Circle all of the following that are attributes of Christ –
1. Loves Hates
2. Loves unconditionally Loves conditionally
3. Loves everyone equally Has favorites
4. Peaceful Warlike
5. Healing
6. Accepting
7. Patient
8. Forgiving
9. Open hearted
10. Serious, sober
Afflicting
Critical
Angry
Vengeful
Jealous
Cheery, lively
Jeffrey R. Holland – Sadly enough, my young friends, it is a characteristic of our age that if people want any gods at all, they want them to be gods who do not demand much, comfortable gods, smooth gods who not only don’t rock the
boat but don’t even row it, gods who pat us on the head, make us giggle, then tell us to run along and pick marigolds.
Talk about man creating God in his own image!
Sometimes—and this seems the greatest irony of all—these folks invoke the name of Jesus as one who was this kind of
“comfortable” God. (“The Cost—and Blessings—of Discipleship,”
General Conference, Apr. 2014.)
D. Todd Christofferson – … As one author declares, “the
God portrayed in both the Hebrew and Christian Scriptures asks, not just for commitment, but for our very lives. The
God of the Bible traffics in life and death, not niceness, and calls for sacrificial love, not benign whatever-ism.” (“As Many as I Love, I Rebuke and Chasten”, General Conference, April 2011. In other words, God does not focus just on being nice, and he does not want a “yeah whatever” laid-back attitude from us.)
1.
Helaman 15:4 – But behold my brethren, the Lamanites hath he hated because their deeds have been evil
continually, and this because of the iniquity of the tradition of their fathers. (This verse has never been quoted in
General Conference. See also Malachi 1:2, “And I hated Esau …” which is quoted by Paul in Romans 9:13.)
2.
1 Nephi 17:40 – And he loveth those who will have him
to be their God.
(Also Mosiah 4:12.)
D&C 95:12 – If you keep not my commandments, the
love of the Father shall not continue with you, therefore you shall walk in darkness. [Note: the word “unconditional” is not in scripture.]
John 14:21 – He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that
loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him.
3.
1 Nephi 1:1 – Having been highly favored of the Lord in all my days, 1 Nephi 17:35 – He that is righteous is favored of God, 2 Nephi 1:19 – Ye might be a choice and a favored people.
4.
Matthew 10:33-37 – But whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father which is in heaven. Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword. For I am come to set a man at variance against his father, and the daughter against her mother, and the daughter in law against her mother in law.
D&C 98:37 – And I, the Lord, would fight their battles, and their children’s battles, and their children’s children’s, until they had avenged themselves on all their enemies, to the third and fourth generation.
5.
Joseph Smith – June 24. This night the cholera burst forth among us, and about midnight it was manifested in its most virulent form. Our ears were saluted with cries and moanings and lamentations on every hand; even those on guard fell to the earth with their guns in their hands, so sudden and powerful was the attack of this terrible disease. At the commencement, I attempted to lay on hands for their recovery, but I quickly learned by painful experience, that when the great Jehovah decrees destruction upon any people, and makes known His determination, man must not attempt to stay His hand. The moment I attempted to rebuke the disease I was attacked, and had I not desisted in my attempt to save the life of a brother, I would have sacrificed my own.
(History of the Church, p. 114.)
6.
Occurrences in the Book of Mormon of “chasten”,
“chastened” and “rebuke” in reference to God total 11 times. Calls Martin Harris a “wicked man” (D&C 10:7) and calls people fools five times in the gospels.
7.
Occurrences in the Book of Mormon of “anger,”
“angry,” “fierce anger,” “fiery indignation,” “fury,”
“wrath,” “almighty wrath,” “cup of the wrath,” “fulness of his wrath,” “fulness of the wrath” in reference to God total 69 times. (See Topical Guide, “God, Indignation of.”)
8.
Mormon 3:15 – Vengeance is mine, and I will repay; and because this people repented not after I had delivered them, behold, they shall be cut off from the face of the earth.
3 Nephi 21:21 – And I will execute vengeance and fury upon them, even as upon the heathen, such as they have not heard.
9.
Mosiah 11:22 – And it shall come to pass that they shall know that I am the Lord their God, and am a jealous
God, visiting the iniquities of my people.
10.
Jacob 5:60 – … That I may rejoice exceedingly that I have

preserved the roots and the branches of the first fruit … to suppose Him to be. (History of The Church, v. 5, p. 135-136.)
Heber C. Kimball – I am perfectly satisfied that my
[Heavenly] Father and my God is a cheerful, pleasant, lively, and good-natured Being. Why? Because I am cheerful, pleasant, lively, and good-natured when I have His Spirit.
That is one reason why I know; and another is – the Lord said, through Joseph Smith, "I delight in a glad heart and a cheerful countenance.” perfection of His attributes; He is a jovial, lively person, and a beautiful man.
[See D&C 59:15.] That arises from the
(Journal of Discourses, v. 4, p. 222.)
God’s Attributes in the Book of Mormon
Isn’t Jesus the nice one and
Heavenly Father more stern?
The scriptures say otherwise, that they are “one.” Elder
McConkie wrote, “They have the same mind one with another; they think the same thoughts, speak the same words, and perform the same acts – so much so that any thought, word, or act of one is the thought of the other.”
(The Promised Messiah, p. 120.) Elder Holland said, “I think it is accurate to say we believe They are one in every significant and eternal aspect imaginable… (General Conference, Oct. 2007.)


