#23 FEBRUARY 10-16, 2 NEPHI 6-10

February 15, 2020

#23 FEBRUARY 10-16, 2 NEPHI 6-10

Introduction

            It’s been over 40 years since Lehi and his family left Jerusalem and nearly 30 years or more since they landed in the promised land. Lehi and (presumably) Sariah have long since passed away. The family has been split apart for probably 20 years or more. Nephi is in his late 50s or early 60s. His older brothers as well as Zoram and their wives are even older than he is. The Nephites and Lamanites have already had wars between them. It is probably the 3^rd and 4^th generations that are fighting, the grandchildren and great grandchildren of Lehi and Sariah and of Ishmael and his wife. Nephi knows that he won’t be alive to lead his people for much longer. As commanded (Nephi is always obedient!), he is writing on his Small Plates. After telling of how he led his faithful followers to safety after the death of his father and how they established a righteous colony in the Land of Nephi, including the building of a temple, Nephi is now up-to-date in his history. To this point on the Small Plates, Nephi has been writing about things in the past. He has covered over 40 years of history for him and his family. For the remainder of his writing on the Small Plates, Nephi will devote himself to doctrine and prophecy. We would need his Large Plates to get any more history from Nephi. Someday, maybe!

            A good friend and student of the Book of Mormon, Merrill Norman, pointed out to me in conversation recently something interesting in this regard. The phrase “it came to pass”, which is an English translation of the Hebrew word wayehi, often used in the Bible to connect two ideas or events, is also used frequently in the Book of Mormon by its different authors to indicate a passage of time between events or thoughts in the record. If I’ve counted correctly, Nephi uses the phrase “it came to pass” 214 times to this point in the Small Plates, i.e. through 2 Nephi chapter 5. He has been writing about the past during all that time. Interestingly, the phrase only occurs once more in the book of Second Nephi, in chapter 17 where Nephi is quoting Isaiah. This makes sense! Nephi is now up-to-date in his record and is current to the time that he is writing on the Small Plates. The remainder of what he will write on these plates will be in “real time”, i.e. contemporaneously with the time in which he is living, so there is no need to use the phrase “it came to pass” to indicate a passage of time. It may be a small thing, but you have to wonder how did Joseph Smith know to stop using the term “it came to pass” at this point in the record after using it literally hundreds of times just since the beginning of the writings of Nephi? It’s hard to believe that just happened or that he figured it out “on the fly” as he was translating more than 10 pages of the Book of Mormon per day. This is just one of many internal evidences of the truth and authenticity of the Book of Mormon. (By the way, as you might predict, the phrase “it came to pass” is not found at all in the Book of Moroni, which was written by Moroni contemporaneously 20 years after he originally buried the plates and thought that his record was finished. Like Nephi, he has finished his historical account at that point and adds only doctrine, exhortation and testimony.)

            The remainder of Nephi’s writings on the Small Plates is divided into three sections: (1) Jacob’s two-day sermon at the temple (chapters 6-10); (2) Quoting Isaiah from the Plates of Brass (chapters 12-24); and (3) Comments on the words of Isaiah as well as teaching, exhortation and testimony of his own (chapters 25-33). The chapters for this week’s Come, Follow Me reading are the 5 chapters that tell of Jacob’s powerful sermon.

Why does Nephi quote his younger brother Jacob?

            Nephi is the prophet and leader of the people of Nephi. He is a powerful writer (despite his feelings of weakness in writing). Making plates is not easy and writing on them is difficult. So why does Nephi take the time and give precious room on the plates to write the words of his younger brother, Jacob? Interesting question! Here are four possible answers:

            First, Jacob is now a prophet in his own right. He has seen the Lord, has been taught by angels and has been consecrated a priest and teacher by his brother Nephi. He has plenty to share.

            Second, Jacob gives an incredibly powerful sermon. He talks, among other things, of the scattering and gathering of Israel and the first and second coming of the Messiah. Both of these subjects are important to Nephi, who has already written about these things on the Small Plates and taught his family about them. So Jacob’s words resonate with Nephi – a second witness of what he has already written and taught.

            Third, Jacob introduces some powerful teachings about the Atonement of Jesus Christ in this sermon. I think Nephi sees the value of those teachings and wants them in his record. Nephi and other prophets will build on what Jacob says.

