Promised Lands

     Promised lands are holy - for they are sacred places of righteousness and freedom - places to raise children in liberty, free to teach and practice worship to the Lord, free from confounding of true principles. All that is required to have these blessings, these tender mercies is obedience and faith to the Lord. It is a place to build Zion/New Jerusalem - to fulfill prophecies of the scattered people being reunited in the Lord. If you become lost, or a stranger in the land without land of your own - you may always repent and be returned to land. Promised lands are so sacred, that they are on par with being promised seed/posterity/children(to be like God) and if you remain faithful, you will keep your land in the eternities.

*Gen 12:1,7,13:14-17,15:7,18,17:8,24:7, Abr 2:19, Gen 26:3, 28:13(35:12, 48:4), 48:21, 50:24, Ex 20:12, 32:13, Deut 1:8, Deut 34:1-4, Josh 21:43, 1 Chron 16:18, Psalms 105:11, Acts 7:5, 3 Ne 20:14 - The Lord covenants to give seed and land and land to seed. Land is as great a promise as children/posterity.

*Num 27:12 - When children of Israel wer disobedient they were lost, without land. Once they obey, they get land (Num 34:1-12)

*Heb 11:9 - By faith, you can sojourn in the land of promise

*1 Ne 2:20, 7:13, 18:23, Ether 13:2, 2 Nephi 3:2 - must be obedient, faithful to keep land of promise

*1 Ne 5:5 - Lehi rejoices in(for)promised land, 12:1, 13:14 - multiplied land of promise

*1 Ne 10:13 - Led to the promised land to fulfill prophesy of being "scattered"

*1 Ne 13:30 - This promised land is choicest above all others - must be righteous to be in it. - Ether 1:42, 10:28, 13:2, 2:7

*1 Ne 14:2 - promises that come with land - blessings, fruitful, no captivity, no confounding

*2 Ne 1:5-7 - No one comes to the land of promise unless led by the Lord and as long as they are obedient they will always have it and freedom and liberty - 2 Ne 10:11, Ether 2:7

****D&C 38:20 - If you've been promised land as an inheritance, it is also yours in eternity

*2 Ne 9:2 - When you repent(Jesus), you are restored to your lands of promise

*Jacob 2:12 - precious ores within promised land

*Ether 6:12 - Being led to promised land is tender mercy, much cause for rejoicing

*Ether 13:8 - New Jerusalem to be built in land of promise

*D&C 103:11, 109:64 - The scattered people will return to their promised lands and build up Zion

*Abr 1:16 - Lord had to remove Abraham to a "strange" land because of the disobedience of the people, the Lord will take to the safety of a promised land if you are obedient

Guidance, Divine

     The majority of the time you must seek/ask for divine guidance. The Lord provides many ways to guide you - through prophets, warnings, signs, nature, chastenings, angels/messengers, temples/mountains, divine tools(scriptures, gifts, visions, prayer) and above all, the Spirit. All divine guidance takes a sincere heart, meekness, a willingness to obey(otherwise, why would He trust you with His guidance?), repentance, etc. All of these are the same efforts you make to become more like Christ. The rewards for having faith in His guidance is the inheritance of His kingdom with its accompanying blessings and eternal life. He brings peace and rest to your sou, making you like an eternal spring/watered garden with the fruits of patience and love - you will be like Christ - an ultimate reward in itself.

*Gen 24:27 - The Lord's guidance is in the creation of families, seek His help to find a spouse - helped servant find Rebekah, (uses SIGNS as divine guidance)

*Ex 13:21 - Led the people of Moses by a cloud by day and pillar of fire by night(uses NATURE as divine guidance)

*Psalms 23:2 - He leads us by "still waters" makes you lie in "green pastures" which restores your soul, protects you, comforts you, anointest you, His guidance brings us back to Him and all His blessings

*Psalms 25:5,9 - He leads in truth, you must be meek to accept His guidance

*Psalms 27:11 - With His guidance, the path becomes plain.

