Every Knee Shall Bow - Lorenzo Snow

Every believing parent wants their children to succeed and even surpass what they themselves have done in their lives in all aspects and especially in righteousness and spirituality. We can see this in Lehi's last message to his children as he desired to bless them.  As I consider the quote by Lorenzo Snow in the book of his teachings, I come to realize a deeper meaning to Lehi's words and I recognize that perhaps even more important than teaching our children the gospel ( which is still of great importance ) - is working to obtain our own spiritual strength through the sanctification which includes keeping our temple covenants and enduring to the end faithfully.  If we do not spend adequate time praying, pondering the scriptures, and working to obtain worthiness of The Holy Ghost we will not have the Holy Spirit of promise the binder of  sacred promises to us. Regardless of having taken covenants upon us- the covenants must be activated by worthiness -  Lorenzo Snow said :  " God has fulfilled His promises to us and our prospects are grand and glorious. Yes, in the next life we will have our wives, and our sons and daughters. If we do not get them all at once , we will have them some time, for every knee shall bow and every tongue confess that Jesus is the Christ. You that are mourning about your children straying away will have your sons and daughters. If you succeed in passing through these trials and afflictions and receive a resurrection, you will by the power of the Priesthood, work and labor, as the son of God has, until you get all of your sons and daughters in the path of exhalation and glory. This is just as sure as the son that rose this morning over yonder mountains. Therefore, mourn not that your sons and daughters do not follow in the path that you marked out to them, or give heed to your counsels. In as much as WE succeed in securing eternal glory , and stand as Saviors, and as kings and as priests to our God, we will save our posterity. ( Deseret Weekly , Nov. 4, 1893 , 610 )  Perhaps Lehi was explaining  the " curse " of the parents responsibility because it will be their duty to act as Saviors - to work to gain their children back to the correct path forever until it happens?  For we do know as God has said, " the worth of souls is great in His site." ( D&C 18:2 ) Surely we too would never give up on our children, which is Why our personal studies and deepening faith is so important as these things give us strength to keep our covenants to God.  As we read in 2 Nephi 3:  5 But behold, my sons and my daughters, I cannot go down to my grave save I should leave a blessing upon you; for behold, I know that if ye are brought up in the way ye should go ye will not depart from it.  6 Wherefore, if ye are cursed, behold, I leave my blessing upon you, that the cursing may be taken from you and be answered upon the heads of your parents. I am grateful that our Father in Heaven loves our children and our own beings even more than we can comprehend.  I say this in Jesus name. Amen.

Spokesman was Joseph Smith

When reading in 2 Nephi 3 I was very thankful to be directed to a book called, " Another witness to the Articles of Faith " , by Bruce R. Mckonkie. I was additionally thankful that Brother Newman had the book in his possession and that he was able to send me over a copy of the pages that I was directed to by Brother Kidd. ( Both previous Religion Teachers of mine at BYU-I )  

Hopefully this will be enjoyable for you all to read as well.

2 Nephi 3: 18

• Book of Mormon

18And the Lord said unto me also: I will raise up unto the fruit of thy loins; and I will make for him a spokesman. And I, behold, I will give unto him that he shall write the writing of the fruit of thy loins, unto the fruit of thy loins; and the spokesman of thy loins shall declare it. 

I find it to be beautiful as the patterns after which God works in are yet again revealed through the scriptures. Essentially these beautiful pages in Mckonkie's book explain that just as Moses the writer of the laws - was given Aaron to be his spokesman; Mormon as the writer/compiler of the Book of Mormon was given a spokesman whom is Joseph Smith - to deliver the message to the New World. 

"Joseph of old, including his Lamanite seed and his other seed mingled with and among scattered Israel. " And not to the bringing forth of my word only, saith the Lord, but to the convincing them of my word, which shall have already gone forth among them. " The Book of Mormon will establish the truth and divinity of the Bible. " Wherefore the fruit of thy Loins ( The Nephites ) shall write; and the fruit of the loins of Judah ( the prophets in ancient Israel ) shall write; and that which shall be written by the fruit of the loins of Judah ( the Bible ), shall grow together unto the confounding of false doctrines and laying down contentions, and establishing peace and bringing them to the knowledge of their fathers in the latter days and also to the knowledge of my covenants , saith the Lord. If there was ever a book of prophesy and divine revelation that needs divine interpretation it is the Bible, as shown by the mere existence of the numerous diverse doctrines and varied views espoused by conflicting sects of Christendom. And that the Book Of Mormon is and shall ever be the interpreter and and expounder of the Bible. Who can doubt? The missions and labors and names of Moses, Aaron , and Joseph Smith were all revealed to our ancient father Joseph. Moses was named as the one who would deliver Israel from Egyptian bondage and unto whom the Lord would give His law, however his tongue would not be loosed so as to make him mighty in speaking . Joseph Smith is described as the seer who would be like unto Joseph of old and who would bring salvation unto the Lord's people. " And out of weakness he shall be made strong, in that day when my work shall commence among all my people, unto the restoring the House of Israel, saith the Lord." Aaron is identified as a spokesperson for Moses in that he would proclaim the law, given to his younger brother, Moses by revelation. Then in this setting of one person writing the Lord's law and another proclaiming it, The Lord said to Joseph of old, " I will raise up unto the fruit of thy loins : and I will make for him a spokesman ." As Moses wrote and Aaron proclaimed the law given in the Old World, so someone in the New World, some one of the seed of Joseph would write the Lord's law, and yet another spokesman would declare it. In this case the writer and the spokesperson are not identified by name, rather we are left based on our knowledge of what has transpired in this and previous dispensations, to identify those whose missions were of such import as to have them revealed thousands of years before the events transpired. Mormon wrote the Book of Mormon, quoting, condensing, and summarizing from  many ancient records as the spirit directed. And
Joseph Smith translated the ancient word by gift and power of God and proclaimed it to all men, and to the seed of Joseph in particular. As the mind and the will of the voice of Him by whom salvation comes. With this in mind, note these words of the Lord, " And I , Behold , I will give unto him ( Mormon ) that he shall write the writings of the fruit of thy loins ( the Nephites ) unto the fruit of thy loins ( the Lamanites ) ; and the spokesman of thy loins ( Joseph Smith ) shall declare it. " That is Mormon wrote the Book of Mormon , but what he wrote was taken from the writings of the Nephite prophets; and these writings complied in one book were translated by Joseph Smith and sent forth to all the seed of Joseph; whether in Lamanite branch Israel or not."

                                    ( page 425-426 " Another Witness to the Articles of Faith - Mckonkie )