The Meaning And Purpose Of The Book Of Mormon

[theplains]

In other words, a lot of non-religious "Christians" are willing to believe that there was once a great teacher (rabbi) named Jesus, but do not accept his divine status.

Thanks Robert. That's the first time I've ever heard of a non-religious Christian. It appears even a Muslim can then be classified

as a non-religious Christian for believing Jesus was only a prophet.

Regards,

Jim

[Robert F. Smith]

Thanks Robert. That's the first time I've ever heard of a non-religious Christian. It appears even a Muslim can then be classified

as a non-religious Christian for believing Jesus was only a prophet.

Regards,

Jim

Please don't be silly. I was clearly addressing myself to what Pres. Benson termed the "Christian world." I was helping you to understand what he was saying. If you don't understand the word "nominal," look it up.

Of course, Jews and Muslims believe that Jesus existed. They simply don't accept his divinity. However, that was not what Pres. Benson was discussing.

[brightpath]

What tribe are the Lamanites from again Robert?

[theplains]

Please don't be silly. I was clearly addressing myself to what Pres. Benson termed the "Christian world." I was helping you to understand what he was saying. If you don't understand the word "nominal," look it up.

Of course, Jews and Muslims believe that Jesus existed. They simply don't accept his divinity. However, that was not what Pres. Benson was discussing.

Maybe the term "nominal" to describe those inferred by Benson's statement ("much of the Christian world today rejects the divinity

of the Savior") is too strong an adjective to be placed next to the word "Christian". I would probably have suggested Benson use

the phrase "Former Christians, who once believed in the divinity of the Saviour, apostatized and rejected his divinity".

Ascribing the identity "nominal Christian" to someone who denies a core doctrine goes a little too far in my opinion but it appears

to fall in line with how it is defined by the Merriam-Webster Dictionary

Thanks,

Jim

[theplains]

The BofM was written to the Lamanites who will receive it from the Gentiles in the latter days and then they will find out who they really are.

Why would the Lamanites receive it from the Gentiles instead of from the Latter-day Saints (the House of Israel)?

Thanks,

Jim

[Robert F. Smith]

What tribe are the Lamanites from again Robert?

Manasseh (Alma 10:3). There were 12 Israelite tribes, and Manasseh was one of them. The Lamanites are a remnant of that tribe, although some Lamanites included Mulekites (some of whom are members of the tribe of Judah). Other peoples (non-Israelites) may also have been included in the description "Lamanites" in the generic sense. Some of the Brethren have made that suggestion.

See Thor Heyerdahl, American Indians in the Pacific (1952), for a non-Mormon evaluation of the extent of diffusion from America into Polynesia.

[brightpath]

Jim, The Lamanites(Natives) did receive the BofM from the LDS(Gentiles who are adopted Israel). Thus fulfilling the prophecy by Moroni in the title page of the BofM, that the BofM will come by way of the Gentile.

[brightpath]

Robert, Jesus Christ called the Lamanites a remnant of Jacob! Meaning they are from the tribe of Joseph including the blood of Ephraim and Manasseh. You were mostly right until you included non Israelites. Let me state again there were no Asians or Gentiles in the America's until after Israel rejected the gospel. Then after 421 AD God permitted the Gentiles to invade the promise land.

[Robert F. Smith]

Robert, Jesus Christ called the Lamanites a remnant of Jacob! Meaning they are from the tribe of Joseph including the blood of Ephraim and Manasseh. You were mostly right until you included non Israelites. Let me state again there were no Asians or Gentiles in the America's until after Israel rejected the gospel. Then after 421 AD God permitted the Gentiles to invade the promise land.

Robert, Jesus Christ called the Lamanites a remnant of Jacob! Meaning they are from the tribe of Joseph including the blood of Ephraim and Manasseh. You were mostly right until you included non Israelites. Let me state again there were no Asians or Gentiles in the America's until after Israel rejected the gospel. Then after 421 AD God permitted the Gentiles to invade the promise land.

Jacob, who was renamed Israel, is the father of the Israelites. His son Joseph was split into two tribes via his sons Ephraim and Manasseh, so that there is no more tribe of Joseph. The reason is that Levi, one of the sons of Israel and one of the original 12 tribes was removed from that status to do priestly duty among all the tribes.

You are certainly entitled to your opinion that no non-Israelites were in the Americas until after 421 AD. Perhaps you can provide some evidence of that extraordinary claim. CFR

You might want to explain at the same time who the Jaredites were. Israelites perhaps?

[blackstrap]

Having listened to interviews with Reverends and Pastors of some 'Christian' churches ,I hereby testify that there are people who call themselves Christian,even the leaders, who downplay if not dismiss the divinity of Jesus.

[theplains]

With all due respect the main purpose of the Book of Mormon is to restore the House of Joseph(Lamanites) to the true gospel again. The Lamanites are the descendants of Lehi. The purpose is for them to receive it from the Gentiles and understand who they really are. Hence the title page of the BorM," written to the Lamanites who are a remnant of the house of Israel", to come by way of the gentile. Many Lamanites are receiving the book and understanding who they really are!

How can you tell the difference between a Native American Indian who is a Lamanite and a Polynesian who is not a

Lamanite?

Thanks,

Jim

[Robert F. Smith]

How can you tell the difference between a Native American Indian who is a Lamanite and a Polynesian who is not a

Lamanite?

Thanks,

Jim

For a start, you might try reading Thor Heyerdahl, American Indians in the Pacific (1952).

[Glenn101]

Jacob, who was renamed Israel, is the father of the Israelites. His son Joseph was split into two tribes via his sons Ephraim and Manasseh, so that there is no more tribe of Joseph. The reason is that Levi, one of the sons of Israel and one of the original 12 tribes was removed from that status to do priestly duty among all the tribes.