*Proverbs 3:6 - If you acknowledge Him in all your ways, He will direct you on all your paths

*Isaiah 58:11 - He will satisfy your souls in drought, make your bones fat, make you like a watered garden, or a spring of water that never dies - make you like Christ.

*Amos 3:7 - Guides you through PROPHETS

*Matt 4:1 - Even Jesus had Divine Guidance, was led by the SPIRIT

*James 1:5 - If you want guidance, you have to ask for it - it will be given to you liberally - guided by PRAYER and REVELATION

*2 Thes 3:5 - God will direct your heart towards love and patience and ultimately to Christ *Good scripture to memorize as a parent

*1 Ne 2:16 - Nephi had great desires to know the mysteries of God, and the Lord guided him by visiting him and softening his heart.

*1 Ne 4:6 - Nephi led by SPIRIT, not knowing what to do - D&C 38:33 - God leads servants with unbeatable POWER to go wherever He needs them

*1 Ne 16:30 - Guided by directions of Liahona - SPIRITUAL TOOLS

*1 Ne 18:3 - Nephi went to mountain often to pray for guidance, the Lord showed him great things - VISIONS

*2 Ne 5:5 - Guided by WARNINGS

*Mosiah 26:14-15 - Guidance came after faith and pouring out soul to God - VOICE OF THE LORD

*Alma 48:16 - God guides you to safety and deliverance when you keep commandments and resist iniquity (Captain Moroni) - D&C 20:71 - be inspired by COMMANDMENTS

*Hel 10:3 - Nephi was pondering when voice came to him -Moses 6:24 - heard VOICE OF THE LORD

*Ether 2:5 - Lord guides by a cloud with his voice - NATURE and VOICE OF THE LORD

*Moro 10:4 - God will guide you(manifest truth to you) by the HOLY GHOST if you: 1. ASK in the name of Christ 2. With SINCERE HEART 3. REAL INTENT 4. FAITH in CHRIST - D&C 6:14 - Ask often and you will receive instruction

*D&C 8:2 - Guided by the HOLY GHOST telling you in your mind and heart - it is a gift, same as Moses had

*D&C 11:12 - Put your trust in the SPIRIT which leads to do good, do justly, walk humbly, judge righteously

*D&C 78:18 - Be of good cheer for Him to guide you. Blessings of guidance = kingdom and blessings and riches of eternity.

*D&C 112:10 -  Be thou humble, Lord shall lead thee by the hand, give answers to prayers

*JSH 1:12 - With great force and every feeling of the heart

*1 Kings 3:12, 4:29 - Through GIFTS a wise, understanding, large heart

*Matt 28:20 - If you obey, He is always with you. 

*1 Ne 11:25 - Rod of Iron = Guide to God's love - SCRIPTURES

*Moses 3:19 - Guides by the SPIRIT if 1. Yields to it 2. Put off natural man 3. Use the ATONEMENT 4. Become like a child 

*Alma 8:14 - Guided by an ANGEL

*D&C 95:1 - Guides by CHASTENING

Mysteries of Godliness

     The mysteries of God are endless, just like Him. To seek to know the mysteries and to come to know them is eternal life. In order to know mysteries, you must reverence God, have a desire, keep the commandments, repent, exercise faith, do good works, pray always, and have an open heart, ears, and mind. The Spirit will reveal things to you - through the scriptures, through prophets, through visions. The prophet holds the keys to mysteries, the priesthood is the power to learn and preach the mysteries of God. Seek to understand the mysteries of God, including His endlessness, the Atonement, love, marriage, death, and resurrection. In His own due time, and through your faithfulness, ALL mysteries will be revealed.

