Priesthood
“The Priesthood was first given to Adam; he obtained the First Presidency, and held the keys of it from generation to generation. He obtained it in the Creation, before the world was formed, as in Genesis 1:26, 27, 28.” Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith Section Four 1839-42, p.157 “I saw Adam in the valley of Adam-Ondi-Ahman.” ibid pg.158
Continent of Genesis
“Temporarily, we call it America. But it began with the single, primeval continent of Genesis, and the miracle of millennial healing will bring that unity again.”
A Promised Land” by Jeffrey R. Holland June 1976 Ensign
1. “The most sacred of places, then, will always be those locations which God has designated for holy and eternal purposes, locations where he is the ‘doer of the deed.’ These places are revered forever by his faithful children wherever they may be. America is such a place, but of course it wasn’t always called America nor has it always been identified by a distinctive continental shape.
2. “Originally it was simply a portion of that large, single land mass which God in his creative process called ‘Earth’ and which, when completed, was pronounced ‘good.’ (Gen. 1:10.) Whatever its name and geographical configuration, however, it was from the beginning a land of divinity as well as a land of destiny.
3. “The choicest part of this earthly creation was a garden ‘eastward in Eden’ where God placed our first parents, Adam and Eve. This resplendent place filled with paradisiacal glory was located on that part of the land mass where the city Zion, or the New Jerusalem of the earth’s last days, would eventually be built. (See D&C 57:1–3, D&C 84:1–3)
4. “After Adam and Eve were driven out of the Garden, they dwelt at a place called Adam-Ondi-Ahman, located in what is now Daviess County, Missouri. In that region this first family lived out their days, tilling the soil, tending the flocks, offering sacrifices, and learning the gospel of Jesus Christ from on high.
5. “There Adam prophesied concerning all the families of the earth and, three years before his death, called together the righteous remnant of his posterity and bestowed upon them his last blessing. The Lord appeared unto this faithful group and Adam’s family rose up ‘and blessed Adam, and called him Michael, the prince, the archangel…’
6. “Never before had one spot of earth been favored with such a meeting, nor provided the stage for such sacred scenes from the drama of man’s ultimate destiny…
7. “The righteous Enoch helped save a city but the heavens wept over the wickedness of his generation, shedding their tears as the rain upon the mountains. (Moses 7:28).”
A Promised Land, by Jeffrey R. Holland June 1976 Ensign (Color and numbers have been added).
1. Earth Defiled
2. Great Deluge
3. Choice Land Set Apart
4. Jaredites re-people the Promised Land
“But even as such sacred manifestations and proclamations were recorded, the land was being polluted with unrighteousness… Indeed, the earth itself groaned against the defilement of God’s sacred soil, crying: ‘I am weary, because of the wickedness of my children. …’ Two generations later the Lord was so pained by that generation ‘without affection’ (Moses 7:33) that he opened the windows of heaven and cleansed the entire earth with water. Thus, the ‘everlasting decree’ (Ether 2:10) was first taught that he who will not obey the Lord in righteousness will be swept from this sacred land. The lesson would be tragically retaught in dispensations yet to come. Holy scripture records that ‘after the waters had receded from off the face of this land it became a choice land above all other lands, a chosen land of the Lord; wherefore the Lord would have that all men should serve him who dwell upon the face thereof.’ (Ether 13:2.) Such a special place needed now to be kept apart from other regions, free from the indiscriminate traveler as well as the soldier of fortune. To guarantee such sanctity the very surface of the earth was rent. In response to God’s decree, the great continents separated and the ocean rushed in to surround them. The promised place was set apart. Without habitation it waited for the fulfillment of God’s special purposes. With care and selectivity, the Lord began almost at once to repeople the promised land. The Jaredites came first, with stories of the great flood fresh in their memories and the Lord’s solemn declaration ringing in their ears: ‘Whoso should possess this land of promise, from that time henceforth and forever, should serve him, the true and only God, or they should be swept off when the fulness of his wrath should come upon them.’ (Ether 2:8). Despite such counsel, however, the Jaredite civilization steadily degenerated into a violent society which forced a man to keep ‘the hilt of his sword in his right hand’ (Ether 14:2)—until finally he ‘ate and slept, and prepared for death on the morrow.’ (Ether 15:26.) A Promised Land, by Jeffrey R. Holland June 1976 Ensign
