Zechariah 5 Interpretation

Zechariah 5 is a very strange and cryptic revelation about a woman in a basket that flies through the air enclosed with a lead lid that becomes a curse to all the thieves and liars in Babylon. But a Seventh-Day Adventist on YouTube has figured this one out. By simply looking up the Hebrew and making some simple translation corrections, it becomes easily apparent what this terrible curse is that Zechariah is being shown.

Zechariah 5
Then I turned, and lifted up mine eyes, and looked, and behold a flying roll. (megillah = flying cylinder)
2 And he said unto me, What seest thou? And I answered, I see a flying roll (megillah = flying cylinder); the length thereof is twenty cubits, and the breadth thereof ten cubits. (30 ft x 15 ft circ = 15/3.14 = 5 ft)
3 Then said he unto me, This is the curse that goeth forth over the face of the whole earth: for every one that stealeth shall be cut off as on this side according to it (Communist nations?); and every one that sweareth shall be cut off as on that side according to it (apostate Christian nations?).
4 I will bring it forth, saith the Lord of hosts, and it shall enter into the house of the thief (Communist nations?), and into the house of him that sweareth falsely by my name (apostate Christians nations?): and it shall remain in the midst of his house, and shall consume it with the timber thereof and the stones thereof. (curse consumes timber and stones of houses)
5 ¶ Then the angel that talked with me went forth, and said unto me, Lift up now thine eyes, and see what is this that goeth forth.
6 And I said, What is it? And he said, This is an ephah that goeth forth. He said moreover, This is their resemblance through all the earth (nuclear missiles about the same size throughout the Earth).
7 And, behold, there was lifted up a talent of lead (lead = plutonium): and this is a woman (ishshah = fire offering) that sitteth in the midst of the ephah.
8 And he said, This is wickedness. And he cast it into the midst of the ephah; and he cast the weight of lead (lead = plutonium) upon the mouth thereof (piha = beak, warhead).
9 Then lifted I up mine eyes, and looked, and, behold, there came out two women (fire offerings), and the wind was in their wings; for they had wings like the wings of a stork (bomber aircraft or cruise missile): and they lifted up the ephah (nuclear warheads) between the earth and the heaven (sky).
10 Then said I to the angel that talked with me, Whither do these bear the ephah? (ie Where are they taking these warheads?)
11 And he said unto me, To build it an house in the land of Shinar (Babylon): and it shall be established, and set there upon her own base (makon = foundation, pedestal).

Old Testament Type

The stories of the Old Testament are a type and shadow of the Last Days. First we see the higher covenant being given to Abraham. The covenant continues through Isaac and Jacob. However, we then see Joseph sold into Egypt. While in Egypt, Joseph serves to save the rest of the house of Israel from the famine. Safe in Egypt, it seems that Israel doesn't take long to fall into a period of apostasy. If Israel had remained faithful to the Lord, I am sure that God would have not suffered that His covenant poeple would fall into captivity. After a period of apostasy and captivity in Egypt, then we see the rise of Moses who leads Israel out of Egypt and promises to renew with them the coveants that God made with Abraham. However, the people rebell and are hard-hearted. Consequently, instead of renewing the higher Abrahamic Covenant, God gives Israel a preparatory Law of Moses which was to point them and prepare them to receive Jesus Christ who would later renew the Abrahamic Covenant to His people. lsrael would be required to wander in the wilderness in Sinai for 40 years, and then wait over one thousand more years for Christ's coming.

How does the Old Testament Story relate to the Last Days? In my mind, there is a clear parallel here. Abraham is a type of Christ. So, God's establishment of a higher covenant with Abraham is akin to God's establishment of the same higher covenant through His Son Jesus Christ. That covenant continues for a short time until the people quickly fall into apostasy. Hundreds of years later, God would raise up a Moses to save the people from spiritual bondage. In the Last Days, our Moses is Joseph Smith. However, like the Israelites at the time of Moses, the Latter-Day Saints needed some time to grow in faith and obedience. The Latter-Day Saints enjoy the blessings of the higher Abrahamic Covenant and the fullness of the gospel of Christ, but we were not strong enough to establish a perfect Zion society at the time of Joseph Smith. So, the Latter-Day Saints are wandering through a metaphorical wilderness awaiting the coming of Jesus Christ who will ushur in a thousand-year period of peace on the Earth. However, like Joseph in Egypt, we have and will continue to see the saving of the remnant of the House of Israel from spiritual famine by modern day Ephraim.

And, through the power of God and direct assistance of heaven, the LDS Church has been and will continue to lay the foundations of the Kingdom of God on the Earth. Isaiah likened Zion to a tent. His instructions for Israel to prepare for the coming of the Messiah was for Zion to "put on righteousness", "expand her boarders", and "strengthen her stakes." Modern spring-bar tents are set up by placing the poles first. However, when pitching a tent in ancient times, you started by driving in the stakes first before you placed the center pole. If you were to place the poles first in an ancient tent without first having placed the stakes, the center pole wouldn't have any opposing force to keep it standing and the the pole and tent would immediately fall. This is why the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints refer to groups of congregations as "Stake of Zion." Christ is the center pole, Zion or the Kingdom of God is the tent, and the LDS Church is rolling out and expanding the borders of the tent, and preparing and strengthening the stakes before the Second Coming of Christ when finally the Kingdom of God will be fully and gloriously realized.

Old Testament
Abraham
Egyptian Captivity
Moses
Law of Moses
Babylonian Captivity
Jesus Christ First Coming

New Testament
Jesus Christ
Great Apostacy
Joseph Smith
Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
[Babylonian Captivity?]
Jesus Christ Second Coming

Daniel 11: King of the North and South

Daniel 11 speaks about Alexander the Greats (goat with single horn) conquest of the Medes and Persians (Iraq and Iran). The military success of Alexander the Great brought about the fall of the Persian Empire and the rise of the Greek Empire. However after the death of Alexander the Great, the Greek Empire didn't hold together and was immediately subdivided into 4 parts. The principal players in the divided Greek Empire were the Selucius who controled the Northern part and Ptolemy who controlled the South. In the decades that followed, the Kings of the North and South seemed to have neverending battles, conflict, and territorial disputes. The reason Daniel bothered to tell us about all these details which inolve famous persons such as Beatrice, Mark Antony, Ckeapatra ending with Herod the Great was because every time the King of the North and South had a squabble, it seemed Jerusalem and Israel were continually the site of the conflict.

In the Last Days a king of the North and South may also again find fulfillment. A divided United States would create such a scenario that Depicted in the TV Series "Jericho" when the conflict between the King of the North and South seemed to consistently negatively affect the people of Jericho, KS. In a sililar light, a division of the US following the creation of the North American Union, may create another Daniel 11 where a king of the North and South wage and endless war with Utah and Western Missouri serving as battleground states.

Daniel, Medes and Persians

This post is moved to http://brainbender.blogspot.com

Christ in the Begats

We often joke sarcastically about having a difficult time reading the Old Testament because of all the genealogy and "Begat" verses. I was watching a YouTube video that other day that explained a wonderful hidden message and prophecy about the coming of Christ and His mission. It turns out that the Begats are not so boring after all. Genesis lists the genealogy of Noah this way:

Adam = man
Seth = appointed, placed, set
Enosh = mortal, human
Kenan = sorrow, low, humble
Mahalalel = blessed God, praise of god
Jared = descent, shall come down, descending
Enoch = dedicated, teaching
Methuselah = his death shall bring
Lamech = despairing
Noah = comfort, rest

Man (is) appointed mortal sorrow; (but) the Blessed God shall come down teaching (that) His death shall bring (the) despairing rest."

One Interpretation of the 7 Trumpets

The following is not LDS Doctrine. I just thought it was interesting. I was watching some YouTube videos and I was fascinated at an amazing interpretation of the 7 trumpets in the Book of Revelation in the Bible. While these scriptures likely also apply to the Last Days, this particular evangelical Christian was explaining how the 7 trumpets could be giving specific details about the fall of the Roman Empire.

1st Trumpet- Rev 8:6-7 And the seven angels which had the seven trumpets prepared themselves to sound. The first angel sounded, and there followed hail and fire mingled with blood, and they were cast upon the earth: and the third part of trees was burnt up, and all green grass was burnt up.