*Deut 29:29 - Secret things of God revealed to you and your children

*Psalms 25:14 - Secret things revealed to those who fear(reverence)God

*Dan 2:28 - Revealed through dreams

*Matt 13:10-11 - Parables given to understand mysteries so only those who want it will get it - Mark 4:11, Luke 8:10 

*Romans 11:25 - Those who are ignorant of mysteries become calloused and lost

*Rom 16:25 - Priesthood power to preach and reveal mysteries, prophet has keys to mysteries - D&C 28:7, 35:18, 84:19, 107:19, Mysteries of scriptures revealed to prophets - JSH 1:74, Prophets are stewards of mysteries - 1 Cor 4:1

*1 Cor 2:7-10 - Restoration of mysteries - blessings beyond what you imagined - revealed by prophets to all men - Eph 6:19, Eph 3:9

*1 Cor 13:2 - You can understand all the mysteries, but without charity you are nothing

*1 Cor 14:2 - Mysteries revealed by speaking through the Spirit

*1 Cor 15:51 - A mystery - death is not sleep but a change

*Eph 1:9 - He will let you know the mystery of His will

*Eph 5:32 - Love and marriage = great mystery of God

*Col 1:26 - Mystery hid from ages - salvation through Christ - now revealed, mystery of faith. - 1 Tim 3:9, 16

*1 Ne 2:16 - Pray/desire to know the mysteries of God - given soft heart to believe, ask and you'll know all the mysteries that bring you joy - D&C 42:61

*1 Ne 10:19 - Diligently seek mysteries and you will find them

*2 Ne 27:22 - God reveals in His own time - to all faithful will reveal all - D&C 76:1-8, D&C 101:33

*Jacob 4:8 - Unsearchable are the depths of His mysteries - impossible for man to know them all

*Mosiah 1:5 - Scriptures reveal mysteries. Some mysteries are very basic to you - Christ - but great to others - always remember that. Without scriptures all mysteries are lost and so are we. - Mosiah 8:19, Alma 37:4

*Mosiah 2:9 - To understand mysteries, open your ears, your heart, your mind

*Alma 10:5-6 - You can be given to understand mysteries and yet still rebel

*Alma 12:9 - When you know mysteries - careful who you share with and when you share - if at all

*Alma 26:22 - To know mysteries: repent, exercise faith, do good works, pray always, use knowledge of mysteries to bring others to repentance.

*Alma 40:3-4 - Resurrection is one of God's mysteries

*D&C 6:7 - Seek for wisdom, not riches - then you'll know mysteries and be rich(have eternal life)

*D&C 19:10 - Mystery = God is endless!

*D&C 77:6 - Sealed book of John contains mysteries

*D&C 97:5 - blessing=expounding of scriptures and mysteries for edification

*D&C 93:28 - Keep the commandments and you will receive more light and truth and know all things by the Spirit. - D&C 121:26

Priesthood, Power of

     The power of the priesthood is God's power. It is entrusted to man to do God's work on earth, that through personal purity and righteousness, the priesthood can be used to preach and teach and testify to bring all children to God through the saving ordinances: faith, repentance, baptism, Holy Ghost, new names, endowment, sealings, endure - it is what helps us achieve eternal life. It is the power that has been given the final time to men on earth - to build and govern and strengthen Zion, to perform miracles and heal and rule all things. It is what ultimately brings us to Christ and helps us become like God.

*Matt 10:1 - Christ gives apostles power to heal and cast out unclean spirits and power over enemies, they won't be hurt - Luke 10:14, Mark 3:15

*Matt 28:18 - Power of priesthood is all power in heaven and earth

*Acts 4:7 - Power to teach and testify, in every tongue(De 90:11), it becomes scripture (D&C 68:4) - 1 Cor 2:4, 1 Ne 2:14, 2 Ne 1:27, Mosiah 13:6, 3 Ne 7:17, D&C 138:30, Micah 3:8

*Acts 6:8 - With faith, it is the power to do wonders and miracles - Acts 19:11

*1 Cor 4:20 - Building the kingdom

*1 Ne 17:48 - Power = protection against enemies - Moses 8:18

*D&C 45:8 - power of miracles, of the Atonement, of eternal life

*Abr 1:18 - Given to Abraham

*D&C 50:27 - He who has the priesthood is possessor of all things, all are subject to him