Garden of Eden
“Brigham Young, also a close associate of the Prophet, testified similarly: In the beginning, after this earth was prepared for man, the Lord commenced his work upon what is now called the American
continent, where the Garden of Eden was made. In the days of Noah, in the days of the Boating of the ark, he took the people to another part of the earth. (Discourses, p. 102)
In conversation with Orson Hyde, on March 15, 1857, President Young said: You have been both to Jerusalem and Zion, and seen both. I have not seen either, for I have never been in Jackson County. Now it is a pleasant thing to think of and to know where the Garden of Eden was. Did you ever think of it? I do not think many do, for in Jackson County was the Garden of Eden. Joseph has declared this, and
I am as much bound to believe that as to believe that Joseph was a prophet of God. (Journal History, March 15, 1857)
That is the position of the Latter-day Saints today, with respect to the much-discussed location of the Garden of Eden. Adam, after his expulsion from the Garden of Eden, lived in the vicinity of the great Missouri and Mississippi rivers. As his descendants multiplied, they would naturally settle along the fertile and climatically acceptable river valleys. When the flood came in the days of Noah, the Mississippi
drainage must have increased to a tremendous volume, quite in harmony with the Biblical account. Noah’s ark would be floated on the mighty, rushing waters, towards the Gulf of Mexico. With favorable winds, it would cross the Atlantic to the Eastern continents. There the human race, in its second start on earth, began to multiply and fill the earth.
The location of the Garden of Eden in America, and at Independence, Missouri, clears up many a problem which the Bible account of Eden and its garden has left in the minds of students.” John A. Widtsoe Arranged by G. Homer Durham Salt Lake City, Utah Text (c) 1960 by Bookcraft Chapter 12 Item 4
President Joseph Fielding Smith said: “In accord with the revelations given to the Prophet Joseph Smith, we teach that the Garden of Eden was on the American continent located where the City of Zion, or the New Jerusalem, will be built. When Adam and Eve were driven out of the Garden, they eventually dwelt at a place called Adam-ondi-Ahman, situated in what is now Daviess County, Missouri. … We are committed to the fact that Adam dwelt on [the] American continent.” (Doctrines of Salvation, 3 vols., comp. Bruce R. McConkie, Salt Lake City:Bookcraft, 1956, 3:74. Compare Answers to Gospel Questions, 5 vols., Salt Lake City: Deseret Book Co., 1957–75, 2:93–95, 4:19–24; and Alvin R. Dyer, in Conference Report, Oct. 1968, pp. 108–9.)
Only Two Promised Covenant Lands
“There are only two “Promised Lands” mentioned by Christ in the Book of Mormon; Jerusalem of the Old World (3 Nephi 20:29) and New Jerusalem of the New World (3 Nephi 20:22). Both of these covenant lands of promise were given by the Lord to the house of Israel for their latter day gathering place. The New World Promised Land would be the location of the gathering place for the House of Israel in the America’s. Where is this gathering place? It will be at the New Jerusalem. And where is the New Jerusalem going to be located? We know through revelation that the New Jerusalem will be built in Jackson County Missouri, in the Heartland of North America (D&C 84:1-4). Did the Book of Mormon history take place on the same land as the New Jerusalem? Multiple passages establish that Lehi’s family was lead to and remained on this Promised Land throughout their entire history (1 Nephi 13:30, 22:7, 2 Nephi 1:5, 3 Nephi 20:22, 21:2-4,21:22-23, Ether 13:2-6). Therefore the land the Nephites, Jaredites, Mulekites and Lamanites lived upon was their “covenanted” land of promise and must – by covenant – include the Heartland of North America because it is the revealed location of the New Jerusalem by the Lord Himself.” Rod Meldrum The Scriptural Basis for the Heartland Model
TWO LANDS OF PROMISE Page 508 Annotated Book of Mormon
“…out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem” (2 Nephi 12:3). “And He shall set up an ensign for the nations, and shall assemble the outcasts of Israel, and gather together the dispersed of Judah from the four corners of the earth” (2 Nephi 21:12).
