Fools Mock, But they Fools Mock, But they Shall MournShall Mourn

Ether 6-14Ether 6-14

Last WeekLast Week

In talking about testimonies:In talking about testimonies:

We know more than we think we We know more than we think we know…know…

Ether 12Ether 12

5 And it came to pass 5 And it came to pass that Ether did prophesy that Ether did prophesy great and marvelous great and marvelous things unto the people, things unto the people, which they did not which they did not believe, because they believe, because they saw them not. saw them not.

Ether 12Ether 12

……I (Moroni) would show unto the world that I (Moroni) would show unto the world that faith is things which are hoped for and not faith is things which are hoped for and not seen; seen;

wherefore, dispute not because ye see not, wherefore, dispute not because ye see not, for ye receive no witness for ye receive no witness until after the trial until after the trial of your faith.of your faith.

Can this be rewritten as:Can this be rewritten as:

“ “for ye receive no for ye receive no testimonytestimony until after you until after you go through go through tribulationtribulation” ?” ?

In context…In context…5 And it came to pass that Ether did prophesy great and marvelous 5 And it came to pass that Ether did prophesy great and marvelous

things unto the people, which they did not believe, things unto the people, which they did not believe, because they because they saw them not.saw them not.

6 And now, I, Moroni, would speak somewhat concerning these things; I 6 And now, I, Moroni, would speak somewhat concerning these things; I would show unto the world that faith is things which are hoped for would show unto the world that faith is things which are hoped for and and not seennot seen; wherefore, ; wherefore, dispute not because ye see notdispute not because ye see not, ,

for ye receive no witness until after the trial of your for ye receive no witness until after the trial of your faithfaith..

7 For it was by faith that 7 For it was by faith that Christ showed himself unto our fathersChrist showed himself unto our fathers, , after he had risen from the dead; and he showed not himself unto after he had risen from the dead; and he showed not himself unto them until after they had faith in him; wherefore, it must needs be them until after they had faith in him; wherefore, it must needs be that some had faith in him, that some had faith in him, for he showed himselffor he showed himself not unto the not unto the world.world.

8 But because of the faith of men 8 But because of the faith of men he has shown himselfhe has shown himself unto the unto the world, and glorified the name of the Father, and prepared a way that world, and glorified the name of the Father, and prepared a way that thereby thereby others might be partakers of the heavenly giftothers might be partakers of the heavenly gift, that , that they might hope for those things which they have not seenthey might hope for those things which they have not seen ..

Obedience

Light and Knowledge

Obedience

ObedienceMore Light

and Knowledge

More Light and

Knowledge

Faith

Again-Again-

We know more than we think We know more than we think we know…we know…

However-However-

President Harold B. LeePresident Harold B. LeeThe true Church The true Church

is intended not is intended not only to comfort only to comfort the afflicted-the afflicted-

but to afflict the but to afflict the comfortable.comfortable.

To the priesthood To the priesthood brethren in brethren in

Nauvoo Nauvoo the the Prophet said:Prophet said:

God will feel after you, he will take hold of God will feel after you, he will take hold of you and wrench your very you and wrench your very heartstringsheartstrings, , and if you cannot stand it you will not be and if you cannot stand it you will not be fit for an inheritance in the Kingdom of fit for an inheritance in the Kingdom of God God

Ether 12Ether 12

8 But because of the faith of men he has 8 But because of the faith of men he has shown himself unto the world, and glorified shown himself unto the world, and glorified the name of the Father, and prepared a way the name of the Father, and prepared a way that thereby others that thereby others might be partakers of might be partakers of the heavenly giftthe heavenly gift, that they might hope for , that they might hope for those things which they have not seen.those things which they have not seen.

9 Wherefore, ye may also have hope, and be 9 Wherefore, ye may also have hope, and be partakers of the gift, if ye will but have faith.partakers of the gift, if ye will but have faith.

Moroni ContinuesMoroni Continues

22 And it is by faith that my fathers 22 And it is by faith that my fathers have obtained the promise that have obtained the promise that these things should come unto their these things should come unto their brethren through the Gentiles; brethren through the Gentiles;

The Rest of the Story…The Rest of the Story…

… … [Jesus] hath talked with me face to face, and that [Jesus] hath talked with me face to face, and that he hath told me he hath told me in plain humility,in plain humility, even as a man even as a man telleth another in mine own language, concerning telleth another in mine own language, concerning these things these things Ether 12:39Ether 12:39

23 23 And I said unto himAnd I said unto him: :

Lord, the Gentiles will mock at these things, Lord, the Gentiles will mock at these things, because of our weakness in writing; for Lord thou because of our weakness in writing; for Lord thou hast made us mighty in word by faith, but thou hast made us mighty in word by faith, but thou hast not made us mighty in writing;hast not made us mighty in writing;

                                                                                                                                                                                        

                                                                                                              Vol. XXI.                              Wednesday, April 28, 1830.                             No. 47.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       

BLASPHEMY -- "BOOK  OF  MORMON,"alias  THE  GOLDEN  BIBLE.