221 – Merciful love such as compassion, goodness, tender mercies, patience, long-suffering.
105 – Judgmental such as anger, wrath, vengeance, rebuke.
Why is God more wrathful in the Old Testament?
Because it covers four times the number of years and four times the number of verses than does the Nephite part of the Book of Mormon. By comparison the New Testament’s four gospels really only cover three years.
Susan Easton Black –This [ratio of 221 to 105] illustrates that the Lord showed forth doubly his passions of a merciful, loving nature as compared to his passions of a judgmental nature. This ratio is of particular significance,
Institute Manual on the Old Testament – … The same
Person who said, “Love your enemies” (Matthew 5:44) , said of for the Lord showed forth far more nurturing than correcting passions, even though the multitudes chose to the Canaanites in the land of promise, “Thou shalt save alive nothing that breatheth: but thou shalt utterly destroy them” (Deuteronomy 20:16–17) . reject him.
… When the people kept the commandments, gave willing service to others, and set their course toward eternal life, the emotions, that God revealed to them were love (1 Nepih 11:22) , goodness (1 Nephi 1:1) , comfort (2 Nephi 8:3) , patience (Mosiah 4:6) , and mercy (1 Nephi 1:14) .
And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus
Christ, whom
The same Savior who said to forgive “seventy times seven” (Matthew 18:22) destroyed the entire population of the earth with the exception of eight souls (see Genesis 7–8) .
On the other hand, the Jesus of the New
Testament who said that one who refuses to
During times when the people were not valiant and yet had not severely hardened their hearts … darkened hearts and wandering minds. thou hast sent.
– John 17:3 the Lord extended his arms of mercy even into the night of forgive another’s trespasses will be “delivered … to the tormentors, till he should pay all that was due” (Matthew 18:34–35) is the Lord of the Old
Testament who said, “Though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson,
Yet when the people of the Book of Mormon flagrantly they shall be as wool” (Isaiah 1:18) . chose to rebel against the counsel of God, to live in wickedness, and to thwart the gospel plan, the passions of
And the Christ depicted in the book of Revelation, who is shown with the great sickle ready to reap (see Revelation 14:14, displeasure (2 Nephi 1:22) , anger (1 Nephi 20:9) , and wrath (1
20. Isaiah 63:3 says, “and trample them in my fury; and their blood shall
Nephi 13:11) were prominent in God’s dealing with them. be sprinkled upon my garments.”) … is the same God of the Old
(Finding Christ Through the Book of Mormon, p. 57. Our count: 105, hers:
99.)
Testament who said to Micah, “What doth the Lord require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk
Are you saying that we should be more harsh? humbly with thy God?” (Micah 6:8). (Enrichment A-5.)
Summary
No, God is in a different category. “I, the Lord, will forgive whom I will forgive, but of you it is required to forgive all men.” (D&C 64:10.)
C. S. Lewis – Little people like you and me, if our prayers are sometimes granted, beyond all hope and probability, had better not draw hasty conclusions to our own advantage.
Joseph Smith – Our heavenly Father is more liberal in His
views, and boundless in His mercies and blessings, than we are ready to believe or receive;
And, at the same time, is more terrible to the workers of
iniquity, more awful in the executions of His punishments, and more ready to detect every false way, than we are apt
If we were stronger, we might be less tenderly treated. If we were braver, we might be sent, with far less help, to defend far more desperate posts in the great battle.
(The
World's Last Night, p. 10-11, quoted in at least six of Elder Maxwell’s books.) (By Zan and Misty Larsen, www.elarsen.net/lessons)

Preparation – Become familiar with the Extra Material below. Also read through “Unconditional Love – a
Questionable Concept.docx”. Be prepared to use and display some of it, and maybe have some handouts ready.
1.
Give the quiz

Hand out candy during it.

Summarize that we the teachers would circle all of the items on the right.
2.
Give the analogy that God is like an emergency room doctor who at time has to sometimes act in ways that seem harsh.
3.
Pass out the handout.
4.
Present the handout’s first two quotes.
5.
Show trends in General Conference for –

Christ-like attributes
 unconditional love
 http://www.lds-general-conference.org/
6.
Present the handout’s items #1-10.
7.
Cover 3 Nephi 9, let’s play Spot the Massacre –

Divide into groups of three or so people each.

Write on these headings on the board: buried, burned, drowned.

Ask the groups to assign a topic to each person and quickly read through the chapter and –
 count how many cities were wiped out by each method
 plus count how many of them were specifically mentioned as being caused by God.

Announce another round of treats for the groups who get it right.

Afterward survey the groups and write their totals on the board.
8.
Have the groups then cover “God’s Attributes in the
Book of Mormon” through the end of the handout.
Pass out the second round of treats.
John 17:3 – And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.
Terms used in General Conferences ( ( http://www.lds-generalconference.org/x.asp
) –
“Christ-like attributes”

1920s:1

1940s: 1
“Christlike attributes”

1950s: 1

1960s: 1

1970s: 1

1980s: 3

1990s: 1

2000s: 12

2010s: 12 (as of Nov. Conf. 2015)
“unconditional love”

1970s – 9

1980s – 16

1990s – 12

2000s – 3

2010s – 0

The last occurrence was in 2008.
“loves us unconditionally”

1980s – 1

2000s – 1
Topical Guide: God, Indignation of –

26 – Old Testament

10 – New Testament

5 – Book of Mormon

11 – D&C
Why does the Old Testament have more occurrences of
God’s wrath?
Old Testament
Verses Years
23,145 4,000
New Testament 7,957 35
Book of Mormon, Nephites 6,171 1,000
Book of Mormon, Ether
D&C 1-137
433 1,500
3,594 24
Are you saying that we should develop negative attributes?
No. God is in a different category.
Isaiah 55:8 – For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord.
D&C 64:10 – I, the Lord, will forgive whom I will forgive, but of you it is required to forgive all men.
Remember that Heavenly Father cast out one third of his children in the pre-mortal existence. It wasn’t that they went off in a huff and then he stood in the doorway of our heavenly home calling after them saying, “If you change your mind my door is always open to you!” He took action: he ejected them. (Moses 4:3.)
Moses 4:3 – … I caused that he should be cast down.

