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HIDDEN
LDS/JEWISH INSIGHTS #26
Book of Mormon Gospel Doctrine Supplement by Daniel Rona
Weekly E-mail Reminder
<< CONVERTED UNTO THE
LORD >>
Alma 23-29
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(1.) PROCLAMATIONS THAT COME
FROM GOD:
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Book of Mormon proclamations affect Israel like others did.
". . . the LORD stirred up the spirit of Cyrus king of Persia, that he made
a proclamation . . . build (the Lord) an house in Jerusalem, which is in Judah .
. ." (2 Chronicles 36:22-23) The Apostle, Orson Hyde, went to Europe with a
proclamation for the Christians and the Jews to heed the restoration and
recognize that the keys of the gathering of Israel had been restored to earth.
(History of the Church, Vol.4, Ch.6, p.112-113)
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(2.) FROM OTHER SOURCES:
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Joseph Fielding Smith reminds us of a more recent proclamation after the keys of
the gathering of Israel were restored. "The Balfour proclamation thus
endorsed by the United States government brought great joy to thousands of
downtrodden and persecuted Jews, and . . . they commenced to gather in Palestine
in great numbers, fulfilling partially the words of Isaiah . . ." (Joseph
Fielding Smith, The Restoration of All Things, p.151)
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(3.) REFUSING MILITARY
ACTIVITY:
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Some Israelis joke that Israel’s curse is its constant source of
controversies like a growing controversy about military involvement. As
effective as Israel has been in the past in its military stewardship in
maintaining its identity, there is a small but growing number of youth who
object to serving in the military. Some of that may be laziness or
inconvenience. However, there are some "conscientious objectors."
There may be a growing feeling to get to the turning of "swords to
plowshares."
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(4.) REFUSING TO STOP
FIGHTING:
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Historically, in almost every part of the earth, for those who are
angry and have a constant history of fighting, winning or losing made little
difference. Once a battle or war would end, they would simply continue to fight
someone else. They thrived on the "fighting" more than the
"conquering" a particular enemy.
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(5.) MAN MORE POWERFUL THAN
AN ANGEL?
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Alma’s wish that he could be an angel to bring more people to
peace is poetic. Yet, in Jewish thought, man has more power than an angel!
". . . angels are assigned to countries, and thus there are angels who must
not leave Erez Israel; angels walk upright and speak Hebrew; and they have no
needs or free will. Man, because he does have free will and must conquer his
evil inclination, is considered more important than the angels."
(Encyclopedia Judaica Jr.)
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(6.) BOASTING OUT OF PLACE:
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Alma’s gratitude for the blessings of peace acknowledges the power of God and
not his own. He gives us a model to follow. "For although a man may have
many revelations, and have power to do many mighty works, yet if he boasts in
his own strength, and sets at naught the counsels of God, and follows after the
dictates of his own will and carnal desires, he must fall and incur the
vengeance of a just God upon him." (Doctrine & Covenants 3:4)
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(7.) HUMILITY OPENS THE
SOUL:
--------------------------------------------------------------------- A synonym for "mysteries" is the "subtle
understanding" of God’s word. This is available through the "Gift of
the Holy Ghost." "For he that diligently seeketh shall find; and the
mysteries of God shall be unfolded unto them, by the power of the Holy Ghost . .
." (1 Nephi 10:19)
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(8.) HISTORICAL CONFLICTS
OVERCOME:
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As the Book of Mormon experiences relate, people with a history of
conflict can and did become brothers and sisters. Unfortunately, today Israel is
thought of as a nation of conflicting people. Yet, living in Israel, I can say
that most Jews and Arabs get along with each other. My own home teaching
companion was Mohammed Al Shiabet from Bethlehem/BetSahour – an Arab and a Jew
working for the Lord, in seeking the well being of his children . . . similar to
the Lamanite and Nephite account.
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(9.) ENEMIES CAN CONVERT AND
BE PROTECTED:
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There is an interesting model for today in that a portion of
land was given by the Nephites to the "Anti-Nephi-Lehites," former
Lamanites. Protection was also provided for them. The difference in Israel right
now is that some Arabs who call themselves Palestinians have not have not
committed to bury their weapons. Many Arabs and Jews in Israel are anxiously
awaiting substantive "proclamations" of peace that include a departure
from fighting and using weapons to express their opinions.
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