Book of Mormon

Arguments against Denver Snuffer Jr. according to the Book of Mormon (Part I)

heavymetalmormon Book of Mormon , , , ,

Once again, there is a new sect within the LDS church receiving some attention in the media, inspired by the teachings and revelations of a man named Denver Snuffer Jr. Like most apostate leaders, Denver Snuffer has many grievances against the LDS church, which include its pride, its financial investments, its violent history, and its corporate leadership.

Snuffer makes the following assertions against the current LDS Church (the articles referenced can be found at http://www.denversnuffer.com):

  1. The “church” should not have a hierarchical organization of priesthood authority who command its members. There is no single prophet or leader of Christ’s church.
  2. The church should not be a single institution, but rather a collection of small groups whose members have local autonomy over doctrines and principles.
  3. All members of the church should be equal in their ability to receive revelation or teach. We do not look to authoritative prophets or priests to command us what to preach or believe.
  4. The church should not build chapels or temples or try to assemble large groups of people in a single location. It should instead follow the model of the early Christian church where small groups met in members’ homes.
  5. An evidence of the LDS Church’s wickedness is its wealth and corporate efficiency. Christ’s church should be poor.
  6. All members of the church should come together and participate in writing or proposing new doctrines and scriptures.

Snuffer justifies many of his arguments by appealing to the Book of Mormon. He suggests that the Book of Mormon “gives a blueprint of the necessary steps for the gentiles to take for them to become numbered with the remnant and entitled to possess the promised land as their inheritance” (Things to Keep us Awake at Night, p. 28). According to Snuffer, the Lord agrees, stating “The Book of Mormon was given as my covenant for this day and contains my gospel, which came forth to allow people to understand my work and then obtain my salvation” (Answer to the Prayer for Covenant, p. 3)

For this reason I will refer to the Book of Mormon to respond to Snuffer’s assertions:

SNUFFER ARGUMENT #1: The “church” should not be a single institution, but rather small groups of members who are only bound spiritually. These fellowships should be unique to meet the individual needs of their members.

  • “We don’t need to create yet another institutional opportunity to abuse one another. We don’t need to repeat the terrible mistakes that hijacked the opportunity offered by the Lord through Joseph Smith. We should learn from the corrupt institutions claiming Joseph as their founder. I don’t care who thinks they are awake to our awful situation, or how soft their heart is, or how inclined they are to follow God, the Mormon institutions are the perfect mouse trap” (Things to Keep us Awake at Night, p. 27)
  • “We seek to belong to that spiritual body, not an institution created by men on earth, subject to the laws of man, and capable of interfering with faith in God. The presiding leader of that congregation is Christ. Seek for a spiritual “Church” as defined by the Lord in the revelations. (D&C 10:67) We want to find that group of believers who will accept and abide covenants from God. Those who are spiritually connected, not institutionally connected. “Church” as defined by the Lord in the revelations (D&C 10:67), not “church” as defined by filing with the corporate Secretary of State creating an institution that owns property” (Things to Keep us Awake at Night, p. 27)

ANSWER: Christ’s church is a single entity. Even though all members meet in different places, they are all subject to a single church organization and all follow the same doctrine.

  • “King Mosiah granted unto Alma that he might establish churches throughout all the land of Zarahemla; and gave him power to ordain priests and teachers over every church. Now this was done because there were so many people that they could not all be governed by one teacher; neither could they all hear the word of God in one assembly; Therefore they did assemble themselves together in different bodies, being called churches; every church having their priests and their teachers, and every priest preaching the word according as it was delivered to him by the mouth of Alma. And thus, notwithstanding there being many churches they were all one church, yea, even the church of God; for there was nothing preached in all the churches except it were repentance and faith in God” (Mosiah 25:19-22)

SNUFFER ARGUMENT #2: We can all receive revelation, prophecy, authority, etc. Therefore, anyone should be able to teach or preach doctrines in the church.

  • “While I claim no right to control, manage or command any other person, I do claim the right to teach. Like any other person who believes in something greater than him or herself, we all have the right to teach what is important to us and have others consider” (Things to Keep us Awake at Night, p. 23)
  • “But I require a statement of principles to be adopted by the mutual agreement of my people, for if you cannot do so you will be unable to accomplish other works that I will require at your hands. When you have an agreed statement of principles I require it to also be added as a guide and standard for my people to follow” (Answer to a Prayer for Covenant, p. 8)

ANSWER: Alma, when he established the church of Christ, specifically ordained people to teach and preach. No one else had authority to teach the doctrines of the church.

  • “And now, Alma was their high priest, he being the founder of their church. And it came to pass that none received authority to preach or to teach except it were by him from God. Therefore he consecrated all their priests and all their teachers, and none were consecrated except they were just men” (Mosiah 23:16-17)
  • “every church having their priests and their teachers, and every priest preaching the word according as it was delivered to him by the mouth of Alma” (Mosiah 25:21)

SNUFFER ARGUMENT #3: There should be no hierarchical order in the church. There should be no prophet who claims to have power to command the church and pass that authority down to others. Local groups of saints should have autonomy to deal with their own issues.

  • “I would ask that we not be required to provide a statement of principles, but the people be left to govern themselves according to their varying circumstances, needs and desires” (Prayer for Covenant, p. 5)
  • “The “keystone” of Mormonism is the Book of Mormon. That book alerts its readers that there are many others from vastly different places with vastly different scriptures who are nonetheless Christ’s sheep. Book of Mormon readers are expected to search for, welcome and learn from them. In contrast, institutional Mormonism of all stripes confine trustworthy new religious ideas to their authorized leaders” (Other Sheep Indeed, p. 1)
  • “But even the concept of “continuing revelation” has been institutionally curtailed. The only institutionally authorized source for revelation is a single leader. When he is not gifted with that capacity, the concept of “continuing revelation” is given lip service without any substantive proof” (Other Sheep Indeed, p. 1)

 ANSWER #1: Alma and Alma the younger were given authority over the entire church in all its many locations.

  • “Now king Mosiah had given Alma the authority over the church” (Mosiah 26:7-8)
  • “And it came to pass that Alma did regulate all the affairs of the church; and they began again to have peace and to prosper exceedingly in the affairs of the church” (Mosiah 26:37)
  • “And it came to pass that Alma was appointed to be the first chief judge, he being also the high priest, his father having conferred the office upon him, and having given him the charge concerning all the affairs of the church” (Mosiah 29:42)
  • “And they began to establish the church more fully; yea, and many were baptized in the waters of Sidon and were joined to the church or God; yea, they were baptized by the hand of Alma, who had been consecrated the high priest over the people of the church, by the hand of his father Alma” (Alma 4:4)
  • “I, Alma, having been consecrated by my father, Alma, to be a high priest over the church of God, he having power and authority from God to do these things, behold, I say unto you that he began to establish a church in the land which was in the borders of Nephi” (Alma 5:3)
  • “And now it came to pass that when Alma had made these regulations he departed from them, yea, from the church which was in the city of Zarahemla…and Alma went and began to declare the word of God unto the church which was established in the valley of Gideon” (Alma 6:7-8)
  • “And now it came to pass that Alma returned from the land of Gideon, after having taught the people of Gideon many things which cannot be written, having established the order of the church, according as he had before done in the land of Zarahemla…And he began to teach the people in the land of Melek according to the holy order of God, by which he had been called” (Alma 8:1, 4)
  • “I am Alma, and am the high priest over the church of God throughout the land” (Alma 8:23)

ANSWER #2: Alma and Alma the younger gave commandments to the church for what they could preach and who could be baptized.

  • “And he commanded them that they should teach nothing save it were the things which he had taught, and which had been spoken by the mouth of the holy prophets. Yea, even he commanded them that they should preach nothing save it were repentance and faith on the Lord…And he commanded them that there should be no contention…And thus he commanded them to preach…And he commanded them that they should observe the Sabbath day…And he also commanded them that the priests he had ordained should labor with their own hands…And again Alma commanded that the people of the church should impart of their substance…And this he said unto them, having been commanded by God…” (Mosiah 18:19-24, 27, 29)
  • “Now there was a strict law among the people of the church, that there should not any man belonging to the church, arise and persecute those that did not belong to the church…” (Alma 1:21)
  • “I speak by way of command unto you that belong to the church; and unto those who do not belong to the church I speak by way of invitation, saying: Come and be baptized unto repentance, that ye also may be partakers of the fruit of the tree of life” (Alma 5:62)
  • “And now we know that because we are not of thy church we know that thou has no power over us; and thou hast delivered up the judgment seat unto Nephihah; therefore thou art not the chief judge over us” (Alma 8:12)

ANSWER #3: There was a hierarchical organization of priesthood power in the Book of Mormon churches. If there were disputes among members, they appealed to the higher authorities in the church, with the high priest having the final say. Teachers reported to priests, and priests reported to the high priest or king (Alma, Alma the younger, and Mosiah).

  • “the church began to murmur, and complain to their leaders concerning the matter; and they did complain to Alma. And Alma laid the case before the king, Mosiah. And Mosiah consulted with his priests” (Mosiah 27:1)
  • “For it came to pass that they did deceive many with their flattering words, who were in the church, and did cause them to commit many sins; therefore it became expedient that those who committed sin, that were in the church, should be admonished by the church. And it came to pass that they were brought before the priests, and delivered up unto the priests by the teachers; and the priests brought them before Alma, who was the high priest. Now king Mosiah had given Alma the authority over the church” (Mosiah 26:6-9)

ANSWER #4: The church organization as described previously is approved by the Lord himself.

  1. “And blessed art thou because thou hast established a church among this people; and they shall be established, and they shall be my people” (Mosiah 26:17)
  2. “For behold, this is my church; whosoever is baptized shall be baptized unto repentance…” (Mosiah 26:22)

ANSWER #5: Even Jesus Christ, after his resurrection, organized a church with twelve disciples who were given special authority according to their calling. The calling of Priests and Elders continued until the days of Moroni.

  1. “(now the number of them who had been called, and received power and authority to baptize, was twelve) and behold, he stretched forth his hand unto the multitude, and cried unto them, saying: Blessed are ye if ye shall give heed unto the words of these twelve whom I have chosen from among you to minister unto you, and to be your servants; and unto them I have given power that they may baptize you with water; and after that ye are baptized with water, behold, I will baptize you with fire and with the Holy Ghost” (3 Nephi 12:1)
  2. “Behold, there shall one be ordained among you, and to him will I give power that he shall break bread and bless it and give it unto the people of my church” (3 Nephi 18:5)
  3. “the disciples bare record that he gave them power to give the Holy Ghost” (3 Nephi 18:37)
  4. “The manner which the disciples, who were called the elders of the church, ordained priests and teachers” (Moroni 3:1)

SNUFFER ARGUMENT #4: If we really want to create a unified society like those of Enoch and Melchizedek, then all members of the church should be “equal.” This means there are no prophets or high priests, just people of one heart and one mind.

  • “The only examples we have of Zion are the two I have by-passed. Those two, Enoch and Melchizedek, did not follow the pattern of the others. They did one thing that escapes most people’s notice. They took disorganized people and assembled them into a unified body that was equal, of one heart and one mind, without any poor among them. There is no mention anywhere in scripture of a structure or hierarchy among either of these people. It is clear these two were both ranked among history’s most towering spiritual figures. But they led two communities of equals. They assumed no authority other than that of a teacher and preacher of repentance” (Things to Keep us Awake at Night, p. 27)

ANSWER: Having a hierarchy of priesthood authority within the church and being equal in the eyes of God are not mutually exclusive.

  • “And they were called the church of God, or the church of Christ, from that time forward. And it came to pass that whosoever was baptized by the power and authority of God was added to his church. And it came to pass that Alma, having authority from God, ordained priests, even one priest to every fifty of their number did he ordain to preach unto them, and to teach them concerning the things pertaining to the kingdom of God…And he commanded them that there should be no contention one with another, but that they should look forward with one eye, having one faith and one baptism, having their hearts knit together in unity and in love one towards another” (Mosiah 18:17-18, 21)
  • “And when the priests left their labor to impart the word of God unto the people, the people also left their labors to hear the word of God. And when the priest had imparted unto them the word of God they all returned again diligently unto their labors; and the priest, not esteeming himself above his hearers…and thus they were all equal, every man according to his strength” (Alma 1:26)

SNUFFER ARGUMENT #5: The LDS Church is wicked because it has money, land investments, and nice corporate office buildings. The true church of God should be poor.

  • “Mormonism has been a dismal underachiever. Its most wealthy sect is riddled with errors, controlled by an oligarchy of priestcraft, jealous of their power, wealth and influence. It has a criminal past, an unstable present, and an insecure future. That empire is diversifying its portfolio into land development, banking and business enterprises to replace the now diminishing tithing cashstream upon which the empire was built” (Things to Keep us Awake at Night, p. 8)

ANSWER: In the Book of Mormon, the righteous saints are blessed with riches AND they impart of their substance to the needy and poor.

  • “And thus they did established the affairs of the church; and thus they began to have continual peace again, notwithstanding all their persecutions. And now, because of the steadiness of the church they began to be exceedingly rich, having abundance of all things whatsoever they stood in need—an abundance of flocks and herds, and fatlings of every kind, and also abundance of grain, and of gold, and of silver, and of precious things, and abundance of silk and fine-twined linen, and all manner of good homely cloth. And thus, in their prosperous circumstances, they did not send away any who were naked, or that were hungry, or that were athirst, or that were sick, or that had not been nourished; and they did not set their hearts upon riches; therefore they were liberal to all, both old and young, both bond and free, both male and female, whether out of the church or in the church, having no respect to persons as to those who stood in need. And thus they did prosper and become far more wealthy than those who did not belong to their church” (Alma 1:28-31)

Does the Book of Mormon Plagiarize the Bible?

heavymetalmormon Book of Mormon , , , ,

Critics argue that the large number of similarities between the Book of Mormon and the Bible suggest that Joseph Smith is guilty of plagiarism. While the characters in the Book of Mormon often give credit to the Biblical authors they are quoting (see 1 Nephi 20-21/2 Nephi 7-8/Mosiah 14/3 Nephi 12-14, 22, 24-25), there are other instances where it seems significant sections of the Bible are borrowed by Book of Mormon characters without citing the original authors (see Moroni 10:8-23/Ether 12/Moroni 7:44-46/Alma 13:14-20). There are many explanations justifying the existence of Biblical passages in the Book of Mormon (click here for my take). The most common arguments are that the Holy Spirit and ministering angels are capable of revealing the same doctrines to people separated across time and location (2 Nephi 29:7-8/Alma 39:17-19), or that the Book of Mormon and the Bible are both citing from earlier source material that has been lost over time (1 Nephi 13:23-27/Jacob 5).

Regardless of how authors in the Book of Mormon were able to write passages similar to passages in the Bible, it should be acknowledged that citing another author’s work without giving credit to the original author (plagiarism) is common in the Bible. It is therefore unjustified to fault the Book of Mormon for borrowed concepts without also condemning the Biblical prophets for the same actions.

Here are just a few examples in the Old and New Testaments of prophets plagiarizing each other’s writings:

  1. Armor of righteousness = (Isaiah 59:17)/(Ephesians 6:13-17)/(II Corinthians 6:7)
  2. As sheep having no shepherd = (Matthew 9:36)/(Numbers 27:17)
  3. Babylon is fallen = (Revelation 14:8)/(Isaiah 21:9)
  4. Blot out their iniquities = (Psalm 51:9)/(Isaiah 43:25)
  5. Blot out their name in the book of life = (Psalms 69:28)/(Revelation 3:5)
  6. Both soul and body = (Isaiah 10:18)/(Matthew 10:28)
  7. Days are as a flowers of grass in the field = (Psalm 103:15-16)/(James 1:10)/(1 Peter 1:24)
  8. Day of vengeance = (Luke 21:22)/(Jeremiah 46:10)/(Isaiah 61:2)
  9. Eat, drink, be merry; tomorrow we die = (I Corinthians 15:32)/(Isaiah 22:13)
  10. Fear not what man can do = (Hebrews 13:6)/(Psalms 118:6)
  11. Feet on the mountains who publish peace = (Nahum 1:15)/(Isaiah 52:7)
  12. Feet like brass = (Revelation 1:15)/(Ezekiel 1:7)
  13. Fountain of living waters = (Revelation 7:17)/(Jeremiah 2:13)/(Psalm 36:9)
  14. Give his life a ransom = (Mark 10:45)/(1 Timothy 2:6)/(Isaiah 35:10)/(Jeremiah 31:11)/(Hosea 13:14)
  15. God is a consuming fire = (Hebrews 12:29)/(Deuteronomy 4:24)
  16. God of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob = (Acts 3:13)/(Exodus 3:15)
  17. Heaven, earth, and all that in them is = (Acts 4:24)/(Exodus 20:11)
  18. Heaven is the Lord’s throne, and the earth is his footstool = (Matthew 5:34-35)/(Isaiah 66:1)
  19. Heaven rolled together as a scroll = (Isaiah 34:4)/(Revelation 6:14)
  20. Lamb to the slaughter = (Jeremiah 11:19)/(Psalms 44:22)/(Isaiah 53:7)
  21. Light to the Gentiles = (Isaiah 49:6)/(Acts 13:47)
  22. Make intercession = (Jeremiah 27:18)/(Isaiah 53:12)/(Hebrews 7:25)
  23. Mark the righteous on their foreheads = (Ezekiel 9:4)/(Revelation 7:3)
  24. Marvelous are thy works = (Psalms 139:14)/(Revelation 15:3)
  25. Meek will inherit the earth = (Matthew 5:5)/(Psalm 37:11)
  26. Mercy endureth forever = (Jeremiah 33:11)/(Psalms 106:1)
  27. Mountains, fall on us = (Hosea 10:8)/(Luke 23:30)
  28. New name = (Isaiah 62:2)/(Revelation 2:17)
  29. New heaven and new earth = (Isaiah 65:17/66:22)/(Revelation 21:1)/(2 Peter 3:13)
  30. No respect of persons = (1 Peter 1:17)/(2 Chronicles 19:7)
  31. One heart = (Jeremiah 32:39)/(Ezekiel 11:19)/(Acts 4:32)
  32. Perverse and crooked generation/nation = (Deut 32:5)/(Phil 2:15)
  33. Rock of his salvation = (Deuteronomy 32:15)/(Psalm 95:1)
  34. Rod of iron = (Psalms 2:9)/(Revelation 2:27)
  35. Seeing they see not, hearing they hear not = (Jeremiah 5:21)/(Matthew 13:13)/(Ezekiel 12:2)
  36. Signs and wonders = (Deuteronomy 28:46)/(Hebrews 2:4)
  37. Sing a new song = (Revelation 14:3)/(Psalms 144:9)
  38. Sow among thorns = (Matthew 13:7)/(Jeremiah 4:3)
  39. Sun and moon refuse to shine = (Isaiah 13:10)/(Matthew 24:29)
  40. Table of thy heart = (Proverbs 7:3)/(2 Corinthians 3:3)
  41. Tree of life = (Revelation 2:7)/(Proverbs 3:18)
  42. Triest the hearts and reins = (Psalm 7:9)/(Jeremiah 11:20/20:12)/(Revelation 2:23)
  43. Uncircumcised of heart = (Jeremiah 9:26)/(Ezekiel 44:7)/(Acts 7:51)
  44. Imagination of the heart = (Romans 1:21)/(Jeremiah 13:10)
  45. Wax old like a garment = (Psalms 102:26)/(Isaiah 50:9)/(Hebrews 1:11)
  46. Voice sounded like great waters = (Ezekiel 1:24)/(Revelation 1:15)

Why does the Book of Mormon quote the New Testament?

heavymetalmormon Book of Mormon , , ,

Members of the LDS faith believe that the Book of Mormon is a true history of an ancient people (the Nephites) that lived on the American continent from around 592 B.C. to 425 A.D. The Book of Mormon contains hundreds (if not thousands) of references to the Old and New Testaments, which include names, doctrines, symbols, idiomatic expressions, and direct quotes. In some instances, the Book of Mormon contains words, phrases, or doctrines that appear exclusively in the New Testament. This is problematic because the Book of Mormon quotes several New Testament phrases hundreds of years before Christ was born. Critics argue that these anachronisms prove that the Book of Mormon is a 19th century work of fiction. While each example of New Testament quotes appearing in the Book of Mormon is different and can be afforded its own explanation, here are some general reasons for why New Testament phrases may be found in the Book of Mormon.

