Category: Scripture Notes
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Don’t rest on your history
This is the message to Joseph after his first significant mistake in his mission – hedging Martin Harris and giving the manuscript pages which were subsequently lost. The Lord wanted Joseph to understand that no matter what Joseph had experienced before he was no different than any other man who could fall away and sin…
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A direct response
I like how Joseph acknowledged the rumors and respond directly to the rather than dodging them. He had been called a money digger and he admitted that he was among the hired hands who dug as requested in search of a silver mine but he was also instrumental in convincing his boss to give up…
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One more thing
It sounds as if Joseph was given a lot of information in the three visits by Moroni at his bedside but as far as I can tell her was not given a specific instructions or timetable. The next morning when Moroni came again in the field he was given the instructions to relate the matter…
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Reinforcing the message
When a message is relayed overt and over again from the Lord we can choose to get frustrated by the repetition or we can recognize the importance of the message that the repetition conveys and appreciate the bushes and strength of the message that come with repetition.
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Told and then shown
I never noticed that Moroni told Joseph about the plates then added scriptural context before telling him more about the plates. Only after all that did he open the vision to Joseph about the location of the plates.
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Learning doctrine
Moroni quoted many scriptures, both New Testament and Old Testament. Some he modified and others he didn’t but he gave context to each passage he shared with Joseph.
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Old Testament
It is interesting that the first scriptures that Moroni related to Joseph were from the Old Testament. Sometimes I think I give to little credence to that sacred text.
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Work to do
When Moroni came to Joseph Smith he said that Joseph had a work to do and then told him of the ancient record and the told with it which were prepared for it’s translation. Joseph didn’t need to wonder what work it was that he was to accomplish. Establishing a church was secondary to bringing…
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One step down
Joseph had expected a heavenly manifestation when he prayed this time. I wonder if he was surprised to be visited by an angel rather than Heavenly Father or Jesus.
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Extreme expectations
The first time Joseph Smith prayed he has a divine manifestation in answer. When he prayed three and a half years later he fully expected another divine manifestation in response. It is understandable that he would expect that because of his prior experience but it makes you wonder at what point Joseph was between to…