There exists a belief among Latter-day Saints that a great prophet will come and “set in order” the their church:

7 And it shall come to pass that I, the Lord God, will send ONE MIGHTY and STRONG, holding the scepter of power in his hand, clothed with light for a covering, whose mouth shall utter words, eternal words; while his bowels shall be a fountain of truth, TO SET IN ORDER THE HOUSE OF GOD, and to arrange by lot the inheritances of the saints whose names are found, and the names of their fathers, and of their children, enrolled in the book of the law of God; (D&C 85, Kirtland, Ohio, November 27, 1832)

They speculate, Joseph Smith Jr. is the One Mighty and Strong, and suggest he will yet fulfill that prophecy after he resurrects. But his purported prophecy hi-jacks an important Book of Mormon prophecy:

24 And there shall rise up ONE MIGHTY among them, who shall do much good, both in word and in deed, being an instrument in the hands of God, with exceeding faith, to work MIGHTY WONDERS, and do that thing which is great in the sight of God, unto the bringing to pass much restoration unto the house of Israel, and unto the seed of thy brethren. (2 Nephi 3)

The expression “one mighty” is not found anywhere else. Why is this important? Because Mormons believe that Book of Mormon prophecy is speaking of Joseph Smith Jr. and to have already been fulfilled. 

Book of Mormon witness David Whitmer disavowed later revelations by Joseph Smith Jr., because Joseph no longer had the anointing or the tool to receive revelation as he did while transmitting The Holy Book of Mormon.

It was David’s view that the One Mighty and related Choice Seer prophecies would yet be fulfilled by someone else. See Doctrine>Choice Seer for details, as well as Key Concepts>The New Jerusalem.

The Book of Mormon mentions a “choice seer” two times, found in the following prophecy:

6 For Joseph truly testified, saying: A SEER shall the Lord my God raise up, who shall be A CHOICE SEER unto the fruit of my loins.
7 Yea, Joseph truly said: Thus saith the Lord unto me: A CHOICE SEER will I raise up out of the fruit of thy loins; and he shall be esteemed highly among the fruit of thy loins. And unto him will I give commandment that he shall do a work for the fruit of thy loins, his brethren, which shall be of great worth unto them, even to the bringing of them to the knowledge of the covenants which I have made with thy fathers.
8 And I will give unto him a commandment that he shall do none other work, save the work which I shall command him. And I will make him great in mine eyes; for he shall do my work.
9 And he shall be great like unto Moses, whom I have said I would raise up unto you, to deliver my people, O house of Israel.
10 And Moses will I raise up, to deliver thy people out of the land of Egypt.
11 But A SEER will I raise up out of the fruit of thy loins; and unto him will I give power to bring forth my word unto the seed of thy loins—and not to the bringing forth my word only, saith the Lord, but to the convincing them of my word, which shall have already gone forth among them.
12 Wherefore, the fruit of thy loins shall write; and the fruit of the loins of Judah shall write; and that which shall be written by the fruit of thy loins, and also that which shall be written by the fruit of the loins of Judah, shall grow together, unto the confounding of false doctrines and laying down of contentions, and establishing peace among the fruit of thy loins, and bringing them to the knowledge of their fathers in the latter days, and also to the knowledge of my covenants, saith the Lord.
13 And out of weakness he shall be made strong, in that day when my work shall commence among all my people, unto the restoring thee, O house of Israel, saith the Lord.
14 And thus prophesied Joseph, saying: Behold, THAT SEER will the Lord bless; and they that seek to destroy him shall be confounded; for this promise, which I have obtained of the Lord, of the fruit of my loins, shall be fulfilled. Behold, I am sure of the fulfilling of this promise;
15 And his name shall be called after me; and it shall be after the name of his father. And he shall be like unto me; for the thing, which the Lord shall bring forth by his hand, by the power of the Lord shall bring my people unto salvation.
16 Yea, thus prophesied Joseph: I am sure of this thing, even as I am sure of the promise of Moses; for the Lord hath said unto me, I will preserve thy seed forever. (2 Nephi 3)

That Choice Seer was presumed to have been Joseph Smith Jr., but Book of Mormon Witness David Whitmer said otherwise. The following snippets are from Chapter 10 in his book, An Address to All Believers in Christ by a Witness to the Divine Authenticity of The Book of Mormon, 1887.

“The ‘CHOICE SEER’ spoken of in the Book of Mormon is NOT Brother Joseph.”

“The man who is ‘NOT LEARNED’ refers to Brother Joseph (2Ne.27:19), but the ‘Choice Seer’ is ANOTHER MAN.” 

“Now I hope you understand me. I am not persecuting Brother Joseph and never did persecute him. Because he erred is no reason why I should not love him. God called him to translate his sacred word by the power and gift of God; BUT HE WAS NOT CALLED TO SET UP AND ESTABLISH THE CHURCH any more than any of us Elders were.”

And:

“We see that Brother Joseph was not this Choice Seer for the following reasons:

1. He is to come from the seed of Lehi, and Joseph Smith is not of that seed.
2. He is to convince the Lamanites in person; Joseph Smith did not convince them.
3. His tongue will not be loosed that he can speak much, and the Lord is to raise up a spokesman for him; Joseph Smith‘s tongue was loosed to speak, he being a good speaker.
4. Those who seek to destroy this Seer will be confounded; this does not agree as being Brother Joseph, because he was destroyed.
5. The Choice Seer will be faithful and do strictly according to the command of God; Brother Joseph broke the commands of God from the beginning.

“So we see that Brother Joseph was not this Choice Seer.”

From the Bible, we read:

9 (Beforetime in Israel, when a man went to inquire of God, thus he spake, Come, and let us go to the SEER: for he that is NOW CALLED A PROPHET was BEFORETIME CALLED A SEER.) (1 Samuel 9:9)

“This verse is clearly an addition to the original narrative to explain the term ‘seer’ which had become obsolete when the book was compiled in its present form, It is inserted here and not after 1 Samuel 9:11 where the term first occurs, to avoid interrupting the narrative.” (Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges)

11 For when David was up in the morning, the word of the Lord came unto the PROPHET Gad, David’s SEER (2 Samuel 24)

Other Seers from the Bible:

• David and Samuel the seer did ordain, 1 Chr. 9:22
• Heman the king’s seer, 1 Chr. 25:5
• Gad the seer 1 Chr. 29:29)
• visions of Iddo the seer against Jeroboam, 2 Chr. 9:29
• Hanani the seer, 2 Chr. 16:7 (19:2)
• Asaph the seer, 2 Chr. 29:30
• Jeduthun the king’s seer, 2 Chr. 35:15
• Amaziah said unto Amos, O thou seer, Amos 7:12

From the Book of Mormon:

13 The things are called INTERPRETERS, and no man can look in them except he be commanded, lest he should look for that he ought not and he should perish. And whosoever is commanded to look in them, the same is called SEER. (Mosiah 8)

16 And Ammon said that a SEER is a REVELATOR and a PROPHET ALSO;  (Mosiah 8)

17 But a SEER can know of things which are PAST, and also of things which are to COME, and by them shall ALL THINGS be REVEALED, or, rather, shall secret things be made manifest, and hidden things shall come to light, and things which are not known shall be made known by them, and also things shall be made known by them which otherwise could not be known.(Mosiah 8)

13 And now he translated them by the means of those two STONES which were fastened into the two rims of a bow.
14 Now these things were prepared from the beginning, and were handed down from generation to generation, for the purpose of INTERPRETING LANGUAGES;
15 And they have been kept and preserved by the hand of the Lord, that he should discover to every creature who should possess the land THE INIQUITIES and ABOMINATIONS of his people;
16 And whosoever has these things is called SEER, after the manner of old times. (Mosiah 28)

Summary

If David Whitmer is correct, there will come, not just “another” seer, but a “choice Seer,” and according to the above definitions, will be a revelator and a prophet, who may, interpret languages, reveal secret things, past or future things, and go among the Lamanites with a spokesman.

By using God’s power, he (and the spokesman) will successfully convince and gather them into a new New Jerusalem (see Key Concepts – New Jerusalem) on ancient Book of Mormon lands (western NY).

 

An angel showed Nephi the future and showed him the formation of a “great” “abominable” “church,” and said it was founded by the devil.  The desires of this church would be: gold, silver, silks, scarlets, fine-twined linen and clothing, and many harlots

1 And it came to pass that the ANGEL spake unto me, saying: Look! And I looked and beheld many nations and kingdoms.
2 And the angel said unto me: What beholdest thou? And I said: I behold many nations and kingdoms.
3 And he said unto me: These are the nations and kingdoms of the Gentiles.
4 And it came to pass that I saw among the nations of the Gentiles the FORMATION of a GREAT CHURCH.
5 And the ANGEL SAID unto me: Behold the FORMATION of a CHURCH which is MOST ABOMINABLE ABOVE ALL OTHER CHURCHES, which SLAYETH THE SAINTS of God, yea, and TORTURETH them and BINDETH them down, and YOKETH them with a YOKE OF IRON, and BRINGETH THEM DOWN INTO CAPTIVITY.
6 And it came to pass that I BEHELD THIS GREAT AND ABOMINABLE CHURCH; AND I SAW THE DEVIL THAT HE WAS THE FOUNDER OF IT. (1 Nephi 13)

7 And I also saw GOLD, and SILVER, and SILKS, and SCARLETS, and FINE-TWINED LINEN, and ALL MANNER OF PRECIOUS CLOTHING; and I saw MANY HARLOTS.
8 And the ANGEL SPAKE unto me, SAYING: BEHOLD THE GOLD, and the SILVER, and the SILKS, and the SCARLETS, and the FINE-TWINED LINEN, and the PRECIOUS CLOTHING, and the HARLOTS, are the DESIRES of this GREAT and ABOMINABLE CHURCH. (1 Nephi 13)

He was shown a book of scripture going forth by the hands of that church, and that “covenants,” “plain” and “precious parts” were removed from the Gospel of Jesus:

26 And after they go forth by the hand of the twelve apostles of the Lamb, from the Jews unto the Gentiles, thou seest the formation of that GREAT and ABOMINABLE CHURCH, which is MOST ABOMINABLE above all other churches; for behold, they have TAKEN AWAY FROM THE GOSPEL of the Lamb MANY PARTS which are PLAIN and MOST PRECIOUS; and also MANY COVENANTS of the Lord have they taken away.
27 And all this have they done THAT THEY MIGHT PERVERT THE RIGHT WAYS OF THE LORD, that they might blind the eyes and harden the hearts of the children of men.
28 Wherefore, thou seest that after the book [Bible] hath gone forth THROUGH the HANDS OF the GREAT and ABOMINABLE CHURCH, that there are MANY PLAIN and PRECIOUS THINGS TAKEN AWAY FROM THE BOOK, which is the book of the Lamb of God. (1 Nephi 13)

The angel said that the Church of the Devil would be in all nations,  but so would the Church of God (albeit smaller in number):

3 And that great pit, which hath been digged for them by that GREAT and ABOMINABLE CHURCH, which was FOUNDED BY THE DEVIL AND HIS CHILDREN, that he might lead away the souls of men down to hell—yea, that great pit which hath been digged for the destruction of men shall be filled by those who digged it, unto their utter destruction, saith the Lamb of God; 
9 And it came to pass that he said unto me: Look, and behold that GREAT and ABOMINABLE CHURCH, WHICH IS THE MOTHER OF ABOMINATIONS, WHOSE FOUNDER IS THE DEVIL.
10 And he said unto me: Behold there are save TWO CHURCHES ONLY; the one is the church of the Lamb of God, and the other is the CHURCH OF THE DEVIL; wherefore, whoso belongeth not to the church of the Lamb of God belongeth to that GREAT CHURCH, which is the MOTHER OF ABOMINATIONS; and she is the WHORE OF ALL THE EARTH.
11 And it came to pass that I looked and beheld the WHORE OF ALL THE EARTH, and she sat upon many waters; and she had dominion over all the earth, among all nations, kindreds, tongues, and people.
12 And it came to pass that I beheld the church of the Lamb of God, and its numbers were few, because of the WICKEDNESS and ABOMINATIONS of the WHORE who sat upon many waters; nevertheless, I beheld that the CHURCH OF THE LAMB, WHO WERE THE SAINTS OF GOD, were also upon all the face of the earth; and their dominions upon the face of the earth were small, because of the wickedness of the great whore whom I saw.
13 And it came to pass that I beheld that the GREAT MOTHER OF ABOMINATIONS did gather together multitudes upon the face of all the earth, among all the nations of the Gentiles, to fight against the Lamb of God.
14 And it came to pass that I, Nephi, beheld the power of the Lamb of God, that it descended upon the saints of the church of the Lamb, and upon the covenant people of the Lord, who were scattered upon all the face of the earth; and they were armed with righteousness and with the power of God in great glory.
15 And it came to pass that I beheld that the wrath of God was poured out upon that GREAT AND ABOMINABLE CHURCH, insomuch that there were wars and rumors of wars among all the nations and kindreds of the earth. (1 Nephi 14)

The question of when the Church of God became corrupted is a good question. The shift appears to have started with the Donation of Sutri.

“The Donation of Sutri was an agreement reached at Sutri by Liutprand, King of the Lombards and Pope Gregory II in 728. At Sutri, the two reached an agreement by which the city and some hill towns in Latium (like Vetralla) were given to the Papacy, ‘as a gift to the blessed Apostles Peter and Paul’ according to the Liber Pontificalis.

“The pact formed the first extension of papal territory beyond the confines of the Duchy of Rome and was the first of two land transfers from Liutprand to the Church of Rome.”

“The LOMBARDIC donations of the first castles in the 8th century, including Sutri, formally intended ‘for the Apostles Peter and Paul’, took place IN RECOGNITION of the CONSOLIDATED POLITICAL ROLE OF THE CHURCH, which the LOMBARD KINGS saw as a POWER in the POLITICAL EQUILIBRIUM of the Italian peninsula.

“That belief was STRENGTHENED BY the traditions of PAPAL PRIMACY and APOSTOLIC SUCCESSION—the PAPACY’S MORAL AUTHORITY had come to be RECOGNIZED even by the Germanic peoples: the FRANKS, the VISIGOTHS of Spain, the BURGUNDIANS, the ANGLO-SAXONS of England, and the LOMBARDS THEMSELVES.” (https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Donation_of_Sutri)

And, the fraudulant Donation of Constantine.

“The Donation of Constantine (Latin: Donatio Constantini) is a forged Roman imperial decree by which the 4th-century emperor Constantine the Great supposedly transferred authority over Rome and the western part of the Roman Empire to the Pope. Composed probably in the 8th century, it was used, especially in the 13th century, in support of claims of political authority by the papacy.”

“[Pope] Sylvester and his apostolic successors were REWARDED in the DONATION of Constantine with temporal powers never in fact exercised by the historical Bishops of Rome under Constantine.” (https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Donation_of_Constantine)

 

Introduction

The Plates of Brass are full of Types and Promises which needed to be transferred to Lehi’s family before Jerusalem fell and the plates forever lost. A quick review will be of worth. All verses are listed at the bottom with the more significant mentions being elaborated on next.