The "Book of Mormon" has been placed in our hands. A viler imposition was never practised. It is an evidence of fraud, blasphemy and credulity, shocking to the Christian and moralist. The "author and proprietor" is one "Joseph Smith, jr." -- a fellow who, by some hocus pocus, acquired such an influence over a farmer of Wayne county, that the latter mortgaged his farm for $3,000, which he paid for printing and binding 5000 copies of this blasphemous work.

Ether 12Ether 12

26 And when I had said this, the Lord spake 26 And when I had said this, the Lord spake unto me, saying: Fools mock, but they shall unto me, saying: Fools mock, but they shall mourn; and my grace is sufficient for the mourn; and my grace is sufficient for the meek, that they shall take no advantage of meek, that they shall take no advantage of your weakness;your weakness;

27 And if men come unto me I will show unto 27 And if men come unto me I will show unto them their weakness. I give unto men them their weakness. I give unto men weakness that they may be humble; and my weakness that they may be humble; and my grace is sufficient for all men that humble grace is sufficient for all men that humble themselves before me; for if they humble themselves before me; for if they humble themselves before me, and have faith in me, themselves before me, and have faith in me, then will I make weak things become then will I make weak things become strong unto themstrong unto them..

CharityCharity

34 And now I know that this love which thou 34 And now I know that this love which thou hast had for the children of men is charity; hast had for the children of men is charity; wherefore, except men shall have charity wherefore, except men shall have charity they cannot inherit that place which thou they cannot inherit that place which thou hast prepared in the mansions of thy hast prepared in the mansions of thy Father.Father.

35 Wherefore, I know by this thing which 35 Wherefore, I know by this thing which thou hast said, that if the Gentiles have thou hast said, that if the Gentiles have not charity, not charity, because of our weaknessbecause of our weakness, , that thou wilt prove them…that thou wilt prove them…

Obedience

Light and Knowledge

Obedience

ObedienceLight and Knowledge

Light and Knowledge

Faith

Charity

Neil A. MaxwellNeil A. Maxwell

Moroni, indicated that God will Moroni, indicated that God will both show us our weaknesses and both show us our weaknesses and give unto us certain weaknesses give unto us certain weaknesses in order to help us be humble and in order to help us be humble and to accelerate our growth. to accelerate our growth.

Given these realities, Given these realities, it would be unwise it would be unwise and unfair for us to overreact to the and unfair for us to overreact to the weaknesses of othersweaknesses of others, especially as an , especially as an excuse for not overcoming our own. excuse for not overcoming our own.

31 31 Condemn meCondemn me not because of mine not because of mine imperfection, neither my father, imperfection, neither my father, because of his imperfection, neither because of his imperfection, neither them who have written before him; them who have written before him;

but rather give thanks unto God that but rather give thanks unto God that he hath made manifest unto you our he hath made manifest unto you our imperfections, that ye may learn to imperfections, that ye may learn to be more wise than we have been. be more wise than we have been.

Hyrum SmithHyrum SmithJune, 1844June, 1844

Ether 12:38Ether 12:38 And now I, Moroni, bid farewell And now I, Moroni, bid farewell unto the Gentiles, yea, and also unto my unto the Gentiles, yea, and also unto my brethren whom I love, until we shall meet brethren whom I love, until we shall meet before the judgment-seat of Christ, where all before the judgment-seat of Christ, where all men shall know that my garments are not men shall know that my garments are not spotted with your blood.spotted with your blood.

39 And then shall ye know that I have seen 39 And then shall ye know that I have seen Jesus, and that he hath talked with me face to Jesus, and that he hath talked with me face to face… face…

Gratitude…Gratitude…When Marine Lance Cpl. David Battle learned he'd either have When Marine Lance Cpl. David Battle learned he'd either have

to sacrifice his ring finger or the wedding band he wore, he to sacrifice his ring finger or the wedding band he wore, he told doctors at a field hospital in Iraq to cut off the finger.told doctors at a field hospital in Iraq to cut off the finger.

The 19-year-old suffered a mangled left hand and serious The 19-year-old suffered a mangled left hand and serious wounds to his legs in a November 13 fire fight in Falluja. …wounds to his legs in a November 13 fire fight in Falluja. …

Doctors were preparing to cut off Battle's ring to save as Doctors were preparing to cut off Battle's ring to save as much of his finger as they could.much of his finger as they could.

"But that would mean destroying my wedding ring," he said. "But that would mean destroying my wedding ring," he said. "My wife is the strongest woman I know. She's basically "My wife is the strongest woman I know. She's basically running two people's lives since I've been gone. I don't running two people's lives since I've been gone. I don't think I could ever repay her or show her how grateful ... think I could ever repay her or show her how grateful ... how much I love my wife, my soul mate."how much I love my wife, my soul mate."

With his approval, doctors severed his finger, but somehow in With his approval, doctors severed his finger, but somehow in the chaos that followed, they lost his ring. Although Battle the chaos that followed, they lost his ring. Although Battle was disappointed, his wife, Devon, said she was honored.was disappointed, his wife, Devon, said she was honored.