In the Book of Mormon we read that the Lord reveals His purposes to Israel. They swear by the name of the Lord, but do not swear in righteousness or truth. They call themselves of the holy city but don't remain steadfast in His name. They were obstinate and stiff necked. 1 Nephi 20:1-4 "Hearken and hear this, O house of Jacob, who are called by the name of Israel, and are come forth out of the waters of Judah, or out of the waters of baptism, who swear by the name of the Lord, and make mention of the God of Israel, yet they swear not in truth nor in righteousness. Nevertheless, they call themselves of the holy city, but they do not stay themselves upon the God of Israel, who is the Lord of Hosts; yea, the Lord of Hosts is his name. Behold, I have declared the former things from the beginning; and they went forth out of my mouth, and I showed them. I did show them suddenly. And I did it because I knew that thou art obstinate, and thy neck is an iron sinew, and thy brow brass;"
In the Old Testament we read that there is a difference between someone who sins in ignorance and someone who knows the law but intentionally refuses to obey it. A person who despises the word of the Lord will be utterly cut off. Numbers 15:29-32 "Ye shall have one law for him that sinneth through ignorance, both for him that is born among the children of Israel, and for the stranger that sojourneth among them. But the soul that doeth ought presumptuously, whether he be born in the land, or a stranger, the same reproacheth the Lord; and that soul shall be cut off from among his people. Because he hath despised the word of the Lord, and hath broken his commandment, that soul shall utterly be cut off; his iniquity shall be upon him. And while the children of Israel were in the wilderness, they found a man that gathered sticks upon the sabbath day."
A verse with a thought booklet tells us that to each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the good of all. We each have our own unique talents and abilities. No one else had our smile, our voice, our love. Just like no puzzle is finished without all the pieces and no melody is complete without all the notes, if we withhold our unique talents that are only ours to give, we create an incomplete harmony in the world. 1 Corinthians 12:7 " But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal."
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