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“The
Keystone
of Our Religion”
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Lesson
1
Summary |
Scripture
Summary: |
Title page of the Book of
Mormon: Taken from the plates of Nephi; Wherefore, it is an abridgment of
the record of the people of Nephi, and also of the Lamanites—Written to
the Lamanites, who are a remnant of the house of Israel; and also to Jew
and Gentile—Written by way of commandment, and also by the spirit of
prophecy and of revelation—Written and sealed up, and hid up unto the
Lord, that they might not be destroyed—To come forth by the gift and
power of God unto the interpretation thereof—Sealed by the hand of Moroni,
and hid up unto the Lord, to come forth in due time by way of the Gentile—The
interpretation thereof by the gift of God. |
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abridgment taken from the Book of Ether also, which is a record of the
people of Jared, who were scattered at the time the Lord confounded the
language of the people, when they were building a tower to get to heaven—Which
is to show unto the remnant of the House of Israel what great things the
Lord hath done for their fathers; and that they may know the covenants of
the Lord, that they are not cast off forever— And also to the convincing
of the Jew and Gentile that JESUS is the CHRIST, the ETERNAL GOD,
manifesting himself unto all nations—And now, if there are faults they
are the mistakes of men; wherefore, condemn not the things of God, that ye
may be found spotless at the judgment-seat of Christ. |
Supplemental
Holy Land
and Jewish
insights:
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How Many Keystones in an
Archway? The statement, "The Book
of Mormon is the keystone of our religion" can be better understood by
seeing remains of Roman architecture so prevalent in Israel. Each stone of an
archway is angled to wedge the others in place. The center stone is like the
center point. The center point in a chiasmas is the focusing on the Lord. The
Book of Mormon’s purpose is to focus on the Lord, the God of Israel. |
Consider the five
"Standard Works (scriptures)" that Latter-day Saints use, the Old
Testament, the New Testament, the Book of Mormon, the Doctrine and Covenants and
the Pearl of Great Price. They are like an arch made of five stones. Every stone
in the arch is necessary to have the advantage of the structure which holds a
building in place as well as having the enjoyment of the beauty in something
that holds itself together. This is a visual metaphor of truth.
Is History Prejudiced?
Additionally, the Book of Mormon gives us a history of Jews leaving the land of
Israel and going to what is called the land of America. This history is valuable
because it is an unprejudiced account. Daniel Ludlow taught that even true
history is usually prejudiced by the writer and his perceptions as he saw
events happening. Conversely, true prophesy does not have prejudice,
because it has not happened yet. He also taught that scriptural history has the
least amount of prejudice because in most cases it carries a message of future
events. It is prophesy in the form of history. Therefore, the history is
accurate.
The Book of Mormon – Used to Highlight Doctrine:
The ancient prophets could not (and would not) write all that happened. They
selected to write those things which would apply as lessons of the future.
"And a hundredth part of the proceedings of this people, which now began to
be numerous, cannot be written upon these plates; but many of their proceedings
are written upon the larger plates, and their wars, and their contentions, and
the reigns of their kings." (Jacob 3:13) "Wherefore, I
chose these things, to finish my record upon them, which remainder of my record
I shall take from the plates of Nephi; and I cannot write the hundredth part of
the things of my people." (Words of Mormon 1:5) "But
behold, a hundredth part of the proceedings of this people, yea, the account of
the Lamanites and of the Nephites, and their wars, and contentions, and
dissensions, and their preaching, and their prophecies, and their shipping and
their building of ships, and their building of temples, and of synagogues and
their sanctuaries, and their righteousness, and their wickedness, and their
murders, and their robbings, and their plundering, and all manner of
abominations and whoredoms, cannot be contained in this work." (Helaman
3:14) "And there had many things transpired which, in the eyes of
some, would be great and marvelous; nevertheless, they cannot all be written in
this book; yea, this book cannot contain even a hundredth part of what was done
among so many people in the space of twenty and five years . . ." (3
Nephi 5:8)
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