The first trumpet or Judgment upon the Roman Empire prophecies hail or war (Job 38:22-23). Hail is used as a symbol of war earlier in the Bible. The first group to attack and overrun the Roman Empire are the Goths. The result of the Goths is that Rome withdrew their armies from Germany and Great Britain allowing the Anglo-Saxons to conquer it.

2nd Trumpet- Rev 8:8-9 And the second angel sounded, and as it were great mountain burning with fire was cast into the sea: and the third part of the sea became blood; And the third part of the creatures which were in the sea, and had life, died; and the third part of the ships were destroyed.

The second trumpet or judgment upon the Roman Empire tells of the 2nd group to attack the Roman Empire. The Vandals came from the seas to attack the Roman Empire. The Vandals used naval power to conquer Northern Africa, many Mediterranean island nations, and even ransacked and "vandalized" Rome. Vandals were Germanic but they staged most of their successful naval attacks on Rome from Carthage after taking North Africa

3rd Trumpet- Rev 8:10-11 And the third angel sounded, and there fell a great star from heaven, burning as it were a lamp, and it fell upon the third part of the rivers, and upon the fountains of waters; And the name of the star is called Wormwood: and the third part of the waters became wormwood; and many men died of the waters, because they were made bitter.

The third trumpet tells of Atilla the Hun and Barbarians coming from Mongolia to attack the Roman Empire. Atilla the Hun split up the Goths into the Visigoths in Spain and the Ostrogoths in Germany. Atilla conquest followed the rivers and while he avoided Rome and Constantinople, His empire reached as far as Gaul or modern day France. Waters refer to peoples and tribes (Isa 48:1, Rev 17:15). Atilla extorted money from the Roman Empire for peace.

4th Trumpet- Rev 8:12 And the fourth angel sounded, and the third part of the sun was smitten, and the third part of the moon, and the third part of the stars; so as the third part of them was darkened, and the day shone not for a third part of it, and the night likewise.

The Western portion of the Roman Empire fell when the last Emperor Romulus Augustus was removed by federated Germanic troops led by Odoacer from within the Roman army rather than by foreign troops. The Roman Empire had been increasingly populated and governed by Germanic peoples long before. The Western Roman Empire never was a cohesive whole ever again and was broken up into tribes comprised by Franks, Goths, and Huns. The Book of Mormon and others warning voices (Alex Jones and Knights of Malta) have been warning that Mexicans and/or UN troops have been allowed into the United States and may be used by FEMA to impose martial law resulting in the fracturing of America in the same way Germans were used to fracture Rome.

4th Trumpet- Rev 9:3 And there came out of the smoke locusts upon the earth: and unto them was given power, as the scorpions of the earth have power. And it was commanded them that they should not hurt the grass of the earth, neither any green thing, neither any tree; but only those men which have not the seal of God in their foreheads. And to them it was given that they should not kill them, but that they should be tormented five months: and their torment was as the torment of a scorpion, when he striketh a man. And in those days shall men seek death and shall not find it; and shall desire to die, and death shall flee from them. And the shapes of the locusts were like unto horses prepared unto battle; and on their heads were as it were crowns like gold, and their faces were as the faces of men. And they had hair as the hair of women, and their teeth were as the teeth of lions. And they had breastplates, as it were breastplates of iron; and the sound of their wings was as the sound of chariots of many horses running to battle. And they had tails like unto scorpions, and there were stings in their tails: and their power was to hurt men five months. And they had a king over them, which is the angel of the bottomless pit, whose name in the Hebrew tongue is Abaddon, but in the Greek tongue hath his name Apollyon.

Locusts refers to the rise of the Arabs and Islam out of North Africa. The Arab conquest first took North Africa (1/3 part of the Empire). The Arabs had hair like women (long hair on top) but faces like men (long beards). They wore golden crowns or turbans, they used Arabian horse calvary, used iron chain mail, and were first to use gunpowder and artillery cannon decorated with a mouth of a lion and lit with by the fuse in the tail. The Arabs did not slash and burn cities in their conquest and gave Christians the choice of freedom if they converted to Islam or slavery if they remained Christian. Christian wives were sent to harems and children were raised in Islam. John makes it clear that the religion of Islam is of Satanic origin.

Rev 9:13-14 And the sixth angel sounded, and I heard a voice from the four horns of the golden altar which is before God, Saying to the sixth angel which had the trumpet, Loose the four angels which are bound ain the great river Euphrates. And the four angels were loosed, which were prepared for an hour, and a day, and a month, and a year, for to slay the third part of men.And the number of the army of the horsemen were two hundred thousand thousand: and I heard the number of them. And thus I saw the horses in the vision, and them that sat on them, having breastplates of fire, and of jacinth, and brimstone: and the heads of the horses were as the heads of lions; and out of their mouths issued fire and smoke and brimstone. By these three was the third part of men killed, by the fire, and by the smoke, and by the brimstone, which issued out of their mouths.For their power is in their mouth, and in their tails: for their tails were like unto serpents, and had heads, and with them they do hurt. And the rest of the men which were not killed by these plagues yet repented not of the works of their hands, that they should not worship devils, and idols of gold, and silver, and brass, and stone, and of wood: which neither can see, nor hear, nor walk: Neither repented they of their murders, nor of their sorceries, nor of their fornication, nor of their thefts.

The new Islamic capital or Caliphate shifted to Iraq and incorporated the Turks. Turks wore uniforms of red, blue, and yellow. Turkish armies are organized in units of 10,000. The Arabs finally destroyed Constantinople in 1453 and the last third of Eastern Roman Empire only after the Eastern Orthodox Church went back to worshiping icons after the iconoclast period. Emperor Irene called for the 2nd Ecumenical Council of Nicea and re-introduced Babylonian and pagan worship in Eastern Orthodox religion. The Turks were the first to use gun powder and artillary cannon that were decorated with lion heads and were lit with a fuse in the end or tail. Turks continued on conquering Bulgaria, Hungary, and Romania and Serbia but stopped in Catholic Vienna. Islam extended in Spain until turned back by the Catholic Franks and had an agreement to not go against Rome. After the fall of Constantinople fell, learned men with their scriptures and other texts were scattered all throughout Europe triggering the Renaissances and Reformation.

Rev 11:7 But in the days of the voice of the seventh angel, when he shall begin to sound, the mystery of God should be finished, as he hath declared to his servants the prophets. And the seventh angel sounded; and there were great voices in heaven, saying, The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ; and he shall reign for ever and ever.

The last and 7th Trumpet involves the pouring out the 7 vials of God's wrath against Rome itself. While the trumpets involved the tribulation by Rome upon the evangelical Christians and Sephardic Jews, the 7 vials of wrath involve judgments upon those that initially inflicted the tribulation. According to the video, some of the vials had to do with the French Revolution and Reign of Terror after France persecuted and massacred the Huguenots. Comparatively, the destruction of Jerusalem and the temple by Rome and Titus could be a type of the Tribulation while the volcano (Vesuvius) which destroyed Pompeii and Herculaneum, fire, plague, drought and then an early death would represent the judgments and wrath of God upon Titus.

Lesson of the Forbidden Fruit

Recently, I was pondering about the lesson of Adam and Eve and I realized a few the important lessons for our day in the story. Scripture teaches us that "the glory of God is intelligence or in other words light and truth." We know from scripture that Omnipotence is one of the supreme characteristics of God and we are also taught in scripture that perfect knowledge is both a promise and requirement of Eternal Life. Joseph Smith taught that "man cannot be saved in ignorance" and that "A man is saved no faster than he gets knowledge". Jesus Christ promised that "the truth would make us free." Therefore, the quest for true knowledge must be a major focus of any true disciple of Jesus Christ.

When Adam and Eve are tempted to Eat the forbidden fruit, Adam and Eve did not yet know good from evil. Knowing this, the serpent mocks their ignorance and then promises them greater knowledge if they would follow him and partake of the forbidden fruit. I am sure Adam and Eve felt very insecure and self-conscious about their ignorance. But instead of seeking knowledge as Nephi did by inquiring of the Lord, Adam and Eve made the mistake of going to the wrong source for greater knowledge. In the Book of Mormon, after Lehi told his family about the Vision of the Tree of Life, Laman and Lemuel sought to understand the vision by contending and debating the issues. In contrast, Nephi who was also shown the same vision, simply asked his brethren "Have ye inquired of the Lord?"

