| Book of Mormon |
Annotations |
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Chapter 33
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1 And now I, Nephi, cannot write all the things which were
taught among my people; neither am I mighty in writing, like unto speaking;
for when a man speaketh by the power of the Holy Ghost the power of the Holy
Ghost carrieth it unto the hearts of the children of men.
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2 But behold, there are many that harden their hearts
against the Holy Spirit, that it hath no place in them; wherefore, they
cast many things away which are written and esteem them as things of naught.
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For example, many would cast out:
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3 But I, Nephi, have written what I have written, and I
esteem it as of great worth, and especially unto my people. For I pray
continually for them by day, and mine eyes water my pillow by night, because
of them; and I cry unto my God in faith, and I know that he will hear my cry.
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4 And I know that the Lord God will consecrate my prayers
for the gain of my people. And the words which I have written in weakness
will be made strong unto them; for it persuadeth them to do good; it maketh
known unto them of their fathers; and it speaketh of Jesus, and persuadeth
them to believe in him, and to endure to the end, which is life eternal.
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5 And it speaketh harshly against sin, according to the
plainness of the truth; wherefore, no man will be angry at the words which I
have written save he shall be of the spirit of the devil.
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The presumption is that these words are true and that God
will make this clear to all those who are not of the devil.
I’m thinking about similar rhetoric I’ve read about the
Quran or regarding teachings of the Jehovah’s Witnesses. It seems to be an
effective way to stop critical thinking about the teaching of these other
religions.
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6 I glory in plainness; I glory in truth; I glory in my
Jesus, for he hath redeemed my soul from hell.
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7 I have charity for my people, and great faith in Christ
that I shall meet many souls spotless at his judgment-seat.
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8 I have charity for the Jew—I say Jew, because I mean
them from whence I came.
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9 I also have charity for the Gentiles. But behold, for
none of these can I hope except they shall be reconciled unto Christ, and
enter into the narrow gate, and walk in the strait path which leads to life,
and continue in the path until the end of the day of probation.
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10 And now, my beloved brethren, and also Jew, and all ye
ends of the earth, hearken unto these words and believe in Christ; and if
ye believe not in these words believe in Christ. And if ye shall believe in
Christ ye will believe in these words, for they are the words of Christ,
and he hath given them unto me; and they teach all men that they should do
good.
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Really? Aren’t there millions of people who devoutly
believe in Christ who have heard of the Book of Mormon and even those who
have read the Book of Mormon who think this book is just a work of 19th
century fiction or, worse yet, a work of the devil himself?
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11 And if they are not the words of Christ, judge ye—for
Christ will show unto you, with power and great glory, that they are his
words, at the last day; and you and I shall stand face to face before his
bar; and ye shall know that I have been commanded of him to write these
things, notwithstanding my weakness.
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12 And I pray the Father in the name of Christ that many
of us, if not all, may be saved in his kingdom at that great and last day.
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13 And now, my beloved brethren, all those who are of the
house of Israel, and all ye ends of the earth, I speak unto you as the voice
of one crying from the dust: Farewell until that great day shall come.
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14 And you that will not partake of the goodness of God,
and respect the words of the Jews, and also my words, and the words which
shall proceed forth out of the mouth of the Lamb of God, behold, I bid you an
everlasting farewell, for these words shall condemn you at the last day.
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15 For what I seal on earth, shall be brought against you
at the judgment bar; for thus hath the Lord commanded me, and I must obey.
Amen.
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