            Fourth, perhaps because Nephi loves his young brother and is proud of him. Nephi knows what it feels like to be despised by his older brothers. He doesn’t want Jacob to have that feeling, but instead to feel loved and supported by his older brother Nephi.

Book of Mormon video

            The nearly 8-minute Book of Mormon video for these five chapters is very interesting. Nephi is considerably older with graying hair. Even his wife looks older, but she wouldn’t appreciate my pointing that out. Jacob is now a grown man with some gray in his beard. He is teaching on the steps of the temple. I’ve always thought of Jacob as stern and scary, but, in the video, he has a warm smile (partially obscured by his beard) and he is really tender with a young child who comes up to him while he is speaking. Missing from his audience are Laman, Lemuel and the sons of Ishmael who were there in early videos as Lehi and Nephi tried to teach their family. They were always cynical and disbelieving, rolling their eyes and looking away, but this audience is supportive and engaged. Teachers and leaders know that they are limited in what they can teach by the faith and willingness to learn of their audience. Jacob has a receptive audience for this sermon, so he can teach profound doctrines. A young woman asks how our flesh can waste away and yet we will see God in the flesh. Jacob demonstrates the concept of the resurrection by removing his outer cloak and laying it on the ground, as if it were his dead body, and then taking it up again. It is quite dramatic! He teaches well. And Nephi is standing behind him nodding approvingly. They are a good pair of prophets and brothers! The video is definitely worth seeing.

2 Nephi Chapter 6

Jacob held the Melchizedek Priesthood

            Nephi is writing the words of a sermon given by Jacob. After one verse of introduction, Jacob speaks in the first person. He says, I, Jacob, having been called of God, and ordained after the manner of his holy order (v. 2). What is that holy order? We learn from the Doctrine and Covenants that, before the days of Melchizedek, the priesthood was called the Holy Priesthood, after the Order of the Son of God. But out of respect or reverence to the name of the Supreme Being, to avoid the too frequent repetition of his name, they, the church, in ancient days, called that priesthood after Melchizedek, or the Melchizedek Priesthood (D&C 107:3-4, emphasis added). The “holy order” to which Jacob has been called is the Melchizedek Priesthood.

Pres. Joseph Fielding Smith wrote,

The Nephites did not officiate under the authority of the Aaronic Priesthood. They were not descendants of Aaron, and there were no Levites among them. There is no evidence in the Book of Mormon that they held the Aaronic Priesthood until after the ministry of the resurrected Lord among them, but the Book of Mormon tells us definitely, in many places, that the priesthood which they held and under which they officiated was the Priesthood after the holy order, the order of the Son of God. This higher priesthood can officiate in every ordinance of the gospel, and Jacob and Joseph, for instance, were consecrated priests and teachers after this order.   (Doctrines of Salvation, 3:86)

Nephi is now king

            Referring to his ordination by Nephi, Jacob says he has been consecrated by my brother Nephi, unto whom ye look as a king or a protector (v. 2). Nephi is now king over the people. Even though he is modest in his record and never refers to himself as king, that’s what he is. Prophecy has been fulfilled. He is a ruler and teacher of his people. Jacob will teach the words which Nephi has instructed him to teach. He will also teach the words of his father, Lehi. Some have suggested that the sermon which Jacob will now give is a “coronation sermon”, i.e. given at the time when Nephi was crowned. Or, more likely, it may have been given on an anniversary of the coronation. 9

Jacob will quote Isaiah

            Isaiah’s words are instructive and timeless. So Jacob, with the encouragement of Nephi, will teach his people from Isaiah. His rationale is thus:

I would speak unto you concerning things which are, and which are to come; wherefore, I will read you the words of Isaiah. And they are the words which my brother has desired that I should speak unto you. And I speak unto you for your sakes, that ye may learn and glorify the name of your God. And now, the words which I shall read are they which Isaiah spake concerning all the house of Israel; wherefore, they may be likened unto you, for ye are of the house of Israel. And there are many things which have been spoken by Isaiah which may be likened unto you, because ye are of the house of Israel (v. 4-5).