It was a commandment from God (1Ne.3:5), and wisdom in God (v.19) that Lehi’s family should obtain the Plates of Brass. They contain a history of the Jews (v.3;5:12; Omni 1:14), their genealogy (v.12) and were needed to preserve their language (v.19). An angel intervened (v.29-30) and Nephi was led by the Spirit (1Ne.4:6). Laban was slain (v.10) because in certain circumstances if someone directly opposes God (v.11) it is permissible to slay the wicked for righteous purposes (v.13). The faithful will prosper (v.14) and the plates contain “the law” (v.16). But most importantly, they contain prophecies not found in the Bible:

And also that we may preserve unto them the words which have been spoken by the mouth of all the holy prophets, which have been delivered unto them by the Spirit and power of God, since the world began, even down unto this present time. (1 Nephi 3:20)

Laman & Lemuel

Laman and Lemuel defied an angel repeatedly and later turned entirely against God. The word “Lamanites” can be used to represent those who “turn against God.” When Laman (and Lemuel) died, they did not go to hell but continued to reign over the work they birthed on earth. From the world of spirit they oversaw the total overthrow of the faithful and continue to oppose The Book of Mormon, the Plates of Brass, the faithful here in America, etc. The head of evil in the Old Testament is the House of Ahab; in the Book of Mormon it’s Laman and Lemuel.

Wealth

The family of Lehi lost their wealth in obtaining the plates, which may have been used to assist them on their travels:

22 And it came to pass that we went down to the land of our inheritance, and we did gather together our gold, and our silver, and our precious things.
23 And after we had gathered these things together, we went up again unto the house of Laban.
24 And it came to pass that we went in unto Laban, and desired him that he would give unto us the records which were engraven upon the plates of brass, for which we would give unto him our gold, and our silver, and all our precious things.
25 And it came to pass that when Laban saw our property, and that it was exceedingly great, he did lust after it, insomuch that he thrust us out, and sent his servants to slay us, that he might obtain our property.
26 And it came to pass that we did flee before the servants of Laban, and we were obliged to leave behind our property, and it fell into the hands of Laban.
27 And it came to pass that we fled into the wilderness, and the servants of Laban did not overtake us, and we hid ourselves in the cavity of a rock. (1 Nephi 3:22–27)

1 Nephi 5

1 Nephi 5 confirms what was already said in Chapter 3, viz. the five books of Moses, a record of the Jews, prophecies from the beginning, genealogies, and a prophecy that they would “never be dimmed” by time, but would go forth to all the world:

10 And after they had given thanks unto the God of Israel, my father, Lehi, took the records which were engraven upon the plates of brass, and he did search them from the beginning.
11 And he beheld that they did contain the five books of Moses, which gave an account of the creation of the world, and also of Adam and Eve, who were our first parents;
12 And also a record of the Jews from the beginning, even down to the commencement of the reign of Zedekiah, king of Judah;
13 And also the prophecies of the holy prophets, from the beginning, even down to the commencement of the reign of Zedekiah; and also many prophecies which have been spoken by the mouth of Jeremiah.
14 And it came to pass that my father, Lehi, also found upon the plates of brass a genealogy of his fathers; wherefore he knew that he was a descendant of Joseph; yea, even that Joseph who was the son of Jacob, who was sold into Egypt, and who was preserved by the hand of the Lord, that he might preserve his father, Jacob, and all his household from perishing with famine.
15 And they were also led out of captivity and out of the land of Egypt, by that same God who had preserved them.
16 And thus my father, Lehi, did discover the genealogy of his fathers. And Laban also was a descendant of Joseph, wherefore he and his fathers had kept the records.
17 And now when my father saw all these things, he was filled with the Spirit, and began to prophesy concerning his seed—
18 That these plates of brass should go forth unto all nations, kindreds, tongues, and people who were of his seed.
19 Wherefore, he said that these plates of brass should never perish; neither should they be dimmed any more by time. And he prophesied many things concerning his seed. (1 Nephi 5:10–22)

If Lehi became filled with the Spirit just by reading from the Plates of Brass, imagine what it could do to others who read them!

1 Nephi 13

In 1 Nephi 13 Nephi is shown in vision when the Bible would go forth and he is informed that it would not contain as many prophecies as were in the Plates of Brass:

And he said: Behold it proceedeth out of the mouth of a Jew. And I, Nephi, beheld it; and he said unto me: The book that thou beholdest is a record of the Jews, which contains the covenants of the Lord, which he hath made unto the house of Israel; and it also containeth many of the prophecies of the holy prophets; and it is a record like unto the engravings which are upon the plates of brass, save there are not so many; nevertheless, they contain the covenants of the Lord, which he hath made unto the house of Israel; wherefore, they are of great worth unto the Gentiles. (1 Nephi 13:23)

Whoso publishes these additional writings, which are designed to bring forth peace on earth, will be blessed with the power of the Holy Ghost:

And blessed are they who shall seek to bring forth my Zion at that day, for they shall have the gift and the power of the Holy Ghost; and if they endure unto the end they shall be lifted up at the last day, and shall be saved in the everlasting kingdom of the Lamb; and whoso shall publish peace, yea, tidings of great joy, how beautiful upon the mountains shall they be. (1 Nephi 13:37)

“Other books” will come forth and “convince” the world of many things:

39 And after it had come forth unto them I beheld other books, which came forth by the power of the Lamb, from the Gentiles unto them, unto the convincing of the Gentiles and the remnant of the seed of my brethren, and also the Jews who were scattered upon all the face of the earth, that the records of the prophets and of the twelve apostles of the Lamb are true.
40 And the angel spake unto me, saying: These last records, which thou hast seen among the Gentiles, shall establish the truth of the first, which are of the twelve apostles of the Lamb, and shall make known the plain and precious things which have been taken away from them; and shall make known to all kindreds, tongues, and people, that the Lamb of God is the Son of the Eternal Father, and the Savior of the world; and that all men must come unto him, or they cannot be saved. (1 Nephi 13:39–40)

a. The fact there was a conspiracy designed to remove plainness, and replace them with complexities into the realm of God, religion, spirit, etc. will mean this information will be damning to existing purveyors of error. And those religions will tumble to the ground, for they have been on a sandy foundation all this time. This will include Judaism, Islam, Hinduism, Christianity…all religions on earth will be destroyed once and for all. And any person’s work that became hi-jacked by the evil one will at last be corrected, vindicated, and their accurate histories written and known.

b. The reality that God is real and Jesus is truly His son will all be confirmed.

c. Jesus is the hope of mankind.

And they must come according to the words which shall be established by the mouth of the Lamb; and the words of the Lamb shall be made known in the records of thy seed, as well as in the records of the twelve apostles of the Lamb; wherefore they both shall be established in one; for there is one God and one Shepherd over all the earth. (1 Nephi 13:41)

Established in one. Have they been accepted by all, and as “one”? Not yet.

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. (1 Nephi 13:42)

Look clearly at the repetition and order: first Jews, then Gentiles, i.e. first Bible then Book of Mormon, but then it says He will do it again, in reverse order – to the Gentiles (Plates of Brass) and they will go to the Jews.

This second time that He will manifest Himself to the Gentiles is what we are waiting for, with His poured-out glory as prophesied by Isaiah, Joel, John and others, which will coincide with the coming forth of the Plates of Brass. Luckily, because of the Internet, the Plates of Brass will not become obscured like the Dead Sea Scrolls.

1 Nephi 14

It is possible for the Gentiles to refuse AFTER the SECOND WITNESSES haves come forth i.e. His glory and the Plates of Brass:

Therefore, wo be unto the Gentiles if it so be that they harden their hearts against the Lamb of God. (1 Nephi 14:6)

Physical and spiritual captivity hasn’t happened yet, but it could if people refuse Our Lord AFTER His glory is poured out (with indisputable miracles) and the Plates of Brass go forth:

For the time cometh, saith the Lamb of God, that I will work a great and a marvelous work among the children of men; a work which shall be everlasting, either on the one hand or on the other—either to the convincing of them unto peace and life eternal, or unto the deliverance of them to the hardness of their hearts and the blindness of their minds unto their being brought down into captivity, and also into destruction, both temporally and spiritually, according to the captivity of the devil, of which I have spoken. (1 Nephi 14:7)

This “captivity of the devil” is literally referring to that time when the antichrist reigns on earth as spoken by John the Revelator.

Great & Abominable

When the Plates of Brass go forth there will be a “civil war” between those clinging to religion and the true followers of Jesus:

12 And it came to pass that I beheld the church of the Lamb of God, and its numbers were few, because of the wickedness and abominations of the whore who sat upon many waters; nevertheless, I beheld that the church of the Lamb, who were the saints of God, were also upon all the face of the earth; and their dominions upon the face of the earth were small, because of the wickedness of the great whore whom I saw.
13 And it came to pass that I beheld that the great mother of abominations did gather together multitudes upon the face of all the earth, among all the nations of the Gentiles, to fight against the Lamb of God.
14 And it came to pass that I, Nephi, beheld the power of the Lamb of God, that it descended upon the saints of the church of the Lamb, and upon the covenant people of the Lord, who were scattered upon all the face of the earth; and they were armed with righteousness and with the power of God in great glory.
15 And it came to pass that I beheld that the wrath of God was poured out upon that great and abominable church, insomuch that there were wars and rumors of wars among all the nations and kindreds of the earth.
16 And as there began to be wars and rumors of wars among all the nations which belonged to the mother of abominations, the angel spake unto me, saying: Behold, the wrath of God is upon the mother of harlots; and behold, thou seest all these things—
17 And when the day cometh that the wrath of God is poured out upon the mother of harlots, which is the great and abominable church of all the earth, whose founder is the devil, then, at that day, the work of the Father shall commence, in preparing the way for the fulfilling [completing] of his covenants, which he hath made to his people who are of the house of Israel.
18 And it came to pass that the angel spake unto me, saying: Look!
19 And I looked and beheld a man, and he was dressed in a white robe.
20 And the angel said unto me: Behold one of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.
21 Behold, he shall see and write the remainder of these things; yea, and also many things which have been. (1 Nephi 14:12–22)

The Millennium of Peace will not have religious factions and so this war must take place so peace will reign, the same way that the Civil War had to take place to end SLAVERY. Some traditions die hard, particularly when money, power, or influence are involved. A paid clergy, prestige in the community, etc. is against the true order of love.

Note: great power will accompany the poured out glory, which according to all the prophecies will be VERY real. Mighty exploits will be performed by the true Saints and Followers of Jesus.

1 Nephi 19

Old Testament prophets, particularly those mentioned on the Plates of Brass by Nephi gave detailed prophecies about the Messiah. Those prophets were Zenock, Neum, and Zenos:

8 And behold he cometh, according to the words of the angel [Lehi’s “dream,” 1Ne.10], in six hundred years from the time my father left Jerusalem.
9 And the world, because of their iniquity, shall judge him to be a thing of naught; wherefore they scourge him, and he suffereth it; and they smite him, and he suffereth it. Yea, they spit upon him, and he suffereth it, because of his loving kindness and his long-suffering towards the children of men.
10 And the God of our fathers, who were led out of Egypt, out of bondage, and also were preserved in the wilderness by him, yea, the God of Abraham, and of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, yieldeth himself, according to the words of the angel, as a man, into the hands of wicked men, to be lifted up, according to the words of Zenock, and to be crucified, according to the words of Neum, and to be buried in a sepulchre, according to the words of Zenos, which he spake concerning the three days of darkness, which should be a sign given of his death unto those who should inhabit the isles of the sea, more especially given unto those who are of the house of Israel.
11 For thus spake the prophet: The Lord God surely shall visit all the house of Israel at that day, some with his voice, because of their righteousness, unto their great joy and salvation, and others with the thunderings and the lightnings of his power, by tempest, by fire, and by smoke, and vapor of darkness, and by the opening of the earth, and by mountains which shall be carried up.
12 And all these things must surely come, saith the prophet Zenos. And the rocks of the earth must rend; and because of the groanings of the earth, many of the kings of the isles of the sea shall be wrought upon by the Spirit of God, to exclaim: The God of nature suffers.
13 And as for those who are at Jerusalem, saith the prophet, they shall be scourged by all people, because they crucify the God of Israel, and turn their hearts aside, rejecting signs and wonders, and the power and glory of the God of Israel.
14 And because they turn their hearts aside, saith the prophet, and have despised the Holy One of Israel, they shall wander in the flesh, and perish, and become a hiss and a byword, and be hated among all nations.
15 Nevertheless, when that day cometh, saith the prophet, that they no more turn aside their hearts against the Holy One of Israel, then will he remember the covenants which he made to their fathers.
16 Yea, then will he remember the isles of the sea; yea, and all the people who are of the house of Israel, will I gather in, saith the Lord, according to the words of the prophet Zenos, from the four quarters of the earth.
17 Yea, and all the earth shall see the salvation of the Lord, saith the prophet; every nation, kindred, tongue and people shall be blessed.
18 And I, Nephi, have written these things unto my people, that perhaps I might persuade them that they would remember the Lord their Redeemer.
19 Wherefore, I speak unto all the house of Israel, if it so be that they should obtain these things.
20 For behold, I have workings in the spirit, which doth weary me even that all my joints are weak, for those who are at Jerusalem; for had not the Lord been merciful, to show unto me concerning them, even as he had prophets of old, I should have perished also.
21 And he surely did show unto the prophets of old all things concerning them; and also he did show unto many concerning us; wherefore, it must needs be that we know concerning them for they are written upon the plates of brass.
22 Now it came to pass that I, Nephi, did teach my brethren these things; and it came to pass that I did read many things to them, which were engraven upon the plates of brass, that they might know concerning the doings of the Lord in other lands, among people of old.
23 And I did read many things unto them which were written in the books of Moses; but that I might more fully persuade them to believe in the Lord their Redeemer I did read unto them that which was written by the prophet Isaiah; for I did liken all scriptures unto us, that it might be for our profit and learning. (1 Nephi 19:8–23)

The second half of that stanza is about the Second Coming of Jesus. Zenos saw in vision that everyone on earth will see “the salvation of the Lord,” which coincides with the many prophecies about His glory being poured out prior to His physical arrival. The Plates of Brass also contain the histories of other peoples and lands that preceded the Jews.

