2 Nephi 26

 
1 And after Christ shall have risen from the dead he shall show himself unto you, my children, and my beloved brethren; and the words which he shall speak unto you shall be the law which ye shall do.
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2 For behold, I say unto you that I have beheld that many generations shall pass away, and there shall be great wars and contentions among my people.
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3 And after the Messiah shall come there shall be signs given unto my people of his birth, and also of his death and resurrection; and great and terrible shall that day be unto the wicked, for they shall perish; and they perish because they cast out the prophets, and the saints, and stone them, and slay them; wherefore the cry of the blood of the saints shall ascend up to God from the ground against them.
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4 Wherefore, all those who are proud, and that do wickedly, the day that cometh shall burn them up, saith the Lord of Hosts, for they shall be as stubble.
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5 And they that kill the prophets, and the saints, the depths of the earth shall swallow them up, saith the Lord of Hosts; and mountains shall cover them, and whirlwinds shall carry them away, and buildings shall fall upon them and crush them to pieces and grind them to powder.
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This verse contains highly similar elements from two separate KJV bible verses. Both this verse and Numbers 16:30 have "the earth" "swallow them up". Also this verse and Matthew 21:44 mention something that will "fall on" / "fall upon" and "grind him to powder" / "grind them to to powder".

6 And they shall be visited with thunderings, and lightnings, and earthquakes, and all manner of destructions, for the fire of the anger of the Lord shall be kindled against them, and they shall be as stubble, and the day that cometh shall consume them, saith the Lord of Hosts.
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7 O the pain, and the anguish of my soul for the loss of the slain of my people! For I, Nephi, have seen it, and it well nigh consumeth me before the presence of the Lord; but I must cry unto my God: Thy ways are just.
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8 But behold, the righteous that hearken unto the words of the prophets, and destroy them not, but look forward unto Christ with steadfastness for the signs which are given, notwithstanding all persecution--behold, they are they which shall not perish.
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9 But the Son of righteousness shall appear unto them; and he shall heal them, and they shall have peace with him, until three generations shall have passed away, and many of the fourth generation shall have passed away in righteousness.
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10 And when these things have passed away a speedy destruction cometh unto my people; for, notwithstanding the pains of my soul, I have seen it; wherefore, I know that it shall come to pass; and they sell themselves for naught; for, for the reward of their pride and their foolishness they shall reap destruction; for because they yield unto the devil and choose works of darkness rather than light, therefore they must go down to hell.
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11 For the Spirit of the Lord will not always strive with man. And when the Spirit ceaseth to strive with man then cometh speedy destruction, and this grieveth my soul.
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12 And as I spake concerning the convincing of the Jews, that Jesus is the very Christ, it must needs be that the Gentiles be convinced also that Jesus is the Christ, the Eternal God;
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2 Ne 10:3 explicitly tells us that Christ is Jesus’ name, yet here it is clearly being used as a title. The problem is that Christ is from the Greek “Christos” meaning the anointed one. Nephi would have been using the Hebrew “Messiah,” a title meaning “the anointed one.”

Also, this seems very Trinitarian, explaining “that Jesus is the Christ, the Eternal God.”

Some defend some seemingly Trinitarian Book of Mormon references as not contradicting current Mormon godhead doctrine (see The Doctrine of God the Father in the Book of Mormon), but in context of doctrine taught in the “Lectures on Faith” how sound is this defense?

From the “Lectures on Faith” that used to be in the Doctrine and Covenants until the 1921 edition: “The Father being a personage of spirit, glory, and power, possessing all perfection and fulness. The Son, who was in the bosom of the Father, is a personage of tabernacle . . . He is called the Son because of the flesh . . . He, possessing the same mind with the Father, which mind is the Holy Spirit that bears record of the Father and the Son.” “Questions and Answers for Lecture 5?

  1. Q—How many personages are there in the Godhead? A—Two: the Father and Son (Lecture 5: 1).
  2. Q—Do the Father and the Son possess the same mind? A—They do . . .
  3. Q—What is this mind? A—The Holy Spirit” (Lecture 5).
-a-bom
13 And that he manifesteth himself unto all those who believe in him, by the power of the Holy Ghost; yea, unto every nation, kindred, tongue, and people, working mighty miracles, signs, and wonders, among the children of men according to their faith.
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14 But behold, I prophesy unto you concerning the last days; concerning the days when the Lord God shall bring these things forth unto the children of men.
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15 After my seed and the seed of my brethren shall have dwindled in unbelief, and shall have been smitten by the Gentiles; yea, after the Lord God shall have camped against them round about, and shall have laid siege against them with a mount, and raised forts against them; and after they shall have been brought down low in the dust, even that they are not, yet the words of the righteous shall be written, and the prayers of the faithful shall be heard, and all those who have dwindled in unbelief shall not be forgotten.
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16 For those who shall be destroyed shall speak unto them out of the ground, and their speech shall be low out of the dust, and their voice shall be as one that hath a familiar spirit; for the Lord God will give unto him power, that he may whisper concerning them, even as it were out of the ground; and their speech shall whisper out of the dust.
Misinterpretation of Bible
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Reading this in context, I think it’s clear that “familiar spirit” has nothing to do with the occult. To the contrary, it sounds as if it is a description of how something that is correct or good might seem familiar. However, many Christians are put off by the term “familiar spirit” in this verse since they understand the term this way:

“A familiar spirit is a demon that is summoned by a medium with the intention that the spirit summoned will obey his or her commands” (“What is a familiar spirit?”).

