Brother Maughan Book Of Mormon class Fall 2015

1. Our Journey of Faith- Authors intent & Throne
Theophany
• Doctrines and Evidences of the Book of Mormon

3. I told the brethren, [the
twelve Apostles] that the
Book of Mormon was the
most correct book of any on
earth, and the keystone of our
religion, and a man would get
nearer to God by abiding by
its precepts, than by any
other book." JSHC 7 Vol.,
4:461

4. Witness and Purpose of the Authors
• 1 Nephi 6:4 1 Nephi 1:9
• Words of Mormon 1:4 2 Nephi 11:2
• Mormon 1:15 2 Nephi 2:4
• 2 Nephi 25:22-30 2 Nephi 11:3;33:10
• Ether 12:39-40 D&C 17:6; 20:8-12
• Mormon 8: 31-41 D&C 84:56-57
• Jacob 1:4 Moroni 10:3-5; 1 Nephi 1:20

5. Elder David A. Bednar of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles
described the “tender mercies of the Lord”:
• “I testify that the tender mercies
of the Lord are real and that they
do not occur randomly or merely
by coincidence. Often the Lord’s
timing of His tender mercies
helps us to both discern and
acknowledge them.

6. Elder David A. Bednar of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles
described the “tender mercies of the Lord”:
• “… The Lord’s tender mercies are the very
personal and individualized blessings, strength,
protection, assurances, guidance, loving-
kindness, consolation, support, and spiritual
gifts which we receive from and because of
and through the Lord Jesus Christ. Truly the
Lord suits ‘his mercies according to the
conditions of the children of men’ (D&C
46:15).

7. Elder David A. Bednar of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles
described the “tender mercies of the Lord”:
• “… One of the ways whereby the Savior comes to each of us is through His
abundant and tender mercies. For instance, as you and I face challenges and
tests in our lives, the gift of faith and an appropriate sense of personal
confidence that reaches beyond our own capacity are two examples of the
tender mercies of the Lord. Repentance and forgiveness of sins and peace of
conscience are examples of the tender mercies of the Lord. And the
persistence and the fortitude that enable us to press forward with cheerfulness
through physical limitations and spiritual difficulties are examples of the tender
mercies of the Lord” (in Conference Report, Apr. 2005, 105; or Ensign, May
2005, 99–100).

8. D&C 88:118
•"As all have not faith, seek ye diligently and
teach one another words of wisdom; yea,
seek ye out of the best books words of
wisdom; seek learning, even by study and
also by faith."

9. The Brethren have taught the importance of
study by Faith
• President Gordon B. Hinckley has said: "There is incumbent upon each of
us . . . the responsibility to observe the commandment to study and to learn.
. . . None of us can assume that we have learned enough."2
• Elder Neal A. Maxwell has affirmed: "If there is sometimes too little respect
for the life of the mind, it is a localized condition and is not institutional in
character."3 "The Lord sees no conflict between faith and learning in a broad
curriculum. . . . The scriptures see faith and learning as mutually facilitating, not
separate processes."4
• Elder Boyd K. Packer has said: "Each of us must accommodate the mixture
of reason and revelation in our lives. The gospel not only permits but requires
it."5

10. Circumstantial evidence, in experiments...
• An 1842 editorial announcing some archaeological discoveries in Central
America that was published in the Times and Seasons when Joseph Smith was
editor boldly asserts:
• "We can not but think the Lord has a hand in bringing to pass his
strange act, and proving the Book of Mormon true in the eyes of
all the people. . . . It will be as it ever has been, the world will prove
Joseph Smith a true prophet by circumstantial evidence, in
experiments, as they did Moses and Elijah."9

11. Evidence can remove honest doubt
• Elder John A. Widtsoe taught that evidence can remove honest doubt
and give assurances that build faith. "After proper inquiries, using all the
powers at our command," he said, "the weight of evidence is on one
side or the other. Doubt is removed."10 "Doubt of the right kind—that
is, honest questioning—leads to faith" and "opens the door to
truth,"11 for where there is doubt, faith cannot thrive.
• Elder Joseph Fielding Smith likewise affirmed that evidence, as
convincing as in any court in the land, proves "beyond the
possibility of doubt that Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery spoke
the truth."12

12. Evidence also makes the truth plain and plausible
• In 1976 Elder Maxwell predicted:
• "There will be a convergence of discoveries (never
enough, mind you, to remove the need for faith) to
make plain and plausible what the modern
prophets have been saying all along."15

13. Evidence also makes the truth plain and plausible
• I believe that this prophecy has been amply fulfilled in the last twenty
years. Literally hundreds of newly discovered insights converge on the
same supporting conclusion. Certain things that might at first have
appeared outrageous, on closer inspection have turned out to be right on
target.

