The Book of Mormon Chapter 5 Critique
Setting: Mormon again leads the
Nephite armies in battles of blood and carnage—The Book of Mormon will
come forth to convince all Israel that Jesus is the Christ—Because of
their unbelief, the Lamanites will be scattered, and the Spirit will
cease to strive with them—They will receive the gospel from the
Gentiles in the latter days. About A.D. 375–384.
Verse 1: And it came to pass
that I did go forth among the Nephites, and did repent of the oath
which I had made that I would no more assist them; and they gave me
command again of their armies, for they looked upon me as though I
could deliver them from their afflictions.
Note: Mormon was not a follower of Jesus Christ.
“But I say to you, do not swear at all: neither by heaven, for it is
God’s throne; nor by the earth, for it is His footstool; nor by
Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King. Nor shall you swear by
your head, because you cannot make one hair white or black. But let
your ‘Yes’ be ‘Yes,’ and your ‘No,’ ‘No.’ For whatever is more than
these is from the evil one.” Matthew 5:34-37.
Verses 2-5: But behold, I was
without hope, for I knew the judgments of the Lord which should come
upon them; for they repented not of their iniquities, but did struggle
for their lives without calling upon that Being who created them. And
it came to pass that the Lamanites did come against us as we had fled
to the city of Jordan; but behold, they were driven back that they did
not take the city at that time. And it came to pass that they came
against us again, and we did maintain the city. And there were also
other cities which were maintained by the Nephites, which strongholds
did cut them off that they could not get into the country which lay
before us, to destroy the inhabitants of our land. But it came to pass
that whatsoever lands we had passed by, and the inhabitants thereof
were not gathered in, were destroyed by the Lamanites, and their towns,
and villages, and cities were burned with fire; and thus three hundred
and seventy and nine years passed away.
Note: Mayas were never conquered by the fictional Lamanites.
Maya cities tended to expand haphazardly, and the city centre would be
occupied by ceremonial and administrative complexes, surrounded by an
irregular sprawl of residential districts. Different parts of a city
would often be linked by causeways. The principal architecture of the
city consisted of palaces, pyramid-temples, ceremonial ballcourts, and
structures aligned for astronomical observation. The Maya elite were
literate, and developed a complex system of hieroglyphic writing that
was the most advanced in the pre-Columbian Americas. The Maya recorded
their history and ritual knowledge in screenfold books, of which only
three uncontested examples remain, the rest having been destroyed by
the Spanish. There are also a great many examples of Maya text found on
stelae and ceramics. The Maya developed a highly complex series of
interlocking ritual calendars, and employed mathematics that included
one of the earliest instances of the explicit zero in the world. As a
part of their religion, the Maya practised human sacrifice. Wikipedia
Encyclopedia.
Verses 6-8: And it came to pass
that in the three hundred and eightieth year the Lamanites did come
again against us to battle, and we did stand against them boldly; but
it was all in vain, for so great were their numbers that they did tread
the people of the Nephites under their feet. And it came to pass that
we did again take to flight, and those whose flight was swifter than
the Lamanites’ did escape, and those whose flight did not exceed the
Lamanites’ were swept down and destroyed. And now behold, I, Mormon, do
not desire to harrow up the souls of men in casting before them such an
awful scene of blood and carnage as was laid before mine eyes; but I,
knowing that these things must surely be made known, and that all
things which are hid must be revealed upon the house-tops—
Note: Teotihuacan was never conquered by the fictional Lamanites.
At its zenith, perhaps in the first half of the 1st millennium AD,
Teotihuacan was the largest city in the pre-Columbian Americas, with a
population estimated at 125,000 or more, making it at least the sixth
largest city in the world during its epoch. Apart from the pyramids,
Teotihuacan is also anthropologically significant for its complex,
multi-family residential compounds; the Avenue of the Dead; and the
small portion of its vibrant murals that have been exceptionally
well-preserved. Additionally, Teotihuacan exported fine obsidian tools
that garnered high prestige and widespread utilization throughout
Mesoamerica. Wikipedia Encyclopedia.
Verses 9-11: And also that a
knowledge of these things must come unto the remnant of these people,
and also unto the Gentiles, who the Lord hath said should scatter this
people, and this people should be counted as naught among
them—therefore I write a small abridgment, daring not to give a full
account of the things which I have seen, because of the commandment
which I have received, and also that ye might not have too great sorrow
because of the wickedness of this people. And now behold, this I speak
unto their seed, and also to the Gentiles who have care for the house
of Israel, that realize and know from whence their blessings come. For
I know that such will sorrow for the calamity of the house of Israel;
yea, they will sorrow for the destruction of this people; they will
sorrow that this people had not repented that they might have been
clasped in the arms of Jesus.
Note: The house of Israel will never be fully destroyed.
I say then, has God cast away His people? Certainly not! For I also am
an Israelite, of the seed of Abraham, of the tribe of Benjamin. God has
not cast away His people whom He foreknew. Romans 11:1-2.
Verses 12-13: Now these things
are written unto the remnant of the house of Jacob; and they are
written after this manner, because it is known of God that wickedness
will not bring them forth unto them; and they are to be hid up unto the
Lord that they may come forth in his own due time. And this is the
commandment which I have received; and behold, they shall come forth
according to the commandment of the Lord, when he shall see fit, in his
wisdom.
Note: Christians received this commandment from Jesus Christ.
