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HIDDEN
LDS/JEWISH INSIGHTS #32
Book of Mormon Gospel Doctrine Supplement by Daniel Rona
Weekly E-mail Reminder
<< THEY DID OBEY . . .
EVERY WORD OF COMMAND WITH EXACTNESS >>
Alma 53 - 63
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(1.) SPIRITUAL "HIGH
GROUND:"
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The fortification that Moroni built sound very familiar to a
"Tel" in the Land of Israel. Both fortifications had sloping walls
difficult to climb and exposing the enemy who had to fight "uphill."
Defense o was from the top downward. The spiritual connection to this physical
description is to always stay on the high ground, a natural defense from below.
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(2.) LOVE YOUR ENEMIES:
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The Dead Sea sect "shunning others" probably evoked one of the Savior’s
comments in the Beatitudes. "Ye have heard that it hath been said . . .
love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy. But I say unto you, Love your enemies,
bless them . . ." (Matthew 5:43-46) "The earliest ethical
teachings are commandments in the Bible: to do justice, to avoid bribery,
gossip, robbery, oppression, to protect the weak . . . man is obliged to
. . . obey these commands --- even with respect to his enemy."
(Encyclopedia Judaica Jr.)
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(3.) ETERNAL BINDING
PROMISES:
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The covenant made by the fathers of the "two-thousand
stripling warriors" was so binding and sacred that, even in peril, Moroni
did not let them assist in defense of their people. The concept of oaths and
covenants reaches back to the Land of Israel and even before that to our very
pre-existence. "Our very presence in this world is the result of a covenant
we have made and a promise of and the result of faithfulness. Our free agency
permits our doing what we wish to do, but it does not immunize us from the
results of our failures." (The Teachings of Spencer W. Kimball, p.504)
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(4.) OATHS AND VOWS:
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".
. . each representing a different class of ‘sworn statement.’ The oath . . .
is limited to sworn statements . . . (in) judicial proceedings,
while the vow . . . refers to all types of sworn statements made outside the
courtroom." "Today in courts in most countries, it is common practice
to ‘swear in’ all witnesses. Jewish law never adopted this custom,
preferring to accept testimony without the administration of an oath, as long as
there were at least two witnesses who corroborated each other's testimony, as
well as other supportive evidence." (Encyclopedia Juaica Jr.)
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(5.) NEGOTIATION OR
COMPROMISE?
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As I read about the negotiations Moroni had with other Nephite
and Lamanite leaders, I am struck with questions. In negotiations, how much do
we compromise? Where do we draw the line? Israeli negotiations have drawn an
entire nation (as well as others) into the same debate. It is clear to see that
Moroni had the powerful gift of God, a prophetic gift that was used in
righteousness to lead the people.
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(6.) JEWISH HAWAIIANS?
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The brief mention of Hagoth brings a memory of my visit to a conference of
ethnic Hawaiian Latter-day Saints. The meeting was emotionally and spiritually
fired as the Hawaiians showed their culture and tradition which reflected
similarities to Jewish marriage, burial practices, greetings and dietary
customs. This connected Hagoth, his Nephite and Lamanite line with the history
reaching back to the land of Israel.
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(7.) POLYNESIAN ANCESTRY
INCLUDES BOOK OF MORMON PEOPLE:
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This can be traced back at least to 1851,
when George Q. Cannon taught it as a missionary in Hawaii (he was later a
counselor in the First Presidency). President Brigham Young detailed the belief
in a letter to King Kamehameha V in 1865. President Joseph F. Smith said, ‘I
would like to say to you brethren and sisters . . . you are some
of Hagoth's people, and there is NO PERHAPS about it!’ (Cole and Jensen, p.
388.) In the prayer offered at the dedication of the Hawaii Temple, President
Heber J. Grant referred to the ‘descendants of Lehi’ in Hawaii (IE 23 [Feb.
1920]:283)." (Encyclopedia of Mormonism, Vol.3, POLYNESIANS)
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