“We are committed to the fact that Adam dwelt on this American continent. But when Adam dwelt here, it was not the American continent, nor was it the Western Hemisphere, for all the land was in one place, and all the water was in one place. There was no Atlantic Ocean separating the hemispheres” – Joseph Fielding Smith, Doctrines of Salvation Vol. III, [1954], 499
Book of Mormon Geography
“Many proposed Book of Mormon geography theories were originated using a method proposed by Dr. John Sorenson and others who taught that the first step was to create a hypothetical or “internal” map using the 500+ geography related passages. This has lead to more than 150 different proposed geographies. The book was not written for its geography, but for its prophecies. Can we learn more about its geography through its prophecies than we can by speculating using hypothetical maps? Following is a brief synopsis of the scriptural basis for the Heartland Model geography of the Book of Mormon.” Rod Meldrum The Scriptural Basis for the Heartland Model
Cainan, the First Recorded “Land of Promise” in Scripture
“The first recorded instance of a “land of promise” in scripture is a land called Cainan, named after a great-grandson of Father Adam (PGP Moses 6:17). Three years prior to his death, Adam called his righteous posterity together, specifically including Cainan by name, and gave them his last blessing in the valley of Adam-ondi-Ahman (D&C 107:53). Interestingly, the original or pre-flood “land of promise” was a land in the vicinity of Adam-ondi-Ahman which is known by modern revelation to be within the state of Missouri, USA (D&C 116:1).” Rod Meldrum The Scriptural Basis for the Heartland Model
“And Enos [grandson of Adam] lived ninety years, and begat Cainan. And Enos and the residue of the people of God came out from the land, which was called Shulon, and dwelt in a land of promise, which he called after his own son, whom he had named Cainan [the land of Cainan].” (Moses 6:17)
“And behold, this people will I establish in this land, unto the fulfilling of the covenant which I made with your father Jacob, and it shall be a New Jerusalem.” (3 Nephi 20:22)
“Three years previous to the death of Adam, he called Seth, Enos, Cainan, Mahalaleel, Jared, Enoch, and Methuselah, who were all high priests, with the residue of his posterity who were righteous, into the valley of Adam-ondi-Ahman, and there bestowed upon them his last blessing.” (Doctrine & Covenants 107:53)
Canaan, the Second Recorded “Land of Promise” in Scripture
“And then we [Abraham and family] passed from Jershon through the land unto the place of Sechem; it was situated in the plains of Moreh, and we had already come into the borders of the land of the Canaanites, and I offered sacrifice there in the plains of Moreh, and called on the Lord devoutly, because we had already come into the land of this idolatrous nation. And the Lord appeared unto me in answer to my prayers, and said unto me: ‘Unto thy seed will I give this land.’” (Abraham 2:18-19)
“And the Lord said unto Abram, after that Lot was separated from him: “Lift up now thine eyes, and look from the place where thou art northward, and southward, and eastward, and westward: For all the land
which thou seest, to thee will I give it, and to thy seed for ever.” (Genesis 13:14-15)
What were the covenants given to Abraham? Page 46 Annotated Book of Mormon
While living in the Old World, Abraham entered into a covenant with God. Four major covenant blessings that were given to Abraham are highlighted below and will be invoked by Lehi when he arrives in the New World where he is directed by the Lord God to “a land which is choice above all other lands” (1 Nephi 2: 20).
1- The Promised Land of Canaan (An Inheritance):
“And then we [Abraham’s family and friends] passed from Jershon through the land unto the place of Sechem; it was situated in the plains of Moreh, and we had already come into the borders of the land of the Canaanites, and I offered sacrifice there in the plains of Moreh, and called on the Lord devoutly, because we had already come into the land of this idolatrous nation. And the Lord appeared unto me in answer to my prayers, and said unto me: “Unto thy seed will I give this land” (Abraham 2: 18-19). “I will give unto thee, and to thy seed after thee, the land wherein thou art a stranger, all the land of Canaan, for an everlasting possession; and I will be their God” (Genesis 17:8).
2- Posterity (Seed, Descendants):
“I will bless thee, and in multiplying I will multiply thy seed as the stars of the heaven, and as the sand which is upon the sea seashore” (Genesis 22:17).
3- Prosperity (Economic, Wealth):
“And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse them that curse thee; and in thee (that is, in thy Priesthood) and in thy seed (that is, thy Priesthood), for I give unto thee a promise that this right shall continue in thee, and in thy seed after thee (that is to say, the literal seed, or the seed of the body) shall all the families of the earth be blessed, even with the blessings of the Gospel, which are the blessings of salvation, even of life eternal” (Abraham 2:11). “Keep therefore the words of this covenant, and do them, that ye may prosper in all that you do” (Deuteronomy 29:9).
