Thursday, December 16, 2021

                                   To Answer the Ends of the Law
                                                       2 NEPHI 2:4-8
2 Nephi 2:4
And thou hast beheld in thy youth his glory; wherefore, thou art blessed even as they unto whom he shall minister in the flesh; for the Spirit is the same, yesterday, today, and forever. And the way is prepared from the fall of man, and salvation is free.
God is the same. His laws don't change, His blessings and punishments don't change. We can look to the people in the Old Testament to see how punishments to the laws were fulfilled before Christ came and fulfilled the law. He is the reason we don't still stone adulterers and murderers.

2 Nephi 2:5
And men are instructed sufficiently that they know good from evil. And the law is given unto men. And by the law no flesh is justified; or, by the law men are cut off. Yea, by the temporal law they were cut off; and also, by the spiritual law they perish from that which is good, and become miserable forever.

There is a lot of information in this scripture alone. 
1. We are instructed sufficiently that we know good from evil. 
2. We know good from evil.  We all have the Spirit of Christ, that we may to know good from evil. Moroni 7:16:
For behold, the Spirit of Christ is given to every man, that he may know good from evil; wherefore,  I show unto you the way to judge; for every thing which inviteth to do good, and to persuade to believe in Christ, is sent forth by the power and gift of Christ; wherefore ye may know with a perfect knowledge it is of God.

3. By the law no flesh is justified; or by the law men are cut off. 
We are held accountable for the things we do that are contrary to God's law. We know what He's laws are and we are accountable for them.
4. This is both a temporal and a spiritual withdrawal from God.

2 Nephi 2:6
Wherefore, redemption cometh in and through the Holy Messiah; for he is full of grace and truth.
Our only hope is in our Savior. He came and redeemed us from the law.

2 Nephi 2:7
Behold, he offereth himself a sacrifice for sin, to answer the ends of the law, unto all those who have a broken heart and a contrite spirit; and unto none else can the ends of the law be answered.
He is it! He is the ONLY way. He offered Himself as the sacrifice that we needed.
We need to come to Him with a broken heart and a contrite spirit to allow His sacrifice to work for us.  A broken heart and contrite spirit means that we are willing to do anything and everything that God asks us to do, without resistance and without resentment.
If we do not accept His sacrifice, then we are going to be required to suffer for our own sins. (Law of Moses-eye for an eye)

2 Nephi 2:8
Wherefore, how great the importance to make these things known unto the inhabitants of the earth, that they may know that there is no flesh that can dwell in the presence of God, save it be through the merits, and mercy, and grace of the Holy Messiah, who layeth down his life according to the flesh, and taketh it again by the power of the Spirit, that he may bring to pass the resurrection of the dead, being the first that should rise.
God in His infinite love and mercy provided a way for us to return to Him. He sent His Son to earth to die for each of us.                                         

Friday, December 10, 2021

Who are God's covenant people?

This is according to my understanding.


As I have been studying my scriptures and also the works of Avraham Gileadi I have decided to put down what I have learned (or think I have learned) in writing. This is about who has the Covenant with the Father and when.


1 Nephi 13:42
And the time cometh that he shall manifest himself unto all nations, both unto the Jews and also unto the Gentiles; and after he has manifested himself unto the Jews and also unto the Gentiles, then he shall manifest himself unto the Gentiles and also unto the Jews, and the last shall be first, and the first shall be last.

 Christ shows Himself unto the Jews first. He enters into a covenant with them. They are His covenant people. They are His church.

 

2 Nephi 6:9
Nevertheless, the Lord has shown unto me that they should return again. And he also has shown unto me that the Lord God, the Holy One of Israel, should manifest himself unto them in the flesh; and after he should manifest himself they should scourge him and crucify him, according to the words of the angel who spake it unto me.

 Christ showed himself unto the Jews in the flesh.

 

2 Nephi 25:12
But, behold, they shall have wars, and rumors of wars; and when the day cometh that the Only Begotten of the Father, yea, even the Father of heaven and of earth, shall manifest himself unto them in the flesh, behold, they will reject him, because of their iniquities, and the hardness of their hearts, and the stiffness of their necks.
 
Christ was rejected by the Jews. They reject the gospel. When they reject His covenant, they lose the blessings.  What do they lose? The land of their inheritance.

