600 TO 500 BC

This 78th post is an outline of information about the period from 600 to 500 BC.

These Outlines of History are just that: Outlines. They contain links to additional information. Each one is a work in progress and none is as complete or as well organized as I would have liked. I hope you enjoy them anyway.

About the Book of Mormon: "For 179 years this book has been examined and attacked, denied and deconstructed, targeted and torn apart like perhaps no other book in modern religious history—perhaps like no other book in any religious history. And still it stands. Failed theories about its origins have been born and parroted and have died... None of these frankly pathetic answers for this book has ever withstood examination because there is no other answer than the one Joseph gave as its young unlearned translator. In this I stand with my own great-grandfather, who said simply enough, “No wicked man could write such a book as this; and no good man would write it, unless it were true and he were commanded of God to do so" (George Cannon, quoted in “The Twelve Apostles,” in Andrew Jenson, ed., The Historical Record, 6:175.)" (Jeffrey R. Holland, General Conference, October 2009).

CHIASMS IN ISAIAH IV

This 77th Post accompanies Gospel Doctrine lesson 39, "How Beautiful upon the Mountains".

This lesson includes material from Isaiah 50-53.

See my collection of Chiasms in Isaiah. This collection is used for Posts 70, 73, 75, 77, and 79.

I've completed Mosiah in my References to Christ in the Book of Mormon project. Take a look. Since then I've gone back to the beginning to revisit all the "prepositional phrases". I hope to have that done by next Sunday. Stay tuned. This has been a very interesting experience. I recommend it for everyone!

"Each time we encourage others to read the Book of Mormon, we do them a favor. If they read it prayerfully and with a sincere desire to know the truth, they will know by the power of the Holy Ghost that the book is true.

"From that knowledge there will flow a conviction of the truth of many other things. For if the Book of Mormon is true, then God lives. Testimony upon testimony runs through its pages of the solemn fact that our Father is real, that he is personal, that he loves his children and seeks their happiness." (Gordon B. Hinckley, "The Power of the Book of Mormon," Ensign, June 1988)

700 TO 600 BC

This 76th post is an outline of information about the period from 700 to 600 BC.

These Outlines of History are just that: Outlines. They contain links to additional information. Each one is a work in progress and none is as complete or as well organized as I would have liked. I hope you enjoy them anyway.

On the Book of Mormon: "No other written testament so clearly illustrates the fact that when men and nations walk in the fear of God and in obedience to his commandments, they prosper and grow, but when they disregard him and his word, there comes a decay that, unless arrested by righteousness, leads to impotence and death" (Gordon B. Hinckley, Conference Report, Oct. 1979, 10; or Ensign, Nov. 1979, 8).

CHIASMS IN ISAIAH III

This 75th Post accompanies Gospel Doctrine lesson 38, "Beside Me There Is No Saviour". Notice how this lesson focuses on what Isaiah teaches about Jesus Christ. This fits in well with my Book of Mormon quote for today, below.

This lesson includes material from Isaiah 40-49.

See my collection of Chiasms in Isaiah. This collection is used for Posts 70, 73, 75, 77, and 79.

I've completed 2 Nephi in my References to Christ in the Book of Mormon project. Take a look. I've since done Jacob, Enos, Jaron, Omni, Words of Mormon, and I'm half a dozen chapters into Mosiah. This has been a very interesting experience. I recommend it for everyone!

"Much of the Christian world today rejects the divinity of the Savior. They question His miraculous birth, His perfect life, and the reality of His glorious resurrection. The Book of Mormon teaches in plain and unmistakable terms about the truth of all of those. It also provides the most complete explanation of the doctrine of the Atonement. Truly this divinely inspired book is a keystone in bearing witness to the world that Jesus is the Christ" (Ezra Taft Benson).

800 TO 700 BC

This 74th post is an outline of information about the period from 800 to 700 BC.

These Outlines of History are just that: Outlines. They contain links to additional information. Each one is a work in progress and none is as complete or as well organized as I would have liked. I hope you enjoy them anyway.

M. Russell Ballard, Ensign, Nov. 2004, 40 - "Our testimony meetings need to be more centered on the Savior, the doctrines of the gospel, the blessings of the Restoration, and the teachings of the scriptures. We need to replace stories, travelogues, and lectures with pure testimonies. . . . Although we can have testimonies of many things as members of the Church, there are basic truths we need to constantly teach one another and share with those not of our faith. Testify God is our Father and Jesus is the Christ. The plan of salvation is centered on the Savior’s Atonement. Joseph Smith restored the fulness of the everlasting gospel of Jesus Christ, and the Book of Mormon is evidence that our testimony is true."

CHIASMS IN ISAIAH II

This 73rd Post accompanies Gospel Doctrine lesson 37, "Thou Hast Done Wonderful Things". Notice how this lesson focuses on what Isaiah teaches about Jesus Christ. This fits in well with my Book of Mormon quote for today, below.

This lesson includes material from Isaiah 22, Isaiah 24-26, and Isaiah 28-30.

See my collection of Chiasms in Isaiah.

This collection is used for Posts 70, 73, 75, 77, and 79.

This past weekend, in Conference, President Russell M. Nelson invited the women of the Church, "to read the Book of Mormon between now and the end of the year. As impossible as that may seem with all you are trying to manage in your life, if you will accept this invitation with full purpose of heart, the Lord will help you find a way to achieve it. And, as you prayerfully study, I promise that the heavens will open for you. The Lord will bless you with increased inspiration and revelation.

"As you read, I would encourage you to mark each verse that speaks of or refers to the Savior. Then, be intentional about talking of Christ, rejoicing in Christ, and preaching of Christ with your families and friends. You and they will be drawn closer to the Savior through this process. And changes, even miracles, will begin to happen."