4- Security (Protection):
“I will send My fear before thee, and will destroy all the people to whom thou shalt come, and I will make all thine enemies turn their backs unto thee” (Exodus 23:27). In order for Abraham’s seed to bless all of God’s children with the gospel they will need a land to establish a culture of righteousness independent of unrighteous cultural norms, they will need children to share the gospel message, resources to support their missionary efforts and God’s security so that missions can be performed in lieu of military service. This covenant enables the blessings necessary to carry out His work of salvation to all nations through His covenant people.” Annotated Book of Mormon Page 46
“When Lehi arrived in the New World he testified concerning the land of promise which they had obtained. He was shown a vision that Jerusalem had been destroyed. The children of Israel had become wicked and rejected the Lord, breaking their national covenant and causing the Lord’s revocation of His special blessings of their lands, posterity, prosperity and security. Their lands were taken by the Assyrians and Babylonians resulting in tremendous loss of life, prosperity and making them vulnerable to outside attacks. Lehi’s vision for his posterity on the promised land included the same covenant blessings given to Abraham in the Old World. He would now renew or invoke this covenant in the New World. Many hundreds of years previous to Lehi’s arrival the prophet Ether had seen in vision “a New Jerusalem upon this land” (Ether 13:4) in the New World.” Annotated Book of Mormon page 50
“A CHOICE LAND”
“Choice” can mean excellent or superior, but it can also mean carefully selected for a righteous people to dwell and prosper. The Book of Mormon uses it in the last connotation: ‘And the Lord would not suffer that they should stop beyond the sea in the wilderness, but he would that they should come forth even unto the land of promise, which was choice above all other lands, which the Lord God had preserved for a righteous people’ (Ether 2:7; emphasis added). “This does not mean that the land of North America is ‘superior’ to all other lands. However, it was ‘carefully selected’ for a special purpose. For the Jaredites it was a land chosen for a ‘righteous people.’ For the Nephites, it was ‘carefully selected’ as a land of promise and a covenant land for a remnant of the House of Israel.
“The covenant land can be a blessing and also a cursing in that, if the people don’t keep the covenant, they are worse off than had they never entered the covenant in the first place. In this sense, America has been carefully selected not only as a promised land for the Jaredites and the Nephites, but as the central place for the Lord’s marvelous work and a wonder in our day. America has been chosen to host
a) the restoration of the Gospel,
b) the translation and publication of the Book of Mormon,
c) the establishment of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints; and
d) the restoration of Priesthood authority and keys for the gathering of Israel and the salvation of the dead.
These blessings come with great responsibilities. America is not “superior” to any other land created by God. This is consistent with the basic principle that God is no respecter of persons, that He speaks to all His children wherever they live: ‘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?’(2 Nephi 29:7; emphasis added).
In this sense, every land can be a promised land for the people who live there. We should appreciate all respective homelands for every nation or peoples in every continent. Understanding the history of Book of Mormon connections may help us recognize that all people can develop their own spiritual connections and traditions with their respective homeland.” – Jonathan Neville. Page 509 Annotated Book of Mormon.
12 Tribes of Israel
How many Tribes of Israel were there? Two Tribes didn’t receive Land! Who were they? (Joseph and Levi)
“Only unto the tribe of Levi he gave none inheritance; the sacrifices of the Lord God of Israel made by fire are their inheritance, as he said unto them.” Joshua 13:14
“So the children of Joseph, Manasseh and Ephraim, took their inheritance.” Joshua 16:4. The House of Ephraim and the House of Manasseh each received a land inheritance
“Joseph’s inheritance was to be a land choice above all others” –Pres. Russell M. Nelson
Wherefore, the remnant of the house of Joseph shall be built upon this land; [North America] and it shall be a land of their inheritance; and they shall build up a holy city [New Jerusalem] unto the Lord, like unto the Jerusalem of old; and they shall no more be confounded, until the end come when the earth shall pass away. Ether 13:8 Color and Parentheses added.