Jacob only reads two verses from Isaiah (49:22-23) at this point in his sermon and then spends the rest of the chapter explaining them. These verses are familiar to us because Nephi quoted them in 1 Nephi chapter 21 and then commented on them in the next chapter. Isaiah quotes the words of the Lord:

Thus saith the Lord God: Behold, I will lift up mine hand to the Gentiles, and set up my standard to the people; and they shall bring thy sons in their arms, and thy daughters shall be carried upon their shoulders. And kings shall be thy nursing fathers, and their queens thy nursing mothers; they shall bow down to thee with their faces towards the earth, and lick up the dust of thy feet; and thou shalt know that I am the Lord; for they shall not be ashamed that wait for me (vs. 6-7).

We should be familiar with these words and what they refer to by now. Jacob proceeds for the remainder of the chapter to speak, as did his father Lehi and his brother Nephi before him (no wonder Nephi likes this sermon!), of the scattering of Israel, of how the children of Lehi are a branch that is broken off, of the mission of the Messiah, of the role of the Gentiles in gathering Israel and how the Messiah will:

set himself again the second time to recover them; wherefore, he will manifest himself unto them in power and great glory, unto the destruction of their enemies, when that day cometh when they shall believe in him; and none will he destroy that believe in him. And they that believe not in him shall be destroyed, both by fire, and by tempest, and by earthquakes, and by bloodsheds, and by pestilence, and by famine. And they shall know that the Lord is God, the Holy One of Israel.  . . . for the Mighty God shall deliver his covenant people. For thus saith the Lord: I will contend with them that contendeth with thee— and all flesh shall know that I the Lord am thy Savior and thy Redeemer, the Mighty One of Jacob. (vs. 14-15, 17-18)

The People of the Lord

Jacob gives an interesting definition of “the people of the Lord.” . . . the people of the Lord are they who wait for him; for they still wait for the coming of the Messiah. In the days of Jacob and Nephi, to wait for the coming of the Messiah referred to His first coming which was prophesied to be 600 years after Lehi and his family left Jerusalem. At the time Jacob is speaking, the coming of the Messiah is still about 550 years away. So waiting meant to keep the laws, ordinances and covenants of the Law of Moses until the One who gave the law comes to fulfill the law. What does it mean in our day to “wait for the coming of the Messiah”? I think it is the same as for the children of Israel before His first coming except that we don’t keep the Law of Moses as we wait. Instead we live the Doctrine of Christ, which Nephi will go on to explain in some of his last chapters, and strive to keep all the principles and commandments of the Restored Gospel. We believe that we are closer to the Savior’s Second Coming than these Nephites were to His First Coming, but maybe not. Regardless, we watch for Him and hope to be found standing in “holy places” when He comes. But my disciples shall stand in holy places, and shall not be moved; (D&C 45:32). We will take our stand in “holy places” – our homes, our chapels, our temples – and we will make everywhere that we “stand” holy by our obedience to the laws and ordinances of the gospel and by our love of others and service to them.

Chapters 7 & 8, quoting Isaiah 50 and 51

             In chapter 7, Isaiah speaks as if he were the Messiah. Notice that the Lord speaks through Isaiah in the first person. I gave my back to the smiter, and my cheeks to them that plucked off the hair. I hid not my face from shame and spitting (v. 6) It’s interesting how obscure passages, several of them in chapters of Isaiah which we will read in next week’s reading assignment, preserve important understanding of the mission of the Savior, understanding which might have otherwise been lost by careless or malicious translation of the Bible if the passages were more obvious. The Lord has hidden, as it were, nuggets of truth and understanding about His mission scattered through the Old Testament. If you want to read a whole book on this subject, I recommend The Hidden Christ: Beneath the Surface of the Old Testament by James L. Ferrell. It is very good! Some of you may have read The Peacegiver and enjoyed it. This is the same author. In fact, Bro. Ferrell wrote The Hidden Christ before he wrote The Peacegiver and it was inspiration for the later book, even though The Peacegiver was published first.

            In chapter 8, Isaiah speaks of the Lord gathering Israel and redeeming Zion.

Therefore, the redeemed of the Lord shall return, and come with singing unto Zion; and everlasting joy and holiness shall be upon their heads; and they shall obtain gladness and joy; sorrow and mourning shall flee away. I am he; yea, I am he that comforteth you (vs. 11-12).