*D&C 84:20 - Ordinances(eternal life): endowed, sealing, records D&C 128:8, 132:7, 105:11 - power to teach

*D&C 112:30 - Priesthood given for last time in the last days, Zion puts on her strength - D&C 113:8

*D&C 121:36 - Priesthood power is power of heaven - can only be used through and for righteousness

*Moses 7:31, Moro 10:31 - Zion governed by priesthood - Isa 52:1

*Gen 32:28 - New name with power

Man, Physical Creation of

     God is the Great Creator. Through His word(Christ Eph 3:9)He has created ALL things, first spiritually then physically. He created this world and through its dust He created man and through man He created woman. He created His children for His glory - for them to become His children. He created them, their agency, and their redemption. He knows and loves us because He made us. If we always remember this, we will not murmur, but we will give back to our Creator and find true happiness and become like Him - our own creators to continue His work and His glory.

*Gen 1:26-27 - Man and woman are created in God's image(also image of His spirit - Ether 3:15-16) - given dominion/commandments, Gen 5:1, Col 3:10, Moses 7:27, Moses 6:9, Alma 12:22, D&C 20:18-19, Moses 2:26, Abr 4:26-27

*Gen 2:7 - Formed from dust of the earth and breath of God/life, created first spiritually, then physically. The dust returns to the earth, the Spirit returns to God, dust belonged to Him, so do we(Ecc 12:7, Mosiah 2:25) - D&C 77:12, Moses 3:5,7

*Gen 2:22 - Woman made from man's ribs "bone of my bones, flesh of my flesh" Abr 5:17, 1 Tim 2:13

*Job 4:19 - We are "houses of clay" 

*Isa 43:7 - God has created man and woman for His glory - Isa 45:12, Matt 19:4, 2 Ne 29:7

*Mal 2:10 - We all have only one creator, one father, we are all brothers and sisters - Luke 3:38, Moses 6:22

*Phil 2:6 - Created in His image to become equal with Him

*1 Ne 2:12 - Keep in remembrance who created you and you will not murmur, and you will be a happy people - 4 Ne 1:16 (struggle=not calling on your creator) - Morm 5:2

*1 Ne 17:36 - Created both man and earth that man might possess it

*2 Ne 2:15-16 - Created man AND his agency AND opposition

*Alma 1:4 - God created all men, but He also redeemed all men

*Jacob 4:9 - God created man through His word - Mormon 9:17 - created dust, miracles through His word

*Mosiah 4:21 - God created you and everything you depend on - share and give back

*Alma 18:32 - He knows us because He created us.

*D&C 93:10 - The worlds, men, everything made by, through, and of Him

*D&C 107:43 - As Seth is like Adam, we will be like God

Murmuring, Murmur

     Murmuring seems to be the beginning of all destructive seen. Those who murmur do not understand/have faith in the Lord. They do not understand His powers or miracles and therefore complain for things they do and do not have. They are weak in suffering and assume suffering is because the Lord hates them. They murmur in their hearts and to others until they have grown in hatred and pride and are led to iniquities and bloodshed and become ungodly. Those who murmur will be chastened or destroyed. Those who do not murmur are those who have faith, recognize blessings, power, and love of God and are the favored people.

*Ex 15:24, 16:2, 17:3 - Children of Israel are big time murmurers, Num 14:2, 16:49, Deut 1:27, Psalms 16:25, Josh 9:18 - "because the Lord hateth us" he has ____

*Isa 29:24, 2 Ne 27:35 - Those who murmur will learn doctrine, those who err in spirit will come to understand

*Luke 5:30, 15:2, 19:7 - Pharisees were murmurers

*John 6:41 - Jews during Christ's time were murmurers, John 7:12

*John 6:43 - Jesus said "murmur not among yourselves" do all things without murmuring-Philip 2:14

*1 Cor 10:10 - murmurers are destroyed

*Jude 1:16 - murmurers are ungodly

*1 Ne 2:11 - Laman and Lemuel were the kings of murmuring -17:17 weak in suffering -16:20, 2 Ne 5:4 - to the point of bloodshed, 1 Ne 3:31 - do not know/believe God's powers/miracles, 17:49 - Nephi commanded them to stop

