The Book of Mormon, Another Witness of Jesus Christ
I know, the title isn't very imaginative, as it is the title of the Book of Mormon, a companion to the Bible for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. It truly stands as a second witness to Jesus Christ.
Ezekiel 37:16-17
Moreover, thou son of man, take thee one stick, and write upon it, For Judah, and for the children of Israel his companions: then take another stick, and write upon it, for Joseph, the stick of Ephraim, and for the house of Israel his companions:
And join them one to another into one stick; and they shall become one in thine hand.
It goes on. The stick of Judah, the Bible, the stick of Joseph, the Book of Mormon, together testifying of Christ.
Now, what would cause me to take a break from #VisionofLove?
I digitally ripped the old version of this post, except what is above. Wonderful thing, Delete. It didn't flow well. As an amateur writer I can add my testimony that I stand in awe of the Book of Mormon as a literary piece! I didn't need to hear from a number of scholars who have parsed the book to the Nth degree to know that. It is true. It is a witness of the Son of God.
I guess I ripped the part about why I mentioned all of that. I was part of a choir that sang for the closing session of the Book of Mormon Symposium that happened this past weekend in Independence Missouri. After the martyrdom of Joseph Smith in Nauvoo, IL, there was a split in the church.
The main body of the church followed Brigham Young to Utah, and is known as the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. Others stayed in Nauvoo, or moved to other parts of the country. The Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints was one of these, and settled in Independence Missouri, where their headquarters remains today, as is known as the Community of Christ. These scholars do just what I mentioned, research and teach the Book of Mormon, and many aspects of the histories of the pre-Colombian Americas.
Fittingly enough for the Book of Mormon Symposium, we sang as prelude, This is the Christ, by James E. Faust. It describes in the first verse the appearance of Christ to his people in the Americas after his ascension in Galilee. The second verse describes how we may feel reading this experience, and contemplating what he did for us, not just as mankind, but as individuals.
The rest hymn that the choir sang was a Beebe piece, written by Alice, and arranged by Larry, entitled Help Us to Know. A plea to our Father in Heaven, to help us remember where we stand, from whence we came, and where we are going. Or maybe I am the only one that sometimes feels that way. Since it is a song, I highly doubt it. I looked for it on their website, but didn't see it, I think it is new. The page is: hymns.com
The discourses were interesting. I learned that while the Community of Christ, as a church, has drifted away from many of the tenets of the Restoration, there are many individual members who have fervent testimonies of the Book of Mormon, and strive to teach others.
The concluding speaker spoke of how prevalent prayer was in the Book of Mormon. It was to pray that led Joseph Smith to the grove in 1820. It was to find out his status with God in 1823 when Joseph prayed and received instruction leading to the Book of Mormon, and it was prayer that led father Lehi to receive his vision to leave Jerusalem. Prayer is often the first demonstration of our faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. Whether we pray to know that He is, for forgiveness, or whatever purpose, it is an act of faith. But I have written about this before. Prayer can come in handy.
Did I mention that somehow I was asked to direct the opening and closing hymns? I may not ever know the Lord's purpose in this, but do feel that the Lord's hand was in it. We sang to open, Redeemer of Israel, and for closing, The Spirit of God. Both of these hymns are common among all restoration churches. And wow, did they sing! They stood on Spirit of God, and one could truly feel His Spirit in the singing. W.W. Phelps really knew how to write, that is for sure (both were his).
You know, the Book of Mormon contains pure and precious truths, including the Plan of Salvation. God's plan for us. If we would just listen, read, pray and follow. He has given us to know, we just have to look, and He has told us where to do so. Maybe #VisionofLove is appropriate after all. It is.
familiesareeternal.org
oh, and directing Alice at the organ probably made my week!
Ezekiel 37:16-17
Moreover, thou son of man, take thee one stick, and write upon it, For Judah, and for the children of Israel his companions: then take another stick, and write upon it, for Joseph, the stick of Ephraim, and for the house of Israel his companions:
And join them one to another into one stick; and they shall become one in thine hand.
It goes on. The stick of Judah, the Bible, the stick of Joseph, the Book of Mormon, together testifying of Christ.
Now, what would cause me to take a break from #VisionofLove?
I digitally ripped the old version of this post, except what is above. Wonderful thing, Delete. It didn't flow well. As an amateur writer I can add my testimony that I stand in awe of the Book of Mormon as a literary piece! I didn't need to hear from a number of scholars who have parsed the book to the Nth degree to know that. It is true. It is a witness of the Son of God.
I guess I ripped the part about why I mentioned all of that. I was part of a choir that sang for the closing session of the Book of Mormon Symposium that happened this past weekend in Independence Missouri. After the martyrdom of Joseph Smith in Nauvoo, IL, there was a split in the church.
The main body of the church followed Brigham Young to Utah, and is known as the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. Others stayed in Nauvoo, or moved to other parts of the country. The Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints was one of these, and settled in Independence Missouri, where their headquarters remains today, as is known as the Community of Christ. These scholars do just what I mentioned, research and teach the Book of Mormon, and many aspects of the histories of the pre-Colombian Americas.
Fittingly enough for the Book of Mormon Symposium, we sang as prelude, This is the Christ, by James E. Faust. It describes in the first verse the appearance of Christ to his people in the Americas after his ascension in Galilee. The second verse describes how we may feel reading this experience, and contemplating what he did for us, not just as mankind, but as individuals.
The rest hymn that the choir sang was a Beebe piece, written by Alice, and arranged by Larry, entitled Help Us to Know. A plea to our Father in Heaven, to help us remember where we stand, from whence we came, and where we are going. Or maybe I am the only one that sometimes feels that way. Since it is a song, I highly doubt it. I looked for it on their website, but didn't see it, I think it is new. The page is: hymns.com
The discourses were interesting. I learned that while the Community of Christ, as a church, has drifted away from many of the tenets of the Restoration, there are many individual members who have fervent testimonies of the Book of Mormon, and strive to teach others.
The concluding speaker spoke of how prevalent prayer was in the Book of Mormon. It was to pray that led Joseph Smith to the grove in 1820. It was to find out his status with God in 1823 when Joseph prayed and received instruction leading to the Book of Mormon, and it was prayer that led father Lehi to receive his vision to leave Jerusalem. Prayer is often the first demonstration of our faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. Whether we pray to know that He is, for forgiveness, or whatever purpose, it is an act of faith. But I have written about this before. Prayer can come in handy.
Did I mention that somehow I was asked to direct the opening and closing hymns? I may not ever know the Lord's purpose in this, but do feel that the Lord's hand was in it. We sang to open, Redeemer of Israel, and for closing, The Spirit of God. Both of these hymns are common among all restoration churches. And wow, did they sing! They stood on Spirit of God, and one could truly feel His Spirit in the singing. W.W. Phelps really knew how to write, that is for sure (both were his).
You know, the Book of Mormon contains pure and precious truths, including the Plan of Salvation. God's plan for us. If we would just listen, read, pray and follow. He has given us to know, we just have to look, and He has told us where to do so. Maybe #VisionofLove is appropriate after all. It is.
familiesareeternal.org
oh, and directing Alice at the organ probably made my week!
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