You are certainly entitled to your opinion that no non-Israelites were in the Americas until after 421 AD. Perhaps you can provide some evidence of that extraordinary claim. CFR

You might want to explain at the same time who the Jaredites were. Israelites perhaps?

Robert, not to quibble with you or the like, but it is my understanding that Joseph received a double portion of the inheritance and the birthright through his two sons that Reuben lost because of his affair with Bilhah. I reference 1 Chronicles 5:1 "Now the sons of Reuben the firstborn of Israel, (for he was the firstborn; but, forasmuch as he defiled his father’s bed, his birthright was given unto the sons of Joseph the son of Israel: and the genealogy is not to be reckoned after the birthright."

Glenn

[brightpath]

Robert, you do know the BofM is referred to as the stick of Joseph right? Christ when visiting America called them the remnant of the seed of Jacob. How do I know there weren't any people's in America Prior to Lehi, because the BofM says so. The Jaredites were Hebrews and from the chosen seed that is why they were permitted to come to America. Lehi was from Manasseh, Ishmael was from Ephraim, and Mulek was from Judah. Asians are Gentiles and were not present in America until Israel rejected the gospel then and only then God permitted the Gentiles to invade America and kill off Israel.

[thesometimesaint]

Robert, you do know the BofM is referred to as the stick of Joseph right? Christ when visiting America called them the remnant of the seed of Jacob. How do I know there weren't any people's in America Prior to Lehi, because the BofM says so. The Jaredites were Hebrews and from the chosen seed that is why they were permitted to come to America. Lehi was from Manasseh, Ishmael was from Ephraim, and Mulek was from Judah. Asians are Gentiles and were not present in America until Israel rejected the gospel then and only then God permitted the Gentiles to invade America and kill off Israel.

CFR

[saemo]

I love Pres. Benson's 1987 statement

“Much of the Christian world today rejects the divinity of the Savior. ”

Say what?

[Bill “Papa” Lee]

My latest blog offering, based on a post I made yesterday on this message board: The Meaning and Purpose of the Book of Mormon

If I may be as so bold to say...it has brought a great number under it's banner of a single Church and belief than has the Bible. Once the BoM has been around as long as the Bible??? But in all truth, the D&C will help hold that it (or on) track.

[thesometimesaint]

Say what?

I don't know about "Much" but there certainly some Christians that deny his divinity. That always seemed oxymoronic to me.

[Okrahomer]

I don't know about "Much" but there certainly some Christians that deny his divinity. That always seemed oxymoronic to me.

Some pretty big "jow-dropping" examples are discussed here: http://newsweek.washingtonpost.com/onfaith/Non-Believing-Clergy.pdf

[brightpath]

How do you know there were Gentiles present in America prior to 421 AD with the tribe if Joseph? Are we to believe what non member Gentile scientists tell us? They try to explain away how people'arrived in The Americas by their bogus theory of a land bridge, and you buy this crap. The BofM notes when people were discovered in America it was big news. Mulek's people discovering the last Jaradite recorded, The Nephites discovery the people of Mulek recorded, and the Nephites knew who the Lamanites were and they were not Asians. Now if there were Asians running around in The Americas it would have been recorded by the people of Nephi.

[brightpath]

Now getting back to the purpose of the BofM which is the purpose of this thread is that the BofM was written to the Lamanites who are a remnant of the House of Israel by their forefathers. The promise in Moroni was written specifically to them. The Lamanites are to use the BofM to remember who they really are and prepare for when the times of the Gentiles comes to a close.

[Maidservant]

Maybe the term "nominal" to describe those inferred by Benson's statement ("much of the Christian world today rejects the divinity

of the Savior") is too strong an adjective to be placed next to the word "Christian". I would probably have suggested Benson use

the phrase "Former Christians, who once believed in the divinity of the Saviour, apostatized and rejected his divinity".

Ascribing the identity "nominal Christian" to someone who denies a core doctrine goes a little too far in my opinion but it appears

to fall in line with how it is defined by the Merriam-Webster Dictionary

Thanks,

Jim

I'm thinking that is pretty much President Benson's point (agreeing with you more or less), although he stated it a little differently.

there weren't any people's in America Prior to Lehi, because the BofM says so.

This is not the case. It is the opposite. The Book of Mormon discusses many people who were not Lehites. I point you to Sherem. His heritage is not explained, but he is not indicated as a relative or a fellow traveller with the Lehites. An appeal to "gentile science" does not confirm the existence of other people in the 'new word'--the Book of Mormon itself indicates that.

The Jaredites were Hebrews

No. Hebrews came much later.

and from the chosen seed

of?

[theplains]

of?

I looked through the thread but don't see it referring to something I mentioned so not

sure what to add.

Jim

[brightpath]

Maidservant, Sherem was a Nephite. Many people cave in to science and admit that there were Asians in America when Lehi landed. This is not the case. If you believe this then you do not understand the BofM. America was reserved for the chosen seed(Israel). After Israel rejected the gospel then God allowed the Gentiles to invade America and scatter Israel. Do you really think Sherem was an Asian? They didn't even permit Lamanites among them. Sherem had a perfect knowledge of the language and understanding of the scriptures so he was no Asian. Please do not pull any random name out of the BofM and claim they are Asian. As far as the chosen seed goes. Trace the lineage of the priesthood and then you will see the pattern of the chosen seed aka Hebrews, Israel. After the flood the priesthood was preserved through Shem(Melchizedek). Ham was cursed to the priesthood and Japeth was the father of the Gentiles. The Jaredites were from the chosen seed because they had the priesthood and came from Shem's lineage. The Gentiles never received the priesthood or the gospel until after the death of Christ.

[brightpath]

?