After Adam and Eve partook of the fruit, Satan encouraged them to attempt to hide what they have done from God. I would define a secret combination as the vain attempt to commit sin in secret. Therefore, in a way, this first transgression could also be seen as the first secret combination. In fact, God tells us in the Book of Mormon that God has forbidden us from entering into secret combinations from the beginning of man. Isaiah prophecies that in the Last Days there would be many secret combinations. Isaiah says that men involved in secret sin would ask, "Who seeth us and who knoweth us?" Instead of trying to hide our sins from God, God commands us that we bring them to light and confess them and forsake them.

Ether 8:19 For the Lord worketh not in secret combinations, neither doth he will that man should shed blood, but in all things hath forbidden it, from the beginning of man.

Now, there is much more we can learn from the first sin. Another lesson focuses on Eve. Like Eve, most of us don't go around seeking to sin and hide it from God who we know knows and sees all things. However, the serpent is very crafty in fooling or beguiling Eve. Satan explains to Eve that God knows all things and to be like God, she too needs to know sin in order to be like God. While the dilemma is a real one, the solution was a suttle trap to get Adam Eve to partake of the tree of the fruit of knowledge of good and evil and then go ahead and partake of the tree of life and "live forever in their sins." Eve wasn't "awake" to the possibility that Satan could have ulterior and evil intentions. To her, I'm sure she was very trusting and naive and while her decision to partake of the fruit was based on good intentions, Eve failed to recognize and understand that Satan was evil and had only evil intentions.

Today, we need to be "awake" to the reality of evil and conspiring men in the Last Days. One of Satan's biggest tools is to identify real social problems and instead of providing real solutions, many secret societies solutions end up making things much worse. I suppose this continual attempt to address real or created social problems could be likened to Satan telling Adam and Eve to cover their nakedness with fig leaves. Today, many secret organizations who may not have the best intentions often seek to shroud their sins behind the facade of philanthropy.

Again, In addition to being "awake" to the reality of conspiring men in the Last Days, I think another of many important lessons of the forbidden fruit is that we must take care who we follow. Not everyone claiming to offer truth is deserving of our allegiance. One way to differentiate good vs. evil is to determine, despite the many good things a group claims to do for society, whether they use those activities to justify and cover up other sins.

The Lesson from the Tower of Babel.

The Bible tells an interesting story of the people after the Flood in Babylon. After God had reestablished his covenant with Noah, it didn't take the people long to back-slide into apostasy and sin. Most people think that the story of the Tower of Babel is all about the people building the tower to get to heaven. The tower itself was not really the problem.

The real problem with the situation surrounding the tower of Babel is that God said that people were one, and had one language and their religion, politics, and economy was dominated by evil. Therefore, the answer to this problem was for God to confound the languages and divide up the people to prevent Satan and his evil government from having total control of the people.

From the Book of Mormon we learn that if Christ could be our King, it would be good to have a King, but since we cannot guarantee that a righteous man could always be our king, the Bible and the Book of Mormon warn us that all political, and economic power needs to be divided and delegated locally and at the individual level. This is the great principal upon which the Constitution of the United States is based. The Constitution only permits the Federal Government those rights expressly enumerated. All other rights remain with the States and with the individuals and can be taken back at any time.

Therefore, when it come to solving our political and social problems, the Gospel of Jesus Christ is the answer. And the Gospel of Christ in the Bible reminds us that that in our current fallen state, "Power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely". Therefore the answer to corrupt Big Business and Big Banks is not Bigger Government. The answer to the corruption is to do what God did to the people at the Tower of Babel and do what the US Constitution provides which is to break the consolidation of power up.

Gen 1:1, 6-8 And the whole earth was of one language, and of one speech. . . And the Lord said, Behold, the people is one, and they have all one language; and this they begin to do: and now nothing will be restrained from them, which they have imagined to do. Go to, let us go down, and there confound their language, that they may not understand one another’s speech. So the Lord scattered them abroad from thence upon the face of all the earth: and they left off to build the city.

Bible Pattern

The Bible presents an interesting pattern of prophets and apostasy. First we see God establishing His covenant with Adam who is the first man and the first prophet. Things go good for a while but before too long the people of the Earth fall away from the truth and turn to evil. The flood wipes out humanity and only Noah and his family are spared. God then re-established his covenant with Noah who becomes a new dispensation leader and prophet. Things go good again for a while but before long, the people again backslide at the time of the Tower of Babel. Then we read about Abraham who is born in Ur and recognizes that he is born into an apostate and idolatrous culture. God calls Abraham as a prophet and a dispensation leader. Again, things go well for a while for Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, Ephraim until the House of Israel falls away yet again and falls into slavery. Then God called Moses who led Israel out of Egypt. The House of Israel is faithful for a while until they eventually fall away from the truth and are conquered by Assyria, then Babylon, and then finally Rome. Then God sends His Son Jesus Christ. The Jews had turned from the truth to such an extent most didn't recognize their own God that they were to be worshiping for the past 1000 years.

Jesus Christ established his church with 12 Apostles, Seventies, Bishops, Elders, and Deacons. But just as the Bible pattern describes, Paul told us in 2 Thessalonians, that Christ would not come again until there would be yet another falling away and apostasy. And Peter in Acts 2 tells us that the heavens would receive until the time of refreshing and "restitution of all things which has been spoken of by the mouth of all the holy prophets since the world began."

Just as all the holy prophets have prophesied and as the Bible has foretold and foreshadowed, the physical Church of Jesus Christ fell into apostasy and the priesthood authority and keys were lost from the Earth for a time leading into the Dark Ages. Then just as all the prophets have prophesied, the Lord God again, for the last time, in this the Dispensation of the Fullness of Times has called a prophet, restored his church, restored the keys of His Holy Priesthood, restored the temple, restored the exact doctrines of His gospel and re-established his covenant with man.

The prophet of this last and final dispensation before the Second Coming of Jesus Christ and His Millennial Reign on the Earth is Joseph Smith. God called Joseph Smith in the same way that all prophets have been called. Joseph Smith didn't attend any divinity school, he didn't earn any degree in New Testament and Early Christian Studies. Joseph Smith wasn't a Pharisee or Sadducee. But God revealed himself to Joseph Smith and authorized him to bring to light additional scripture including the Book of Mormon, the Doctrine and Covenants, and the Pearl of Great Price, and empowered Joseph Smith to restore the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints which is organized just as Christ's original Church with 12 Apostles, Seventies, Bishops (Eklectikos), Elders (Presbyters), and Deacons (Diaconos).


Dispensations and Apostasy
Adam ----------------> Flood
Noah ----------------> Drought, Tower of Babel
Abraham -------------> Slavery in Egypt
Moses ---------------> Military Conquest (Assyria, Babylon, Persia, Greece, Rome)
Jesus Christ --------> Dark Ages, Plague
Joseph Smith --------> Tribulation, Dispensation of the Fullness of Times

Who Were Christ's Other Sheep?

bJohn 10: 16 And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd.
Who were these "other sheep" Jesus Christ was referring to in the New Testament. Jesus Christ in the Book of Mormon tells the Nephites that they were the "other sheep" with whom he was referring. However, Evangelicals interpret this scripture verse to be referring to the Gentiles. However, if you read the verse carefully, it is clear, that the verse cannot be correctly interpreted making it refer to the Gentiles.

First, Jesus Christ says that the people he is referring to are His sheep. The gentiles at the time Christ stated these words had not been converted yet, so they couldn't be considered his sheep. The Gentiles hadn't become sheep yet. According to the verse, this group were already sheep. The Nephites in the Book of Mormon on the other hand were already converted to the Lord Jesus and were awaiting his appearance in America. Therefore, the Nephites were already sheep while the Gentiles were not yet sheep.

In fact in Matt 10:5-7 Christ specifically tells the 12 Apostles to not preach to the Gentiles or even the Samaritans. The revelation to begin preaching to the Gentiles only was received after the gospel had gone to the Jews and the lost sheep of the House of Israel first, and then it was given to the Gentiles later. Therefore, the "other sheep" must have been also of the House of Israel and not the Gentiles because it wouldn't make any sense for Christ to tell the us in John 10 that these other sheep would hear His voice and then to tell the Apostles in Matt 10 to not preach unto the Gentiles.

Matt 10: 5-7 These twelve Jesus sent forth, and commanded them, saying, Go not into the way of the Gentiles, and into any city of the Samaritans enter ye not: But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.