  1. The Brass Plates contained writings not found in today’s Old Testament. These could have provided source material for the Apostle’s writings in the New Testament

Nephi and his brothers obtained brass plates from Laban that contained the five books of Moses, writings of the prophets up until Jeremiah, and Lehi’s genealogy (1 Nephi 5:11-14). The brass plates contained writings from at least three other prophets that are not found in the Old or New Testaments. These prophets were Zenos, Zenock, and Neum, each of whom specifically prophesied concerning the Son of God (1 Nephi 19:10-17/Jacob 5/Alma 33:3-16). They also contained revelations from Jacob of the Old Testament (Alma 46:24) and Joseph his son (2 Nephi 3:6-22). In addition, an angel of the Lord tells Nephi that the brass plates contain more writings than are found in today’s Old Testament (1 Nephi 13:23). It should also be noted that the Nephites received additional scripture from the records of the Jaredites (Omni 1:20-22/Mosiah 28:11-17) and potentially from writings on the temple wall interpreted by Aminadab (Alma 10:2). It is therefore possible that phrases found in the New Testament have their origin in other scriptures found in the brass plates but not in today’s Old Testament. One example is found in Romans 11:16-25 in the New Testament and Jacob 5 (written by Zenos) in the Book of Mormon. Both authors compare the house of Israel to an olive tree and refer to Gentiles being grafted into the house of Israel. Since the prophet Zenos is believed to have lived centuries before Paul, some argue that Paul was basing his writings on the allegory of the olive tree found in the brass plates.

  1. The Nephites received more revelations than did the Jews in Jerusalem because of their righteousness. These revelations and teachings could have been the same teachings given to the Apostles by angels and the Holy Spirit

Lehi and his family were led by the Lord out of Jerusalem because of their righteousness (1 Nephi 2:1-2). The Nephites, therefore, received more revelation than the Jews in Jerusalem (Jacob 4:12-14/Alma 9:19-23). Here are some examples of prophets in the Book of Mormon having New Testament principles revealed to them by visions, angels, and the Spirit of the Lord:

  • Lehi sees a vision of the 12 apostles and receives a book of revelation (1 Nephi 1:10)
  • Lehi predicts the date in which Christ will be born (1 Nephi 10:4)
  • Lehi sees a vision of John the Baptist baptizing Jesus Christ (1 Nephi 10:7-10)
  • Lehi prophesies that the house of Israel will be compared to an Olive Tree (1 Nephi 10:12)
  • Nephi sees a vision of Christ’s birth (1 Nephi 11:18-20)
  • Nephi sees a vision of today’s Bible. Many doctrines contained therein have been lost (1 Nephi 13:19-27)
  • Nephi sees John the Revelator and much of what he saw (1 Nephi 14:20-27)
  • Jacob learns the name of Christ (2 Nephi 10:3)
  • The Book of Mormon is a second witness of God and the Bible, to prove that God is the same yesterday, today, and forever (2 Nephi 29:6-9)
  • Nephi receives a commandment from God that all should be baptized (2 Nephi 31:4-15)
  • Jacob has angels minister to him regularly (Jacob 7:5)
  • King Benjamin sees an angel who tells him of Christ’s birth and purpose (Mosiah 3:2-11)
  • Abinadi is commanded of the Lord to prophesy of Christ’s coming (Mosiah 12:1/Mosiah 15)
  • Alma is given authority from the Holy Spirit to baptize (Mosiah 18:13)
  • King Lamoni and the queen see the Savior and minister to their people (Alma 19:12-13, 29-31)
  • Alma says that it is just as easy for the Lord to send an angel to declare future events as it is for him to send an angel during or after the event (Alma 39:15-19)
  • Alma predicts the year that the Nephites will begin to be destroyed (Alma 45:10)
  • Samuel the Lamanite predicts signs of the birth and death of Christ (Helaman 14)
  • The Lord tells Nephi the day he will be born (3 Nephi 1:11-14)
  • Christ appears in the Americas and teaches them (3 Nephi 11)
  • Christ gives the Nephites scriptures they did not have previously (3 Nephi 23:6/3 Nephi 24-25)
  • The Brother of Jared sees Christ and sees unspeakable visions (Ether 3)
  • Moroni remembers the word of the Lord as found in the New Testament (Ether 12:32-37)
  • Ether sees the New Jerusalem (Ether 13:3-6)
  • Mormon receives the words of the Savior by the Holy Ghost (Moroni 8:7-9)

While unlikely to satisfy critics, the Book of Mormon provides many plausible explanations as to why it shares so much in common with the New Testament.

Are the LDS Church’s Financial Investments Contrary to Gospel Teachings?

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When Mitt Romney was running for president in 2012, the LDS church came under fire for its lucrative financial investments. While the LDS Church claims to have given over $1.3 in humanitarian aid over the last 20 years, critics point out that this is only a small amount of the LDS Church’s actual annual income from financial investments such as malls, ranches, farms, real estate, media, etc. (See https://www.bloomberg.com/news/photo-essays/2012-07-12/the-mormon-global-business-empire and http://archive.sltrib.com/story.php?ref=/sltrib/news/54478720-78/church-money-lds-mall.html.csp)

Critics of the LDS Church enjoy referring to the church as a corporation rather than a religious institution, and even argue that such financial investments go against the fundamental teachings of Christ which seem to chastise the wealthy and those who seek for riches (Luke 18:22-25/James 2:5-6). A central theme of the Book of Mormon is the repeated warnings of the dangers of pride resulting from economic prosperity, and it chastises those who seek for riches before serving God (Alma 39:14/Helaman 6:17/Helaman 12:2). It goes so far as to suggest that churches are robbing the poor when they spend money on expensive materials (2 Nephi 28:13). On the other hand, the Book of Mormon states that it is possible for a rich person to use their wealth for good (Jacob 2:19). It is even possible for the saints to be rich and yet not be prideful (Alma 62:48-49).

I cannot effectively argue what the economic impacts are of the LDS Church’s financial investments, or whether such activities are effective in reducing poverty, increasing prosperity, and reducing human suffering. I don’t know whether it is inherently more Christ-like for the LDS Church to give away all its money in the form of welfare checks to the poor than it is to both give money to the poor and invest in a city’s or nation’s economy. There are, however, many verses in the Book of Mormon that could potentially justify the LDS Church in seeking to increase the economic prosperity of its members and non-members beyond simply handing out cash to every person below an arbitrary socio-economic threshold.

  1. The saints in the Book of Mormon are commanded to labor with their hands for their own support (excluding the sick and otherwise afflicted). It is possible that the LDS Church’s financial investments help members and non-members fulfill that commandment.

 

  • “And it came to pass that I, Nephi, did cause my people to be industrious, and to labor with their hands” (2 Nephi 5:17)
  • “And he also commanded them that the priests whom he had ordained should labor with their own hands for their support” (Mosiah 18:24)
  • “That they should let no pride nor haughtiness disturb their peace; that every man should esteem his neighbor as himself, laboring with their own hands for their support. Yea, and all their priests and teachers should labor with their own hands for their support, in all cases save it were in sickness, or in much want; and doing these things, they did abound in the grace of God” (Mosiah 27:4-5)
  • “Therefore, all the prisoners of the Lamanites did join the people of Ammon, and did begin to labor exceedingly…” (Alma 62:29)

 

  1. The saints in the Book of Mormon are an industrious people who build buildings and manufacture all sorts of material goods. It is possible that the LDS Church’s financial investments help members and non-members be more industrious.

 

  • “And I did teach my people to build buildings, and to work in all manner of wood, and or iron, and of copper, and of brass, and of steel, and of gold, and of silver, and of precious ores, which were in great abundance” (2 Nephi 5:15)
  • “And we multiplied exceedingly, and spread upon the face of the land, and became exceedingly rich in gold, and in silver, and in precious things, and in fine workmanship of wood, in buildings, and in machinery, and also in iron and copper, and brass and steel, making all manner of tools of every kind to till the ground, and weapons of war—year, the sharp pointed arrow, and the quiver, and the dart, and the javelin, and all preparations for war” (Jarom 1:8)
  • “And they were exceedingly industrious, and they did buy and sell and traffic one with another, that they might get gain…And they did work in all manner of ore…And they did work all manner of cloth…And they did make all manner of tools to till the earth…And they did make all manner of weapons of war” (Ether 10:22-27)

 

  1. The saints in the Book of Mormon must refrain from being idle or lazy. The LDS Church is potentially helping people refrain from idleness through its financial investments. 

 

  • “See that ye refrain from idleness” (Alma 38:12)
  • “Now they were a lazy and an idolatrous people; therefore they were desirous to bring us into bondage, that they might glut themselves with the labors of our hands; yea, that they might feast themselves upon the flocks of our fields” (Mosiah 9:12)
  • “Yea, and thus they were supported in their laziness, and in their idolatry, and in their whoredoms, by the taxes which king Noah had put upon his people; thus did the people labor exceedingly to support iniquity” (Mosiah 11:6)

 

  1. Economic prosperity can benefit the society as a whole, provided the people follow the commandments of God. If the LDS Church’s financial investments improve economic prosperity for all, then they are fulfilling the Lord’s promises to the people of this land as described in the Book of Mormon.

 

  • “And we did observe to keep the judgments, and the statutes, and the commandments of the Lord in all things, according to the law of Moses. And the Lord was with us; and we did prosper exceedingly; for we did sow seed, and we did reap again in abundance. And we began to raise flocks, and herds, and animals of every kind” (2 Nephi 5:10-11)
  • “Yea, and many did preach with exceedingly great power and authority, unto the bringing down many of them into the depths of humility, to be the humble followers of God and the Lamb…And behold, there was peace in all the land…and thus they did have free intercourse one with another, to buy and to sell, and to get gain, according to their desire. And it came to pass that they became exceedingly rich…and there were also curious workmen, who did work all kinds of ore and did refine it; and thus they did become rich. They did raise grain in abundance…And in the sixty and fifth year they did also have great joy and peace, yea, much preaching and many prophecies concerning that which was to come.” (Helaman 6:5, 7-9, 11, 12, 14)
  • “And the people of Nephi began to prosper again in the land, and began to multiply and to wax exceedingly strong again in the land. And they began to grow exceedingly rich. But notwithstanding their riches, or their strength, or their prosperity, they were not lifted up in the pride of their eyes; neither were they slow to remember the Lord their God; but they did humble themselves exceedingly before him” (Alma 62:48-49)

Comparing Motifs and Phrases in Alma 5 to the Bible

heavymetalmormon Book of Mormon , , , , , , , ,

The following is a list of some of the motifs and phrases in Alma 5 that are found in the Bible. Some of these references are found in the LDS Topical Guide, but many are not. There are also many more Biblical references found in Alma 5 that are not included in this list. The number of specific references in Alma 5 to scriptures found across the Old and New Testament suggest that the author(s) of the Book of Mormon had an intimate knowledge of scriptural language beyond simply trying to mimic the KJV style of language.

1. “having been consecrated by my father, Alma, to be a high priest” (Alma 5:3)
“consecrate them, and sanctify them, that they may minister unto me in the priest’s office” (Exodus 28:41)
2. “he having power and authority from God” (Alma 5:3)
“with authority and power he commandeth the unclean spirits” (Luke 4:36)
3. “by the power of his word” (Alma 5:5)
“upholding all things by the word of his power” (Hebrews 1:3)
4. “he awakened them out of a deep sleep” (Alma 5:7)
“Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead” (Ephesians 5:14)
5. “encircled about by the bands of death” (Alma 5:7)
“for there are no bands in their death” (Psalm 73:4)
“He brought them out of darkness and the shadow of death, and brake their bands in sunder” (Psalm 107:14)
6. “have you sufficiently retained in remembrance the captivity of your fathers? (Alma 5:6)
“But thou shalt remember that thou wast a bondman in Egypt, and the Lord thy God redeemed thee thence” (Deuteronomy 24:18)
7. “the bands of death, and the chains of hell” (Alma 5:7)
“delivered them into chains of darkness” (2 Peter 2:4)
8. “and an everlasting destruction did await them” (Alma 5:7)
“who shall be punished with everlasting destruction” (2 Thessalonians 1:9)
9. “and their souls did expand” (Alma 5:9)
“when thou shalt enlarge my heart” (Psalm 119:32)
10. “what grounds had they to hope for salvation?” (Alma 5:10)
“and for an helmet, the hope of salvation” (1 Thessalonians 5:8)
11. “put their trust in the true and living God’ (Alma 5:13)
“But the Lord is the true God, he is the living God” (Jeremiah 10:10)
12. “have ye spiritually been born of God” (Alma 5:14)
“Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God” (John 3:6)
13. “view this mortal body raised in immortality, and this corruption raised in incorruption” (Alma 5:15)
“For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality” (1 Corinthians 15:53)
14. “Come unto me ye blessed” (Alma 5:16)
“Come, ye blessed of my Father” (Matthew 25:34)
15. “can ye look up to God at that day with a pure heart and clean hands?” (Alma 5:19)
“He that hath clean hands, and a pure heart” (Psalm 24:4)
16. “a place to sit down in the kingdom of God, with Abraham, with Isaac, and with Jacob” (Alma 5:24)
“shall sit down with Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, in the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 8:11)
17. “ye make our Creator a liar from the beginning” (Alma 5:25)
“he that believeth not God hath made him a liar” (1 John 5:10)
18. “they are the children of the kingdom of the devil” (Alma 5:25)
“thou child of the devil” (Acts 13:10)
19. “Have ye walked, keeping yourselves blameless before God?” (Alma 5:27)
“walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless” (Luke 1:6)
20. “who will come to redeem his people from their sins?” (Alma 5:27)
“for he shall save his people from their sins” (Matthew 1:21)
21. “he knoweth not when the time shall come” (Alma 5:29)
“ye know not what hour your Lord doth come” (Matthew 24:42)
“for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh” (Matthew           25:13)
22. “wo unto all ye workers of iniquity” (Alma 5:32)
“thou hatest all workers of iniquity” (Psalms 5:5)
23. “ye shall eat and drink of the bread and the waters of life freely” (Alma 5:34)
“And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely” (Revelation 22:17)
24. “ye shall not be hewn down and cast into the fire” (Alma 5:35)
“hewn down, and cast into the fire” (Matthew 7:19)
25. “whosoever bringeth forth not good fruit” (Alma 5:36)
“Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit” (Matthew 7:19)
26. “have gone astray, as sheep having no shepherd” (Alma 5:37)
“be not as sheep which have no shepherd” (Numbers 27:17)
“scattered abroad, as sheep having no shepherd” (Matthew 9:36)
27. “the good shepherd doth call you” (Alma 5:38)
“I am the good shepherd” (John 10:11)
28. “yea, and in his own name he doth call you” (Alma 5:38)
“he calleth his own sheep by name, and leadeth them out” (John 10:3)
29. “whatsoever is good cometh from God” (Alma 5:40)
“Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above” (James 1:17)
30. “how do ye suppose that I know of their surety?” (Alma 5:45)
“Now I know of a surety, that the Lord hath sent his angel” (Acts 12:11)
31. “they are made known unto me by the Holy Spirit of God” Alma 5:46)
“the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God” (1 Corinthians 2:11)
32. “according to the spirit of prophecy which is in me” (Alma 5:47)
“the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy” (Revelation 19:10)
33. “the Only Begotten of the Father, full of grace, and mercy, and truth” (Alma 5:48)
“the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth” (John 1:14)
34. “both old and young, both bond and free” (Alma 5:49)
“There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female” (Galatians 3:28)
35. “They must repent and be born again” (Alma 5:49)
“Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again” (John 3:7)
36. “the Son of God cometh in his glory, in his might, majesty, power, and dominion” (Alma 5:50)
“To the only wise God our Savior, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and forever” (Jude 1:25)
37. “the King of heaven shall very soon shine forth among all the children of men” (Alma 5:50)
“he shined forth from mount Paran” (Deuteronomy 33:2)
38. “ye can in nowise inherit the kingdom of heaven” (Alma 5:51)
“for theirs is the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 5:10)
39. “the Spirit saith: Behold, the ax is laid at the root of the tree” (Alma 5:52)
“And now also the ax is laid unto the root of the trees” (Matthew 3:10)
40. “fire which cannot be consumed, even an unquenchable fire” (Alma 5:52)
“the chaff he will burn with fire unquenchable” (Luke 3:17)
41. “the Holy One hath spoken it” (Alma 5:52)
“the Holy One of Israel is our king” (Psalm 89:18)
42. “and trample the Holy One under your feet” (Alma 5:53)
“lest they trample them under their feet, and turn again and rend you” (Matthew 7:6)
43. “having been sanctified by the Holy Spirit” (Alma 5:54)
“being sanctified by the Holy Ghost” (Romans 15:16)
44. “come ye out from the wicked, and be ye separate, and touch not their unclean things” (Alma 5:57)
“all such as had separated themselves unto them from the filthiness of the heathen” (Ezra 6:21)
45. “behold, their names shall be blotted out” (Alma 5:57)
“blot out their name from under heaven” (Deuteronomy 9:14)
46. “For the names of the righteous shall be written in the book of life” (Alma 5:58)
“Let them be blotted out of the book of the living, and not be written with the righteous” (Psalm 69:28)
“And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire” (Revelation 20:15)
47. “unto them will I grant an inheritance at my right hand” (Alma 5:58)
“Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand…inherit the kingdom prepared for you…” (Matthew 25:34)
48. “he will bring you into his fold, and ye are his sheep” (Alma 5:60)
“and will bring them again to their folds” (Jeremiah 23:3)

Comparing Isaiah in the Bible and the Book of Mormon (Part 1)

heavymetalmormon Book of Mormon , , , , , , , ,

The following is a comparison of Chapter 6 in the First Book of Nephi (1 Nephi 20-21) in the original 1830 edition text of the Book of Mormon (BOM) and Isaiah 48-49 of the King James version of the Old Testament. In several instances, prophets in the BOM quote from Old Testament prophets, whose writing were contained on the plates of brass. There are several differences between the King James version of the revelations of Isaiah and the text provided by Nephi in the Herald Heritage Reprint (1973) of the 1830 edition of the BOM. It should be noted that much of the text (excluding spelling errors) in the 1830 edition and today’s 2013 version of the BOM are nearly identical. Some differences include changing the word “which” to “who” and adding “or out of the waters of baptism” in 1 Nephi 20:1 in later additions of the BOM (most likely to provide clarity to the meaning “waters of Judah”).

Text that is found in the BOM but not found in the Old Testament will be bolded, underlined, and italicized. Text that is included in the Old Testament and not found in the BOM will have a line through the text. The chapters will not be reproduced in their entirety, but all changes aside from spelling errors will be noted.

“First Book of Nephi: Chapter 6” (1 Nephi 20)/Isaiah 48

Verse 1.”Hearken and hear ye this, O house of Jacob, which are called by the name of Israel, and are come forth out of the waters of Judah, which swear by the name of the Lord, and make mention of the God of Israel, yet they swear but not in truth, nor in righteousness-”

2. “Nevertheless For they call themselves of the Holy city, but they do not and stay themselves upon the God of Israel, which is the Lord of hosts; yea, the Lord of hosts is his name.”

3. “Behold, I have declared the former things from the beginning; and they went forth out of my mouth, and I shewed them; I did shew them suddenly, and they came to pass.”

4. “And I did it because I knew that thou art obstinate, and thy neck was an iron sinew, and thy brow brass;”

5. “And I have, even from the beginning, declared it to thee; before it came to pass I shewed them it thee; and I shewed them for fear lest thou shouldst say, Mine idol hath done them; and my graven image, and my molten image, hath commanded them.”

6. “Thou hast seen and heard see all this; and will ye not declare them it? And that I have shewed thee new things from this time, even hidden things, and thou didst not know them.”

7. “They are created now, and not from the beginning; even before the day when thou heardest them not, they were declared unto thee, lest thou shouldst say, Behold, I knew them.”

8. “Yea, and thou heardest not; yea, thou knewest not; yea, from that time, that thine ear was not opened…”

9. “Nevertheless, for my name‘s sake will I defer mine anger, and for my praise will I refrain from for thee…”

10. “For, behold, I have refined thee, but not with silver; I have chosen thee in the furnace of affliction.”

11. “For mine own sake, yea even, for mine own sake, will I do this it; for I will not suffer how should my name to be polluted…”

12. “Hearken unto me, O Jacob and Israel, my called; for I am he; and I am the first, and I am also also am the last.”

13. “Mine hand hath also also hath laid the foundations of the earth, and my right hand hath spanned the heavens: and when I called unto them, and they stand up together.”

14. “All ye, assemble yourselves, and hear; which among them hath declared these things unto them? The Lord hath loved him: yea, and he will fulfill his word which he hath declared by them; and he will do his pleasure on Babylon, and his arm shall come upon be on the Chaldeans.”

15. “Also, saith the Lord; I the Lord, yea, even I have spoken, yea, I have called him, to declare I have brought him…”

16. “Come ye near unto me, hear ye this: I have not spoken in secret from the beginning; from the time that it was declared, have I spoken there am I; and now the Lord God, and his spirit, hath sent me.”

17. “And thus saith the Lord, thy Redeemer, the Holy one of Israel; I have sent him am, the Lord thy God, which teacheth thee to profit, which leadeth thee by the way that thou shouldst go, hath done it.”

19. “Thy seed also had been as the sand, and the offspring of thy bowels like the gravel thereof…”

20. “…with a voice of singing declare ye, tell this, utter it even to the end of the earth…”

21. “And they thirsted not; when he led them through the deserts: he caused the waters to flow out of the rock for them: he cleaved clave the rock also, and the waters gushed out.”

