"And every living substance was destroyed which was upon the face of the ground, both man, and cattle, and the creeping things, and the fowl of the heaven; and they were destroyed from the earth: and
Noah only remained alive, and they that were with him in the ark." (Genesis 7:23)
"And it came to pass that when they were buried in the deep there was no water that could hurt them, their vessels being tight like unto a dish and also they were tight like unto the ark
of Noah; therefore when they were encompassed about by many waters they did cry unto the Lord, and he did bring them forth again upon the top of the waters gain upon the top of the waters."
(Ether 6:7)
"So they took up Jonah, and cast him forth into the sea: and the sea ceased from her raging. Then the men feared the LORD exceedingly, and offered a sacrifice unto the LORD, and made vows.
Now the LORD had prepared a great fish to swallow up Jonah. And Jonah was in the belly of the fish three days and three nights." (Jonah 1:15-17)
"And, behold, there arose a great tempest in the sea, insomuch that the ship was covered with the waves: but he was asleep. And his disciples came to him, and awoke him, saying, Lord, save
us: we perish. And he saith unto them, Why are ye fearful, O ye of little faith. Then he arose, and rebuked the winds and the sea; and there was a great calm."
(Matthew 8:24-26)
"And it came to pass after they had loosed me, behold, I took the compass, and it did work whither I desired it. And it came to pass that I prayed unto the Lord; and after I had prayed the
winds did cease, and the storm did cease, and there was a great calm." (Nephi 18:21)
"He maketh the storm a calm, so that the waves thereof are still the waves thereof are still." (Psalms 107:29)
"Though the Israelites were not really a seafaring nation, the Bible is full of references to the sea and ships, and in the Book of Jonah, one of the main parts of the story takes place at
sea when the hero is thrown overboard in the hope of stopping a storm."
"During the Middle Ages Jews became less involved in the actual owning and sailing of ships but remained active as sea merchants and brokers. Jews were known for producing nautical
instruments and maps. Abraham Zacuto invented the astrolabe and drew up nautical tables that were invaluable to sailors. Christopher Columbus is thought by some to have been a Marrano (secret
Jew) and his interpreter certainly was Jewish. In England a Marrano, Simon Fernandez, was chief pilot to Sir Walter Raleigh." (Encyclopedia Judaica Jr.)
In reviewing history, let’s consider at least some types of technology for recording texts that become a library. Writing on leather is the most ancient method. As more space is needed for added
texts, additional leather is sewn on to the existing scroll. One of the Dead Sea Scrolls, Isaiah, is about twenty-seven feet long! These scrolls are usually fastened to a stick at each end for better
handling, rolling open and shut and for stability in storage.
Writing on metal plates required the processing and preparing of sheets of gold, brass or copper. They would be fastened with ring similar to a modern day binder. It is less likely to be able to
simply add a few perfectly sized metal pages after the initial production. That means the scribe must determine approximately what he will include.
"And if our plates had been sufficiently large we should have written in Hebrew; but the Hebrew hath been altered by us also; and if we could have written in Hebrew, behold, ye would have
had no imperfection in our record." (Mormon 9:33)
"But whatsoever things we write upon anything save it be upon plates, must perish and vanish away; but we can write a few words upon plates which will give our children, and also our
beloved brethren, a small degree of knowledge concerning us, or concerning their fathers." (Jacob 4:2)
Once he has collated his material and completed his transcript, he may have additional space or plates available and could thereby add more information, letters or testimonials.
"And now I, Moroni, write a few of the words of my father Mormon, which he spake concerning faith, hope, and charity; for after this manner did he speak unto the people, as he taught them
in the synagogue which they had built for the place of worship." (Moroni 7:1)
There is at least one case of thin metal sheets being fastened together as a scroll found in the Dead Sea Scroll collection. The sheer weight and difficulty in handling this type of text storage
limited its use.
"In ancient times all books were scrolls. Those used for holy purposes were written on animal skin; others were made from tree bark, parchment and similar materials. The Talmud and Midrash
speak often of scroll-books. We read that the high priest on the Day of Atonement read from a scroll during the Temple service and then rolled it up. There is no mention in the Talmud of
books with folded pages."
"Recently, archaeological discoveries, such as the Dead Sea scrolls, have once again revived Christian interest in the investigation of ancient texts."
(Encyclopedia Judaica Jr.)
With the restoration of revelation through living prophets, we can see the use and re-use of prophetic statements as well as prophetic "tools such as the Liahona and the Urim and Thummim." As the
Liahona was described as a "ball," it could be compared to a visual reminder of power and authority in many past monarchies – the "orb." The word is still used in modern English denoting knowledge
and source of guidance through information. There is an "ORB" online encyclopedia, for example. The Urim and Thummim will be discussed in an upcoming lesson.
The prophecies in the Book of Mormon about the scattering and gathering of Israel can be compared to ancient as well as to modern prophecies. A brief comparison of the Orson Hyde Dedicatory Prayer
on the Land of Israel given October 24, 1842with some of the verses from 1 Nephi 21 and 22 are an example.
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Book of Mormon
"They shall not hunger nor thirst, neither shall the heat nor the sun smite them; for he that hath mercy on them shall lead them, even by the springs of water
shall he guide them." (1 Nephi 21:10 )
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Orson Hyde’s Israel Dedication
". . . remove the barrenness and sterility of this land, and let springs of living water break forth to water its thirsty soil. Let the vine and olive produce in
their strength and the fig-tree bloom and flourish. Let the land become abundantly fruitful when possessed by its rightful heirs; let it again flow with plenty to feed the
returning prodigals who come home with a spirit of grace and supplication; upon it let the clouds distil virtue and richness, and let the fields smile with plenty. Let the flocks
and the herds greatly increase and multiply upon the mountains and the hills . . ." |
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"And kings shall be thy nursing fathers, and their queens thy nursing mothers; they shall bow down to thee with their face towards the earth, and lick up the dust
of thy feet; and thou shalt know that I am the Lord; for they shall not be ashamed that wait for me." (1 Nephi 21:23 )
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". . . and let kings become their nursing fathers, and queens with motherly fondness wipe the tear of sorrow from their eye . . ."
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"Wherefore, he will bring them again out of captivity, and they shall be gathered together to the lands of their inheritance; and they shall be brought out of
obscurity and out of darkness; and they shall know that the Lord is their Savior and their Redeemer, the Mighty One of Israel." (1 Nephi 22:12)
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". . . let Thy great kindness conquer and subdue the unbelief of Thy people. Do Thou take from them their stony heart, and give them a heart of flesh; and may the
sun of Thy favor dispel the cold mists of darkness which have beclouded their atmosphere . . ."
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"For behold, the righteous shall not perish; for the time surely must come that all they who fight against Zion shall be cut off." (1 Nephi 22:19)
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". . . Let that nation or that people who shall take an active part in behalf of Abraham's children, and in the raising up of Jerusalem, find favor in Thy sight.
Let not their enemies prevail against them, neither let pestilence or famine overcome them, but let the glory of Israel overshadow them, and the power of the Highest protect them;
while that nation or kingdom that will not serve Thee in this glorious work must perish, according to Thy word --Yea, those nations shall be utterly wasted . . ." |
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