Ether 2.
I found it interesting that Jared and his brother didn't just gather all the regular, domesticated animals but caught wild birds (v.2) and put them in cages. They also made vessels (v.3) to carry fish. When the Lord commanded the people of this time to scatter upon all the face of the earth (Ether 1:33), it meant that the people would have to populate other parts of the earth with animals. This would especially apply to the Americas where, after the flood, there wouldn't be any animals including fresh water fish. Noah had released all his animals in Asia.
Noah's descendants disobeyed the commandment of the Lord and stayed in one geographic local. The Lord, in his wrath, confounded the language of the people to force them to scatter upon all the face of the earth (Ether 1:33).
So, it was required of the Jaredites to bring animals, birds, fish and honey bees to the new land. They acted like Noah and the Ark for the Americas!
Ether 1:33 Which Jared came forth with his brother and their families, with some others and their families, from the great tower, at the time the Lord confounded the language of the people, and swore in his wrath that they should be scattered upon all the face of the earth; and according to the word of the Lord the people were scattered.
Ether 1:1-3 And it came to pass that Jared and his brother, and their families, and also the friends of Jared and his brother and their families, went down into the valley which was northward, (and the name of the valley was Nimrod, being called after the mighty hunter) with their flocks which they had gathered together, male and female, of every kind.
2 And they did also lay snares and catch fowls of the air; and they did also prepare a vessel, in which they did carry with them the fish of the waters.
3 And they did also carry with them deseret, which, by interpretation, is a honey bee; and thus they did carry with them swarms of bees, and all manner of that which was upon the face of the land, seeds of every kind.
-Scott
Friday, October 22, 2010
Monday, October 11, 2010
The Final Battles: Stuck in a worsening state of unbelief
I have been reading Mormon 1-5. The Nephites couldn't pull out of their natural man state manifested by unbelief, hard heartedness, wickedness, fear, cursing God, delighting in shedding blood, boasting, not recognizing God's hand in their lives, going on the offensive and taking revenge.
Chapter 1/2 - The Nephites Are About to be Destroyed
It starts out around A.D 322. A war gets started between the Lamanites and Nephites. The Nephites win and there's no war for four years. At this time wickedness prevails upon the face of the whole land (v.13). The last three disciples are taken away and miracles and healing cease. The Holy Ghost didn't come upon any. The Nephites are in a terrible state of unbelief. (v.14)
Mormon at age 15 (A.D 326) tries to preach to the people but he is is forbidden by God. Why, because they had willfully rebelled against their God (v.16). In that same year, 326, Mormon becomes the leader (age 16) of the Nephite armies. I wonder if the people, even in their wickedness recognized a powerful, spiritual man when they saw one. Another battle ensues. The Nephites are frightened and would not fight. They retreat to Angola but are driven out by the Lamanites. They are driven out of the land of David and up into the land of Joshua. They gather the people into one body. Great destruction hangs over the people but they won't repent. (2:8) Blood and carnage is everywhere. In 330, the Nephites beat the Lamanites.
Also, in 330 the people start to cry, mourn and lament their situation. Mormon begins to rejoice that the people are repenting but their sorrowing is the sorrowing of the damned. Instead they curse God and wish to die. But they continued to struggle for their lives. The day of grace was past. (v.15). By 344 thousands are hewn down in open rebellion against their God.
Chapter 2 - Near Destruction turns into resounding victory and ends up with giving the Lamanites the land southward for peace.
In 345 (v.16) the Nephites are fleeing once again from the Lamanites even to the land of Jashon before Mormon could stop them in their retreat. Mormon is now 35 and gets the plates. It is interesting that Ammaron told Mormon to go and get the plates of Nephi when he arrived at the age of 'around' 24. Mormon must have been very busy. In the same year the Nephites are hunted and driven further north to a land called Shem. The people are gathered to save them from destruction.
In 346 (v.22) the Lamanites attacked again but under Mormon's direction, the Nephites stood boldly before the Lamanites. His words aroused them somewhat (v.23) so they didn't flee. The Lamanites ended up fleeing. The Nephites chased them and beat them but none of this was accompanied by the strength of the Lord (v.26). They were weak like the Lamanites. Mormon sorrows because none of this matters without the help from the Lord. They take possession of the lands of their inheritance (v,27).