Second, Christ tells us that these sheep would hear His voice. From the Book of Mormon we learn that the Gentiles never as a group heard Christ's voice directly but only indirectly through the preaching of the Apostles and the reading of scripture. Remember Christ said that he had only come to the lost sheep of the House of Israel. The Nephites in America were of the House of Israel and according to the Book of Mormon were blessed to see and hear Jesus Christ who appeared to them in America after his resurrection.

Matt. 15: 24 But he answered and said, I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel.

Third. Jesus Christ directly implies that these other sheep were part of a specific fold. Christ says these "other sheep" were "not of this fold" which clearly suggests that Christ had a group of believers somewhere else in the world and that these sheep were already organized into a fold or into a body of believers. This cannot be talking about the Gentiles because the Gentiles in the parable of the wedding feast were likened to random people invited off the street. Therefore, Gentiles were not yet sheep and they were absolutely not part of any organized fold.

Matt 22: 8-10 Then saith he to his servants, The wedding is ready, but they which were bidden were not worthy. Go ye therefore into the highways, and as many as ye shall find, bid to the marriage. So those servants went out into the highways, and gathered together all as many as they found, both bad and good: and the wedding was furnished with guests.

Conversely, the Nephites in America observed the Law of Moses, but also had a knowledge of Christ. These sheep in America recognized the sign of Christ's birth and were awaiting the sign of His death. The Nephites, unlike the Gentiles, were an organized body of believers who Christ appeared to and taught the same truths that he taught to the Old World Saints in the New Testament. And through the teaching recorded in the Book of Mormon: Another Testament of Jesus Christ, the believers in America and the believers in the Old World became one fold under One Shepherd.

Bible Apostacy Allegories

God foretold the Apostasy or falling away again and again in the Bible:

Adam and Eve had Able and Cain. Cain slew Able (Apostasy), Eve gave birth to another righteous son named Seth (Restoration).

Noah and the Flood. Only 8 lives were saved on the ark. During the apostasy, there are 8 prophets who were preserved until the Second Coming of Christ: Moses, Elijah, John, 3 Nephites, Alma, and Moroni.

Joseph was sold into Egypt (America). Joseph in Egypt (LDS) became the means of saving the house of Israel during the famine (Apostasy and Restoration).

Elijiah confronts king Ahab and Jezebel who promote the worship of Baal and Ashtoreth in Israel. Jezebel orders the killing of all Jewish Priests but Obadiah hides away 100 priests. Elijah calls down the a famine as punishment which lasts 3 1/2 years (Apostasy). During that time he is fed by the Widow of Zarephath and raises her son from the dead (Christ). At the end of the drought Elijah calls down fire from heaven to consume the offering and convince the Israelites of the power of God (Restoration).

Daniel 7 and John in Revelation fortell of a terrible beast (Roman Empire), that would arise and persecute, overcome, prevail against, and kill the saints. Daniel says that this same kingdom would change the times and the laws of the true gospel and religion (Apostasy) but in the end all dominion would be given to the people of God (Restoration). The Beast would be given a mouth that would blaspheme God, His word (Christ), His tabernacle (Christ's Body, Physicality of God, Church, and Temple), and persecute the Saints.

Christ foretells that the Sun would dim, the moon would turn red, and the stars would fall from the sky meaning that all sources of heavenly light, revelation, and knowledge would cease. Christ also said of the temple (His body, His church) that not one stone would be left upon another (Apostasy). While the individual stones remained during the Apostasy, doctrinally speaking, there wasn't a Christian church during the time of the Dark Ages until the Restoration that contained the cohesive whole and fullness of the truth of Christ's Church built upon a foundation of prophets and apostles, Christ being the chief cornerstone. But in the end, Christ says destroy this body and I will raise it up again the 3rd Day (Restoration).

And just as Christ allowed evil men to kill his body and he raised it from the dead on the third day. Jesus Christ allowed evil men to remove plain and precious truth from the Bible, as well as overcome and destroy his church and temple. Now with the restoration of all things in this the dispensation of the fullness of times, God has restored the plain and precious truths to the Bible with the Book of Mormon, and has restored his church with 12 Apostles and a prophet, and restored His temple.

Amos 8: 11 Behold, the days come, saith the Lord God, that I will send a famine in the land, not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water, but of hearing the words of the Lord:
2 Thes. 2: 3 Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition;

Bible Contradiction on Grace and Works?

Rev. 20: 12-13 And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works. And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works.

Matt. 16: 27 For the Son of man shall come in the glory of his Father with his angels; and then he shall reward every man according to his works.

Col. 1: 29 Whereunto I also labour, striving according to his working, which worketh in me mightily.

2 Tim. 1: 9 Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began,

2 Tim. 4: 14 Alexander the coppersmith did me much evil: the Lord reward him according to his works:

Titus 3: 5 Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;

1 Pet. 1: 17 And if ye call on the Father, who without respect of persons judgeth according to every man’s work, pass the time of your sojourning here in fear:

Rev. 2: 23 And I will kill her children with death; and all the churches shall know that I am he which searcheth the reins and hearts: and I will give unto every one of you according to your works.

Rev. 18: 6 Reward her even as she rewarded you, and double unto her double according to her works: in the cup which she hath filled fill to her double.

Rev. 22: 12 And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be.

Rom. 4: 4 Now to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt.

Rom. 11: 6 And if by grace, then is it no more of works: otherwise grace is no more grace. But if it be of works, then is it no more grace: otherwise work is no more work.

Rom. 6: 23 For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Some of these talk about being rewarded by works and others say we have been saved by grace and not works. What is going on here? It issue here is that the salvation spoken of is in past tense. Therefore, the Salvation is speaking of is the present state of justification and salvation by which the Lord's righteousness is imputed to us. Without justification by grace alone, we could never merit the sanctifying presence of the Holy Ghost.

However, the reward and judgement to come is speaking of the future. When that future judgement comes, we will have had to have been empowered by Christ to sactification and to the good works that Christ will work in us. Therefore, notice that saved by grace and not by works is speaking of the present, born again, saved state. But the judged and rewarded by works speaks of the future where sactification is expected to have occured.

Simplified Scripture Timeline

4000 BCE Adam (930 yrs.)
---------- Seth (912 yrs.)
3500 BCE Enoch (365 yrs.)
---------- Methuselah (969 yrs.) "his death shall bring"
3000 BCE Noah (950 yrs.)
---------- Flood (1656 yrs. after creation)
---------- Tower of Babel (1757 to 1996 yrs. after creation )
2000 BCE Abraham (175 yrs.)
1500 BCE Moses (120 yrs.)
1000 BCE David
500 BCE Ezra and Haggai
---------- Second Temple
0 Jesus Christ
1000 CE Dark Ages and Apostasy
1500 CE Martin Luther
1800 CE Joseph Smith
2000 CE Millennium

Continuing Revelation

LDS believe in continuing revelation, prophets and scripture. However, Christ did foretell that His church would not be left one doctrinal stone upon another and that the spiritual sun, moon, and stars would cease to give their light in that generation.

Mark 13:1-2, 24-25,30 And as he went out of the temple, one of his disciples saith unto him, Master, see what manner of stones and what buildings are here! And Jesus answering said unto him, Seest thou these great buildings? there shall not be left one stone upon another, that shall not be thrown down. . . But in those days, after that tribulation, the sun shall be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, And the stars of heaven shall fall, . . . Verily I say unto you, that this generation shall not pass, till all these things be done.

This prophecy was fulfilled with the Great Apostasy and the Dark Ages that followed the martyrdom of the Apostles and Saints. And this is what necessitated a restoration of prophets in the Last Days as foretold by Daniel the prophet it Dan 2 and why John saw another angel with the everlasting gospel to deliver to all nations in the Last Days (not another gospel but yes another angel).

Dan 2:44 And in the days of these kings shall the God of heaven set up a kingdom, which shall never be destroyed: and the kingdom shall not be left to other people, but it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand for ever.

Rev. 14: 6 And I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people,

However, many Evangelicals in reaction to Catholicism and Papal authority claim there is to be no more priesthood and Christ speaking His word through any other mediator. All revelation comes to the believer from Christ Himself through His Word by the Holy Ghost and not any other man or claimed religious authority according to Heb 1:1.