*1 Ne 3:6 - Those who do not murmur are favored of the Lord - you have to learn to recognize blerssings 17:2

*D&C 9:6 - Do not murmur for your circumstances, they are all wisdom in the Lord

*D&C 25:4 - Do not murmur for circumstances you have not had

*D&C 75:7 - You will be chastened for murmurings of your heart

Stiffneckedness

     Stiffnecked people are proud and rebellious against God. Like so many groups throughout history(Children of Israel, Jews who crucified Christ, Nephites before coming of Christ, Nephites before destruction, Lamanites, etc.) they are those who murmur, forget God, do not understand His teachings but demand things they cannot understand, they follow precepts of men and do not believe in miracles or repentance, they resist the Holy Ghost and prophets and persecute the righteous. In order to remove stiffneckedness, the Lord sends tribulations and stumbling blocks, prophets with plain speech to remind them of death and destruction and keep them in remembrance of God's law. Or you could remove your own stiffneckedness simply  by reading the scriptures, repenting, and purifying your heart. That's the way I choose. Remember if you have a stiffneck and are proud, there is no room for repentance or miracles - the only way you can be healed.

*Ex 32:9 - Children of Israel are a stiffnecked people(Ex 34:9, 33:5, Deut 9:6, Mosiah 3:14, Jer 17:23, Jacob 6:4)

*2 Ne 25:28 - Speak plainly to stiffnecked people so that they cannot misunderstand your testimony, will stand as a witness against them - if you deny Christ, you deny prophets and law

*Hel 5:3 - Nephites were stiffnecked people before coming of Christ

*Hel 9:21, Hel 13:29 - The Lord suffers the stiffnecked but they have an awful destruction waiting for them unless they repent.

*Deut 10:16 - Purifying your heart removes stiff necks

*Deut 31:27 - Stiffneckedness=rebellious, 2 Chron 36:13

*2 Chron 30:8 - Removing stiff necks(service)=entrance into the Lord's sanctuary

*Psalms 75:5 - Speak not with a stiff neck

*Isa 48:4, 1 Ne 20:4 - When the Lord knows your stiffneckedness, He gives you humbling experiences

*Ezek 2:4 - The Lord sends prophets to the stiffnecked

*Acts 7:51 - The stiffnecked resist the Holy Ghost, it works according to faith(Jarom 1:4,) stiffnecked won't search knowledge and they refuse to understand(2 Ne 32:7)

*1 Ne 2:11-12 - Signs of those who are stiffnecked = murmuring, no respect for the spiritual, are unfamiliar with the God who created them and His dealings, pride, costly apparel(Jacob 2:13), led by precepts of men(2 Ne 28:14)

*2 Ne 6:10, 10:5 - Jews who crucified Christ = stiffnecked people - Jacob 4:14, looking beyond the mark, demanding things they can't understand, receive stumbling blocks, quick to do iniquity, slow to remember (Mosiah 13:29)

*Enos 1:22-23 - The Nephites were stiffnecked people - nothing could save them except exceeding harshness, plain speech about the death and destruction that awaited them without repentance, continually keeping them in fear of the Lord, don't believe in miracles or repentance, persecute the righteous, delight in bloodshed, love iniquity(all ways of devil) - Alma 26:24, Alma 20:30, Alma 15:15, Alma 9:5, WofM 1:17

*Alma 37:10 - The Book of Mormon made to convince and help the stiffnecked

*Hel 4:21 - Scriptures can remove your stiffneck

*3 Ne 15:18 - Stiffnecked cannot understand prophets/prophets commanded not to speak to them, they build churches for gain, twist scriptures - Morm 8:33

*D&C 5:8 - Stiffnecked kindle God's anger, revokes his commands -D&C 56:6

*D&C 112:13 - God sends tribulations to unstiffen so He can come and heal. *because if you don't believe in miracles or repentance how can you ever be healed?