D&C 76:25 – … was thrust down from the presence of God and the Son.
Isn’t Jesus the nice one and
Heavenly Father more stern?
John 14:11 – I am in the Father, and the Father in me …
John 17:21 – That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee …
Colossians 2:9 – … in him dwelleth all the fulness of the
Godhead bodily …
D&C 50:43 – And the Father and I are one. I am in the
Father and the Father in me … (Also 3 Nephi 9:15.)
3 Nephi 11:36 – ... for the Father, and I, and the Holy Ghost are one …
Lectures on Faith – … The Father and the Son possessing the same mind, the same wisdom, glory, power, and fulness — filling all in all; the Son being filled with the fulness of the mind, glory, and power; or, in other words, the spirit, glory, and power, of the Father, possessing all knowledge and glory … (p. 50-51.)
Lectures on Faith – Through the love of the Father, the
mediation of Jesus Christ, and the gift of the Holy Spirit, they are to be heirs of God, and joint heirs with Jesus Christ. (5:3)
James E. Talmage – This unity is a type of completeness; the mind of any one member of the Trinity is the mind of the others; seeing as each of them does with the eye of perfection, they see and understand alike. Under any given
conditions each would act in the same way, guided by the same principles of unerring justice and equity. (Articles of
Faith, ch. 2.)
Bruce R. McConkie – [The Father, Son and Holy Ghost] are one and dwell in each other, meaning: They have the same mind one with another; they think the same thoughts, speak the same words, and perform the same acts – so much so that any thought, word, or act of one is the thought of the
other.
They possess the same character, enjoy the same perfections, and manifest the same attributes, each one possessing all of these in their eternal and godly fulness.
(The Promised Messiah, p. 120.)
Jeffrey R. Holland – We believe these three divine persons constituting a single Godhead are united in purpose, in manner, in testimony, in mission. We believe Them to be filled with the same godly sense of mercy and love, justice and grace, patience, forgiveness, and redemption. I think it is accurate to say we believe They are one in every significant and eternal aspect imaginable … (General
Conference, Oct. 2007.)
Prophet Warriors in the Book of Mormon
Nephi – The people having loved Nephi exceedingly, he having been a great protector for them, having wielded the sword of Laban in their defence … (Jacob 1:10.)
King Benjamin – But behold, king Benjamin gathered together his armies, and he did stand against them; and he did fight with the strength of his own arm, with the sword of Laban. (Words of Mormon 1:13.)
Alma (“the younger”) – And it came to pass that Alma fought with Amlici with the sword, face to face; and they did contend mightily, one with another. (Alma 2:29.)
Mormon – And we did beat them again, and did slay a great number of them, and their dead were cast into the sea.
(Mormon 3:8.)
Moroni – And we also beheld the ten thousand of my people who were led by my son Moroni. (Mormon 6:12.)
3 Nephi 3:19 – Now it was the custom among all the
Nephites to appoint for their chief captains, (save it were in their times of wickedness) some one that had the spirit of revelation and also prophecy; therefore, this Gidgiddoni was a great prophet among them, as also was the chief judge.
Captain Moroni
Alma 48:17 – Yea, verily, verily I say unto you, if all men had been, and were, and ever would be, like unto Moroni, behold, the very powers of hell would have been shaken forever; yea, the devil would never have power over the hearts of the children of men.
Alma 44:17 – And now Moroni was angry, because of the stubbornness of the Lamanites; therefore he commanded
his people that they should fall upon them and slay them.
And it came to pass that they began to slay them; yea, and the Lamanites did contend with their swords and their might.
Alma 46:11 – And now it came to pass that when Moroni, who was the chief commander of the armies of the
Nephites, had heard of these dissensions, he was angry with
Amalickiah.
Alma 55:1 – Now it came to pass that when Moroni had received this epistle he was more angry, because he knew that Ammoron had a perfect knowledge of his fraud; yea, he knew that Ammoron knew that it was not a just cause that had caused him to wage a war against the people of
Nephi.
Alma 59:13 – And it came to pass that Moroni was angry
with the government, because of their indifference concerning the freedom of their country.
Susan Easton Black – He is not only a living God who

possesses a body but also a God who has divine passions.
Reference to God’s having passions are made in 320 verses in the Book of Mormon. The deep emotions involving the
Lord’s attributes of merciful love were recorded 221 times, whereas the loving yet judgmental, passions of God were recorded [105] times. This illustrates that the Lord showed forth doubly his passions of a merciful, loving nature as compared to his passions of a judgmental nature. This ratio
[221 to 105] is of particular significance, for the Lord showed forth far more nurturing than correcting passions, even though the multitudes chose to reject him.
… His passions are always appropriate, controlled, and directed to assist toward life eternal all who choose to obey.
These passions, so clearly revealed in the Book of Mormon, appear to have been predicated on the actions of the people. When the people kept the commandments, gave willing service to others, and set their course toward eternal life, the emotions, that God revealed to them were love (1
Nepih 11:22) , goodness (1 Nephi 1:1) , comfort (2 Nephi 8:3) , patience (Mosiah 4:6) , and mercy (1 Nephi 1:14) . The strictness with which the people turned their hearts, minds, strength, and devotions to the Lord obviously determined the extent and degree of the loving passions he showed to them. (4
Nephi.)
During times when the people were not valiant and yet had not severely hardened their hearts, the Lord showed forth abundant offers of mercy, the blessing of time to repent, and the loving leadership of mighty prophets. The Lord extended his arms of mercy even into the night of darkened hearts and wandering minds.
Yet when the people of the Book of Mormon flagrantly chose to rebel against the counsel of God, to live in wickedness, and to thwart the gospel plan, the passions of displeasure (2 Nephi 1:22) , anger (1 Nephi 20:9) , and wrath (1
Nephi 13:11) were prominent in God’s dealing with them. The degree to which the people were disobedient to God determined their judgment.
Thus, when the vast majority rejected God and willfully rebelled against his words, they felt God’s fiery indignation, fierce anger, and almighty wrath – the eternal emotions that would result in the multitudes’ damnation. (Finding
Christ Through the Book of Mormon, p. 57. Our count: 105, hers: 99.)
The Lord Hateth
1828 Websters –
In Scripture, it signifies to love less.
If any man come to me, and hate not father and mother, etc. – Luke 14:26.
He that spareth the rod, hateth his son. – Proverbs
13:24.
m-w.com – a : intense hostility and aversion usually deriving from fear, anger, or sense of injury. b : extreme dislike or antipathy
Malachi 1:2-3 – I have loved you, saith the Lord. Yet ye say,
Wherein hast thou loved us? Was not Esau Jacob’s brother? saith the Lord: yet I loved Jacob, And I hated Esau
…
Romans 9:13 – As it is written, Jacob have I loved, but Esau have I hated.
Hosea 9:15 – All their wickedness is in Gilgal: for there I hated them [Ephriamites]: for the wickedness of their doings I will drive them out of mine house, I will love them no more: all their princes are revolters.
Amos 6:8 – The Lord God hath sworn by himself, saith the
Lord the God of hosts, I abhor the excellency of Jacob, and hate his palaces: therefore will I deliver up the city with all that is therein.
Proverbs 6:16 – These six things doth the Lord hate …
Romans 9:13 –As it is written, Jacob have I loved, but Esau have I hated.
Institute New Testament Manual – [Regarding Romans
9:13] It seems strange that God should choose one brother to hate and one to love. But while the Greek word used here does mean “hate” in the same sense that we use it, the Hebrew root translated as “hate” carried many shades of meaning, including “rejection,” “strong displeasure,” or, very commonly, “loving less than.”
“Love the Sinner, Hate the Sin” – The saying is not in scripture. It is from a letter by St. Augustine in 424 AD and was also used by Mohandas Gandhi.
( http://www.catholic.com/quickquestions/who-said-love-the-sinnerhate-the-sin )
A problem is that the idea separates the sin from the sinner.
Does that really work? In other words, when we sin isn’t that really a part of us? Isn’t that we really who we are?
It isn’t that the sin just happened to us by accident; we made the decision to sin. That decision is part of who are are and is stamped into us. The miracle of the atonement is not just that the sin is paid for but that we ourselves are changed.
A danger in the hate-sin love-sinner approach is the tendency to see the sinner somewhat as an innocent victim rather than someone responsible and accountable for his or her damaging actions.
3 Nephi 9:2 – Wo, wo, wo unto this people; wo unto the inhabitants of the whole earth except they shall repent; for the devil laugheth, and his angels rejoice, because of the slain of the fair sons and daughters of my people; and it is