 

 1 Nephi 10:11
And it came to pass after my father had spoken these words he spake unto my brethren concerning the gospel which should be preached among the Jews, and also concerning the dwindling of the Jews in unbelief. And after they had slain the Messiah, who should come, and after he had been slain he should rise from the dead, and should make himself manifest, by the Holy Ghost, unto the Gentiles.

 

3 Nephi 15:23
And they understood me not that I said they shall hear my voice; and they understood me not that the Gentiles should not at any time hear my voice—that I should not manifest myself unto them save it were by the Holy Ghost.
 
The Lord showed Himself unto the Jews at His first coming (Lamanites, Jews, 10 tribes of Israel) but they rejected Him and brought upon themselves a curse. Then the Lord shows Himself to the Gentiles by the power of the Holy Ghost.

 

2 Nephi 9:2
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 restored to the true church and fold of God; when they shall be gathered home to the lands of their inheritance, and shall be established in all their lands of promise.
 
Now, the last shall be first..
The Lord will restore the Jews to the land of their inheritance and the covenants.
The Lord has made a covenant with the Gentiles.

 

1 Nephi 14:1
And it shall come to pass, that if the Gentiles shall hearken unto the Lamb of God in that day that he shall manifest himself unto them in word, and also in power, in very deed, unto the taking away of their stumbling blocks-


2 Nephi 26:13
And that he manifesteth himself unto all those who believe in him, by the power of the Holy Ghost; yea, unto every nation, kindred, tongue, and people, working mighty miracles, signs, and wonders, among the children of men according to their faith.
 
The Lord manifests Himself unto the Gentiles and they are now able to receive the fulness of the Gospel. It is only because of the Jews rejection that the Gentiles are given this opportunity.


1 Nephi 10:12-14
Yea, even my father spake much concerning the Gentiles, and also concerning the house of Israel, that they should be compared like unto an olive tree, whose branches should be broken off and should be scattered upon all the face of the earth.
Wherefore, he said it must needs be that we should be led with one accord into the land of promise, unto the fulfilling of the word of the Lord, that we should be scattered upon all the face of the earth.
And after the house of Israel should be scattered they should be gathered together again; or, in fine, after the Gentiles had received the fulness of the Gospel, the natural branches of the olive tree, or the remnant of the house of Israel, should be grafted in, or come to the knowledge of the true Messiah, their Lord and their Redeemer.

 For clarification: The Gentiles are us (most of us) and the House of Israel are the Jews, Lamanites and the 10 tribes of Israel.
We the Gentiles need the House of Israel to be scattered—for us to be ABLE to receive the fullness of the Gospel. After we have received the fullness, by the mingling of the lineages. The House of Israel will then again come to a knowledge of their Redeemer and return to their lands of promise.
Who brings the House of Israel back to the Gospel? The Gentiles. God in His infinite mercy and has found a way to REDEEM ALL of His Children.
We are lost without them and in turn they are lost without us.  We are all BROTHERS (and sisters). As the scriptures so testify. When the Lamanites preach among their wicked brethren the Nephites they call them brethren, and vice versa.


D&C 90:9
That through your administration they may receive the word, and through their administration the word may go forth unto the ends of the earth, unto the Gentiles first, and then, behold, and lo, they shall turn unto the Jews.

 The Gentiles receive the first opportunity to accept the gospel. (because it was rejected by the Jews)


D&C 107:33-35, 97
The Twelve are a Traveling Presiding High Council, to officiate in the name of the Lord, under the direction of the Presidency of the Church, agreeable to the institution of heaven; to build up the church, and regulate all the affairs of the same in all nations, first unto the Gentiles and secondly unto the Jews. The Seventy are to act in the name of the Lord, under the direction of the Twelve or the traveling high council, in building up the church and regulating all the affairs of the same in all nations, first unto the Gentiles and then to the Jews—
The Twelve being sent out, holding the keys, to open the door by the proclamation of the gospel of Jesus Christ, and first unto the Gentiles and then unto the Jews.
And these seventy are to be traveling ministers, unto the Gentiles first and also unto the Jews.


D&C 133:8
Send forth the elders of my church unto the nations which are afar off; unto the islands of the sea; send forth unto foreign lands; call upon all nations, first upon the Gentiles, and then upon the Jews.
 
