Two Books?

[inquiringmind]

I'm asking this question because of a personal experience I had that I don't understand.

I know that Mormons (like most other Christians) would probably view it as sinful, but I haven't known what to believe in a long time, and I've visited a spiritualist Church.

The last time I was there (after I started reading the BOM), the pastor said she was shown something that I've thought about ever since.

She said she saw two books, joined together and tied with a red ribbon.

I hadn't told anyone I was reading the BOM, but I was reading about two books that would be joined as one.

Since then I've been asking myself if that was a message from God for me, and what it meant if it was.

What does that passage in the BOM mean?

Why does it say two books would be joined as one, when The LDS Church has four (The Bible, the BOM, The Pearl of Great Price, and The D&C)?

Can anyone help me?

[LDS Guy 1986]

Why does it say two books would be joined as one, when The LDS Church has four (The Bible, the BOM, The Pearl of Great Price, and The D&C)?

The Book of Mormon is a complement to the Bible, it fills in some of the gaps and strengthens the witness that Jesus is the Christ.

The Doctrine and Covenants and the Pearl of Great Price are other modern scriptures, restored ancient texts, and translation of lost ancient text.

They are not like the Book of Mormon tied into the Holy Bible, all four of these sacred books complement each other and strengthen each other, but the two that are really tied together at the hip are the BoM and the Holy Bible.

I know that there is at least 1 baptist minister who believes that the BoM is the word of God but rejects the D&C and the PoGP as the word of God. So one can accept that the BoM and the Bible are true and reject the D&C and PoGP (though that is very rare, and a little confusing to me)

[TAO]

Well, there are a few things concerning this, I think...

First of all, technically the bible is divided into many different books. More than two.

However, it has a subdivision of two, the Old Testament and New Testament.

Secondly, there was a 'great divide' of time, in between times of revelation. Many revelations.

But it can be divided into two categories, before the great apostasy, and after. (Ancient and Modern)

However, I think neither of these are quite on it though.... I think the third options fits it best.

It conerns this:

Revelations 20:12

And I saw the ^adead, small and great, ^bstand before God; and the ^cbooks were opened: and another book was opened, which is the ^dbook of life: and the dead were ^ejudged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their ^fworks.

Therefore, I think the first book, books actually, are the many scriptures. The second book, however, is the book of life... a record of all the things that you did in your life or something of the like.

D&C 128:7 goes into more detail:

You will discover in this quotation that the books were opened; and another book was opened, which was the book of life; but the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works; consequently, the books spoken of must be the books which contained the record of their works, and refer to the ^arecords which are kept on the earth. And the book which was the ^bbook of life is the record which is kept in heaven; the principle agreeing precisely with the doctrine which is commanded you in the revelation contained in the letter which I wrote to you previous to my leaving my place

[bobg]

Could just be the Old and New Testament

[Bernard Gui]

2 Nephi 3:5-12

Wherefore, Joseph [of Egypt] truly saw our day [Lehi's day]. And he obtained a promise of the Lord, that out of the fruit of his loins the Lord God would raise up a righteous branch unto the house of Israel [the Lehites]; not the Messiah, but a branch which was to be broken off, nevertheless, to be remembered in the covenants of the Lord that the Messiah should be made manifest unto them in the latter days, in the spirit of power, unto the bringing of them out of darkness unto light

[bookofmormontruth]

I'm asking this question because of a personal experience I had that I don't understand.

I know that Mormons (like most other Christians) would probably view it as sinful, but I haven't known what to believe in a long time, and I've visited a spiritualist Church.

The last time I was there (after I started reading the BOM), the pastor said she was shown something that I've thought about ever since.

She said she saw two books, joined together and tied with a red ribbon.

I hadn't told anyone I was reading the BOM, but I was reading about two books that would be joined as one.

Since then I've been asking myself if that was a message from God for me, and what it meant if it was.

What does that passage in the BOM mean?

Why does it say two books would be joined as one, when The LDS Church has four (The Bible, the BOM, The Pearl of Great Price, and The D&C)?

