Now this was the case with all his chief captains. ... And it came to pass that Moroni was angry with the government because of their indifference concerning the freedom of their country.
(Teachings and Commandments) Glossary: Light of Christ
The light of Christ, which is in and through all things, is co-extensive with the Father’s glory or intelligence, or in other words, light and truth (T&C 93:11).1 All creation is sustained by the light of Christ. ... When He descended below it all, including death, He had the power to bring it all back to life with Him. ... He must permeate all things in order to lay ahold of all things and rescue all from destruction. ... He knows our thoughts because He gives us the ability and freedom to think. ... We have the freedom to act and choose, but our freedom operates inside His creation.
And whoever lies carnally with a woman that is a bondmaid, betrothed to a husband and not at all redeemed, nor freedom given her, she shall be scourged.
And it came to pass in the thirteenth year, there began to be wars and contentions throughout all the land, for the Gaddianton robbers had become so numerous, and did slay so many of the people, and did lay waste so many cities, and did spread so much death and carnage throughout the land, that it became expedient that all the people, both the Nephites and the Lamanites, should take up arms against them. ... Therefore, all the Lamanites who had become converted unto the Lord did unite with their brethren, the Nephites, and were compelled, for the safety of their lives, and their women, and their children, to take up arms against those Gaddianton robbers, yea, and also to maintain their rights and their privileges of their church, and of their worship, and their freedom, and their liberty.
(Teachings and Commandments) Section 159:2
Freedom of agency really means accountability. ... We are free, therefore we are accountable before God for all our acts.
And it came to pass that he rent his coat, and he took a piece thereof and wrote upon it: In memory of our God, our religion and freedom, and our peace, our wives, and our children. ... For thus were all the true believers of Christ who belonged to the church of God called, by those who did not belong to the church; and those who did belong to the church were faithful. ... Yea, all those who were true believers in Christ took upon them gladly the name of Christ — or Christians, as they were called — because of their belief in Christ who should come. ... And therefore at this time, Moroni prayed that the cause of the Christians and the freedom of the land might be favored.
(Teachings and Commandments) Glossary: Agency
Freedom or agency really means “accountability.” ... Men are free; therefore, they are accountable before God for all their acts.
Yea, he was appointed chief judge and governor over the people, with an oath and sacred ordinance to judge righteously, and to keep the peace and the freedom of the people, and to grant unto them their sacred privileges to worship the Lord their God, yea, to support and maintain the cause of God all his days, and to bring the wicked to justice according to their crime.
And it came to pass that thousands did flock unto his standard and did take up their swords in the defense of their freedom, that they might not come into bondage. ... And thus when Moroni had gathered together whatsoever men he could in all his march, he came to the land of Gideon; and uniting his forces with that of Parhoron’s, they became exceeding strong, even stronger than the men of Pachus, who was the king of those dissenters who had driven out the Freemen, out of the land of Zarahemla, and had taken possession of the land.
(Teachings and Commandments) Glossary: Selflessness
Surrendering all to God. ... We must surrender our will to His to find the same freedom that He enjoyed.
(Teachings and Commandments) Section 108:1
It is my will that my servant Warren should be appointed and ordained a presiding high priest over my church in the land of Freedom, and the regions round about, and should preach my everlasting gospel, and lift up his voice and warn the people, not only in his own place, but in the adjoining countries, and devote his whole time in this high and holy calling which I now give unto him, seeking diligently the kingdom of Heaven and its righteousness. ... And all things necessary shall be added thereunto, for the laborer is worthy of his hire.
For it cometh to pass that whoso buildeth it up seeketh to overthrow the freedom of all lands, nations, and countries. ... And it bringeth to pass the destruction of all people, for it is built up by the Devil, who is the father of all lies, even that same liar who beguiled our first parents, yea, even that same liar who hath caused man to commit murder from the beginning, who hath hardened the hearts of men that they have murdered the prophets, and stoned them, and cast them out from the beginning. ... Wherefore I, Moroni, am commanded to write these things, that evil may be done away and that the time may come that Satan may have no power upon the hearts of the children of men, but that they may be persuaded to do good continually, that they may come unto the fountain of all righteousness and be saved.
And thus it became expedient that this law should be strictly observed for the safety of their country, yea, and whosoever was found a denying their freedom was speedily executed according to the law. ... And thus ended the thirtieth year of the reign of the judges over the people of Nephi, Moroni and Parhoron having restored peace to the land of Zarahemla among their own people, having inflicted death upon all those who were not true to the cause of freedom.