And they understand the Bible to teach that one should not go after familiar spirits.

“The soul that turneth after such as have familiar spirits, and after wizards, to go a whoring after them, I will even set my face against that soul, and will cut him off from among his people” (Leviticus 20:6).

I think the meaning of “familiar spirit” in this verse is not the same as used in the definition and in the Leviticus verse both listed above, but I can see how many devout Christians concerned with literal demons and other magic would have problems with a verse like this especially given Joseph Smith’s history of dabbling in the occult.

-a-bom
17 For thus saith the Lord God: They shall write the things which shall be done among them, and they shall be written and sealed up in a book, and those who have dwindled in unbelief shall not have them, for they seek to destroy the things of God.
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18 Wherefore, as those who have been destroyed have been destroyed speedily; and the multitude of their terrible ones shall be as chaff that passeth away--yea, thus saith the Lord God: It shall be at an instant, suddenly--
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19 And it shall come to pass, that those who have dwindled in unbelief shall be smitten by the hand of the Gentiles.
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20 And the Gentiles are lifted up in the pride of their eyes, and have stumbled, because of the greatness of their stumbling block, that they have built up many churches; nevertheless, they put down the power and miracles of God, and preach up unto themselves their own wisdom and their own learning, that they may get gain and grind upon the face of the poor.
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It would seem to be important for the LDS Church to provide full financial disclosure if only for accountability to this verse. LDS apostles and prophets receive money from the Church. Some reports are that it is quite a bit of money, but we don’t know the details since they will not disclose this information.

Since I wrote the few sentences above, MormonLeaks provided documentation that as of January 2014, the base living allowance given to LDS general authorities was $120,000 annually (DeseretNews Article and MormonLeaks documents).

-a-bom
21 And there are many churches built up which cause envyings, and strifes, and malice.
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22 And there are also secret combinations, even as in times of old, according to the combinations of the devil, for he is the founder of all these things; yea, the founder of murder, and works of darkness; yea, and he leadeth them by the neck with a flaxen cord, until he bindeth them with his strong cords forever.
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23 For behold, my beloved brethren, I say unto you that the Lord God worketh not in darkness.
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24 He doeth not anything save it be for the benefit of the world; for he loveth the world, even that he layeth down his own life that he may draw all men unto him. Wherefore, he commandeth none that they shall not partake of his salvation.
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2 Ne 26:24, 27-28

Some think the Church prohibited some from partaking of his salvation because it was “revealed” to the prophet that children of a parent in a sam-sex marriage should be forbidden from receiving any LDS priesthood ordinance including baptism, according to President Russell M. Nelson (Deseret News and CBS News).

According to the LDS Church, “Baptism symbolizes our birth into the kingdom of God. It is a pivotal event in our eternal progress. Just as we cannot have mortal life without physical birth, so we cannot enter the kingdom of God except by being born of the water and of the Spirit” (The Covenant of Baptism).

But then, the LDS Church announced in April 2019 that someone had repented of this revelation, so now these children can be baptized (Church News).