Land of Joseph
“The Book of Mormon reveals that Joseph, the son of Jacob who was once sold into Egypt, foresaw the Prophet Joseph Smith and his day and noted that there would be many similarities in their lives. Centuries later, the Prophet Joseph stated, “I feel like Joseph in Egypt.” The Book of Mormon reveals that the inheritance of Joseph, son of Israel, was not forgotten when land was distributed to the tribes of Israel, as promised in the Abrahamic covenant. Joseph’s inheritance was to be a land choice above all others. It was choice not because of beauty or wealth of natural resources, but choice because it was chosen to be the repository of sacred writings on golden plates from which the Book of Mormon would one day come. It was choice because it would eventually host the world headquarters of the restored Church of Jesus Christ in the latter days. And it was choice because it is a land of liberty for those who worship the Lord and keep His commandments.” President Russell M. Nelson, President of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, addresses new Mission Presidents June 22 through June 26, 2016 (Emphasis added)
This quote to me clearly shows that the Land chosen for Joseph of Egypt was indeed CHOICE above all others including any land in Canaan and indeed it was to be the United States of America, the place of Joseph Smith, the gold plates, Salt Lake City and this choice land of liberty.
“It was not by chance that the Puritans left their native land and sailed away to the shores of New England, and others later followed. They were the advance guard of the army of the Lord, predestined to establish the God-given system of government under which we live and to make America, which is the land of Joseph, the gathering place of Ephraim, an asylum for the oppressed of all nations, and prepare the way for the restoration of the gospel of Christ and the establishment of his church upon the earth” – Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, April 1930.
PRESIDENT RUSSELL M. NELSON’S BOOK OF MORMON LISTS – OCT 2017
- The Book of Mormon is: Another testament of Jesus Christ. Its major writers—Nephi, Jacob, Mormon, Moroni—and its translator, Joseph Smith, were all eyewitnesses of the Lord. 2. A record of His ministry to people who lived in ancient America. 3. True, as attested by the Lord Himself.
- The Book of Mormon affirms: The individual identity of Heavenly Father and His Beloved Son, Jesus Christ. 2. The necessity of the Fall of Adam and the wisdom of Eve, that men might have joy.
- The Book of Mormon refutes notions that: Revelation ended with the Bible. 2. Infants need to be baptized. 3. Happiness can be found in wickedness. 4. Individual goodness is adequate for exaltation (ordinances and covenants are needed). 5. The Fall of Adam tainted mankind with “original sin.”
- The Book of Mormon fulfills biblical prophecies that:“Other sheep” shall hear His voice. 2. God will do “a marvelous work and a wonder,” speaking “out of the dust.” 3. The “stick of Judah” and the “stick of Joseph” will become one. 4. Scattered Israel will be gathered “in the latter days” and how that will be done. 5. The land of inheritance for the lineage of Joseph is the Western Hemisphere.
- The Book of Mormon clarifies understanding about: Our premortal existence. 2. Death. It is a necessary component of God’s great plan of happiness. 3. Postmortal existence, which begins in paradise. 4. How the resurrection of the body, reunited with its spirit, becomes an immortal soul. 5. How our judgment by the Lord will be according to our deeds and the desires of our hearts. 6. How ordinances are properly performed: for example, baptism, sacrament, conferring the Holy Ghost. 7. The Atonement of Jesus Christ. 8. The Resurrection. 9. The important role of angels. 10. The eternal nature of priesthood. 11. How human behavior is influenced more by the power of the word than the power of the sword.
- The Book of Mormon reveals information previously unknown: Baptisms were performed before Jesus Christ was born. 2. Temples were built and used by people in ancient America. 3. Joseph, 11th son of Israel, foresaw the prophetic role of Joseph Smith. 4. Nephi (in 600–592 BC) foresaw the discovery and colonizing of America. 5. Plain and precious parts of the Bible have been lost. 6. The Light of Christ is given to each person. 7. The importance of individual agency and the need for opposition in all things. 8. Warnings about “secret combinations.”
“Whenever I hear anyone, including myself say, I know the Book of Mormon is True, I want to exclaim that’s nice but it isn’t enough. We need to feel deep the inmost parts of our hearts that the Book of Mormon is unequivocally the word of God. We must feel it so deeply that we wouldn’t want to live even one day without it. I might paraphrase President Brigham Young in saying, I wish I had the voice of seven thunders to wake up the people to the truth and power of the Book of Mormon.” Elder Russell M. Nelson Sept 30, 2017 General Conference. Emphasis added.
“Read the Book of Mormon between now and the end of the year. President Nelson suggested that as they read, they mark each verse that refers to the Savior and talk about Him with friends and family.” At at the Women’s Conference LDS News Conference Report Oct 2018
“The United States is the promised land foretold in the Book of Mormon—a place where divine guidance directed inspired men to create the conditions necessary for the Restoration of the gospel of Jesus Christ.” Elder L. Tom Perry Ensign January 2012
