Look! In 1 Nephi 11, Nephi considers the meaning of the tree of life as he sees it in vision. Only then were things “taken away from the book” (1 Nephi 13:28). In contrast, what did Nephi say about the gathering of the righteous? If you believe that God is without a body and is now dwelling in the heavens, then you cannot have scripture that conflicts with that. Because of this, certain writings (like some texts in the Dead Sea Scrolls) were no longer seen as necessary, or became an embarrassment. He needs us to shine brighter than ever before. When they said, “the Lord does not reveal those things to us,” it’s not that they necessarily thought He wouldn’t reveal those things to them at all, but maybe they did not see themselves as recipients of revelation. Justice divides the sheep from the goats. this defense? which sheddeth itself abroad in the hearts of the children of men; wherefore, 1 Nephi 15. The gospel—the basic principles of the gospel were lost first: “they have taken away from the gospel of the Lamb many parts which are plain and most precious” (1 Nephi 13:26). my presence. That was what Nephi saw and described. The church of the devil, in the apocalyptic view, is filled with those who are interested in money, power, prestige, and status. Nephi's vision, thus far, has been about events which happen in Jerusalem. Now you can just imagine: there I was in Charlesworth’s class as he was talking about this recently discovered record from around the time of Christ. He prayed for his people, for his family, and for his own grace. And blessed art thou, Nephi, because doctrine (see  The Doctrine of God the Father in the Book of Mormon), . Is that condescension? 1 Nephi 8. it is the Son of God. 17 And I said unto him: I know that he loveth his “And I saw that they were few.” This is true. Book of Mormon Central, “What Vision Guides Nephi’s Choice of Isaiah Chapters? One British archeologist who was digging in Egypt in 1905, looking for gold and mummies, found a mummified crocodile (the Egyptians buried crocodiles) and then another crocodile, and another crocodile. Indeed, the symbol of justice in the Book of Mormon and in the Bible is not the scales, but the sword. An attentive reader will see how aspects of Lehi’s vision are repeated and amplified in Nephi’s vision. Q—Do the Father and the Son possess the same mind? Can you still be obedient even though you do not know everything? At that point in Nephi’s vision, Nephi sees Christ with John, the apostle, crying out with a loud voice proclaiming the gospel. I was assigned to come back the next class period with a more extensive comparison, which was easy to do. When teaching these chapters it is good to discuss the meaning of who Jesus is at this point. Nephi testified, “I know that the Lord giveth no commandments unto the children of men, save he shall prepare a way for them that they may accomplish the thing which he commandeth them” (1 Nephi 3:7). A—They do . 32 And it came to pass that the angel spake unto me again, For example, the Gospel of Barnabas (a very early Christian text) talks a lot about the physical resurrection of the Lord. There were many striking similarities. ☼ 1 Nephi 11:28: And I beheld that he went forth ministering unto the people, in power and great glory; and the multitudes were gathered together to hear him; and I beheld that they cast him out from among them. Everything else can wait. He prayed for all of those same things we do, but he also said, “Heavenly Father, please teach me something. (1 Nephi 12:18),” KnoWhy 14 (January 19, 2016). 1 Nephi 5. father saw. And I looked, and I beheld the heavens open again, and I saw Figure 2 Welch, John W., and Greg Welch. 24 And after he had said these words, he said unto me: So it is not for us to say who will ultimately be in one group or the other. 33–34). Father, is a personage of tabernacle . The Plan of Salvation. This originally was written as, “Behold, the virgin whom « Previous 14 And it came to pass that I saw the heavens open; and an Archaeologists went into Iraq and into Egypt and they started finding old records. 1 Nephi 10. To their surprise and joy, the archaeological expedition had discovered a whole trove of early manuscripts, some of which were Christian—for example, a fragment of the Gospel of John from the 2nd Century AD. It was a place of unpleasantness—the flaming fires of justice. earth, that they were gathered together to fight against the apostles of the Later, when I met with Charlesworth in his office, he said, “I am beginning to understand why you are so drawn to these texts that I am interested in.” I replied, “Yes, and also because we have a prophecy in the Book of Mormon that says that other books would come forth.” “Really? One may wonder: Did Nephi go up to an actual mountain or was he just taken there in spirit?  (Lecture 5). I spake unto him as a man speaketh; for I beheld that he was in the form of a Hugh … And I looked and beheld a tree; and it was like unto the tree which my father 13 And it came to pass that I looked and beheld the great It appears that by using the root meanings of Mary’s name, instead of the name itself, Nephi subtly drew attention to her divinely appointed role to bring forth and raise the Christ Child.”. 31 And he spake unto me again, saying: Look! “Have ye inquired of the Lord?” (v. 8). The Book of Mormon prophets refer to this great event in many more passages.