-a-bom
25 Behold, doth he cry unto any, saying: Depart from me? Behold, I say unto you, Nay; but he saith: Come unto me all ye ends of the earth, buy milk and honey, without money and without price.
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26 Behold, hath he commanded any that they should depart out of the synagogues, or out of the houses of worship? Behold, I say unto you, Nay.
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27 Hath he commanded any that they should not partake of his salvation? Behold I say unto you, Nay; but he hath given it free for all men; and he hath commanded his people that they should persuade all men to repentance.
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2 Ne 26:24, 27-28 Some think the Church prohibited some from partaking of his salvation because it was “revealed” to the prophet that children of a parent in a sam-sex marriage should be forbidden from receiving any LDS priesthood ordinance including baptism, according to President Russell M. Nelson ([Deseret News](https://www.deseret.com/2016/1/11/20580216/becoming-true-millennials#president-russell-m-nelson-speaks-during-the-worldwide-devotional-for-young-adults-held-on-the-brigham-young-university-hawaii-campus-on-jan-10) and [CBS News](https://www.cbsnews.com/news/mormon-leader-says-policy-against-gay-marriage-was-word-from-god/)). According to the LDS Church, “Baptism symbolizes our birth into the kingdom of God. It is a pivotal event in our eternal progress. Just as we cannot have mortal life without physical birth, so we cannot enter the kingdom of God except by being born of the water and of the Spirit” ([The Covenant of Baptism](https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/manual/doctrines-of-the-gospel-student-manual/15-baptism?lang=eng)). But then, the LDS Church announced in April 2019 that someone had repented of this revelation, so now these children can be baptized ([Church News](https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/church/news/policy-changes-announced-for-members-in-gay-marriages-children-of-lgbt-parents?lang=eng)).
28 Behold, hath the Lord commanded any that they should not partake of his goodness? Behold I say unto you, Nay; but all men are privileged the one like unto the other, and none are forbidden.
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2 Ne 26:24, 27-28 Some think the Church prohibited some from partaking of his salvation because it was “revealed” to the prophet that children of a parent in a sam-sex marriage should be forbidden from receiving any LDS priesthood ordinance including baptism, according to President Russell M. Nelson ([Deseret News](https://www.deseret.com/2016/1/11/20580216/becoming-true-millennials#president-russell-m-nelson-speaks-during-the-worldwide-devotional-for-young-adults-held-on-the-brigham-young-university-hawaii-campus-on-jan-10) and [CBS News](https://www.cbsnews.com/news/mormon-leader-says-policy-against-gay-marriage-was-word-from-god/)). According to the LDS Church, “Baptism symbolizes our birth into the kingdom of God. It is a pivotal event in our eternal progress. Just as we cannot have mortal life without physical birth, so we cannot enter the kingdom of God except by being born of the water and of the Spirit” ([The Covenant of Baptism](https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/manual/doctrines-of-the-gospel-student-manual/15-baptism?lang=eng)). But then, the LDS Church announced in April 2019 that someone had repented of this revelation, so now these children can be baptized ([Church News](https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/church/news/policy-changes-announced-for-members-in-gay-marriages-children-of-lgbt-parents?lang=eng)).
29 He commandeth that there shall be no priestcrafts; for, behold, priestcrafts are that men preach and set themselves up for a light unto the world, that they may get gain and praise of the world; but they seek not the welfare of Zion.
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It would seem to be important for the LDS Church to provide full financial disclosure if only for accountability to this verse. LDS apostles and prophets receive money from the Church. Some reports are that it is quite a bit of money, but we don’t know the details since they will not disclose this information.

Since I wrote the few sentences above, MormonLeaks provided documentation that as of January 2014, the base living allowance given to LDS general authorities was $120,000 annually
(DeseretNews Article
and
MormonLeaks documents).

“Set themselves up for a light unto the world.” Reminds me of the constant admonition to obey the prophets in things like the 14 fundamentals of following the prophet and “when the prophet speaks . . . The debate is over”
(Obedience to the Prophets,
and
“The Debate Is Over”

ellipses as found in the original).

-a-bom
30 Behold, the Lord hath forbidden this thing; wherefore, the Lord God hath given a commandment that all men should have charity, which charity is love. And except they should have charity they were nothing. Wherefore, if they should have charity they would not suffer the laborer in Zion to perish.
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31 But the laborer in Zion shall labor for Zion; for if they labor for money they shall perish.
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1

It would seem to be important for the LDS Church to provide full financial disclosure if only for accountability to this verse. LDS apostles and prophets receive money from the Church. Some reports are that it is quite a bit of money, but we don’t know the details since they will not disclose this information.

Since I wrote the few sentences above, MormonLeaks provided documentation that as of January 2014, the base living allowance given to LDS general authorities was $120,000 annually
(DeseretNews Article
and
MormonLeaks documents).

-a-bom
32 And again, the Lord God hath commanded that men should not murder; that they should not lie; that they should not steal; that they should not take the name of the Lord their God in vain; that they should not envy; that they should not have malice; that they should not contend one with another; that they should not commit whoredoms; and that they should do none of these things; for whoso doeth them shall perish.
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33 For none of these iniquities come of the Lord; for he doeth that which is good among the children of men; and he doeth nothing save it be plain unto the children of men; and he inviteth them all to come unto him and partake of his goodness; and he denieth none that come unto him, black and white, bond and free, male and female; and he remembereth the heathen; and all are alike unto God, both Jew and Gentile.
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Joseph seemed to practice this more or less like stated here. However, not too long after Joseph’s assassination, Brigham Young banned Black people from the priesthood and from the temple. The priesthood and temple ordinances are critical items for LDS progression. The temple ordinances are salvific, so weren’t Black people prevented from coming unto God until 1978 according to LDS teachings?

(to see how the Church currently portrays the justifications of Brigham Young and other apostles and prophets for this ban, see Race and the Priesthood)

-a-bom