Can anyone help me?

Thanks for sharing your experience.

The passage in the Book of Mormon specifically states that the Stick of Judah (Bible) and the Stick of Joseph (Book of Mormon) when combined form a "unified, complementary testimony of the Lord Jesus Christ, his resurrection from the grave, and his divine work among these two segments of the house of Israel."

There is not a Church on Earth that fulfills this prophecy than the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

The other standard works are prophesied in the Book of Mormon in addition to other scriptures that we are promised. The previous prophecy only deals with the Book of Mormon and Bible.

[mfbukowski]

Ezekiel 37

15

[mfbukowski]

Could just be the Old and New Testament

First of all, all those books were not codified into a single volume until the 4th century AD so there would have been many more than two books if that was the meaning.

Second, of the OT and NT which is for Judah and which is for Ephraim?

The Bible and Book of Mormon - one from the Jews and one from the descendants of Ephraim- Lehi and company- are the only possible fulfillment of the prophecy

Edit:

Oh and if your anti-Mormon website is any indication of your ability to criticize us, I don't think you will last long. Very old and routine objections.

You need to get more creative!

[bobg]

Thanks mfbukowski my comment was a bit of humour but nonetheless I appreciate you responding and looking at my blog, feel free to comment

And of course my arguments are old and routine to someone like you who dares to read them but for the 90%+ of the LDS church that doesnt I will keep going and pray that they will.

[inquiringmind]

Ezekiel 37

The Bible is the "stick" of Judah, and the Book of Mormon is the "stick" of Ephraim.

The word "stick" refers to the scrolls upon which scriptures were written- with two sticks on each end of the scroll.

I think the passage I bwas reading in the BOM was talking about those two sticks, and said they were two books.

Does anyone know where that passage is?

[mfbukowski]

Thanks mfbukowski my comment was a bit of humour but nonetheless I appreciate you responding and looking at my blog, feel free to comment

And of course my arguments are old and routine to someone like you who dares to read them but for the 90%+ of the LDS church that doesnt I will keep going and pray that they will.

LOL

You and the other 98 thousand sites just like yours.

[CV75]

I'm asking this question because of a personal experience I had that I don't understand.

Such an image could also represent a record on earth agreeing with the record in heaven, or the fruits of the ratified sealing power of the priesthood. But such things are decided upon by the one receiving them.

[TAO]

I think the passage I bwas reading in the BOM was talking about those two sticks, and said they were two books.

Does anyone know where that passage is?

It's 1 Nephi 13:38-39... but actually, it mentions multiple books I believe.

And it came to pass that I beheld the remnant of the seed of my brethren, and also the ^abook of the Lamb of God, which had proceeded forth from the mouth of the Jew, that it came forth from the Gentiles ^bunto the remnant of the seed of my brethren.

And after it had come forth unto them I beheld ^aother ^bbooks, which came forth by the power of the Lamb, from the Gentiles unto them, unto the ^cconvincing of the Gentiles and the remnant of the seed of my brethren, and also the Jews who were scattered upon all the face of the earth, that the records of the prophets and of the twelve apostles of the Lamb are ^dtrue.

Actually, much of chapter 13 is about it, I would read the entire thing. But it does mention other books, so yah, it includes D&C, PoGP, and other stuff. =)

2 Nephi 30 also briefly mentions it, I believe.

[Bernard Gui]

I think the passage I bwas reading in the BOM was talking about those two sticks, and said they were two books.

Does anyone know where that passage is?

It's not in the Book of Mormon, but the quote from 2 Nephi 3 is clearer than Ezekiel.

Bernard

[volgadon]

I'm asking this question because of a personal experience I had that I don't understand.

I know that Mormons (like most other Christians) would probably view it as sinful, but I haven't known what to believe in a long time, and I've visited a spiritualist Church.

The last time I was there (after I started reading the BOM), the pastor said she was shown something that I've thought about ever since.

She said she saw two books, joined together and tied with a red ribbon.