because of their iniquity and abominations that they are fallen!
The Lord’s preface to the Doctrine and Covenants, section 1, is a “voice of warning unto all people” (D&C 1:4) .
Weep
Hugh Nibley – Enoch bears testimony that the God of heaven actually wept. It is a shocking thing to say, but here again, if we go to another Enoch text, there it is! When God wept over the destruction of the temple, we're told in one of the midrashim [ancient Jewish writings] that it was Enoch who fell on his face and said, "I will weep, but weep not thou!" God answered Enoch and said, "If thou [Enoch] wilt not suffer me to weep, I God will go whither thou canst not come and there I will lament".
(Enoch the Prophet, 5-6. Also in “A
Strange Thing in the Land: The Return of the Book of Enoch, Part 9,” Ensign, Feb.
1977, p. 66. Either source lists multiple examples of weeping in ancient documents by God, Enoch, the heavens, angels [“watchers”], the sun and the moon, the hills and mountains, and the waters. Moses chapter 7 mentions
“weep” or “wept” 11 times – 4 attributed to God, 3 to the heavens and 4 to Enoch, plus the earth itself mourns.)
Miscellaneous
Hugh Nibley – [Jesus] descends to the level of the people whom he must teach, because he must do it in order to teach them. Because of this principle you comprehend what you are like, and comprehension means a lot. You comprehend others only to the degree that you are like
them. (“Unscrolling the Scrolls – Some Forgotten Witnesses,” Old
Testament and Related Studies, ch. 6.)
Henry Eyring (father of President Eyring) – God rules from heaven. He does it with such silken threads that some think
He has lost the reins. Some people do not even know that
He exists. Others wonder whether He exists … God is so gentle, so dedicated to the principle that men should be taught correct principles and then govern themselves and take responsibility for their own mistakes, that His children can actually question whether He exists. I cannot think of anything that more wonderfully typifies His mercy, His kindness, His consideration for us, His concern for us, than that He does it all with bonds that are like the strongest steel but are so gentle that you cannot see them.
(From his chapter in Of Heaven and Earth: Reconciling Scientific Thought with LDS Theology, edited by David Clark, p. 65.)
1 John 3:2 – Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see
him as he is.
Neal A. Maxwell – God's ultimate power is safe, precisely because He possesses ultimate love, justice, mercy, and knowledge. We cannot share in His power without sharing in His attributes. (Ensign, Nov. 1986, p. 54.)
James E. Talmage – God, Attributes of – God is kind, benevolent, and loving—tender, considerate, and longsuffering, bearing patiently with the frailties of His children.
He is just and merciful in judgment, yet combining with these gentler qualities firmness in avenging wrongs. He is jealous of His own power and the reverence paid to Him; that is to say, He is zealous for the principles of truth and purity, which are nowhere exemplified in a higher degree than in His personal attributes. This Being is the author of our existence, Him we are permitted to approach as Father.
(Articles of Faith, ch. 2.)
Love of God is Conditional
John 17:23 – I in them, and thou in me [after being sanctified, cleansed from sin, v.17-19], that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me.
1 Nephi 1:15 – But behold, the Lord hath redeemed my soul from hell; I have beheld his glory, and I am encircled about
eternally in the arms of his love. [Here Lehi speaks of having God’s love after having fulfilled his covenants unto salvation.]
Mosiah 4:12 – And behold, I say unto you that if ye do this
[repent, remain humble, pray, etc.] ye shall always rejoice, and be filled with the love of God, and always retain a remission of your sins; and ye shall grow in the knowledge of the glory of him that created you, or in the knowledge of that which is just and true.
D&C 95:1 – Verily, thus saith the Lord unto you whom I love, and whom I love I also chasten that their sins may be forgiven, for with the chastisement I prepare a way for their deliverance in all things out of temptation, and I have loved you.
D&C 121:43 – Reproving betimes [quickly, soon] with sharpness, when moved upon by the Holy Ghost …
1 Nephi 4:10-12 – I was constrained by the Spirit that I should kill Laban … And the Spirit said unto me again … the
Spirit said unto me again: Slay him …
1 John 2:5 – But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in him.
Amplified Bible: But whoever habitually keeps His word and obeys His precepts [and treasures His message in its entirety], in him the love of God has truly been perfected [it is completed and has reached maturity]. By this we know
[for certain] that we are in Him:
Anger and Vengeance
D&C 29:9 – For the hour is nigh and the day soon at hand when the earth is ripe; and all the proud and they that do wickedly shall be as stubble; and I will burn them up, saith the Lord of Hosts, that wickedness shall not be upon the earth;