14. Evidence also makes the truth plain and plausible
• The ancient Jaredite transoceanic migration that lasted 344 days
• (see Ether 6:11) ceases to seem so fantastic when that turns out to be
exactly the length of time it takes the Pacific current to go from Asia to
Mexico.16
• The oddity of Nephi's making new arrows when only his bow
had broken suddenly becomes plausible when one realizes that arrows
and bows must match each other in weight, length, and stiffness,17 again
making "plain and plausible" what the Book of Mormon has said all
along

15. Austin Farrar in speaking about C. S. Lewis and
quoted by Elder Maxwell on several occasions:
• "Though argument does not create conviction, lack of
it destroys belief. What seems to be proved may not
be embraced; but what no one shows that ability to
defend is quickly abandoned. Rational argument does
not create belief, but it maintains a climate in which
belief may flourish."18
• (see D&C 46:13–14; Alma 32:16)

16. ...to quote
Elder Jeffrey R. Holland
The historical facts in support of
Joseph's testimony, leave one
"speechless absolutely, totally, and
bewilderingly incredulous," at the
bald suggestion that Joseph Smith
simply wrote the Book of
Mormon.
"A Standard unto My People," address delivered at CES Symposium,
Brigham Young University, Provo, Utah, 9 August 1994 (Provo,
Utah: FARMS, 1994), 7.

18. Book of Mormon Evidences
1. Lehi’s Throne Theophany
2. Jerusalem at the time of Lehi
3. Nephi’s Theme-Deliverer and Messiah
4. Lehi’s Family
5. The Exodus Patterns & Promises
6. Death of the Natural Man (Laban)
7. The Making of an Israelite New world King
8. Tree of Life Symbolism
9. Metallurgy

19. The Book of Mormon brings men to
Christ through two basic means. First,
it tells in a plain manner of Christ and
his gospel. It testifies of his divinity
and of the necessity for a Redeemer
and the need of our putting trust in
him. It bears witness of the Fall and
the Atonement and the first principles
of the gospel, including our need of a
broken heart and a contrite spirit and
a spiritual rebirth. It proclaims we
must endure to the end in
righteousness and live the moral life
of a Saint.

20. Lehi’s Throne Theophany- 1 Nephi 1:5-16
• Modern scholarship has
identified a motif called a
"throne vision" or "throne
theophany" — the word
"theophany" simply means a
"manifestation of God" — that
repeatedly occurs in ancient
stories of prophetic calls.

21. The Prophetic Call
Throne Theophany
• The prophetic call narrative consists of several parts, some of which may be absent or in a
different order in individual cases. The general outline, formed from combining Blake T.
Ostler’s summary of the throne theophany and Stephen D. Rick’s outline of the narrative
form is as follows:
1. Historical Introduction: A brief introductory remark providing circumstantial details
such as time, place, and historical setting.
2. Divine Confrontation: Either deity or an angel appears in glory to the individual.
3. Reaction: The individual reacts to the presence of the deity or his angel by way of an
action expressive of fear, unworthiness, or having been overpowered (Ostler 69).
4. Throne-Theophany: A theophany is a vision of God, and a throne-theophany is a vision
where “the individual sees the council of God and God seated upon his throne. This
element distinguishes the throne-theophany commission from” the narrative call form
(Ostler 70).

22. Lehi’s Throne Theophany
• In these accounts, a "historical prologue" typically provides the
background for the theophany, and place, time and surrounding events
play a significant role.
• "Despite the overwhelming glory of the sacred locale," one scholar
writes about Isaiah 6, "the historical moment is just as important to
the prophet's proclamation. The year was a year of transition,
crisis and import; it was the year of the king's death."

23. Lehi’s Throne Theophany
• Nephi describes the religious turmoil in Jerusalem that preceded Lehi's
throne theophany:
• "For it came to pass in the commencement of the first year of the reign of
Zedekiah, king of Judah, … and in that same year there came many prophets,
prophesying unto the people that they must repent, or the great city Jerusalem
must be destroyed"
• (1 Nephi 1:4; 2 Chronicles 36:11-21; Jer. 35:25; 2 Kings 25: 1-4; 2 Chron.
15:19).

