Weekly E-mail Reminder

	HIDDEN LDS/JEWISH INSIGHTS #4 Book of Mormon Gospel Doctrine Supplement by Daniel Rona Weekly E-mail Reminder << THE THINGS WHICH I SAW WHILE I WAS CARRIED AWAY IN THE SPIRIT >> 1 Nephi 12–14 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ (1.) NOW, MORE THAN EVER – EMERGING INFORMATION ABOUT PEOPLES IN THE BOOK OF MORMON LANDS: ------------------------------------------------------------------------ The general time lines of the emerging cultures in the Book of Mormon Lands can now be compared to Biblical and Book of Mormon personalities. Many of their cultural and historical traditions coincide with the iniquities and downfalls predicted by Book of Mormon Prophets. Cultural histories include: Olmec, Mayan Pre Classic, Zapotecs, Mayan Classic, Mayan Post Classic, Aztec. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ (2.) PROPHETS AND VISIONS OF THE FUTURE: ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Jewish commentary acknowledges that only a Prophet is able to understand divine things. ". . . dreams of the righteous contain visions, images and prophecies of a higher order . . . only a prophet, who rids himself of conscious base thoughts and desires is able to perceive divine things." (Encyclopedia Judaica Jr.) ------------------------------------------------------------------------ (3.) MOHAMMED, A PROPHET? ------------------------------------------------------------------------ For many Moslems, Mohammed is called a Prophet although he apparently never claimed to be one. His writings did not particularly predict the future because he still held the Bible to be as accurate as he interpreted it. "From about 610 C.E. (A.D.) Muhammad claimed to have visions and to have been commanded, as messenger of God (Allah) to recite certain verses which came to his mind. The holy book of Islam, the Koran . . . concentrated on God's goodness and power, the return to God and final judgment, the necessity for man to be humble and grateful to God and to worship Him, and the obligation of generosity and respect for the rights of the poor and defenseless." (Encyclopedia Judaica Jr.) ------------------------------------------------------------------------ (4.) GEOGRAPHIES OF ANCIENT AND MODERN PROMISED LANDS: ------------------------------------------------------------------------ The prophecies of the "Colonization of America" in the Book of Mormon echo the blessings and prophecies given to Joseph, son of Jacob, Israel. (Genesis 49:26). Mountainous Israel is the "Crossroads of the East." On the other hand, mountainous Utah is in the "Crossroads of the West." There are only two land masses on this planet that have a perpetual, unending range of mountains or "everlasting hills," Israel and USA. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ (5.) RESTORATION INCLUDES CLARIFICATION OF ORDINANCES: ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Although the word "baptism" is not found in the Old Testament, the Jewish immersions give us a clue of what ancient rituals were like. Some religious Jews experience repeated immersions in a Mikveh, (monthly for women and regularly for men). They step into the immersion font from the east side, immerse themselves, and then exit to the west side. This could be a reminder of entering into the Promised Land of Israel from what is now known as the east bank of the Jordan river. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ (6.) WATER AND SINS HAVE A CONNECTION IN JEWISH TRADITIONS: ------------------------------------------------------------------------ "On the afternoon of the first day (of Rosh Hashana), it is customary to walk to the nearest body of running water and there symbolically ‘cast’ one's sins into the water." (Encyclopedia Judaica Jr.) ------------------------------------------------------------------------ (7.) ARE MORMONS JEWS OR GENTILES? ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Are Jews "Gentile" to the Mormons? Are Mormons "Gentile" to the Jews? "An undoubted factor in the survival of the Jews as a people with a common identity has been their shared experience of persecution at the hands of gentiles (non-Jews)." "In ancient Israel the acceptance of monotheism (the belief that there is only one God) became the chief factor distinguishing Jews from gentiles, who then worshiped many gods." ". . . The concept of the righteous gentile . . . is first found in the Midrash." "According to Maimonides righteous gentiles . . . were motivated by belief in the divine origin and authenticity of Moses' prophecy . . ." (Encyclopedia Judaica Jr.) I remember a humourous statement in an Israeli travel brochure outlining a tour of the USA. It included a stop in Salt Lake City . . . "the only place a Jew can walk down the street and be considered a Gentile!" Some day they will know, it’s the same family!
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