While this book contains some history of the nephites, including the death of nephi, it is mainly a record of jacob s. All but a few pages of the book of mormon were written or at least edited by four people. Millet, doctrinal commentary on the book of mormon, 4 vols. Enos mission, though not fruitful in his own time, has proved beneficial to the nephite and lamanite posterity of today in the form of his short but vital message in the book of mormon. Reynolds and sjodahl, commentary on the book of mormon, vol. Chapter 6 then contains jacobs commentary on the major points of. According to john tvedtnes, critics of the book of mormon have attributed zenoss parable of the olive tree in jacob 5 to the idea that joseph smith borrowed its essence from various new testament passages. Jacob through mosiah joseph fielding mcconkie and robert l. Pray for your own confirmation and revelation as you read these thoughts. President joseph fielding smith 18761972 encouraged us to ponder the depth of jacob 5. The series quotes each verse of book of mormon scripture and gives a detailed commentary citing additional scripture and prophetic insight. Book of mormon central, why does the book of mormon warn against seeking after riches.
A complete description of the book of mormon geography bomgeography, including an internal map model, external map model i. May 11, 2008 this verse brings the apocalyptic prophecy or historical commentary right up to the summer of 1829, when oliver cowdery was transcribing the text of the book of mormon the things written and hid up by nephis seed as it fell from the lips of joseph smith who was divining the translation of the ancient record by the gift and power of. Mar 28, 2016 brant gardner, traditions of the fathers. Jacob 14 the church of jesus christ of latterday saints. Chapter 12 mormon s commentary on the condition of the peoplehuman frailty and the goodness and power of godblessed are the penitentmen to be judged according to their works chapter beginning of the prophecy of samuel the lamanitesamuel proclaims his prophecies from the city wall sword of justice to fall on fourth generationnephite. Jacob through mosiah by joseph fielding mcconkie and robert l. For there shall not any man among you have save it be one wife. By the end of his writing, nephi appears to have also been writing to latter day jews and gentiles.
Dissecting the meaning and symbols found in jacob 5. This parable in and of itself stamps the book of mormon with convincing truth. Jacob teaches about pride and chastity jacob 23 book. If, however the allegory of the olive tree were to be shown to originate with paul, then the book of mormon usage would be. It represents the commentary following the text introducing the phrase skin of blackness and analyzes the textual data to answer the question of. His mission and his message religious studies center. According to the text, it was written by the ancient prophet jacob. For an exploration into the biblical context of this passage, see brian j. Now is the perfect time to look for greater insights into the book of mormon and have an awesome tool to store all your insights for instant retrieval later. A figure of speech in which two distinct things are compared using like or as. One of the authors of the book of mormon, jacob son of lehi, explained why the nephites kept their secret records on metallic plates. The book of mormon mentions the gift of preaching alma 9. Jacob 5 is the longest and probably the most complex chapter in the book of mormon.
So the lord took branches like the nephites, like the lost tribes, and like others that the lord led off that we do not know anything about, to other parts of. Book of mormon commentary book of mormon notes how deep. A six volumes series of more than three thousand pages as chronicled by monte s. The parable of zenos, recorded by jacob in chapter five of his book, is one of the greatest parables ever recorded. A comprehensive commentary of the book of jacob book of.
He gives this clinical description of how the angel was. The commentary does not forget mormons purpose in writing. In 2020 the church of jesus christ of latterday saints is using the book of mormon for its course of study. As coauthor robert millet explains, though the story of the book of mormon, the narrative, is true and inspiring, the power of the book of mormon lies in its doctrine and in its precepts.
I was taught by joseph fielding mcconkies father, bruce r. Was it not through pride that the devil became the devil. Wherefore, my brethren, hear me, and hearken to the word of the lord. It represents the commentary following the text introducing the phrase skin of blackness and analyzes the textual data to answer the. He said that the book of mormon would get a man nearer to god by abiding by its precepts, than by any other book history of the church, 4. We see from this explanation that the nephites did write upon other materials. It will survive, but it wont produce tame fruit simply because its grafted into a tame olive tree. The book of mormon was written for us, in plainness, to our understanding. Baird, understanding jacob s teachings about plural marriage from a law of moses context, interpreter. Prophet, theologian, historian religious studies center. This understanding relies upon the phrase raise up seed meaning increase the number of children born in the gospel covenant. To give a sense for what time period is being spoken of we will take clues from the several instances in the chapter when the time period can be fairly well determined. Below is the introduction to what will be an ongoing personal chapterbychapter commentary on the book of mormon, starting with 1st nephi. Having just completed my 29th reading of the book of mormon without use of commentaries but a few times to help with specific questions, i decided to try this commentary.
How saints and jacobs teachings can help contextualize. Because isaiah was a prophet to all the house of israel which includes those broken off led away, scattered by god, whether due to their righteousness for protection or wickedness as the covenantally required punishment. Apr 01, 2015 setting after sharing a sermon which he delivered to his people following the death of his brother, jacob began to teach his future readers. This site can be used as a study guide to help understand the book of mormon. Jan 02, 2012 joseph fielding mcconkie and robert l. I cannot write but a little of my words, because of the difficulty of engraving our words upon plates, he declared, but we know that the things which we write upon plates must remain jacob 4. This cry from the dust witnesses of the divinity of jesus christ to us today. Analytical and contextual commentary on the book of mormon, 6 vols. The purpose of the book, in his own words, is to persuade all men to come unto christ jacob 1. Jacob went on to be a righteous leader, and succeeded nephi as prophet to the nephites. Behold, this the book of mormon is written for the intent that ye may believe that the bible.
