Keep Rexburg Real: December 2010

This is my unedited final for my FDREL121 Book of Mormon class. The teacher proposed the question- which five chapters of the Book of Mormon would you smuggle into a country that did not know the Goespel.

Which five chapters of the Book of Mormon would I smuggle into a country?

Amon and Aaron successfully converted two of the most powerful men amongst the Lamanites. They served. Gained the men’s confidence and then on teaching the basic form of God, they did “expound” the “scriptures from the creation of Adam, laying the fall before him, and their carnal state and also the plan of redemption . . . through the Christ, for all whosoever would believe on his name (Alma 22:13).” Both of the Kings experienced miraculous conversions after hearing these words.

If one were to select the five chapters of the first half of the Book of Mormon to be smuggled into another country, it would be prudent to choose the five that best illuminate these key principles necessary for conversion. All else will follow through revelation from the Holy Spirit. The atonement of Jesus Christ is at the center of our religion, all other things are just appendages. Understanding of prophets, the gift of the Holy Ghost, church organization, divinity of government, etc. - will come with time.

I will discuss five chapters and their principle roles in conversion. They are:

Mosiah 3. The Atonement and Christ
2 Nephi 2. The necessity. The Creation and the Fall
2 Nephi 9. The blessings. The After-life
2 Nephi 31. The application. Gospel principles
Enos 1. The example. True Conversion

The Atonement

It cannot be repeated to many times: the atonement of Christ is the center of our religion and all revelation. A pure knowledge of the Atonement is necessary for salvation. King Benjamin explains in comprehensive detail the atonement from beginning to end in Mosiah 3: 5-10. King Benjamin prophesies the “Lord Omnipotent... shall come down from heaven among the children of men, and shall dwell in a tabernacle of clay . . . working miracles (5),” and “he shall suffer . . . even more than man can suffer, except it be unto death . . . for the wickedness and abominations of the people (7). And he shall raise on the third day . . . and he standeth to judge the world” and “all these things are done that a righteous judgment might come upon the children of men (10).” He then explains the innocence of the ignorant, and the dire repentance of those sinned in knowledge. “And he shall be called Jesus Christ, the Son of God (8).”

These words were given to King Benjamin by an angel, and as the King rehearsed them to the people, they had the power to bring a conversion into their hearts along with the spirit, even so that they covenanted with the Lord. I hope that these words, expressed so clearly, would have the same power on all who hear them with a open heart. This is christianity.

The Necessity

For the full necessity of this great Atonement to be realized two previous events must be understood in their proper relevance: the creation and the fall. These are best explained by the prophet Lehi in 2 Nephi 2: 14- 25. Here Lehi gives a sweeping description of creation and the fall, and enlightens its cosmic relevance. God “hath created all things (14)” including “our first parents (15),” Adam and Eve, but “that old serpent” tempted them (18) and “after Adam and Eve had partaken of the forbidden fruit, they were driven out of the garden of Eden (19).” Lehi does not let this stand alone, he adds “Adam fell that men might be; and men are, that they might have joy (25),” for if Adam had not transgressed “all things which were created must have remained in the same state (22). . . and they would have had no children; wherefore they would have remained in a state of innocence, having no joy, for they knew no misery; doing no good, for they knew no sin (23).”

The Atonement came out of necessity from the fall of man. Lehi explains this to us, but these are just half the blessings.

The Blessings

For the blessings of the Atonement to be appreciated, the after-life events must be recognized. The prophet Jacob expertly explains the benefits of the Atonement by first laying out the two deaths, the spiritual and physical, and then explaining how they may be done away with in the final judgment and resurrection through Christ. He shows the paradox that if we had not Christ we would stay in the state of death forever and become angels to the devil.

“O how great the goodness of our God (10),” for the first death “which is temporal, shall deliver up its dead (11),” and the spiritual death “shall deliver up its dead (12),” and “the spirit and the body” shall be “restored to itself again (13).” “How great his condescensions unto the children of men (53),” “let your hearts rejoice (52). ”

Jacob summarizes the blessings of the Atonement, and gives us more reason to rejoice.