2 Nephi 6:14
And behold, according to the words of the prophet, the Messiah will set himself again the second time to recover them; wherefore, he will manifest himself unto them in power and great glory, unto the destruction of their enemies, when that day cometh when they shall believe in him; and none will he destroy that believe in him.

 These scriptures tell us the that Gentiles will apostatize and the gospel will then be accepted by the Jews. They will come to know the Lord their Redeemer.
None that believe on Him will be destroyed.
 

2 Nephi 3:5
Wherefore, Joseph truly saw our day. And he obtained a promise of the Lord, that out of the fruit of his loins the Lord God would raise up a righteous branch, unto the house of Israel; not the Messiah, but a branch which was to be broken off, nevertheless, to be remembered in the covenants of the Lord that the Messiah should be made manifest unto them in the latter days, in the spirit of power, unto the bringing of them out of darkness unto light—yea, out of hidden darkness and out of captivity unto freedom.
 
The House of Israel is promised BY the Lord that He will remember them. And He will manifest Himself unto them in the Latter Days. The Righteous branch, a remnant of the Jews, (all those who believe on His name) will accept the gospel and bring forth Zion.


Jacob 6:2
And the day that he shall set his hand again the second time to recover his people, is the day, yea, even the last time, that the servants of the Lord shall go forth in his power, to nourish, and prune his vineyard; and after that the end soon cometh.

This is the reversal between the Gentiles and the House of Israel. The first shall be last and the last shall be first.  The Lord’s word comes again, this time first to the Gentiles, they become apostate, and at the same time the Jews accept the gospel. There is a remnant of the Gentiles that takes the Gospel (servants of the Lord) to the Jews. (House of Israel: Jews, Lamanites and 10 tribes of Israel)


2 Nephi 25:17
And the Lord will set his hand again the second time to restore his people from their lost and fallen state. Wherefore, he will proceed to do a marvelous work and a wonder among the children of men.

Christ’s word comes a second time to redeem His people (House of Israel) This is the marvelous work and wonder spoken of throughout the scriptures.


2 Nephi 29:1
But behold, there shall be many—at that day when I shall proceed to do a marvelous work among them, that I may remember my covenants which I have made unto the children of men, that I may set my hand again the second time to recover my people, which are of the house of Israel;

More scriptural proof that the House of Israel is the Lord’s chosen people and that His word will come a second time to redeem them.


1 Nephi 13:42
And the time cometh that he shall manifest himself unto all nations, both unto the Jews and also unto the Gentiles; and after he has manifested himself unto the Jews and also unto the Gentiles, then he shall manifest himself unto the Gentiles and also unto the Jews, and the last shall be first, and the first shall be last.

Last first, first last. Jews first then the Gentiles; reversal in the latter days, the Gentiles first and then the Jews.


Ether 13:5-10
And he spake also concerning the house of Israel, and the Jerusalem from whence Lehi should come—after it should be destroyed it should be built up again, a holy city unto the Lord; wherefore, it could not be a new Jerusalem for it had been in a time of old; but it should be built up again, and become a holy city of the Lord; and it should be built unto the house of Israel—
And that a New Jerusalem should be built up upon this land, unto the remnant of the seed of Joseph, for which things there has been a type.
For as Joseph brought his father down into the land of Egypt, even so he died there; wherefore, the Lord brought a remnant of the seed of Joseph out of the land of Jerusalem, that he might be merciful unto the seed of Joseph that they should perish not, even as he was merciful unto the father of Joseph that he should perish not.
Wherefore, the remnant of the house of Joseph shall be built upon this land; and it shall be a land of their inheritance; and they shall build up a holy city unto the Lord, like unto the Jerusalem of old; and they shall no more be confounded, until the end come when the earth shall pass away.
And there shall be a new heaven and a new earth; and they shall be like unto the old save the old have passed away, and all things have become new.
And then cometh the New Jerusalem; and blessed are they who dwell therein, for it is they whose garments are white through the blood of the Lamb; and they are they who are numbered among the remnant of the seed of Joseph, who were of the house of Israel.

Everything in the scriptures is a type of things to come in the last days as well as a history of what has happened. New Jerusalem (Zion) will be built up, in the last days, by the House of Israel. (Jews, Lamanites 10 tribes of Israel)
Bringing a remnant of the House of Israel out of Jerusalem that they might not perish is a promise that the Lord made.
 