Jacob s prophecy of destruction in jacob 3 fulfilled in omni 1 by grego, book of mormon, book of mormon commentary, jacob 3, omni 1, prophecy in the book of mormon. A journal of latterday saint faith and scholarship 25 2017. Posts about book of mormon commentary written by grego. Robert millet notes that jacob 5, the allegory of zenos, is the longest chapter in the book of mormon.
Jacob 7 introduces the first antichrist in the book of mormon see commentary for alma 30. Book of mormon central, how can people today avoid being destroyed like the nephites were. But is romans 11 the source of jacob 5, or did jacob and paul draw upon an earlier, common source. Volume 1 of doctrinal commentary on the book of mormon. What does the book of mormon mean by skin of blackness. It is totally different from the bible by virtue of its genesis. The bible is primarily a record of gods dealings with the forebears and descendants of jacob or israel in the.
Jacob and joseph seek to persuade men to believe in christ and keep his commandmentsnephi dieswickedness prevails among the nephites. The first sermon is found in 2 nephi 610, the second in jacob 23, and the treatise including the parable of zenos is in jacob 46. In this brief theological introduction, deidre nicole green presents jacob as a vulnerable and empathic religious leader deeply concerned about social justice. He teaches his people to seek first the kingdom of. Book of mormon commentary link step by step through the. If the book of mormon is true work as we affirm it to be then the. Wherefore, these things are manifested unto us plainly. Here are questions readers might have in their studies of the book of mormon this week, accompanied by halls insights that add new meaning. A few words concerning the history of the people of nephi. Mcconkie, to use as my primary reading daily only the scriptures. An allegory of the olive tree potpourri some notes on jacob 5.
At the beginning is his book, jacob states the essence of the. So, is this an error on the part of the book of mormon. May 27, 2011 the book of mormon both confirms and supplements the bible. Jacob is the author of the book of jacob in the book of mormon. Book of mormon central, is anything known of the prophet zenos outside of the book of mormon. Three sermons of jacob are recorded in the book of mormon which include preaching of central as well as specific. Mcconkie and millet, doctrinal commentary on the book of mormon, vol. Then we can develop a greater appreciation for the gift of redemption from sin and death that the savior provides. According to john tvedtnes, critics of the book of mormon typically trace the olive tree parable in jacob 5 to romans 11. It discusses the doctrinal and theological aspects of the text and highlights the way in which mormon. Jacob teaches about pride and chastity jacob 23 book of. The brother of nephi, usually referred to as the book of jacob, is the third of fifteen books in the book of mormon. Book of mormon commentary book of mormon notes how. Welch, the last words of cenez and the book of mormon, in the allegory of the olive tree.
Mormons have traditionally viewed theology and theologians with suspicion. Paul would be citing a known practice in the very least, and a known allegory in the most direct connection. He confoundeth a man who seeketh to overthrow the doctrine of christ. If the book of mormon is true work as we affirm it to be then the allegory is ancient, and precedes paul. That the two passages are related cannot be doubted. Perhaps more than any other book of mormon prophet, jacob manifests the same divine anxiety, having been born in a wild wilderness and inheriting the task of uniting a divided people. Gail call, antenantiosis in the book of mormon, in reexploring the book of mormon, f. A careful examination of the book of mormon to share some of my insights and revelations for those who are interested. You will grow closer to the lord and love him more. First and second nephi and jacob through mosiah, vols. What should be remembered is that this is just thata simplification. Mar 10, 2020 neal rappleye, jacob on polygamy in historical context, studio et quoque fide march 9, 2020.
For i, the lord god, delight in the chastity of women. The passage from the book of mormon condemns david and solomons practice and the practice of plural marriage in general, and the doctrine and covenants. Nephi and jacob clearly wrote for the benefit of their descendants. Best of book of mormon commentary list scripture notes.
The book of mormon commentary, which is a thorough book of mormon study guide makes a warm, heartfelt, practical and beneficial gift which will be cherished for many years to come as its students bless their lives and the lives of their families b y understanding and living by its teachings and principals. And it came to pass that i, jacob, began to be old. The purpose of the book, in his own words, is to persuade all men to come unto christ. Sherem, like others who followed, used much power of speech and flattering words to teach that there should be no christ jacob 7. God does not approve of polygamy, and it should only be instituted when it is specifically commanded by god. Includes every geographical place mentioned in the book of mormon. Jacob, a book of mormon prophet, warns his people to stop being prideful and persecuting their brethren. My emphasis will be on doctrinal and historical items, with citations provided to other sources and commentaries when used. The book of jacob the brother of nephi the words of his preaching unto his brethren. Volume 2 of doctrinal commentary on the book of mormon. One of jacob s strongest discourses is centered on the curse of trusting in material riches, the problem of harboring pride, and the damning effects of immorality.
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