D&C 29:17-19 – And it shall come to pass, because of the wickedness of the world, that I will take vengeance upon the wicked, for they will not repent; for the cup of mine indignation is full; for behold, my blood shall not cleanse them if they hear me not.
Wherefore, I the Lord God will send forth flies upon the face of the earth, which shall take hold of the inhabitants thereof, and shall eat their flesh, and shall cause maggots to come in upon them;
And their tongues shall be stayed that they shall not utter against me; and their flesh shall fall from off their bones, and their eyes from their sockets;
D&C 124:52 – And I will answer judgment, wrath, and indignation, wailing, and anguish, and gnashing of teeth upon their heads, unto the third and fourth generation , so long as they repent not, and hate me, saith the Lord your
God.
D&C 133:3 – For he shall make bare his holy arm in the eyes of all the nations, and all the ends of the earth shall see the salvation of their God.
Make Bare His Holy Arm – In ancient times, men prepared for battle by throwing their cloak away from the shoulder of their fighting arm (Psalms 74:11) . At the second coming of
Christ, God will make bare his arm when he shows forth his power for all to see (D&C 133:2-3) . (Donald W. Parry, Jay A. Parry,
Tina M. Peterson, Understanding Isaiah, p. 466.)
Isaiah 63:3 – I have trodden the winepress alone; and of the people there was none with me: for I will tread them in mine anger, and trample them in my fury; and their blood shall be sprinkled upon my garments, and I will stain all my raiment.
Numbers 21:6 – And the Lord sent fiery serpents among the people, and they bit the people; and much people of Israel died.
“Kindled”
kindled – Set on fire; inflamed; excited into action. (Webster’s
1828 Dictionary.)
The Flood
Moses 8:15 – … Mine anger is kindled against the sons of men, for they will not hearken to my voice.
17 – … And if men do not repent, I will send in the floods upon them.
26 – I will destroy man whom I have created, from the face of the earth, both man and beast, and the creeping things, and the fowls of the air …
30 – … And behold I will destroy all flesh from off the earth.
Genesis 6:7,13 – And the Lord said, I will destroy man whom I have created from the face of the earth; both man, and beast, and the creeping thing, and the fowls of the air …
I will destroy them with the earth.
Babylon
Jeremiah 50: 21-30 – Go up against the land of Merathaim, even against it, and against the inhabitants of Pekod: waste
and utterly destroy after them, saith the Lord, and do according to all that I have commanded thee. A sound of battle is in the land, and of great destruction. How is the hammer of the whole earth cut asunder and broken! how is
Babylon become a desolation among the nations!
I have laid a snare for thee, and thou art also taken, O
Babylon, and thou wast not aware: thou art found, and also caught, because thou hast striven against the Lord. The Lord hath opened his armoury, and hath brought forth the
weapons of his indignation: for this is the work of the Lord
God of hosts in the land of the Chaldeans. Come against her from the utmost border, open her storehouses: cast her up as heaps, and destroy her utterly: let nothing of her be left…
The voice of them that flee and escape out of the land of
Babylon, to declare in Zion the vengeance of the Lord our
God, the vengeance of his temple. Call together the archers against Babylon: all ye that bend the bow, camp against it round about; let none thereof escape: recompense her according to her work; according to all that she hath done, do unto her: for she hath been proud against the Lord, against the Holy One of Israel. Therefore shall her young men fall in the streets, and all her men of war shall be cut off in that day, saith the Lord.
Cleansing the Temple
John 2:14-16 – And found in the temple those that sold oxen and sheep and doves, and the changers of money sitting:
And when he had made a scourge of small cords, he drove them all out of the temple, and the sheep, and the oxen; and poured out the changers’ money, and overthrew the tables;
And said unto them that sold doves, Take these things
hence; make not my Father’s house an house of merchandise.
James E. Talmage – Righteously indignant at what He beheld, zealous for the sanctity of His Father's House, Jesus essayed to clear the place; and, pausing not for argument in words, He promptly applied physical force almost approaching violence—the one form of figurative language that those corrupt barterers for [dishonest money] could best understand. Hastily improvising a whip of small cords,
He laid about Him on every side, liberating and driving out
sheep, oxen, and human traffickers, upsetting the tables of the exchangers and pouring out their heterogeneous

