#570: “Feast Upon the Words of Christ”

(Promise and Warning)

3 Angels speak by the power of the Holy Ghost; wherefore, they speak the words of Christ. Wherefore, I said unto you, feast upon the words of Christ; for behold, the words of Christ will tell you all things what ye should do.
4 Wherefore, now after I have spoken these words, if ye cannot understand them it will be because ye ask not, neither do ye knock; wherefore, ye are not brought into the light, but must perish in the dark.
5 For behold, again I say unto you that if ye will enter in by the way, and receive the Holy Ghost, it will show unto you all things what ye should do.*

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*Book of Mormon | 2 Nephi 32:3 - 5 (bea)

#569: They Are Agents Unto Themselves.

(Promise and Warning)

26 For behold, it is not meet that I should command in all things; for he that is compelled in all things, the same is a slothful and not a wise servant; wherefore he receiveth no reward.
27 Verily I say, men should be anxiously engaged in a good cause, and do many things of their own free will, and bring to pass much righteousness;
28 For the power is in them, wherein And inasmuch as men do good they shall in nowise lose their reward.
29 But he that doeth not anything until he is commanded, and receiveth a commandment with doubtful heart, and keepeth it with slothfulness, the same is damned.*

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*Doctrine and Covenants | Section 58:26 - 29

#568: “The Design of Your God”

3 Ye cannot behold with your natural eyes, for the present time, the design of your God concerning those things which shall come hereafter, and the glory which shall follow after much tribulation.
4 For after much tribulation come the blessings. Wherefore the day cometh that ye shall be crowned with much glory; the hour is not yet, but is nigh at hand.

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Doctrine and Covenants | Section 58:3-4

#567: "Ye Need Not Suppose"

10 Wherefore, because that ye have a Bible ye need not suppose that it contains all my words; neither need ye suppose that I have not caused more to be written.
11 For I command all men, both in the east and in the west, and in the north, and in the south, and in the islands of the sea, that they shall write the words which I speak unto them; for out of the books which shall be written I will judge the world, every man according to their works, according to that which is written.
12 For behold, I shall speak unto the Jews and they shall write it; and I shall also speak unto the Nephites and they shall write it; and I shall also speak unto the other tribes of the house of Israel, which I have led away, and they shall write it; and I shall also speak unto all nations of the earth and they shall write it.
13 And it shall come to pass that the Jews shall have the words of the Nephites, and the Nephites shall have the words of the Jews; and the Nephites and the Jews shall have the words of the lost tribes of Israel; and the lost tribes of Israel shall have the words of the Nephites and the Jews.

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Book of Mormon | 2 Nephi 29:10 - 13 (bea)

#566: "I Remember"

7 Know ye not that there are more nations than one? Know ye not that I, the Lord your God, have created all men, and that I remember those who are upon the isles of the sea; and that I rule in the heavens above and in the earth beneath; and I bring forth my word unto the children of men, yea, even upon all the nations of the earth?

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Book of Mormon | 2 Nephi 29:7 (bea)

#565: “By the Voice of the People”

(Warning)

26 Now it is not common that the voice of the people desireth anything contrary to that which is right; but it is common for the lesser part of the people to desire that which is not right; therefore this shall ye observe and make it your law—to do your business by the voice of the people.*

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*Book of Mormon | Mosiah 29:26

#564: For I Am Persuaded"

(Promise)

38 For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come,
39 Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

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New Testament | Romans 8:38-39 (bea)

#563: "Line Upon Line"

(Promise and Warning)

30 For behold, thus saith the Lord God: I will give unto the children of men line upon line, precept upon precept, here a little and there a little; and blessed are those who hearken unto my precepts, and lend an ear unto my counsel, for they shall learn wisdom; for unto him that receiveth I will give more; and from them that shall say, We have enough, from them shall be taken away even that which they have.
31 Cursed is he that putteth his trust in man, or maketh flesh his arm, or shall hearken unto the precepts of men, save their precepts shall be given by the power of the Holy Ghost.