Chapter 9

            Jacob concludes the first day of his sermon with chapter 9. It is a long chapter (54 verses!) and is doctrinally saturated. As an indication of how much doctrine is in this chapter, I’ll give you one small piece of trivia. If you look through the latest printed copy of the Book of Mormon and look for the page with the most footnotes at the bottom, meaning that the horizontal line separating the text from the footnotes is the farthest up on the page, that page is in the middle of this chapter, this sermon by Jacob. The material is so doctrinally dense that there are more footnotes (connections) per page to other places in the scriptures in this chapter than any other chapter in the Book of Mormon. It’s no surprise that there is way too much to hope to write about here. I’ll make just a few comments.

An Infinite Atonement

            Remember the words of Lehi to Jacob in 2 Nephi chapter 2? Of course you do! Well, Jacob remembers, too! Those words of his father had great impact on him and still ring in his ears. So Jacob, like his father, speaks of the Fall, the Resurrection and the Atonement. Jacob uses a phrase that is found only one other place in the scriptures. He speaks of an Infinite Atonement (v. 7). He uses that term twice in this verse. (The only other place in the scriptures where you will find that term is in the words of Amulek, a former less-active church member now missionary companion of Alma the Younger, while speaking to the poor among the Zoramites. (Alma 34:12).)

            The Book of Mormon is the “handbook of the Atonement.” There is no book, scripture or otherwise, that compares with the Book of Mormon in giving understanding to and application of the atonement of Jesus Christ. And this chapter, this sermon by Jacob, is one of the most helpful places in the Book of Mormon to learn about the atonement.

            In what ways is the Atonement infinite? The Millet and McConkie Commentary lists the following ways in which the Atonement is infinite:

First, it is infinite in the sense that it is timeless—embracing past, present, and future.

Second, the atonement of Jesus Christ is infinite in the sense that it conquers the most universal reality in mortal existence—death.

Third, the Atonement is infinite in that it encompasses all the worlds Christ created.

Fourth, the atonement of Jesus Christ is infinite because Christ himself is an infinite being.

I would add that the Atonement of Jesus Christ is not only infinite on the “horizontal axis”, i.e. in time, space and numbers of persons affected by it. But the Atonement is also infinite on the “vertical axis”, i.e. in its depth in each of our lives personally and intimately. Because The Son of Man hath descended below them all (D&C 122:8), there is no depth to which we can descend that is below the experience of Christ or that He has not personally overcome. He is there for us in all of our trials because He has already experienced and overcome them for us.

My cousin and respected former Church leader, Tad Callister, has written a classic text about the Atonement of Jesus Christ, The Infinite Atonement. It is one of the foundational books by Church leaders of our dispensation. I believe it should be read by every church member who wants to better understand and appreciate the scope and depth of the atonement. Tad has 8 chapters in his book on the ways in which the Atonement is infinite and examining them each in depth. If not this year while you are spending a lot of time in the Book of Mormon and all the resources available for understanding it, sometime you have got to read The Infinite Atonement, if you haven’t already. It is available in print or e-book versions or as an audio book read by the author.

O how great the goodness of our God!

            Jacob now launches into a profound treatise of the infinite wisdom, grace, mercy, knowledge and goodness of our God. He begins each new thought with a parallel exclamation O how … or O the … . Here is a headline list of this series of parallel exclamations:

            O the wisdom of God, his mercy and grace! (v. 8)

            O how great the goodness of our God! (v. 10)

            O how great the plan of our God! (v. 13)

            O the greatness and the justice of our God! (v. 17)

            O the greatness of the mercy of our God, the Holy One of Israel! (v. 19)

            O how great the holiness of our God! (v. 20)

            After each “headline” follows profound doctrine. I highly recommend a careful reading of this section of verses. These verses and Jacob’s parallel exclamations prompted me to write a “psalm” several years ago. I’ll share that with you at the end of this blog. See below.

           

Woes pronounced

            After teaching of the greatness and goodness of God, Jacob uses a similar parallel construction in pronouncing the woes that will befall on those who fall prey to that cunning plan of the evil one! O the vainness, and the frailties, and the foolishness of men! (v. 28)

            Wo unto him . . . that wasteth the days of his probation!

            Wo unto the deaf that will not hear!

            Wo unto the blind that will not see!

            Wo unto the uncircumcised of heart!

            Wo unto the liar!

            Wo unto the murderer!

            Wo unto them who commit whoredoms!

            Wo unto those that worship idols!

            Wo unto all those who die in their sins (vs. 27-38)

            These ten warnings have a parallel in the Ten Commandments given to Moses on Mt. Sinai. If you want to learn more about that, here is a link from Book of Mormon Central: https://archive.bookofmormoncentral.org/content/jacobs-ten-woes-and-ten-commandments

           

Who is the “Keeper of the Gate”?