accumulations of coin. With tender regard for the imprisoned and helpless birds He refrained from assaulting their cages; but to their owners He said: "Take these things hence"; and to all the greedy traders He thundered forth a command that made them quail: "Make not my Father's house an house of merchandise." His disciples saw in the incident a realization of the psalmist's line: "The zeal of thine house hath eaten me up." (Jesus The Christ, ch. 12, “First
Clearing of the Temple”.)
Matthew 21:12 – And Jesus went into the temple of God, and cast out all them that sold and bought in the temple, and overthrew the tables of the moneychangers, and the seats of them that sold doves,
James E. Talmage – Within the temple grounds Jesus was filled with indignation at the scene of tumult and desecration which the place presented … Now, within four days of the cross, He cleared the courts again by casting out all "them that sold and bought in the temple, and overthrew the tables of the moneychangers, and the seats of them that sold doves"; nor would He suffer any to carry their buckets and baskets through the enclosure, as many were in the habit of doing and so making the way a common thoroughfare. "Is it not written," He demanded of them in wrath, "My house shall be called of all nations the house of prayer? but ye have made it a den of thieves."
(Jesus The Christ, ch. 30, “Second Clearing of the Temple”.)
Numbers 21:6 – And the Lord sent fiery serpents among the people, and they bit the people; and much people of Israel died.
D&C 133:3 – For he shall make bare his holy arm in the eyes of all the nations, and all the ends of the earth shall see the salvation of their God.
Make Bare His Holy Arm – In ancient times, men prepared for battle by throwing their cloak away from the shoulder of their fighting arm (Psalms 74:11) . At the second coming of
Christ, God will make bare his arm when he shows forth his power for all to see (D&C 133:2-3) . (Donald W. Parry, Jay A. Parry,
Tina M. Peterson, Understanding Isaiah, p. 466.)
Isaiah 63:3 – I have trodden the winepress alone; and of the people there was none with me: for I will tread them in mine anger, and trample them in my fury; and their blood shall be sprinkled upon my garments, and I will stain all my raiment.
D&C 29:17-19 – And it shall come to pass, because of the wickedness of the world, that I will take vengeance upon the wicked, for they will not repent; for the cup of mine indignation is full; for behold, my blood shall not cleanse them if they hear me not.
Wherefore, I the Lord God will send forth flies upon the face of the earth, which shall take hold of the inhabitants thereof, and shall eat their flesh, and shall cause maggots to come in upon them;
And their tongues shall be stayed that they shall not utter against me; and their flesh shall fall from off their bones, and their eyes from their sockets;
D&C 133:68 – Behold, at my rebuke I dry up the sea. I make the rivers a wilderness; their fish stink, and die for thirst.
Ether 2:14 – … And for the space of three hours did the Lord talk with the brother of Jared, and chastened him because he remembered not to call upon the name of the Lord.
Joseph Smith – It is the constitutional disposition of mankind to set up stakes & set bounds to the works and ways of the Almighty. (The Words of Joseph Smith, section titled
“Sunday Aug 13 th 1843”.)
D&C 124:52 – And I will answer judgment, wrath, and indignation, wailing, and anguish, and gnashing of teeth upon their heads, unto the third and fourth generation , so long as they repent not, and hate me, saith the Lord your
God.
D&C 133:51 – [At the Second Coming Christ will say:] And I have trampled them in my fury, and I did tread upon them in mine anger, and their blood have I sprinkled upon my garments, and stained all my raiment; for this was the day of vengeance which was in my heart.
Bruce R. McConkie – In effect, by baptism, an individual signs his name to the contract of salvation … In the ordinance of the sacrament men renew the covenant made in the waters of baptism, receiving again the assurance that they shall have the Spirit to be with them in this life (D&C
20:77-79) … They, on their part, agree again to keep the commandments.
Ordination to office in the Melchizedek priesthood and entering into that "order of the priesthood" named "the new and everlasting covenant of marriage" are both occasions when men make the covenant of exaltation… (D&C
131:1-4; 84:39-41; 132; Num. 25:13.)
… Tithing is a covenant by conformity to which men are assured temporal and spiritual blessings. (Mal. 3:7-12; D&C
119.)
Sabbath observance is a covenant between God and his people through all their generations. (Ex. 31:16; D&C 59:9-20.)
The word of wisdom is a covenant, conformity to which assures both strength of body and a special spiritual endowment. (D&C 89.)
Covenants

… In the temples the faithful enter into many covenants pertaining to exaltation.
… The Book of Mormon is a new covenant binding upon the
Latter-day Saints, that is, having received this ancient record as a divine book, they are bound to conform to its teachings and follow its counsels. (D&C 84:57.)
And so it goes, the more faithful and devoted a person is, the more of the covenants of the Lord he is enabled to
receive, until he receives them in full ... (Mormon Doctrine,
“Covenants.”)
The Terrestrial Standard
Inheritors of the terrestrial (from Degrees_of_Glory_-Chart.docx) –

Those who inherit the terrestrial kingdom are described as honorable people who, either in this world or in the spirit world, receive the testimony of Jesus but are not valiant in that testimony (see D&C 76:71–79) .

Among those who inherit the terrestrial kingdom will be people who died without the law, spirits kept in prison, and some members of the Church who were not sufficiently valiant (see D&C 76:72–75, 79) .

Those who reject the prophets in this life and then accept the gospel in the spirit world will inherit the terrestrial kingdom (see D&C 76:73–74; 138:32) .
Those who inherit the telestial kingdom include those who were religious but rejected Christ, plus murderers, liars, sorcerers, adulterers, and whoremongers—in general, the wicked people of the earth (see D&C 76:103; Revelation 22:15) .
Examples of Harsh Treatment by the Lord

Steadying the ark – Numbers 1:51, reiterated in D&C
85:8.

A young prophet, after being tested by an old prophet
 and failing, killed as prophesied – 1 Kings 13:27-33 (see
House of Israel Divided.doc.)
Parents are to bring charges against their rebellious children (Deuteronomy 21:18-21) .
Institute Manual on the Old Testament – [Regarding
Deuteronomy 21:18-21] Modern readers are shocked at this requirement, and some try to use it as proof of the primitive and savage nature of the law. The following points are important in considering this requirement:
This requirement, like all else in the Mosaic law, was given by the Lord, who was the premortal Jesus. It is consistent with all other aspects of His nature. (Sec. 20-9.)
Institute Manual on the Old Testament – … The same
Person who said, “Love your enemies” (Matthew 5:44) , said of the Canaanites in the land of promise, “Thou shalt save alive nothing that breatheth: but thou shalt utterly destroy them” (Deuteronomy 20:16–17) . The same Savior who said to forgive “seventy times seven” (Matthew 18:22) destroyed the entire population of the earth with the exception of eight souls (see Genesis 7–8) .
On the other hand, the Jesus of the New Testament who said that one who refuses to forgive another’s trespasses will be “delivered … to the tormentors, till he should pay all that was due” (Matthew 18:34–35) is the Lord of the Old
Testament who said, “Though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool” (Isaiah 1:18) . And the Christ depicted in the book of Revelation, who is shown with the great sickle ready to reap the grapes of the earth and tread them in the winepress (see Revelation 14:14, 20) , is the same God of the Old
Testament who said to Micah, “What doth the Lord require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God?” (Micah 6:8) . (Enrichment A-5.)
Joseph Smith – That which is wrong under one
circumstance, may be, and often is, right under another.
God said, "Thou shalt not kill;" [Exodus 20:13] at another time
He said, "Thou shalt utterly destroy" [Deuteronomy 20:17, i.e. kill all of the Canaanites – men, women, children, animals] . This is the principle on which the government of heaven is conducted—by revelation adapted to the circumstances in which the children of the kingdom are placed. Whatever
God requires is right, no matter what it is, although we may not see the reason thereof till long after the events transpire.
If we seek first the kingdom of God, all good things will be added. So with Solomon: first he asked wisdom, and God gave it him, and with it every desire of his heart, even things which might be considered abominable to all who understand the order of heaven only in part, but which in reality were right because God gave and sanctioned by special revelation. (Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, p. 255, emphasis added.)
Acts 4:32-5:10 – Ananias and his wife Sapphira both die after not paying their full offering.
2 Samuel 6:6-7 – Uzzah put forth his hand to the ark of God, and took hold of it; for the oxen shook it. And the anger of the Lord was kindled against Uzzah; and God smote him there for his error; and there he died by the ark of God.
D&C 85:8 – … [He] that putteth forth his hand to steady the ark of God, shall fall by the shaft of death,
For Whom Does the Savior Pray?
3 Nephi 19:29 – Father, I pray not for the world, but for those whom thou hast given me out of the world, because of their faith …