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Book of Mormon | 2 Nephi 28:30-31 (bea)

#562: "Beware Lest Ye Are Deceived"

(Counsel and Warning)

7 But ye are commanded in all things to ask of God, who giveth liberally; and that which the Spirit testifies unto you even so I would that ye should do in all holiness of heart, walking uprightly before me, considering the end of your salvation, doing all things with prayer and thanksgiving, that ye may not be seduced by evil spirits, or doctrines of devils, or the commandments of men; for some are of men, and others of devils.
8 Wherefore, beware lest ye are deceived; and that ye may not be deceived seek ye earnestly the best gifts, always remembering for what they are given;

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Doctrine and Covenants | Section 46:7 - 8 (bea)

#561: "He Inviteth Them All to Come"

(Counsel and Character)

32 And again, the Lord God hath commanded that men should not murder; that they should not lie; that they should not steal; that they should not take the name of the Lord their God in vain; that they should not envy; that they should not have malice; that they should not contend one with another; that they should not commit whoredoms; and that they should do none of these things; for whoso doeth them shall perish.
33 For none of these iniquities come of the Lord; for he doeth that which is good among the children of men; and he doeth nothing save it be plain unto the children of men; and he inviteth them all to come unto him and partake of his goodness; and he denieth none that come unto him, black and white, bond and free, male and female; and he remembereth the heathen; and all are alike unto God, both Jew and Gentile.

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Book of Mormon | 2 Nephi 26:32-33 (bea)

#560: "Abundant in Goodness and Truth"

(Promise and Warning)

6 And the LORD passed by before him, and proclaimed, The LORD, The LORD God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abundant in goodness and truth,
7 Keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, and that will by no means clear the guilty rebellious; visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children, and upon the children's children, unto the third and to the fourth generation.

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JST Old Testament | Exodus 34:6-7 (bold is Joseph Smith Translation)

#559: "Do Not ..."

(Warning)

51 Wherefore, do not spend money for that which is of no worth, nor your labor for that which cannot satisfy. Hearken diligently unto me, and remember the words which I have spoken; and come unto the Holy One of Israel, and feast upon that which perisheth not, neither can be corrupted, and let your soul delight in fatness.

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Book of Mormon | 2 Nephi 9:51 (bea)

#558: "The Way for Man is Narrow"

(The Way)

26 For the atonement satisfieth the demands of his justice upon all those who have not the law given to them, that they are delivered from that awful monster, death and hell, and the devil, and the lake of fire and brimstone, which is endless torment; and they are restored to that God who gave them breath, which is the Holy One of Israel.*

41 O then, my beloved brethren, come unto the Lord, the Holy One. Remember that his paths are righteous. Behold, the way for man is narrow, but it lieth in a straight course before him, and the keeper of the gate is the Holy One of Israel; and he employeth no servant there; and there is none other way save it be by the gate; for he cannot be deceived, for the Lord God is his name.**

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Book of Mormon | 2 Nephi 9:26)
Book of Mormon | 2 Nephi 9:41, (bea)

#557: "That He May Save ALL ... Who Belong to the Family of Adam"

(Promises and Warning)

20 O how great the holiness of our God! For he knoweth all things, and there is not anything save he knows it.
21 And he cometh into the world that he may save all men if they will hearken unto his voice; for behold, he suffereth the pains of all men, yea, the pains of every living creature, both men, women, and children, who belong to the family of Adam.
22 And he suffereth this that the resurrection might pass upon all men, that all might stand before him at the great and judgment day.
23 And he commandeth all men that they must repent, and be baptized in his name, having perfect faith in the Holy One of Israel, or they cannot be saved in the kingdom of God.

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Book of Mormon | 2 Nephi 9:20-23 (bea)

#556: "The Hearts of Men in Your Own Land"

(Voice of Warning)

29 Ye hear of wars in far countries, and you say that there will soon be great wars in far countries, but ye know not the hearts of men in your own land.
30 I tell you these things because of your prayers; wherefore, treasure up wisdom in your bosoms, lest the wickedness of men reveal these things unto you by their wickedness, in a manner which shall speak in your ears with a voice louder than that which shall shake the earth; but if ye are prepared ye shall not fear.

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Doctrine and Covenants | Section 38:29-30 (bea)

#555: "No Respecter of Persons"

34 ¶ Then Peter opened his mouth, and said, Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons:
35 But in every nation he that feareth him, and worketh righteousness, is accepted with him.*

If we take Peter as authorized to speak for God, what do these verses say about those who consider themselves special in the eyes of God but do not fear Him or who worketh unrighteousness?