24. The Prophetic Call
Throne Theophany
5. The Introductory Word: The introductory word serves to both “arouse the attention [of the prophet]” and to
“spell out the specific basis or grounds for the commission” (cited in Ricks 99). Often, the reasons for why the
one called upon will serve as a prophet is explained.
6. Commission: The individual recipient is commanded to perform a given task and assume the role of prophet to
the people.
7. Protest or Objection: The prophet responds to the commission by claiming that he is unable or unworthy to
accomplish the task. This element is usually absent when the reaction element is present.
8. Reassurance: “The deity reassures the prophet that he will be protected and able to carry out the commission.” In
many occasions a miraculous sign is given to the prophet.
9. Conclusion: “The commission form usually concludes in a formal way, most often with a statement that the
prophet has begun to carry out his commission” (Ostler 69-70; see also Ricks 97).
• There are many great examples of the prophetic commission. To illustrate the different parts of the call, we will
look at Moses’s experience with the burning bush, Jeremiah’s call, Lehi’s throne-theophany in the Book of Mormon
and Enoch’s vision in the Book of Moses. Joseph Smith...

26. Moses Ex.3:3-14; Ex. 34:28-35
• 3 And Moses said, I will now turn aside, and see this great sight, why
the bush is not burnt.
• 4 And when the Lord saw that he turned aside to see, God called unto
him out of the midst of the bush, and said, Moses, Moses. And he said,
Here am I.

27. 1 kings 22:19- 21
Micaiah
• 19 And he said, Hear thou therefore the word of the Lord: I saw the Lord
sitting on his throne, and all the host of heaven standing by him on his right
hand and on his left.
• 20 And the Lord said, Who shall persuade Ahab, that he may go up and fall at
Ramoth-gilead? And one said on this manner, and another said on that
manner.
• 21 And there came forth a spirit, and stood before the Lord, and said, I will
persuade him

28. Isaiah 6:1-2,8
• 1 In the year that king Uzziah died I saw also the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and
lifted up, and his train filled the temple.
• 2 Above it stood the seraphims: each one had six wings; with twain he covered his
face, and with twain he covered his feet, and with twain he did fly.
• 3 And one cried unto another, and said, Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord of hosts: the
whole earth is full of his glory.
• 4 And the posts of the door moved at the voice of him that cried, and the house was
filled with smoke.

29. Isaiah 6:1-2,8
• 5 ¶Then said I, Woe is me! for I am undone; because I am a man of unclean lips,
and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips: for mine eyes have seen the King,
the Lord of hosts.
• 6 Then flew one of the seraphims unto me, having a live coal in his hand, which he
had taken with the tongs from off the altar:
• 7 And he laid it upon my mouth, and said, Lo, this hath touched thy lips; and thine
iniquity is taken away, and thy sin purged.
• 8 Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, Whom shall I send, and who will go for
us? Then said I, Here am I; send me.

30. Daniel sees the Lord and others in a glorious vision—He is
shown what is to be in the latter days
(Old Testament | Daniel 10:Heading)
• 16 And, behold, one like the similitude of the sons of men touched my
lips: then I opened my mouth, and spake, and said unto him that stood
before me, O my lord, by the vision my sorrows are turned upon me, and I
have retained no strength
• (Old Testament | Daniel 10:16)

31. • 9 Then the LORD put forth his hand, and touched my mouth.
And the LORD said unto me, Behold, I have put my words in thy
mouth
• (Old Testament | Jeremiah 1:9)
Did The Lord…
Touch Jeremiah's mouth…?

32. Ezekiel 1:1, 26, 28
• The throne-theophany is an ascension narrative where the
prophet is taken into or shown the heavens with God
sitting upon His throne, surrounded by the heavenly
council. This element is specific to the throne-theophany
narratives and is not present in the basic narrative calls.
Ezekiel states that:
• I saw visions of God…. And above the firmament that
was over [the seraphim’s] heads was the likeness of a
throne, as the appearance of a sapphire stone: and upon
the… throne was the likeness as the appearance of a
man…. This was the appearance of the likeness of the
glory of the Lord (Ezekiel 1:1, 26, 28).

33. Lehi’s Throne Theophany
• Such visions, which are recorded in Isaiah 6, the apocryphal
• "Ascension of Isaiah,"
• 4 Ezra, Ezekiel 1,
• Revelation 4,
• the Ethiopic and Slavonic books of Enoch, and many other texts, take
their name from their description of God sitting upon his throne
(sometimes, technically, in a "throne chariot").

