Introduction

The Book of Mormon is a historical record to be considered carefully, and I am secure in knowing that everyone's spiritual welfare will in due course depend on what he or she knows and feels about it. I like this expression from Orson Pratt:

"The nature of the message in the Book of Mormon is such, that if true, no one can possibly be saved and reject it; if false, no one can possibly be saved and receive it."

It is vitally important to know what the Book of Mormon informs us about the Bible. As a result, the answers will identify what must be believed about the Bible. Because the Book of Mormon is neither impartial nor plain, it compels us to make decisions.

The Book of Mormon affirms initially that the Bible is a true and sacred witness for Jesus Christ and contains teachings, doctrines, covenants, history, and prophecy of great worth to the human family. Second, the Bible available in our day is not as complete and as a result not as doctrinally accurate as when first written by the ancient prophets and apostles. Third, there has been substantial and extensive loss of material. Fourth, that the lost material was intentionally removed from the Bible by gentiles with evil intent. Fifth, many have faltered spiritually because plain and precious information has been missing from the Bible. Sixth, the vital lost parts shall be restored to the Bible as a result of latter-day scripture. Seventh, many in our time will reject the miraculous events and doctrinal precepts of the Bible because of pride and unbelief. Eighth, that the Book of Mormon is the greatest of all documentary witnesses for the Bible.

Although the Bible has suffered through time, it has remained among us and has been a foundation of encouragement and spiritual renewal to millions, even in its weakened state. Latter-day revelation reveals the points of ambiguity and incompleteness of the Bible. Because of limited faith and understanding, many in the world are not yet prepared for stronger doctrine and thus are content with and blessed by the Bible as is.

The Book of Mormon was prepared specifically to be a confirming record by commandment, to come forth in the latter days after the Bible had become degraded.. the Book of Mormon contains the doctrines principally needed in the world today.

The Book of Mormon is a record similar to the Bible in being a witness for Jesus Christ. It was written by and about people who came from the time, the land, and the people of the Old Testament. Yet the Book of Mormon is separate and independent and does not depend on the Bible for its survival. The Book of Mormon is not a clarifier for Bible. It is not intended to be substituted for the Bible. It does not contend with the Bible but complements it.

The doctrines and meanings of the Bible are better understood the help through the Book of Mormon and other latter-day revelations. A study of history, archaeology, religion, language, and culture provides helpful information, but much of the truth of the Bible and its doctrine will escape the understanding of all searchers who do not include the Book of Mormon in their study. A carefully examined Book of Mormon tells us much by both direct statement and by inference about our present-day Bible. It also reveals why its existence is important.

Be patient, now.

There has been endless dispute since the death of the Apostles. The vision of Orthodoxy changing over time without them. In the fourth century the Christian world was well into the clash of christologies. The East and West were hopelessly divided on the matter of authority, continuing to more recent times. By the end of the 4th century the politics of Trinity brought it to victory over an assault by Arianism. It has been one assault after another. Arianism wasn't the first.

For a time a form of Christianity called Arianism was Orthodoxy in the hinterlands of the Roman Empire. Arianism holds that the pre-existent Jesus was created by the Father. This was determined to mean that He was necessarily not an equal Diety to His Father. But nontheless a part of the Godhead.

It is stated that Arius (the founder of Araianism) had been taught by Ulfilas, (a Goth who preached Arianism, created the Gothic alphabet for the purpose of translating the Bible in the hinterlands of the Byzantine Empire who was apparently ordained a bishop by Eusebius of Nicomedia and who was in fairly continuous and full favor of Constantine). Ulfilas converted many among the Visigoths and Ostrogoths, preaching an Arian Christianity, which when they reached the western Mediterranean, set them apart from their overwhelmingly Catholic neighbors and subjects. and BANG the Catholic "orthodoxy" of the Trinity clashed with them. Not just verbally.

Now I would like to frame these historical facts. I begin with a conclusion: In the fourth Christian century the religious views of the emperor had a greater effect upon the doctrines of the church than did the views of the bishops.

Bishops who disagreed with the view of the emperor were banished or forced to change their doctrines. Liberius, the bishop of Rome, was banished and was restored to his bishopric only when he completely reversed his doctrine concerning the relationship of the Father and the Son. Thus the whole Christian world, the majority of which had been opposed to Arianism, and had accepted the Nicene Creed, now turned to Arianism and abandoned the Nicene Creed.

In the face of such historical facts it is evident that the church is like sheep wandering without a shepherd. There are no prophets of God to lead the way. The indecision, the use of force, and the determination of doctrine by governmental decree, show a complete absence of the leadership of Jesus Christ.