22. “And notwithstanding he hath done all this, and greater also, There is no peace, saith the Lord, unto the wicked.”

“First Book of Nephi: Chapter 6” (1 Nephi 21)/Isaiah 49

1. “And again: Hearken, O ye house of Israel, all ye that are broken off and driven out, because of the wickedness of the pastors of my people; yea, all ye that are broken off, that are scattered abroad, which are of my people, O house of Israel. Listen, O isles, unto me…”

4. “…I have spent my strength for nought, and in vain; yet surely, my judgment is with the Lord…”

5. “And now, saith the Lord, that formed me from the womb that I should to be his servant…”

7. “Thus saith the Lord, the Redeemer of Israel, and his Holy One, to him whom man despiseth, to him whom the nations abhorreth, to a servant of rulers, Kings shall see and arise, princes also shall worship, because of the Lord that is faithful, and the Holy One of Israel, and he shall choose thee.”

8. “Thus saith the Lord, In an acceptable time I have heard thee, O isles of the sea, and in a day of salvation have I helped thee: and I will preserve thee, and give thee my servant for a covenant of the people…”

9. “That thou mayest say to the prisoners, Go forth; to them that sit are in darkness, Shew yourselves…”

12. “And then, O house of Israel, behold, these shall come from far…”

13. “Sing, O heavens; and be joyful, O earth; for the feet of them which are in the east shall be established; and break forth into singing, O mountains: for they shall be smitten no more: for the Lord hath comforted his people…”

14. “But, behold, Zion hath said, The Lord hath forsaken me, and my Lord hath forgotten me; but he will shew that he hath not.”

15. “For can a woman forget her sucking child, that she should not have compassion on the son of her womb? Yea, they may forget, yet will I not forget thee, O house of Israel.”

17. “Thy children shall make haste against thy destroyers; and they that made thee waste, shall go forth of thee.”

18. “Lift up thine eyes round about, and behold: all these gather themselves together, and they shall come to thee. And as I live, saith the Lord, thou shalt surely clothe thee with them all, as with an ornament, and bind them on thee even as a bride doeth.”

19. “The children which thou shalt have, after thou hast lost the other, shall again in thine ears say shall say again in thine ears, the place is too strait for me…”

21. “…Behold, I was left alone; these, where have had they been?

24. “For shall the prey be taken from the mighty, or the lawful captives delivered?”

26. ” And I will feed them that oppress thee with their own flesh; and they shall be drunken with their own blood…”

 

A list of motifs, symbols, and phrases: Comparing the Bible and Book of Mormon

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The following list was compiled by the author and identifies various similarities between the Bible and the Book of Mormon in idiomatic expressions, doctrines, and symbolism. Each item shows at least two scriptures (one from the Bible; one from the Book of Mormon) that are comparable in one of the ways mentioned previously. The list is large and can easily be expanded to include hundreds more. The point of this list is to show the reader just how expansive the Book of Mormon is in accounting for symbols and phrases found throughout the Bible. Including so many individual examples of direct references to the Bible would have required incredible skill and knowledge of both Old and New Testaments. In addition, the harmonious synthesis of so many motifs into single chapters of the Book of Mormon suggest the author(s) had an in-depth understanding of the Bible, rather than simply flipping to random pages of the Bible for source material.