I hadn't told anyone I was reading the BOM, but I was reading about two books that would be joined as one.

Since then I've been asking myself if that was a message from God for me, and what it meant if it was.

What does that passage in the BOM mean?

Why does it say two books would be joined as one, when The LDS Church has four (The Bible, the BOM, The Pearl of Great Price, and The D&C)?

Can anyone help me?

First of all, turn to God for an answer regarding your dream.

The Ezekiel passage isn't really about books as such, it is about the restoration and reunion of all of Israel and the approach of the millenial era. When you read the BoM passage, read Ezekiel, and read Genesis, where Joseph and Judah are reconciled.

[Calm]

I know that Mormons (like most other Christians) would probably view it as sinful, but I haven't known what to believe in a long time, and I've visited a spiritualist Church.

I don't know of any Mormon who would view a sincere effort to find the truth when you don't have it yet as sinful (we do tend to view our faith as the truth and so some would view leaving this faith in favour of a spiritualist Church sinful...but that is not what you did). I think your specific case would depend on why you visited it. Also if you continued to go there and became an active participant, depending on what they taught and why you continued to go might or might not be seen as sinful (honestly if you chose to go to the Mormon church so that you were in the process of a seduction, even that attendance at our church would be viewed as sinful, lol).

Did the pastor explain what she thought it meant?

From the LDS viewpoint, we do believe that God may send us messages through others even when they may not be aware of it so it is certainly possible that it was a message. I think for one seeking truth and God, all of life can be a message if we are paying attention.

I would agree with volg, best place to find out what it meant for you would be to study it out like you are trying to do now by asking questions and exploring ideas and couple this with going to God in prayer and faith asking for knowledge...he may take awhile to answer it and may answer it in the beginning by giving you more questions for you to ponder upon because often the purpose of the Holy Ghost is not simply to give us the answers, but to develop that aspect of ourselves that desires truth and to expand our intelligence and the ability to receive such truths (all truths, not just those focused on the spiritual realm).

Thank you for sharing, btw. It sounds like an interesting experience. Have you thought of keeping a journal of your efforts to find out what to believe? Not only might this be helpful for you in finding the truth, but later on it could be helpful to others.

[inquiringmind]

It's 1 Nephi 13:38-39... but actually, it mentions multiple books I believe.

Actually, much of chapter 13 is about it, I would read the entire thing. But it does mention other books, so yah, it includes D&C, PoGP, and other stuff. =)

2 Nephi 30 also briefly mentions it, I believe.

I really thought I read something about the stick of Joseph, and the stick of Judah being two books, that would be joined as one.

Is there no passage like that in the BOM?

[Calm]

31Wherefore the fruit of thy loins shall write, and the fruit of the loins of Judah shall write; and that which shall be written by the fruit of thy loins, and also that which shall be written by the fruit of the loins of Judah, shall grow together unto the confounding of false doctrines, and laying down of contentions, and establishing peace among the fruit of thy loins, and bringing them to a knowledge of their fathers in the latter days; and also to the knowledge of my covenants, saith the Lord.

JST for Gen 50

2Wherefore, the fruit of thy loins shall ^awrite; and the fruit of the loins of ^bJudah shall ^cwrite; and that which shall be written by the fruit of thy loins, and also that which shall be written by the fruit of the loins of Judah, shall grow together, unto the ^dconfounding of ^efalse doctrines and laying down of contentions, and establishing ^fpeace among the fruit of thy loins, and ^gbringing them to the ^hknowledge of their fathers in the latter days, and also to the knowledge of my covenants, saith the Lord.

2nd Nephi 3

[Calm]

Also http://lds.org/scriptures/bofm/2-ne/29.11?lang=eng#10

4And it shall come to pass that my people, which are of the ^ahouse of Israel, shall be gathered home unto the ^blands of their possessions; and my word also shall be gathered in ^cone. And I will show unto them that fight against my word and against my ^dpeople, who are of the ^ehouse of Israel, that I am God, and that I ^fcovenanted with ^gAbraham that I would remember his ^hseed ⁱforever.