34. ezekiel 1:26- 28; 1 enoch 14:18 -24
• 1 enoch 2 enoch the testament of levi 4 ezra 3 baruch the ascension of
isaiah and the apocalypse of abraham among others the theophany
prophetic commission pattern is readily discernible in
pseudepigigraphric literature such as the ethiopic enoch when compared
with ezekiel s throne chariot vision

35. Enoch Literature
• ...above the vault over their heads and I observed
and saw a there appeared a throne lofty throne its
appearance was and upon the throne a form in like
crystal and from beneath human likeness ...the
throne were issuing streams when I saw this I
heard of flaming fire and the a voice speaking to
me ...man ...great glory was sitting upon...said stand
up and let me talk it and the lord called with you
new english bible me and said to me come near to
me enoch and to my holy

36. Lehi’s Theophany
• ...In 1 nephi 1 compares very
favorably with the genre
apocalypse in general see app
1 and with the literary pattern
and the developing history of
the call form found in
pseudepigraphic and old
testament works in particular
as the following chart
demonstrates

37. 8 conclusion
Throne Theophany or
Ascension Prophet call
Pattern
Isaiah Jeremiah Ezekiel Lehi Joseph Daniel Moses
1 Historical introduction 6:1a 1:1-3 1:1-3 1 Nephi 1:4 JSH 1:1-5 Daniel 1 Ex.1-2
2 Divine confrontation 6:1b-4 1:4 1:4-26b 1 Nephi 1:6 JSH 1:9-15 Daniel 2:19-22 Ex. 3:5-6
3 Reaction 6:5 1:28b 1 Nephi 1:7 JSH 1:17 Ex.3:11
4 Throne theophany 6:2-4 1:20-26a 1 Nephi 1:8,
11-13
JSH 1:15-20 Daniel 10:16 Ex. 3:1-7
John Alger Account
5 Commission –
& a Book
6:1b,13b 1:5-7 2:3-5 2:1 JSH 1:33-35+ Ex. 3:15-20
Ex.34:28-35
6 Protest 6:11 1:6 1 Nephi
1:15,18
Ex. 3:11
7 Reassurance
8. Conclusion
6:6-7
6:11b-3b
1:8-9
1:10
2:1-2
3:11-14
1:10-12
1:20, 2:1
JSH 1:20 Ex.3:12-15
JSH 1:24-26

38. Lehi’s Throne Theophany
• The motif features:
• "a righteous individual who, concerned for the wickedness of his people, prays
and weeps on their behalf until physically overcome by the spirit of revelation" and
who is thereupon
• "carried away in a vision."
• There, he sees "God on his throne attended by the heavenly council."
• He also "receives a heavenly book which explains the secrets of the universe and the
impending disaster of his people. The vision is completed with a call or commission
extended from the heavenly council to warn his people about their inevitable
destruction; however, he is also forewarned that his people will reject him."

39. Lehi’s Throne Theophany
• 1 Nephi 1 ...provides an unusually good example of
the phenomenon:
• Lehi "was carried away in a vision, even that he
thought he saw God sitting upon his throne
surrounded with numberless concourses of
angels in the attitude of singing and praising
their God" (1 Nephi 1:8).

41. John Alger

42. John Alger
• [February 2, 1893]
• Brother John Alger said while speaking of the
Prophet Joseph Smith, that when he, John, was
a small boy he heard the Prophet Joseph relate
his vision of seeing the Father and the Son,
[and] that God touched his eyes with his finger
and said "Joseph, this is my Beloved Son, hear
Him." As soon as the Lord had touched his
eyes with his finger he immediately saw the
Savior.

43. John Alger as recorded by Charles Walker in 1893
• After meeting, a few of us questioned him
about the matter and he told us at the bottom
of the meeting house steps that he was in the
house of Father Smith in Kirtland when
Joseph made this declaration, and that Joseph
while speaking of it put his finger to his right
eye, suiting the action with the words so as to
illustrate and at the same time impress the
occurrence on the minds of those unto whom
he was speaking. We enjoyed the conversation
very much, as it was something that we had
never seen in church history or heard of
before. Heard Joseph testify of the First Vision, saying God the Father
appeared first and touched his eye, enabling him to see the Son. (A. Karl
Larson and Katharine Miles Larson, Diary of Charles Lowell Walker, 2 vols.
(Logan, Utah: Utah State University Press, 1980), 2:540.

44. “As tangible as man’s…”
• 22 The Father has a body of flesh
and bones as tangible as man's;
the Son also…
• (Doctrine and Covenants |
Section 130:22)

46. Visions of the Father and the Son
Zebedee Coltrin shared the following sacred
experience:
• “At one of these meetings after the organization of the
school, (the school being organized on the 23rd of January,
1833), when we were all together, Joseph having given
instructions, and while engaged in silent prayer, kneeling,
with our hands uplifted each one praying in silence, no one
whispered above his breath, a personage walked through
the room from east to west, and Joseph asked if we saw
him. I saw him and suppose the others did and Joseph
answered that is Jesus, the Son of God, our elder brother.
Afterward Joseph told us to resume our former position in
prayer, which we did. Another person came through; he
was surrounded as with a flame of fire. … The Prophet
Joseph said this was the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. I
saw Him.” (Minutes, Salt Lake City School of Prophets, 3
Oct. 1883, pp. 56–57.)

