In the Book of Mormon we read that after Moroni inquired of the Lord about the state of the three Nephites, he learned that their bodies had been changed so that they would not taste of death, and they would not suffer pain or sorrow except sorrow for the sins of the world. This change is not equal to what will take place at the last day, but they will remain in this state until judgment day when they will receive the greater change. 3 Nephi 28: 36-40 "And now behold, as I spake concerning those whom the Lord hath chosen, yea, even three who were caught up into the heavens, that I knew not whether they were cleansed from mortality to immortality— But behold, since I wrote, I have inquired of the Lord, and he hath made it manifest unto me that there must needs be a change wrought upon their bodies, or else it needs be that they must taste of death; Therefore, that they might not taste of death there was a change wrought upon their bodies, that they might not suffer pain nor sorrow save it were for the sins of the world. Now this change was not equal to that which shall take place at the last day; but there was a change wrought upon them, insomuch that Satan could have no power over them, that he could not tempt them; and they were sanctified in the flesh, that they were holy, and that the powers of the earth could not hold them. And in this state they were to remain until the judgment day of Christ; and at that day they were to receive a greater change, and to be received into the kingdom of the Father to go no more out, but to dwell with God eternally in the heavens."
In the Old Testament we read that Joshua built an altar and offered sacrifices to the Lord, according to the instructions given by Moses. Then Joshua read aloud to the people all the words of instruction on the scroll, both blessing and cursing. Joshua read every single word that Moses had commanded to all the people--men, women and children. Joshua 8:30-35 "Then Joshua built an altar unto the Lord God of Israel in mount Ebal, As Moses the servant of the Lord commanded the children of Israel, as it is written in the book of the law of Moses, an altar of whole stones, over which no man hath lift up any iron: and they offered thereon burnt offerings unto the Lord, and sacrificed peace offerings. And he wrote there upon the stones a copy of the law of Moses, which he wrote in the presence of the children of Israel. And all Israel, and their elders, and officers, and their judges, stood on this side the ark and on that side before the priests the Levites, which bare the ark of the covenant of the Lord, as well the stranger, as he that was born among them; half of them over against mount Gerizim, and half of them over against mount Ebal; as Moses the servant of the Lord had commanded before, that they should bless the people of Israel. And afterward he read all the words of the law, the blessings and cursings, according to all that is written in the book of the law. There was not a word of all that Moses commanded, which Joshua read not before all the congregation of Israel, with the women, and the little ones, and the strangers that were conversant among them."
Some scriptures with a thought booklet tell us the parable of the sower, where seeds fall on different kinds of ground. Have you ever noticed maple trees in the spring? They produce massive numbers of seeds which spin like little helicopters in the wind, landing all over the place. Saplings start to sprout everywhere. Some end up on the lawn where they are mowed down. Others come up in flowerbeds where they are weeded out. Still others land in the street where they're washed away by the next rain. But a few may land in a nearby wooded area where they have a chance to grew to mature trees. The Word of God is spread everywhere, just like the seeds of the maple tree. But weather it sprouts and is able to grow to maturity depends on what kind of soil is prepared to receive it. Are our hearts too hard to receive the Word of God? Are our lives too choked by the cares of the world to allow the Word of God to grow? Or are we ready and willing to receive the Word of God with gladness and nourish it so it can produce fruit in our lives? Matthew 13:1-9 "The same day went Jesus out of the house, and sat by the sea side. And great multitudes were gathered together unto him, so that he went into a ship, and sat; and the whole multitude stood on the shore. And he spake many things unto them in parables, saying, Behold, a sower went forth to sow; And when he sowed, some seeds fell by the way side, and the fowls came and devoured them up: Some fell upon stony places, where they had not much earth: and forthwith they sprung up, because they had no deepness of earth: And when the sun was up, they were scorched; and because they had no root, they withered away. And some fell among thorns; and the thorns sprung up, and choked them: But other fell into good ground, and brought forth fruit, some an hundredfold, some sixtyfold, some thirtyfold. Who hath ears to hear, let him hear."
In the Old Testament we read that Joshua built an altar and offered sacrifices to the Lord, according to the instructions given by Moses. Then Joshua read aloud to the people all the words of instruction on the scroll, both blessing and cursing. Joshua read every single word that Moses had commanded to all the people--men, women and children. Joshua 8:30-35 "Then Joshua built an altar unto the Lord God of Israel in mount Ebal, As Moses the servant of the Lord commanded the children of Israel, as it is written in the book of the law of Moses, an altar of whole stones, over which no man hath lift up any iron: and they offered thereon burnt offerings unto the Lord, and sacrificed peace offerings. And he wrote there upon the stones a copy of the law of Moses, which he wrote in the presence of the children of Israel. And all Israel, and their elders, and officers, and their judges, stood on this side the ark and on that side before the priests the Levites, which bare the ark of the covenant of the Lord, as well the stranger, as he that was born among them; half of them over against mount Gerizim, and half of them over against mount Ebal; as Moses the servant of the Lord had commanded before, that they should bless the people of Israel. And afterward he read all the words of the law, the blessings and cursings, according to all that is written in the book of the law. There was not a word of all that Moses commanded, which Joshua read not before all the congregation of Israel, with the women, and the little ones, and the strangers that were conversant among them."
Some scriptures with a thought booklet tell us the parable of the sower, where seeds fall on different kinds of ground. Have you ever noticed maple trees in the spring? They produce massive numbers of seeds which spin like little helicopters in the wind, landing all over the place. Saplings start to sprout everywhere. Some end up on the lawn where they are mowed down. Others come up in flowerbeds where they are weeded out. Still others land in the street where they're washed away by the next rain. But a few may land in a nearby wooded area where they have a chance to grew to mature trees. The Word of God is spread everywhere, just like the seeds of the maple tree. But weather it sprouts and is able to grow to maturity depends on what kind of soil is prepared to receive it. Are our hearts too hard to receive the Word of God? Are our lives too choked by the cares of the world to allow the Word of God to grow? Or are we ready and willing to receive the Word of God with gladness and nourish it so it can produce fruit in our lives? Matthew 13:1-9 "The same day went Jesus out of the house, and sat by the sea side. And great multitudes were gathered together unto him, so that he went into a ship, and sat; and the whole multitude stood on the shore. And he spake many things unto them in parables, saying, Behold, a sower went forth to sow; And when he sowed, some seeds fell by the way side, and the fowls came and devoured them up: Some fell upon stony places, where they had not much earth: and forthwith they sprung up, because they had no deepness of earth: And when the sun was up, they were scorched; and because they had no root, they withered away. And some fell among thorns; and the thorns sprung up, and choked them: But other fell into good ground, and brought forth fruit, some an hundredfold, some sixtyfold, some thirtyfold. Who hath ears to hear, let him hear."
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