In 349 a treaty is made (v.28) with the Lamanites and robbers and the Nephites give up all the land southward of the narrow neck. Mormon is now 38 years old.
Chapter 3 - Nephites take matters into their own handsFor 10 years Mormon fortifies the land and in 360 the Lord commands Mormon to cry repentance. If they repent they will be spared. But, the Nephites don't get it. They don't realize that it was the Lord who spared them and granted unto them a chance to repent. Their hearts are hardened. I wonder if America does the same thing. Are we being upheld by the Lord and don't realize it? How far along are we along in our pride? (see Mormon 5:22-24).
In 361 the Lamanites come down to the land of Desolation (v.7) The Nephites beat them.
In 362 the Nephites beat them again (v.8).
Because of their success the Nephites begin to boast of their own strength (v.9). The also swear by the heavens that they will avenge themselves of all their dead brethren. They decide to go on the offense and fight the Lamanites in their own lands. This apparently is a big mistake. Mormon utterly refuses to be their leader. Mormon has delivered them three times from their enemies but they wouldn't repent of their sins. The Nephites have been benefiting from a prophet-general for 36 years but don't recognize the source of the deliverance.
The voice of the Lord comes to Mormon saying that vengeance is mine and I will repay. When a person or a nation is wronged, don't go on the offensive! The Lord will take care of the matter. (v.15) Mormon stands as an idle witness.
Chapter 4 - The turning point - going on the offensive - the war spins out of control - The Nephites receive no help from the Lord.
In 363 the Nephites go on the offence and attack out of the city of Desolation southward. They are driven back and while yet weary, a fresh army of Lamanites comes along and the Nephites lose the city of Desolation. They gather at Teancum.
Because the Nephites went on the offensive they were on their own. Mormon says the Lamanites otherwise would have no power over them. (v.4) The wicked will punish the wicked.
In 364 the Lamanites fight at Teancum and are repulsed by the Nephites. The Nephites again boast of their strength and in their own might take Desolation again. Thousands are slain. Every heart is hardened and they delight in the shedding of blood. Mormon notes that their wickedness is more than in any other time. (v.12)
Because there isn't any support from God, the battles become a numbers game (v.13). The Lamanites take Desolation because their numbers exceed the number of Nephites. At this point a new evil enters the picture. The Lamanites attack Teancum, take the women and children prisoners and sacrifice them to their Gods.
Revenge and anger fill the hearts of the Nephites. By sacrificing their women and children, the Lamanites have moved the war up a notch. With this anger, the Nephites come out fighting and beat the Lamanites and drive them back to their own lands. (v.15)
There aren't any battles until 365. The Lamanites come against the Nephites with all their power. The numbers are so great that they aren't numbered. And this is the beginning of the end. It's like a game of Risk. One player finally turns in his cards, gets lots of armies and wipes out everyone else on the board. Mormon says that from this time forth the Nephites gain no power over the Lamanites. They are going to swept off the face of the earth. (v.18)
The Lamanites beat the Nephites in the land of Desolation. The Nephites flee to Boaz. It takes two tries but the Lamanites beat them. The Nephites are slaughtered the second time. Again, their wives and children are sacrificed unto idols. The Nephites are now fleeing taking everybody with them. Mormon sees that that the Lamanites are about the overthrow the land and goes and retrieves the sacred records (v.23). Mormon is 54 years old.
Chapter 5 - Mormon Take Command Without Hope - The Nephites Are Swept off The Land
Mormon repents of his oath and takes command of the armies. The Nephites are now looking to Mormon to deliver them. Mormon is without hope. The Nephites won't repent and call upon the Lord. (v.2)
The Nephites hold the city Jordan for a time. They are able to maintain other cities so the Lamanites couldn't destroy the inhabitants of the land. (v.4) The Lamanites run a scorched earth policy. The year is 379.
In 380, despite the bold efforts of the Nephites, the Lamanites (due to the greatness of their numbers) tread the Nephites under their feet. The Nephites take flight. Those that are faster escape. The rest are destroyed. (v.7) Mormon is now 69 years old.
