Many Afflictions.....

1 I, NEPHI, having been born of goodly parents, therefore I was taught somewhat in all the learning of my father; and having seen many afflictions in the course of my days, nevertheless, having been highly favored of the Lord in all my days; yea, having had a great knowledge of the goodness and the mysteries of God, therefore I make a record of my proceedings in my days.

(Book of Mormon | 1 Nephi 1:1)

There is a gem tucked away in this scripture.  It is a great truth that the lot of this life is "many afflictions" and being "highly favored of the Lord in all my days."   We receive a good deal of both.  I love how throughout Nephi's record he notes the afflictions but rejoices and and focuses on the the blessings.  That perspective allows him to have joy and to move forward.  Laman and Lemuel can't quite do that.  They fall into the trap of allowing the negative to color their perspective and to drive their reactions.  Nephi and Laman and Lemuel (why can't you say one without the other?) went through the exact same travails but ended up in two completely different destinations at the end of the day.  Good lesson to learn.

"...the thoughts and intents of the heart."

Proverb's injunction that "as a man thinketh in his heart so is he" is an interesting proposition.  Does a heart think?  Don't we usually assign the thinking part of our being to the brain?  Religion is most often concerned with the heart above and beyond the mind when it comes to judging the character of a man or woman.  

 As Jesus said,  "But those things which proceed out of the mouth come forth from the heart; and they defile the man."  (New Testament | Matthew 15:18)  "Wherefore think ye evil in your hearts?"  (New Testament | Matthew 9:4)

Hebrews uses the term "the thoughts and intents of the heart." (New Testament | Hebrews 4:12)

That phrasing is used multiple times through out the Book of Mormon and then again in the Doctrine and Covenants. The scriptures almost 100% refer to the heart as the thinking organ and usually in relationship with one's intent or purpose.  

Intention is at the core of our being.  We may cover our intention by appearing to be one way when really in our core we intend something else.  We may even be adept at deceiving ourselves as to our true intentions unless we are willing to give ourselves an honest and frank evaluation.  But as the scriptures tell us God sees into our heart and discerns our intent. That is the fairest of all judgments.  

Science is beginning to catch up with religion on the matters of the heart.  Research is finding that indeed the heart which is composed of more neuron cells than muscle cells does have an intelligence and that it does communicate with other parts of the body including the brain.  The heart is the first organ to function after conception, within about 20 days.  The brain does not function until after 90 days or so.  

Research at the Institute of Heart Math indicates that:

 "The heart is the most powerful generator of electromagnetic energy in the human body, producing the largest rhythmic electromagnetic field of any of the body’s organs. The heart’s electrical field is about 60 times greater in amplitude than the electrical activity generated by the brain. This field, measured in the form of an electrocardiogram (ECG), can be detected anywhere on the surface of the body. Furthermore, the magnetic field produced by the heart is more than 5,000 times greater in strength than the field generated by the brain, and can be detected a number of feet away from the body, in all directions, using SQUID-based magnetometers." 

"As a man thinketh in his heart" seems to be more than just symbolism.  

Moroni Post 3 - "The Gift of His Calling Unto Me"

2 And now I, Mormon, speak unto you, my beloved brethren; and it is by the grace of God the Father, and our Lord Jesus Christ, and his holy will, because of the gift of his calling unto me, that I am permitted to speak unto you at this time.

(Book of Mormon | Moroni 7:2)

Moroni refers to his calling from God as a gift.  That is worth pondering.  We often think of our callings from God as our gifts to Him.  Really can we give a gift to God?  There is nothing we can give Him that He does not already have.  He doesn't need our efforts but we do need to put forth our efforts for Him.  A calling from God extends to us a gift that draws us closer to Him and enables us to act through His power and grace and come one step closer to coming into His presence by performing His work.  

Previously in verse 3 Moroni coupled gifts and callings with priesthood ordination.  

4 And after this manner did they ordain priests and teachers, according to the gifts and callings of God unto men; and they ordained them by the power of the Holy Ghost, which was in them.