  1. Abominable church; and I saw the devil that he was the founder of it = (1 Nephi 13:6)/(Revelation 2:9/3:9)
  2. Above all nations = (1 Nephi 13:30)/(Deuteronomy 14:2)
  3. An abomination to God = (Deuteronomy 17:1)/(Alma 39:5)
  4. Anguish of spirit/soul = (2 Nephi 26:7)/(Exodus 6:9)
  5. Abraham rejoiced to see Christ’s day = (John 8:56)/(Helaman 8:17)
  6. According to his will and pleasure = (Jacob 5:14)/(Ephesians 1:5)
  7. According to his word = (Psalm 119:41)/(2 Nephi 31:13)
  8. According to the commandments = (2 Nephi 1:7)/(Deuteronomy 31:5)
  9. According to the flesh = (Ephesians 6:5)/(2 Nephi 2:8)
  10. According to the foreknowledge of God = (Alma 13:3)/(1 Peter 1:2)
  11. According to the law of Moses = (2 Kings 21:8)/(2 Nephi 5:10)
  12. According to the truth = (Galatians 2:14)/(1 Nephi 16:2)
  13. Adversary [the devil] = (1 Peter 5:8)/(Alma 12:6)
  14. Affliction and sorrow = (2 Nephi 2:1)/(Psalm 107:39)
  15. Afraid to look upon God = (Exodus 3:6)/(Ether 3:6)
  16. After the manner of men = (1 Nephi 18:2)/(I Corinthians 15:32)
  17. All in all = (Ephesians 1:23)/(Moroni 10:8)
  18. All things common = (Acts 2:44)/(4 Nephi 1:3)
  19. Alpha and Omega = (3 Nephi 9:18)/(Revelation 22:13)
  20. Altar of stones = (Deuteronomy 27:5)/(1 Nephi 2:7)
  21. An angel fell from heaven = (2 Nephi 9:8)/(Isaiah 14:12)
  22. Anchor of the soul = (Hebrews 6:19)/(Ether 12:4)
  23. Angel of the Lord = (Acts 5:19)/(Mosiah 27:11)
  24. Anger of the Lord is kindled against you = (Helaman 13:30)/(Deuteronomy 7:4)
  25. Anti-Christ = (1 John 2:18)/(Alma 30:6)
  26. Apostles of the Lamb = (1 Nephi 11:34)/(Revelation 21:14)
  27. Apply your heart to understanding; be wise = (Mosiah 12:27)/(Proverbs 2:2)
  28. Appointed unto man to die = (Hebrews 9:27)/(Alma 12:27)
  29. Arise/Shake thyself from the dust = (Isaiah 52:2)/(Moroni 10:31)
  30. Armor of righteousness = (2 Nephi 1:23/Isaiah 59:17/Ephesians 6:14/ II Corinthians 6:7)
  31. Arose and ministered to them = (Matthew 8:15)/(Alma 22:23)
  32. As I live = (Numbers 14:21)/(1 Nephi 3:15)
  33. As many as received him became sons of God = (John 1:12)/(3 Nephi 9:17)
  34. As the flower of the grass shall pass away = (James 1:10)/(Mosiah 12:12)
  35. As the Lord liveth = (1 Nephi 3:15)/(Jeremiah 38:16)
  36. As ye do unto me, so shall it be done unto you = (Ezekiel 12:11)/(Mosiah 17:15)
  37. Ascended into heaven = (John 3:13)/(Alma 40:20)/(3 Nephi 26:15)
  38. Ashamed of Christ = (Romans 1:16)/(Alma 46:21)
  39. Ask and ye shall receive = (3 Nephi 27:29)/(Luke 11:9-10)
  40. Ask not amiss = (2 Nephi 4:35)/(James 4:3)
  41. Atonement for sin = (Exodus 32:30)/(Alma 42:15)
  42. Author and finisher of our faith = (Moroni 6:4)/(Hebrews 12:2)
  43. Awake from deep sleep = (2 Nephi 1:13)/(Ephesians 5:14)
  44. Axe laid at the root of the tree = (Matthew 3:10)/(Alma 5:52)
  45. Bands of death = (Alma 4:14/Psalm 73:4)/(Alma 11:4)/(Psalm 107:14)
  46. Bands were loosed from his hands = (Judges 15:14)/(1 Nephi 7:18)
  47. Baptize in Bethabara, beyond Jordan = (1 Nephi 10:9)/(John 1:28)
  48. Baptize with fire and the Holy Ghost = (Matthew 3:11)/(Ether 12:14)
  49. Bare a son in his old age = (Ether 10:14)/(Genesis 21:2)
  50. Bars and gates = (Nahum 3:13)/(Job 38:10)/(2 Nephi 33:11)/(Psalm 147:13)/(Nehemiah 3:3)/(Alma 5:22)/(Jacob 6:9)
  51. Be a man = (1 Samuel 4:9)/(Job 38:3)/(2 Nephi 1:21)
  52. Be as gods, knowing good and evil = (2 Nephi 2:18)/(Genesis 3:5)
  53. Be like him and see him as he is = (Moroni 7:48)(1 John 3:2)
  54. Be of good cheer = (Acts 27:22)/(3 Nephi 1:13)
  55. Be one, as God is one = (John 17:11)/(3 Nephi 19:23)
  56. Be wise = (Proverbs 8:33)/(Jacob 6:12)
  57. Bear one another’s burdens = (Mosiah 18:8)/(Galatians 6:2)
  58. Beast of the field = (Genesis 2:19)/(2 Nephi 2:15)
  59. Beasts eating in another man’s field = (Exodus 22:5)/(Mosiah 5:14)
  60. Become weak like us/brethren = (Isaiah 14:10)/(Helaman 4:24)
  61. Begat sons and daughters = (Genesis 5:10)/(Ether 6:15)
  62. Beheld his glory = (2 Nephi 2:4)/(John 1:14)
  63. Believe on his name = (Alma 5:48)/(John 1:12)
  64. Believe that he is = (Mosiah 4:9)/(Hebrews 11:6)
  65. Believe these works, then you will believe in Christ = (John 10:38)/(2 Nephi 33:10)
  66. Better that one man should perish than a whole nation = (John 11:50)/(1 Nephi 4:13)
  67. Better that they had never known these things = (2 Peter 2:21)/(2 Nephi 31:14)
  68. Bind/seal on earth shall be bound in heaven = (Matthew 18:18)/(Helaman 10:7)
  69. Blameless = (I Corinthians 1:8)/(Mosiah 2:27)
  70. Blessed be the name of the Lord = (Psalm 113:2)/(Alma 26:8)
  71. Blessing and a curse = (Deuteronomy 30:1)/(1 Nephi 17:35)/(Alma 45:16)
  72. Blind in your minds = (1 Nephi 7:8)/(II Corinthians 4:4)
  73. Blood cries from the ground = (2 Nephi 28:10/Genesis 4:10)
  74. Blood, fire, and vapor of smoke = (Acts 2:19)/(1 Nephi 22:18)
  75. Blood from Christ’s pores/sweat = (Luke 22:44)/(Mosiah 3:7)
  76. Blot out their iniquities = (Psalm 51:9)/(Alma 7:13)/(Isaiah 43:25)
  77. Blot out their names = (Mosiah 5:11)/(Deuteronomy 9:14)/(Psalm 109:13)
  78. Boast in God = (Psalm 44:8)/(Alma 26:12)
  79. Boast in their own strength = (Isaiah 10:13)/(Mormon 3:9)
  80. Bodies were changed = (3 Nephi 28:15, 37)/(1 Corinthians 15:51-52)
  81. Boldness of speech = (Jacob 2:7)/(2 Corinthians 7:4)
  82. Bond and free, male and female = (Alma 11:44)/(Galatians 3:28)/(2 Nephi 10:16)
  83. Book of Life = (Alma 5:58)/(Revelation 20:15)/(Psalm 69:28)
  84. Book of Moses = (Ezra 6:18)/(1 Nephi 5:11)
  85. Book of the Lamb of God = (1 Nephi 13:28,38)/(Isaiah 34:16)/(Revelation 21:27)
  86. Born of God = (Alma 36:5)/(Mosiah 5:7)/(1 John 5:18)
  87. Both soul and body = (2 Nephi 1:22)/(Isaiah 10:18)
  88. Bow of steel = (1 Nephi 16:18)/(Psalm 18:34)
  89. Bowels of mercy = (Colossians 3:12)/(Alma 7:12)/(Mosiah 15:9)
  90. Branches of Joseph = (Genesis 49:22)/(2 Nephi 3:5)
  91. Break the rocks into pieces = (Helaman 14:21-22/1 Kings 19:11)
  92. Breathe out threatenings/cruelty = (Psalms 27:12)/(1 Nephi 18:17)/(Acts 9:1)
  93. Brightness above the sun = (Acts 26:13)/(1 Nephi 1:9)/(Revelation 1:16)
  94. Brightness as the stars = (Daniel 12:3)/(1 Nephi 1:10)
  95. Brightness of fire = (1 Nephi 15:30)/(Ezekiel 1:27)
  96. Bring fruit meet for repentance = (Alma 34:30)/(Matthew 3:8)
  97. Bring them into his/their fold = (Alma 5:60)/(Jeremiah 23:3)
  98. Bring us into bondage = (Mosiah 9:12)/(Galatians 2:4)
  99. Broken heart and a contrite spirit = (Psalm 34:18)/(2 Nephi 2:7)
  100. Broken off = (Jacob 5:30)/(Isaiah 27:11)/(1 Nephi 21:1)
  101. Brought low (to the dust) = (Job 24:24)/(1 Nephi 22:23)/(Psalm 22:15)
  102. Build on my rock, gates of hell will not prevail = (3 Nephi 11:39)/(Matthew 16:18)
  103. Brought forth through the air = (Moroni 10:34)/(1 Thessalonians 4:17)
  104. Built an altar to the Lord = (1 Nephi 2:7)/(Genesis 8:20)
  105. Burdens may be light = (Alma 33:23)/(Matthew 11:30)
  106. Burn with fire = (Jeremiah 36:32)/(Jacob 5:77)
  107. Burnt offerings = (1 Nephi 5:9)/(Genesis 8:20)
  108. Burst their bands = (1 Nephi 7:17)/(Jeremiah 2:20)
  109. Buy, and sell, and get gain = (James 4:13)/(Helaman 6:8)
  110. Buy wine and milk without money = (2 Nephi 9:50-51)/(Isaiah 55:1-2)
  111. By the mouth of his holy prophets = (2 Nephi 9:2)/(Acts 3:21)
  112. By way of the Red Sea = (Numbers 21:4)/(Deuteronomy 2:1)/(2 Nephi 19:1)
  113. Called/chosen from the foundation of the world = (Alma 13:3)/(Ephesians 1:4)
  114. Call his sheep by his name = (John 10:3)/(Alma 5:38)
  115. Call upon his name = (Isaiah 12:4)/(Alma 34:17)
  116. Called by the name of the Lord = (Deuteronomy 28:10)/(Mosiah 5:9)
  117. Called with a holy calling = (Alma 13:3)/(II Timothy 1:9)
  118. As calves in the stall = (Malachi 4:2)/(1 Nephi 22:24)
  119. Came unto his own = (3 Nephi 1:14)/(John 1:11)
  120. Captain of fifty = (Isaiah 3:3)/(1 Nephi 3:31)
  121. Carnal/earthly, sensual, devilish = (James 3:15)/(Alma 42:10)
  122. Carnally minded is death = (2 Nephi 9:39)/(Romans 8:6)
  123. Carried away captive = (Jeremiah 1:3)/(2 Nephi 25:10)
  124. Carried away in the Spirit = (1 Nephi 15:1)/(2 Nephi 4:25)/(Revelation 17:3)
  125. Cast to their own place = (Jacob 5:77)/(Acts 1:25)
  126. Catch/cross him that they might accuse him =(Mosiah 12:19)/(Luke 11:54)
  127. Caught away…into an exceedingly high mountain = (1 Nephi 11:1)/(Revelation 21:10)
  128. Chaff before the wind = (Psalms 1:4)/(Mormon 5:16)
  129. Chains of hell = (2 Nephi 9:45)/(2 Peter 2:4)/(Jude 1:6)/(Alma 12:6,11)
  130. Change of heart = (Alma 5:12)/(1 Samuel 10:9)
  131. Cherubim and a flaming sword = (Genesis 3:24)/(Alma 12:21)
  132. Chief governor = (Jeremiah 20:1)/(3 Nephi 3:2)
  133. Child of hell/devil = (Alma 11:23)/(Acts 13:10)/(1 Nephi 14:3)
  134. Children of God = (Psalm 82:6)/(Mosiah 5:7)
  135. Children of Israel = (1 Nephi 17:23)/(Isaiah 27:12)
  136. Children of men = (1 Nephi 11:22)/(Psalm 21:10)
  137. Choose darkness rather than light = (John 3:19)/(Helaman 13:29)
  138. Choose life or death = (Deuteronomy 30:19)/(2 Nephi 2:27-28)
  139. Chosen vessel of the Lord = (Moroni 7:31)/(Acts 9:15)
  140. Christ glorified God = (3 Nephi 11:11)/(John 13:31)
  141. Christ is our advocate = (1 John 2:1)/(Moroni 7:28)
  142. Christ is our example = (1 Peter 2:21)/(2 Nephi 31:16)
  143. Christ is our head = (Mosiah 5:8)/(1 Corinthians 11:3)
  144. Christ was lifted up = (1 Nephi 19:10)/(3 Nephi 27:14)/(John 3:14)/(John 12:32)
  145. Christ will not see corruption = (Psalm 16:10)/(2 Nephi 9:51)
  146. Church of Satan = (1 Nephi 13:6)/(Revelation 2:9/3:9)
  147. Cleanse from all unrighteousness = (1 John 1:9)/(Alma 7:14)
  148. Cleanse the inward vessel = (Alma 60:23-24)/(Matthew 23:26-27)/(Luke 11:39)
  149. Cleansed every whit = (3 Nephi 8:1)/(John 13:10)
  150. Cleave to God with purpose of heart = (Acts 11:23)/(Jacob 6:5)
  151. Cloud by day, pillar of fire by night = (Exodus 13:21)/(1 Nephi 17:30)
  152. Come out and be ye separate = (Alma 5:57)/(2 Corinthians 6:17)
  153. “Come unto me ye blessed/Come ye blessed of my Father” (Alma 5:16)/(Matthew 25:34)
  154. Comforter = (John 16:7)/(Moroni 8:26)
  155. Command thy children to obey = (Deuteronomy 32:46)/(Alma 39:12)
  156. Compassed about by sin = (2 Nephi 4:18)/(Psalm 40:12)
  157. Confess your sins = (Psalm 32:5)/(Mosiah 26:29)
  158. Confound the wise = (Alma 37:6)/(1 Corinthians 1:27)
  159. Confound their language = (Ether 1:33)/(Genesis 11:17)
  160. Consecrated to be a priest = (Alma 5:3)/(Exodus 28:41)
  161. Cords of sin = (2 Nephi 26:22)/(Proverbs 5:22)
  162. Corrupt trees bring evil fruit = (Jacob 5:38-39)/(Matt 7:17,19)
  163. Corruption must put on incorruption = (2 Nephi 9:7)/(1 Corinthians 15:53)
  164. Counsel of God = (2 Nephi 9:28)/(Luke 7:30)
  165. Counted unto him for righteousness = (Psalm 106:31)/(Moroni 7:7)
  166. Created in the image of God = (Alma 18:34)/(Genesis 1:27)
  167. Creation of the world = (Alma 18:36)/(Romans 1:20)
  168. Cry unto the Lord = (Isaiah 19:20)/(2 Nephi 5:1)
  169. Cry unto thee in my afflictions = (Alma 33:11)/(2 Chronicles 20:9)
  170. Cunning and craftiness = (Mosiah 9:10)/(Ephesians 4:14)
  171. Curious [items] = (Exodus 28:8; 29:5)/(1 Nephi 16:10)
  172. Curse/destroy even with a sore curse/destruction = (Micah 2:10)/(1 Nephi 2:23)/(Malachi 3:9)
  173. Curse God and die = (Job 2:9)/(Mormon 2:14)
  174. Cursed is the land for your sakes = (Mormon 1:17)/(Genesis 3:17)/(1 Nephi 17:38)
  175. Cursed who trust in the arm of flesh = (Jeremiah 17:5)/(2 Nephi 4:34)
  176. Cut off and destroyed = (2 Nephi 1:17)/(Isaiah 48:19/1 Nephi 20:19)
  177. Cut off from his presence = (1 Nephi 2:21)/(2 Nephi 1:20)/(Psalm 31:22)/(Leviticus 22:3)
  178. Cut to the heart = (Mosiah 13:7/Acts 5:33)
  179. Darkness unto light = (2 Nephi 3:5)/(Acts 26:18)
  180. Dash in pieces = (Nahum 2:1)/(Ether 2:23)
  181. Dates based on when the Lord delivered them = (Jacob 1:1)/(1 Kings 6:1)
  182. Day of judgment = (2 Nephi 9:46)/(2 Peter 2:9)
  183. Day of salvation = (II Corinthians 6:2)/(Alma 13:21)
  184. Day of visitation = (Isaiah 10:3)/(Mormon 9:2)/(Hosea 9:7)
  185. Death and Hell = (2 Nephi 9:10)/(Revelation 6:8)
  186. Days may be prolonged = (Deuteronomy 6:2)/(2 Nephi 2:21)
  187. Death and Hell must deliver its dead = (2 Nephi 9:12)/(Revelation 20:13)/(2 Nephi 28:23)
  188. Death penalty for prophesying against the city = (Jeremiah 26:11)/(1 Nephi 1:13, 20)/(Mosiah 17:7-8)
  189. Death swallowed in victory = (Mosiah 16:8)/(Isaiah 25:8)
  190. Declare glad tidings of great joy = (Acts 13:32)/(Mosiah 3:3)/(Luke 2:10)
  191. Decrees are unalterable/which shall not pass = (Alma 29:4)/(Psalms 148:6)
  192. Deliver into your hands = (1 Chronicles 14:10)/(1 Nephi 3:29)
  193. Deliver them in their afflictions = (Alma 36:2)/(Acts 7:10)
  194. Delivered their souls from death/hell = (Alma 5:6)/(Psalm 56:13)
  195. Deny the Holy Ghost = no forgiveness = (Mark 3:29)/(Alma 39:6)
  196. Deny yourself of all ungodliness = (Moroni 10:32)/(Titus 2:12)
  197. Depths of the sea = (1 Nephi 18:20)/(Isaiah 51:10/2 Nephi 8:10)
  198. Descending out of heaven = (1 Nephi 11:7)/(Revelation 21:10)
  199. Despise the poor = (2 Nephi 9:30)/(James 2:6)
  200. Despised [the word of] the Holy One of Israel = (1 Nephi 19:14)/(Isaiah 5:24/2 Nephi 15:24)
  201. Destroy thee from off the face of the earth = (Deuteronomy 6:15)/(Alma 37:22)
  202. Destroy their craft = (Acts 19:27)/(Alma 35:3)
  203. Devil and his angels and everlasting pit prepared for them = (2 Nephi 9:16)/(Matthew 25:41)
  204. Die in their sins = (2 Nephi 9:38)/(John 8:24)
  205. Die no more [Christ] = (Alma 11:45)/(Romans 6:9)
  206. Dig a pit for thy neighbor/friend = (2 Nephi 28:8)/(Job 6:27)
  207. Dig about it, dung it = (Luke 13:8)/(Jacob 5:47)
  208. Diligently keep the commandments of God = (Alma 37:20)/(Deuteronomy 6:17)
  209. Disappear as the morning dew = (Hosea 6:4)/(Mormon 4:18)
  210. Do the will of the Father = (Matthew 12:50)/(3 Nephi 27:13)
  211. Doctrine of Christ = (2 Nephi 31:21)/(2 John 1:9)
  212. Doing that which was right in the sight of the Lord = (Ether 10:16)/(2 Chronicles 20:32)
  213. Doing that which was evil/abominable in the sight of the Lord = (Mosiah 11:2)/(2 Kings 15:18)
  214. Down to the dust = (Isaiah 25:12)/(Alma 42:30)
  215. Draw all men unto me = (John 12:32)/(2 Nephi 26:24)
  216. Dreamed a dream = (1 Nephi 8:2)/(Daniel 2:3)
  217. Dregs of a bitter cup = (Alma 40:26)/(Psalm 75:8)/(Isaiah 51:17)
  218. Drink damnation = (1 Corinthians 11:29)/(Mosiah 3:18)
  219. Drink his blood = (Ezekiel 39:18)/(Alma 49:27)
  220. Drink of [cup] the wrath of God = (Mosiah 5:5)/(Job 21:20)
  221. Drink the cup the Father hath given me = (John 18:11)/(3 Nephi 11:11)
  222. Dross = (Isaiah 1:22)/(Alma 34:29)
  223. Drown in waters = (1 Nephi 8:32)/(1 Timothy 6:9)/(Psalm 124:3-5)
  224. Dry ground = (1 Nephi 4:2)/(Exodus 14:16)
  225. Dung on the face of the earth = (Mormon 2:15)/(Jeremiah 8:2)
  226. Dwell safely = (Jeremiah 32:37)/(2 Nephi 1:9)
  227. Dwelleth in the heavens = (Moroni 7:28)/(Psalm 123:1)
  228. Dwelt in tents = (Judges 8:11)/(1 Ne 2:15)
  229. The earth/world passeth away = (Alma 9:2)/(1 John 2:17)
  230. East wind = (Jeremiah 18:17)/(Mosiah 7:31)
  231. Eat, drink, be merry; tomorrow we die = (I Corinthians 15:32)/(Isaiah 22:13)/(2 Nephi 28:7)
  232. Eat forbidden fruit you will surely die = (Alma 12:23)/(Genesis 2:17)
  233. Elders of the Jews = (1 Nephi 4:22)/(Luke 7:3)
  234. Elements will melt with fervent heat = (Mormon 9:2)/(II Peter 3:12)
  235. Endure the cross and despise the shame of it = (2 Nephi 9:18)/(Hebrews 12:2)
  236. Endure to the end = (Matthew 10:22)/(2 Nephi 31:16)
  237. Enemy of all righteousness = (Acts 13:10)/(Mosiah 2:37)/(Mosiah 4:14)
  238. Enemy of God = (James 4:4)/(Mosiah 27:9)
  239. Enlarge my heart/soul = (Psalm 119:32)/(Alma 32:28)
  240. Enlarge thy borders = (Moroni 10:31)/(Exodus 34:24)
  241. Enter into a covenant with God = (Deuteronomy 29:12)/(Alma 7:15)
  242. Enter into his gates = (Psalm 100:4)/(2 Nephi 31:9)
  243. Enter into his rest = (Jacob 1:7)/(Hebrews 3:11)
  244. Envying and strifes = (Alma 4:9)/(1 Corinthians 3:3)
  245. Eternal God = (Alma 34:9)/(Deuteronomy 33:27)
  246. Eternal life = (Romans 6:23)/(Mosiah 18:9)
  247. Eternal purposes = (2 Nephi 2:12,15)/(Alma 42:26)/(Ephesians 3:11)
  248. Everlasting chains = (2 Nephi 28:19)/(Jude 1:6)
  249. Everlasting destruction = (Alma 12:17)/(2 Thessalonians 1:9)
  250. Everlasting God = (Moroni 10:28)/(Romans 16:26)
  251. Everlasting light = (Alma 26:15)/(Isaiah 60:20)
  252. Everlasting salvation = (Alma 26:15)/(Isaiah 45:17)
  253. Every good gift cometh from God = (James 1:17)/(Moroni 10:18)
  254. Every knee shall bow = (Mosiah 27:31)/(Philippians 2:10-11)
  255. Evil for evil = (Alma 41:13)/(1 Thesselonians 5:15)/(1 Peter 3:9)
  256. Exceedingly fair = (Acts 7:20)/(1 Nephi 11:13)
  257. Execute judgment in righteousness = (1 Nephi 22:21)/(Jeremiah 33:15)
  258. Exercise authority = (Mosiah 24:8)/(Luke 22:25)
  259. Expound all the scriptures unto them = (Luke 24:27)/(3 Nephi 23:6)
  260. Eye be single = (Matthew 6:22)/(Mormon 8:15)
  261. Eye hath not seen; ear hath not heard = (3 Nephi 17:16)/(1 Corinthians 2:9)/(Isaiah 64:4)
  262. Eye of the Lord = (2 Nephi 9:44)/(Psalm 33:18)/(Ezra 5:5)
  263. Face to face = (Alma 38:7)/(Deuteronomy 34:10)
  264. Faith, hope, and charity = (Alma 7:24)/(1 Corinthians 13:13)
  265. Fall at his feet and worship him = (1 Nephi 11:24)/(Revelation 19:4, 10)
  266. Fall by the sword = (Lamentations 2:21)/(Mormon 6:15)
  267. Fall into the pit they digged = (1 Nephi 22:14)/(Psalm 9:15)/(Psalm 7:15)
  268. Fall thereof was exceedingly great = (1 Nephi 11:36)/(Matthew 7:27)
  269. Fast and pray = (1 Corinthians 7:5)/(Alma 5:46)
  270. Father’s blessing = (Genesis 48:9)/(2 Nephi 4:5)
  271. Father of heaven and of earth = (2 Nephi 25:12)/(Matthew 11:24)
  272. Father of lies = (2 Nephi 2:18)/(John 8:44)
  273. Father who is in heaven = (Matthew 5:48)/(Jacob 7:22)
  274. Fear and tremble = (1 Nephi 16:27)/(II Corinthians 7:15)
  275. Fear not what man can do = (Moroni 8:16)/(Hebrews 13:6)/(Psalms 118:6)
  276. Fear of the Lord = (Mosiah 4:1)/(Proverbs 2:5)/(2 Chronicles 19:7)
  277. Fell as though he was dead = (Alma 22:18)/(Revelation 1:17)
  278. Fierce anger of the Lord = (Jeremiah 25:37)/(Alma 9:18)
  279. Fiery darts = (1 Nephi 15:24)/(Ephesians 6:16)
  280. Fiery flying serpents = (1 Nephi 17:41)/(Isaiah 14:29)
  281. Fiery indignation = (Alma 40:14/Hebrews 10:27)
  282. Fight against Zion = (1 Nephi 22:19)/(Isaiah 29:8)
  283. Fight for your children, wives and homes = (Mormon 2:23)/(Nehemiah 4:14)
  284. Fill up the garners = (Alma 26:5)/(Psalm 144:13)
  285. Filled/full of the Holy Ghost = (Acts 11:24)/(Alma 36:24)
  286. Filthy shall be filthy still = (2 Nephi 9:16)/(Revelation 22:11)
  287. Find pasture = (John 10:9)/(1 Nephi 22:25)
  288. Fine-twined linen = (Exodus 36:8)/(1 Nephi 13:8)
  289. Finger of God = (Alma 10:2)/(Luke 11:20)
  290. Fire come down from heaven = (2 Kings 1:10)/(Helaman 13:13)
  291. Fire is kindled in mine anger = (Deut 32:22)/(2 Nephi 26:6)
  292. [God is the] First and the last = (Alma 11:39)/(Isaiah 48:12)
  293. First fruits unto God = (2 Nephi 2:9)/(Romans 8:23)/(I Corinthians 15:20)/(Jacob 4:11)
  294. First resurrection = (Revelation 20:5)/(Alma 40:16)/(Mosiah 15:21)
  295. First shall be last, last shall be first = (1 Nephi 13:42)/(Matthew 19:30)
  296. Flame/smoke ascends forever = (2 Nephi 9:16)/(Revelation 14:11)
  297. Flaming fire = (Helaman 5:44)/(Lamentations 2:3)
  298. Flesh and blood = (Galatians 1:16)/(Ether 3:8)
  299. Fools before God = (2 Nephi 9:42)/(1 Corinthians 3:18)
  300. Fools mock = (Proverbs 14:9)/(Ether 12:26)
  301. For the Lord hath spoken it = (Isaiah 1:2)/(2 Nephi 9:16)
  302. Forget the Lord = (Helaman 12:2)/(Deuteronomy 6:12)
  303. Fortify the city = (Judges 9:31)/(Alma 52:9)
  304. Forts = (Alma 49:13)/(2 Samuel 5:9)
  305. Found favor in sight of the king = (Alma 20:28)/(Nehemiah 2:5)
  306. Fountain of living waters = (Jeremiah 2:13)/(1 Nephi 11:25)/(Revelation 7:17)/(Psalm 36:9)
  307. Four quarters of the earth = (1 Nephi 22:25)/(Revelation 20:8)
  308. Fourth generation = (2 Nephi 26:9)/(Genesis 15:16)
  309. Fowls of the air = (2 Nephi 2:15)/(Genesis 1:26)
  310. Freed from sin = (Romans 6:18)/(2 Nephi 9:47)
  311. Freemen = (1 Corinthians 7:22)/(Alma 51:6)
  312. From everlasting to everlasting = (Moroni 7:22)/(Psalm 90:2)
  313. From generation to generation = (2 Nephi 9:2)/(Isaiah 13:20)
  314. From the beginning = (2 Nephi 9:2)/(Isaiah 40:21)
  315. From whence they can no more return = (Mosiah 3:25)/(Job 16:22)
  316. Fruit of thy loins = (2 Nephi 3:7)/(Acts 2:30)
  317. Fruit of your labors = (Philippians 1:22)/(Alma 36:25)
  318. Fulfill all righteousness = (2 Nephi 31:5)/(Matthew 3:15)
  319. Full of grace and truth = (2 Nephi 2:6)/(Alma 13:9)/(John 1:14)
  320. Fullness of the Gentiles = (Romans 11:25)/(1 Nephi 10:14)
  321. Fullness of time = (2 Nephi 2:3)/(Galatians 4:4)
  322. Gall of bitterness and bonds of iniquity = (Moroni 8:14)/(Acts 8:23)
  323. Garments made white in blood of the Lamb = (Revelation 7:14)/(Ether 13:10)
  324. Gate of heaven = (Helaman 3:28)/(Genesis 28:17)
  325. Gates of righteousness = (2 Nephi 4:32)/(2 Nephi 31:9)/(Psalm 118:19)
  326. Gather in from east, west, south, north = (Psalm 107:3)/(Luke 13:29)/(3 Nephi 20:13)
  327. Gather sheaves = (Micah 4:12)/(Alma 26:5)
  328. Gave up the ghost = (Luke 23:46)/(Jacob 7:20)
  329. Genealogies written in books = (1 Nephi 5:14)/(1 Chronicles 9:1)
  330. Generation knew not the Lord = (Judges 2:10)/(Mosiah 26:1)
  331. Gentiles hear the Gospel from the Apostles = (Acts 15:7)/(3 Nephi 15:22)
  332. Gift of Christ = (Ephesians 4:7)/(Moroni 7:16)
  333. Gift of the Holy Ghost = (Hebrews 2:4)/(2 Nephi 28:26)
