Sunday, November 4, 2012

Answering Recent Comments – Part XXX


Continuing with the comments previously mentioned in the last post, the first one hundred and twenty-three comments were answered in the previous 29 posts, the one hundred and twenty-fourth and additional comments are answered beginning below:
Comments #124 “I read that the only thing at issue regarding differences of opinions in the Church about Noah’s Flood is the scope of the flood, and differences in belief on that point are not essential to salvation. So what if Church leaders believe that the Flood covered the entire globe? So what if some believe, based upon scientific evidence, that the Flood was local in scope? It simply makes no difference to the teachings in the Church that Noah was a prophet, and that he did as God commanded him.” Emile O.
Response: It is hard for the Flood to be the “baptism of the Earth” when only one portion of the earth was baptized or covered with water. This is a doctrinal issue as Brigham Young stated, and arguments or disagreements over doctrine are not appropriate. The world is full of different religions whose differences stem from disagreements over doctrines. I would think this is important—not just the Flood, but all doctrinal issues. After all, God is not the author of confusion—Satan is!
Comment #125 “The French word "adieu" appears only once in the Book of Mormon in Jacob 7:27. Some LDS claim it is merely a translation into modern English, so the use of a French word is not amiss. For example, Daniel H. Ludlow contends that the use of the French word "adieu", and others, may have been the result of Joseph Smith choosing the best word available to convey the meaning of the original text; however, this seems strange that a French word “adieu” would be chosen, and even appear on the plates in the first place.” Alexei
Response: The word adieu is from Old French, literally meaning “to God.” It is also from Middle English (adew, adewe, adue), as well as Middle French, and is equivalent to “a” Latin, ad (to) “Dieu” Latin Deus  (God), and is actually part of the phrase à dieu vous commant, "I commend you to God." When Jacob closed out his brief writing, he wrote: “I must soon go down to my grave…And I make an end of my writing upon these plates, which writing has been small; and to the reader I bid farewell, hoping that many of my brethren may read my words. Brethren, adieu” (Jacob 7:27). Literally, Jacob bid farewell (goodbye) to the reader, but to his brethren (in the gospel) he “commended them to God.” It is important to note this difference. In 1828, the word “adieu” in New England English was considered “a farewell or commendation to the care of God” (to wish a fond farewell) it was used in place of the word “farewell,” as an expression of kind wishes at the parting of friends, and carried much the same meaning as it did in French (and Italian)—a unique phrase with a sad tinge to parting. In addition, it also can carry the same meaning as adios in Spanish, which means literally “See you again.” Perhaps to best understand this use (and no doubt how it was meant at Jacob’s hand) is to understand that Jacob was a very kindly man, full of concern for his brethren, brought up in the harshness of two brothers trying to kill his father and older brothers, cautious in making harsh statements, and then doing so only with an apology. Note his comments: “it grieveth me that I must use so much boldness of speech concerning you,” and “it burdeneth my soul that I should be constrained [compelled], because of the strict commandment which I have received from God, to admonish you according to your crimes, to enlarge the wounds of those who are already wounded, instead of consoling and healing their wounds,” and “it grieveth my soul and causeth me to shrink with shame before the presence of my Maker, that I must testify unto you concerning the wickedness of your hearts.” It is obvious that Jacob was a tender-hearted, loving man, and when he closed out his record, he bid the casual reader, a friendly goodbye, but to his beloved brethren, his final farewell (adieu) was a promise that he and they would meet again, and in the meantime, he commended them to God. No better word in the entire English language could have been chosen by Joseph Smith to convey the meaning of Jacob’s parting comment.
Comment #126 “Book of Mormon prophets in the Americas quote chapters 48–54 of the Book of Isaiah after having left the Jerusalem area around 600 BC. Since Isaiah died around 698 BC, under traditional biblical belief, there would be no conflict. However, recently, many Biblical scholars assert that these chapters were not written by Isaiah, but rather, by one or more other people during the Babylonian captivity sometime between 586 and 538 BC (between 14 and 82 years after it could have been known to Lehi and his family)”
Response: One of the great things about the Book of Mormon is that it confirms the writings of Isaiah and lays to rest the charges that someone else wrote the later chapters. The Lord himself confirms this in 3 Nephi 23:1. The name 'Isaiah' signifies in its original Hebrew (YESHAYAH) meaning 'Jehovah Saves', a name in complete harmony with the great prophet's teaching and hopes. Nephi and Jacob quoted liberally from Isaiah because 1) he testified of the coming of the Savior, and 2) he knew about the Nephites and their dwelling on an isle of the sea.
Comment #127 Baptism is mentioned as a ritual that is taught and performed among the Nephite civilization, with its first mention being taught by Nephi between 559 and 545 BC. However, baptism as as described in the Book of Mormon is widely believed to be unknown until its institution in early Christianity many hundreds of years after the practice was ostensibly taught and practiced as related in the Book of Mormon. The first known mention of baptism in this form is by John the Baptist. A similar incarnation of the practice of baptism was practiced by the Jewish group the Essenes between the 2nd century BC and the first century AD.” Julio
Another great value of the Book of Mormon is to correct the misguided beliefs and attitudes of the uninformed and misguided. The fact that the Essenes practiced this so-called ritual should suggest a proof to the Book of Mormon, as the Book of Mormon provides a witness to the accuracy of baptism before John the Baptist.
Comment #128 “A wild goat is mentioned in 1 Nephi 18:25, however, goats are domesticated, not wild. This is another glaring mistake in the Book of Mormon.” Terrance G.
Response: The domestic goat (Capra aegagrus hircus) is a subspecies of goat domesticated from the wild goat (Capra aegagrus), of southwest Asia and Eastern Europe. The goat is a member of the family Bovidae and is closely related to the sheep as both are in the goat-antelope subfamily Caprinae. It is sometimes referred to as the Bezoar or Pasang goat. The wild goat is not extinct, and dates back to at least 8000 B.C., in the area of Iran. Certainly, next to Mesopotamia, would have been available to the Jaredites to bring to the New World. Mention of the wild goat is more of a testimony to the authenticity of the Book of Mormon than the opposite.
The Wild Goat – Bexoar Pasang (Capra aegagrus). The Wild Goat is a widespread species of goat, with a distribution ranging from Europe and Asia Minor to central Asia and the Middle East
About once a year or so, I spend some time answering questions that have been asked and not previously answered until several have been accumulated. However, this time I waited so long, I didn’t realize so many questions had accumulated, so these several posts was my catching up with your questions. Perhaps I need to do this more often. In any event, this now concludes the posts on questions, comments and criticism received. If you have a comment or have made a comment that was not answered as far as you know, ask again. Either email through the website or ask it as a comment on a current post—all questions or comments will be answered. Again, thank all of you for your interest. You might not agree with the conclusions written here, but I invite intelligent and knowledgeable disagreement, especially when accompanied by either a referenced “fact” or by scripture. If you feel you must criticize, feel free to do so, but any criticism or comment is better served with back up material that can be understood, considered, discussed and answered.

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