Searching the Scriptures
Mormon History Related
"The Bible, in our present format, totals just under sixteen hundred printed pages from multiple authors. To these have been added nearly nine hundred other printed pages of scripture through the Prophet Joseph Smith?more than from all the writings of Moses, Paul, Luke, and Mormon combined, as these are available today?illustrating the quantitative significance of what has come to us through the Restoration. . . . "Before the Restoration, the void was very real. Prior to meeting Joseph Smith, Brigham Young said he would have crawled around the earth on his hands and knees to meet someone like Moses who could tell him anything 'about God and heaven.' (In Journal of Discourses, 8:228.) Through Joseph Smith we have additional pages from Moses about God and heaven. We have only to reach to the bookshelf or go to priesthood meeting. Perhaps the way is almost too easy and too simple; we might be more appreciative if on hands and knees. (See 1 Ne. 17:41.) Only by searching the scriptures, not using them occasionally as quote books, can we begin to understand the implications as well as the declarations of the gospel."
-- "Called and Prepared from the Foundation of the World," Ensign, May 1986, 34
Name: Nick
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Comments: When it comes to the scriptures and their particular value to us today, I feel the greater value comes in understanding that there is a particular theological theme that is emphasized and directed toward our generation.
To be able to discern this theology of God, requires a very thorough understanding of prophecy and it's meaning.
I'm not speaking of discerning christian principles, which for our particular generation, was something God knew for the truly righteous, would be a given to naturally understand these principles. But rather reveal to us a very specific plan by which those few elect servants would be called to prepare the way for christ.
Just as a certain group known as the Essenses during the time of Christ, where a chosen group of saints led by John the Baptist to "prepare the way".
What John & his followers did in his day was part & partial to what is soon to arise in our day...A select group of people within the Lord's Covenant who understand the Mysteries of the Kingdom and will be able to reveal the theology necessary for building the Kingdom of God upon the foundation of his church.
The scriptures contain all the understanding necessary to accomplish this task to prepare the Kingdom of God for it's coming king.
But it requires a certain man who is able to decode the mysteries encoded in the scriptures.
This is the true value of the scriptures as it applies to our generation. Without knowing there exists such a theology for prepaing the Lord's Kingdom, there exists the need for God to make this apparent to those who remain in darkness.
To know the theology in it's fullness, is to also know why so many among the Lord's Covenant people still remain in darkness concerning these things.
We must come to understand the "way" to God before He can return. There must be a contingency of initiates to the Mysteries of God for the purpose of elevating others to this level of knowledge.
This is what prophecy is teaching us as it is explained throughout all the scriptures but more specifically as it is compiled in the book of Isaih.
This is the reason Jesus and other prophets place so much emphasis on his words. They are "specific" to our knowledge we need to acquire in order to prepare the world for the return of the Saviour.
This "new revelation" to come concerning it's proper discernment, will be initiated when God calls upon another as he did Joseph Smith, to finish what Joseph began.
The timing of this pivitol event is contingent on a great number of factors that must come into alignment on a certain day. A "fixed day" in time on the Lord's perpetual calendar revealed to Moses.
The revelation of the Mysteries are only hidden from the eyes of those who spiritually sleep and must be awakened as the parable of the 10 Virgins imply. And the parable says that initially all 10 Virgins are asleep.
The cry that goes out to awake them is performed by one man. The man whom God will use to wake us up.
The scriptures now in our possession contain all the knowledge necessary to understand the mysteries. Even the Old Testament alone contains all the mysteries.
Yet further books of knowledge must be brought forth to those who are having a hard time getting the "punch line" so to speak, because they have been distracted from really hearing the message God has clearly given his covenant people.
When it comes to scripture and it's particular relevance to our generation, very few members have understood their intended relevance.
The initial portion of God's Plan was to lay the foundation upon which His Kingdom would be built.
The foundation has been layed but has been idley awaiting having the walls of the Kingdom erected upon it's base. And knowing the scriptures intended purpose for us, explains why that is happening while all 10 Vrgins sleep and must soon be awakened by the man God will send to wake them.
"Great are the words of Isaiah". To not understand their meaning is to not understand God's will & intentions & plans for this generation and is the cause for His delay in coming...We have yet to prepare the "way" for Him to do that.
We are causing it. But soon Heavenly Father will interrupt our pause, for if He doesn't, the Kingdom will forever remain only an empty foundation hardly suitable as a home for us or God.