My post on the signs of Christ’s birth, Lachoneus, Giddianhi, and the destruction of the Nephite nation.

http://joelsmonastery.blogspot.com/2012/08/book-of-mormon-lesson-36-on-morrow-come.html

Read there / comment here.

David French, a Calvinist Presbyterian, notes that Christianity is dying.  Those churches that have adapted to the world, now struggle with those that argue over the last 5 percent of difference they have with Babylon.  He mentions the 6 main reasons why young people leave.  He then notes that one Christian group, the Mormons are still growing, even though they dwell in the same secular environment.

He notes 6 things that traditional Christians can learn from their Mormon brethren:

The key is more commitment and dedication to the gospel, and not less, is what brings true conversion.  Here is his article:

http://thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/tgc/2012/08/16/6-reasons-why-mormons-are-beating-evangelicals-in-church-growth/

As we can see, the LDS Church has solutions to help bring people to Christ.  I hope we can inspire many other Christian religions to follow our example. I would love to see our nation return to being a Christian nation, rather than a secular one.

Gospel Doctrine lesson 35 on Samuel the Lamanite is now on my blog:

http://joelsmonastery.blogspot.com/2012/08/book-of-mormon-lesson-35-repent-and.html

Read it there / comment here

In chapter 5, “The Jews and the Caravan Trade”, Nibley takes a closer look at what he claims is Lehi’s career in his younger days, a caravan merchant.

“Jewish merchants were very active in Arabia in Lehi’s day, diligently spreading their religion wherever they went, and settling down not only as tradesmen in the towns but as permanent cultivators and colonizers in the open country.”

I think I have only one possible quibble with this statement.  Were Jewish merchants of the day really “diligently spreading their religion wherever they went”?  I view Judaism in the period as rather closed as a religion.  I do not see missionaries being sent out, nor do I see much preaching being done to other nations.  I could be convinced otherwise, but remain unconvinced so far. While Isaiah and Jeremiah spoke of other nations, it was not to teach them the gospel, but to foresee their ultimate destruction for how they treated Israel.  Perhaps Jonah’s story is one of the few where a Jew actually went and called a Gentile city to repentance.

Daniel, Ezekiel and others living in Babylon during the Diaspora did not seek to promote the Jewish religion, but only to privately practice it and not have other religions and gods imposed upon them.
Continue reading →

Lesson 34 is now on my blog. Discusses Gadianton robbers and Nephi’s joining the Divine Council.

http://joelsmonastery.blogspot.com/2012/08/book-of-mormon-lesson-34-how-could-you.html

Read it there / comment here