Ether 13:11
And then also cometh the Jerusalem of old; and the inhabitants thereof, blessed are they, for they have been washed in the blood of the Lamb; and they are they who were scattered and gathered in from the four quarters of the earth, and from the north countries, and are partakers of the fulfilling of the covenant which God made with their father, Abraham.

Jews scattered for rejecting the Lamb of God and His covenant with them. Then they are gathered in and remembered. Covenant is fulfilled.

 

Ether 13:12
And when these things come, bringeth to pass the scripture which saith, there are they who were first, who shall be last; and there are they who were last, who shall be first.


Ether 13:13
And I was about to write more, but I am forbidden; but great and marvelous were the prophecies of Ether; but they esteemed him as naught, and cast him out; and he hid himself in the cavity of a rock by day, and by night he went forth viewing the things which should come upon the people.

Ether prophesied about the great and marvelous work, but he was esteemed as naught, and was forbidden to expound.


Ether 12: 33-34
And again, I remember that thou hast said that thou hast loved the world, even unto the laying down of thy life for the world, that thou mightiest take it again to prepare a place for the children of men.
And now I know that this love which thou hast had for the children of men is charity; wherefore, except men shall have charity they cannot inherit that place which thou hast prepared in the mansions of thy Father.
 
This is the whole reason for this work.
For behold, this is my work and my glory—to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man. (Moses 1:39)
God is filled with love, and merciful, and full of compassion. We do not understand His ways.
For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts higher than your thoughts. (Isaiah 55:8-9)
The problem isn’t because of His understand of the things that are happening, it’s ours, it is our misunderstanding of things that are happening.


Ether 12:35
Wherefore, I know by this thing which thou hast said, that if the Gentiles have not charity, because of our weakness, that thou wilt prove them, and take their talent, yea, even that which they have received, and give unto them who shall have more abundantly.

 The Gentiles lose their talent (gift) given to them.


Matthew 21:43
Therefore say I unto you, The kingdom of God shall be taken from you, and given to a nation bringing forth the fruits thereof.

The gospel is taken away from the Gentiles, because of their disregard for the word of God, and given to the House of Israel because of their righteous desires.

 

3 Nephi 20:12-14
And verily, verily, I say unto you, that when they shall be fulfilled then is the fulfilling of the covenant which the Father hath made unto his people, O house of Israel.
And then shall the remnants, which shall be scattered abroad upon the face of the earth, be gathered in from the east and from the west, and from the south and from the north; and they shall be brought to the knowledge of the Lord their God, who hath redeemed them.
And the Father hath commanded me that I should give unto you this land, for your inheritance.

The Father made a covenant with the House of Israel and He will fulfill this covenant with them. When the Jews are brought to the knowledge of the Lord, they accept Him. They’re covenant is restored and they receive the land of their inheritance.


3 Nephi 20:29-33
And I will remember the covenant which I have made with my people; and I have covenanted with them that I would gather them together in mine own due time, that I would give unto them again the land of their fathers for their inheritance, which is the land of Jerusalem, which is the promised land unto them forever, saith the Father.
And it shall come to pass that the time cometh, when the fulness of my gospel shall be preached unto them; And they shall believe in me, that I am Jesus Christ, the Son of God, and shall pray unto the Father in my name. Then shall their watchmen lift up their voice, and with the voice together shall they sing; for they shall see eye to eye. Then will the Father gather them together again, and give unto them Jerusalem for the land of their inheritance.

Saith the Father” means that is written. (law-covenant) “Mine own due time” means in the Latter-Days, the end of times.


3 Nephi 21:26-28
And then shall the work of the Father commence at that day, even when this gospel shall be preached among the remnant of this people. Verily I say unto you, at that day shall the work of the Father commence among all the dispersed of my people, yea, even the tribes which have been lost, which the Father hath led away out of Jerusalem.
Yea, the work shall commence among all the dispersed of my people, with the Father to prepare the way whereby they may come unto me, that they may call on the Father in my name.
Yea, and then shall the work commence, with the Father among all nations in preparing the way whereby his people may be gathered home to the land of their inheritance.
 
Here again we see the mercy of God, He prepares a way for those to hear his words and enter into the covenant His has made. When the Book of Mormon is brought to pass, the work has begun.