            In traditional secular Christianity, Peter is the keeper of the gate of heaven. Maybe that is because of the statement of Christ to Peter in Matt 16:18-19 Thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: The notion that Peter is the keeper of the gate is an incorrect understanding of this statement by the Savior to Peter. But that is a discussion for another day.

            Jacob tells us who is the keeper of the gate of heaven in these words:

. . . come unto the Lord, the Holy One. Remember that his paths are righteous. Behold, the way for man is narrow, but it lieth in a straight course before him, and the keeper of the gate is the Holy One of Israel; and he employeth no servant there; and there is none other way save it be by the gate; for he cannot be deceived, for the Lord God is his name. And whoso knocketh, to him will he open; and the wise, and the learned, and they that are rich, who are puffed up because of their learning, and their wisdom, and their riches—yea, they are they whom he despiseth; and save they shall cast these things away, and consider themselves fools before God, and come down in the depths of humility, he will not open unto them (vs. 41-42).

Christ is the keeper of the gate of heaven. He said to His apostle Thomas, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me (John 14:6). There is no other way into heaven and back into the presence of our heavenly parents than through Christ. (In holy places, we symbolically enter the presence of our Father in Heaven through a veil which represents Christ. See Hebrews 10:19-20). He is our judge but also our Advocate. We will all be found unworthy, coming up short when we arrive at the gate, the judgment bar of Christ. None of us is perfect and none of us can earn our way into heaven. So when we get to the gate, we will be unworthy to enter and would be turned away, if not for Him. But for those of us who have done our best to stay in the covenant relationship with Him by trying to keep the commandments, repenting daily because none of us, despite our best efforts, can live even a single day without regrets, having been baptized by one with proper authority, having done our best to receive the Holy Ghost and follow His promptings and striving daily to endure cheerfully with a perfect brightness of hope (2 Nephi 31:20), the Savior will step in and apply His atoning blood in our behalf and we will become worthy, not because of our own actions but because of His goodness, mercy and perfection. He will claim of the Father his rights of mercy (Moroni 7:27) in our behalf and we will enter heaven. It is as if we went to court to pay a fine but didn’t have the money to pay the penalty. So the kindly judge opens his wallet and pays our fine so we can go free. He then pronounces the debt discharged; we are judged not guilty and are released. In our case, Christ, the Holy One of Israel, is judge, jury and the One who pays our fine so we can go free (satisfies the Law of Justice) and we enter heaven. That’s why only He, the perfect judge, the One who paid the price in full, our Advocate with the Father, can be the keeper of the gate and that’s why He employeth no servant there. No one else could do for us what He will do when we get there. No wonder, we “stand all amazed” at the love Jesus offers us!

            Jacob has been speaking for four chapters. He tells the people I would speak unto you more; but on the morrow I will declare unto you the remainder of my words. He needs a rest and so do the people. Little does he know that an angel will visit him this night and tell him important things to share with the people the next day. Sometimes a church leader, based on the experience of the first day of a conference, such as a stake conference or a mission tour, or the impressions that come over night, will significantly change what they give to the people the next day. That’s how revelation works.

Chapter 10

            Though only half as long as chapter 9 which precedes it, chapter 10, the second day of Jacob’s sermon to his people, is equally saturated in doctrine. We only have time to consider a small portion.

His name will be Christ

            Overnight Jacob is visited by an angel who declares to him that the name of the Holy One of Israel who will come shall be Christ. Amazing! More than 5 centuries before the Savior comes, an angel tells Jacob that His name shall be Christ. It’s interesting to wonder what the name was that the angel gave to Jacob which was recorded on the plates and translated into English by Joseph Smith as Christ. Christ means “anointed one” as does Messiah. Both mean the same thing, but one is Greek and the other is Hebrew. Did the angel give Jacob the Greek name for “the anointed one”? Or did Joseph Smith, translating “by the gift and power of God” chose the name Christ to represent what was on the plates? For me, it’s a fascinating question and further evidence of the truth of the Book of Mormon.