“A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have
loved you, that you also love one another. By this all will know that
you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.” John 13:34-35.
Verse 14: And behold, they
shall go unto the unbelieving of the Jews; and for this intent shall
they go—that they may be persuaded that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of
the living God; that the Father may bring about, through his most
Beloved, his great and eternal purpose, in restoring the Jews, or all
the house of Israel, to the land of their inheritance, which the Lord
their God hath given them, unto the fulfilling of his covenant;
Note: The land of inheritance is in the Middle East not America.
These are the ones the Lord commanded to divide the inheritance among
the children of Israel in the land of Canaan. Numbers 34:29.
Verse 15: And also that the
seed of this people may more fully believe his gospel, which shall go
forth unto them from the Gentiles; for this people shall be scattered,
and shall become a dark, a filthy, and a loathsome people, beyond the
description of that which ever hath been amongst us, yea, even that
which hath been among the Lamanites, and this because of their unbelief
and idolatry.
Note: Unbelief does not make someone’s skin turn black.
Before the 11th century, Swedes adhered to Norse paganism, worshiping
Ęsir gods, with its centre at the Temple in Uppsala. With
Christianisation in the 11th century, the laws of the country were
changed, forbidding worship of other deities into the late 19th
century. After the Protestant Reformation in the 1530s, a change led by
Martin Luther's Swedish associate Olaus Petri, the authority of the
Roman Catholic Church was abolished. The church and state were
separated, allowing Lutheranism to prevail. This process was completed
by the Uppsala Synod of 1593. Lutheranism became Sweden's official
religion. Wikipedia Encyclopedia.
Note: Swedes have always been fair-skinned people.
Verses 16-17: For behold, the
Spirit of the Lord hath already ceased to strive with their fathers;
and they are without Christ and God in the world; and they are driven
about as chaff before the wind. They were once a delightsome people,
and they had Christ for their shepherd; yea, they were led even by God
the Father.
Note: Salvation is based on the faithfulness of God after your belief.
But the Lord is faithful, who will establish you and guard you from the evil one. 2 Thessalonians 3:3.
Note: Sidney Rigdon believed that you could lose your salvation.
Verse 18: But now, behold, they
are led about by Satan, even as chaff is driven before the wind, or as
a vessel is tossed about upon the waves, without sail or anchor, or
without anything wherewith to steer her; and even as she is, so are
they.
Note: Salvation is based on the faithfulness of God after your belief.
I thank my God always concerning you for the grace of God which was
given to you by Christ Jesus, that you were enriched in everything by
Him in all utterance and all knowledge, even as the testimony of Christ
was confirmed in you, so that you come short in no gift, eagerly
waiting for the revelation of our Lord Jesus Christ, who will also
confirm you to the end, that you may be blameless in the day of our
Lord Jesus Christ. God is faithful, by whom you were called into the
fellowship of His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. 1 Corinthians 1:4-9.
Note: Sidney Rigdon believed that you could lose your salvation.
Verses 19-21: And behold, the
Lord hath reserved their blessings, which they might have received in
the land, for the Gentiles who shall possess the land. But behold, it
shall come to pass that they shall be driven and scattered by the
Gentiles; and after they have been driven and scattered by the
Gentiles, behold, then will the Lord remember the covenant which he
made unto Abraham and unto all the house of Israel. And also the Lord
will remember the prayers of the righteous, which have been put up unto
him for them.
Note: Jerusalem is located in the Middle East not America.
“But when you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, then know that its
desolation is near. Then let those who are in Judea flee to the
mountains, let those who are in the midst of her depart, and let not
those who are in the country enter her. For these are the days of
vengeance, that all things which are written may be fulfilled. But woe
to those who are pregnant and to those who are nursing babies in those
days! For there will be great distress in the land and wrath upon this
people. And they will fall by the edge of the sword, and be led away
captive into all nations. And Jerusalem will be trampled by Gentiles
until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled.” Luke 21:20-24.
Verse 22: And then, O ye Gentiles, how can ye stand before the power of God, except ye shall repent and turn from your evil ways?
Note: The power of God is good to everyone who believes in Jesus Christ.
For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of
God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also
for the Greek. For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from
faith to faith; as it is written, “The just shall live by faith.”
Romans 1:16-17.
Verse 23: Know ye not that ye
are in the hands of God? Know ye not that he hath all power, and at his
great command the earth shall be rolled together as a scroll?
Note: The hand of God is good to everyone who believes in Jesus Christ.
“And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither
shall anyone snatch them out of My hand. My Father, who has given them
to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of My
Father’s hand.” John 10:28-29.
Verse 24: Therefore, repent ye,
and humble yourselves before him, lest he shall come out in justice
against you—lest a remnant of the seed of Jacob shall go forth among
you as a lion, and tear you in pieces, and there is none to deliver.
Note: Jesus Christ will deliver the Jews in the Middle East.
Then the Lord will go forth and fight against those nations, as He
fights in the day of battle. And in that day His feet will stand on the
Mount of Olives, which faces Jerusalem on the east. And the Mount of
Olives shall be split in two, from east to west, making a very large
valley; Half of the mountain shall move toward the north and half of it
toward the south. Then you shall flee through My mountain valley, for
the mountain valley shall reach to azal. Yes, you shall flee as you
fled from the earthquake in the days of Uzziah king of Judah. Thus the
Lord my God will come, and all the saints with You. Zechariah 14:3-5.
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