15¶The word of the Lord came again unto me, saying,
16 Moreover, thou son of man, take thee one stick, and write upon it, For Judah, and for the children of Israel his companions: then take another stick, and write upon it, For Joseph, the stick of Ephraim, and for all the house of Israel his companions:
17 And join them one to another into one stick; and they shall become one in thine hand.
We believe that this scripture refers to the Bible and the Book of Mormon. The Bible is the record of the tribe of Judah, and the children of Israel. The Book of Mormon is a record of a people who were the descendants of Joseph. These two books of scripture work together to testify that Jesus is the Christ, thereby fulfilling the law of witnesses which is reiterated in 2 Corinthians 13:1 "...In the mouth of two or three witnesses shall every word be established." In my lifetime, I have seen the completion of the LDS addition of the scriptures which has both books of scripture cross referenced. Truly these scriptures have become one in my hand in helping me to study the gospel of Jesus Christ.
Let me give you an example of how these two books of scripture work together by sharing some passages from a lesson I will be teaching in seminary tomorrow. The topic of these scriptures is wisdom.
WISDOM
From the Bible:
Isaiah 55:8–9 ;
8¶For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord.
9 For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.
1 Corinthians 1:25 ;
25Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men; and the weakness of God is stronger than men.
James 1:5 ;
5 If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.
From the Book of Mormon:
2 Nephi 9:28–29 ;
28 O that cunning plan of the evil one! O the vainness, and the frailties, and the foolishness of men! When they are learned they think they are wise, and they hearken not unto the counsel of God, for they set it aside, supposing they know of themselves, wherefore, their wisdom is foolishness and it profiteth them not. And they shall perish.
29 But to be learned is good if they hearken unto the counsels of God.
2 Nephi 28:30 ;
30For behold, thus saith the Lord God: I will give unto the children of men line upon line, precept upon precept, here a little and there a little; and blessed are those who hearken unto my precepts, and lend an ear unto my counsel, for they shall learn wisdom; for unto him that receiveth I will give more; and from them that shall say, We have enough, from them shall be taken away even that which they have.
Alma 37:35–37 ;
35 O, remember, my son, and learn wisdom in thy youth; yea, learn in thy youth to keep the commandments of God.
36 Yea, and cry unto God for all thy support; yea, let all thy doings be unto the Lord, and whithersoever thou goest let it be in the Lord; yea, let all thy thoughts be directed unto the Lord; yea, let the affections of thy heart be placed upon the Lord forever.
37 Counsel with the Lord in all thy doings, and he will direct thee for good; yea, when thou liest down at night lie down unto the Lord, that he may watch over you in your sleep; and when thou risest in the morning let thy heart be full of thanks unto God; and if ye do these things, ye shall be lifted up at the last day.
I am thankful that the Bible was preserved so that we could have it in our day. But I am equally thankful for the Book of Mormon which is a second witness of the Savior, and his gospel.
From the Bible:
Isaiah 55:8–9 ;
8¶For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord.
9 For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.
1 Corinthians 1:25 ;
25Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men; and the weakness of God is stronger than men.
James 1:5 ;
5 If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.
From the Book of Mormon:
2 Nephi 9:28–29 ;
28 O that cunning plan of the evil one! O the vainness, and the frailties, and the foolishness of men! When they are learned they think they are wise, and they hearken not unto the counsel of God, for they set it aside, supposing they know of themselves, wherefore, their wisdom is foolishness and it profiteth them not. And they shall perish.
29 But to be learned is good if they hearken unto the counsels of God.
2 Nephi 28:30 ;
30For behold, thus saith the Lord God: I will give unto the children of men line upon line, precept upon precept, here a little and there a little; and blessed are those who hearken unto my precepts, and lend an ear unto my counsel, for they shall learn wisdom; for unto him that receiveth I will give more; and from them that shall say, We have enough, from them shall be taken away even that which they have.
Alma 37:35–37 ;
35 O, remember, my son, and learn wisdom in thy youth; yea, learn in thy youth to keep the commandments of God.
36 Yea, and cry unto God for all thy support; yea, let all thy doings be unto the Lord, and whithersoever thou goest let it be in the Lord; yea, let all thy thoughts be directed unto the Lord; yea, let the affections of thy heart be placed upon the Lord forever.
37 Counsel with the Lord in all thy doings, and he will direct thee for good; yea, when thou liest down at night lie down unto the Lord, that he may watch over you in your sleep; and when thou risest in the morning let thy heart be full of thanks unto God; and if ye do these things, ye shall be lifted up at the last day.
I am thankful that the Bible was preserved so that we could have it in our day. But I am equally thankful for the Book of Mormon which is a second witness of the Savior, and his gospel.
No comments:
Post a Comment