1 Nephi 22

After quoting Isaiah 48 and 49, Nephi’s brothers wanted to know if what he read was “spiritual” or “physical” in meaning:

And now it came to pass that after I, Nephi, had read these things which were engraven upon the plates of brass, my brethren came unto me and said unto me: What meaneth these things which ye have read? Behold, are they to be understood according to things which are spiritual, which shall come to pass according to the spirit and not the flesh? (1 Nephi 22:1)

Nephi gave a wonderful answer. In it, he sums up the plan of God, viz. the House of Israel will be scattered, a strong Gentile nation will emerge (America) which will “nurse” them, God will “make bare” His “holy arm” collapsing the “abominable church” stifling Satan so Millennial peace can be enjoyed, which confirms the Plates of Brass will have the truth and all religions will collapse with those still clinging to their religion going to war against the true Believers – a religious Civil War,  and God making “bare His holy arm” which is His glory, which Satan cannot endure. The only evil that will remain will be what lingers in the minds or hearts of people:

3 Wherefore, the things of which I have read are things pertaining to things both temporal and spiritual; for it appears that the house of Israel, sooner or later, will be scattered upon all the face of the earth, and also among all nations.
4 And behold, there are many who are already lost from the knowledge of those who are at Jerusalem. Yea, the more part of all the tribes have been led away; and they are scattered to and fro upon the isles of the sea; and whither they are none of us knoweth, save that we know that they have been led away.
5 And since they have been led away, these things have been prophesied concerning them, and also concerning all those who shall hereafter be scattered and be confounded, because of the Holy One of Israel; for against him will they harden their hearts; wherefore, they shall be scattered among all nations and shall be hated of all men.
6 Nevertheless, after they shall be nursed by the Gentiles, and the Lord has lifted up his hand upon the Gentiles and set them up for a standard, and their children have been carried in their arms, and their daughters have been carried upon their shoulders, behold these things of which are spoken are temporal; for thus are the covenants of the Lord with our fathers; and it meaneth us in the days to come, and also all our brethren who are of the house of Israel.
7 And it meaneth that the time cometh that after all the house of Israel have been scattered and confounded, that the Lord God will raise up a mighty nation among the Gentiles, yea, even upon the face of this land; and by them shall our seed be scattered.
8 And after our seed is scattered the Lord God will proceed to do a marvelous work among the Gentiles, which shall be of great worth unto our seed; wherefore, it is likened unto their being nourished by the Gentiles and being carried in their arms and upon their shoulders.
9 And it shall also be of worth unto the Gentiles; and not only unto the Gentiles but unto all the house of Israel, unto the making known of the covenants of the Father of heaven unto Abraham, saying: In thy seed shall all the kindreds of the earth be blessed.
10 And I would, my brethren, that ye should know that all the kindreds of the earth cannot be blessed unless he shall make bare his [holy] arm in the eyes of the nations.
11 Wherefore, the Lord God will proceed to make bare his [holy] arm in the eyes of all the nations, in bringing about his covenants and his gospel unto those who are of the house of Israel.
12 Wherefore, he will bring them again out of captivity, and they shall be gathered together to the lands of their inheritance; and they shall be brought out of obscurity and out of darkness; and they shall know that the Lord is their Savior and their Redeemer, the Mighty One of Israel.
13 And the blood of that great and abominable church, which is the whore of all the earth, shall turn upon their own heads; for they shall war among themselves, and the sword of their own hands shall fall upon their own heads, and they shall be drunken with their own blood.
14 And every nation which shall war against thee, O house of Israel, shall be turned one against another, and they shall fall into the pit which they digged to ensnare the people of the Lord. And all that fight against Zion shall be destroyed, and that great whore, who hath perverted the right ways of the Lord, yea, that great and abominable church, shall tumble to the dust and great shall be the fall of it.
15 For behold, saith the prophet, the time cometh speedily that Satan shall have no more power over the hearts of the children of men; for the day soon cometh that all the proud and they who do wickedly shall be as stubble; and the day cometh that they must be burned.
16 For the time soon cometh that the fulness of the wrath of God shall be poured out upon all the children of men; for he will not suffer that the wicked shall destroy the righteous.
17 Wherefore, he will preserve the righteous by his power, even if it so be that the fulness of his wrath must come, and the righteous be preserved, even unto the destruction of their enemies by fire. Wherefore, the righteous need not fear; for thus saith the prophet, they shall be saved, even if it so be as by fire.
18 Behold, my brethren, I say unto you, that these things must shortly come; yea, even blood, and fire, and vapor of smoke must come; and it must needs be upon the face of this earth; and it cometh unto men according to the flesh if it so be that they will harden their hearts against the Holy One of Israel.
19 For behold, the righteous shall not perish; for the time surely must come that all they who fight against Zion shall be cut off.
20 And the Lord will surely prepare a way for his people, unto the fulfilling of the words of Moses, which he spake, saying: A prophet shall the Lord your God raise up unto you, like unto me; him shall ye hear in all things whatsoever he shall say unto you. And it shall come to pass that all those who will not hear that prophet shall be cut off from among the people.
21 And now I, Nephi, declare unto you, that this prophet of whom Moses spake was the Holy One of Israel; wherefore, he shall execute judgment in righteousness.
22 And the righteous need not fear, for they are those who shall not be confounded. But it is the kingdom of the devil, which shall be built up among the children of men, which kingdom is established among them which are in the flesh—
23 For the time speedily shall come that all churches which are built up to get gain, and all those who are built up to get power over the flesh, and those who are built up to become popular in the eyes of the world, and those who seek the lusts of the flesh and the things of the world, and to do all manner of iniquity; yea, in fine, all those who belong to the kingdom of the devil are they who need fear, and tremble, and quake; they are those who must be brought low in the dust; they are those who must be consumed as stubble; and this is according to the words of the prophet.
24 And the time cometh speedily that the righteous must be led up as calves of the stall, and the Holy One of Israel must reign in dominion, and might, and power, and great glory.
25 And he gathereth his children from the four quarters of the earth; and he numbereth his sheep, and they know him; and there shall be one fold and one shepherd; and he shall feed his sheep, and in him they shall find pasture.
26 And because of the righteousness of his people, Satan has no power; wherefore, he cannot be loosed for the space of many years; for he hath no power over the hearts of the people, for they dwell in righteousness, and the Holy One of Israel reigneth.
27 And now behold, I, Nephi, say unto you that all these things must come according to the flesh.
28 But, behold, all nations, kindreds, tongues, and people shall dwell safely in the Holy One of Israel if it so be that they will repent.
29 And now I, Nephi, make an end; for I durst not speak further as yet concerning these things.
30 Wherefore, my brethren, I would that ye should consider that the things which have been written upon the plates of brass are true; and they testify that a man must be obedient to the commandments of God. (1 Nephi 22:3–30)

2 Nephi 4

The next mention of the Plates of Brass comes when Lehi blesses his children and grandchildren just before he passes away. As he was blessing his son Joseph he began to quote from Joseph who was sold into Egypt. Apparently (and appropriately), Joseph of old wrote many prophecies which are found on the Plates of Brass.

1 And now, I, Nephi, speak concerning the prophecies of which my father hath spoken, concerning Joseph, who was carried into Egypt.
2 For behold, he truly prophesied concerning all his seed. And the prophecies which he wrote, there are not many greater. And he prophesied concerning us, and our future generations; and they are written upon the plates of brass. (2 Nephi 4:1–2)

Here is what Lehi said:

3 And now, Joseph, my last-born, whom I have brought out of the wilderness of mine afflictions, may the Lord bless thee forever, for thy seed shall not utterly be destroyed.
4 For behold, thou art the fruit of my loins; and I am a descendant of Joseph who was carried captive into Egypt. And great were the covenants of the Lord which he made unto Joseph.
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.
6 For Joseph truly testified, saying: A seer shall the Lord my God raise up, who shall be a choice seer unto the fruit of my loins.
7 Yea, Joseph truly said: Thus saith the Lord unto me: A choice seer will I raise up out of the fruit of thy loins; and he shall be esteemed highly among the fruit of thy loins. And unto him will I give commandment that he shall do a work for the fruit of thy loins, his brethren, which shall be of great worth unto them, even to the bringing of them to the knowledge of the covenants which I have made with thy fathers.
8 And I will give unto him a commandment that he shall do none other work, save the work which I shall command him. And I will make him great in mine eyes; for he shall do my work.
9 And he shall be great like unto Moses, whom I have said I would raise up unto you, to deliver my people, O house of Israel.
10 And Moses will I raise up, to deliver thy people out of the land of Egypt.
11 But a seer will I raise up out of the fruit of thy loins; and unto him will I give power to bring forth my word unto the seed of thy loins—and not to the bringing forth my word only, saith the Lord, but to the convincing them of my word, which shall have already gone forth among them.
12 Wherefore, the fruit of thy loins shall write; and the fruit of the loins of Judah shall write; and that which shall be written by the fruit of thy loins, and also that which shall be written by the fruit of the loins of Judah, shall grow together, unto the confounding of false doctrines and laying down of contentions, and establishing peace among the fruit of thy loins, and bringing them to the knowledge of their fathers in the latter days, and also to the knowledge of my covenants, saith the Lord.
13 And out of weakness he shall be made strong, in that day when my work shall commence among all my people, unto the restoring thee, O house of Israel, saith the Lord.
14 And thus prophesied Joseph, saying: Behold, that seer will the Lord bless; and they that seek to destroy him shall be confounded; for this promise, which I have obtained of the Lord, of the fruit of my loins, shall be fulfilled. Behold, I am sure of the fulfilling of this promise;
15 And his name shall be called after me; and it shall be after the name of his father. And he shall be like unto me; for the thing, which the Lord shall bring forth by his hand, by the power of the Lord shall bring my people unto salvation.
16 Yea, thus prophesied Joseph: I am sure of this thing, even as I am sure of the promise of Moses; for the Lord hath said unto me, I will preserve thy seed forever.
17 And the Lord hath said: I will raise up a Moses; and I will give power unto him in a rod; and I will give judgment unto him in writing. Yet I will not loose his tongue, that he shall speak much, for I will not make him mighty in speaking. But I will write unto him my law, by the finger of mine own hand; and I will make a spokesman for him.
18 And the Lord said unto me also: I will raise up unto the fruit of thy loins; and I will make for him a spokesman. And I, behold, I will give unto him that he shall write the writing of the fruit of thy loins, unto the fruit of thy loins; and the spokesman of thy loins shall declare it.
19 And the words which he shall write shall be the words which are expedient in my wisdom should go forth unto the fruit of thy loins. And it shall be as if the fruit of thy loins had cried unto them from the dust; for I know their faith.
20 And they shall cry from the dust; yea, even repentance unto their brethren, even after many generations have gone by them. And it shall come to pass that their cry shall go, even according to the simpleness of their words.
21 Because of their faith their words shall proceed forth out of my mouth unto their brethren who are the fruit of thy loins; and the weakness of their words will I make strong in their faith, unto the remembering of my covenant which I made unto thy fathers.
22 And now, behold, my son Joseph, after this manner did my father of old prophesy.
23 Wherefore, because of this covenant thou art blessed; for thy seed shall not be destroyed, for they shall hearken unto the words of the book.
24 And there shall rise up one mighty among them, who shall do much good, both in word and in deed, being an instrument in the hands of God, with exceeding faith, to work mighty wonders, and do that thing which is great in the sight of God, unto the bringing to pass much restoration unto the house of Israel, and unto the seed of thy brethren. (2 Nephi 3:3–25)

All these writings on the Plates of Brass Nephi said he “delighted” in them and in his heart he “pondered” them:.

And upon these I write the things of my soul, and many of the scriptures which are engraven upon the plates of brass. For my soul delighteth in the scriptures, and my heart pondereth them, and writeth them for the learning and the profit of my children. (2 Nephi 4:15)

2 Nephi 5

When Nephi separated from his wicked brothers, he took the Plates of Brass with him. The information on the Plates of Brass gave Nephi the instructions for constructing many things, including a temple like Solomon’s:

12 And I, Nephi, had also brought the records which were engraven upon the plates of brass; and also the ball, or compass, which was prepared for my father by the hand of the Lord, according to that which is written.
13 And it came to pass that we began to prosper exceedingly, and to multiply in the land.
14 And I, Nephi, did take the sword of Laban, and after the manner of it did make many swords, lest by any means the people who were now called Lamanites should come upon us and destroy us; for I knew their hatred towards me and my children and those who were called my people.
15 And I did teach my people to build buildings, and to work in all manner of wood, and of iron, and of copper, and of brass, and of steel, and of gold, and of silver, and of precious ores, which were in great abundance.
16 And I, Nephi, did build a temple; and I did construct it after the manner of the temple of Solomon save it were not built of so many precious things; for they were not to be found upon the land, wherefore, it could not be built like unto Solomon’s temple. But the manner of the construction was like unto the temple of Solomon; and the workmanship thereof was exceedingly fine. (2 Nephi 5:12–16)

Mosiah 1:3

King Benjamin highly valued the Plates of Brass and made sure his three sons were taught in all the language of his fathers so that they could read and understand the writings on the Plates of Brass.

2 And it came to pass that he had three sons; and he called their names Mosiah, and Helorum, and Helaman. And he caused that they should be taught in all the language of his fathers, that thereby they might become men of understanding; and that they might know concerning the prophecies which had been spoken by the mouths of their fathers, which were delivered them by the hand of the Lord.
3 And he also taught them concerning the records which were engraven on the plates of brass, saying: My sons, I would that ye should remember that were it not for these plates, which contain these records and these commandments, we must have suffered in ignorance, even at this present time, not knowing the mysteries of God. (Mosiah 1:2–3)

Here we see that the Plates of Brass contain “the mysteries of God.”

Mosiah 10

The Plates of Brass were highly prized, even by the enemies of God. Nephi’s wicked brothers were upset they did not kill Nephi and obtain the Plates of Brass before he fled in the wilderness. They taught their children that Nephi was in the wrong and that he had stolen the Plates of Brass, thus, the Lamanites were forever trying to steal them back:

14 And his brethren were wroth with him because they understood not the dealings of the Lord; they were also wroth with him upon the waters because they hardened their hearts against the Lord.
15 And again, they were wroth with him when they had arrived in the promised land, because they said that he had taken the ruling of the people out of their hands; and they sought to kill him.
16 And again, they were wroth with him because he departed into the wilderness as the Lord had commanded him, and took the records which were engraven on the plates of brass, for they said that he robbed them.
17 And thus they have taught their children that they should hate them, and that they should murder them, and that they should rob and plunder them, and do all they could to destroy them; therefore they have an eternal hatred towards the children of Nephi. (Mosiah 10:14–18)

Alma 37

A masterful discourse by Alma to his son Helaman, now caretaker of the Plates of Brass. By this time, the Plates of Brass had been cared for, protected, and handed down for nearly 600 years. Still, their purpose and the promises associated with them were believed, trusted, and kept alive. To repeat, those promises say they will go forth to “every nation, tongue, and people” and by them many will be brought to a true understanding of God and Jesus Christ; or saved.