D&C 38:4-6 – … And verily, I say, even as many as have believed in my name, for I am Christ, and in mine own name, by the virtue of the blood which I have spilt, have I pleaded before the Father for them.
But behold, the residue of the wicked have I kept in chains of darkness until the judgment of the great day, which shall come at the end of the earth;
And even so will I cause the wicked to be kept, that will not hear my voice but harden their hearts, and wo, wo, wo, is their doom.
Jacob – Esau
Ogden and Skinner – “The house of Israel was a distinct people in pre-existence” (McConkie, Doctrinal New Testament
Commentary, 2:276) . “This election to the chosen lineage is based on pre-existent worthiness and is thus made
‘according to the foreknowledge of God’” (McConkie, Mormon
Doctrine, p. 216) .
“Hated” is used here to translate a Greek verb that also means “displeased with” or “rejected.” Jacob and Esau are used here as a hyperbolic contrast, for, of course, the Lord did not hate Esau. Rather, the Lord’s preferential regard for one over the other is based on their righteousness in premortal life (see McConkie, Doctrinal New Testament Commentary, v. 2, p. 277) . (D. Kelly Ogden and Andrew C. Skinner, Verse by Verse, Acts
through Revelation, p. 169-185.)
Miscellaneous
Hugh Nibley – But certain women from us came very early to the tomb to find his body, and they said they saw an angel with their own eyes; an angel became visible to them.
But the women reported they saw the angels there, but they didn't see him. And he appeared unto them and said,
Oh, you stupid [anoetoi is still the modern Greek word for stupid, dumb] and slow-witted people, not to believe all things that were spoken by the holy prophets. (Teachings of
the Book of Mormon, v. 4, lecture 91, 3 Nephi 9-10.)
“God is Love”
It is a concept that includes more than just affection. It includes knowing Christ, obeying the commandments, treasuring the word, loving our fellow man, sharing and giving. See NewT -1-3 John.docx.
Love is also a relationship, but the only relationship that
God wants with us is through holy covenants.
Naphtali – Be ye therefore wise in God, my children, and prudent, understanding the order of His commandments, and the laws of every word, that the Lord may love you …
(Testament of Naphtali in in The Lost Books of the Bible and the Forgotten
Books of Eden, p. 253.)
D&C 35:12 – And there are none that doeth good except those who are ready to receive the fulness of my gospel, which I have sent forth unto this generation. (See D&C 33:4,
Psalms 14:3, 53:3, Romans 3:12 , Moroni 10:25.)
Reproving Betimes with Sharpness
D&C 121:43 – Reproving betimes [quickly, soon] with sharpness, when moved upon by the Holy Ghost …
Sometimes we hear the interpretation that “sharpness” did not mean harshness but plainness and precision. For example –
Perhaps the term sharpness could be interpreted as
"clarity"; that is, reprove in such a way that the reproved person clearly knows wherein he has erred. Sharpness does not necessarily relate to one's tone of voice.
(Doctrine and Covenants Encyclopedia, Hoyt W. Brewster, “Reproving
Betimes with Sharpness.”)
Here are some of the definitions of sharpness in Joseph
Smith’s time –

Keenness of an edge or point; as the sharpness of a razor or a dart.

Not obtuseness.

Severity of language; pungency; satirical sarcasm; as the sharpness of a satire or rebuke. (Websters 1828
Dictionary.)
The first and second definition do seem to allow an interpretation of precision, however that meaning appears out of context with the word “reprove” at the beginning of the verse –

To blame; to censure.

To charge with a fault to the face; to chide; to reprehend.

To blame for; with of; as, to reprove one of laziness.

To convince of a fault, or to make it manifest. (ibid.)
Even more it does not go with the rest of the verse – and then showing forth afterwards an increase of love toward him whom thou hast reproved, lest he esteem thee to be his enemy;
Imagine that you needed to counsel someone and you said the following in a basic tone of voice or even in a soft and gentle tone –
Bob, drinking beer is against the Word of Wisdom. You need to stop drinking beer and get back on the right track.
Your statement is clear and concise. How could that cause
Bob to esteem you as an enemy?

