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HIDDEN
LDS/JEWISH INSIGHTS #34
Book of Mormon Gospel Doctrine Supplement by Daniel Rona
Weekly E-mail Reminder
<< HOW COULD YOU HAVE
FORGOTTEN YOUR GOD ? >>
Helaman 6–12
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(1.) HARDENED HEARTS -
REPEATED:
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The Children of Israel had a habit of being blessed and then
forgetting God. The term "hardened" appears several times in the Stick
of Judah (Bible) and the Stick of Joseph (The Book of Mormon). Spiritual
hardening is a result of pride or of being proud. (2 Kings 17:13-14) (Nehemiah
9:15-16) (1 Samuel 6:6) (1 Nephi 16:22) (1 Nephi 17:30)
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(2.) REMOVING
"PRIDE" AND "PROUD" FROM VOCABULARY:
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We are reminded in
our own times of the debilitating use of the word "proud" or
"pride." In 1989, President and Prophet, Ezra Taft Benson, clearly
instructed the saints to discontinue the use of the word pride or proud. He said
"Pride is ugly." A better way of expressing ourselves would be to
follow Heavenly Father’s example. "And lo a voice from heaven, saying,
This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased." (Matthew 3:17)
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(3.) WHEN "ABOVE THE
REST" IS NOT CORRECT:
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It appears that people get lifted up in their
pride. Some even want to be or claim to be "above" others. That
prompted the Zoramites to build a tower, called a "Rameumptom" in the
Book of Mormon. (Alma 31:13, 21)
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(4.) WHEN "ABOVE"
IS BETTER:
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The word Rama in Hebrew refers to a high place. The Lord did
instruct Temples to be built in high places. The synagogue has three meeting
areas. The congregants sit in an outer area, then there is a raised or elevated
area called the bimah in the center of the synagogue where the Torah is read.
The Ark, where the Torah scrolls are kept, is higher than the Bimah and always
in the part of the hall closest to Jerusalem. That is a reminder to the
congregants that the "word" comes from Zion.
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(5.) BEING CALLED BY
REVELATION:
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All true prophets did and still do testify of their authority.
Additionally, a repeated manner of identifying a true prophet is by recognizing
how God has named and authorized him. "Behold, thou art Nephi, and I am God
. . . whatsoever ye shall seal on earth shall be sealed in heaven; and
whatsoever ye shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven; and thus shall ye
have power among this people." (Helaman 10:6-7) (Matthew 16:19)
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(6.) TOKENS AS SPIRITUAL
REMINDERS:
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God gives keys, signs, symbols and ritual procedures so that we
may have physical as well as spiritual reminders of Him and His teachings.
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