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*New Testament | Acts 10:34-35

#554: "Stepping Stones"

"Difficulties strengthen the mind, as labor does the body." — Marcus Aurelius*

"Fire feeds on obstacles. A stumbling block becomes a stepping stone." — Marcus Aurelius**

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* (Meditations, Book 5.20, translated by Long)
Kulkarni, Bhushan. 366 Days with Marcus Aurelius: Daily Wisdom and Reflections from Meditations (Great Thinkers - Timeless Wisdom Series) (p. 69). Kindle Edition.
** Ibid., (p. 91). Kindle Edition.

#553: "Rend Your Heart, Not Your Garments"

12 ¶ Therefore also now, saith the LORD, turn ye even to me with all your heart, and with fasting, and with weeping, and with mourning:
13 And rend your heart, and not your garments, and repent, and turn unto the LORD your God: for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and repenteth him of he will turn away the evil from you.
14 Therefore repent, and who knoweth if but he will return and repent, and leave a blessing behind him; that you may offer even a meat offering and a drink offering unto the LORD your God?

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(JST Old Testament | Joel 2:12 - 14)
Corrections by Joseph Smith Jr. known as
The Joseph Smith Translation

#552: "Impossible For them Who Trust in Riches"

27 And he said unto them, It is The things which are impossible with men are for them who trust in riches, to enter into the kingdom of God; but he who forsaketh the things which are of this world, it is possible with God, that he should enter in.

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Joseph Smith Translation: New Testament | Luke 18:27
Bold = JST correction; Cross out by JST

#551: Human Law - Never to Bind the Consciences of Men

4 We believe that religion is instituted of God; and that men are amenable to him, and to him only, for the exercise of it, unless their religious opinions prompt them to infringe upon the rights and liberties of others; but we do not believe that human law has a right to interfere in prescribing rules of worship to bind the consciences of men, nor dictate forms for public or private devotion; that the civil magistrate should restrain crime, but never control conscience; should punish guilt, but never suppress the freedom of the soul.

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(Doctrine and Covenants | Section 134:4)

#550: "And Held Inviolate"

2 We believe that no government can exist in peace, except such laws are framed and held inviolate as will secure to each individual the free exercise of conscience, the right and control of property, and the protection of life.

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(Doctrine and Covenants | Section 134:2)

#549: "A Man Cannot Find Out"

(Neither Seeking nor Science can discover the work of God)

16 ¶ When I applied mine heart to know wisdom, and to see the business that is done upon the earth: (for also there is that neither day nor night seeth sleep with his eyes:)
17 Then I beheld all the work of God, that a man cannot find out the work that is done under the sun: because though a man labour to seek it out, yet he shall not find it; yea further; though a wise man think to know it, yet shall he not be able to find it.*

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*(Old Testament | Ecclesiastes 8:16 - 17; bea)

#548: "Proclaimed Upon the Housetops"

(Warning Voice)

2 For there is nothing covered, that shall not be revealed; neither hid, that shall not be known.
3 Therefore whatsoever ye have spoken in darkness shall be heard in the light; and that which ye have spoken in the ear in closets shall be proclaimed upon the housetops.
(New Testament | Luke 12:2 - 3)

#547: "But with the People Themselves"

(Another warning voice)

If a nation expects to be ignorant and free, in a state of civilization, it expects what never was and never will be. The functionaries of every government have propensities to command at will the liberty and property of their constituents. There is no safe deposit for these but with the people themselves; nor can they be safe with them without information. Where the press is free, and every man able [and willing] to read, all is safe* [until the wicked rule].

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*Letter to Colonel Charles Yancey (6 January 1816) ME 14:384
https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Thomas_Jefferson

Thomas Jefferson (April 13 [O.S. April 2], 1743 – July 4, 1826) was an American Founding Father and the third president of the United States from 1801 to 1809.[6] He was the primary author of the Declaration of Independence. Jefferson was the nation's first U.S. secretary of state under George Washington and then the nation's second vice president under John Adams. Jefferson was a leading proponent of democracy, republicanism, and natural rights, and he produced formative documents and decisions at the state, national, and international levels.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thomas_Jefferson