Heb 1:1-2 God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds;

However, does the Bible back this doctrinal claim? No. Of course, believers through the Holy Ghost can receive direct revelation, but Heb 1:1 was never meant to do away completely with continued prophets, priesthood, revelation, and scripture? Accordingly, I will list what I think are several examples of how the Bible runs contrary to the popular Evangelical belief and supports the LDS doctrine that prophets, priesthood, revelation, and scripture were meant to continue after a foretold apostasy and restoration.

1. Matt 28:6-7 And the angel answered and said unto the women, Fear not ye: for I know that ye seek Jesus, which was crucified. He is not here: for he is risen, as he said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay. And go quickly, and tell his disciples that he is risen from the dead; and, behold, he goeth before you into Galilee; there shall ye see him: lo, I have told you.

Here we witness the fact of Christ's resurrection revealed by an angel to Mary Magdalene and the other Mary by angels. And then these women are charged to reveal this news to the Apostles. Why didn't Christ just reveal the news personally? Why go from angels, to women, to the Apostles? Maybe the rules don't start until after the ascension.

2. Acts 1: 9-11 And when he had spoken these things, while they beheld, he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight. And while they looked stedfastly toward heaven as he went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel; Which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven.

This revelation at the ascension of Christ was given by one of two angels present at the Ascension of Christ and not Christ Himself. If only Christ has the authority to give revelation, by what authority do these angel's speak and reveal information of Christ's Second Coming? And, the more that 500 present, not everyone present were of the 12 Apostles. Again, here is another example of others speaking for Christ.

3. The Gospel of Mark
John Mark the Evangelist was believed to be a companion of Peter, Paul and Barnabas. But John Mark wasn't one of the original 12 Apostles. By what authority does he have to record the word of God. Why wouldn't Jesus only have His word recorded by His Apostles who were the special eye-witnesses of His life and teachings? Mark could have served as a scribe for Peter, but it seems Peter knew how to write just fine from his own epistles. And Mark never gives credit to Peter or Paul as being the source of his information.

4. The Gospel of Luke and Acts
Again, Luke the Evangelist is credited for writing two books in the New Testament. Luke was a disciple of Paul and it is believed that he was one of the Seventy. Maybe Luke was Paul's scribe? But why would Paul need a scribe when he seemed to be such a prolific writer himself. And why wouldn't Luke give Paul the credit. Again, Luke seems to violate the revelation and scripture only through Christ and His 12 Apostles rule. It seems to me that Luke would need to have some authority to write God's word.

Acts proves also to be problematic to the no revelation theory. Not only was Acts written by Luke, but Acts isn't even about Christ, Acts is all about the travels and ministry, and teachings of the Apostles themselves. It seems to me if Heb 1:1 is saying that Christ's word is all-sufficient, then why would Luke bother to discuss the travels and business of the Apostles.

5. Epistles of the Apostles
A good portion of the New Testament is filled with a collection of letters from the Paul and other Apostles to various Christian Churches and other "pastoral epistles" written to ordained Bishops like Timothy, Titus, and Philemon. And It seems to me that if the Apostles had believed in this Evangelical interpretation of Heb 1:1, the New Testament would contain letters from the Apostles which only stated: "your situation reminds me of the words that Christ that he gave us while alive" and not Paul's opinion on what qualities would make a good Bishop or Deacon.

6. The Revelation
The Book of Revelation does start out by saying it is given by Jesus Christ. But in Chapter 1 verse 1, John points out that the revelation was "sent and signified it by his angel unto his servant John." So, again, we have important scriptural information being transmitted by Christ but through an angelic intermediary and not Christ directly. At one point John falls down and worships the angelic minister and is corrected:

Rev 19:10 And I fell at his feet to worship him. And he said unto me, See thou do it not: I am thy fellowservant, and of thy brethren that have the testimony of Jesus: worship God: for the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.

7: The Two Witnesses
Rev 11: 3,7-8 And I will give power unto my two witnesses, and they shall prophesy a thousand two hundred and threescore days, clothed in sackcloth. . . And when they shall have finished their testimony, the beast that ascendeth out of the bottomless pit shall make war against them, and shall overcome them, and kill them. And their dead bodies shall lie in the street of the great city

It is clearly revealed to John that in the streets of Jerusalem in the Last Days there will be two witnesses who will be prophets who will have power to call down fire from heaven and cause plagues, drought and famine.

Rev 11: 6 These have power to shut heaven, that it rain not in the days of their prophecy: and have power over waters to turn them to blood, and to smite the earth with all plagues, as often as they will.

Now, some Biblical scholars speculate that these new prophets won't be new but they will be Elijah and Moses or John Himself who some believe to have been taken from the Earth or still living on the Earth without having tasted death.

But the interesting point here that I think excludes Elijah, Moses, or John is that eventually they do die. So, I am not sure how someone like Elijah who was taken up to heaven in a chariot of fire is going to end up dead during the battle of Armageddon and then resurrected the 3rd day after their bodies are paraded around the streets. But either way, whether these are new prophets or old prophets, their part in the plan seems to violate the rule that Christ is our only mediator rule that is interpreted to exclude continuing prophets, priesthood, revelation and scripture.

Second Temples and Types

Today in church my Biblical Hebrew Scholar friend made several insightful comment about the historical background of Haggai. One part of his comment was that the revelation of Haggai to Zerubbabel was the second time God had commanded the Jews to rebuild the temple in Jerusalem.

Hag 1: 8 Go up to the mountain, and bring wood, and build the house; and I will take pleasure in it, and I will be glorified, saith the Lord.

The first time God had commanded His temple be rebuilt after the captivity was through Ezra during the reign of King Cyrus of Persia.

Ezra 1: 3 Who is there among you of all his people? his God be with him, and let him go up to Jerusalem, which is in Judah, and build the house of the Lord God of Israel, (he is the God,) which is in Jerusalem.

But Ezra was unsuccessful in completing the work of the Temple during the reign of King Cyrus and the days of Ezra. The Samaritans offered to help to build the temple then hindered its progress.

Ezra 4: 4-5 Then the people of the land weakened the hands of the people of Judah, and troubled them in building, And hired counsellors against them, to frustrate their purpose, all the days of Cyrus king of Persia, even until the reign of Darius king of Persia. . . . Then ceased the work of the house of God which is at Jerusalem. So it ceased unto the second year of the reign of Darius king of Persia.

However, from Ezra 9 we find out that the it was probably the sin of Israel for intermarrying with the Canaanites and adopting their pagan practices that resulted in their failure. So God gives a second decree to build the temple through King Darius and the prophet Haggai. This time the the Jews are given more freedom to build the temple and the Second Temple of Zerubbabel was completed.

There seems to be a interesting pattern here and with the construction of the first temple. With the first temple, King David was not permitted to build the temple. But that honor was given to King Solomon. Since, many Bible stories are an allegory predicting future events at the time of Christ and the Last Days. King David is a type of Christ and would represent Christ. And the temple which represents Christs body also is synonymous with Christ's Church and Kingdom. If we see the story in this light, the story foretells that Christ would not fully establish His Church and Kingdom in His lifetime, but at a future date. And we know that this is what happened. The Church of Christ fell into apostasy and Christ restored His Church through the prophet Joseph Smith just as Daniel predicts in Dan 2 when he says that God would establish an everlasting kingdom during the days of the kings represented by the feet of iron mixed with clay on the Image (not Roman times but the Last Days).

Dan 2: 44 And in the days of these kings shall the God of heaven set up a kingdom, which shall never be destroyed: and the kingdom shall not be left to other people, but it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand for ever.

Again, when the Temple is commanded to be rebuilt by King Cyrus. Ezra is unsuccessful. The reasons for this failure are instructive. But upon the second decree by King Darius, and revelation to Haggai, Zarubbabel is successful and the Lord accept His Holy House. Again, this initial failure represents that the Saints of the Church of Christ would be unsuccessful in establishing the Kingdom of God during the time of Christ, but that the Everlasting Kingdom that Daniel speaks of and the everlasting gospel which John says will be brought by "another angel" would occur after a second decree in the Last Days.

Rev. 14: 6 And I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people,

In addition to applying to the Last Days, these events are an allegory for the time of Christ and have multiple fulfillment. We see that Christ was born during the time of the second temple. And again, if we look to the future, we see this pattern repeat itself with the building of the temple in Jackson County Missouri and Zion. If you read D&C 101, you can read an allegory about the LDS Saint's failure to build the temple in Zion and that this temple and the blessings of Zion would have to wait for a future date and a second decree and commandment from God. And it will again be this Second Temple in Zion where Christ will "suddenly come" during Christ's Second Coming.