47. • “In one of these meetings the prophet told us if we
could humble ourselves before God, and exercise
strong faith, we should see the face of the Lord. And
about midday the visions of my mind were opened,
and the eyes of my understanding were enlightened,
and I saw the form of a man, most lovely, the visage
of his face was sound and fair as the sun. His hair a
bright silver grey, curled in most majestic form, His
eyes a keen penetrating blue, and the skin of his neck
a most beautiful white and he was covered from the
neck to the feet with a loose garment, pure white,
whiter than any garment I have ever before seen. His
countenance was most penetrating, and yet most
lovely. And while I was endeavoring to comprehend
the whole personage from head to feet it slipped from
me, and the vision was closed up. But it left on my
mind the impression of love, for months, that I never
felt before to that degree.” (John Murdock Journal,
typescript, Brigham Young University archives, p. 13.)

48. Lehi’s Throne Theophany- Divine Confrontation
• The recipient of the vision is typically described as overcome with awe
(or perplexity) at what he has witnessed.
• Isaiah was overpowered by the glory of his heavenly vision, exclaiming,
"Woe is me! For I am undone"
• (Isaiah 6:5).
• Ezekiel fell upon his face after his experience with God
• (see Ezekiel 1:28).
• Enoch, who beheld lightning and saw flaming cherubim who spoke with
fiery tongues, reported,

49. Lehi’s Throne Theophany
• Enoch- "I quaked and trembled, I fell upon my face."
• So also in the "Apocalypse of Abraham": Following an encounter with the
glorious angel Jaoel, Abraham said,
• "There was no breath of man, and my spirit was affrighted, and my soul
fled me, and I became like a stone, and I fell upon the earth, for I had no more
strength to stand."
• Likewise, Lehi "did quake and tremble exceedingly. … And he cast himself
upon his bed, being overcome with the spirit and the things which he had
seen" (1 Nephi 1:6-7).

50. Lehi’s Throne Theophany
• In the "throne theophany" described in Isaiah 6, a divine commission to
"go and say to this people, hear …" completes Isaiah's vision.
• Nephi's account relates that "After the Lord had shown so many
marvelous things unto my father, Lehi, yea, concerning the destruction,
behold he went forth among the people, and began to prophesy and
to declare unto them concerning the things which he had both seen and
heard … and also the things which he read in the book"
• (1 Nephi 1:18-19).

51. Lehi’s Throne Theophany
• In this small but significant regard, as in others,
• ... the Book of Mormon fits its claimed place and time of origin.
• (For more details and further references on this subject, see Daniel C. Peterson and Stephen D. Ricks, "The Throne
Theophany/Prophetic Call of Muhammad.")
• Daniel C. Peterson is a professor of Islamic studies and Arabic at BYU, where he also serves as editor in chief of
the Middle Eastern Texts Initiative and as director of advancement for the Neal A. Maxwell Institute for Religious
Scholarship. He is the founder of MormonScholarsTestify.org

52. Second, the Book of Mormon exposes
the enemies of Christ. It confounds
false doctrines and lays down
contention. (See 2 Ne. 3:12.) It fortifies
the humble followers of Christ against
the evil designs, strategies, and
doctrines of the devil in our day. The
type of apostates in the Book of
Mormon are similar to the type we
have today. God, with his infinite
foreknowledge, so molded the Book of
Mormon that we might see the error
and know how to combat false
educational, political, religious, and
philosophical concepts of our time.

53. What Doctrinal themes have you found in the Book of
Mormon that testify of its truthfulness?!
1. Answers the Great Question:
Alma 34:5-6,8 All things Typify of Him
2 Ne. 11:4; Moses 6:63
2. The Doctrine of Christ is plainly set forth.
2 Nephi 31-33
3. The Atonement/Resurrection
And His Tender Mercies
1 Ne. 19; 2 Ne. 2,9; Alma 12, 34;
Helaman 5

54. 4. The Great Plan of Happiness
Alma 12, 42
5. Covenant Israel.
The gathering, Scattering, and Family. Isaiah chapters
Nephi and Jacob’s commentary
6. God favors the righteous--Mighty change of Heart/hard
hearts, stiff necks
7. God delivers the righteous
8. Satans tactics revealed —flattery, lies,--wickedness reacts
with anger and mocking
9. Agency defined/opposition in all things/obey and
prosper/disobey cut off from the Lord
10. What God is like/what man is like/How we reconcile.