I recently hit a climax in my research of the Last Days. Now I'm coming down the mountain in a state of marvel and wondering what the heck to do with the knowledge I just gained.
The experience changed me. I feel like I've read the scriptures my entire life as if through binoculars, and now I've experienced many doctrines through a microscope. I now see myself on the pages, and understand that ancient prophets have literally seen me, and are speaking to me 'through the dust'. I now believe many of the abstract and difficult to understand prophecy's are not only literal, but will be experienced by me... firsthand...in my lifetime. I'm awake now. I get it. I'm deeply touched that the Lord gave us these sacred writings containing prophetic words - for me and my family, and anyone who will read them.
Along the journey I stumbled across a few precious truths that I've never had explained to me before - Even "Hidden Treasures of Knowledge" (see DandC 89:19). I need to articulate one of them here before I get some of the intricacies.
First, we know the prophets often use metaphors to help us grasp a spiritual truth. It is an effective teaching tool. But now I can see that many of the metaphors are actually temporal...physical...and literal, as well as spiritual. The Lord said "not at any time have I given a law which is temporal (DandC 29:34). So whether scriptural doctrines seem physical, or spiritual, it doesn't matter, it's really all the same to the Lord.
Captivity. During Nephi's Latter-day vision chapters (1 Ne 13, 14), he mentioned two types of regarding Gentile Captivity, which refers to the 'many nations and kingdoms' (1 Nephi 13: 1-5) of Europe during the 'dark ages'. This was physical, temporal, literal bondage. The Gentiles were relatively blessed during that era, but were not free. They were captives, even slaves in some cases.
captivity. The first was
The experience changed me. I feel like I've read the scriptures my entire life as if through binoculars, and now I've experienced many doctrines through a microscope. I now see myself on the pages, and understand that ancient prophets have literally seen me, and are speaking to me 'through the dust'. I now believe many of the abstract and difficult to understand prophecy's are not only literal, but will be experienced by me... firsthand...in my lifetime. I'm awake now. I get it. I'm deeply touched that the Lord gave us these sacred writings containing prophetic words - for me and my family, and anyone who will read them.
Along the journey I stumbled across a few precious truths that I've never had explained to me before - Even "Hidden Treasures of Knowledge" (see DandC 89:19). I need to articulate one of them here before I get some of the intricacies.
First, we know the prophets often use metaphors to help us grasp a spiritual truth. It is an effective teaching tool. But now I can see that many of the metaphors are actually temporal...physical...and literal, as well as spiritual. The Lord said "not at any time have I given a law which is temporal (DandC 29:34). So whether scriptural doctrines seem physical, or spiritual, it doesn't matter, it's really all the same to the Lord.
Captivity. During Nephi's Latter-day vision chapters (1 Ne 13, 14), he mentioned two types of regarding Gentile Captivity, which refers to the 'many nations and kingdoms' (1 Nephi 13: 1-5) of Europe during the 'dark ages'. This was physical, temporal, literal bondage. The Gentiles were relatively blessed during that era, but were not free. They were captives, even slaves in some cases.captivity. The first was
Nephi mentioned of the same time and place, that he saw 'the formation of a church' (1 Nephi 13: 4-5), which he gave many names, but I'll just use his first - the church of the devil. This church, as he described, perverts the right ways of the Lord that they might blind the eyes and harden the hearts of the children of men (1 Nephi 13:27). This blindness and spiritual hardening is key - It's the spiritual condition that Lucifer wants us to be in, because that's when we become his captives. This is spiritual captivity, bondage, or even slavery!
Slaves in old times were purchased and became the property of their master. Ancient Greek slave masters actually tatoo'd their own name in the foreheads of their slaves. The master of all slave masters is eager to acquire us as his property, but he doesn't pay for us - we sell ourselves to him through sin and disobedience to God. Fortunately, through Jesus Christ's atonement we are 'bought with a price' and become His property, and take His name upon us, if we choose Him.
I believe the world we live in is moving further and further into captivity, both physically (subjects to evil and conspiring political leaders and their uninspired laws) and spiritually (subjects to the devil through our own worldliness).
Now, the verse that wraps up the doctrine of captivity. Nephi's heavenly messenger explained to him that the Gentiles who hearken to the Lamb of God will be blessed in the Promised Land forever (America) and 'shall no more be brought down into captivity" (1 Nephi 14: 1-2). A few weeks ago I would have only viewed that verse in the spiritual context, but I now see that it is very likely (as most scriptures often are) temporal as well.
What this verse is screaming to me is that covenant followers of the Lord who stand in Holy places (spiritually and physically) will escape the spiritual captivity of the devil, and the temporal captivity that may come upon us by the evil and conspiring men of these last days. There is good reason to believe this country may be living under the captivity of marshal law in the future, and an equally good reason from scripture to suggest that the Lord will not suffer his followers to be subject to that temporal bondage. I believe He will call them away from it before it happens because of the promise just mentioned in Nephi (and lot's of other sources throughout scripture).
The Lord's promise is clear: those who "harden not their hearts against the Lamb of God... shall be numbered among the seed of [Lehi]...shall be numbered among the house of Israel; and...shall be a blessed people upon the promised land forever; they shall be no more brought down into captivity; and the house of Israel shall no more be confounded".
While on the other hand, we likely all know the outcome of those who are captive to the devil. But here is some of what has been revealed just for good measure. Oh, and these verses sound a little heavy on the temporal side, rather than spiritual: (Mormon 8: 41; 2 Nephi 6: 18; 1 Nephi 11: 36; DandC 29: 21; Isaiah 10: 18-19; 2 Nephi 20; DandC 45: 33; Isaiah 24: 6; 1 Nephi 14: 3; DandC 88: 94; DandC 43: 25-26)
What a wealth of knowledge that has helped me reflect on my conviction and loyalty to the Savior. I especially liked the relationship you made between ancient Greek slavery who wore their masters names on their head. Am I selling myself to the devil or am I taking Christ's name upon me so that I may be free, not captive. Awesome work. Can't wait to read more. :)
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