  334. Gifts of the Spirit = (1 Corinthians 12:4-11)/(Moroni 10:8-17)
  335. Girdle his loins = (Isaiah 5:27)/(1 Nephi 4:19)
  336. Give half of my kingdom = (Alma 20:23)/(Mark 6:23)
  337. Give liberally = (2 Nephi 4:35)/(James 1:5)
  338. Give place to the devil/enemy of my soul = (Ephesians 4:27)/(2 Nephi 4:28)
  339. Give thanks unto his holy name = (Psalm 106:47)/(2 Nephi 9:52)
  340. Glorify the name of God = (2 Nephi 6:4)/(Isaiah 24:15)
  341. Glory in the Lord = (Alma 26:16)/(1 Corinthians 1:31)
  342. Glory, power, might, majesty, and dominion = (Alma 12:15)/(Jude 1:25)
  343. Gnash with teeth = (Job 16:9)/(Alma 14:21)
  344. Go in and possess the land = (Mosiah 9:5)/(Deuteronomy 10:11)
  345. Go no more out = (Alma 7:25)/(Revelation 3:12)
  346. Go up to Jerusalem [never “go down” to Jerusalem] = (Ezra 1:3)/(1 Nephi 3:9)
  347. Go the way of all the earth = (Joshua 23:14)/(2 Nephi 1:14)
  348. God can make the sun stand still = (Joshua 10:12-13)/(Helaman 12:14-15)
  349. God cannot lie = (Enos 1:6)/(Hebrews 6:18)
  350. God chastens those he loves = (Proverbs 3:12)/(Helaman 15:3)
  351. God has no variableness or shadow of turning = (James 1:17)/(Mosiah 2:22)
  352. God knoweth all things = (1 John 3:20)/(2 Nephi 9:20)
  353. God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob = (1 Nephi 19:10)/(Exodus 3:6)
  354. God of heaven = (Ezra 7:21)/(Ether 8:14)
  355. God of Israel = (Isaiah 37:16)/(1 Nephi 19:7)
  356. God of my salvation = (Isaiah 17:10)/2 Nephi 9:44
  357. God of our fathers = (1 Nephi 19:10)/(Acts 22:14)
  358. God of truth = (Ether 3:12)/(Deuteronomy 32:4)
  359. God sitting on his throne = (1 Nephi 1:8)/(Psalm 47:8)/(Isaiah 6:1)
  360. God speaks once, twice, yet men don’t perceive it = (Job 33:14)/(3 Nephi 11:3-5)
  361. God the Father = (1 Peter 1:2)/(Moroni 9:26)
  362. God’s throne is in heaven = (1 Nephi 1:14)/(Psalm 11:4)
  363. God trieth the righteous = (Mosiah 23:21)/(Psalm 11:5)
  364. God’s word will not pass away = (2 Nephi 9:16)/(Mark 13:31)/(Psalm 148:6)
  365. Gold, and silver, and precious things = (1 Nephi 3:22)/(Daniel 11:43)
  366. Gone out of the way = (2 Nephi 28:11)/(Helaman 7:18)/(Hebrews 5:2)
  367. Good Shepherd = (Alma 5:38)/(John 10:11)
  368. Goodness and mercy = (Psalm 23:6)/(1 Nephi 1:14)
  369. Gospel of Christ = (1 Corinthians 9:12)/(Mormon 9:8)
  370. Grace and mercy = (2 Timothy 1:2)/(2 Nephi 9:53)
  371. Grace for grace = (John 1:16)/(Helaman 12:24)
  372. Grace of God = (1 Corinthians 1:4)/(Moroni 7:2)
  373. Gray hairs with sorrow to the grave = (Genesis 42:38)/(1 Nephi 18:18)
  374. Great and terrible = (1 Nephi 12:18/(Deuteronomy 1:19)/(Nehemiah 1:5)
  375. The great God = (Nehemiah 8:6)/(Alma 24:8)
  376. Great and marvelous are thy works = (1 Nephi 1:14)/(Revelation 15:3)
  377. Great gulf diving wicked and righteous = (1 Nephi 12:18)/(Luke 16:26)
  378. Great lights in heaven = (Helaman 14:3)/(Psalm 136:7)
  379. Great shall be the fall = (1 Nephi 22:14)/(Matthew 7:27)
  380. Greater than I can bear = (1 Nephi 16:1)/(Genesis 4:13)
  381. Grieved because of hardness of their hearts = (1 Nephi 2:18)/(Mark 3:5)
  382. Grievous to be borne = (Mosiah 7:23)/(Matthew 23:4)
  383. Grind to powder = (2 Nephi 26:5)/(Matthew 21:44)
  384. Grind upon the face of the poor = (2 Nephi 26:20)/(Isaiah 3:15/2 Nephi 13:15)
  385. Groaning of the earth/creation = (1 Nephi 19:12)/(Romans 8:22)
  386. Groups of fifty = (Luke 9:14)/(Mosiah 18:18)
  387. Hand of the Lord = (1 Nephi 5:14)/(Nehemiah 1:10)
  388. Hand of their enemies = (Jeremiah 34:20)/(Alma 60:20)
  389. Hanged upon a tree = (3 Nephi 4:28)/(Joshua 8:29)
  390. Harden your hearts = (Alma 34:31)/(Exodus 7:13)
  391. The harvest is ripe = (Alma 26:5)/(Revelation 14:15)
  392. Have against thee = (Alma 39:2)/(Revelation 2:20)
  393. Have ye not read the scriptures? (3 Nephi 27:5)/(Matthew 21:42)/(Mark 12:26)
  394. Heal the nations = (Revelation 22:2)/(2 Nephi 25:20)
  395. Healeth wounds/broken in heart = (Psalm 147:3)/(Jacob 2:8,10)
  396. Healing in his wings = (Malachi 4:2)/(2 Nephi 25:13)
  397. Heaping up wrath against the day of judgment = (Helaman 8:25)/(Romans 2:5)/(Job 36:13)
  398. Hearken to the voice of the Lord = (Deuteronomy 13:18)/(2 Nephi 9:21)
  399. Hearts did burn = (3 Nephi 11:3)/(Luke 24:32)
  400. Heaven, earth, and all things that in them are = (2 Nephi 2:14)/(Acts 4:24)/(Exodus 20:11)
  401. Heavenly Father = (Mosiah 2:34)/(Matthew 6:14, 26)
  402. The heavens opened = (1 Nephi 11:14,27,30)/(Mark 1:10)/(Ezekiel 1:1)
  403. Hedge up the way = (Mosiah 7:29)/(Hosea 2:6)
  404. He hath a devil = (Mosiah 3:9)/(Luke 7:33)
  405. Heirs of (kingdom of) God = (Romans 8:17)/(Galatians 4:7)/(Mosiah 15:11)
  406. He maketh intercession = (Isaiah 53:12)/(2 Nephi 2:9)
  407. Heed and diligence = (Deuteronomy 4:9)/(Mosiah 1:16)
  408. Hen gathereth her chickens = (Matthew 23:37)/(3 Nephi 10:4)
  409. Hewn down and cast into the fire = (Alma 5:35)/(Matthew 7:19)
  410. Hidden darkness = (2 Nephi 3:5)/(Mosiah 8:17)/(I Corinthians 4:5)
  411. His own house = (1 Nephi 1:7)/(Luke 5:25)
  412. Hiss forth/unto them = (Isaiah 5:26)/(Moroni 10:28)
  413. Hiss/Proverb and a byword = (2 Chronicles 7:20)/(1 Nephi 19:14)
  414. Hold fast to the word = (Titus 1:9)/(1 Nephi 8:30)/(1 Nephi 11:25)
  415. Holding forth = (Alma 16:19)/(Philippians 2:16)
  416. Holy and true = (Revelation 3:7)/(2 Nephi 2:10)
  417. Holy arm = (Psalm 98:1)/(Enos 1:13)/(Isaiah 52:10)
  418. A holy city = (Ether 13:5)/(Isaiah 52:1)
  419. Holy Ghost descended like a dove = (2 Nephi 31:8)/(Matthew 3:16)
  420. Holy Ghost given to the Gentiles = (1 Nephi 10:11)/(Acts 10:45)
  421. Holy God = (2 Nephi 9:39)/(Joshua 24:19)
  422. Holy one = (2 Nephi 2:10)/(Psalm 89:18)
  423. Holy One of Israel = (1 Nephi 19:14)/(Isaiah 31:1)
  424. Hope of eternal life = (Titus 1:2)/(Alma 13:29)
  425. The hope of glory = (Colossians 1:27)/(Jacob 4:4, 11)
  426. Hope of/for salvation = (1 Thessalonians 5:8)/(Alma 5:10)
  427. The house of Israel is an olive tree = (Jacob 5:3)/(Romans 11:24)/(Jeremiah 11:16-17)
  428. Houses left desolate = (Helaman 15:1)/(Isaiah 5:9)
  429. How great is the goodness of God = (2 Nephi 9:10)/(Psalm 31:19)/(Zechariah 9:17)
  430. How great things the Lord has done = (2 Nephi 1:1)/(Mark 5:19)
  431. Humble yourself as a little child = (Moroni 8:10)/(Matthew 18:4)
  432. I am in thy hands; do as seemeth thee good = (Jeremiah 26:14)/(Mosiah 12:16)
  433. I am the light of the world = (Ether 4:12)/(John 8:12)
  434. I am the Lord’s = (Isaiah 44:5)/(2 Nephi 28:3)
  435. I can do all things in his strength = (Alma 26:12)/(Phillipians 4:13)
  436. I lie not = (2 Corinthians 11:31)/(Moroni 10:26)
  437. I looked…and I saw him not = (1 Nephi 11:12)/(Revelation 1:12)
  438. I never knew you = (Mosiah 26:27)/(Matthew 7:23)
  439. I pray not for the world, but for those whom thou hast given me = (3 Nephi 19:29)/(John 17:9)
  440. I saw and bare record = (1 Nephi 11:32)/(John 1:34)
  441. I thank thee that I am not like other men = (Luke 18:11)/(Alma 38:14)
  442. I was with the Father from the beginning = (John 1:1)/(3 Nephi 9:15)
  443. I will go before thee = (Ether 1:42)/(Deuteronomy 1:30)
  444. Idleness = (Ezekiel 16:49)/(Alma 38:12)
  445. If ye are brought up in the gospel ye will not depart from it = (2 Nephi 4:5)/(Proverbs 22:6)
  446. If you do not preach, the blood of the wicked will be on you = (Jacob 1:19)/(Ezekiel 3:18-20)
  447. If you slay me you will shed innocent blood = (Mosiah 17:10)/(Jeremiah 26:15)
  448. I have not found so great faith in Israel = (Matthew 8:10)/(3 Nephi 19:35)/(Alma 19:10)
  449. Imagination of the heart = (Jeremiah 3:17/7:24/9:14)/(1 Nephi 2:11)
  450. In our flesh we will see God = (2 Nephi 9:4)/(Job 19:26)
  451. In thy seed shall all nations/kindreds be blessed = (1 Nephi 22:9)/(Genesis 18:18)
  452. Industrious = (1 Kings 11:28)/(2 Nephi 5:17)
  453. Inhabitants of the earth = (Revelation 8:13)/(2 Nephi 2:8)
  454. Inhabitants of the land = (Jeremiah 1:14)/(Ether 2:11)
  455. Inherit the kingdom of God prepared from the foundation of the world = (2 Nephi 9:18)/(Matthew 25:34)
  456. Iniquities and abominations = (Jacob 2:16)/(Ezekiel 36:31)
  457. Iniquities and transgressions = (Mosiah 14:5/Isaiah 53)/(Mosiah 15:9)
  458. Iniquities of their fathers = (Nehemiah 9:2)/(Jacob 3:7)
  459. Inquire of the Lord = (1 Samuel 10:22)/(1 Nephi 15:8)
  460. Isles of the sea = (1 Nephi 22:4)/(Isaiah 24:15)
  461. Jacob/Nephites have I loved; Esau/Lamanites have I hated = (Romans 9:13)/(Helaman 15:3-4)/(Malachi 1:2-3)
  462. Jerusalem, I have seen thy abominations = (1 Nephi 1:13)/(Ezekiel 8: 6, 9)
  463. Jesus had compassion towards them = (3 Nephi 17:6)/(Matthew 14:14)
  464. Jot and tittle = (Alma 34:13)/(Matthew 5:18)
  465. Joy may be full = (2 Nephi 9:18)/(1 John 1:4)
  466. Judge righteously = (Alma 41:14)/(Deuteronomy 1:16)
  467. Judge ye = (2 Nephi 33:11)/(Acts 4:19)
  468. Judged according to their works = (2 Nephi 9:44)/(Revelation 20:13)
  469. Judgment seat of Christ = (2 Nephi 9:15)/(Romans 14:10)
  470. Judgments and statutes of the law = (2 Nephi 5:10)/(Deuteronomy 4:8)
  471. Judgments are just = (Mosiah 16:1)/(John 5:30)
  472. Just and equal = (Colossians 4:1)/(Alma 10:21)
  473. Just and true = (Alma 18:34)/(Revelation 15:3)
  474. Justify the righteous = (1 Nephi 16:2)/(1 Kings 8:32)
  475. Keep and preserve = (Psalm 140:4)/(Alma 37:4)
  476. Kingdom of heaven is at hand = (Alma 5:28)/(Matthew 10:7)
  477. Kings and rulers = (1 Nephi 16:38)/(Mosiah 2:30)/(Mark 13:9)
  478. The King’s countenance was changed = (Alma 18:12)/(Daniel 5:6)
  479. Knit together = (1 Samuel 18:1)/(Mosiah 18:21)
  480. Knock and it shall be opened = (2 Nephi 9:42)/(Matthew 7:7)
  481. Know not when the end will come = (Alma 5:29)/(Matthew 25:13)/24:42)
  482. Know that I am the Lord = (2 Nephi 6:7)/(Ezekiel 11:10)/(Mosiah 12:3)
  483. Know them by their fruits = (Matthew 7:16, 20)/(Moroni 7:5)
  484. Knowledge and understanding = (Jeremiah 3:15)/(Words of Mormon 1:9)
  485. Knowledge of the truth = (Mosiah 27:36)/(2 Timothy 3:7)
  486. Labor with their hands = (Alma 1:3)/(1 Corinthians 4:12)/(1 Thessalonians 4:11)
  487. Lake of fire and brimstone = (2 Nephi 9:16)/(Revelation 19:20)
  488. Lamb of God, who taketh away the sins of the world = (Alma 7:14)/(John 1:29)
  489. Lands called after their names = (Psalm 49:11)/(Alma 8:7)
  490. Land for an inheritance = (Numbers 34:2)/(1 Nephi 2:4)
  491. Land of promise = (Nehemiah 9:23)/(1 Nephi 5:5)
  492. Land will be desolate = (Alma 22:30)/(Jeremiah 6:8)
  493. The latter days = (Jeremiah 48:47)/(2 Nephi 3:5)
  494. Laughed to scorn = (Matthew 9:24)/(Alma 26:23)
  495. The law and the prophets = (2 Nephi 25:28)/(Luke 16:16)
  496. The law hath become dead to us = (2 Nephi 25:25)/(Romans 7:4)
  497. Law must be fulfilled = (2 Nephi 9:17)/(Matthew 5:17)
  498. Law of Moses because of iniquity = (Mosiah 13:29)/(Matthew 19:8)
  499. Law of Moses brings us to Christ = (Galatians 3:24)/(Jacob 4:5)
  500. Lay aside every sin which doth easily beset you = (Alma 7:15)/(Hebrews 12:1)
  501. Lay down my life to take it again = (2 Nephi 2:8)/(John 10:17)
  502. Lay up treasures in heaven = (Matthew 6:19-20)/(Helaman 5:8/8:25)
  503. Learn wisdom = (Alma 37:35)/(Proverbs 30:3)
  504. Led by the blind = (Matthew 15:14)/(Helaman 13:29)
  505. Led by/of the Spirit = (1 Nephi 4:6)/(Galatians 5:18)
  506. Left hand of God = (Mosiah 5:10)/(Matthew 25:33)
  507. Let good and bad grow together = (Jacob 5:65)/(Matt 13:30)
  508. Let things be done in order = (Mosiah 4:27)/(1 Corinthians 14:40)
  509. Lied unto men and God = (Acts 5:4)/(Alma 12:3)
  510. Life or damnation = (Helaman 12:26)/(John 5:29)
  511. Lift up your heads = (2 Nephi 9:3)/(Psalm 24:7)
  512. Lift up your hearts = (2 Nephi 11:8)/(Lamentations 3:41)
  513. Lifted up = (Alma 36:3)/(Psalm 28:9)
  514. Light and/of knowledge = (II Corinthians 4:6)/(Alma 9:23)
  515. Light and understanding = (Daniel 5:14)/(2 Nephi 31:3)
  516. Light [of Christ] in every man = (John 1:9)/(Moroni 7:16)
  517. Light of this people = (Isaiah 51:4)/(3 Nephi 15:12)
  518. Light of thy countenance = (Psalm 4:6)/(3 Nephi 19:25)
  519. Light to shine out of darkness = (2 Corinthians 4:6)/(Alma 37:23,25)
  520. Line upon line, precept upon precept = (2 Nephi 28:30)/(Isaiah 28:13)
  521. Living souls = (Genesis 2:7)/(2 Nephi 9:13)
  522. Loftiness of man/the vineyard = (Isaiah 2:17)/(Jacob 5:48)
  523. Look upon the brazen serpent shall live = (Numbers 21:8)/(1 Nephi 17:41)
  524. Looked steadfastly to heaven = (3 Nephi 11:5)/(Acts 7:55)
  525. Loose bands of death/wickedness = (Alma 11:41)/(Isaiah 58:6)/(Acts 2:24)
  526. Lord God Almighty = (Revelation 4:8)/(1 Nephi 1:14)
  527. Lord God Omnipotent = (Mosiah 3:21)/(Revelation 19:6)
  528. The Lord is his name = (2 Nephi 9:41)/(Amos 5:8)
  529. Lord hidden in a cloud = (Ether 2:4)/(Exodus 16:10)
  530. Lord Jesus Christ = (Alma 38:8)/(Ephesians 5:20)
  531. Lord of Hosts = (Isaiah 37:16)/(2 Nephi 26:5)
  532. Lord of the harvest = (Matthew 9:38)/(Alma 26:7)
  533. Lord of the vineyard = (Mark 12:9)/(Jacob 5:11)
  534. Lord thy God = (Matthew 4:7)/(Alma 13:12)
  535. Lord thy Redeemer = (1 Nephi 19:18)/(Isaiah 54:8)
  536. Lord will hide your sins from his face = (3 Nephi 9:5)/(Psalm 51:9)
  537. The Lord’s wings = (2 Nephi 4:25/Psalm 17:8)
  538. Love of Christ = (II Corinthians 5:14)/(Moroni 7:47)
  539. Love of God shed abroad in our hearts = (1 Nephi 11:22/Romans 5:5)
  540. Lowly in heart = (Alma 32:8)/(Matthew 11:29)
  541. Lust of the eyes = (Alma 39:9)/(1 John 2:16)
  542. Lusts of the flesh = (1 Nephi 22:23)/(Ephesians 2:3)
  543. A lying spirit = (Alma 30:42)/(2 Chronicles 18:22)
  544. Made the sea our path = (2 Nephi 10:20)/(Psalms 8:8)
  545. Magnify our office = (Jacob 1:19)/(Romans 11:13)
  546. Make bare his arm in eyes of the nations = (Isaiah 52:10)/(1 Nephi 22:10)
  547. Make God a liar = (1 John 5:10)/(Alma 12:23)
  548. Make it after the pattern shown thee in the mount = (1 Nephi 17:7-8)/(Exodus 25:40)/(Hebrews 8:5)
  549. Make my path straight before me = (2 Nephi 4:33)/(Psalm 5:8)
  550. Maker = (Proverbs 17:5)/(Enos 1:4)
  551. Man/Nations are nothing, less than nothing/dust = (Helaman 12:7)/(Isaiah 40:15-17)
  552. Man of understanding = (Mosiah 1:2)/(Proverbs 1:5/20:5)
  553. Manifest in the flesh = (1 Timothy 3:16)/(2 Nephi 25:12)
  554. Mansions in heaven = (Ether 12:37)/(John 14:2)
  555. The mark = (Phillipians 3:14)/(Jacob 4:14)
  556. (Set a) mark = (Genesis 4:15)/(Alma 3:10)
  557. Mark on their foreheads = (Alma 3:18)/(Ezekiel 9:4)
  558. Married and given in marriage = (Matthew 24:38)/(4 Nephi 1:11)
  559. Marvelous in our eyes = (Psalm 118:23)/(Mormon 9:16)
  560. Marvelous work = (1 Nephi 14:7)/(Isaiah 29:14)
  561. May be well with you = (Jeremiah 42:6)/(1 Nephi 14:5)
  562. Measures [explaining ratios of measures, in particular randomly putting a unit of measurement at the end of a long discussion] = (Exodus 16:36)/(Alma 11:18-19)
  563. Mediator = (2 Nephi 2:27-28)/(Hebrews 12:24)
  564. Melchizedek = (Alma 13)/(Hebrews 7)/(Genesis 14:18-24)
  565. Mend their ways = (Helaman 11:36)/(Jeremiah 7:3)
  566. Merciful to those who cry/call to the Lord = (Alma 33:8)/(Psalm 86:5)
  567. Mercy and truth = (Proverbs 16:6)/(Alma 5:48)
  568. Midst of the congregation = (Psalm 22:22)/(Alma 33:9)
  569. Mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear” = (Matthew 3:11)/(1 Nephi 10:8)
  570. Mighty in word and deed = (Helaman 10:5)/(Luke 24:19)
  571. Mighty to save = (Alma 7:14)/(Isaiah 63:1)/(Zephaniah 3:17)/(2 Nephi 31:19)
  572. Mindful of us = (Alma 26:36)/(Psalm 115:12)
  573. Mischief and subtlety = (2 Nephi 5:24)/(Acts 13:10)
  574. Mist of darkness = (1 Nephi 8:23)/(II Peter 2:17)/(Revelation 9:2)
  575. More tolerable for them than for you = (Alma 9:15)/(Luke 10:14)
  576. Mourn and comfort = (Mosiah 18:9)/(Job 2:11)
  577. Mourning and lamentation = (Ezekiel 2:10)/(Helaman 7:15)
  578. Moses’ face shone = (Exodus 34:30)/(Mosiah 13:5)
  579. Moses’ prophecy of Christ’s coming = (1 Nephi 22:20)/(Acts 3:22-23)
  580. Moses smote the rock, and there came water = (1 Nephi 17:29)/(Exodus 17:6)
  581. Moth doth corrupt, thieves break and steal = (3 Nephi 27:32)/(Matthew 6:19)
  582. Mother of abominations = (Revelation 17:5)/(1 Nephi 14:9)
  583. Mother of harlots = (Revelation 17:5)/(1 Nephi 13:34)
  584. Mountains are carried up = (1 Nephi 19:11)/(Psalms 46:2)
  585. Mouth of God = (2 Nephi 33:14)/(2 Chronicles 35:22)
  586. Multitude of tender mercies = (1 Nephi 8:8)/(Psalm 51:1)
  587. Murderer from the beginning = (John 8:44)/(Ether 8:15)
  588. Murmur against the Lord = (Exodus 16:7)/(1 Nephi 16:20)
  589. My grace is sufficient for thee = (2 Corinthians 12:9)/(Ether 12:27)
  590. My soul delighteth = (Isaiah 42:1)/(2 Nephi 11:2)
  591. My soul longed to be with God = (Psalm 84:2)/(Alma 36:22)
  592. Mysteries of God = (Revelation 10:7)/(1 Nephi 1:1)
  593. Nakedness = (Lamentations 1:8)/(2 Nephi 9:14)
  594. Nations driven out for wickedness = (Deuteronomy 9:4)/(1 Nephi 17:33)
  595. Nation, kindred, tongue, people = (Revelation 5:9)/(1 Nephi 5:18)
  596. Nephi justified in killing Laban = (Exodus 21:12-13)/(1 Nephi 4:12)
  597. Never hath man dwelt = (Jeremiah 2:6)/(Ether 2:5)
  598. Never weary of good works = (Alma 37:34)/(2 Thessalonians 3:13)
  599. New creatures = (Mosiah 27:26)/(II Corinthians 5:17)
  600. New heaven and new earth = (Revelation 21:1)/(2 Peter 3:13)/(Ether 13:9)/(Isaiah 65:17)
  601. New Jerusalem = (Revelation 21:2/3:12)/(Ether 13:3)
  602. Night where no work can be performed = (John 9:4)/(Alma 34:33)
  603. Nimrod the mighty hunter = (Ether 2:1)/(Genesis 10:8-9)
  604. No flesh is justified by the law = (2 Nephi 2:5)/(Romans 3:20)
  605. No hair of the head will be lost = (Alma 40:23)/(Acts 27:34)
  606. No law, no sin = (Romans 4:15)/(2 Nephi 2:13)
  607. No more confounded = (Isaiah 45:17)/(Moroni 10:31)
  608. No other name under heaven where salvation can come = (Acts 4:12)/(Mosiah 5:8)
  609. No respect of persons = (Alma 1:30)/(1 Peter 1:17)/(2 Chronicles 19:7)
  610. No unclean thing can enter = (2 Chronicles 23:19)/(Alma 11:37)
  611. None effect = (Alma 12:26)/(Mark 7:13)
  612. None that doeth good = (Jacob 5:32)/(Psalms 14:3)/(Moroni 10:25)
  613. None could/to deliver them = (Alma 36:2)/(Psalm 71:11)
  614. None to bury them = (Psalm 79:3)/(Ether 14:22)
  615. North countries = (Ether 13:11)/(Jeremiah 23:8)
  616. Not a few = (Isaiah 10:7/2 Nephi 20:7)/(Alma 17:34)
  617. Not be afraid of ten thousands of people = (1 Nephi 4:1)/(Psalm 3:6)
  618. Not cumber the ground = (Jacob 5:9)/(Luke 13:7)
  619. Not for me are against me = (2 Nephi 10:16)/(Luke 11:23)
  620. Not knowing what to do = (1 Nephi 4:6)/(Hebrews 11:8)
  621. Not pleasing to men, but to God = (1 Thessalonians 2:4)/(1 Nephi 6:5)
  622. Nothing doubting = (Acts 11:12)/(Ether 3:19)
  623. Now I know of a surety = (1 Nephi 5:8)/(Acts 12:11)
  624. Now is the day of salvation = (II Corinthians 6:2)/(Alma 34:31)
  625. Number the people = (2 Samuel 24:2)/(Ether 6:19)
  626. Nurture and admonition of the Lord = (Enos 1:1)/(Ephesians 6:4)
  627. O daughter of Zion = (Isaiah 52:2)/(Moroni 10:31)/(Isaiah 16:1)
  628. O wretched man that I am = (2 Nephi 4:17)/(Romans 7:24)
  629. Oath and a curse = (Nehemiah 5:13/10:29)/(Alma 46:22)
  630. Obtain political power through flattery = (Daniel 11:21, 32)/(Alma 46:7)
  631. Oh that I could have my wish = (Job 6:8)/(Alma 29:1)
  632. Old serpent = (2 Nephi 2:18)/(Revelation 12:9)
  633. Old things pass away; all things become new = (2 Corinthians 5:17)/(Ether 13:9)
  634. One body = (Jacob 5:74)/(Ephesians 4:4)
  635. One faith and one baptism = (Mosiah 18:21)/(Ephesians 4:5)
  636. One heart = (2 Nephi 1:21)/(Ezekiel 11:19)
  637. One mind = (Phillipians 2:2)/(2 Nephi 1:21)
  638. Only begotten of the Father = (Alma 9:26)/(John 1:14)
  639. Ordained elders in the church = (Alma 6:1)/(Acts 14:23)
  640. Other sheep I have which are not of this fold = (John 10:16)/(3 Nephi 15:17)
  641. Out of obscurity = (2 Nephi 1:23)/(Isaiah 29:18)
  642. Outer darkness, weeping and gnashing = (Alma 40:13)/(Matthew 22:13)
  643. Pains of hell = (Psalm 116:3)/(Alma 26:13)/(Jacob 3:11)
  644. Paradise of God = (Revelation 2:7)/(Luke 23:43)/(2 Nephi 9:13)
  645. Partake of the heavenly gift = (Ether 12:8)/(Hebrews 6:4)
  646. Pass away like a dream = (Isaiah 29:7)/(Jacob 7:26)
  647. Past feeling = (1 Nephi 17:45)/(Ephesians 4:19)
  648. Path of righteousness = (2 Nephi 9:41)/(Psalm 23:3)
  649. People cried/answered with one voice = (Mosiah 5:2)/(Exodus 24:3)
  650. Perfect knowledge = (Job 37:16)/(2 Nephi 9:13)
  651. Perfect love casteth out fear (Moroni 8:16)/(1 John 4:18)
  652. Perverse and crooked generation/wicked and perverse generation = (Deut 32:5)/(Alma 31:24)/(Alma 9:8)/(Phil 2:15)
  653. Perverted the way = (2 Nephi 28:15)/(Jeremiah 3:21)
  654. Pit of Hell = (1 Nephi 14:3)/(Revelation 9:2)/(Psalm 7:15-16)
  655. Place of refuge = (Isaiah 4:6)/(Helaman 15:12)
  656. Plain path/road = (Psalms 27:11)/(2 Nephi 4:32)
  657. Plainness of speech = (2 Nephi 9:47)/(II Corinthians 3:12)
  658. Plead your cause = (Jacob 3:1)/(1 Samuel 24:15)
  659. Pollutions = (Mormon 8:31)/(Jeremiah 3:2)
  660. Pondered in my heart = (1 Nephi 11:1)/(Luke 2:19)
  661. Pour out my spirit = (Proverbs 1:23)/(Jacob 7:8)/(Mosiah 18:10)
  662. Pour out thy wrath = (Psalm 79:6)/(1 Nephi 14:15)/(Revelation 14:10)
  663. Power and authority = (Luke 4:36)/(Mosiah 18:26)
  664. Power and great glory = (1 Nephi 11:28)/(Mark 13:26)/(Psalms 63:2)
  665. Power in heaven and in earth = (Jacob 7:14)/(Matthew 28:18)
  666. Power of God = (2 Nephi 1:27)/(2 Timothy 1:8)
  667. Power of hell/heaven shall be shaken = (Alma 48:17)/(Matthew 24:29)
  668. Power of mine/the arm = (Jacob 2:25)/(Daniel 11:6)
  669. Power of the Holy Ghost = (Romans 15:13)/(1 Nephi 13:37)