Alma also mentions that they “enlarged the knowledge” of his people, and had power to “convince” people of the error of their way; to cause them to “repent” and to rejoice in Jesus Christ their Redeemer. Alma wondered if they would not be used in some future day to again bring “many thousands” to turn from their stiffneckedness and sins and turn to Christ. The Plates of Brass may seem like a small thing, but Alma assures us that it is by “small and simple things” that “great things” are brought to pass:

1 And now, my son Helaman, I command you that ye take the records which have been entrusted with me;
2 And I also command you that ye keep a record of this people, according as I have done, upon the plates of Nephi, and keep all these things sacred which I have kept, even as I have kept them; for it is for a wise purpose that they are kept.
3 And these plates of brass, which contain these engravings, which have the records of the holy scriptures upon them, which have the genealogy of our forefathers, even from the beginning—
4 Behold, it has been prophesied by our fathers, that they should be kept and handed down from one generation to another, and be kept and preserved by the hand of the Lord until they should go forth unto every nation, kindred, tongue, and people, that they shall know of the mysteries contained thereon.
5 And now behold, if they are kept they must retain their brightness; yea, and they will retain their brightness; yea, and also shall all the plates which do contain that which is holy writ.
6 Now ye may suppose that this is foolishness in me; but behold I say unto you, that by small and simple things are great things brought to pass; and small means in many instances doth confound the wise.
7 And the Lord God doth work by means to bring about his great and eternal purposes; and by very small means the Lord doth confound the wise and bringeth about the salvation of many souls.
8 And now, it has hitherto been wisdom in God that these things should be preserved; for behold, they have enlarged the memory of this people, yea, and convinced many of the error of their ways, and brought them to the knowledge of their God unto the salvation of their souls.
9 Yea, I say unto you, were it not for these things that these records do contain, which are on these plates, Ammon and his brethren could not have convinced so many thousands of the Lamanites of the incorrect tradition of their fathers; yea, these records and their words brought them unto repentance; that is, they brought them to the knowledge of the Lord their God, and to rejoice in Jesus Christ their Redeemer.
10 And who knoweth but what they will be the means of bringing many thousands of them, yea, and also many thousands of our stiffnecked brethren, the Nephites, who are now hardening their hearts in sin and iniquities, to the knowledge of their Redeemer?
11 Now these mysteries are not yet fully made known unto me; therefore I shall forbear.
12 And it may suffice if I only say they are preserved for a wise purpose, which purpose is known unto God; for he doth counsel in wisdom over all his works, and his paths are straight, and his course is one eternal round.
13 O remember, remember, my son Helaman, how strict are the commandments of God. And he said: If ye will keep my commandments ye shall prosper in the land—but if ye keep not his commandments ye shall be cut off from his presence.
14 And now remember, my son, that God has entrusted you with these things, which are sacred, which he has kept sacred, and also which he will keep and preserve for a wise purpose in him, that he may show forth his power unto future generations.
15 And now behold, I tell you by the spirit of prophecy, that if ye transgress the commandments of God, behold, these things which are sacred shall be taken away from you by the power of God, and ye shall be delivered up unto Satan, that he may sift you as chaff before the wind.
16 But if ye keep the commandments of God, and do with these things which are sacred according to that which the Lord doth command you, (for you must appeal unto the Lord for all things whatsoever ye must do with them) behold, no power of earth or hell can take them from you, for God is powerful to the fulfilling of all his words.
17 For he will fulfil all his promises which he shall make unto you, for he has fulfilled his promises which he has made unto our fathers.
18 For he promised unto them that he would preserve these things for a wise purpose in him, that he might show forth his power unto future generations.
19 And now behold, one purpose hath he fulfilled, even to the restoration of many thousands of the Lamanites to the knowledge of the truth; and he hath shown forth his power in them, and he will also still show forth his power in them unto future generations; therefore they shall be preserved.
20 Therefore I command you, my son Helaman, that ye be diligent in fulfilling all my words, and that ye be diligent in keeping the commandments of God as they are written. (Alma 37:1–20)

Alma added additional details:

a. It will show forth God’s “power” to future (our) generations.

b. They are “sacred.”

c. Preserved for a future time (now).

d. God will “fulfill” His promises regarding the Plates of Brass.

e. No power on earth or hell will ever hurt the Plates of Brass.

f. They can be moved by the “power of God.”

Messiah

According to Nephi, there were more Old Testament prophets who testified about the coming Messiah than is mentioned in the Bible, and they spoke with greater specificity, including that He would be the “Son of God,” which proves that the coming Messiah was not some obscure thought, but was well known with many specifics, including “when” “where” by “whom,” where He would grow up, “what” He would do, etc., which means they were removed to obscure the coming Messiah. 

13 But, behold, ye not only deny my words, but ye also deny all the words which have been spoken by our fathers, and also the words which were spoken by this man, Moses, who had such great power given unto him, yea, the words which he hath spoken concerning the coming of the Messiah.
14 Yea, did he not bear record that the Son of God should come? And as he lifted up the brazen serpent in the wilderness, even so shall he be lifted up who should come.
15 And as many as should look upon that serpent should live, even so as many as should look upon the Son of God with faith, having a contrite spirit, might live, even unto that life which is eternal.
16 And now behold, Moses did not only testify of these things, but also all the holy prophets, from his days even to the days of Abraham.
17 Yea, and behold, Abraham saw of his coming, and was filled with gladness and did rejoice.
18 Yea, and behold I say unto you, that Abraham not only knew of these things, but there were many before the days of Abraham who were called by the order of God; yea, even after the order of his Son; and this that it should be shown unto the people, a great many thousand years before his coming, that even redemption should come unto them.
19 And now I would that ye should know, that even since the days of Abraham there have been many prophets that have testified these things; yea, behold, the prophet Zenos did testify boldly; for the which he was slain.
20 And behold, also Zenock, and also Ezias, and also Isaiah, and Jeremiah, (Jeremiah being that same prophet who testified of the destruction of Jerusalem) and now we know that Jerusalem was destroyed according to the words of Jeremiah. O then why not the Son of God come, according to his prophecy? (Helaman 8:13-20)

Though the writings of Isaiah escaped censorship (perhaps due to the complexity of his writing) Zenos, Zenock, Ezias and some of the writings of Jeremiah did not fare as well. We already learned of Zenock, Neum, and Zenos above, but not Ezias (not to be confused with Elias or Elijah – so far as we know).  Even the Bible mentions other books and prophets that are missing from modern Bible:s

• Samuel the seer (1Chr.29:29)
• Gad the seer (1Chr.29:29)
• Nathan the prophet (2Chr.9:29)
• Ahijah the prophet (2Chr.9:29)
• Shemaiah the prophet (2Chr.12:15)
• Iddo the prophet (2Chr.13:22)
• Book of Jehu (2Chr.20:34)
• Sayings of the Seers (2Chr.33:19)
• Enoch (Jude 1:14)

There are many known prophets (and significant people) of whom we have no writings including Adam, Peleg,  Melchizedek, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, etc.

Jacob

Reference to a prophecy by Jacob:

23 Moroni said unto them: Behold, we are a remnant of the seed of Jacob; yea, we are a remnant of the seed of Joseph, whose coat was rent by his brethren into many pieces; yea, and now behold, let us remember to keep the commandments of God, or our garments shall be rent by our brethren, and we be cast into prison, or be sold, or be slain.
24 Yea, let us preserve our liberty as a remnant of Joseph; yea, let us remember the words of Jacob, before his death, for behold, he saw that a part of the remnant of the coat of Joseph was preserved and had not decayed. And he said—Even as this remnant of garment of my son hath been preserved, so shall a remnant of the seed of my son be preserved by the hand of God, and be taken unto himself, while the remainder of the seed of Joseph shall perish, even as the remnant of his garment.
25 Now behold, this giveth my soul sorrow; nevertheless, my soul hath joy in my son, because of that part of his seed which shall be taken unto God.
26 Now behold, this was the language of Jacob. (Alma 46:23-26)

Zenos

Zenos was the most quoted Plates of Brass prophet not in the Bible. These are his references.

1 Nephi 19

10 And the God of our fathers, who were led out of Egypt, out of bondage, and also were preserved in the wilderness by him, yea, the God of Abraham, and of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, yieldeth himself, according to the words of the angel, as a man, into the hands of wicked men, to be lifted up, according to the words of Zenock, and to be crucified, according to the words of Neum, and to be buried in a sepulchre, according to the words of Zenos, which he spake concerning the three days of darkness, which should be a sign given of his death unto those who should inhabit the isles of the sea, more especially given unto those who are of the house of Israel.
11 For thus spake the prophet: The Lord God surely shall visit all the house of Israel at that day, some with his voice, because of their righteousness, unto their great joy and salvation, and others with the thunderings and the lightnings of his power, by tempest, by fire, and by smoke, and vapor of darkness, and by the opening of the earth, and by mountains which shall be carried up.
12 And all these things must surely come, saith the prophet Zenos. And the rocks of the earth must rend; and because of the groanings of the earth, many of the kings of the isles of the sea shall be wrought upon by the Spirit of God, to exclaim: The God of nature suffers.
13 And as for those who are at Jerusalem, saith the prophet, they shall be scourged by all people, because they crucify the God of Israel, and turn their hearts aside, rejecting signs and wonders, and the power and glory of the God of Israel.
14 And because they turn their hearts aside, saith the prophet, and have despised the Holy One of Israel, they shall wander in the flesh, and perish, and become a hiss and a byword, and be hated among all nations.
15 Nevertheless, when that day cometh, saith the prophet, that they no more turn aside their hearts against the Holy One of Israel, then will he remember the covenants which he made to their fathers.
16 Yea, then will he remember the isles of the sea; yea, and all the people who are of the house of Israel, will I gather in, saith the Lord, according to the words of the prophet Zenos, from the four quarters of the earth. (1 Nephi 19:10-16)

Allegory of Olive Vineyard

Jacob quotes a most extensive and impressive allegory of an olive “vineyard” by Zenos which begins:

1 BEHOLD, my brethren, do ye not remember to have read the words of the prophet Zenos, which he spake unto the house of Israel, saying:
2 Hearken, O ye house of Israel, and hear the words of me, a prophet of the Lord. (Jacob 5:1-2)

The full discourse fills the 5th chapter of Jacob 5 and is 77 verses long and ends:

77 And when the time cometh that evil fruit shall again come into my vineyard, then will I cause the good and the bad to be gathered; and the good will I preserve unto myself, and the bad will I cast away into its own place. And then cometh the season and the end; and my vineyard will I cause to be burned with fire. (Jacob 5:77)

Jacob 6

Book of Mormon Jacob was a mighty man of God who prized the writings of Zenos above all else, and was nourished one could say by what Zenos said, even quoting him in his parting words:

1 AND now, behold, my brethren, as I said unto you that I would prophesy, behold, this is my prophecy—that the things which this prophet Zenos spake, concerning the house of Israel, in the which he likened them unto a tame olive-tree, must surely come to pass.
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.
3 And how blessed are they who have labored diligently in his vineyard; and how cursed are they who shall be cast out into their own place! And the world shall be burned with fire.
4 And how merciful is our God unto us, for he remembereth the house of Israel, both roots and branches; and he stretches forth his hands unto them all the day long; and they are a stiffnecked and a gainsaying people; but as many as will not harden their hearts shall be saved in the kingdom of God. (Jacob 6:1-4)

This stanza is most profound for it identifies many elements of End Time events:

• Set His hand a “second time.”
• It will be the “last time.”
• “Servants of the Lord” i.e. Army of the Lord shall go forth (see Joel 2).
• In God’s “power.”
• “Nourish” to confirm and comfort the humble followers of Christ, i.e. “beauty for ashes.”
• “Prune” to chasten the disobedient, i.e. “ashes under their feet.”
• After His Army goes forth, the end will “soon come.”
• Tares will be separated from the wheat i.e. they will be “cast into their own place.”
• Those tares will be burned by fire, i.e. “world shall be burned by fire.”
• In that day, whoso shall call upon the Lord shall be saved.

Alma 33:1

A common theme in connection with the Plates of Brass is they will come forth in a day when “churches are built up to get gain.” In the following stanza, the writings of Zenos are called upon by Alma to comfort the poor among the Zoramites, who had been despised and kicked out of the synagogues, and they believed they could no longer worship God. Zenos said a person could worship God directly, outside of a church/synagogue:

1 NOW after Alma had spoken these words, they sent forth unto him desiring to know whether they should believe in one God, that they might obtain this fruit of which he had spoken, or how they should plant the seed, or the word of which he had spoken, which he said must be planted in their hearts; or in what manner they should begin to exercise their faith.
2 And Alma said unto them: Behold, ye have said that ye could not worship your God because ye are cast out of your synagogues. But behold, I say unto you, if ye suppose that ye cannot worship God, ye do greatly err, and ye ought to search the scriptures [Plates of Brass]; if ye suppose that they have taught you this, ye do not understand them.
3 Do ye remember to have read what Zenos, the prophet of old, has said concerning prayer or worship?
4 For he said: Thou art merciful, O God, for thou hast heard my prayer, even when I was in the wilderness; yea, thou wast merciful when I prayed concerning those who were mine enemies, and thou didst turn them to me.
5 Yea, O God, and thou wast merciful unto me when I did cry unto thee in my field; when I did cry unto thee in my prayer, and thou didst hear me.
6 And again, O God, when I did turn to my house thou didst hear me in my prayer.
7 And when I did turn unto my closet, O Lord, and prayed unto thee, thou didst hear me.
8 Yea, thou art merciful unto thy children when they cry unto thee, to be heard of thee and not of men, and thou wilt hear them.
9 Yea, O God, thou hast been merciful unto me, and heard my cries in the midst of thy congregations.
10 Yea, and thou hast also heard me when I have been cast out and have been despised by mine enemies; yea, thou didst hear my cries, and wast angry with mine enemies, and thou didst visit them in thine anger with speedy destruction.
11 And thou didst hear me because of mine afflictions and my sincerity; and it is because of thy Son that thou hast been thus merciful unto me, therefore I will cry unto thee in all mine afflictions, for in thee is my joy; for thou hast turned thy judgments away from me, because of thy Son. (Alma 33:1-11)

Alma 33:12

This proves that the Messiah would be the “Son of God” and Zenos prophesied such:

11 And thou didst hear me because of mine afflictions and my sincerity; and it is because of thy Son that thou hast been thus merciful unto me, therefore I will cry unto thee in all mine afflictions, for in thee is my joy; for thou hast turned thy judgments away from me, because of thy Son.
12 And now Alma said unto them: Do ye believe those scriptures which have been written by them of old?
13 Behold, if ye do, ye must believe what Zenos said; for, behold he said: Thou hast turned away thy judgments because of thy Son.
14 Now behold, my brethren, I would ask if ye have read the scriptures? If ye have, how can ye disbelieve on the Son of God?
15 For it is not written that Zenos alone spake of these things, but Zenock also spake of these things— (Alma 33:11-15)

Alma 34

In the following stanza we see how important the words of Zenos were for teaching others about the importance of a Savior:

1 AND now it came to pass that after Alma had spoken these words unto them he sat down upon the ground, and Amulek arose and began to teach them, saying:
2 My brethren, I think that it is impossible that ye should be ignorant of the things which have been spoken concerning the coming of Christ, who is taught by us to be the Son of God; yea, I know that these things were taught unto you bountifully before your dissension from among us.
3 And as ye have desired of my beloved brother that he should make known unto you what ye should do, because of your afflictions; and he hath spoken somewhat unto you to prepare your minds; yea, and he hath exhorted you unto faith and to patience—
4 Yea, even that ye would have so much faith as even to plant the word in your hearts, that ye may try the experiment of its goodness.
5 And we have beheld that the great question which is in your minds is whether the word be in the Son of God, or whether there shall be no Christ.
6 And ye also beheld that my brother has proved unto you, in many instances, that the word is in Christ unto salvation.
7 My brother has called upon the words of Zenos, that redemption cometh through the Son of God, and also upon the words of Zenock; and also he has appealed unto Moses, to prove that these things are true.
8 And now, behold, I will testify unto you of myself that these things are true. Behold, I say unto you, that I do know that Christ shall come among the children of men, to take upon him the transgressions of his people, and that he shall atone for the sins of the world; for the Lord God hath spoken it.
9 For it is expedient that an atonement should be made; for according to the great plan of the Eternal God there must be an atonement made, or else all mankind must unavoidably perish; yea, all are hardened; yea, all are fallen and are lost, and must perish except it be through the atonement which it is expedient should be made.

(Alma 34:7)

Helaman 8

Here is a brief mention of an already quoted stanza under Messiah above.

