"God ordered killings" in the Old Testament and Book of Mormon.

[PastorBob]

This is a response to the article "1st Nephi 4:11" in the gospel discussion forum.

I recently sat down to discuss the book of Mormon with a recently returned Missionary and very good and intelligent man (who I will leave anonymous), who spoke some true words of wisdom regarding it:

Missionary: "There is not a scrap of physical evidence to prove the Gospel. It is a Gospel of faith, and that is good enough for me. It may not be good enough for many other people, but that is just how it is."

ME: "The Book of Mormon, like the Bible, is allegories which state the truth, and not to be read literally."

Missionary: "Exactly!"

The "killings" of the scriptures are symbolic and have nothing to do with actual violence toward a human being. It is another look at holding the "Iron Rod" and fighting with the ego which infects the mind of the common man and resists the act, which is here represented by Laban, or La Ban, French for "the bank," which is another way to describe "the two sons of oil which stand before the lord" or two thieves [of souls from the astral to put them "in the bank," or the material world] which are crucified with the Lord on the hill of the skull, which are resisting the command of the Lord to give up his spirit into the hands of our Father.

To understand the book of Mormon, you have to understand Joseph Smith, and his true faith, along with that of all other 33rd Ancient Accepted Scottish Rite Masons.

Religion, all religion, is inimical with this statement:

"The Blue Degrees are but the outer portico of the Temple. Part of the symbols are displayed there to the Initiate, but he is intentionally mislead by false interpretation. It is not intended that he understand them, but it is intended that he shall imagine he understands them. Their true explication is reserved for the Adepts, the Princes of Masonry. The whole body of the Royal or Sacerdotal Art was hidden so carefully...in the High Degrees, as that it is even yet impossible to solve many of the enigmas which they contain. It is well enough for the many of those called Masons, to imagine that all is contained in the Blue Degrees; and whoso attempts to undeceive them will labor in vain, and without any true reward violate his obligations as an Adept. Masonry is the veritable Sphinx, buried to the head in the sands heaped round it by the ages." Albert Pike, Morals and Dogma, page. 819

Look at the aim of the Gospel: The "Celestial kingdom."

OF THE SECRET OF FREEMASONRY
Now of Him is our Lord the Sun Father, Creator, Preserver and Destroyer, One, Exalted, Perfect,
Giver of Life and Death, Vicegerent and Vicegerent of Heaven; and upon Earth is His representative
the Sacred Eidolon within the Ark of the Covenant of whom even in this place we speak not but in
hidden terms, for that He is sacred and secret beyond all that are or may be, the Rod wherein
Prometheus brought down Fire from heaven.
And either Image and Son of the All-Father undergoeth Death and Resurrection; and the symbols are
cognate; and the Feasts of one and the other have been celebrated throughout all recorded time by
the initiates of all faiths. And the vulgar, ignorant of this, have mingled the two worships, appointing the
times of one and the seasons of the other, the observances of the second and the ordinances of the
first in the same ritual; wherefore have minds been darkened and understandings confounded. Thus at
Easter is the Crucifixion or Copulation, and nine months later is the Birth of the Child, which liveth 33
years, being a generation of mankind, and is crucified. Yet is this coming led with the descent of the
Sun below the Equator and His resurrection, and again with the daily agony of the Sun. Now then our
Brethren, having the true Keys of all religion; namely that all cults typify either the Mysteries of Lingam
and Yoni or of Sol, Luna, and Terra, can for themselves interpret all rites, create new faiths and new
feasts, ruling the world in justice and righteousness under the Supreme and Most Holy King X° that is
to them Father and God.
For this is the arcanum of the Hierophants of old, that in this cult of the Sun in Heaven and of the
Phallus on Earth all men can unite, for that these mysteries are reasonable and true, and no man can
deny them. This is that which is written ‘Peace on Earth, Goodwill toward men!’
And this is the true and final secret of Freemasonry; this Sun, is it not the Great Architect of the
Universe, the Father of the System, the Eidolon of the Macrocosm? And this Phallus, is it not the
Great Architect of this other Universe of Man, the Father of the Race, the Eidolon of the Microcosm? Is
not this that Truth which is established in the mouth of two witnesses? Wherefore be ye vigilant,
preserving that Kingdom of God which is within you from defilement, chaste unto your Lord that is
Light, Life, Love and Liberty indeed.
Also, remember well that in all this instruction no word is wasted; and that by deep and continuous
study of the text may ye enlighten your souls.
Now then at last are ye indeed initiates of Freemasonry; now at last are ye worthy to rule and govern
the Rite in the law of Righteousness and Truth, giving Light, Life, Liberty and Love to all men of full
age, free and of good report, that solicit admission to the Lodge.

Compare the 4th chapter with the 8th chapter of 1st Nephi.

"1st Nephi capt. 4: 9 And I beheld his sword, and I drew it forth from the sheath thereof; and the hilt thereof was of pure gold, and the workmanship thereof was exceedingly fine, and I saw that the blade thereof was of the most precious steel.
10 And it came to pass that I was constrained by the Spirit that I should kill Laban; but I said in my heart: Never at any time have I shed the blood of man. And I shrunk and would that I might not slay him.

11 And the Spirit said unto me again: Behold the Lord hath delivered him into thy hands. Yea, and I also knew that he had sought to take away mine own life; yea, and he would not hearken unto the commandments of the Lord; and he also had taken away our property.

12 And it came to pass that the Spirit said unto me again: Slay him, for the Lord hath delivered him into thy hands;

13 Behold the Lord slayeth the wicked to bring forth his righteous purposes. It is better that one man should perish than that a nation should dwindle and perish in unbelief.