Mormon laments the plight of the Nephites. He sees the Gentiles doing the same thing as the Nephites did in his day. (v.22) We are in the hands of God. We need to repent and humble ourselves or justice will come upon us. He quotes Jesus in 3 Nephi, "lest a remnant of the seed of Jacob shall go forth among you as a lion, and tear you in pieces, and none to deliver." (v.24)
The next chapter finishes off the Nephites. Now I will try to figure a message from these chapters. During this time, the Nephites weren't God-fearing. From the start, Mormon tells us they were in a state of unbelief and general wickedness. They believed they could rely on their own strength. They did realize that God was upholding them through his servant, Mormon. They stepped over the line when they boasted of their own strength. They stepped over the next line when they sought revenge and went on the offensive and attacked the Lamanites. From that moment on they were swept off the face of the land.
These same problems exist today, more or less in our American culture. Our belief in Christ is declining. Wickedness is rampant. We rely on our war machine to maintain our way of life. Do we realize that God is upholding us? Do we boast of our strength? Have we gone more and more on the offensive in recent years? Perhaps the argument can be made that we have been defending ourselves. I sure hope so. If not, we too are beginning to cross similar lines as the Nephites.
Chapter 1/2 - The Nephites Are About to be Destroyed
It starts out around A.D 322. A war gets started between the Lamanites and Nephites. The Nephites win and there's no war for four years. At this time wickedness prevails upon the face of the whole land (v.13). The last three disciples are taken away and miracles and healing cease. The Holy Ghost didn't come upon any. The Nephites are in a terrible state of unbelief. (v.14)
Mormon at age 15 (A.D 326) tries to preach to the people but he is is forbidden by God. Why, because they had willfully rebelled against their God (v.16). In that same year, 326, Mormon becomes the leader (age 16) of the Nephite armies. I wonder if the people, even in their wickedness recognized a powerful, spiritual man when they saw one. Another battle ensues. The Nephites are frightened and would not fight. They retreat to Angola but are driven out by the Lamanites. They are driven out of the land of David and up into the land of Joshua. They gather the people into one body. Great destruction hangs over the people but they won't repent. (2:8) Blood and carnage is everywhere. In 330, the Nephites beat the Lamanites.
Also, in 330 the people start to cry, mourn and lament their situation. Mormon begins to rejoice that the people are repenting but their sorrowing is the sorrowing of the damned. Instead they curse God and wish to die. But they continued to struggle for their lives. The day of grace was past. (v.15). By 344 thousands are hewn down in open rebellion against their God.
Chapter 2 - Near Destruction turns into resounding victory and ends up with giving the Lamanites the land southward for peace.
In 345 (v.16) the Nephites are fleeing once again from the Lamanites even to the land of Jashon before Mormon could stop them in their retreat. Mormon is now 35 and gets the plates. It is interesting that Ammaron told Mormon to go and get the plates of Nephi when he arrived at the age of 'around' 24. Mormon must have been very busy. In the same year the Nephites are hunted and driven further north to a land called Shem. The people are gathered to save them from destruction.
In 346 (v.22) the Lamanites attacked again but under Mormon's direction, the Nephites stood boldly before the Lamanites. His words aroused them somewhat (v.23) so they didn't flee. The Lamanites ended up fleeing. The Nephites chased them and beat them but none of this was accompanied by the strength of the Lord (v.26). They were weak like the Lamanites. Mormon sorrows because none of this matters without the help from the Lord. They take possession of the lands of their inheritance (v,27).
In 349 a treaty is made (v.28) with the Lamanites and robbers and the Nephites give up all the land southward of the narrow neck. Mormon is now 38 years old.
Chapter 3 - Nephites take matters into their own handsFor 10 years Mormon fortifies the land and in 360 the Lord commands Mormon to cry repentance. If they repent they will be spared. But, the Nephites don't get it. They don't realize that it was the Lord who spared them and granted unto them a chance to repent. Their hearts are hardened. I wonder if America does the same thing. Are we being upheld by the Lord and don't realize it? How far along are we along in our pride? (see Mormon 5:22-24).
In 361 the Lamanites come down to the land of Desolation (v.7) The Nephites beat them.
In 362 the Nephites beat them again (v.8).
Because of their success the Nephites begin to boast of their own strength (v.9). The also swear by the heavens that they will avenge themselves of all their dead brethren. They decide to go on the offense and fight the Lamanites in their own lands. This apparently is a big mistake. Mormon utterly refuses to be their leader. Mormon has delivered them three times from their enemies but they wouldn't repent of their sins. The Nephites have been benefiting from a prophet-general for 36 years but don't recognize the source of the deliverance.