19 And now I would that ye should know, that even since the days of Abraham there have been many prophets that have testified these things; yea, behold, the prophet Zenos did testify boldly; for the which he was slain. (Helaman 8:19)

Helaman 15

The words of Zenos brought many of the Lamanites to a faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, to a “change of heart” and “repentance”:

7 And behold, ye do know of yourselves, for ye have witnessed it, that as many of them as are brought to the knowledge of the truth, and to know of the wicked and abominable traditions of their fathers, and are led to believe the holy scriptures, yea, the prophecies of the holy prophets, which are written, which leadeth them to faith on the Lord, and unto repentance, which faith and repentance bringeth a change of heart unto them—
8 Therefore, as many as have come to this, ye know of yourselves are firm and steadfast in the faith, and in the thing wherewith they have been made free.
9 And ye know also that they have buried their weapons of war, and they fear to take them up lest by any means they should sin; yea, ye can see that they fear to sin—for behold they will suffer themselves that they be trodden down and slain by their enemies, and will not lift their swords against them, and this because of their faith in Christ.
10 And now, because of their steadfastness when they do believe in that thing which they do believe, for because of their firmness when they are once enlightened, behold, the Lord shall bless them and prolong their days, notwithstanding their iniquity—
11 Yea, even if they should dwindle in unbelief the Lord shall prolong their days, until the time shall come which hath been spoken of by our fathers, and also by the prophet Zenos, and many other prophets, concerning the restoration of our brethren, the Lamanites, again to the knowledge of the truth—
12 Yea, I say unto you, that in the latter times the promises of the Lord have been extended to our brethren, the Lamanites; and notwithstanding the many afflictions which they shall have, and notwithstanding they shall be driven to and fro upon the face of the earth, and be hunted, and shall be smitten and scattered abroad, having no place for refuge, the Lord shall be merciful unto them.
13 And this is according to the prophecy, that they shall again be brought to the true knowledge, which is the knowledge of their Redeemer, and their great and true shepherd, and be numbered among his sheep.
14 Therefore I say unto you, it shall be better for them than for you except ye repent.
15 For behold, had the mighty works been shown unto them which have been shown unto you, yea, unto them who have dwindled in unbelief because of the traditions of their fathers, ye can see of yourselves that they never would again have dwindled in unbelief.
16 Therefore, saith the Lord: I will not utterly destroy them, but I will cause that in the day of my wisdom they shall return again unto me, saith the Lord.

 (Helaman 15:7-16)

Zenos gave specific prophecies about the other sheep in America, their being lost and restored. No wonder his prophecies were removed. The ruling elite would not want the citizenry to know there was another land, full of their brothers and sisters to whom they could seek refuge.

3 Nephi 10:9

Zenos prophesied what would happen to the earth at the coming of Jesus after His resurrection and we wonder if Zenos also prophesied of His coming in the last days:

14 And now, whoso readeth, let him understand; he that hath the scriptures, let him search them, and see and behold if all these deaths and destructions by fire, and by smoke, and by tempests, and by whirlwinds, and by the opening of the earth to receive them, and all these things are not unto the fulfilling of the prophecies of many of the holy prophets.
15 Behold, I say unto you, Yea, many have testified of these things at the coming of Christ, and were slain because they testified of these things.
16 Yea, the prophet Zenos did testify of these things, and also Zenock spake concerning these things, because they testified particularly concerning us, who are the remnant of their seed. (3 Nephi 10:14-16)

 Zenock

Zenock is always quoted in connection with the prophet Zenos, however Zenos is always mentioned first, which means Zenock came after Zenos. These are the verses that mention Zenock:

• 1 Nephi 19:10
• Alma 33:15
• Alma 34:7
• Helaman 8:20
• 3 Nephi 10:16

Dead Sea Scrolls

The Dead Sea Scrolls Digital Project at the Israel Museum has several fine examples of how to showcase recently discovered ancient documents.

The Dead Sea Scrolls Digital Project is funded by George Blumenthal and the Center for Online Judaic Studies, which first envisioned the project in order to make these manuscripts widely accessible and to create an innovative resource for scholars and the public alike. Dr. Adolfo D. Roitman, Lizbeth and George Krupp Curator of the Dead Sea Scrolls and Head of the Shrine of the Book, and Dr. Susan Hazan, Curator of New Media and Head of the Museum’s Internet Office, directed the project for the Israel Museum, working in collaboration with Eyal Fink, Technical Lead, and Eyal Miller, New Business Development Manager, at Google’s R&D Center in Israel.¹

The Israel Antiquities Authority is proud to present a free online digitized virtual library of the scrolls www.deadseascrolls.org.il.

See Also

The Gold Plates

http://cudl.lib.cam.ac.uk/collections/genizah

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Verses

3 For behold, Laban hath the record of the Jews and also a genealogy of my forefathers, and they are engraven upon plates of brass. (1 Nephi 3:3)

12 And he desired of Laban the records which were engraven upon the plates of brass, which contained the genealogy of my father. (1 Nephi 3:12)

24 And it came to pass that we went in unto Laban, and desired him that he would give unto us the records which were engraven upon the plates of brass, for which we would give unto him our gold, and our silver, and all our precious things. (1 Nephi 3:24)

16 And I also knew that the law was engraven upon the plates of brass. (1 Nephi 4:16)

24 And I also spake unto him that I should carry the engravings, which were upon the plates of brass, to my elder brethren, who were without the walls. (1 Nephi 4:24)

38 And it came to pass that we took the plates of brass and the servant of Laban, and departed into the wilderness, and journeyed unto the tent of our father. (1 Nephi 4:38)

10 And after they had given thanks unto the God of Israel, my father, Lehi, took the records which were engraven upon the plates of brass, and he did search them from the beginning. (1 Nephi 5:10)

14 And it came to pass that my father, Lehi, also found upon the plates of brass a genealogy of his fathers; wherefore he knew that he was a descendant of Joseph; yea, even that Joseph who was the son of Jacob, who was sold into Egypt, and who was preserved by the hand of the Lord, that he might preserve his father, Jacob, and all his household from perishing with famine. (1 Nephi 5:14)

18 That these plates of brass should go forth unto all nations, kindreds, tongues, and people who were of his seed. (1 Nephi 5:18)

19 Wherefore, he said that these plates of brass should never perish; neither should they be dimmed any more by time. And he prophesied many things concerning his seed. (1 Nephi 5:19)

23 And he said: Behold it proceedeth out of the mouth of a Jew. And I, Nephi, beheld it; and he said unto me: The book that thou beholdest is a record of the Jews, which contains the covenants of the Lord, which he hath made unto the house of Israel; and it also containeth many of the prophecies of the holy prophets; and it is a record like unto the engravings which are upon the plates of brass, save there are not so many; nevertheless, they contain the covenants of the Lord, which he hath made unto the house of Israel; wherefore, they are of great worth unto the Gentiles. (1 Nephi 13:23)

21 And he surely did show unto the prophets of old all things concerning them; and also he did show unto many concerning us; wherefore, it must needs be that we know concerning them for they are written upon the plates of brass. (1 Nephi 19:21)

22 Now it came to pass that I, Nephi, did teach my brethren these things; and it came to pass that I did read many things to them, which were engraven upon the plates of brass, that they might know concerning the doings of the Lord in other lands, among people of old. (1 Nephi 19:22)

1 And now it came to pass that after I, Nephi, had read these things which were engraven upon the plates of brass, my brethren came unto me and said unto me: What meaneth these things which ye have read? Behold, are they to be understood according to things which are spiritual, which shall come to pass according to the spirit and not the flesh? (1 Nephi 22:1)

30 Wherefore, my brethren, I would that ye should consider that the things which have been written upon the plates of brass are true; and they testify that a man must be obedient to the commandments of God. (1 Nephi 22:30)

2 For behold, he truly prophesied concerning all his seed. And the prophecies which he wrote, there are not many greater. And he prophesied concerning us, and our future generations; and they are written upon the plates of brass. (2 Nephi 4:2)

15 And upon these I write the things of my soul, and many of the scriptures which are engraven upon the plates of brass. For my soul delighteth in the scriptures, and my heart pondereth them, and writeth them for the learning and the profit of my children. (2 Nephi 4:15)

12 And I, Nephi, had also brought the records which were engraven upon the plates of brass; and also the ball, or compass, which was prepared for my father by the hand of the Lord, according to that which is written. (2 Nephi 5:12)

14 And they discovered a people, who were called the people of Zarahemla. Now, there was great rejoicing among the people of Zarahemla; and also Zarahemla did rejoice exceedingly, because the Lord had sent the people of Mosiah with the plates of brass which contained the record of the Jews. (Omni 1:14)

3 And he also taught them concerning the records which were engraven on the plates of brass, saying: My sons, I would that ye should remember that were it not for these plates, which contain these records and these commandments, we must have suffered in ignorance, even at this present time, not knowing the mysteries of God. (Mosiah 1:3)

16 And moreover, he also gave him charge concerning the records which were engraven on the plates of brass; and also the plates of Nephi; and also, the sword of Laban, and the ball or director, which led our fathers through the wilderness, which was prepared by the hand of the Lord that thereby they might be led, every one according to the heed and diligence which they gave unto him. (Mosiah 1:16)

16 And again, they were wroth with him because he departed into the wilderness as the Lord had commanded him, and took the records which were engraven on the plates of brass, for they said that he robbed them. (Mosiah 10:16)

11 Therefore he took the records which were engraven on the plates of brass, and also the plates of Nephi, and all the things which he had kept and preserved according to the commandments of God, after having translated and caused to be written the records which were on the plates of gold which had been found by the people of Limhi, which were delivered to him by the hand of Limhi; (Mosiah 28:11)

20 And now, as I said unto you, that after king Mosiah had done these things, he took the plates of brass, and all the things which he had kept, and conferred them upon Alma, who was the son of Alma; yea, all the records, and also the interpreters, and conferred them upon him, and commanded him that he should keep and preserve them, and also keep a record of the people, handing them down from one generation to another, even as they had been handed down from the time that Lehi left Jerusalem. (Mosiah 28:20)

3 And these plates of brass, which contain these engravings, which have the records of the holy scriptures upon them, which have the genealogy of our forefathers, even from the beginning— (Alma 37:3)

2 And Nephi, the son of Helaman, had departed out of the land of Zarahemla, giving charge unto his son Nephi, who was his eldest son, concerning the plates of brass, and all the records which had been kept, and all those things which had been kept sacred from the departure of Lehi out of Jerusalem. (3 Nephi 1:2)

17 Behold, our father Jacob also testified concerning a remnant of the seed of Joseph. And behold, are not we a remnant of the seed of Joseph? And these things which testify of us, are they not written upon the plates of brass which our father Lehi brought out of Jerusalem? (3 Nephi 10:17)

Question: Should statues of the angel Moroni top Mormon temples when nothing in the temple comes from the Book of Mormon? Wouldn’t a statue of Joseph surrounded by women be more appropriate?

Question: If the Temple Endowment is a requirement to enter the presence of God, i.e., the Celestial Kingdom, and if baptism “for the remission of sins” is required of all children when they turn eight (as if they suddenly had sins they needed to be repented of and baptized of), then why the arbitrary endowment age of 18 (for males) and 19 (for females)?

Question: Who set those ages? They followed the lead of the Freemasons from which the Endowment was derived (proven below) and offer no explanation or justification for those ages which is a smoking gun that the Endowment was borrowed/stolen from the Freemasons and not a revelation from God, and therefore not a legitimate requirement to come into the presence of God.

Question: What becomes of those who die between the age of 8 and 18/19 who die without a temple endowment (because of that arbitrary age)?

Question: Why are Endowments for the Dead performed for the dead who were eight years of age and up, instead of the (arbitrary) age of 18/19 (used to be 19/21)?

Point: There is nothing in the temple ritual that an 8, 10, 12, or 16 year old could not understand, the atonement is much more difficult and it is presumed they can and do understand it by the age of eight.

Question: What are the New Covenant/New Testament temples?

YE ARE THE TEMPLE OF GOD. (1 Cor. 3:16)

YE ARE THE TEMPLE OF THE LIVING GOD. (1 Cor. 6:19)

PRESENT YOUR BODIES A LIVING SACRIFICE HOLY (Romans 12:1)

BUT HE SPAKE OF THE TEMPLE OF HIS BODY. (John 2:21)

 

The multitude of Mormon temples gives members and others the illusion that their numbers are growing. Behold the match box size temples that are slightly larger than two houses and half the size of a meeting house:

Fresno, CA

As identified on our What Mormons Should Know page, falling retention numbers are what’s growing and the temples are luxury items.

To clear the air so members aren’t puffed up in pride by the seemingly large number of temples, we direct the readers attention to Masonic temples, there are over 13,000 of them in the United Sates alone.

Do Mormon temples resemble Masonic temples? Yes they do. In fact, the Mormon temple ritual is based on the Masonic ritual.

The similarities between the Mormon temple ritual and the Masonic ritual are presumed to be either inconsequential or pedantic ramblings.

Consider the following:

MORMONS	MASONS
“The five points of fellowship are given by putting the inside of the right foot to the inside of the Lord’s, the inside of your knee to his, laying your breast close to his, your left hands on each other’s backs, and each one putting his mouth to the other’s ear, in which position the Lord whispers:”Lord—’This is the sign of the token:”‘Health to the navel, marrow in the bones,… (Temple Mormonism—Its Evolution, Ritual and Meaning, New York, 1931, p. 22)	“He (the candidate) is raised on what is called the five points of fellowship,…This is done by putting the inside of your right foot to the inside of the right foot of the person to whom you are going to give the word, the inside of your knee to his, laying your right breast against his, your left hands on the back of each other, and your mouths to each other’s right ear (in which position alone you are permitted to give the word), and whisper the word Mahhah-bone…He is also told that Mahhah-bone signifies marrow in the bone.” (Capt. William Morgan, Freemasonry Exposed, 1827, pp. 84-85)
“…we will not reveal any of the secrets of this, the first token of the Aaronic priesthood, with its accompanying name, sign or penalty. Should we do so, we agree that our throats be cut from ear to ear and our tongues torn out by their roots.” (Temple Mormonism, p. 18)	“…I will…never reveal any part or parts, art or arts, point or points of the secret arts and mysteries of ancient Freemasonry… binding myself under no less penalty than to have my throat cut across, my tongue torn out by the roots,…” (Freemasonry Exposed, pp. 21-22)
“Sign—In executing the sign of the penalty, the right hand, palm down, is drawn sharply across the throat,…(Temple Mormonism, p. 18)	“This is given by drawing your right hand across your throat, the thumb next to your throat,…”(Freemasonry Exposed, p. 23)
“The Grip-Hands clasped, pressing the knuckle of the index finger with the thumb.”(Temple Mormonism, page 18)	“The right hands are joined together as in shaking hands and each sticks his thumb nail into the third joint or upper end of the forefinger…”(Freemasonry Exposed, p. 23)
“…Peter now takes Adam by the right hand and asks:) “Peter—’What is that?’ “Adam—’The first token of the Aaronic Priesthood. “Peter—’Has it a name?’ “Adam—’It has.’ “Peter—’Will you give it to me?’ “Adam—’I can not, for it is connected with my new name, but this is the sign.’ “(Temple Mormonism, p. 20)	“The Master and candidate holding each other by the grip, as before described. the Master says, ‘What is this?’ “Ans. ‘A grip.’ “‘A grip of what?’ “Ans. ‘The grip of an Entered Apprentice Mason.’ “‘Has it a name?’ “Ans. ‘It has.’ “‘Will you give it to me?’ “Ans. ‘I did not so receive it, neither can I so impart it.'”(Freemasonry Exposed, pp. 23-24)
“We and each of us do covenant and promise that we will not reveal the secrets of this, the Second Token of the Aaronic Priesthood, with its accompanying name, sign, grip or penalty. Should we do so, we agree to have our breasts cut open and our hearts and vitals torn from our bodies and given to the birds of the air and the beasts of the field.'”(Temple Mormonism, p. 20)	“‘I,… most solemnly and sincerely promise an and swear, that I will not give the degree of a Fellow Craft Mason to any one of an inferior degree, nor to any other being in the known world,…binding myself under no less penalty than to have my left breast torn open and my heart and vitals taken from thence…to become a prey to the wild beasts of the field, and vulture of the air,…”(Freemasonry Exposed, p. 52)
“The sign is made by placing the left arm on the square at the level of the shoulder, placing the right hand across the chest with the thumb extended and then drawing it rapidly from left to right and dropping it to the side.”(Temple Mormonism, p. 20)	“The sign is given by drawing your right hand-flat, with the palm of it next to your breast, across your breast from the left to the right side with some quickness, and dropping it down by your side;…”(Freemasonry Exposed, p. 53)
“The Grip is given by clasping the hand and pressing the thumb in the hollow between the first and second knuckles of the hand.” (Temple Mormonism, page 20)	“…the pass-grip, is given by taking each other by the right hand, as though going to shake hands, and each putting his thumb between the fore and second fingers where they join the hand, and pressing the thumb between the joints.”(Freemasonry Exposed, page 54)
“The name is the given name of the candidate.” (Temple Mormonism, p. 20)	“…the name of it is Shibboleth.” (Freemasonry Exposed, p. 54)
“Peter—’We and each of us do covenant and promise that we will not reveal any of the secrets of this, the First Token of the Melchizedek Priesthood, with its accompanying name, sign or penalty. Should we do so, we agree that our bodies be cut asunder in the midst and all our bowels gush out.'”(Temple Mormonism, p. 20)	“I,…most solemnly and sincerely promise and swear, in addition to my former obligations, that I will not give the degree of a Master Mason to any of an inferior degree, nor to any other being in the known world,…binding myself under no less penalty than to have my body severed in two in the midst, and divided to the north and south, my bowels burnt to ashes…” (Freemasonry Exposed, pp. 73-75)
“In this, the left hand is placed palm upright, directly in front of the body, there being a right angle formed at the elbow; the right hand, palm down, is placed under the elbow of the left; then drawn sharply across the bowels, and boths hands are dropped at the side.” (Salt Lake Tribune, Feb. 12, 1906)	“The Penal Sign is given by putting the right hand to the left side of the bowels, the hand open, with the thumb next to the belly, and drawing it across the belly, and letting it fall; this is done tolerably quick. This alludes to the penalty of the obligation: ‘Having my body severed in twain,’ etc.” (Freemasonry Exposed, p. 77)
“The Name of this token is the Son, meaning the Son of God.” (Temple Mormonism, p. 20)	“…the word or name is Tubal Cain.” (Freemasonry Exposed, p. 77)
“Lord—’What is this?’ “Endowee—’The second token of the Melchizedek Priesthood—The Patriarchal Grip or Sure Sign of the Nail.” “Lord—’Has it a name?’ “Endowee—’It has.’ “Lord—’Will you give it to me?’ “Endowee—’I can not for I have not yet received it.'” (Temple Mormonism, p. 22)	“…’What is this?’ “Ans.’A grip.’ “‘A grip-of what?’ “Ans. ‘The grip of a Fellow Craft Mason.’ “‘Has it a name?’ “Ans. ‘It has.’ “‘Will you give it to me?’ “Ans. ‘I did not so receive it, neither can I so impart it.’ (Freemasonry Exposed, p. 54)
“‘You and each of you do covenant and promise that you will not have sexual intercourse with any of the opposite sex except your lawful wife or wives who are given you by the holy priesthood.'” (Temple Mormonism, page 21)	“Furthermore do I promise and swear that I will not violate the chastity of a Master Mason’s wife, mother, sister, or daughter, I knowing them to be such, nor suffer it to be done by others, if in my power to prevent it.”(Freemasonry Exposed, pp.  74-75)
“The Grip is given by placing the thumb of back of hand and the tip of forefinger in the centre of palm, representing the piercing of the hand by a nail. It is called ‘The Sign of the Nail.'” (Temple Mormonism, p. 20)	“Grand Commander now explains the grip and word of a Knight of Malta. He says to candidate—Thomas, reach hither thy finger, and feel the print of the nails; [they join right hands, and force the first finger into the centre of the palm;]…” (Richardson’s Monitor of Free-Masonry, p. 126)
“‘You and each of you do solemnly promise and vow that you will pray, and never cease to pray, and never cease to importune high heaven to avenge the blood of the prophets…” (Temple Mormonism, p. 21)	“We promise and swear, by the living God, always supreme, to revenge the death of our ancestor…” (Richardson’s Monitor of Free-Masonry, p. 188)
“The candidate, being directed to these washing and dressing rooms and having divested himself of all his clothing, awaits his time in the bath…”The candidate then retires to the dressing room, where he puts on a shirt and a pair of white pants and white stockings.” (Temple Mormonism, pp. 14-15)	“The candidate during the time is divested of all his apparel (shirt excepted) and furnished with a pair of drawers kept in the lodge for the use of candidates. The candidate is then blindfolded, his left foot bare, his right in a slipper, his left breast and arm naked, and a rope called a Cable-tow round his neck…” (Freemasonry Exposed, p. 18)
“Adam (Turning to the audience) — ‘In your bundles brethren and sisters, you will each find an apron, you will now put it on.'” (Temple Mormonism, p. 17)	“The Master returns to his seat while the Wardens are examining the candidate, and gets a lambskin or white apron, presents it to the candidate, and observes, ‘Brother, I now present you with a lambskin or white apron. It is an emblem of innocence, and the badge of a Mason…”(Freemasonry Exposed, p. 24)
“As the candidate is washed, the officiant hurries through the lustration ritual…the candidate is passed on to another attendant and is anointed with oil. The oil is very definitely applied to the various organs of his body. The pronouncements used in this ceremony are much the same as those used in the lustration ritual.” (Temple Mormonism, p. 15)	“Master orders the basin of perfumed water and a clean napkin to be brought to him, and directs candidate to wash his hands, which he does….”Master takes a box of perfumed ointment and anoints candidate on his head, eye, mouth, heart, the tip of his right ear, hand, and foot, and says—You are now, my dear brother, received a member of our society;…” (Richardson’s Monitor of Free-Masonry, p. 167)
“With these garments I give you a new name which is never to be divulged to anyone. The name I shall give you is ______.'” (Temple Mormonism, p. 15)	“I also present you with a new name; it is CAUTION;…” (Freemasonry Exposed, p. 25)
“The candidate is now taken to one of the openings between the pillars by one of the Temple workers, who gives three raps with a mallet on the pillar. The Lord parts the veil slightly and asks what is wanted.”Temple Worker—’The man Adam having been true and faithful in all things now desires to converse with the Lord through the veil.'”Lord—’See that his garments are properly marked, present him at the veil, and his request shall be granted.'”Attendants or Temple workers prompt the candidate in his answers and grips….”The Endowee is then taken to the opening by the attendant, who gives three more raps with the mallet.”Lord—’What is wanted?'”Attendant—’Adam, having conversed with the Lord through the veil, now desires to enter his presence.'”Lord—’Admit him.'”As he says this he extends his hand and welcomes the candidate into the Glory room.” (Temple Mormonism, p. 22)	“Principal Sojourner—Companions, we will pass on, and make and alarm at the Third Veil. [Stamps nine times.]”Master of the Third Veil—Who comes there? Who dare approach this Third Veil of our sacred Tabernacle?”Principal Sojourner—Three weary sojourners from Babylon, who have come to assist in the rebuilding of the house of the Lord, without the hope of fee or reward.”Master of Third Veil—How do you expect to enter?”Principal Sojourner—By the words, sign, and word of exhortation of the Master of the Second Veil.”Master of Third Veil—Give them.”Principal Sojourner—Shem, Japeth and Adoniram. [Thrusts his hand into his bosom as Master of Second Veil had done.]”Master of Third Veil—They are right. You can enter the Third Veil.”The candidates enter.” (Richardson’s Monitor of Free-Masonry, pp. 76-77)
“Elohim—… ‘This man who is now being operated upon is Michael…When he awakes he… will be known as Adam’.” (Temple Mormonism, p. 16)	“Thrice Puissant Grand Master, representing Father Adam, is stationed in the east.” (Richardson’s Monitor of Free-Masonry, p. 185)
“When all is quiet, a man dressed in white flannels, representing Elohim, come from behind the curtain. . .” (Temple Mormonism, p. 15)	“One of the members now personates the Deity, behind the bush, and calls out Moses! Moses!” (Richardson’s Monitor of Free-Masonry, p. 73)
“We now have the veil explained to us. We are told that it represents the veil of the temple. The marks are the same as those on the garments—the compass on the left and the square on the right side.” (Temple Mormonism, p. 22)	“…the three great lights in Masonry are the Holy Bible, Square and Compass….the Square, to square our actions, and the Compass to keep us in due bounds with all mankind.” (Freemasonry Exposed, pp. 22-23)
“The marks are the same as those on the garments—the compass on the left…” (Temple Mormonism, p.  22)	“The candidate then enters, the Senior Deacon at the same time pressing his naked left breast with the point of the compass,…” (Freemasonry Exposed, p. 19)
“…the square on the right side,…” (Temple Mormonism, p. 22)	“As he enters, the angle of the square is pressed hard against his naked right breast,…” (Freemasonry Exposed, p. 50)
“…one of the Temple workers, . . . gives three raps with a mallet…” (Temple Mormonism, p. 22)	“…he gives a rap with the common gavelor mallet,…”(Freemasonry Exposed, p. 11)
Source: “Captain Morgan and the Masonic Influence in Mormonism,” Chapter 13 (pp. 151-169) from: The Mormon Kingdom, Vol. 1

Coincidence? Not hardly. Joseph took husbands’ wives, borrowed doctrine from the Restoration Movement, copied the United Order, and wrapped Dr. Graham’s health code in a revelation.

Consider the Sequence of Events.

Joseph became a Mason, then setup up a Masonic lodge prior to creating his version of it called “the endowment.”

Pre-1830 – Hyrum and Joseph Sr. Were Masons

“Hyrum Smith received his first three degrees of Masonry in Ontario County, N.Y.” (Hyrum Smith—Patriarch, Salt Lake City, 1963, p. 269)

April-May 1838 – Marries Lucinda Pendleton Morgan Harris

“Lucinda was the widow of famed anti-Mason William Morgan who revealed the secrets of Masonry in a book entitled Illustrations of Masonry by One of the Fraternity Who has Devoted Thirty Years to the Subject, 1826. Lucinda was married to George Washington Harris at the time, both were faithful church members.”

October 1841 – Permitted to Hold Masonic Lodge Meetings in Nauvoo

March 1842 – Permitted to Setup a Lodge in Nauvoo

“With the acquiescence of the Prophet, members of the Church already Masons petitioned the Grand Master of Illinois for permission to set up a lodge in Nauvoo. In answer they were granted permission, in October, 1841, to hold lodge meetings; but it was March 15, 1842, before authority was given to set up a lodge in Nauvoo and to induct new members. JOSEPH SMITH BECAME A MEMBER.” (John A. Widtsoe, Evidences and Reconciliations, pp. 357-358)

March 15, 1842 – Joseph Receives First Degree of Masonry Above His Store in Nauvoo

“In the evening (March 15, 1842) I RECEIVED THE FIRST DEGREE IN FREE MASONRY in the Nauvoo Lodge, assembled in my general business office.” (History of the Church, Vol. 4, p. 551)

May 4, 1842 – Joseph Teaches “The Endowment” Above His Store in Nauvoo

“Wednesday, 4.— I spent the day in the upper part of the store, that is in my private office (so called because in that room I keep my sacred writings, translate ancient records, and receive revelations) and in my general business office, or lodge room (that is where the MASONIC fraternity meet occasionally for want of a better place) in council with General James Adams, of Springfield, Patriarch Hyrum Smith, Bishops Newel K. Whitney and George Miller, and President Brigham Young and Elders Heber C. Kimball and Willard Richards, instructing them in the principles and order of the Priesthood, attending to WASHINGS, ANOINTINGS, ENDOWMENTS and the communication OF KEYS, pertaining to the Aaronic Priesthood, and so on to the highest order of the Melchisedek Priesthood,…” (History of the Church, Vol. 5, pp. 1-2)

Anyone claiming that Joseph’s “endowment” was not influenced by Masonry – either by content or by timing is misled. (See The Mysteries of Godliness: A History of Mormon Temple Worship by David John Buerger, 2002 and Development of LDS Temple Worship, 1846-2000: A Documentary History, by Devery S. Anderson, 2011.)

Buildings

“The main object was to build unto the Lord a house whereby He could reveal unto His people the ordinances of his house and the glories of His kingdom, and teach the people the way of salvation: for there are certain ordinances and principles that, when they are taught and practiced, must be done in a place or house built for that purpose.” (Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, p. 308)

Presumably the first century church was taught the full gospel by Jesus just like Joseph allegedly was and therefore they knew whether there was a need “for a special place or house.”

There is no mention of such places in either the New Testament or the Book of Mormon. There are however these references:

48 Howbeit the most High dwelleth not in temples made with hands; as saith the prophet,
49 Heaven is my throne, and earth is my footstool: what house will ye build me? saith the Lord: or what is the place of my rest?
50 Hath not my hand made all these things?
51 Ye stiffnecked and uncircumcised in heart and ears, ye do always resist the Holy Ghost: as your fathers did, so do ye. (Acts 7)

2 And Alma said unto them: Behold, ye have said that ye could not worship your God because ye are cast out of your synagogues. But behold, I say unto you, if ye suppose that ye cannot worship God, ye do greatly err, and ye ought to search the scriptures; if ye suppose that they have taught you this, ye do not understand them. (Alma 33)

1879 Newspaper Printing of the Temple Ritual

Washing & Anointing

“I had to step into a long bath, about half full of water, when another woman proceeded to wash me…This woman poured the oil out of the spoon into Bathsheba’s hand, who immediately put it on my head, ears, eyes, mouth, and every part of by body, and as she greased me, she muttered a kind of prayer over each member of my body…My bosom, that I might nourish the children whom I might raise by my husband…and another part of my body, that I might raise up a godly seed”

New Name: when remembered will KEEP AWAY EVIL SPIRITS.

Garment: if worn NO HARM WILL BEFALL YOU.

First Chapters of Genesis Re-enacted / Against America

“They then proceeded to give us the first grip of the Aaronic or Lesser Priesthood [she describes the grip]. We were then made to swear: ‘To obey the laws of the Mormon Church and all they enjoin, in preference to those of the United States’.” [She describes the penalty and sign that accompany this grip.]

Variety of Denominations Represented – Don’t Believe

Salvation By Accepting the Last Days Prophet (i.e. Joseph)

“Peter had presented to us the gospel of Christ–at least he told us that Christ had come to die for the original sin, but that we had got to work out our own salvation, and that in the last days a prophet should be raised up to save all those that would believe in his divine mission;”

Polygamy Required For Exaltation / Husbands As God To Wives

“second grip of the Aaronic or Lesser Priesthood…The men then took the oath of chastity and the woman the same; but they don’t consider polygamy at all unchaste, but said that it was an Heaven ordained law, and that a man to be exalted in the world to come must have more than one wife. The woman then took the oath of obedience to their husbands, having to look up to them as their gods. It is not possible for a woman to go to Christ, except through her husband.”

Sware to Avenge Deaths of Joseph & Hyrum / Against America

“first grip of the Melchizedek or Higher Priesthood…We were then made to swear to avenge the death of Joseph Smith, the martyr, together with that of his brother, Hyrum, on this American nation, and that we would teach our children and children’s children to do so.” [She describes the penalty.]