ORTHODOXY is the correct theological or doctrinal observance of religion, as determined by some overseeing body. What is not Orthodox is heresy.

Given the overseeing body in this disfunctional Christian time (and even to YOUR present) has been the civil rulers, Arianism became Orthodoxy. And for the same reason, 1600 years later, the dominant cristological view of Trinity is Orthodoxy. So, can you see that trinity is a consequence of negotiation and violence and is only the majority and more powerful view?

In the absence of the Leadership of Jesus Christ, Truth cannot be the goal. Because truth cannot be found. It becomes forced. Real Truth departed. And with the truth departing and with the sheep wandering, the scrolls in the East and much later the plates in the West had been buried, to prepare for a FRESH start.

(No flood this time). But a brighter rainbow.

God’s unity, the Truth about who God is, has gone astray as I have described. It is through proper authority where more than simple salvation can be found. It is where a promised exaltation can be attained. Shalom, is not how the Trinity holds firm. The Trinity and Arianism took their turns as orthodoxy through the frequent ruthless force of government and is sustained today by that momentum alone. The problem for Trinity today is proper authority has returned. The gathering has begun, quietly, peacefully, orderly, Differently.

As you can see, Spirit is a 13 year old predominantly white fluffy Unbrella Cockatoo. His crest will rise straight up (seen down in the picture) when he is having any kind of an emotional experience. He is the Love of my wife's life. He is very verbal, greeting everyone that enters the living room with a friendly "hello". His three different types of barks causes our neighbors to believe we have noisy dogs. He laughs at jokes and laughs sometimes over the jokes he conjures up in his own mind. His favorite saying on the weekends is, "Church is True." He will also says, "such a pretty bird", "I love the (pretty) bird", "I love Traveler", "I love Bert' (my wife), "Bird, Bird, Bird, Bird is the word" (from the song by the Romones of the same name), "Hi there", and much more. His favorite time of the day is "Traveler time" when he gets to come out and be with the Traveler dog. He announces the fact that it is Traveler time which means he is getting out of the cage to sit on Bert's shoulder, dance, preen her hair, and give her kisses. In return she rubs his neck and under his wings. They have long conversations when he is out where frequently he will emit unintelligable, animated conversation while bobbing his head and dancing about. As you can see he is loaded with personality. His favorite foods are peanut butter crackers, chicken bones, and his morning bacon. Spirit taunts the dogs from Bert's leg. Both Hinky and Traveler (our only dogs) know better than to mess with the bird.

He is only allowed out of his sizable cage during "Traveler Time" when everyone watches TV. He has gotten most upset with the Philadelphia Eagles losing so badly this year and shows it. He obviously understands what he is seeing on TV by his behavior.

What was this child born of a "virgin" to be named; for that is what He is to be called that is what He is to be. And if He is to be called "Immanuel," God with us (God with Men)—then that is what He is to be. And that is what he IS when He arrives: God with men!

Would we have a Being, less than Jehovah incarnate be "Immanuel"? Then what do we make of the prophecy of Isaiah 9:6,

"Unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given, and the government shall be upon His shoulder and His name shall be called . . . The Mighty God, The Everlasting Father."

Would any Jew or gentile, dare assert that a Being less than their Jehovah incarnated can at all fulfill this prediction?

How many can apply to be identified as the "Mighty God"—The Jehovah of the Jews, present-day with Isaiah and succeeding all until the arrival of Jesus of Nazareth, who in every moment of His life and ethic has satisfied the terms of this prophecy, or provided any hope or promise of satisfying it? (Dang, that was a run-on sentence)

"The Mighty God," the incarnation of the "Everlasting Father" could be fulfilled by no other. For Jehovah of the Old Testament IS Jesus Christ of Nazareth. And to turn a blind eye on that is to turn a blind eye on the The Bible.

Study it out for yourself.

January - Took new scarf back to store because it was too tight.

February - Fired from pharmacy job for failing to print labels....."duh".....bottles won't fit in
typewriter!!!

March - Got excited.....finished jigsaw puzzle in 6 months....box said "2-4 years!"

April - Trapped on escalator for hours.....power went out!!!

May - Tried to make Kool-Aid.....8 cups of water won't fit into those little packets!!!

June - Tried to go water skiing.....couldn't find a lake with a slope.

July - Lost breast stroke swimming competition.....learned later, other swimmers cheated, they used their arms!!!

August - Got locked out of car in rain storm.....car swamped, because top was down.

September - The capital of California is "C".....isn't it???

October - Hate M &M's.....they are so hard to peel.

November - Baked turkey for 4 1/2 days.....instructions said 1 hour per pound and I weigh 108!!!

December - Couldn't call 911....."duh".....there's no "eleven" button on the phone!!!