(Book of Mormon | Moroni 3:4)

The phrase "gifts and callings of God unto men" appears in varying forms three times in the Doctrine and Covenants, all three in relationship to priesthood ordination and referencing the power of the Holy Ghost.   It seems that callings that come through priesthood ordinations (meaning those either issued by or perform by those ordained) are inextricably entwined with the gifts of the spirit and the power of the Holy Ghost.  

God wants to bestow gifts upon us - the gift of the Holy Ghost, the gift of ordinances and covenants, the gift of our opportunities to serve in callings, the gift of the commandments, the gift of the scriptures, the gift (and gifts) of the spirit, the gift of His Son. All of these gifts lead to one purpose - to return home, to enter into His rest, to come into the Presence of the Lord.  Every calling we receive*, should we choose to accept it and magnify it, brings us one step closer. We are all called but do we all choose to act in that calling?  

The word gift is defined as "a thing given willingly to someone without payment" or as "a natural ability or talent."  We cannot ever repay God for the gifts he bestows upon us.  We are unprofitable servants.  We are fully the receiver.  It is only through God's gifts that we can obtain unto eternal life.  Also those talents or natural abilities that we each have are bestowed upon us by God as are our very lives.

*Callings come to us in a formal manner through those ordained to the priesthood and also through the whisperings of the spirit that come into our hearts through the gift of the Holy Ghost which has been given to us previously through priesthood power.  

Moroni Post 2

One could write a thesis paper on Moroni chapter 7.  Single words preach entire sermons.  I find it interesting that the word "synagogue" is still used to describe a place of worship a full 1000 years after Lehi left Jerusalem.  That possibly has to do with the fact that Mormon and Moroni have access to Nephi's plates and all of the records that have been passed down which underscores the importance of keeping records.

Moroni Post 1

The Book of Moroni in the Book of Mormon is profound on so many levels. Knowing that these are the last words of a man who is the sole survivor of his civilization and is in hiding from his enemies is arresting enough but what he takes the time and bother to inscribe on the plates of Mormon is even more profound.  He hasn't thrown in the towel.  He is still striving with all his might to fulfill his calling as a witness of Jesus Christ to future generations.

First of all, I am amazed at Moroni's charity.  In verses 2 and 3 of chapter 1 he informs us that the Lamanites are putting to death every Nephi who will not deny the Christ and he reaffirms that he, Moroni will not deny the Christ.  So he is wandering whithersoever for the safety of his life.  Then in verse 4 he explains that since he has not yet perished that he will write a few more things "that perhaps they may be of worth unto my brethren, the Lamanites, in some future day, according to the will of the Lord."  Moroni is firmly entrenched in the love of Christ which extends to the descendants of the Laminates who refuse repentance and are hunting him.   Oh that we would be so believing in the words of Christ that we would and could truly love our enemies the way that Moroni did.  Moroni never forgot that the Lamanites were also God's children.  Yes, he defended his people in battle but he retained in his heart the desire to bring his "brethren the Lamanites" to the Savior of the world.

The Book of Mormon

The Book of Mormon is truly an amazing book. If you haven't read it you should. If you have read it, you should read it again. It is an inexhaustible well of spiritual refreshment.  It contains a feast for the soul and a strong witnesses of Jesus Christ.  It is a call to walk the path towards eternal life.

The Book of Mormon is tangible evidence of God's work of revelation in recent times.  It physically exists. You can hold it in your hands and because of that it must be reckoned with.  Why is it here and how did it come to be? If the Book of Mormon is read with a prayerful and open heart and studied in any depth one must acknowledge that it cannot be dismissed.  One's own heart can provide a witness of it's truth, but added to that is the continuing research of scholars into the structure, doctrines and historicity of the Book of Mormon.  Like I said, it is a force to be reckoned with.  Dismissing it as a fraudulent work is totally inconsistent with the contents inside it's cover.

A New Day for the Book of Mormon is a recent documentary which after a lighthearted introduction explores current academic analysis and scholarly research on the Book of Mormon.  Please take the time to watch.

http://www.byutv.org/watch/90be2679-e6eb-4039-afa1-fee5477b0c20/new-day-for-the-book-of-mormon-new-day-for-the-book-of-mormon#ooid=02bDh2cDru3biGONkdL8D0nZt_gcAX8q