Day 45; Third Nephi 5-8
I am tackling the Book of Mormon in 60 days. My plan is to have the Book of Mormon studied by the end of 2011. During my challenge, I will post a daily blog of my reading, in this blog I will share with you... my thoughts, feelings, opinions and knowledge about the Book of Mormon. Do you have questions? Comments? Please... lets start a discussion. I would be more than happy to answer your questions, comments or concerns!
Request a FREE copy of the Book of Mormon: http://mormon.org/free-book-of
How the Book of Mormon came about: http://youtu.be/FMQEb9A9L2g
Scripture Thought (What I Learned):
Chapter 5: The Nephites know that what has been said from prophets of old and the prophets of their time is true. They believe on Jesus Christ and repent of their sins. Mormon writes the history of his people, Mormon being a true descendent of Lehi. Mormon compiles all of the books and histories together to form one book. He tells us that only a fraction of what has actually gone on among his people is included in the books that we have read so far. The records/histories are too large to include in the book that will later be known after Mormon, as the Book of Mormon. Mormon declares that God will gather his people together in the last days, and that the seed of Jacob will be gathered in from all the earth.
Chapter 6: 26 years after the birth of Jesus Christ and after the time that the Nephites had gathered together to unite against the robbers... they disperse to their own lands. They continue to farm and establish many new cities, highways, roads etc. They become a great civilization, and much peace is throughout the land. But as we have learned, the devil is always working... and within about 3 years he starts contentions among the people. People start to sin and do all sorts of evils.
But "...they did not sin ignorantly, for they knew the will of God..." (Third Nephi 6:18)
Prophets cry repentance unto the people, and many of them are murdered. Those who murdered the prophets conspire to take over the government and establish kings again throughout the land.
Chapter 7: The Chief Judge of the Land, Lachoneus (the son of Lachoneus) is murdered and the government is overthrown by those who had murdered the prophets. The people divide into tribes, consisting of their families, and close friends. Jacob, who is an antichrist becomes the King of a group or "League" of Tribes. Nephi goes throughout the land with much power and authority preaching repentance unto the people. Angels minister unto him on a daily basis and is given the power to raise his brother from the dead (who had been stoned by the murderers who overthrew the government). He heals many people and many people are baptized and testify of his great power and authority that was given to him, from God.
We learn that baptisim should be done by water (more particularly by immersion in water), "...as a witness an a testimony before God, and unto the people, that they have repented and received a remission of their sins." (Third Nephi 7:25)
Because our baptism sort of "seals the deal" that we have repented and will continue to follow his commandments... we must be clean an pure before we can be baptized, through repentance.
Chapter 8: 34 years after the birth of Jesus Christ, the people begin to doubt all of the signs that Samuel the Lamanite had spoken of.
But in the 34th year in the first month and the fourth day in that month arose a great storm. This storm got worse and worse until it sunk cities, like the city of Moroni into the depths of the sea, a mountain formed where the city of Moronihah had been, the earth was filled with lightnings, thunderings, tempests and earthquakes.
The people begin to cry out saying "...O that we had repented before this great and terrible day, and had not killed and stoned the prophets..." (Third Nephi 8:25)
This great storm lasts for about 3 hours, and after it is finished, many people perish. The world is then covered in darkness for the space of 3 days.