D&C 101: 43-50 And now, I will show unto you a parable, that you may know my will concerning the redemption of Zion. A certain nobleman had a spot of land, very choice; and he said unto his servants: Go ye unto my vineyard, even upon this very choice piece of land, and plant twelve olive-trees; And set watchmen round about them, and build a tower, that one may overlook the land round about, to be a watchman upon the tower, that mine olive-trees may not be broken down when the enemy shall come to spoil and take upon themselves the fruit of my vineyard. Now, the servants of the nobleman went and did as their lord commanded them, and planted the olive-trees, and built a hedge round about, and set watchmen, and began to build a tower. And while they were yet laying the foundation thereof, they began to say among themselves: And what need hath my lord of this tower? And consulted for a long time, saying among themselves: What need hath my lord of this tower, seeing this is a time of peace? Might not this money be given to the exchangers? For there is no need of these things. And while they were at variance one with another they became very slothful, and they hearkened not unto the commandments of their lord.

As Far As It Is Translated Correctly

Joseph Smith stated in the 8th Article of Faith, "We believe the Bible to be the word of God, as far as it is translated correctly." In a way, the LDS 8th Article of Faith could also read, "We believe the Bible to be the word of God, as far as it is interpreted correctly." So, does this mean the LDS do not really believe the Bible? Or, does this mean the LDS believe the Bible as far as it is theologically expedient or convenient? Do, the LDS pick and choose what parts of the Bible we believe and which we do not? No way! The LDS Church accept the Bible as 100% word of God. Joseph Smith explained:

"I believe the Bible as it read when it came from the pen of the original writers. Ignorant translators, careless transcribers, or designing and corrupt priests have committed many errors" (TPJS, p. 327).
"From sundry revelations which had been received, it was apparent that many points touching the salvation of men, had been taken from the Bible, or lost before it was compiled" (TPJS, pp. 9-10).

God warned Moses and the people of Israel in Deut. that they should not add or diminish to His word.

Deut. 4: 2 Ye shall not add unto the word which I command you, neither shall ye diminish ought from it, that ye may keep the commandments of the Lord your God which I command you.
Deut. 12: 32 What thing soever I command you, observe to do it: thou shalt not add thereto, nor diminish from it.

God restates this command with applies specifically to the Book of Revelation itself and also in a general sense.

Rev. 22: 18 For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book:

It is the assumption of some Christians that God would never permit the Book of the Bible to be tampered with. God gave the command to not add or subtract to His word. But, is there any commandment that God has given that man has not broken? Is there any commandment that God has given that God has first given and then personally prevented man from breaking. Would God deny man agency in keeping or breaking any of His commandments? God commanded man "thou shalt not kill," but God does not prevent man from killing?

Unfortunately, man has been guilty of adding and subtracting from the Bible. Now, please do not misunderstand. There is nothing at all incorrect in the Bible. The Bible has been tested to be 100% true and faithful. But, Joseph Smith learned the issue with the Bible was that many books of the Bible have been lost, and many passages of scripture that when first given from heaven, were plain and easy to understand, now through the Millennia of scribes and re-translations have become ambiguous.

Joseph Smith discovered while translating the Book of Mormon that many plain and precious parts of the Old Testament had already been "muddled" by 600 BC. Again, it wasn't that anything the Old Testament said was wrong but that certain doctrines were no longer clear or missing entirely. Remember that Israel did not always write using classical Hebrew. Many Old Testament books were likely originally written using Canaanite, or Aramaic (Assyrian) or even Egyptian (Moses was the adopted son of Pharaoh). Whatever the original language, it is well known and accepted that the Ancient Israelites used a script known as Paleo-Hebrew which used the Phoenician alphabet before adopting the "square" Classical Hebrew script. Notwithstanding, the Book of Mormon prophet Lehi, prophesied also that the Bible as they had by 600 BC would not be dimmed any more my time, only that the Bible as we would have it today would contain less books.

1 Ne. 13: 23 ... 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 Ne. 13: 26 ... 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.
1 Ne. 5: 19 Wherefore, he said that these plates of brass should never perish; neither should they be dimmed any more by time

While many books of the Old Testament were missing by 600 BC, and much ambiguity in language had crept into the translation, Lehi makes a prediction. Lehi predicts that any official manuscript of the Old Testament that is post 600 BC will be nearly identical to what we have today. And it turns out with the discovery of the Dead Sea Scrolls, that Lehi was correct. Especially the Isaiah scroll which dates to 150-100 BC, is identical to the version in the Old Testament we have today.

Is there evidence for tampering with the Bible? The biggest evidence is that because many plain and precious parts of the Bible had been lost is that Israel fell into apostasy and captivity in 600 BC. And again, because of adding and subtracting, many Jews failed to recognize Christ as their Messiah. The ambiguity which crept into the Bible through centuries of mis-translation opened the door for misinterpretations of what was once clear and concise at the time it was given by God to His prophet.

Some say, God would never permit the Bible to be tampered with. Did God prevent man from corrupting and defiling His temple? Did God prevent man from killing his Apostles and His church from going into apostasy? Did God prevent man from killing His Son Jesus Christ? The Bible and Book of Mormon is a type and shadow of Christ. Just as Christ was crucified and resurrected. The resurrection of God's word with the Book of Mormon and the restoration of the temple and God's Church, represents the resurrection of Jesus Christ.

When Joseph Smith was visited multiple times by the angel Moroni who showed him the location of the Gold Plates from which the Book of Mormon was translated, Moroni quoted from the Bible continually. Joseph Smith noted in many instances that Moroni quoted the Bible differently from the KJV version. It wasn't that the KJV was incorrect, but Moroni's version in many instances was more clear and concise. One instance was concerning Malachi 4:6. Joseph's conclusion about the difference in translation is:

D&C 128:18 I might have rendered a plainer translation to this, but it is sufficiently plain to suit my purpose as it stands.

And this was the motivation for Joseph Smith's desire and inspiration for translating the Bible. Other than a few verses here and there that say "God repented ...." or "leaving the principles of Christ, let us go on to salvation," the goal of Joseph in creating the "Inspired Version" of the Bible was to restore the clarity and plainness to the Bible by interpreting the Bible with the restored light and knowledge he had received by God.

Yes, LDS interpret the Bible through the lens of modern revelation. Without modern revelation we wouldn't understand the many sometimes ambiguous sometimes unambiguous passages which speak of apostasy, restoration, priesthood, and the temple. If any man denies that they read the Bible without any bias or pre-conceived ideas or beliefs, the truth is not in them. This claim is scientifically false and not at all intellectually honest, or just ignorant. While LDS interpret the Bible through the lens of modern revelation, other Christians interpret the Bible through the lens of the 4th-Century Creeds which were the product of doctrine by committee, and 5/4 split-decisions, enforced by the sword, which brought schism to the church and not the intended unity of the faith the Bible promises.

The Book of Mormon is said by Joseph Smith to be the most correct book on Earth. This is not because it is necessarily grammatically error free, but because is clear and plain, and more unambiguous. And as Joseph explained: "a man would get closer to God by abiding by its precepts then by any other book." There are a few LDS offshoots, like the FLDS, and the RLDS churches. But these small splinter groups didn't form over confusion regarding the Book of Mormon.

1 Ne. 13: 25 Wherefore, these things go forth from the Jews in purity unto the Gentiles, according to the truth which is in God.
1 Ne. 14: 26 And also others who have been, to them hath he shown all things, and they have written them; and they are sealed up to come forth in their purity, according to the truth which is in the Lamb, in the own due time of the Lord, unto the house of Israel.

Again, there is no problem with the purity, faithfulness or righteousness of the Bible. The Book of Mormon says the Bible would come from the Jews to the Gentiles in purity. I believe the Bible 100%. The Bible is 100% pure and faithful. The issue here is one of clarity, plainness, brightness and unambiguity which has led to the many Christian denominations and non-denominations and not the unity of faith that the Bible promises. But, thanks to a merciful Father in Heaven, God has restored those plain and precious truths with the Book of Mormon and modern revelation. The Book of Mormon doesn't correct the Bible, it provides clarity.