            Not surprisingly, the name Christ is not found in the text of the Old Testament. It is found in several chapter summaries, but no where in the text. Was it once there and removed during the translation and transcription process? We don’t know. But the name Christ is found 118 times in the Book of Mormon (some of them in the chapter summaries but most of them in the text) and this is the first instance where it is found. From now on through the Book of Mormon, the name Christ will be frequently used to refer to the Messiah, the Son of God, who will come. And it will be used while He ministers to the people and after His ministry. Truly, the Book of Mormon is “Another Testament of Jesus Christ.”

“I will fulfil my promises which I have made unto the children of men”

            Jacob goes on for the remainder of this sermon to intermix the words of the angel with direct quotes from the Lord and with his own words in showing how Christ will fulfill His promises to the house of Israel, including to those who are upon the isles of the sea (v. 21). That is where Jacob and his people believe they are, on an island of the sea. Little do they know that this “isle” is actually two continents! They are not the only branch broken off from the house of Israel who have been led away. The Lord God has led away from time to time from the house of Israel, according to his will and pleasure. And now behold, the Lord remembereth all them who have been broken off, wherefore he remembereth us also (v. 22). Someday we will have the records of the others who have been led away. Jacob will revisit this theme in his own book when he recounts in chapter 5 the Zenos allegory of the Olive Tree and how the Lord of the vineyard and His servant transplanted branches of the olive tree in multiple far away places to preserve the tree.

Cheer up your hearts

            Hearkening back to the words of his father, Lehi, Jacob concludes with this admonition:

Therefore, cheer up your hearts, and remember that ye are free to act for yourselves—to choose the way of everlasting death or the way of eternal life. Wherefore, my beloved brethren, reconcile yourselves to the will of God, and not to the will of the devil and the flesh; and remember, after ye are reconciled unto God, that it is only in and through the grace of God that ye are saved (vs. 23-24).

His final blessing and prayer on his people is:

May God raise you from death by the power of the resurrection, and also from everlasting death by the power of the atonement, that ye may be received into the eternal kingdom of God, that ye may praise him through grace divine. Amen.

What a remarkable sermon! What an amazing prophet! How blessed we are to have his words preserved for us. Thank you, Jacob! And thank you, Nephi! Lord bless you both!

O the goodness of our God

            When teaching these chapters in a gospel doctrine class in our home ward (the Salt Lake Holladay 3^rd Ward) in 2004, I was inspired by the parallel exclamations of Jacob in proclaiming the goodness of God and so I wrote a poem (of sorts). I’m not a poet and not very artful, but it was a way for me to give expression to my feelings of love and gratitude. At that time, I gave it the title “A Psalm of Grateful Praise”, but I have since learned that this does not follow the proper pattern of a true psalm, so instead I will call it, O the Goodness of our God!

O the greatness of our Father!

            Who, loving His children and desiring our eternal joy,

            Set forth the Plan of Happiness and Salvation,

            That we may return to be with Him and dwell in Eternal lives!

O the goodness of our Savior!

            Who, offering Himself a sinless sacrifice to put into effect the Father’s Plan,

            Was perfectly obedient to the will of His Father,

            Including the shedding of His righteous blood and the giving of His sinless life!

O the blessing of the Gift of the Holy Ghost!

            The third divine member of the Eternal Presidency of Heaven,

            Who is our constant companion in the Spirit as we walk by faith in this life,

            To guide, protect and comfort us and to bring us to the Savior!

O the wonder of the Creation!

            Eternal elements organized during divinely-directed creative periods,

            Giving them form, order, purpose and beauty,

            Providing a lovely Earthly home for the children of God!

O the wisdom of the Fall!

            Obedient son and daughter of God

            Honor their foreordained parental mission

            And make possible the mortality and progression of their family!

O the miracle of the Resurrection!

            That we will rise from the grave, after a season in the world of spirits,

            Tabernacled forever in perfectly restored bodies

            Of immortal flesh and Celestial glory!

O the mercy and grace of the Atonement of Christ!

            That our follies, weaknesses and sins may be compensated and forgiven,

            Enabling us to be justified and sanctified, becoming worthy to stand again

            In the presence of the Father, the Son and the Holy Ghost and to live with Them forever!

O the greatness, the wisdom, the power, the mercy and the love of our Eternal Father!

            Praise be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Ghost – now and forever!

            Hallelujah! All God’s children, praise ye the Lord!

            Amen and Amen!

Richard S. Boyer

April 18, 2004

Thanks for reading!

Richard