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The Power of the Word

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The Power of the Word ZARAHEMLA REC lssue62 .|992 July/August The Powerof the Word by Shirl"y R. Heater T A I hile I was working on connected them with the original And now, as the preaching of the V V textual researchfor First wording of First Nephi 3:179: word had had a greater tendency u Y NephiStudy Book of to lead the peopleto do that Mormon, one particular instance And it supposethme that they have which was just; initiated a personalquest for under- come up hither to hear the Yea, it had had more powerful effect standing that is still continuing. The pleasingword of God, upon the minds of the people than wording on both the Original and Yea,the word ushichhealeth the utounded the sword or anything eise which Printer's manuscriptsfor First Nephi sor.rl[emphasis added]. had happened un.tothem, 3:779reads: Therefore,Alma thought it was This scripture describesthe expedientthat they shouldtry the Neitherwill the Lord God sufferthat solution for the condition of the virtueof theword of God. the Gentilesshall for everremain Gentiles in the passageof First in thatstate of awful woundedness, Nephi. Their state of awful Three phrasesin this verse- Whichthou beholdestthat they arein woundednesswas brought about " greatertend.ency to lead," "more becauseof the plain and most "becauseof the plain and most powerful effect" and "the virtue of preciousparts of the gospelof the preciousparts of the gospelof the the vvord"-ssspsd to convey the Lamb Lamb which hath been" taken away sameidea, i.e.,it was the powerof the Which hath been kept back by that (v. 168). Verses184-1,86 contain the word itself which would bring about abominable church, whose prophecy that thesetruths will come the change. (Sayingsomething three formation thou hast seen[empha- forth in the Book of Mormon. I saw times is a Hebraism which expresses sizedwords are restoredl. in Jacob2:8 that healing of "the the highestdegree of importance.) wounded soul" was accomplished This becameeven clearer to me The phrase "state of awful of by receiving the word of God. when I checked the definition of woundedness" was changed to Thesethoughts reminded me of "virtue": "authority, goodness, "awful state of blindness" in all two versesin Alma 16. efficacy, or power to produce effect" editions since the 1837 when the The first one is verse82. Leading (WorldBook Dictionary), as well as original wording was marked out on up to this point, Alma's heart was "miraculous power, ability, the Printer's manuscript and the sickenedbecause of the spiritual strength" etc. accordingto Strong's change written boldly above it. condition of the Zoramites who had concordance.Dunamis, the Greek My method for analyzing such separatedthemselves from the word for virtue, is the origin of our changes is to compare the original Nephites. They were not only word "dynamite," and carries the wording with the altered wording, perverting the ways of the Lord, but same meaning as the Hebrew word pondering over if and how the there was also concern that they chnyil. This is the samevirtue or meaning may have altered. About would join with the Lamanites. Alma power which went out of jesus when that time I was listening to audio determinedthat the greatestpower to people were healed (Mark 5:21,-23; tapes of the book of Jacob in my produce changewas to preachthe Luke 6:19;8:44-47). daily scripture time. When I heard word of God among the Zoramites With this understanding in mind, the words of |acob 2:8,I immediately rather than to use the sword: I was reminded of a secondverse in Cont'd on pg, 4 . , thof fhey (the remnont of the house of lsroel) moy know the covenonts of the Lord , , , Satanbhctics by Mary Lee Treat Sinceall scripture is given for our reproof and learn- We observeseveral things: ing (2 Timothy 3:1.6)the accountsof the three antichrists -|acob's accuseris a brother in the faith in the Book of Mormon-Sherem, Nehor and Korihor- -the accuseruses scripture give us valuable insights for living in today's world. -facob's defenseis a first-hand testimony: he has According to the purpose principle (everything written heard the voice of the Lord in the Book of Mormon is there for a purpose), these -by faithlacob haspower to "smite" Sherem accountsare included in the Book of Mormon by design, There is yet another "purpose" for jacob's added for our benefit, and not as "filler." account. The book of jacob is from the unabridged small plates of Nephi. Unabridged means they are the exact Sherem (Iacob 5) words of the original writers-in this case,Jacob. The puryose principle is obviousinJacoo'-s account of the Mormon added the