On Vows and Covenants

"Make vows to the LORD your God and fulfill them." (Ps. 76:11)

A major theme of the Old Testament is one of Covenants and Vows between man and God. In fact, the Old Testament itself can be interpreted as the "Old Covenant" while the New Testament can be interpreted as the "New Covenant." So, since covenants are made in the Old and New Testaments, the doctrine of covenants is critically important to understand.

Several examples of Old Testament vows include Jacob, Jonah, Samuel and Samson:

Jacob said, "If God will be with me and will watch over me on this journey I am taking and will give me food to eat and clothes to wear so that I return safely to my father's house, then the LORD will be my God and this stone that I have set up as a pillar will be God's house, and of all that you give me I will give you a tenth." (Genesis 28:20-22)

Later on God reminds Jacob of his vow, He says, "I am the God of Bethel, where you anointed a pillar and where you made a vow to me. Now leave this land at once and go back to your native land." (Genesis 31:13)

Hanna made a vow with God by offering her son Samuel for temple service, ". . . made a vow, saying, 'O LORD Almighty, if you will only look upon your servant's misery and remember me, and not forget your servant but give her a son, then I will give him to the LORD for all the days of his life, and no razor will ever be used on his head.'" (I Samuel 1:11)

Jonah also used the vow as a bargaining chip. While in the belly of a large fish, Jonah prayed, "When my life was ebbing away, I remembered you, LORD, and my prayer rose to you, to your holy temple. Those who cling to worthless idols forfeit the grace that could be theirs. But I, with a song of thanksgiving, will sacrifice to you. What I have vowed I will make good. Salvation comes from the LORD.' And the LORD commanded the fish, and it vomited Jonah onto dry land." (Jonah 2:7-10)

The most popular vow in the Old Testament involves the Nazarite vow:
"Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, When either man or woman shall separate themselves to vow a vow of a Nazarite, to separate themselves unto the Lord:" (Num. 6: 2)

The Law of the Nazarite is complex but generally was associated with a person taking a vow or making a covenant to abstain from 1. grapes, alcohol, vinegar, 2. cutting of ones hair and 3. avoiding corpses and graves. There also may have been an associated vow of chastity or celibacy. Those who make and keep the Nazarite vow become separate or consecrated to God. Samson is a famous Nazarite in the OT was well as John the Baptist. Several other early Christians are thought to have been Nazarites.

Samson in association with his Nazarite vow was promised Gods Spirit which gave him great strength and success in battle against the Philistines. However, after Samson had violated his Nazarite vow he was captured by the Philistines, had his eyes put out, and served as a slave.

However, at the end of his life Samson repented of His sin allowing his hair to grow out. Samson prayed to the Lord, 'O Lord God, remember me, I pray thee, and strengthen me, I pray thee, only this once, O God, that I may be at once avenged of the Philistines for my two eyes.' (Judges 16:28)." "Samson said, 'Let me die with the Philistines!' (Judges 16:30) Down came the temple on the rulers and all the people in it. Thus he killed many more as he died than while he lived." (Judges 16:30).

So, why does God choose to tell us about the Nazarite in the OT. What is God trying to teach us? Does the law of the vow still apply to us?

Paul taught that the Mosaic Law of Covenant was intended to teach us the impossibility of keeping the law. While it is impossible to keep all the Law of Moses, the Nazarite vow was something that could be kept 100% perfectly. Tithing is also a vow that can be kept perfectly. So, while we cannot keep all of Gods commandants, man can keep certain ones. And it turns out that both in the Old and New Testament God honors those vows.

Of course, ultimately, as all man fall short from the perfection of God; the New Covenant involves taking upon us the name of Christ who was the only being who was able to keep all the covenants and commandments of our Father in Heaven and paid the price for our disobedience and sin.

However, just because we are commanded in the New Testament to accept Christ because of our inability to keep all the commandments of God; that doesn't mean that God doesn't welcome covenant making and covenant keeping. And it doesnt mean that God doesn't expect us to perfectly keep those vows like chastity, the law of health, and tithing that we can keep perfectly. And, as we do so, we can be filled with a greater measure of the Spirit of God, and we will be blessed both temporally and spiritually.

However, when we fall short and break our vows with God like Samson, even when we believe in Christ, that doesn't free us from the consequences of our sins. Not until Samson truely repented, turned from his sins, and re-established his vow with God was he again filled with the Spirit of God and given the strength the destroy the Philistine temple.

For being in the Old Testament, Samson's story is a great example of the the New Testament concept of faith and repentance that is only made possible by the atoning sacrifice of Jesus Christ. While Christ did pay for our sins, He did not come to save us in our sins, but to save us from our sins. While all fall short from the perfection of God, by making and remaking covenants with God, we become more and more sanctified, purified, and perfected until at the day of judgement after the Millennium (or sooner), through the power of Christ, we will have become perfect and holy and ready to stand in the presence of God.

"Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world." (1 Jn. 4: 17)

Other scriptures which teach about keeping vows:
(Psalm 22:25) (Psalm 50:14,15) (Psalm 116:12-14) (Psalm 66:12-14)(Deuteronomy 23:21-23) (Ecclesiastes 5:4,5) (Proverbs 20:25)

Sections of this post are based on the following link: http://joyfulministry.com/vowt.htm

LDS Doctrine Q & A

Is God body or spirit?
God has both a body and spirit and that is why we are commanded to worship God in spirit and in truth. God is spirit, but he is not a spirit only or not only a spirit. The only difference between purified, glorified, spirit matter and the purified, glorified physical matter that constitutes God's body is that it is tangible but being tangible does not confine God to time or space but gives Him power over time and space and other matter as He can literally interact with it.

Where was Christ born?
Christ was born in Bethlehem, a suburb of Jerusalem, but to a Nephite who didn't grow up in Jerusalem, answering Jerusalem was a more clear answer. If someone not from your home town asked where you were born, how would you answer?

Are genealogies scriptural?
LDS do not do genealogy to prove that we are more related to Abraham then someone else. We do genealogy to learn more about our faith heritage, more about ourselves, and so we can share the blessings of the restored gospel with those who came before us and whose legacy of faith created the psycho-social and spiritual environment where we could more easily receive Christ. (Mal. 4: 6) (1 Cor. 15: 29).

Is marriage eternal?
Angels are not married or given in marriage. That is because marriage is something that is only done on Earth during morality. So, the woman would have been married to the first man for time and all eternity by the keys of the kingdom given to Peter which is the authority that whatsoever is bound on Earth is also bound in heaven. This is the power that the Pharisees denied. The other 6 brothers had this woman as a second-wife under the law of Levarite marriage and the doctrine of the care for widows.

How long did darkness fall over the earth at Christ’s death?
3 days in the Americas could have been due to a pyroclastic flow from an erupting volcano. The air was so thick with ash that fire could not be started.

What does the Bible say about men, prophets or angels announcing another Gospel, as claimed by Joseph Smith?
The Book of Mormon teaches the same gospel of Jesus Christ as is contained in the Bible.

Did Melchizedek have a father?
The priesthood and spiritual authority of Melchizedek did not come from his father or mother but came from God while his temporal reign as king of Salem was passed down to him from His father. Melchizedek was a Christian and is a powerful type of Christ, but was not Christ Himself.

How old was Enoch when he was translated (taken up to heaven)?
The Bible gives different numbers for the same thing sometimes as well.

Should we believe those who say they have seen Christ in secret?
No you shouldn't. You should pray in secret and ask God yourself if this is true an let God tell you if it is true or not.

Is there more than one God?
In context of Isaiah, there is only One God who can save us. But the Bible says that God is a God of gods, and the Most High God (El Elyon). Describing men, God said, “I said, ye are gods, and sons of the Most High” All mankind are literal children of Our Father in Heaven and thus have the seeds of the divine within them; we are gods en embryo.

Is the use of King James’ English in the Book of Mormon logical?
Yes, because what makes JKV English sound distinct is its many Hebraisms. The Book of Mormon was written using Hebrew grammar together with reformed Egyptian Demotic-script instead of Paleo-Hebrew/Phoenecian. So, when the Book of Mormon was translated into English it retained many of the Hebraisms that give it the same distinctness as the KJV. Modern Bible translations focus on removing the Hebraic grammar in order to sound more modern.

Does the Book of Mormon plagiarize the Bible?
The same God who revealed the Bible, revealed the Book of Mormon. The Nephites had the Bible from Genesis to Jeremiah and referenced it continually like Christ referenced the Bible while on Earth.

Was God or Christ ever a man like we are?
God became a man in the same way Christ became a man but is still considered God from eternity to eternity.

