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HIDDEN
LDS/JEWISH INSIGHTS #24
Book of Mormon Gospel Doctrine Supplement by Daniel Rona
Weekly E-mail Reminder
<< GIVE US STRENGTH
ACCORDING TO OUR FAITH >>
Alma 13-16
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(1.) KEEPING THE PAST BEFORE
YOU:
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Alma teaches a true order of looking forward to the past! In other
words, our memory must be "before" us so that we can learn from the
past. At the same time, our future is before us as well. In that way we have the
advantage of a "wide screen" view of life. ". . . I would cite
your minds forward to the time when the Lord God gave these commandments unto
his children; and I would that ye should remember . . ." (Alma 13:1)
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(2.) USING THE PAST TO
DEFINE THE FUTURE:
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It stands to reason that our earth life was preceded by a
past, or in other words, a pre-earth life. Although a doctrine unique to
Latter-day Saints, it is scriptural and the concept of pre-earth life can be
found in Jewish writing before Maimonides (about eight hundred years ago) and
among the Dead Sea Scrolls (about two thousand years ago).
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(3.) BETTER NOT MEASURE
GOD'S HANDIWORK BY MAN'S TIME:
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"And thou art after the order of him who
was without beginning of days or end of years, from all eternity to all
eternity." (JST Genesis 6:70) ". . . every kingdom in its hour, and in
its time, and in its season, even according to the decree which God hath
made." (Doctrine & Covenants 88:61)
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(4.) GOD'S MATH IS BETTER
THAN MAN'S MATH:
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Man will think that 100% goes further than 90%. Yet God's
instruction of tithing results in 90% going further than the 100% could. Alma's
reminder of Melchizedek paying tithes was a part of the true order of
things. The Jewish view of tithing still has some biblical meaning even
though Jews do not have an order or organized way of collecting and distributing
tithes. "During Temple times Israelites would set aside a portion of their
agricultural products as tithes which were given to the priests, Levites, and
alternately to the poor . . . " (Encyclopedia Judaica Jr.)
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(5.) PURPOSE OF TITHING
CHANGED WHEN PRIESTHOOD WAS LOST:
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"The tithes served the purpose of
supporting the priest and Levite who did not have any ancestral holdings of land
and were occupied with the Temple service and other ritual duties, of supporting
the poor, and of strengthening the position of Jerusalem in the consciousness of
all the people of Israel. After the exile from Erez Israel, pious people became
accustomed to give one-tenth of their earnings to charity, although this `tithe'
is of comparatively modern origin." "It is still customary among
Orthodox Jews to set aside tithes from all produce of the Land of Israel . .
." ". . . part is . . . used as fodder for animals . . . other tithes
are distributed to the poor and needy." (Encyclopedia Judaica Jr.)
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(6.) WHO HELD PRIESTLY
RIGHTS?
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In ancient days, the Levites carried the responsibility of the
priesthood. Exceptions were like Nazirites who may have had priestly duties yet
were not from the tribe of Levi. Today, for the Jews, the priesthood is still
not an acquired, but a hereditary, right. "All priests (kohanim) and
Levites (levi'im) are descendants of the tribe of Levi, but priests are a
distinct subgroup, the heirs of Aaron . . . the importance of maintaining the
hereditary integrity . . . can be seen . . . when the Jews returned from the
Babylonian captivity . . . those who claimed priestly rank . . . unable to
produce . . . evidence . . . were disqualified (Ezra 2:62)." (Encyclopedia Judaica Jr.)
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(7.) REJECTION OF PRIESTS
AND MARTYRDOM:
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In Alma's day, lawyers and judges rejected priestly teachings
and those who accepted them. Their persecution and ultimate death was
martyrdom that resulted in heavenly reward. "Jewish history is replete with
examples of those willing to die for their faith from Shadrach, Meshach and
Abednigo, who . . . refused to worship an idol and thus endangered their lives,
up to present . . . Soviet Jews who suffer indescribable hardships rather than
give up their Jewishness. Whereas in Christian and Muslim thought martyrdom is
chiefly regarded as the act of individuals warranting canonization as saints, in
Judaism it remains a task for each and every Jew to fulfill if the . . . moment
should come." (Encyclopedia Judaica Jr.)
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(8.) THE POWER OF MEMORY -
WITH THE LORD:
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Nothing will escape our memories. Yet, for those who turn to
Him, the Lord stands by every harrowing recollection with peace, power, comfort
and salvation. "The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me; because . . . he
hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted . . ." (Isaiah 61:1)
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