The voice of the Lord comes to Mormon saying that vengeance is mine and I will repay. When a person or a nation is wronged, don't go on the offensive! The Lord will take care of the matter. (v.15) Mormon stands as an idle witness.
Chapter 4 - The turning point - going on the offensive - the war spins out of control - The Nephites receive no help from the Lord.
In 363 the Nephites go on the offence and attack out of the city of Desolation southward. They are driven back and while yet weary, a fresh army of Lamanites comes along and the Nephites lose the city of Desolation. They gather at Teancum.
Because the Nephites went on the offensive they were on their own. Mormon says the Lamanites otherwise would have no power over them. (v.4) The wicked will punish the wicked.
In 364 the Lamanites fight at Teancum and are repulsed by the Nephites. The Nephites again boast of their strength and in their own might take Desolation again. Thousands are slain. Every heart is hardened and they delight in the shedding of blood. Mormon notes that their wickedness is more than in any other time. (v.12)
Because there isn't any support from God, the battles become a numbers game (v.13). The Lamanites take Desolation because their numbers exceed the number of Nephites. At this point a new evil enters the picture. The Lamanites attack Teancum, take the women and children prisoners and sacrifice them to their Gods.
Revenge and anger fill the hearts of the Nephites. By sacrificing their women and children, the Lamanites have moved the war up a notch. With this anger, the Nephites come out fighting and beat the Lamanites and drive them back to their own lands. (v.15)
There aren't any battles until 365. The Lamanites come against the Nephites with all their power. The numbers are so great that they aren't numbered. And this is the beginning of the end. It's like a game of Risk. One player finally turns in his cards, gets lots of armies and wipes out everyone else on the board. Mormon says that from this time forth the Nephites gain no power over the Lamanites. They are going to swept off the face of the earth. (v.18)
The Lamanites beat the Nephites in the land of Desolation. The Nephites flee to Boaz. It takes two tries but the Lamanites beat them. The Nephites are slaughtered the second time. Again, their wives and children are sacrificed unto idols. The Nephites are now fleeing taking everybody with them. Mormon sees that that the Lamanites are about the overthrow the land and goes and retrieves the sacred records (v.23). Mormon is 54 years old.
Chapter 5 - Mormon Take Command Without Hope - The Nephites Are Swept off The Land
Mormon repents of his oath and takes command of the armies. The Nephites are now looking to Mormon to deliver them. Mormon is without hope. The Nephites won't repent and call upon the Lord. (v.2)
The Nephites hold the city Jordan for a time. They are able to maintain other cities so the Lamanites couldn't destroy the inhabitants of the land. (v.4) The Lamanites run a scorched earth policy. The year is 379.
In 380, despite the bold efforts of the Nephites, the Lamanites (due to the greatness of their numbers) tread the Nephites under their feet. The Nephites take flight. Those that are faster escape. The rest are destroyed. (v.7) Mormon is now 69 years old.
Mormon laments the plight of the Nephites. He sees the Gentiles doing the same thing as the Nephites did in his day. (v.22) We are in the hands of God. We need to repent and humble ourselves or justice will come upon us. He quotes Jesus in 3 Nephi, "lest a remnant of the seed of Jacob shall go forth among you as a lion, and tear you in pieces, and none to deliver." (v.24)
The next chapter finishes off the Nephites. Now I will try to figure a message from these chapters. During this time, the Nephites weren't God-fearing. From the start, Mormon tells us they were in a state of unbelief and general wickedness. They believed they could rely on their own strength. They did realize that God was upholding them through his servant, Mormon. They stepped over the line when they boasted of their own strength. They stepped over the next line when they sought revenge and went on the offensive and attacked the Lamanites. From that moment on they were swept off the face of the land.
These same problems exist today, more or less in our American culture. Our belief in Christ is declining. Wickedness is rampant. We rely on our war machine to maintain our way of life. Do we realize that God is upholding us? Do we boast of our strength? Have we gone more and more on the offensive in recent years? Perhaps the argument can be made that we have been defending ourselves. I sure hope so. If not, we too are beginning to cross similar lines as the Nephites.
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