When were followers of Christ first called "Christians"?
Adam, Enoch, Noah and Melchisedek were the first Christian's and received the everlasting covenant. Melchisedek presented broke bread and wine with Abraham symbolic of the Christian remembrance of Christ's blood and body sacrifice which would happen many centuries into the future.

When was the Book of Mormon's Book of Jacob written?
The use of "adieu" by Jacob represents that “adieu” was a part of the English language in 1830 and not a part of the Hebrew or Nephite language. English has many Latin and French words in it thanks to the Norman conquest of Great Britain.

Was Christ conceived by the Holy Spirit?
Jesus is the Only Begotten Son of the Eternal Father

Is the doctrine of the Virgin Birth consistent with actual sexual relations between God and Mary?
There is no official doctrine on this question except to say that Jesus is the Son of the Father and not the Holy Ghost. Orson Pratt and Bruce R. McConkie were of the opinion that the Christ was literally "begotten" of the Father requiring Mary to be married to God and then remarried to Joseph under the law of the widow (1 Tim 5). Again, this was only well-intentioned opinion.

How many will be condemned to Hell?
There will be few who go with Satan to Outer Darkness. There will be others who receive a degree of salvation and will have access to the Holy Ghost or Jesus Christ. Those who are exalted will live in the presence of the Eternal Father. All mankind the just and the unjust will be resurrected but there are different rewards in heaven based on our degree of the Love of Christ we received.

Do differences between Christian denominations require a new church?
The few offshoots of the LDS church are few and relatively small in number and like Protestant churches tended to break off due to a disagreement over one or another doctrine while sharing the vast majority of doctrines in common with one another.

Are additional scriptures required?
True Christians should accept every word that proceedeth forth from the mouth of God.

Do all believers have authority / hold the priesthood?
Yes, and that is why all LDS are literally ordained as priests in LDS temples as was Aaron. Men and women are washed, anointed, clothes in priesthood robes. When Christ comes again he will come as King of kings and Lord of lords to receive the 144000 which represents an innumerable quantity of persons, 12000 from every tribe representing that priests in the last days will not just be from Levi or Aaron but from every kindred, tongue and people.

Was the Gospel fully preached before Mormonism?
Yes, until it was rejected and corrupted by mixing it with Greek philosophy and doctrinal creeds were established by 5/4 committee votes and not by unifying revelation.

Are the Father and Son one?
Yes, in purpose.

Was polygamy tolerated by God after the Old Testament?
Yes, Moses said in Exodus 21 if a man taketh another wife that she should not deny the first her food, clothing and duty of marriage. In the Law of Moses, Levarite marriage was commanded in which an older brother would take his deceases younger brothers wife as a second-wife if he died and hadn't had any children yet. Abraham and Jacob had multiples wives and it was counted unto them for righteousness because it was done to raise up a righteous posterity or to take care of widows which Paul speaks of in 1 Tim 5. Those Elders who take widows as second wives who are told by Paul to remarry and have children deserve double honor. But Bishops should generally be the husband of only one wife so they have extra time to care for the business of the church.

Does Doctrine & Covenants contain fulfilled prophesies?
The Doctrine and Covenants predicts the start of the Civil War “At the rebellion of South Carolina” … the Southern States will call on other nations, even the nation of Great Britain … and then war shall be poured out upon all nations … And … slaves shall rise up against their masters … and that the remnants … shall vex the Gentiles with a sore vexation." (Doctrine and Covenants 87:1-5).

Is Adam our God?
LDS refer to Our Heavenly Father as Elohim and the Son as Jesus Christ, and Adam who is known as Michael the Archangel. So, if Adam is Michael, he cannot be the same person as who we call Elohim.

Does Christ dwell in the hearts of believers?
Christ dwells in our hearts by the Holy Ghost

Are sincere, last-minute conversions honored by God?
Death-bed repentance will result in salvation from Outer Darkness (hell) but not exaltation.

Is Christ the brother of Lucifer?
Lucifer is a fallen-angel who is of the same stature as Michael the Archangel. But Christ is God. All men and angels are considered sons and daughters of the Eternal Father according to the following

Eph. 3: 14-15 For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, Of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named.

Are personal efforts necessary for salvation?
We are saved by grace alone 100% But we are sanctified by works prepared by God such as baptism, prayer, priesthood, scripture, church organization, everlasting temple covenant, marriage, sacrament. None of these works can men do without God. Man cannot contribute even one iota to his salvation or sanctification. But man receives the Holy Ghost which empowers a man to receive all these things which results in a greater reception of Christ's grace, love, and grace. All the things listed are works which the Bible says will sanctify, purify or perfect. It is God who does these works through us who serve as instruments in God's hand and serve as witness to the power of Christ's atonement which not only has the power to cover and hide sin under the rug, but also has the power to purge us, and turn us completely away from sin in this world. This is why Paul says the Lord does not dwell in buildings made with mens hands. But we know the Lord and His presence dwelt in the Jerusalem Temple. So that must mean that God built that temple using men as instruments in his hands.

Should I allow Mormon missionaries into my home?
Yes!

John 13: 20 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that receiveth whomsoever I send receiveth me; and he that receiveth me receiveth him that sent me.

Restored Christianity

Time Magazine reported on Richard Land's, the head of the Southern Baptist Convention's Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission, labeling of the Church of Jesus Christ as a "Fourth Abrahamic Religion." While the SBC has previously considered the LDS faith a cult, Time author David Van Biema wasn't sure if this new "charitable" categorization was "a promotion or demotion."

What is wrong with letting the Church of Jesus Christ label ourselves. And who is the SBC that they can dictate who is Christian and who isn't. First off, we are not and never were trying to sell ourselves as Catholic, or Protestant, or Evangelical. Joseph Smith clearly categorized the LDS Church as RESTORED CHRISTIANITY. If you consider the official name of the church which was given by Jesus Christ to Joseph Smith via revelation; restoration is clearly inferred in the title. We are the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, a restored version of Christ's church in the latter days as opposed to the Church of Jesus Christ of Meridian-Day Saints.

The LDS Church holds that Christ's church which he left to his 12 Apostles was removed from the Earth. While the fruit (meaning the early Saints) would remain [in God's grace] and be exalted, the kingdom itself was lost as was the priesthood authority. Consequently the Christian world fell into the Dark Ages. Then in 1820, God initiated the restoration of His kingdom to the Earth. As part of this restoration there was a restoration of priesthood keys, prophets, Apostles, ordinances, covenants, new scripture, revelations, miracles, and temples. God's kingdom on Earth is now known as the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Now is there Biblical precedent to support such a claim of apostasy necessitating restoration? Yes! Consider Adam, Enoch, and Abraham-- the great Patriarchs. For centuries we didn't have any of their writings. The only thing we knew of them was restored via Moses. But, while the Old Testament hints, restored revelation through Joseph Smith confirms that Adam was the first Christian and that Adam, Enoch, Melchizedek, and Abraham were all Christian and practiced a very similar religion that members of the LDS church practice today except for the replacement of animal sacrifice which foreshadowed Christ's atonement for the Lord's Supper as a commemoration of his death and atonement. So, it can be said that the LDS church is also a restoration of the original Abrahamic religion as well as a restoration of the original Christian religion. We aren't the 4th Abrahamic religion. We are the original Abrahamic religion.

There is nothing in the Bible that says that God wouldn't prevent men from adding or subtracting from scripture despite his commandment to the contrary. God has not violated man's agency even in this instance. Despite the heroic efforts of inspired souls who have preserved what we have of it, the Bible has been left ambiguous. Consequently, the Bible alone has failed to bring us to a unity of the faith. Therefore, after the great spiritual famine prophesied by Amos and John who told of the church/woman fleeing into the wilderness to escape the dragon that there would need to be a great restoration of all things in this the Dispensation of the Fullness of Times. Come and see for yourself.

Is the Bible finished?

Why would the bible end. God is the same yesterday, today and forever. God called prophets and gave scripture to Adam, Enoch, Abraham, Moses, Isaiah, and John. So why not give revelation and choose prophets today.

"For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book: And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book" (Rev22).

This is just talking about the revelation given to John, that it shouldn't be added to or subtracted from. "Words of the prophecy" = the book of revelation. The Bible is many books and many prophecies. There is nothing in the Bible that says the Heavens are closed and God will not speak to man any more.