts; nevertheless they did prolong the time; and an account of their baptism shall be ^agiven hereafter.
 36 And now all the study of Ammon and ^ahis people, and king Limhi and his people, was to deliver themselves out of the hands of the Lamanites and from ^bbondage.