To whom does Jesus offer the promise of Zion in America?

Are the gentiles (you and me) given the promise of reaching Zion, in the scriptures?

The Book of Mormon, in very clear language promises protection in the land of America to those who worship the God of this land, even Jesus Christ.  In Second Nephi, Jacob, the brother of Nephi, teaches us about Zion and how to participate in the pending holy city of Zion, while living in the flesh.  There are a few interesting requirements outlined by Jacob, regarding Zion:

2. But behold, thus saith the Lord God: When the day cometh that they

 (they being the descendants of the children of Lehi, who left Jerusalem, who were of the House of Israel and journeyed to America, also known as ancestors of the American Indians) shall believe in me, that I am Christ, then have I covenanted with their fathers that they shall be restored in the flesh upon the earth unto the lands of their inheritance. And it shall come to pass that they shall be gathered in from their long dispersion, from the isles of the sea, and from the four parts of the earth... 

...But behold, this land, saith God, shall be a land of thine inheritance (children of Lehi = American Indians) and the gentiles shall be blessed upon the land. And this land shall be a land of liberty unto the gentiles...     ...and I will fortify this land against all other nations. And he that fighteth against Zion shall perish, saith God, for he that raiseth up a king against me shall perish. For I the Lord, the King of Heaven, will be their king, and I will be a light unto them forever that hear my words.    

4. Wherefore, my beloved brethren, thus saith our God: I will afflict thy seed (children of Lehi in America = American Indians) by the hand of the gentiles; nevertheless, I will soften the hearts of the gentiles, that they shall be like a father to them. Wherefore, the gentiles shall be blessed and numbered among the house of Israel.  

Did you catch that?  In order to be blessed and numbered among the house of Israel, the gentiles would need to soften their hearts and be like a father unto the children of Lehi in America (American Indians).

Wherefore, I will consecrate this land unto thy seed (children of Lehi = American Indians) and they who shall be numbered among thy seed, (gentiles if they meet the requirements for being numbered among the children of Lehi and the House of Israel) forever, for the land of their inheritance; for it is a choice land, saith God unto me, above all other lands. Wherefore, I will have all men that dwell thereon that they shall worship me, saith God. 

Near the end of the Book of Mormon similar instruction is given in 3rd Nephi, 

But if they (the gentiles) will repent, and hearken unto my words, and harden not their hearts, they shall come in unto the covenant and be numbered among this the remnant of Jacob, unto whom I have given this land for their inheritance.

It appears in our present time, the children of Lehi have been entirely forgotten.  The majority of Christian religions have never learned of the prophecies contained within the Book of Mormon.  Surprisingly, the several surviving Mormon faiths (the folks who read the Book of Mormon), seem to have lost all interest in assisting the descendants of the children of Lehi.  In the year 2021, I'm having a hard time finding proof of any significant effort or support directed towards this special group of people.  

Are the children of Lehi and these Zion prophecies even part of the current doctrine and lesson material?  We are forgetting the steps of becoming numbered among the House of Israel, while assuming that numbering has already taken place.  We incorrectly believe that we are the Lords chosen people!   

A warning is given in the previous chapter of 2nd Nephi: And woe unto the deaf that will not hear, for they shall perish. Woe unto the blind that will not see, for they shall perish also.  These Zion prophecies and requirements are written plainly in the Book of Mormon.  We have had this information since the year 1830.  Talk about not seeing and not hearing!    

And behold we are forgetting the most important detail, to whom this land of America and the holy city of Zion has already been given (our Lord has already covenanted to give this land to the children of Lehi, also known as the American Indians).  In regards to Zion, our job is one of humble assistance.  We are not the main event!    

https://scriptures.info/scriptures/bofm/2nephi/7


www.earnestmormon.com

Do I need a Savior?

A wise father shared with his son the importance of finding Jesus Christ. The father had experienced much joy and sorrow and knew that his time here in this fallen world would soon be coming to an end. The father explained.. 

All men and women are created with a light inside of themselves. This light is a way for each person to know whether something is good or evil. Men and women are able to know with each choice they make, if the choice will bring them closer to the light, and to heaven, or closer to the darkness of hell. To ignore this built in light, and make choices without the guidance of heaven is spiritual suicide. Father in Heaven, who knows all things, past, present, and future, has the direction we seek. He is awaiting our invitation and desires to discuss our future. Oh, that we may remember to ask for His insight and remember to listen for His response.   

The law from Heaven has been given, and continues to be delivered throughout each situation and interaction each person experiences. If heeded, the light mentioned above continues guiding each person back into the Father's presence.

Each of us will make a choice that turns our progress away from God. Remember to turn again towards God and continue following His voice and guidance.

Wherefore, redemption cometh in and through the Holy Messiah, for He is full of grace and truth. Behold, Jesus offereth himself as a sacrifice for sin, to answer the ends of the law unto all those who have a broken heart and a contrite spirit, and unto none else can the ends of the law be answered. 

Wherefore, how great the importance to make these things known unto the inhabitants of the earth that they may know that there is no flesh that can dwell in the presence of God, save it be through the merits, and mercy, and grace of the Holy Messiah (Jesus Christ), who layeth down his life according to the flesh and taketh it again by the power of the spirit, that He may bring to pass the resurrection of the dead, being the first that should rise. Wherefore, Jesus is the firstfruits unto God, inasmuch as He shall make intercession for all the children of men, and they that believe in Him shall be saved. 