  670. Power of the resurrection = (2 Nephi 9:6)/(Phillipians 3:10)
  671. Power to deliver = (Isaiah 50:2)/(2 Nephi 9:25)
  672. Pray and not faint = (Luke 18:1)/(2 Nephi 32:9)
  673. Pray continually without ceasing = (Alma 26:22)/(Romans 1:9)
  674. Pray in your closet = (Alma 34:26)/(Matthew 6:6)
  675. Pray to be seen of men = (Matthew 6:5)/(Alma 38:13)
  676. Prayer and supplication = (Alma 31:10)/(Acts 1:14)
  677. Preach to every creature = (Mormon 9:22)/(Mark 16:15)
  678. Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight” = (Matthew 3:3)/(1 Nephi 10:8)
  679. Prepare your hearts/minds = (2 Chronicles 19:3)/(3 Nephi 17:3)
  680. Prepareth a way to escape = (1 Corinthians 10:13)/(2 Nephi 9:10)
  681. Prick their hearts = (Jarom 1:12)/(Acts 2:37)
  682. Pride leads to contention = (Proverbs 13:10)/(Alma 4:9)
  683. Pride of your hearts = (Mormon 8:36)/(2 Chronicles 32:26)
  684. Prophet given a book to read = (1 Nephi 1:11-12)/(Ezekiel 2:8-9)
  685. The provocation = (Alma 12:36)/(Hebrews 3:8)/(Psalm 78:40)
  686. Pruning, digging, nourishing = (Jacob 5:4,64)/(Luke 13:8)/(Isaiah 5:6)
  687. Puffed up = (1 Corinthians 4:6)/(Alma 31:27)
  688. Pull down = (Jeremiah 1:10)/(Alma 60:36)
  689. Pure as he is pure = (Moroni 7:48)/(1 John 3:3)
  690. Pure heart and clean hands = (2 Nephi 25:16)/(Psalms 24:4)
  691. Pure/Purity (word of God) = (1 Nephi 13:25)/(Proverbs 30:5)
  692. Put away privily = (Matthew 1:19)/(Alma 14:3)
  693. Put in his heart (to teach) = (Exodus 35:34)/(Helaman 13:4-5)
  694. Put off the old/natural man = (Mosiah 3:19)/(Ephesians 4:22)
  695. The quick and the dead = (Moroni 10:34)/(2 Timothy 4:1)
  696. Raise up seed unto = (Mark 12:19)/(Jacob 2:30)
  697. Raise you up at the last day = (John 6:40)/(Alma 36:28)
  698. Read upon the house tops = (Matthew 10:27)/(Mormon 5:8)
  699. Reading sacred records to the people = (Nehemiah 9)/(Mosiah 25)
  700. Recommended to God = (Acts 14:26)/(Moroni 9:21)
  701. Reconciled to Christ = (2 Nephi 33:9)/(II Corinthians 5:18,20)
  702. Reign in his stead = (Ether 9:27)/(2 Kings 15:22)
  703. Remember the captivity of your fathers = (Alma 5:6)/(Deuteronomy 24:18)
  704. Remembered his covenant = (Psalms 105:8)/(2 Nephi 29:1)
  705. Remnant of house of Israel = (Jeremiah 31:7)/(Mormon 7:1)/(Isaiah 46:3)
  706. Remnant of Jacob = (Micah 5:7)/(Mormon 7:10)
  707. Remnant of Joseph = (Amos 5:15)/(Alma 46:24)
  708. Remove mountains = (Ether 12:30)/(Matthew 17:20)
  709. Repent and be baptized in name of Christ = (Acts 2:38)/(2 Nephi 9:23)
  710. The residue of men = (Moroni 7:32)/(Acts 15:17)
  711. Rest from sorrow = (Alma 40:12)/(Isaiah 14:3)
  712. Resurrection of the just and unjust = (Acts 24:15)/(Alma 12:8)
  713. Rewarded evil = (Alma 41:5)/(Psalm 109:5)
  714. A righteous branch = (Jeremiah 23:5)/(2 Nephi 3:5/9:53)
  715. Righteous will be righteous still; filthy will be filthy still = (2 Nephi 9:16)/(Revelation 22:11)
  716. Rise from the dust = (1 Samuel 2:8)/(2 Nephi 1:14)/(Isaiah 52:2)
  717. Rise no more = (Jeremiah 25:27)/(2 Nephi 9:7)
  718. Robe of righteousness = (2 Nephi 9:14)/(Isaiah 61:10)
  719. Rock of my Redeemer = (Helaman 5:12)/(Psalms 78:35)
  720. Rock of my salvation = (2 Nephi 9:45)/(Psalm 62:2)
  721. Rocks and mountains fall on us to hide us from the Lord = (Alma 12:14)/(Revelation 6:16)/(Hosea 10:8)/(Luke 23:30)
  722. Rocks rent = (1 Nephi 12:4)/(1 Nephi 19:12)/(Matthew 27:51)
  723. Rod of God = (1 Nephi 17:41)/(Job 21:9)/(Psalm 23:4)
  724. Rod of iron = (1 Nephi 8:19/11:24-25)/(Revelation 2:26-27)
  725. Rolled together as a scroll = (Mormon 9:2)/(Revelation 6:14)
  726. Rooted out = (Job 18:14)/(Alma 22:15)
  727. Ruler over you = (Deuteronomy 1:13)/(1 Nephi 2:22)/(1 Nephi 3:29)
  728. Run a race, win the prize = (Mosiah 4:27)/(1 Corinthians 9:24)
  729. Sackloth and ashes = (Mosiah 11:25)/(Daniel 9:3)
  730. Same yesterday, today, and forever = (2 Nephi 2:4)/(Hebrews 13:8)
  731. Sanctified by the Holy Ghost= (Romans 15:16)/(Alma 13:12)
  732. Sanctified in Christ = (1 Corinthians 1:2)/(Moroni 10:33)
  733. Satan can transform into angel of light = (2 Nephi 9:9)/(II Corinthians 11:14)
  734. Save them from their sins = (Matthew 1:21)/(Alma 5:27)
  735. Saved by grace (2 Nephi 10:24/25:23)/(Ephesians 2:8)
  736. Scales of darkness fell from his eyes = (2 Nephi 30:6)/(Acts 9:18)
  737. Scarlets = (Exodus 36:8)/(1 Nephi 13:8)
  738. Scattered upon all the face of the earth = (Ether 1:33)/(Genesis 11:9)
  739. Scourge unto you = (Joshua 23:13)/(1 Nephi 2:24)
  740. Seal you his = (Mosiah 5:15)/(II Corinthians 1:22)/(Alma 34:35)
  741. Seal up the vision = (Daniel 9:24)/(Revelation 22:10)/(1 Nephi 14:26)
  742. Searched diligently for salvation to come = (2 Nephi 9:4)/(1 Peter 1:10)
  743. Searched the scriptures = (Acts 17:11)/(Jacob 7:23)
  744. Second death = (Revelation 20:6)/(Jacob 3:11)/(Alma 12:32)
  745. See eye to eye = (Alma 36:26)/(Isaiah 52:8)
  746. See God face to face = (Ether 12:39)/(Genesis 32:30)
  747. See the salvation of the Lord = (1 Nephi 19:17)/(Exodus 14:13)/(2 Chronicles 20:17)
  748. Seek and ye shall find = (1 Nephi 10:18)/(Matthew 7:7-8)
  749. Seek me diligently = (1 Nephi 2:19)/(Hebrews 11:6)
  750. Seek my life, to take it away = (1 Nephi 1:20)/(1 Kings 19:10)
  751. Seek the kingdom of God = (Matthew 6:33)/(Jacob 2:18)
  752. Seen and heard = (Mormon 1:1)/(Acts 4:20)
  753. Seers from old times = (Mosiah 28:16)/(1 Samuel 9:9)
  754. Sell themselves for naught = (2 Nephi 26:10)/(Psalm 44:12)
  755. Serpent beguiled = (2 Nephi 9:9)/(Genesis 3:13)
  756. Set his hand again a second time to restore/recover = (2 Nephi 25:17)/(Isaiah 11:11/2 Nephi 21:11)
  757. Set your hearts upon riches = (Psalm 62:10)/(Helaman 13:20)
  758. Shake my garments to rid myself of your blood = (2 Nephi 9:44)/(Acts 18:6)
  759. Shall be in danger of hell fire = (Mormon 8:17)/(Matthew 5:22)
  760. Shall wonder and perish = (Mormon 9:26)/(Acts 13:41)
  761. Sharpness = (2 Nephi 1:26)/(II Corinthians 13:10)
  762. Sheep which have no shepherd = (Numbers 27:17)/(Matthew 9:36)/(Alma 5:37)
  763. Shine forth [God] = (Deuteronomy 33:2)/(Alma 5:50)
  764. Shine like the sun in the kingdom of God = (Matthew 13:43)/(Alma 40:25)
  765. Sift you as wheat = (Luke 22:31)/(3 Nephi 18:18)
  766. A sign unto thee = (Exodus 13:9)/(Jacob 7:14)
  767. Sign of Christ’s death = (3 Nephi 11:2)/(Matthew 12:39-40)
  768. Signs and wonders = (Hebrews 2:4)/(Helaman 14:6)
  769. Signs shall follow them = (Mormon 9:24)/(Mark 16:17)
  770. Similitude of God = (James 3:9)/(Jacob 4:5)
  771. Sing praise to the name of God = (Psalm 7:17)/(Alma 26:8)
  772. Sins and iniquities = (Mosiah 18:1)/(Hebrews 10:17)
  773. Sins returned on your own head = (Obadiah 1:15)/(Jacob 3:10)
  774. Sit down on the right hand of God = (Moroni 7:27)/(Hebrews 10:12)
  775. Sit down with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob = (Alma 7:25)/(Matthew 8:11)
  776. Slay with a great slaughter = (Joshua 10:10)/(Alma 59:7)
  777. Small and great = (Revelation 11:18)/(Mormon 9:13)
  778. Smite with a rod = (Isaiah 30:31)/(1 Nephi 3:28)/(Exodus 21:20)
  779. Smite with the edge of the sword = (Alma 17:37)/(Joshua 10:30)/(Numbers 21:24)
  780. Smitten upon the cheek = (Job 16:10)/(Alma 14:15)
  781. Snare = (Alma 12:6)/(Psalm 106:35)/(2 Timothy 2:26)
  782. Space to repent = (Alma 12:24)/(Revelation 2:21)
  783. Speak as if I were present = (Mormon 8:35)/(2 Corinthians 13:2)
  784. Speak hard things = (1 Nephi 16:1)/(2 Nephi 9:40)/(Psalm 94:4)
  785. Spend strength with harlots/women = (Mosiah 12:29)/
  786. In spirit and truth = (Alma 34:38)/(John 4:24)
  787. The Spirit constraineth me = (Job 32:18)/(Alma 14:11)
  788. Spirit of Christ = (Moroni 7:16)/(Romans 8:9)
  789. Spirit of God dwell in you = (Romans 8:9)/(Alma 7:5)
  790. Spirit of power = (2 Nephi 3:5)/(I Corinthians 2:4)
  791. Spirit of prophecy = (Revelation 19:10)/(2 Nephi 25:4)/(Jacob 4:6)
  792. Spirit of truth = (John 16:13)/(Alma 30:46)
  793. The Spirit of the Lord is upon me = (Luke 4:18)/(Mosiah 13:5)
  794. Spirit shall not always strive with man = (2 Nephi 26:11)/(Genesis 6:3)
  795. Spirit which giveth utterance = (2 Nephi 28:4)/(Acts 2:4)
  796. Spirit/Word hath no place in you = (2 Nephi 33:2)/(John 8:37)
  797. Spiritual body = (Alma 11:45)/(I Corinthians 15:44)
  798. Spiritual law = (Romans 7:14)/(2 Nephi 2:5)
  799. Springing up unto everlasting life [tree/water] = (John 4:14)/(Alma 32:41)
  800. So great faith I have not found in Israel = (Matthew 8:10)/(3 Nephi 19:35)
  801. Son of God = (Alma 33:17)/(Revelation 2:18)
  802. Son of perdition = (John 17:12)/(3 Nephi 27:32)
  803. Son of Righteousness = (Malachi 4:2)/(Ether 9:22)
  804. Son of the living God = (Mormon 5:14)/(Matthew 16:16)
  805. Sons of God = (Phillipians 2:15)/(Moroni 7:26)
  806. Sorrow of heart = (Helaman 7:14)/(Lamentations 3:65)
  807. Sorrowful/Grieved unto death = (Moroni 9:25)/(Mark 14:34)
  808. Souls are precious = (Alma 31:35)/(Psalm 49:8)
  809. Stand before God = (Revelation 20:12)/(1 Nephi 15:33)
  810. Stand fast in liberty that made you free = (Mosiah 23:13)/(Galatians 5:1)
  811. Stand with brightness = (2 Nephi 9:44)/(Ezekiel 28:7,17)
  812. A standard in the camp = (Numbers 10:14)/(Alma 62:4-5)
  813. Stars in the firmament = (1 Nephi 1:10)/(Genesis 1:14)
  814. Steadfast and immovable = (1 Nephi 2:10)/(Mosiah 5:15)/(1 Corinthians 15:58)
  815. Steadfast in the faith = (Mosiah 4:11)/(1 Peter 5:9)
  816. Steal the hearts = (2 Samuel 15:6)/(Alma 39:4)/(Alma 31:22)
  817. Stealing women for wives while they dance = (Judges 21:21)/(Mosiah 20:1-5)
  818. Stiffnecked people = (Deuteronomy 9:6)/(Alma 37:10)
  819. Still small voice = (1 Nephi 17:45)/(1 Kings 19:12)
  820. Stir you up to remembrance = (1 Nephi 2:24)/(II Peter 3:1)
  821. Stone which builders rejected = (Jacob 4:15-16)/(Psalm 118:22)/(Matthew 21:42)
  822. Strait is the gate, narrow is the way = (3 Nephi 27:33)/(Matthew 7:14)/(Luke 13:24)/(Jacob 6:11)
  823. Strength and wisdom = (Isaiah 10:13)/(Alma 39:2)
  824. Strength slacken because of iniquity = (2 Nephi 4:26)/(Psalms 31:10)
  825. Strength in weakness = (Ether 12:26-27)/(II Corinthians 12:9-10)
  826. Strength of the Lord = (Psalm 71:16)/(3 Nephi 4:10)
  827. Strengthen them in the Lord = (Zechariah 10:12)/(Alma 15:18)
  828. Strengthen thy stakes = (Isaiah 54:2)/(Moroni 10:31)
  829. Stretch forth your hand = (Acts 26:1)/(Mosiah 12:2)
  830. Stretched out my hands = (Psalms 88:9)/(Jacob 6:4)
  831. Stricken in years = (1 Nephi 18:17)/(Joshua 13:1)
  832. Strongholds = (Judges 6:2)/(2 Samuel 5:7)/(Alma 50:6)
  833. Stumble/tremble that he should fall = (Romans 11:11)/(2 Nephi 28:28)
  834. Stumblingblocks = (1 Nephi 14:1)/(1 Corinthians 1:23)
  835. [Earth] Swallowed up = (2 Nephi 26:5)/(Lamentations 2:2)/(Exodus 15:12)/(Deuteronomy 11:6)
  836. Swear in my wrath = (Hebrews 4:3)/(Jacob 1:7)
  837. Swear unto their fathers to have the land = (Deuteronomy 31:7)/(2 Nephi 1:5)
  838. Sword, famine, and pestilence = (Jeremiah 34:17)/(Alma 10:22)
  839. Sword of the Lord = (Alma 54:6)/(3 Nephi 2:19)/(Judges 7:18)
  840. Subtlety [of the devil] = (Alma 12:4)/(II Corinthians 11:3)
  841. Succor his people = (Alma 7:12)/(Hebrews 2:18)
  842. Sun scorcheth the plant; it withers and dies = (Matthew 13:6)/(Alma 32:38)
  843. Take away their talent = (Ether 12:35)/(Matthew 25:28)
  844. Take no thought what you should eat = (Alma 31:37)/(Matthew 6:25)
  845. Taken away by the Spirit = (Acts 8:39)/(Helaman 10:16)
  846. Taken up into a cloud = (Acts 1:9)/(3 Nephi 18:38-39)
  847. Taste of the goodness of the Lord = (Mormon 1:15)/(Psalm 34:8)
  848. Taste of death = (Ether 12:17)/(Hebrews 2:9)/(Luke 9:27)
  849. Tax of 1/5 = (Genesis 47:24)/(Mosiah 11:3)
  850. Tempt God = (Deuteronomy 6:16)/(Alma 30:44)
  851. Tender and delicate [women] = (Isaiah 47:1)/(Jacob 2:7)
  852. Testimony against them = (Mosiah 17:10)/(Luke 9:5)
  853. That great city = (Jonah 1:2)/(1 Nephi 2:13)/(Revelation 17:18)
  854. That I am = (Ether 4:12)/(Exodus 3:14)
  855. That I may prove them = (Exodus 16:4)/(Ether 12:35)
  856. That they might accuse him = (Luke 11:54)/(Mosiah 12:19)
  857. Then cometh [the season and] the end = (1 Corinthians 15:24)/(Jacob 5:77)
  858. They are the gods among us = (Alma 18:4)/(Acts 14:11)
  859. They are more righteous than you = (Ezekiel 16:52)/(Jacob 3:5)
  860. They have become like a rock/flint = (2 Nephi 5:21)/(Jeremiah 5:3)/(Ezekiel 3:9)
  861. They would have repented if they saw your miracles = (2 Nephi 10:4)/(Matthew 11:21)
  862. The things which the Lord hath commanded = (Levitus 17:2)/(1 Nephi 3:7)
  863. This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased = (Matthew 17:5)/(3 Nephi 11:7)
  864. Thou art holy = (Psalm 22:3)/(Alma 31:15)
  865. Thou art my firstborn = (Genesis 49:3)/(2 Nephi 2:1)
  866. Thou hast loved the world = (Ether 12:33)/(John 3:16)
  867. Thou shalt see greater things than these = (Helaman 14:28)/(John 1:50)
  868. Thoughts and intents of the heart = (Hebrews 4:12)/(Alma 18:32)
  869. Three days of darkness/vapor of darkness = (3 Nephi 8:20/10:10)/(Exodus 10:21-23)
  870. Thrust down to hell = (2 Nephi 9:34)/(Luke 10:15)
  871. Thrust hands in my side/feel prints of the nails = (3 Nephi 11:14)/(John 20:25-27)
  872. Thunderings and lightnings = (Exodus 20:18)/(1 Nephi 19:11)
  873. Thus saith the Lord = (Jeremiah 36:29)/(Helaman 13:8)
  874. Thy faith hath made thee whole = (Enos 1:8)/(Luke 8:48)
  875. Time appointed unto man = (Job 7:1)/(Alma 40:10/42:4/12:28)
  876. Time/days of tribulation = (Judges 10:14)/(2 Nephi 2:1)
  877. Time was lengthened = (Deuteronomy 25:15)/(2 Nephi 2:21)
  878. Tongue of angels = (2 Nephi 32:2)/(1 Corinthians 13:1)
  879. Top of the mountain = (1 Nephi 16:30)/(Ezekiel 6:13)
  880. Tossed about/to and fro = (Ephesians 4:14)/(Mormon 5:18)/(2 Nephi 6:11)
  881. [Even] to the ends of the earth = (Jeremiah 25:31)/(Mormon 9:21)
  882. To this day = (Joshua 4:9)/(Alma 25:9)
  883. Towers = (2 Chronicles 26:9)/(Alma 50:4)
  884. Tradition of your fathers = (1 Peter 1:18)/(Mosiah 10:12)
  885. Trample God under foot = (1 Nephi 19:7)/(Hebrews 10:29)
  886. Treated as angels of God = (Alma 27:4)/(Galatians 4:14)
  887. Tree planted by river of water = (1 Nephi 8:13, 20)/(Psalm 1:3)/(Jeremiah 17:8)
  888. Tree of life = (1 Nephi 15:22)/(Revelation 2:7)/(Proverbs 3:13-18)
  889. Tree [eat from] = (1 Nephi 8:10/11:22)/(Revelation 2:7)
  890. Tree waxes old = (Job 14:8)/(Jacob 5:3)
  891. Trial of your faith = (Ether 12:6)/(I Peter 1:7)
  892. Tribe of Manasseh lives in Jerusalem = (Alma 10:3)/(1 Chronicles 9:3)
  893. Trodden under foot = (Alma 46:22)/(Lamentations 1:15)
  894. True and faithful = (Revelation 21:5)/(2 Nephi 31:15)
  895. True vine = (1 Nephi 15:15)/(John 15:1)
  896. True and living God = (Alma 11:27)/(Jeremiah 10:10)
  897. Trump of God = (Alma 29:1)/(I Thessalonians 4:16)
  898. Trust in God = (Psalm 4:5)/(Alma 36:3)
  899. Truth and righteousness = (Zechariah 8:8)/(Alma 38:9)/(Psalms 19:9)
  900. Truth and soberness = (Mosiah 4:15)/(Acts 26:25)
  901. Truth which is in God/the Lamb/Christ = (1 Nephi 13:24,25)/(1 Tim 2:7)
  902. Turn aside = (1 Nephi 19:13-15)/(Deuteronomy 9:12)/(Lamentations 3:11)
  903. Turn away from your sins = (2 Nephi 9:45)/(Acts 3:26)
  904. Turn his anger away = (Alma 8:29)/(Psalm 78:38)
  905. Turn to the Lord [with all your heart]= (Acts 11:21)/(2 Chronicles 30:6)/(Jeremiah 3:10)/(Mosiah 7:33)
  906. Turn to the right hand or to the left = (Genesis 24:49)/(Alma 24:23)
  907. Twelve apostles will judge the twelve tribes = (1 Nephi 12:9)/(Matthew 19:28)
  908. Two or three witnesses = (Ether 5:4)/(Matthew 18:16)
  909. Type and a shadow = (Mosiah 13:10)/(Hebrews 8:5)
  910. Uncircumcised of heart = (2 Nephi 9:33)/(Jeremiah 9:26)
  911. Unprofitable servants = (Luke 17:10)/(Mosiah 2:21)
  912. Unquenchable fire = (Luke 3:17)/(Mormon 9:5)
  913. Unsearchable = (Psalms 145:3)/(Romans 11:33)/(Job 5:9)/(Jacob 4:8)
  914. Unspeakable words = (3 Nephi 19:34/26:18)/(2 Corinthians 12:4)
  915. Utterly destroyed = (Isaiah 34:2)/(Moroni 9:22)
  916. Vain and foolish = (Lamentations 2:14)/(Helaman 16:22)
  917. Veil taken away/off = (Ether 3:6)/(II Corinthians 3:16)
  918. Vengeance is mine; I will repay = (Mormon 3:15)/(Romans 12:19)
  919. Verily, verily, I say unto you = (3 Nephi 16:1)/(John 3:11)
  920. Vineyard of the Lord = (Jacob 5:3)/(Isaiah 5:7)/(Matt 20:1)
  921. [Prophets have] visions and dreams = (1 Nephi 8:36)/(Numbers 12:6)
  922. Visions drain the physical body = (1 Nephi 1:7/17:47)/(Daniel 10:8)
  923. Visit in his anger = (Alma 33:10)/(Job 35:15)
  924. Visit their sins = (Amos 3:14)/(Mosiah 11:22/12:1)
  925. [God will] visit you = (Genesis 50:24)/(1 Nephi 2:16)
  926. Visitation = (2 Nephi 1:12)/(Micah 7:4)
  927. Voice like a trumpet = (Revelation 4:1)/(Alma 29:1)
  928. Voice of the Lord = (Jeremiah 38:20)/(Helaman 13:3)
  929. Voice of thunder = (1 Nephi 17:45)/(Psalms 77:18)
  930. Wait for the Lord = (2 Nephi 6:13)/(Psalm 27:14/37:7)
  931. Walk blameless = (Alma 7:22)/(Luke 1:6)
  932. Walk circumspectly = (Helaman 15:5)/(Ephesians 5:15)
  933. Walk humbly = (Micah 6:8)/(Ether 6:30)
  934. Walk in his paths = (Micah 4:2)/(Alma 7:9)
  935. Walk in his ways and keep his commandments = (Mosiah 23:14)/(1 Kings 2:3)/(Isaiah 42:24)
  936. Walk in the ways of his father = (Mosiah 11:1)/(2 Chronicles 20:32)
  937. Walk in truth = (2 John 1:4)/(Helaman 6:34)/(Psalm 86:11)
  938. Walk in wisdom/wisdom’s paths = (Colossians 4:5)/(Helaman 12:5)
  939. Walk uprightly = (1 Nephi 16:3)/(Psalms 15:2)/(Proverbs 28:18)
  940. Wanderers in a strange land = (Alma 26:36)/(Exodus 2:22)
  941. Wandering from house to house = (1 Timothy 5:13)/(Alma 30:58)
  942. War a good warfare = (Alma 1:1)/(I Timothy 1:18)
  943. Wars and rumors of wars = (1 Nephi 12:2)/(Matthew 24:6)
  944. Waste away and die = (2 Nephi 9:4)/(Job 14:10)
  945. Water my couch/pillow with tears = (2 Nephi 33:3)/(Psalm 6:6)
  946. Take waters of life freely = (Alma 42:27)/(Revelation 22:17)
  947. Waters which run continually = (1 Nephi 2:9)/(Psalm 58:7)
  948. Way of man = (Jeremiah 10:23)/(Mormon 2:18)
  949. Way of righteousness = (Matthew 21:32)/(2 Nephi 1:19)
  950. We are dust = (Psalm 103:14)/(Mosiah 2:25)
  951. We are subject unto Christ = (2 Nephi 9:5)/(Hebrews 2:8)
  952. We will not have him to rule over us = (1 Nephi 18:10)/(Luke 19:14)
  953. Weep and howl = (James 5:1)/(Helaman 13:32)
  954. What seest thou? = (Jeremiah 1:11-13/24:3)/(1 Nephi 11:2,10,14)
  955. What sin have we committed? = (Mosiah 12:13)/(Jeremiah 16:10)
  956. Where no man dwells = (Job 38:26)/(Ether 2:5)
  957. Where the wind listeth = (Alma 26:6)/(John 3:8)
  958. Whether in or out of the body, I cannot tell = (3 Nephi 28:15)/(2 Corinthians 12:3)
  959. Whether they be good or evil = (Mosiah 3:24)/(II Corinthians 5:10)
  960. Which is, which was, which is to come = (Mosiah 3:5, 18, 19)/(Revelation 1:4,8,19)
  961. White as snow = (1 Nephi 11:8)/(Mark 9:3)/(Isaiah 1:18)
  962. Who can stand before his armies? = (Ether 14:18)/(Deuteronomy 9:2)
  963. Whoever touches me will wither = (1 Kings 13:4)/(1 Nephi 17:48)
  964. Who is God? = (Alma 9:6)/(Exodus 5:2)
  965. Who shall declare his generation? = (Mosiah 14:7-8)/(Isaiah 53)/(Acts 8:32-33)
  966. The whole need no physician/call sinners to repentance = (Mark 2:17)/(Moroni 8:8)
  967. Whore of the earth = (1 Nephi 14:10-11)/(Revelation 17:1)
  968. Why hast thou/he forsaken you/me = (Helaman 7:17)/(Psalm 22:1)
  969. Why persecutest thou me/the church of God? = (Acts 26:14)/(Mosiah 27:13)
  970. Why will ye die? = (Jacob 6:6)/(Jeremiah 27:13)
  971. Wicked will be taken in a whirlwind = (Psalm 58:9)/(3 Nephi 8:16)
  972. Wild fruit = (Isaiah 5:2)/(Jacob 5:25)
  973. Wild olive tree = (Jacob 5:7,9)/(Romans 11:17,24)
  974. Wisdom [feminine noun] = (Luke 7:35)/(Mosiah 8:20)
  975. Wisdom is foolishness = (2 Nephi 9:28)/(1 Corinthians 3:19)
  976. Wisdom of God = (2 Nephi 9:8)/(1 Kings 3:28)
  977. Wisdom of the world = (Alma 2:1)/(1 Corinthians 1:20)
  978. Wise and the prudent = (2 Nephi 9:43)/(1 Corinthians 1:19)
  979. With our might = (Mormon 2:4)/(Ecclesiastes 9:10)
  980. Without God in the world = (Mosiah 27:31)/(Ephesians 2:12)
  981. Without spot = (Moroni 10:33)/(Job 11:15)
  982. Wo, wo, wo = (Revelation 8:13)/(2 Nephi 28:15)
  983. Woe to you who are at ease in Zion = (Amos 6:1)/(2 Nephi 28:24)
  984. Wonder and amazement = (Acts 3:10)/(Mosiah 25:7)
  985. Word gone forth out of his mouth = (2 Nephi 9:17)/(Isaiah 45:23)
  986. Word of God is quick and powerful = (Hebrews 4:12)/(Helaman 3:29)
  987. Word of his power/Power of his word = (Hebrews 1:3)/(Alma 5:5)
  988. Word of truth = (2 Timothy 2:15)/(Alma 38:9)
  989. Word planted in your hearts = (Alma 34:4)/(Mark 4:15)
  990. Words will condemn us = (Alma 12:14)/(Matthew 12:37)
  991. Work all manner of work = (Exodus 35:35)/(Ether 10:23)
  992. Work out your salvation with fear before God = (Phillipians 2:12)/(Alma 34:37)
  993. Work righteousness = (Alma 13:10)/(Psalm 15:2)
  994. Worker of iniquity = (Alma 5:32)/(Psalms 5:5)
  995. Their works do follow them = (3 Nephi 27:12)/(Revelation 14:13)
  996. Works of darkness = (Ephesians 5:11)/(2 Nephi 9:9)
  997. Works of his hands = (Jacob 4:9)/(Job 10:3)
  998. Would have all men to be saved = (1 Timothy 2:4)/(Helaman 12:25)
  999. Wounded soul = (Job 24:12)/(Jacob 2:8)
  1000. Wrest the scriptures = (Psalms 56:5)/(Alma 13:20)/(2 Peter 3:16)
  1001. Writing on wall written by the finger of God = (Alma 10:2)/(Daniel 5:5)
  1002. Written in your hearts = (Mosiah 13:11)/(Proverbs 7:3)/(Hebrews 8:10)
  1003. Yoke of bondage = (Mosiah 21:13)/(Galatians 5:1)
  1004. Yoke of iron = (1 Nephi 13:5)/(Jeremiah 28:14)
  1005. Young and tender = (Jacob 5:4,6)/(Ezekiel 17:22)/(1 Chronicles 22:5)
  1006. Young lion will tear the gentiles to piece = (3 Nephi 20:16)/(Micah 5:8)