The Application

With the relevance of the Atonement being founded, the proper application of this miracle must be demonstrated. Nephi embraces the fulness of the gospel and its principles in 2 Nephi 31. Nephi spends the chapters leading up to this point building up our faith, and then cites the Father: “repent ye, repent ye (11).” And the Son: “he that is baptized in my name, to him will the Father give the Holy Ghost (12).” And again the Father: “He that endureth to the end, the same shall be saved (16).” He finally expounds on the principle of endure to the end: “Wherefore, ye must press forward with a steadfastness in Christ, having a perfect brightness of hope and a love of God and of all men. Wherefore, if ye shall press forward, feasting upon the word of Christ, and endure to the end, behold, thus saith the Father: Ye shall have eternal life (20).”

Nephi explains in full detail all we need to do to partake in the atonement, and Enos then gives us an illustration of this.

The Example

I read various Pulitzer Prize winning articles a few weeks ago. One of them dealt with a grand issue, in a grand way. It illustrated a controversial war on a large, mass scale. It confused me, and I was not moved by it. Others also handled grand issues, but on an individual scale. Those moved me. I could relate with the individual- it was something I knew, with which I was familiar.

The conversion of the people in the first five chapters of Mosiah is epic. The conversion of the Anti-Nephi-Lehites is marvelous. But nothing compares with the supremely intimate prayer and whole-hearted conversion of Enos, the individual. Again it is comprehensive. Enos knelt in the woods. He prayed. He prayed some more. He received forgiveness. “Lord, how is it done?” he asked. “Because of thy faith in Christ,” Lord responded. Rarely have words seemed so beautiful to my soul. Then Enos did not sit on his laurels, he prayed for his family the nephites, and also for his brethren the Lamanites, desiring their welfare and that they be forgiven. After this, above all, he went “testifying of the things I had heard and seen,” for all his days. This is wonderful. What better example for a recent-convert to follow? Enos was fully converted.

Conclusion

The Christmas season is upon us. In many places the world is white. Where I am from, its wet. I have no intentions of smuggling chapters of the Book of Mormon into any country. But we can take these truths and smuggle them into the hearts of the children of men. Tis the season to be giving. And what better gift to give than the greatest gift that was ever given: the Atonement of Jesus Christ and a knowledge of it. We may all be saved by the grace and mercy of Jesus the Christ. And I pray we may let the world know.

“Come my brethren, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters; and he that hath no money, come buy and eat; yea come buy wine and milk without money and without price.

Wherefore, do not spend money for that which is of no worth, nor your labor for that which cannot satisfy.”

the Nephite Prophet Jacob.

"$1,000, lets play auction. Do I have $1,000?" An unseen man raises his numbered wood. "I have $1,000, do I have $1,100? Bid $1,100."

The bids escalated quickly, a volley between this man and that, then that woman and this. It soon reached $15,275.

"Going once, twice, sold to...."

The item? A fine ohio stichwork sampler, silk on linen, prominent grape vine borders flank alphabets set over a two-story house and palm trees. Framed. By Hannah Scudder, 1836. $15,275.

Garth's Auctioneers & Appraisers auction house is not in Rexburg. It's in Delaware, Ohio, a few minutes north from Columbus. Dealing in antiques since 1954, it employs more certified appraisers than any other firm in the Midwest, and Garth's prides itself on being America's most trusted auction house and full-service firm. Dependable. Honest. Results. Is its truly american motto. And it's just up the road from my grandparents house.

Located in the Stratford historical area of Delaware, the tip of its property is to be sold and will home a new gasoline station, designed to blend in with local era architecture.

I enter in through a small door cut into the flank of the massive barn. The lighting is dim, and the smell damp as we make our way under low hanging rafters. The hulking boards are all hand hewn. The people are of all sorts, I note; some wear fine cardigans, trousers and oxfords, matching the part of antique collectors. Others straggle in the back in hoodies and snow boots suitable for the construction yard. The hall is lined with very expensive "old things." All bid alike. The auctioneer is nicely dressed and beautiful. She speaks in that classic auctioneer tone, and taps her mallet on the podium. You know how it is. You have seen it in the movies. A man on the platform brings up the next item.

These items on auction have been gathering interest for the last forty years. They are now open to the world as people gather from roughly ten different states, call in on telephones, and follow along on-line. This is Garth's Annual Thanksgiving Auction. It is also Black Friday.

While others are out buying big screens for 90% off at Walmart (funding the destruction of the world), these people gather and place bids on these valued antique items. Many buy at a premium price without hope for resale, capturing them for their own prized collections. Big screen? Who needs a big screen when you can have a Massachusetts Fire Bucket? Don't expect any bargains, however, this bucket went for $2,350.

So celebrate Christmas with a little class this year, and go old fashioned. Get your kids something that means something.