(Teachings and Commandments) Section 98:2
And now verily I say unto you concerning the laws of the land, it is my will that my people should observe to do all things whatever I command them, and that law of the land which is constitutional, supporting the principles of freedom in maintaining rights and privileges belonging to all mankind, is justifiable before me; therefore, I, the Lord, justify you and your brethren of my church in befriending that law which is the constitutional law of the land.
And it came to pass that the voice of the people came in favor of the Freemen; and Parhoron retained the judgment seat, which caused much rejoicing among the brethren of Parhoron and also among the people of liberty, who also put the Kingmen to silence, that they durst not oppose, but were obliged to maintain the cause of freedom. ... But behold, this was a critical time for such contentions to be among the people of Nephi; for behold, Amalickiah had again stirred up the hearts of the people of the Lamanites against the people of the Nephites, and he was gathering together soldiers from all parts of his land, and arming them, and preparing for war with all diligence, for he had sworn to drink the blood of Moroni.
(Teachings and Commandments) Glossary: Intelligence/s
And [Christ] ministered unto [the Brother of Jared] even as he ministered unto the Nephites, and all this that this man might know that he was God, because of the many great works which the Lord had shewed unto him (Ether 1:14). ... All exist because they are made of the same material from which God’s glory, God’s intelligence, or God’s light and truth are comprised. ... Joseph further revealed that in order to exist, mankind had to have the freedom to choose. ... Without that freedom they would not exist at all. ... All truth is independent in that sphere in which God has placed it to act for itself, as all intelligence also; otherwise there is no existence (T&C 93:10, emphasis added).
Yea, had it not been for the war which broke out among ourselves, yea, were it not for those Kingmen who caused so much bloodshed among ourselves, yea, at the time we were contending among ourselves — if we had united our strength as we hitherto have done, yea, had it not been for the desire of power and authority which those Kingmen had over us, had they been true to the cause of our freedom and united with us, and gone forth against our enemies instead of taking up their swords against us, which was the cause of so much bloodshed among ourselves — yea, if we had gone forth against them in the strength of the Lord, we should have dispersed our enemies, for it would have been done according to the fulfilling of his word. ... But behold, now the Lamanites are coming upon us and they are murdering our people with the sword, yea, our women and our children, taking possession of our lands, and also carrying them away captive, causing them that they should suffer all manner of afflictions, and this because of the great wickedness of those who are seeking for power and authority, yea, even those Kingmen.
But behold, this is not all. ... And now, my beloved brethren — for ye had ought to be beloved, yea, and ye had ought to have stirred yourselves more diligently for the welfare and the freedom of this people. ... But behold, ye have neglected them, insomuch that the blood of thousands shall come upon your heads for vengeance; yea, for known unto God were all their cries and all their sufferings.
(Teachings and Commandments) Glossary: Surety, Christ as
Surety is a word dating back to c. 1300, “a guarantee, promise, pledge, assurance,” from Old French seurté, from Modern French sûreté, from Latin securitatem, “freedom from care or danger, safety, security,” meaning “one who makes himself responsible for another.”1 It was the power of the Son that was responsible for all creation. ... There is a dichotomy when the Son is saying He has to rely on the Father for all that He does and is, and yet He’s very clearly the One that is responsible for this creation and is the life and the light of this creation — and it is through His sustaining power that all exist. ... All had to be done through the Son because the Son was going to come down into the creation, reverse the process, and atone. ... Because the Father’s power was what came through and because the Father had attained to the resurrection, it was impossible for the Father’s plan to fail — the Father has already taken care of redeeming all the creations under His hand.2 1 Online Etymology Dictionary, https: //www.etymonline.com/word/surety#etymonline—v—22408.2 “Christ is the Surety,” Oct. 25, 2017, Instructions to scripture committee.
(Teachings and Commandments) Introduction
This volume follows in natural progression behind the previous volumes, which all talk of Christ...rejoice in Christ...preach of Christ... ... The First Presidency, Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, Seventy, and High Councils were all equal in authority but had distinct responsibilities. ... Like the corruption of Catholicism, the Mormon hierarchy also abused authority and, with blood and horror, coerced its isolated followers until a repulsed nation sent its army to restore secular freedom. ... And all this that it might be fulfilled which was written by the prophets: the weak things of the world should come forth and break down the mighty and strong ones, that man should not counsel his fellow man, neither trust in the arm of flesh, but that every man might speak in the name of God, the Lord, even the Savior of the world, that faith also might increase in the earth, that my everlasting covenant might be established, that the fullness of my gospel might be proclaimed by the weak and the simple unto the ends of the world and before kings and rulers.
- Pages:
- 1