An Argument in Favor of the Divinity of the Book of Mormon Translation (Part II)

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In part II of this work I will focus on the Book of Ether and how it exists as evidence that the Book of Mormon was not made up while it was dictated, and its complexity suggests that more than a simple genealogical outline would be necessary to accomplish the task of dictating the Book of Ether. I will be using the 1981 edition of the Book of Mormon in this examination (The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA 1994). The evidence from the Book of Ether, as well as evidence analyzed in Part I and in future installments of this series, will help support the likelihood that Joseph Smith did in fact translate the Book of Mormon from an ancient record.

1. THE GENEALOGY OF ETHER: The Book of Ether follows the history of a people (known as the Jaredites) who left for the Americas soon after the corrupting of languages at the Tower of Babel. Moroni abridges this book from 24 plates hidden by the prophet Ether, found by King Limhi, the son of King Noah. In Ether 1:6-32, Moroni gives the genealogy of Ether, the last Prophet among the Jaredites, all the way back to Jared, the first to arrive to the Americas after the Tower of Babel. Moroni gives 30 names for the genealogy, stating simply:

“He that wrote this record was Ether, and he was a descendant of Coriantor. Coriantor was the son of Moron. And Moron was the son of Ethem. And Ethem was the son of Ahah. And Ahah was the son of Seth. And Seth was the son of Shiblon. And Shiblon was the son of Com. And Com was the son of Coriantum. And Coriantum was the son of Amnigaddah. And Amnigaddah was the son of Aaron. And Aaron was a descendant of Heth, who was the son of Hearthom. And Hearthom was the son of Lib. And Lib was the son of Kish. And Kish was the son of Corom. And Corom was the son of Levi. And Levi was the son of Kim. And Kim was the son of Morianton. And Morianton was a descendant of Riplakish. And Riplakish was the son of Shez. And Shez was the son of Heth. And Heth was the son of Com. And Com was the son of Coriantum. And Coriantum was the son of Emer. And Emer was the son of Omer. And Omer was the son of Shule. And Shule was the son of Kib. And Kib was the son of Orihah, who was the son of Jared.” (Ether 1:6-32).

The Book of Ether then goes on to describe the history and wars of the Jaredites, and it follows this exact genealogy in reverse order, starting with Jared and then ending with Ether.

Ether 6:14 “And Jared had four sons; and they were called Jacom, and Gilgah, and Mahah, and Orihah.”

Ether 7:3 “And it came to pass that he also begat Kib in his old age. And it came to pass that Kib reigned in his stead; and Kib begat Corihor.”

Ether 7:7 “nevertheless, Kib begat Shule in his old age, while he was yet in captivity.”

Ether 8:1 “And it came to pass that he begat Omer, and Omer reigned in his stead. And Omer begat Jared; and Jared begat sons and daughters.”

Ether 9:14 “And it came to pass that Omer began to be old; nevertheless, in his old age he begat Emer; and he appointed Emer to be king to reign in his stead.”

Ether 9:21 “And Emer did execute judgment in righteousness all his days, and he begat many sons and daughters; and he begat Coriantum, and he anointed Coriantum to reign in his stead.”

Ether 9:25 “And it came to pass that he begat Com, and Com reigned in his stead; and he reigned forty and nine years, and he begat Heth; and he also begat other sons and daughters.”

Ether 10:1 “And it came to pass that Shez, who was a descendant of Heth-for Heth had perished by the famine and all his household save it were Shez…”

Ether 10:4 “And Shez did live to an exceedingly old age; and he begat Riplakish.”

Ether 10:9 “And it came to pass after the space of many years, Morianton (he being a descendant of Riplakish)…”

Ether 10:13 “And Morianton did live to an exceedingly great age, and then he begat Kim; and Kim did reign in the stead of his father.”

Ether 10:14 “And he begat sons and daughters in captivity, and in his old age he begat Levi”

Ether 10:16 “and begat sons and daughters; and he also begat Corom, whom he anointed king in his stead.”

Ether 10:17 “and after he had seen many days he did pass away, even like unto the rest of the earth; and Kish reigned in his stead.”

Ether 10:18 “And it came to pass that Kish passed away also, and Lib reigned in his stead.”

Ether 10:29 “And it came to pass that Lib did live many years, and begat sons and daughters; and he also begat Hearthom.”

Ether 10:31 “And he begat Heth, and Heth lived in captivity all his days. And Heth begat Aaron, and Aaron dwelt in captivity all his days; and he begat Amnigaddah, and Amnigaddah also dwelt in captivity all his days; and he begat Coriantum, and Coriantum dwelt in captivity all his days; and he begat Com.”

Ether 11:4 “And he lived to a good old age, and begat Shiblom” (there seems to be an error here, as the genealogy in Ether 1 says “Shiblon.” This is most likely an error made in the original writing or the printer’s manuscript. This error was not corrected in the 1981 edition.

Ether 11:9 “And it came to pass that Shiblom was slain, and Seth was brought into captivity…”

Ether 11:10 “And it came to pass that Ahah, his son, did obtain the kingdom…”

Ether 11:11 “And Ethem, being a descendant of Ahah, did obtain the kingdom.”

Ether 11:14 “And it came to pass that Ethem did execute judgment in wickedness all his days; and he begat Moron.”

Ether 11:18 “Moron dwelt in captivity all the remainder of his days; and he begat Coriantor.”

Ether 11:23 “And it came to pass that Coriantor begat Ether, and he died, having dwelt in captivity all his days.”

In addition to following the genealogy given in Ether 1, the Book of Ether speaks of many other sons and descendants of that are not found in the genealogy of Ether 1. This only adds to the complexity of an already complex family line. Not only does it write the history of a list of 30 people in reverse chronology, but he also includes the descendants and sons/daughters of these individuals as well. For example, after Orihah begat Kib, Kib begat Corihor (Ether 7:3). Corihor is not mentioned in the original genealogy, but he plays a significant part in the chapter as he overthrows his father, who then has a son named Shule (part of the genealogy of Ether 1) while in captivity (Ether7:7). The writer then goes on to describe the genealogy of Corihor, who is overthrown by Shule (Ether 7:9), but has a son named Noah who rebels with his brother Cohor (Ether 7:15). Noah is killed and then the son of Noah, whose name is Cohor, takes over part of the kingdom (Ether 7:20). Cohor is slain, and his son Nimrod gives up the kingdom to Shule (Ether 7:21-22).

These multiple story-lines  continue in Ether 8 when Shule begat Omer (part of Ether’s genealogy) and Omer begat Jared (not part of the genealogy) (Ether 8:1). Omer has two sons named Esrom and Coriantumr, who take back the kingdom (Ether 8:4-6). Akish, the son of Kimnor, then plots with Jared to killer Omer (Ether 8:10-14). Omer escapes, then Akish kills Jared and takes over the kingdom (Ether 9:3-5). Then Akish kills his son, and his brother flees with others to Omer, and Akish gives battle to his sons (Ether 9:7-13). Omer is restored to the throne, and then he has a son named Emer, finally reaching the next in the line of Ether’s ancestors (Ether 9:14). Adding in these story-lines and additional descendants and families not mentioned in Ether 1:6-32 would have confused someone who was making it up as they went along, and would require an extremely detailed and lengthy outline to account for all of the events and the accuracy with which the genealogy is followed in the Book of Ether.

The Book of Ether goes on for roughly 30 pages, and includes the writings of Moroni, the visions of the Brother of Jared, the method used to travel to the Americas, the rise and fall of kings, and the battles that took place in ancient America. In addition, the story of the Book of Ether is referenced in other portions of the Book of Mormon (see Omni 1:21-22/Mosiah 8:7-11/Alma 37:21-32). It would require superhuman ability to recount the genealogy provided in Ether 1:6-32 in reverse order and include separate genealogies, interjections by the narrator, and other story arcs in the manner of translation often mocked by critics. The incredible amount of detail suggests that a complex outline would be required in order to have dictated such a history, in addition to the overall narrative outline found in part I of this series, and the complex writings of Alma 36 and Jacob 5, which I will review in future installments. Since no witnesses saw Joseph with an outline (and if he had the whole story of the Book of Mormon previously written on pages and pages of guiding outlines, why did he need scribes to write his dictation?), it is unlikely that Joseph had such an all-encompassing outline at his disposal while dictating the translation.

An Argument in Favor of the Divinity of the Book of Mormon Translation (Part I)

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The following is an examination of the hypothesis that Joseph Smith was able to produce the Book of Mormon by dictating it to his scribes by either making it up as he went along, or by using an outline (which all witnesses say Joseph never had). It is hypothesized that if he were able to use a story outline to produce the Book of Mormon (while hiding it from his translators), then the production of the Book of Mormon would be a plausible undertaking. In this post and in subsequent posts, I will attempt to prove this hypothesis false, and in turn giving greater support for the veracity of the Book of Mormon as a divine translation of an ancient record. For Part 1 of this examination, I will look at how the complex meta-narrative makes it unlikely that Joseph dictated the Book of Mormon from his memory, beginning his dictation with the Book of Mosiah after having lost the 116 original first pages of the manuscript (http://www.deseretnews.com/article/705384845/Scholars-Corner-The-stolen-chapters-of-Mosiah.html?pg=all). In future posts, I will add upon this first post by suggesting that additional outlines needed for individual books and chapters of the Book of Mormon suggest a level of complexity that is not characteristic of a fraudulent record dictated to scribes without the use of manuscripts.