Prayer Circle / Women Veiled / Not Allowed in the Circle

“highest or grand grip of the Melchizedek priesthood…The men then formed a circle round the altar, linking their arms straight across and placed their hands on one another’s shoulders. The priest knelt at the altar and took hold of one of the men’s hands and prayed. He told us that the electric current of prayer passed through the circle and that was the most efficacious kind of prayer. The women stood outside the circle with their veils covering their faces, the only time throughout the ceremony that they did so.”

Husband Controls Wife’s Entry into Heaven

“The priest then led the man up to the west side of the vail (sic), where he had to put his hands through and clasp the man or Peter (to whom he whispered his new name, and the only one he ever tells, for they must never tell their celestial names to their wives, although the wives must tell theirs to their husbands) through the holes in the vail (sic). He was then allowed to go through to the other side, which was supposed to be heaven, and this is where a strong imagination might be of some use, for anything more unlike heaven, I can’t conceive.” (Mrs. G.S.R., “Lifting the Vail(sic): The Endowment House Mysteries Fully Exposed,” Salt Lake Daily Tribune, 28 September 1879)

The pinnacle of Mormon life is the temple endowment. Since 1879 however there have been significant changes.

Women participate in the prayer circle now although they must still veil themselves. Single women and women who marry outside of the Mormon Church can now receive their endowments:

“The rule of the temple is that a woman who marries outside the Church cannot receive a recommend to go through the temple, because her husband would be very apt to ask her to reveal the temple ordinances and if she refused to do so it would cause contention between them.” (1916 letter from Anthon Lund and Charles W. Penrose to Edward H. Snow cited in Devery Anderson, The Development of LDS Temple Worship, 1846-2000: A Documentary History, 2011, p. 172)

Threats of death, avenging Joseph’s blood and the anti-American sentiments are gone (Reference).

Men and women are no longer nude during the washing and anointing and the garment no longer covers the entire body. Women have a more direct line to God than through their husbands, and polygamy is not mentioned.

The profundity of the temple diminishes when objectively viewed. Indeed, it appears that the re-enactment of the transgression of Adam and Eve is used to teach obedience, and the enactment of a variety of paid and trained clergy a warning not to be deceived.

IS THE TEMPLE PROFOUND?

A. OBEY

 
B. DON’T TRUST MINISTERS
C. PLEDGE EVERYTHING TO “THE CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST OF LATTER DAY SAINTS“

The promise of immunity from evil and harm is presumptuous.

All and all, there are no parables to contemplate, no elucidations on how to discern, how to parent, how to serve, the nature of God, baptism, the Holy Spirit – or any proofs that the Spirit of God is present like the speaking in tongues, spontaneous worship, prophecy, or being slain in the Spirit.

Unless a Latter-day Saint experiences the Spirit AS DESCRIBED IN THE BIBLE AND BOOK OF MORMON in the temple, then they are as the blind leading the blind.

Second Endowment also called Second Anointing or Second Blessing

The Second Anointing was initiated by Joseph Smith on September 28, 1843 when he and Emma received it first. Whereas the First Endowment promised blessings, the Second Endowment guaranteed them:

• Sealing power to bind & loose, curse & bless.
• Blessings of Abraham, Isaac & Jacob.
• The Holy Spirit of Promise bestowed.
• Blessed to live as long as life is desirable.
• Blessed to attain unto the Godhood.
• Power to be a member of a Godhead bestowed.
• Sealed up to eternal life.
• Power to have the heavens opened.

Without question, this temple endowment is even more obscure than Joseph’s polygamous marriages to fourteen year old virgins. (Yes, they were sexual in nature.)

Q. Is the Second Anointing only available to couples?
A. Yes.

Q. How many were performed?
A. 1843 – 19 men / 17 women; 1846 when Nauvoo temple closed – 603 living / 9 dead; (20 yr. lapse in Utah) by 1889 – 694 performed in the Endowment House; by 1949 – 32901 (only 8 between 1937 and 1949). Records after 1949 are not accessible to the public.

Q. Are special rooms designated for the Second Endowment in temples?
A. Yes.

Q. What is the latest known document that refers to the Second Anointing?
A. Letters of Invitation by President Spencer W. Kimball.

As more and more receivers of the Second Endowment default on their church committment choosing the gospel of the Book of Mormon and Bible instead, more and more information will be forth coming.

When knowledge of this more secretive, unreachable Second Endowment reaches the lay membership (particularly single women who are single by no fault of their own), church leadership should prepare for a backlash never before known. (Devery S. Anderson, The Development of LDS Temple Worship, 1846-2000: A Documentary History, 2011; David John Buerger, The Mysteries of Godliness: A History of Mormon Temple Worship, 2002)

What are the true requirements to be with God?

11 And all the angels stood round ABOUT THE THRONE, and about the elders and the four beasts, and fell before the throne on their faces, and worshipped God,
12 Saying, Amen: Blessing, and glory, and wisdom, and thanksgiving, and honour, and power, and might, be unto our God for ever and ever. Amen.
13 And one of the elders answered, saying unto me, What are these which are arrayed in WHITE ROBES? and whence came they?
14 And I said unto him, Sir, thou knowest. And he said to me, These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have WASHED THEIR ROBES AND MADE THEM WHITE IN THE BLOOD OF THE LAMB.
15 Therefore are they BEFORE THE THRONE OF GOD, and serve him day and night in his temple: and HE THAT SITTETH ON THE THRONE SHALL DWELL AMONG THEM.
16 They shall hunger no more, neither thirst any more; neither shall the sun light on them, nor any heat.
17 For THE LAMB WHICH IS IN THE MIDST OF THE THRONE shall feed them (Revelation 7:11-17.)

The requirement to dwell in the presence of God is to have your robe or garment washed in the blood of Jesus through faith in him:

10 They are righteous forever for BECAUSE OF THEIR FAITH IN THE LAMB OF GOD THEIR GARMENTS ARE MADE WHITE IN HIS BLOOD.
11 And the angel said unto me: Look! And I looked, and beheld three generations pass away in righteousness and THEIR GARMENTS WERE WHITE EVEN LIKE UNTO THE LAMB OF GOD and the angel said unto me: THESE ARE MADE WHITE IN THE BLOOD OF THE LAMB BECAUSE OF THEIR FAITH IN HIM. (1 Nephi 12:10-11.)

36 And this I know, because the Lord hath said he DWELLETH NOT IN UNHOLY TEMPLES, but in the hearts of the righteous doth he dwell; yea, and he has also said that the righteous shall sit down in his kingdom, to go no more out; but THEIR GARMENTS SHOULD BE MADE WHITE THROUGH THE BLOOD OF THE LAMB. (Alma 34:36.)

If Jesus is not your personal Savior, then get ready for outer darkness, i.e. forever out of the relm of God and forever in the dark.

No Other Name Than Jesus

21 And now, behold, my beloved brethren, this is the way; and there is none other way nor name given under heaven whereby man can be saved in the kingdom of God. And now, behold, this is the doctrine of Christ, and the only and true doctrine of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost, which is one God, without end. Amen. (2Nephi 31)

Only Through Christ

8 And it came to pass that I was three days and three nights in the most bitter pain and anguish of soul; and never, until I did cry out unto the Lord Jesus Christ for mercy, did I receive a remission of my sins. But behold, I did cry unto him and I did find peace to my soul.
9 And now, my son, I have told you this that ye may learn wisdom, that ye may learn of me that there is no other way or means whereby man can be saved, only in and through Christ. Behold, he is the life and the light of the world. Behold, he is the word of truth and righteousness. (Alma 38)

9 O remember, remember, my sons, the words which king Benjamin spake unto his people; yea, remember that there is no other way nor means whereby man can be saved, only through the atoning blood of Jesus Christ, who shall come; yea, remember that he cometh to redeem the world. (Helaman 5)

Saved By Grace

20 And now, my brethren, I have spoken plainly that ye cannot err. And as the Lord God liveth that brought Israel up out of the land of Egypt, and gave unto Moses power that he should heal the nations after they had been bitten by the poisonous serpents, if they would cast their eyes unto the serpent which he did raise up before them, and also gave him power that he should smite the rock and the water should come forth; yea, behold I say unto you, that as these things are true, and as the Lord God liveth, there is none other name given under heaven save it be this Jesus Christ, of which I have spoken, whereby man can be saved.
23 For we labor diligently to write, to persuade our children, and also our brethren, to believe in Christ, and to be reconciled to God; for we know that it is by grace that we are saved, after all we can do. (2 Nephi 25)

Salvation and The Atonement

6 I say unto you, if ye have come to a knowledge of the goodness of God, and his matchless power, and his wisdom, and his patience, and his long-suffering towards the children of men; and also, the atonement which has been prepared from the foundation of the world, that thereby salvation might come to him that should put his trust in the Lord, and should be diligent in keeping his commandments, and continue in the faith even unto the end of his life, I mean the life of the mortal body—
7 I say, that this is the man who receiveth salvation, through the atonement which was prepared from the foundation of the world for all mankind, which ever were since the fall of Adam, or who are, or who ever shall be, even unto the end of the world.
8 And this is the means whereby salvation cometh. And there is none other salvation save this which hath been spoken of; neither are there any conditions whereby man can be saved except the conditions which I have told you.
9 Believe in God; believe that he is, and that he created all things, both in heaven and in earth; believe that he has all wisdom, and all power, both in heaven and in earth; believe that man doth not comprehend all the things which the Lord can comprehend.
10 And again, believe that ye must repent of your sins and forsake them, and humble yourselves before God; and ask in sincerity of heart that he would forgive you; and now, if you believe all these things see that ye do them. (Mosiah 4)

Must Be Washed Clean

20 I say unto you, can ye think of being saved when you have yielded yourselves to become subjects to the devil?
21 I say unto you, ye will know at that day that ye cannot be saved; for there can no man be saved except his garments are washed white; yea, his garments must be purified until they are cleansed from all stain, through the blood of him of whom it has been spoken by our fathers, who should come to redeem his people from their sins. (Alma 5)

No Unclean Thing

37 And I say unto you again that he cannot save them in their sins; for I cannot deny his word, and he hath said that no unclean thing can inherit the kingdom of heaven; therefore, how can ye be saved, except ye inherit the kingdom of heaven? Therefore, ye cannot be saved in your sins. (Alma 11)

13 And now, because ye are compelled to be humble blessed are ye; for a man sometimes, if he is compelled to be humble, seeketh repentance; and now surely, whosoever repenteth shall find mercy; and he that findeth mercy and endureth to the end the same shall be saved. (Alma 32)

Must Repent

21 And if the Lord shall say—Because of thine iniquities thou shalt be cut off from my presence—he will cause that it shall be so.
22 And wo unto him to whom he shall say this, for it shall be unto him that will do iniquity, and he cannot be saved; therefore, for this cause, that men might be saved, hath repentance been declared.
23 Therefore, blessed are they who will repent and hearken unto the voice of the Lord their God; for these are they that shall be saved.
24 And may God grant, in his great fulness, that men might be brought unto repentance and good works, that they might be restored unto grace for grace, according to their works.
25 And I would that all men might be saved. But we read that in the great and last day there are some who shall be cast out, yea, who shall be cast off from the presence of the Lord;
26 Yea, who shall be consigned to a state of endless misery, fulfilling the words which say: They that have done good shall have everlasting life; and they that have done evil shall have everlasting damnation. And thus it is. Amen. (Helaman 12)

Must Have Faith, Hope & Charity

20 Wherefore, there must be faith; and if there must be faith there must also be hope; and if there must be hope there must also be charity.
21 And except ye have charity ye can in nowise be saved in the kingdom of God; neither can ye be saved in the kingdom of God if ye have not faith; neither can ye if ye have no hope. (Moroni 10)

Must Believe, Repent and Be Baptized

23 And he commandeth all men that they must repent, and be baptized in his name, having perfect faith in the Holy One of Israel, or they cannot be saved in the kingdom of God.
24 And if they will not repent and believe in his name, and be baptized in his name, and endure to the end, they must be damned; for the Lord God, the Holy One of Israel, has spoken it. (2Nephi 9)

18 Therefore, repent all ye ends of the earth, and come unto me, and believe in my gospel, and be baptized in my name; for he that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned; and signs shall follow them that believe in my name. (Ether 4)

No More Shedding of Blood

18 I am the light and the life of the world. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end.
19 And ye shall offer up unto me no more the shedding of blood; yea, your sacrifices and your burnt offerings shall be done away, for I will accept none of your sacrifices and your burnt offerings.
20 And ye shall offer for a sacrifice unto me a broken heart and a contrite spirit. And whoso cometh unto me with a broken heart and a contrite spirit, him will I baptize with fire and with the Holy Ghost, even as the Lamanites, because of their faith in me at the time of their conversion, were baptized with fire and with the Holy Ghost, and they knew it not.
21 Behold, I have come unto the world to bring redemption unto the world, to save the world from sin.
22 Therefore, whoso repenteth and cometh unto me as a little child, him will I receive, for of such is the kingdom of God. Behold, for such I have laid down my life, and have taken it up again; therefore repent, and come unto me ye ends of the earth, and be saved. (3 Nephi 9)

Jesus’ Simple Doctrine of Salvation

31 Behold, verily, verily, I say unto you, I will declare unto you my doctrine.
32 And this is my doctrine, and it is the doctrine which the Father hath given unto me; and I bear record of the Father, and the Father beareth record of me, and the Holy Ghost beareth record of the Father and me; and I bear record that the Father commandeth all men, everywhere, to repent and believe in me.
33 And whoso believeth in me, and is baptized, the same shall be saved; and they are they who shall inherit the kingdom of God.
34 And whoso believeth not in me, and is not baptized, shall be damned.
35 Verily, verily, I say unto you, that this is my doctrine, and I bear record of it from the Father; and whoso believeth in me believeth in the Father also; and unto him will the Father bear record of me, for he will visit him with fire and with the Holy Ghost.
36 And thus will the Father bear record of me, and the Holy Ghost will bear record unto him of the Father and me; for the Father, and I, and the Holy Ghost are one.
37 And again I say unto you, ye must repent, and become as a little child, and be baptized in my name, or ye can in nowise receive these things.
38 And again I say unto you, ye must repent, and be baptized in my name, and become as a little child, or ye can in nowise inherit the kingdom of God.
39 Verily, verily, I say unto you, that this is my doctrine, and whoso buildeth upon this buildeth upon my rock, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against them.
40 And whoso shall declare more or less than this, and establish it for my doctrine, the same cometh of evil, and is not built upon my rock; but he buildeth upon a sandy foundation, and the gates of hell stand open to receive such when the floods come and the winds beat upon them.
41 Therefore, go forth unto this people, and declare the words which I have spoken, unto the ends of the earth. (3 Nephi 11)

Little Children Already Saved

10 Behold I say unto you that this thing shall ye teach—repentance and baptism unto those who are accountable and capable of committing sin; yea, teach parents that they must repent and be baptized, and humble themselves as their little children, and they shall all be saved with their little children.
11 And their little children need no repentance, neither baptism. Behold, baptism is unto repentance to the fulfilling the commandments unto the remission of sins. (Moroni 8)

The Righteous Will Be Physically Saved

12 And it was the more righteous part of the people who were saved, and it was they who received the prophets and stoned them not; and it was they who had not shed the blood of the saints, who were spared—(3 Nephi 10)

Cities Will Be Physically Saved

12 Yea, wo unto this great city of Zarahemla; for behold, it is because of those who are righteous that it is saved; yea, wo unto this great city, for I perceive, saith the Lord, that there are many, yea, even the more part of this great city, that will harden their hearts against me, saith the Lord.
13 But blessed are they who will repent, for them will I spare. But behold, if it were not for the righteous who are in this great city, behold, I would cause that fire should come down out of heaven and destroy it.
14 But behold, it is for the righteous’ sake that it is spared. But behold, the time cometh, saith the Lord, that when ye shall cast out the righteous from among you, then shall ye be ripe for destruction; yea, wo be unto this great city, because of the wickedness and abominations which are in her. (Helaman 13)

The Book of Mormon follows the Bible in regards to the Sabbath, and is associated with the Law of Moses:

5 And now, behold, two hundred years had passed away, and the people of Nephi had waxed strong in the land. They observed to keep the law of Moses and the sabbath day holy unto the Lord. And they profaned not; neither did they blaspheme. And the laws of the land were exceedingly strict. (Jarom 1:5)

The prophet Abinadi recited the Ten Commandments to the wicked king Noah and his priests:

16 Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy.
17 Six days shalt thou labor, and do all thy work;
18 But the seventh day, the sabbath of the Lord thy God, thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy man-servant, nor thy maid-servant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates;
19 For in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, and the sea, and all that in them is; wherefore the Lord blessed the sabbath day, and hallowed it. (Mosiah 13:16-19)

The point is not which day of the week it should occur on, but that a person apply the principle of one in seven.