small platesto his abridgment antidrrist, Sherem.Jacob grto a final farewell at the end of "for awise purpose" (WM 1:10)and Nephi tells us that chapter4, then adds the accountof Sheremin chapter5 with a he made this secondset of platesfor wise "purposes" secondfarewell. The purposeprinciple indicatesthatlacob (1 N 5:223-224).It seemslogical that another purpose added the accountofSherem for a purpose. for Nephi's small plates (besidesreplacing the 116pages Sheremtaught: of manuscript lost by Martin Harris) is to be a first-hand -no Christ to come witness to Jewstoday. His record is the most "|ewish" in -no Holy Spirit all the Book of Mormon becausehe had lived among -]acob was "perverting" the law of Moses fews in the Old World. |acob tells us that Sheremhad away with words (v. 6). With that in mind, Jacob'saccount of Sheremwho did It is significant that he gives us the exact words of Sherem not believe in Christ, who said it was a perversion of the in their encounter(vv.9-37). Sherembegins by flattering law of Moses,that no atonementwas needed,that there |acob, calling him "Brother |acob" and then proceedsto was no Holy Ghost power, etc.,speaks directly to jews accusehim of perverting the law of Moses and leading the today. facob is giving a powerful messageto all who do people astray. He accuses|acob of blasphemy. not believein Christ but especiallyto Jewswho believe jacob's responseis sure. He has a first-hand testimony, in the law of Moses. His messageand testimony are that becausehe has heard the voice of the Lord on more than all the prophets testified of Christ to come. one occasion. Sheremcannot sway him. The fact that |acob added this accountafter he had \{hen Jacobasks him bluntly if he denies Christ, who "finished" his record in chapter4 gives added emphasis will come, Sheremequivocates by saymg "lf there should to his message. be a Christ, I would not deny him . ." and then goeson to say that there never has been nor will there ever be a Christ. Nehor (Alma 1:3-24) This evasive responseis typical of one who "bends" In the first chapterof the book of Alma we learn of an the word of God. jacob goeson to challengeSherem's antichrist named Nehor. Alma's brief accounttells us supposed belief in the scriptures: that Nehor taught: -because God createdall men, all would be . noneof the prophetshave written, nor prophesied,save redeemedto eternallife they havespoken concerning this Christ. -priests and teachersshould be supportedbythe people Wherefore,I know if there should be no atonement made, His teachingsbecame so popular that he establisheda all mankind must be lost. |acob5:'1,9,21 church. However, a man named Gideon contendedfor the word of God againstNehor; Nehor becameangry Sheremcounters by asking for a sign "by the power of and killed Gideon. When Nehor was brought before the Holy Ghost in the which ye know so much." Alma II, the chief judge of the land, he was sentencedto jacob's responseis to say that if God should smite him it die by the laws establishedby Mosiah II. Alma said to would be a sign that he has power in heaven and earth and him in sentencinghim: a testimony that Christ would come. Immediately Sherem is struck down by the power of God. Beforehe dies Behold,this is thefirst timethat priestcraft has been introduced severaldays later, he deniesthe things he has taught and among this people . [and if it were] enforced among this confessesthe realitv of Christ and the Holv Ghost. people, it would prove their entire destruction. Alma 1,:17-18 The record then tells us that Nehor suffered an "ignomini- Korihor denied God, he would be struck dumb. ous death" after acknowledging that what he had taught was Like Sherem,Korihor equivocated, "I do not deny the contrary to the word of God. existenceof a God, but I do not believe there is a God . Mormon, the abridger, comments that Nehor's death and exceptye show me a sign, I will not believe." did not put an end to priestcraft in the land. Nephi Alma said he would have his sign: defines "priestcraft" in Second Nephi 1"1.:'1.06-'1,07: I saythat in the nameof God that ye shallbe struckdumb, . priestcrafts are that men preach and set themselvesup that ye shall no more have utterance. Alma 16:61 for a light unto the world, That they may get gain and praise of the world, When Alma finished thosewords, Korihor could not But they seeknot the welfare of Zion. 2 Nephi 11:106 speak. Alma wrote a note to him asking if he was convincedof the power of God. What can we learn from this incident? Korihor respondedthat he knew it was the power of -Nehor's insidious philosophy that all will be saved God; he knew there was a God, but Satanappeared to is very much alive today.
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