And because of the intercession for all, all men come unto God. Wherefore, they stand in the presence of Him, to be judged of Him according to the truth and holiness which is in Him.  All will rise after this life, to stand before Jesus and be judged of Him, whether their works have brought them closer to Him, or closer to the darkness.

So, yes, I desperately need a Savior. We all do. Glory to God!

Praises be thine Father Jehovah! 

His Gospel is simple, believe in Him, forsake your sins by turning to Him, be baptized in His name. Try to be like Him, and keep making choices that bring you closer to Him.

www.earnestmormon.com

I am the Bright and Morning Star

Jesus Christ is known by many descriptive and wonderful titles including Ego Eimi, The Great I Am, The First and the Last, Son of a Carpenter, Alpha and Omega, Bread of Life, The Way, the Truth and the Life, YHWH, The Fountain of Living Waters, Immanuel, which means “God is with us”, Jehovah, Father, Messiah, Galilean from Nazareth and many more.

In the Book of Ether, verse 19 Jesus describes himself as the Creator of our Heaven and Earth:

I am the Father. I am the light, and the life, and the truth of the world. Come unto me, O ye gentiles, and I will shew unto you the greater things, the knowledge which is hid up because of unbelief.

https://scriptures.info/scriptures/bofm/ether/1

A less known description for our Father in Heaven was given to John on the Island of Patmos, Revelation 22:16. In the last book of the New Testament, Jesus testifies of Himself in a most interesting way “I am the root and the offspring of David, and the bright and morning star”.

Why would the Savior of our fallen world, compare himself to a lonely planet known as Venus?

I was surprised to learn that Jesus was teaching John about the organization of our Solar System. It makes sense that Jesus would share knowledge of His creations with John, in the same way He taught Adam, Noah, Abraham, Moses, Nephi, Joseph Smith and others.

Jesus was teaching John that Venus, while following an endless track through space, an eternal round of orbiting the Sun, a pattern of movement that was ordered by Jesus in the beginning, is continually testifying of Christ’s Birth, Life, Death, and Resurrection.

Can this be true? Have astronomers (scientists) actually named the different phases of Venus after monumental moments within the life of Jesus from Galilee?

It’s true! The following picture was received with permission from a friend named John Pratt (an astronomer).



Venus is the brightest object in our night sky after the moon. Venus is called “the morning star” because the planet rises in the East just before the morning Sun. Venus is called an “evening star” because Venus also follows the setting Sun into the western horizon. Either way, in the morning or in the evening, the planet is only visible for a few hours because the rising Sun hides Venus in the morning. In the evening, Venus is hidden by the horizon while chasing the setting Sun.

Venus spends 263 days as a morning star, or viewable before the sun rises. Venus also blesses our skies for 263 days as an evening star, or viewable after the sun sets. There are about 58 days when Venus is hidden from view. The complete cycle of Venus takes place over 584 days, 263 + 58 + 263 = 584. Official term: the synodic period is the time Venus takes to be seen again from the Earth in the same position with respect to the Sun, this period takes 584 days.

Is there a difference in brightness between Venus as a morning star, and Venus as an evening star? The brightness changes as Venus slowly travels through the cycle.

This special planet is born in the western sky just after sunset. Sunset is also the beginning of the Sabbath day. The first phase of Venus is known as “Birth” and the planet appears dimly in the evening sky in the cardinal direction of west. Venus is dim at first and grows in brilliance over the next 263 days. The birth of Jesus took place in the town of Bethlehem, with very little fanfare. Jesus and His earthly parents were known well in the Heavens, and hardly noticed by the majority of those living on the Earth. After the birth of Jesus, Joseph and Mary took their special baby south and west to Egypt. The Birth phase of Venus is easy to miss as the planet appears in a northern location of the western sky, just after sunset and travels further south each night.

Right now, (August 6, 2021) Venus is easy to locate in the western sky each evening. Venus was “born” earlier this year (late April) and is slowly traveling a little further south each night, while increasing in brightness. Currently, Venus is representing the time is His life while Jesus was growing up as a tender plant. Eventually the brightness of Venus will reach “Prime”, which is representative of the Savior’s ministry. Our Savior spent three years preaching His Gospel message, starting with His baptism from John (son of Elizabeth and Zacharias). During this time, He continued growing in popularity as the truth of His beautiful message was shared and accepted, including His ability to perform healings and miracles.

After “Prime” Venus quickly descends and is hidden in the underworld, at “Death”. When Jesus died the Earth was covered in darkness and He shared His message with those who had died and were in darkness without Him.

We endure about 8 days of darkness without Venus. Suddenly, bright, and brilliant in the East, Venus appears in a southern location of the eastern sky as a morning star. The “Resurrection” of Venus takes place in the East, in the morning and is very symbolic of the Savior, His victory over death and His return in glory, which is close at hand.

Following Venus and the ordered movements that testify of Christ may prove to be a meaningful way to remember our wonderful Lord, who described Himself as the Bright and Morning Star.


www.earnestmormon.com