I've decided I could benefit from this experience. I've uploaded References to Christ in the Book of Mormon, and you can check back from time to time to see the progress I'm making.

ISAIAH CHIASMS IN THE BOOK OF MORMON

This 72nd Post shows three "Isaiah" chiasms in the Book of Mormon.

Isaiah was arguably the greatest prophet of the Old Testament. Lehi and Nephi lived about as long after the time of Isaiah as we live after the time of Joseph Smith. The way we feel about Joseph Smith was matched by the way Nephi felt about Isaiah. Nephi quoted Isaiah extensively, as I showed in Post #68. If you look at the footnotes in the Book of Mormon, you'll see that Isaiah fades from the Nephite record as time goes on, replaced by the great Nephite prophets.

See my article about the Isaiah Chiasms in the Book of Mormon.

"Reading and pondering the Book of Mormon and other scriptures brings spiritual-mindedness. The Lord has instructed: "Let the solemnities of eternity rest upon your mind" (DC 43:34), and "treasure up in your minds continually the words of life" (DC 84:85). (Ezra Taft Benson "Lord, Increase Our Faith," Provo Utah Tabernacle Rededication, 21 September 1986.)

900 TO 800 BC

This 71st post is an outline of information about the period from 900 to 800 BC.

These Outlines of History are just that: Outlines. They contain links to additional information. Each one is a work in progress and none is as complete or as well organized as I would have liked. I hope you enjoy them anyway.

"[The power of the Holy Ghost] must ever be the chief source of evidence for the truth of the Book of Mormon. All other evidence is secondary to this, the primary and infallible. No arrangement of evidence, however skillfully ordered; no argument, however adroitly made, can ever take its place" (B. H. Roberts, New Witnesses for God, 3 vols. (Salt Lake City: Deseret News, 1909–11), 2:vi–viii).

CHIASMS IN ISAIAH

This 70th Post accompanies Gospel Doctrine lesson 36, The Glory of Zion Will Be a Defense.

This lesson includes material from Isaiah 1-6. Compare 2 Nephi 12-16.

"For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government
shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor,
The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace." Isaiah 9:6.

See my collection of Chiasms in Isaiah. This collection is also used for Posts 73, 75, 77, and 79.

"I feel certain that if, in our homes, parents will read from the Book of Mormon prayerfully and regularly, both by themselves and with their children the spirit of that great book will come to permeate our homes and all who dwell therein. The spirit of reverence will increase, mutual respect and consideration for each other will grow. The spirit of contention will depart. Parents will counsel their children in greater love and wisdom. Children will be more responsive and submissive to that counsel. Righteousness will increase. Faith, hope, and charity—the pure love of Christ—will abound in our homes and lives, bringing in their wake peace, joy, and happiness" (Elder Marion G. Romney, Conference Report, April 1960, Afternoon Meeting 112 - 113).

1000 TO 900 BC

This 69th post is an outline of information about the period from 1000 to 900 BC.

These Outlines of History are just that: Outlines. They contain links to additional information. Each one is a work in progress and none is as complete or as well organized as I would have liked. I hope you enjoy them anyway.

"I told the brethren that the Book of Mormon was the most correct of any book 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" (Joseph Smith, HC 4:461).

ISAIAH IN THE BOOK OF MORMON

This 68th post is my harmony of the chapters of Isaiah that are quoted partly or entirely in the Book of Mormon.

Isaiah 2	2 Nephi 12
Isaiah 3	2 Nephi 13
Isaiah 4	2 Nephi 14
Isaiah 5	2 Nephi 15
Isaiah 6	2 Nephi 16
Isaiah 7	2 Nephi 17
Isaiah 8	2 Nephi 18
Isaiah 9	2 Nephi 19
Isaiah 10	2 Nephi 20
Isaiah 11	2 Nephi 21
Isaiah 12	2 Nephi 22
Isaiah 13	2 Nephi 23
Isaiah 14	2 Nephi 24
Isaiah 29	2 Nephi 26
	2 Nephi 27
Isaiah 48	1 Nephi 20
Isaiah 49	1 Nephi 21
Isaiah 50	2 Nephi 7
Isaiah 51	2 Nephi 8
Isaiah 52
Isaiah 52	3 Nephi 16
Isaiah 53	Mosiah 14
Isaiah 54	3 Nephi 22
	3 Nephi 23

Isaiah was looked upon by the people in Nephi's day in much the same way Latter-day Saints view Joseph Smith today. Here is a chart showing the Northern and Southern Kingdom Kings and Prophets at the time of Isaiah.

I apologize for the poor quality of the two images above. I created them more than thirty years ago and no longer have the original Excel spreadsheet they came from. Even worse, I'm too lazy to try to create them from scratch. If you open them in separate windows you should be able to read them. My bad. Mea culpa. And all that.

"I want to address myself to the men holding the priesthood, particularly, and to their wives and to all other members of the Church. No member of this Church can stand approved in the presence of God who has not seriously and carefully read the Book of Mormon, and I think I could add to that also, as far as our brethren are concerned, the Doctrine and Covenants... It seems to me that a member of this Church would not be able to rest in peace and comfort and have a clear conscience without having knowledge by study and by faith of the standard works of the Church. These records are priceless. The world mocks at them, but through their teachings we are permitted to come nearer unto God, get a better understanding of our Heavenly Father and his Son Jesus Christ, become closer acquainted with them and to know more in regard to the wonderful plan of salvation which they have given unto us and unto the world if it will receive the plan that will exalt us in the kingdom of God to become his sons and his daughters, receiving the fulness of that kingdom." (President Joseph Fielding Smith, Conference Report, October 1961, Afternoon Meeting, 18-19).