14 And now, when I, Nephi, had heard these words, I remembered the words of the Lord which he spake unto me in the wilderness, saying that: Inasmuch as thy seed shall keep my commandments, they shall prosper in the land of promise.

15 Yea, and I also thought that they could not keep the commandments of the Lord according to the law of Moses, save they should have the law.

16 And I also knew that the law was engraven upon the plates of brass.

17 And again, I knew that the Lord had delivered Laban into my hands for this cause—that I might obtain the records according to his commandments.

18 Therefore I did obey the voice of the Spirit, and took Laban by the hair of the head, and I smote off his head with his own sword.

19 And after I had smitten off his head with his own sword, I took the garments of Laban and put them upon mine own body; yea, even every whit; and I did gird on his armor about my loins.

20 And after I had done this, I went forth unto the treasury of Laban. And as I went forth towards the treasury of Laban, behold, I saw the servant of Laban who had the keys of the treasury. And I commanded him in the voice of Laban, that he should go with me into the treasury."

Each of the cities/persons killed in the old testament have a Qabalistic meaning for one material desire (idolatry) of one form or another.

Jesus taught to turn the other cheek - it is said that the first thing Satan taught man when he was cast out of heaven was self-defense and to kill to eat.

Scriptures are symbolic, and are to be read spiritually, not materially. "The literal interpretation of the bible is for the vulgar only." -Albert Pike, morals and dogma

Acts chapter 10, the admonition not to reject peoples of other races and faiths:

"13 And there came a voice to him, Rise, Peter; kill, and eat.

14 But Peter said, Not so, Lord; for I have never eaten any thing that is common or unclean.

15 And the voice spake unto him again the second time, What God hath cleansed, that call not thou common."

Another:

1st Timothy 4:4 For every creature of God is good, and nothing to be refused, if it be received with thanksgiving:

If we read the bible literally, then God contradicts himself when he says the use of animal flesh is ONLY allowed when it's a choice between your life or the animals:

D&C section 89, 12 Yea, flesh also of beasts and of the fowls of the air, I, the Lord, have ordained for the use of man with thanksgiving; nevertheless they are to be used sparingly;

13 And it is pleasing unto me that they should not be used, only in times of winter, or of cold, or famine.

14 All grain is ordained for the use of man and of beasts, to be the staff of life, not only for man but for the beasts of the field, and the fowls of heaven, and all wild animals that run or creep on the earth;

15 And these hath God made for the use of man only in times of famine and excess of hunger.

[john doe]

So, what you're saying is that the Bible and Book of Mormon are based in Masonic tradition?

[skippy740]

Ether 15:31

31 And it came to pass that after he had smitten off the head of Shiz, that Shiz raised up on his hands and fell; and after that he had struggled for breath, he died.

I don't know about you, but that seems pretty literal to me.

The scriptures ARE to be taken literally - unless they are relating a story or prophesy of symbolism. The Allegory of the Olive Tree is literal - if you understand it. Revelations is literal, if you understand it.

God did kill Egyptians in the Red Sea.

God did kill those in Soddom & Gommorah.

God did flood the earth at the time of Noah.

3 Nephi chapters 9 & 10 are rather literal.

I'm sorry, but that missionary was incorrect. (It is known to happen. Not every missionary understands EVERYTHING in a precise way.)

[TruthSeekerToo]

Thanks for sharing this. As you may know, I am one who is trying to understand these particular scriptures.

I was pondering today on what Laban was symbolic of. Thank you for your thoughts on that! I was thinking greed and spiritual death.

It is amazing what the Spirit will teach us through the scriptures if we ask with an open heart. I can't really put into words what I am learning about Nephi & Laban. But I can testify that this story is more than what is initially read.

[PastorBob]

Originally Posted by john doe

So, what you're saying is that the Bible and Book of Mormon are based in Masonic tradition?

Yes.

Ezra Taft Benson said many times, that the book of Mormon was the most correct book on earth. Why was this?

When we read about the finding of the golden plates in the hill Cumorah, we are to understand it as the finding of the literally written bible in Jerusalem by the Templars during their excavations, which is today given to 33rd Masons and members of other organizations. Joseph Smith was killed by his own lodge for putting large portions (but only portions, he left much out, or "sealed" as it was too much to give out right now) of it in the book of Mormon. (Note that he recognized his brethren in the crowd, and tried to give the sign of distress "Oh Lord my God, who will have mercy on the widow's son?" but was shot and fell from the window before he made it past the 4th word.)

A careful study of the bible and the book of Mormon, with the carnal eyes closed, and the spiritual eyes opened, will prove their self-evident truths.

[skippy740]

Please tell me when Joseph Smith Jr. became a mason?

(I know he was. I want to know WHEN.)

[PastorBob]

Originally Posted by skippy740

Please tell me when Joseph Smith Jr. became a mason?

(I know he was. I want to know WHEN.)

He was officially recognized on March 15, 1842, but had been active since late December, 1823, a few days after his 18th birthday.

[john doe]

So you're a believer in the truthfulness of the Book of Mormon? After all, according to you, it's just as masonic as the Bible, right? How do you reconcile the fact that the Book of Mormon purports itself to be a religious history of people who came to the Americas from the Middle East with the idea that it is allegorical Masonry?

[skippy740]

Originally Posted by PastorBob

He was officially recognized on March 15, 1842, but had been active since late December, 1823, a few days after his 18th birthday.

1842 would sound right to me.

What is your source for his being active in Masonry since 1823?

(I'm sure you know where I'm going with this, but your information intrigues me.)

[PastorBob]

Originally Posted by skippy740

1842 would sound right to me.

What is your source for his being active in Masonry since 1823?

(I'm sure you know where I'm going with this, but your information intrigues me.)

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