When Jesus visited the people of The Book of Mormon after his resurrection, he said nothing regarding the Sabbath Day. He did however say that sacrifices and outward offerings should be replaced with the offerings of a contrite spirit and a broken heart:

18 I am the light and the life of the world. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end.
19 And ye shall offer up unto me no more the shedding of blood; yea, your sacrifices and your burnt offerings shall be done away, for I will accept none of your sacrifices and your burnt offerings.
20 And ye shall offer for a sacrifice unto me a broken heart and a contrite spirit. And whoso cometh unto me with a broken heart and a contrite spirit, him will I baptize with fire and with the Holy Ghost. (3 Nephi 9:18-20)

It is unfounded to claim that one’s salvation is based upon whether they keep a sabbath day; or upon which day of the week they keep it. The Book of Mormon is very clear what the requirements of salvation are, and this is not one of them:

33 Therefore, keep these sayings which I have commanded you that ye come not under condemnation; for wo unto him whom the Father condemneth.
34 And I give you these commandments because of the disputations which have been among you. And blessed are ye if ye have no disputations among you. (3 Nephi 18:33-34.)

The doctrine Jesus taught was purposeful and specific. What was the purpose? To stop disputations! Those looking for something to judge others by should remember what Paul said:

Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days: (Colossians 2:16.)

All Will Be Restored

43 The spirit and the body shall be reunited again in its perfect form ; both limb and joint shall be restored to its proper frame, even as we now are at this time; and we shall be brought to stand before God, knowing even as we know now, and have a bright recollection of all our guilt.
44 Now, this restoration shall come to all, both old and young, both bond and free, both male and female, both the wicked and the righteous; and even there shall not so much as a hair of their heads be lost; but every thing shall be restored to its perfect frame, as it is now, or in the body, and shall be brought and be arraigned before the bar of Christ the Son, and God the Father, and the Holy Spirit, which is one Eternal God, to be judged according to their works, whether they be good or whether they be evil.
45 Now, behold, I have spoken unto you concerning the death of the mortal body, and also concerning the resurrection of the mortal body. I say unto you that this mortal body is raised to an immortal body, that is from death, even from the first death unto life, that they can die no more; their spirits uniting with their bodies, never to be divided; thus the whole becoming spiritual and immortal, that they can no more see corruption. ( Alma 11)

The First Resurrection

19 For were it not for the redemption which he hath made for his people, which was prepared from the foundation of the world, I say unto you, were it not for this, all mankind must have perished.
20 But behold, the bands of death shall be broken, and the Son reigneth, and hath power over the dead; therefore, he bringeth to pass the resurrection of the dead.
21 And there cometh a resurrection, even a first resurrection; yea, even a resurrection of those that have been, and who are, and who shall be, even until the resurrection of Christ—for so shall he be called.
22 And now, the resurrection of all the prophets, and all those that have believed in their words, or all those that have kept the commandments of God, shall come forth in the first resurrection; therefore, they are the first resurrection.
23 They are raised to dwell with God who has redeemed them; thus they have eternal life through Christ, who has broken the bands of death.
24 And these are those who have part in the first resurrection; and these are they that have died before Christ came, in their ignorance, not having salvation declared unto them. And thus the Lord bringeth about the restoration of these; and they have a part in the first resurrection, or have eternal life, being redeemed by the Lord.
25 And little children also have eternal life.
26 But behold, and fear, and tremble before God, for ye ought to tremble; for the Lord redeemeth none such that rebel against him and die in their sins; yea, even all those that have perished in their sins ever since the world began, that have wilfully rebelled against God, that have known the commandments of God, and would not keep them; these are they that have no part in the first resurrection . (Mosiah 15)

Jesus’ Appearance After The Resurrection

20 And many of the people did inquire concerning the place where the Son of God should come; and they were taught that he would appear unto them after his resurrection; and this the people did hear with great joy and gladness. ( Alma 16)

15 And it came to pass that the multitude went forth, and thrust their hands into his side, and did feel the prints of the nails in his hands and in his feet; and this they did do, going forth one by one until they had all gone forth, and did see with their eyes and did feel with their hands, and did know of a surety and did bear record, that it was he, of whom it was written by the prophets, that should come. (3 Nephi 11)

Graves Opened, Many Appeared to the Living

7 and it came to pass that he saith unto Nephi Bring forth the record which ye have kept
8 and when Nephi had brought forth the records and laid them before him he cast his eyes upon them and saith
9 verily I say unto you I commanded my servant Samuel the Lamanite that he should testify unto this people that at the day that the Father should glorify his name in me that there were many saints which should arise from the dead and should appear unto many and should minister unto them and he saith unto them Were it not so
10 and his disciples answered him and said Yea Lord Samuel did prophesy according to thy words and they were all fulfilled
11 and Jesus saith unto them How be it that ye have not written this thing that many saints did arise and appear unto many and did minister unto them
12 and it came to pass that Nephi remembered that this thing had not been written
13 and it came to pass that Jesus commanded that it should be written therefore it was written according as he commanded (3 Nephi 23:7-13)

Death Swallowed Up By The Resurrection

28 And they did look upon shedding the blood of their brethren with the greatest abhorrence; and they never could be prevailed upon to take up arms against their brethren; and they never did look upon death with any degree of terror, for their hope and views of Christ and the resurrection; therefore, death was swallowed up to them by the victory of Christ over it.
29 Therefore, they would suffer death in the most aggravating and distressing manner which could be inflicted by their brethren, before they would take the sword or cimeter to smite them. ( Alma 27)

Resurrection By Way of The Fall

6 For as death hath passed upon all men, to fulfill the merciful plan of the great Creator, there must needs be a power of resurrection, and the resurrection must needs come unto man by reason of the fall; and the fall came by reason of transgression; and because man became fallen they were cut off from the presence of the Lord. (2 Nephi 9)

Resurrection is Requisite and Just

2 I say unto thee, my son, that the plan of restoration is requisite with the justice of God; for it is requisite that all things should be restored to their proper order. Behold, it is requisite and just, according to the power and resurrection of Christ, that the soul of man should be restored to its body, and that every part of the body should be restored to itself. ( Alma 41)

The Atonement Brought the Resurrection

23 But God ceaseth not to be God, and mercy claimeth the penitent, and mercy cometh because of the atonement; and the atonement bringeth to pass the resurrection of the dead; and the resurrection of the dead bringeth back men into the presence of God; and thus they are restored into his presence, to be judged according to their works, according to the law and justice. ( Alma 42)

Resurrection and Redemption

17 But behold, the resurrection of Christ redeemeth mankind, yea, even all mankind, and bringeth them back into the presence of the Lord. (Helaman 14)

25 Now, if it had not been for the plan of redemption, which was laid from the foundation of the world, there could have been no resurrection of the dead; but there was a plan of redemption laid, which shall bring to pass the resurrection of the dead, of which has been spoken. ( Alma 12)

To Endless Life or Endless Damnation

7 And if Christ had not risen from the dead, or have broken the bands of death that the grave should have no victory, and that death should have no sting, there could have been no resurrection.
8 But there is a resurrection, therefore the grave hath no victory, and the sting of death is swallowed up in Christ.
9 He is the light and the life of the world; yea, a light that is endless, that can never be darkened; yea, and also a life which is endless, that there can be no more death.
10 Even this mortal shall put on immortality, and this corruption shall put on incorruption, and shall be brought to stand before the bar of God, to be judged of him according to their works whether they be good or whether they be evil—
11 If they be good, to the resurrection of endless life and happiness; and if they be evil, to the resurrection of endless damnation, being delivered up to the devil, who hath subjected them, which is damnation—(Mosiah 16)

Resurrection Brings Hope

41 And what is it that ye shall hope for? Behold I say unto you that ye shall have hope through the atonement of Christ and the power of his resurrection, to be raised unto life eternal, and this because of your faith in him according to the promise. ( Moroni 7)

The Rapture topic is far more complex than most understand. There is more than one. There is one for the wicked and one for the righteous. They are both contingent upon the state of things just before Our Lord returns, therefore, the following verses may or may not apply.

24 And the time cometh speedily that the righteous must be led up as calves of the stall, and the Holy One of Israel must reign in dominion, and might, and power, and great glory.
25 And he gathereth his children from the four quarters of the earth; and he numbereth his sheep, and they know him; and there shall be one fold and one shepherd; and he shall feed his sheep, and in him they shall find pasture.
27 And now behold, I, Nephi, say unto you that all these things must come according to the flesh. (1 Nephi 22:24-25, 27)

16 Then they that feared the Lord spake often one to another, and the Lord hearkened and heard; and a book of remembrance was written before him for them that feared the Lord, and that thought upon his name.
17 And they shall be mine, saith the Lord of Hosts, in that day when I make up my jewels; and I will spare them as a man spareth his own son that serveth him.
18 Then shall ye return and discern between the righteous and the wicked, between him that serveth God and him that serveth him not. (3 Nephi 24:16-18; Malachi 3:16-18)

25 And may the Lord bless you, and keep your garments spotless, that ye may at last be brought to sit down with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and the holy prophets who have been ever since the world began, having your garments spotless even as their garments are spotless, in the kingdom of heaven to go no more out.” (Alma 7:25)

36 And this I know, because the Lord hath said he dwelleth not in unholy temples, but in the hearts of the righteous doth he dwell; yea, and he has also said that the righteous shall sit down in his kingdom, to go no more out; but their garments should be made white through the blood of the Lamb. (Alma 34:36)

This is what the D&C says about polygamy:

16 Wherefore, it is lawful that he should have ONE WIFE, and they twain shall be ONE FLESH, and all this that the earth might answer the end of its creation; (D&C 49, 1831)

This is what the Book of Mormon says about polygamy:

27 Wherefore my brethren hear me and hearken to the word of the Lord for there shall not any man among you have save it be one wife and concubines he shall have none. (Jacob 2)

The greater context reads thus:

23 But the word of God burdens me because of your grosser crimes. For behold, thus saith the Lord: This people begin to wax in iniquity; they understand not the scriptures, for they seek to excuse themselves in committing whoredoms, because of the things which were written concerning David, and Solomon his son.
24 Behold, David and Solomon truly had many wives and concubines, which thing was abominable before me, saith the Lord.
25 Wherefore, thus saith the Lord, I have led this people forth out of the land of Jerusalem, by the power of mine arm, that I might raise up unto me a righteous branch from the fruit of the loins of Joseph.
26 Wherefore, I the Lord God will not suffer that this people shall do like unto them of old.
27 Wherefore, my brethren, hear me, and hearken to the word of the Lord: For there shall not any man among you have save it be ONE WIFE; and concubines he shall have none;
28 For I, the Lord God, delight in the chastity of women. And whoredoms are an abomination before me; thus saith the Lord of Hosts.
29 Wherefore, this people shall keep my commandments, saith the Lord of Hosts, or cursed be the land for their sakes.
30 For if I will, saith the Lord of Hosts, raise up seed unto me, I will command my people; otherwise they shall hearken unto these things.
31 For behold, I, the Lord, have seen the sorrow, and heard the mourning of the daughters of my people in the land of Jerusalem, yea, and in all the lands of my people, because of the wickedness and abominations of their husbands.
32 And I will not suffer, saith the Lord of Hosts, that the cries of the fair daughters of this people, which I have led out of the land of Jerusalem, shall come up unto me against the men of my people, saith the Lord of Hosts.
33 For they shall not lead away captive the daughters of my people because of their tenderness save I shall visit them with a sore curse even unto destruction for they shall not commit whoredoms like unto them of old saith the Lord of Hosts.
34 And now behold, my brethren, ye know that these commandments were given to our father, Lehi; wherefore, ye have known them before; and ye have come unto great condemnation; for ye have done these things which ye ought not to have done. (Jacob 2)

Note, God is mindful of how polygamy affects children, the daughters. He is mindful that tender feelings are tied to chastity. Only in very rare circumstances will God "command" its practice in order to "raise up seed." Joseph did not raise up any seed by any of his polygamous marriages. Indeed, he married many women who were:

1. Already married
2. Already married to faithful Mormon men
3. Already sealed to their faithful Mormon husbands
4. Already able to have children by their faithful Mormon husbands
5. Already had children by their faithful Mormon husbands

This is what the Bible say about polygamy:

• Bishops: the husband of one wife -1 Tim. 3:2
• Elders: the husband of one wife -Titus 1:6
• Deacons: the husband of one wife -1 Tim. 3:12

The Mormon Church has acknowledged that Joseph’s polygamous marriages were sexual in nature and to already married women (polyandry):

For a Church-approved work to state that polygamy involved “conjugal relations” and use the term polyandry is landmark. (The Joseph Smith Papers, Journals, Volume 2: December 1841–April 1843)

Here is a comment by one of the sons of Joseph Smith:

"April 24, 1863, President Smith wrote a letter to Elder Charles Derry, first foreign missionary of the Reorganized Church, then in England. This is a mingling of public and private sentiment, but of interest in studying the character of the man. It is as follow:"

"There is a crisis approaching in Utah affairs. Brigham and Wells and Taylor are under bonds to answer in the United States courts for polygamy contrary to the statute prohibiting the practice in the territories." (Herman C. Smith, ed., Journal of History, RLDS, vol. 12, no. 1, Jan. 1919, p. 7)

"Happy am I (me thinks) who have never seen the full and fatal effects of the doctrine you and I so much deprecate, except under the influence of what mellowing features time and distance intervene. Nevertheless, enough has been refracted through intellectual sources to create and foster a complete and never to be eradicated loathing of its defenders and propagators, and intense hatred of the thing itself. My earliest inclinations were against it; and the testimonies of the gospel have clasped and manacled the hideousness of its evil upon my heart of hearts. And may God so order it that you and I may long stand as shoulder to shoulder in the great fight of light and truth as against darkness and error, to the final overthrow of the doctrine of polygamy and all its adjuncts, amen." (p. 8)

In everything there must be two or more witnesses of which there are none for the type of polygamy Joseph Smith practiced.