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HIDDEN
LDS/JEWISH INSIGHTS #19
Book of Mormon Gospel Doctrine Supplement by Daniel Rona
Weekly E-mail Reminder
<< NONE COULD DELIVER
THEM BUT THE LORD >>
Mosiah 18-24
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(1.) EACH COVENANT – A
STEP CLOSER TO GOD:
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Alma, transformed as a result of the inquisition of
Abinadi, works diligently to bring people to the Lord baptizing converts in
"living waters. "As an everlasting covenant, baptism began on this
earth with Adam (Moses 6:64-67) . . . It was not a new rite introduced by John
the Baptist and adopted by Christ and his followers. The Jews were baptizing
their proselytes long before John . . .the part of the Book of Mormon of the
pre-Christian Era contains some of the best information we have relative to this
eternal law." (Bruce R. McConkie, Mormon Doctrine, Pg.71)
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(2.) CROSSING WATERS OF
JORDAN – STEPPING INTO PROMISED LAND:
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Some religious Jews experience
repeated immersions (monthly for women and regularly for men), step into their
immersion font from the east side, immerse themselves and then exit to the west
side. This could be construed as a reminder of entering into the gateway of
cleanness as the Children of Israel entered into their Promised Land – from
east to west.
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(3.) SYMBOLISM OF IMMERSION
FACILITIES:
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For the religious Jews, immersions are favored below ground
level in flowing water that emanates from bedrock - the
"Rock of Salvation." The lowest spot on the face of the earth where
water flows originating in bedrock is where the Children of Israel crossed into
their erstwhile homeland. Judaism and Christianity agree that it is also the
likely spot where Jesus came to John the Levite in Judea and was immersed.
Jewish Immersion and Baptism are for "purification."
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(3.) INTENT OF PURIFICATION:
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". . . ritual impurities are not to be regarded as infectious diseases or
the laws of purification as hygienic measures . . . (although) . . . immersion
in a mikveh must be preceded by careful cleansing of the body. Maimonides wrote:
‘Uncleanliness is not mud or filth which water can remove . . . but is
dependent on the intention of the heart.’ The sages have therefore said: ‘If
one immerses himself, but without special intention, it is as though he had not
immersed himself at all’." (Encyclopedia Judaica Jr.) In Alma’s
case, the people had prepared themselves by true faith and repentance and he
baptized them in pure water. (Mosiah 18:5)
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(4.) "BONDAGE" OF
FREEDOM:
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Their immersions became a bond to sustain each other and bear each
other’s burdens. It is a "bondage of freedom" from the chains of the
adversary. Most people consider the term bondage as slavery. Indeed we are
"slaves" to our God. He has bought and paid for us. "And ye are
still indebted unto him . . . " (Mosiah 2:23-24)
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(5.) BIBLICAL LAWS OF
SLAVERY:
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"the halakhah tended to view the slave more as a hired laborer
and it established numerous rules and regulations . . ." "Strictly
speaking, a Jew could not be sold as a slave. He could give himself voluntarily
into bondage (for example, to a creditor to whom he could not pay his debts) . .
." A Jew would then be considered an eved Ivri and could serve a maximum of
six years . . ." "Aliens and non-Jews could be bought and sold as
slaves . . . and . . . in theory, serve in perpetuity. However, they were
considered to be members of the master's household . . . and even succeeded the
master if he had no direct heirs." (Encyclopedia Judaica Jr.)
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(6.) KEEPING THE SABBATH DAY
HOLY – SYMBOL OF FREEDOM:
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"Remember that you were a slave in the land
of Egypt and the Lord your God freed you . . . (and) has commanded you to
observe the Sabbath day." ". . . another dimension is added to the
Sabbath --- that it is a day of rest, not only for you but for your slaves and
that God, so to speak, has the right to demand it because He freed you from
slavery." (Encyclopedia Judaica Jr.)
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(7.) IMPORTANCE OF THE
"DO’S" OF SABBATH:
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"The rabbis . . .(said) ‘if Israel
keeps one Sabbath as it should be kept, the Messiah will come.’" ".
. . besides the things you must not do, there are positive acts . . . these
include ushering in Shabbat with Kiddush, a declaration of the Sabbath's
holiness . . . made over a festive goblet of wine and the eating of three
Sabbath meals." (Encyclopedia Judaica Jr.) It is a custom that every meal
begins with a piece of bread . . . on Sabbath it is "wine and bread.
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