Category: Scripture Notes
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Double of what?
“Say unto Jerusalem…she hath received of the Lord’s hand double for all her sins.” Isaiah 40:2 Surely this does not mean double blessing for all her sins. Likewise it can’t be double punishment for all her sins. I wonder if it is more like double taxes for all her sins—as if there is a tax…
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Nephi had seen it all
Nephi was sorrowing for the people after he had been their chief judge and after he had liberated their lands through his preaching in their lands as well as to the North and South of their primary territory. He had a broader context than most people of his time (even without the Spirit of prophecy).
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To partake of their spoils
Listening to the description of how the Nephites choose to align with the Gadiantons to partake of their spoils reminds me of the process I have seen over these last years as more and more of the GOP side with the authoritarians, white nationalists, bigots, and election deniers in an effort to get their tax…
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Driven by love
I find it telling that the first thing that Nephi and Lehi did when they going that those who wanted to kill them could not touch them was too tell them not to fear and invite them to seek faith in Christ. Their love for their fellow men was such that fear was not in…
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There comes a time
Nativii demonstrates that there are times when no amount of political power can be effective in helping to preserve righteousness among the people. When that time comes out is expedient to leave the government to others and focus on h people understand righteousness and change their ways so that they can be blessed.
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Reaping the whirlwind
And it was because of the pride of their hearts, because of their exceeding riches, yea, it was because of their oppression to the poor, withholding their food from the hungry, withholding their clothing from the naked, and smiting their humble brethren upon the cheek, making a mock of that which was sacred, denying the…
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A new Eden
The promises of the Lord are (not in so many words) to create a new Eden where those under his protection may dwell. Jerusalem will become a Zion society and there will be a place if safety for the poor who choose to walk in the way of the Lord.
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Tearing down and building up
It is not by accident that the Lord will treat down the high, the haughty, and the rich of the earth before he exalts the poor and humble who will stay upon Him.
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Is this our time?
The time of Helaman 3 is interesting. There was great peace and prosperity overall for roughly a decade. The repentance and prosperity they were aware of were quite real but so was the growing influence of the secret society of Gadianton that they were not aware of until later. I wonder if we could see…
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End of an era
I’ll always wonder why Helaman, Moroni, and Pahoran in so short a timeframe. On the other hand, I have now seen instances where we lose a rash of prominent people in quick succession. Sometimes it just happens but when it does it seems to make people introspective.