1. The use of a meta-outline: After Joseph Smith and Martin Harris had the first 116 pages of the original manuscript stolen from them, it is believed by both members of the LDS faith and most critics alike that Joseph Smith resumed his translation from the Book of Mosiah, rather than going back and translating the story from the beginning with 1 Nephi (http://www.deseretnews.com/article/705384845/Scholars-Corner-The-stolen-chapters-of-Mosiah.html?pg=all). No doubt it would have been easier for Joseph to go back and rewrite the story from the beginning, especially since the events of the Book of Lehi would have been fresh in his mind. However, it seems that if Joseph did invent the Book of Mormon, then he performed the translation in the most difficult fashion possible by writing the rest of the Book of Mormon from the Book of Mosiah and back-referencing specific events that happened earlier in the narrative. Here are several examples of references from the latter half of the Book of Mormon (Mosiah-Moroni), referencing events in the first half of the Book of Mormon (1st Nephi-Words of Mormon) that had not yet been written. The number and detail of the references suggest that Joseph did not use his memory from what he translated of the 116 pages to reference in the latter half of the Book of Mormon, and providing detailed enough outlines would have been difficult to both produce and hide from his scribes.

a) THE VISION OF LEHI AND ALMA: Since Alma 36 was written by Joseph and Oliver before 1 Nephi 1, it would be unusual to have Joseph have Alma reference an exact quote from the prophet Lehi found in 1 Nephi 1 had Joseph Smith dictated the Book of Mormon. Alma, however, in telling the story of his repentance, makes a specific reference to 1 Nephi 1.

Alma states: “Yea, methought I saw, even as our father Lehi saw, God sitting upon his throne, surrounded with numberless concourses of angels, in the attitude of singing and praising their God; yea, and my soul to long to be there” (Alma 36:22).

Nephi, in abridging the account of his father Lehi, states: “And being thus overcome with the Spirit, he was carried away in a vision, even that he saw the heavens open, and he thought he saw God sitting upon his throne, surrounded with numberless concourses of angels in the attitude of singing and praising their God” (1 Nephi 1:8).

These two quotes are found nearly 234 pages apart if compared chronologically to the times they were translated.

b) THE PROPHECY OF THE BRASS PLATES: The content of the brass plates, as well as the prophecies surrounding their purpose are consistently found throughout the Book of Mormon. The prophet Alma references the prophecies made surrounding the purpose and the preservation of the brass plates found in material that was not translated by Joseph until after he had already referenced it:

Nephi states: “And it came to pass that my father, Lehi, also found upon the plates of brass a genealogy of his fathers” (1 Nephi 5:14)

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

“And now when my father saw all these things, he was filled with the Spirit, and began to prophesy concerning his seed-That these plates of brass should go forth unto all nations, kindreds, tongues, and people who were of his seed”  (1 Nephi 5:17-18)

“Behold, it has been prophesied by our fathers, that they should be kept and handed down from one generation to another, and be kept and preserved by the hand of the Lord until they should go forth unto every nation, kindred, tongue, and people, that they shall know of the mysteries contained thereon” (Alma 37:4)

“Wherefore, he said that these plates of brass should never perish; neither should they be dimmed any more by time” (1 Nephi 5:19)

“And now behold, if they are kept they must retain their brightness; yea, and also shall all the plates which do contain that which is holy writ” (Alma 37:35)

c) THE LIAHONA: Here is sacred object that was used by Lehi and his family to navigate the more fertile parts of the wilderness while they traveled from Jerusalem to the promised land. It is also interesting to note that the term “Liahona” is never used to name the “ball, or director” until Alma 37:38. The passage suggests that the word Liahona means compass. The language by this time may have been significantly altered by the Nephites, so Alma needs to clarify that the word “compass” was different to Lehi (between 600 B.C. and 580 B.C.) than it was to the people during Alma’s time (73 B.C.)

“And it came to pass that as my father arose in the morning, and went forth to the tent door, to his great astonishment he beheld upon the ground a round ball of curious workmanship; and it was of fine brass. And within the ball were two spindles; and the one pointed the way whither we should go into the wilderness” (1 Nephi 16:10)

“And behold, there cannot any man work after the manner of so curious a workmanship. And behold, it was prepared to show unto our fathers the course which they should travel in the wilderness” (Alma 37:39)

“And now, my son, I have somewhat to say concerning the thing which our fathers call a ball, or director-or our fathers called it Liahona, which is, being interpreted, a compass; and the Lord prepared it” (Alma 37:38)

“And it came to pass that after they had bound me insomuch that I could not move, the compass, which had been prepared of the Lord, did cease to work” (1 Nephi 18:12)

“And the ball or director, which led our fathers through the wilderness, which was prepared by he hand of the Lord that thereby they might be led, every one according to the heed and diligence which they gave unto him” (Mosiah 1:16)

“And it came to pass that I, Nephi, beheld the pointers which were in the ball, that they did work according to the faith and diligence and heed which we did give unto them” (1 Nephi 16:28)

d) CORIANTUMR AND THE BOOK OF ETHER:

The following are references to characters, events and prophecies found in the first half of the Book of Mormon (The Book of Omni) that were mentioned in the latter-half of the Book of Mormon (the Book of Ether).

“And it came to pass in the days of Mosiah, there was a large stone brought unto him with engravings on it; and he did interpret the engravings by the gift and power of God. And they gave an account of one Coriantumr, and the slain of his people. And Coriantumr was discovered by the people of Zarahemla; and he dwelt with them for the space of nine moons. It also spake a few words concerning his fathers. And his first parents came out from the tower, at the time the Lord confounded the language of the people; and the severity of the Lord fell upon them according to his judgments, which are just; and their bones lay scattered in the land northward” (Omni 1:20-22)

“Otherwise they should be destroyed, and all his household save it were himself. And he should only live to see the fulfilling of the prophecies which had been spoken concerning another people receiving the land for their inheritance; and Coriantumr should receive a burial by them; and every soul should be destroyed save it were Coriantumr” (Ether 13:21)

e) ZORAM (AND ZORAMITES, JACOBITES, JOSEPHITES): References to the origin of Zoram as well as the use of the name “Zoramites,” “Josephites”, etc.

“I am Ammoron, and a descendant of Zoram, whom your fathers pressed and brought out of Jerusalem” (Alma 54:23)

“And it came to pass that Zoram did take courage at the words which I spake. Now Zoram was the name of the servant; and he promised that he would go down into the wilderness unto our father. Yea, and he also made an oath unto us that he would tarry with us from that time forth” (1 Nephi 4:35)

“Therefore the true believers in Christ, and the true worshipers of Christ, (among whom were the three disciples of Jesus who should tarry) were called Nephites, and Jacobites, and Josephites, and Zoramites” (4 Nephi 1:37)

“And it came to pass that they who rejected the gospel were called Lamanites, and Lemuelites, and Ishmaelites…” (4 Nephi 1:39)

“Now the people which were not Lamanites were Nephites; nevertheless, they were called Nephites, Jacobites, Josephites, Zoramites, Lamanites, Lemuelites, and Ishmaelites” (Jacob 1:13)

f) THE SWORD OF LAMAN: Another object that is mentioned briefly in the latter half of the Book of Mormon, but then has its origin revealed in the first half, which was translated last.

“And I, Nephi, did take the sword of Laban, and after the manner of it did make many swords, lest by any means the people who were now called Lamanites should come upon us and destroy us” (2 Nephi 5:14)

“and also the plates of Nephi: and also, the sword of Laban, and the ball or director…” (Mosiah 1:16)

g) ZARAHEMLA AND THE MULEKITES: There is a lot of significant material found in the following passages. First, the people of Mosiah, upon fleeing from the land of Nephi, find the people of Zarahemla, who were descendants of Mulek, a son of King Zedekiah. These people lived northward of the original landing of Lehi. There is remarkable consistency found throughout the Book of Mormon of the identity of the people of Zarahemla, the identity of Mulek, and the location of which they landed.

“and they were led by the power of his arm, through the wilderness until they came down into the land which is called the land of Zarahemla. And they discovered a people, who were called the people of Zarahemla…Behold, it came to pass that Mosiah discovered that the people of Zarahemla came out from Jerusalem at the time that Zedekiah, king of Judah, was carried away captive into Babylon” (Omni 1:13-15)

“My son, I would that ye should make a proclamation throughout all this land among all this people, or the people of Zarahemla, and the people of Mosiah who dwell in the land, that thereby they may be gathered together…” (Mosiah 1:10)

“Now there were not so many of the children of Nephi, or so many of those that were descendants of Nephi, as there were of the people of Zarahemla, who was a descendant of Mulek, and those who came with him into the wilderness” (Mosiah 25:2)

“And it bordered upon the land which they called Desolation, it being so far northward that it came into the land which had been peopled and been destroyed, of who bones we have spoken, which was discovered by the people of Zarahemla, it being the place of their first landing” (Alma 22:30)

“Now the land south was called Lehi, and the land north was callled Mulek, which was after the son of Zedekiah, for the Lord did bring Mulek into the land north, and Lehi into the land south” (Helaman 6:10)

“And now will you dispute that Jerusalem was destroyed? Will ye say that the sons of Zedekiah were not slain, all except it were Mulek? Yea, and do ye not behold that the seed of Zedekiah are with us, and they were driven out of the land of Jerusalem?” (Helaman 8:21)

h) GEOGRAPHY: It is remarkable that the geography of the Book of Mormon is so well-established, especially since the initial translation of the latter half of the Book of Mormon (Book of Mosiah) begins after the Nephites have already left the land of Nephi and merged with those of the land of Zarahemla, which was northward. In Mosiah 7 the people decide to travel back to the land of Nephi to see what happened to those who traveled there under the command of Zeniff.

Land of Nephi:

“And my people would that we should call the name of the place Nephi; wherefore, we did call it Nephi” (2 Nephi 5:8, after separating from the Lamanites)

“Mosiah, who was made king over the land of Zarahemla; for behold, he being warned of the Lord that he should flee out of the land of Nephi, and as many as would hearken unto the voice of the Lord…“(Omni 1:12)

“And Ammon took three of his brethren, and their names were Amaleki, Helem, and Hem, and they went down into the land of Nephi” (Mosiah 7:6)

Land of Zarahemla/Land Northward:

“And they were led by the power of his arm, through the wilderness until they came down into the land which is called the land of Zarahemla” (Omni 1:14)

“And the severity of the Lord fell upon them according to his judgments, which are just; and their bones lay scattered in the land northward” (Omni 1:22)

“And it bordered upon the land which they called Desolation, it being so far northward that it came into the land which had been peopled and been destroyed, of whose bones we have spoken, which was discovered by the people of Zarahemla, it being the place of their first landing” (Alma 22:30)

“Now the land south was called Lehi, and the land north was called Mulek, which was after the son of Zedekiah; for the Lord did bring Mulek into the land north, and Lehi into the land south” (Helaman 6:10) This may also suggest that the original place of landing by the Nephites was called the Land of Lehi, then after the death of Lehi and the separation of the Nephites and the Lamanites, the people named the land Nephi, after Nephi, their current leader (see Alma 8:7)

i) SEED OF JOSEPH: 

“Behold, we are a remnant of the seed of Jacob, yea, we are a remnant of the seed of Joseph, whose coat was rent by his brethren into many pieces” (Alma 46:23)

“And it came to pass that my father, Lehi, also found upon the plates of brass a genealogy of his fathers; wherefore he knew that he was a descendant of Joseph; yea, even that Joseph who was the son of Jacob, who was sold into Egypt…” (1 Nephi 5:14)

These are just a few examples of the narrative consistency between the latter portion of the Book of Mormon (Mosiah-Moroni) and the first portion (1 Nephi-Words of Mormon). These suggest a detailed and well-thought narrative was made in order to write the Book of Mormon half-way into the narrative and then back-reference events and quotes that had not yet been written. Of course, I believe that this provides evidence that the Book of Mormon was a divine translation of an ancient record.

“Thus Saith The Lord:” Calling into Question Beliefs of How Revelation Should Be Received.

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I have decided to examine some examples of prophets recording the word of the Lord in the Bible and the Book of Mormon. Many critics argue that modern-day LDS revelations, some of which have gone through grammatical and textual changes, are false revelations. They argue that because the revelations are not perfect or went through revisions, then they are not the words of the Lord. Essentially, critics demand that revelations be written in perfect form, without revision, and in one sitting. As far as I know, the assumption that revelations from the Lord must be written in one sitting without change or revision is not based on any Biblical or historical evidence. I will argue that there is absolutely no reason to suggest that when a prophet says “Thus saith the Lord” that every word that comes out of his mouth is what exactly what the Lord said, down to the last exclamation point. The Bible and Book of Mormon are shrouded in mystery on the subject of how revelations are recorded, so I do not claim to know for a surety how revelation is received and recorded in ancient scripture. What I do hope to do is help the reader understand the possibility that when we are criticizing modern-day revelations that we are doing so based on our own assumptions of what revelation should be and not what it actually is as presented in ancient scripture. All of the points I make and questions I ask are pure speculation and are not meant to provide conclusive evidence of how revelation is received. I ask these rhetorical questions because I want to show that the nature of recording prophetic revelations are seldom brought to light in ancient scripture, and unfortunately our own assumptions tend to fill the void. (I will be citing from the King James Version of the Bible and the 1981 edition of the Book of Mormon)

Before I begin, I would like to ask some rhetorical questions to help set the stage to challenge assumptions about ancient and modern day revelation:

  1. Do prophets in the Bible and Book of Mormon, when quoting the Lord, literally quote him word for word?
  2. What happens when the voice of the Lord comes to a prophet when they do not have a quill and parchment on hand? Do they  write what they heard the Lord say according to their memory?
  3. Did the prophets wait for the Lord to speak to them, and then literally write down every single word that the Lord spoke in real time?
  4. If prophets write the words of the Lord according to their memory, does that mean that there would be human errors in the revelation? Does the Holy Ghost prevent errors from being made?

I will begin by examining some examples of the Lord commanding his prophets to write his words as found in the Book of Mormon. The following examples have helped strengthen my testimony in the revelations from the Lord through Joseph Smith because it has helped me break down my own assumptions about the nature of recording prophetic revelation.

EXAMPLE #1: The first example is of the Brother of Jared in the Book of Ether.The Brother of Jared has a miraculous vision of the Spiritual Lord Jesus Christ when the Lord touches clear stones in order to provide light in the Jaredite barges. The Brother of Jared quotes the Lord in Ether 3:7,9,11,13-16,21-24. According to Moroni, who abridged the Book of Ether, these writings are much longer, but he is forbidden to write them down (v. 17).

The Brother of Jared quotes the Lord for many verses, and yet he had the vision while he was at the top of a mountain without means to write down what he heard. It is after he has the marvelous vision that the Lord commands him to descend and write down what he saw and heard (Ether 4:1). We do not know by what means he wrote down this miraculous and lengthy vision. It is possible that he wrote it all according to his memory or was guided by the Holy Ghost. It is possible that he wrote it in one sitting without revision, or he wrote it, and revised it several times before being satisfied with it. All of these options are pure speculation.

The prophet Moroni, in Ether 4, then goes on to say that the Lord spoke to him and commanded him to write the words of the Brother of Jared, and he quotes the Lord’s commandment in verses 6-19. In Ether 5:1, Moroni may give us a clue as to what actually happens (on at least this one occasion) when a prophet writes down the words of the Lord. He states: “And now I, Moroni, have written the words which were commanded me, according to my memory; and I have told you the things which I have sealed up…” If Moroni is referring to the words of the Lord in verses 6-19, then the words that are spoken by the Lord may not be word for word what was spoken to Moroni, but rather the words of the Lord as he remembered to the best of his ability.

EXAMPLE #2: The second example I will offer from the Book of Mormon comes from the writings of 1 Nephi. Nephi is commanded to write a record on two separate sets of metal plates (1 Nephi 19:1) after he and his family arrive in the Americas, about 11 years (589 B.C.) after they left Jerusalem. Previous to writing on the plates of ore, Nephi experiences miraculous visions of angels and of the Spirit of the Lord. Specifically, Nephi has the vision of the tree of life and his interactions with the Spirit of the Lord and an angel are found in 1 Nephi 11-14. This vision comprises 12 pages of dialogue between Nephi, the Spirit of the Lord, an angel, as well as physical descriptions of what Nephi saw. While it is possible that, shortly after having them, Nephi wrote down his visions on another source, such as parchment. However, Nephi does not begin to write down his experiences on the plates of ore until nearly 11 years after his experiences. It is possible that Nephi is writing according to his memory, and thus the words of the Lord are not the exact words spoken, but nevertheless they are the doctrines and events that the Lord commanded to be written. Other examples of Nephi receiving the word of the Lord prior to making the small and large plates include 1 Nephi 2:19-24 and 1 Nephi 17:53.

EXAMPLE #3: The third example I will give of prophets writing the words of the Lord well after receiving them comes from Helaman 10. Nephi has decided to return home after validating a prophecy he made about the murder of the Chief Judge. Helaman 10:2-3 states: “And it came to pass that Nephi went his way towards his own house, pondering upon the things which the Lord had shown unto him… And it came to pass as he was thus pondering in his heart, behold, a voice came unto him…” The Lord then speaks for 8 verses or 289 words. What happens after he hears the voice of the Lord is important to consider when understanding the nature of recorded revelations. It states in verse 12: “when the Lord had spoken these words unto Nephi, he did stop and did not go unto his own house, but did return unto the multitudes…to declare unto them the word of the Lord which had been spoken unto him.” In verse 12, we find that Nephi did not receive this revelation in his home, at his desk, with a parchment, quill, and ink to write down the exact words of the Lord. He instead turned around and returned to the city to preach the words of the Lord, and then he or someone else wrote the words afterwards. Just how he went about writing the words of the Lord—whether by memory, the Holy Ghost, or some other means—we are not sure.

EXAMPLE #4: The revelations of Isaiah and the words of Moses in Exodus are hardly put through as much scrutiny by Christians as are the revelations of Joseph Smith. Yet the words of Isaiah and Moses are similar to that of Joseph Smith’s revelations in that they claim to quote the Lord (“saith the Lord”) and they do so uninterrupted for many pages. Unlike the revelations of Joseph Smith, some of which were received and recorded in the presence of witnesses, we know very little about when or how the revelations of Isaiah and Moses were written. In Isaiah 1, Isaiah writes claiming that what he writes are the words of the Lord himself (“Come now, and let us reason together, saith the Lord” Isaiah 1:18). This chapter is two pages long in the KJV Bible. What we don’t know about this chapter, as well as other verses in Isaiah quoting the Lord (see Isaiah 7:3-9, Isaiah 6:1,3-10,12), is how this revelation was recorded. Did Isaiah make several revisions of his account? Did he receive the revelation and simultaneously write it down, or did he record it hours, days, or years after the fact? Did the Holy Spirit give him power to remember the exact words spoken to him, or did he record it to the best of his knowledge? Those who criticize the revelations of Joseph Smith do so without understanding that prophets such as Isaiah may have used the exact same methods to produce their writings, such as recording from their memories or making multiple revisions. If it were somehow proven that Isaiah made multiple revisions of his writings and wrote the words of the Lord according to his memory then critics would not have ammunition to criticize LDS revelations. What we do know about ancient prophecies, however, is that we don’t know much about them.

The writings of Moses are also very similar to the revelations given by Joseph Smith because he also claims to quote the Lord God and often records the words of the Lord after he has heard them. In Exodus 19, the Lord is quoted on several occasions. We know he is quoting the Lord because in verse 3 it reads “And the Lord called unto him out of the mountain, saying, Thus shalt thou say to the house of Jacob…” and in verse 9 it reads “And the Lord said unto Moses…” and he goes on to quote the Lord. (see Exodus 19:3-6, 9-13,20-22,24). Most of Exodus 20 also quotes the Lord, as well as all of chapters 21-23. In Exodus 24 it is suggested that Moses came down out of the mountain, after receiving chapters 20-23 from the Lord, spoke these commandments to Israel, and then wrote them down after he had spoken them to the people. It would be a superhuman feat for Moses to have copied the exact words of the Lord (nearly 7 pages in the KJV) without divine help after having spoken them to the House of Israel. Seldom do Christians question this accomplishment, some of whom believe the Bible to be the perfect word of God. We do not know exactly how this revelation was received or recorded. Similar to the questions asked previously about the revelations of Isaiah, I would like to ask again: did Moses write down the exact words of God? Did he bring a quill and parchment to write word for word the commandments of the Lord on the mountain? Did he write according to his memory, or did the Holy Spirit expand his memory to perfection? Did he make multiple revisions to these revelations, or did he write them perfectly, in one draft and in one sitting?

Once again, the point I am making is that we know very little about how ancient prophets recorded the words of the Lord. How much do we put our perceptions of what revelation “should be” on what revelation actually is? Since we know very little about how the word of the Lord was received in ancient times, it is unreasonable for us to challenge modern-day revelations according to our unfounded beliefs of how revelation from the Lord should be received.