The word sharpness is used seven times in scripture. The best of them does indeed include the concept of clarity.
However, note how the rest of it goes –
2 Nephi 1:26 – And ye have murmured because he hath been plain unto you. Ye say that he hath used sharpness;
ye say that he hath been angry with you; but behold, his sharpness was the sharpness of the power of the word of God, which was in him; and that which ye call anger
was the truth, according to that which is in God, which he could not restrain, manifesting boldly concerning your iniquities.
If Nephi had been speaking in a soft, gentle voice, how could Laman and Lemuel have claimed that it was anger?
Admittedly at other times they twisted his and Lehi’s meanings, but if Nephi had spoken gently it would have been more logical to accuse of him being incorrect or or that he is in no position to talk, such as “he thinks to rule over us” (2 Nephi 5:3) or calling Lehi “a visionary man” (1 Nephi
2:11) .
Let’s try another passage –
1 Corinthians 13:10 – Therefore I write these things being absent, lest being present I should use sharpness, according to the power which the Lord hath given me to edification, and not to destruction.
Is Paul saying that he prefers writing versus speaking because he worries that if he was there in person he might speak with clarity, whereas in writing he can be vague?
Because that passage is from the Bible we can see alternate translations –
This is why I write these things when I am absent, that when I come I may not have to be harsh in my use of authority—the authority the Lord gave me for building you up, not for tearing you down. (New International
Version.)
For this reason I am writing these things while absent from you, so that when I come, I will not need to deal
severely [with you], in my use of the authority which the
Lord has given me [to be used] for building you up and not for tearing you down. (Amplified Bible.)
In 54 separate English translations of that verse, none of them give the meaning as clarity or anything like it. Instead they use “harsh,” “severe,” “hard on you,” etc.
The next perspective is how would Joseph Smith have understood the word sharpness? Here is an example –
It is only necessary to say, relative to the foregoing reproof and instruction, that though it was given in
sharpness, it occasioned gladness and joy, and we were willing to repent and reform in every particular, according to the instruction given. It is also proper to remark that after the reproof was given, we all confessed, voluntarily, that such had been the manifestations of the Spirit a long time since, in consequence of which the rebuke came with greater
sharpness. (Encyclopedia of Joseph Smith’s Teachings, “Titles.”)
If sharpness meant clarity, why did he juxtapose it with
“gladness and joy”? This instance is the only occurrence of
“sharpness” in over 700 pages of his teachings. Thus there is no instance where he used sharpness to mean clarity.
Lastly, if sharpness is really intended to mean clarity then why do the scriptures not contain many instances of it? The gospel is to be taught clearly. Nephi could have exulted in the sharpness instead of the “plainness” of the gospel, and he could have said that Isaiah’s writings were not sharp to his people or that they received with them with sharpness?
Instead why is sharpness often coupled with reproof and rebuking? When people are rebuked in, is there a real tendency to be vague? Quite the opposite is usually the norm and the accuser goes through a laundry list of definite violations. If that is the case, why would we be specifically told to reprove with clarity?
Word studies and studying context in scripture do not support the clarity option. Perhaps a reason behind the emphasis on clarity over harshness is our desire to increase our personal kindness and niceness. However as Elder
Christofferson points out, “The God of the Bible traffics in life and death, not niceness …” Thus we should be careful of imposing a meaning on scripture that may not actually be there.
Direct Speech
Matthew 22:29 – Jesus answered and said unto them, Ye do err, not knowing the scriptures, nor the power of God.

3 Nephi 9
3 Behold, that great city Zarahemla have I burned with
fire, and the inhabitants thereof.
4 And behold, that great city Moroni have I caused to be
sunk in the depths of the sea, and the inhabitants thereof to be drowned.
5 And behold, that great city Moronihah have I covered
with earth, and the inhabitants thereof, to hide their iniquities and their abominations from before my face, that the blood of the prophets and the saints shall not come any more unto me against them.
6 And behold, the city of Gilgal have I caused to be sunk, and the inhabitants thereof to be buried up in the depths of the earth;
7 Yea, and the city of Onihah and the inhabitants thereof, and the city of Mocum and the inhabitants thereof, and the city of Jerusalem and the inhabitants thereof; and
waters have I caused to come up in the stead thereof, to hide their wickedness and abominations from before my face …
8 And behold, the city of Gadiandi, and the city of
Gadiomnah, and the city of Jacob, and the city of
Gimgimno, all these have I caused to be sunk, and made hills and valleys in the places thereof; and the inhabitants
thereof have I buried up in the depths of the earth, to hide their wickedness and abominations from before my face, that the blood of the prophets and the saints should not come up any more unto me against them.
9 And behold, that great city Jacobugath, which was inhabited by the people of king Jacob, have I caused to be
burned with fire because of their sins and their wickedness, which was above all the wickedness of the whole earth, … therefore I did cause them to be burned, to destroy them from before my face, that the blood of the prophets and the saints should not come up unto me any more against them.
10 And behold, the city of Laman, and the city of Josh, and the city of Gad, and the city of Kishkumen, have I
caused to be burned with fire, and the inhabitants thereof, because of their wickedness in casting out the prophets, and stoning those whom I did send to declare unto them concerning their wickedness and their abominations.
11 And because they did cast them all out, that there were none righteous among them, I did send down fire and
destroy them, that their wickedness and abominations might be hid from before my face, that the blood of the prophets and the saints whom I sent among them might not cry unto me from the ground against them.
12 And many great destructions have I caused …
City How Why
Zarahemla Burned (none mentioned)
Moroni Drowned (none mentioned)
Moronihah Buried to hide their iniquities and their abominations from before my face, that the blood of the prophets and the saints …
Gilgal Buried (none mentioned)
Onihah
Mocum
Jerusalem
Gadiandi
Gadiomnah
Jacob
Gimgimno
Drowned to hide their wickedness and abominations from before my face …
Buried to hide their wickedness and abominations from before my face, that the blood of the prophets and the saints …
Jacobugath Burned their sins and their wickedness, which was above all the wickedness of the whole earth, … blood of the prophets and the saints should not come up unto me any more against them
Laman
Josh
Gad
Kishkumen
Burned their wickedness in casting out the prophets, and stoning those whom I did send to declare unto them … wickedness and abominations might be hid from before my face, that the blood of the prophets and the saints
In 3 rd Nephi chapter 9 –
1.
How many cities did the Lord destroy by fire?
2.
How many cities by being buried with earth?
3.
How many cities by water?
4.
What is the total of #1 – #3?
5.
On average how many people lived in one of those cities?
1.
Fire 6
2.
Earth 6
3.
Water 4
16
Assuming the region is Mesoamerica, the population of cities ranged from 6,000 to over 200,000.
( http://www.public.asu.edu/~mesmith9/1-CompleteSet/MES-05-
CitySize.pdf
) . That was from the post-classic period, AD 900-1000.
Word counts in the Book of Mormon
298 – destroy (destroyed, etc.)
162 – destruction
550 – total

1.
BoM begins with the setting that Jerusalem is about to be destroyed.
2.
The setting at the end is the destruction of the Nephites and the Lamanites are destroying each other.
3.
The end of the book of Ether is the destruction of the
Jaredites.
4.
Just before the Savior’s visit many cities are destroyed.
aretalogy – a narrative of the miraculous deeds of a god or hero. (merriam-webster.com)
Hugh Nibley – This chapter nine is pretty deep stuff. See, the Lord in the aretalogy tells us that he's been doing all the destroying that's been going on here. But first of all, what is the theme of the Book of Mormon? The theme of the Book of Mormon is, of course, salvation in Jesus Christ. But what is its historical message? What is its particular message to us? Remember, Parley P. Pratt wrote A Voice of Warning about the Book of Mormon. What's it warning us against?
… The Lord personally takes responsibility for the great destruction that's been wrought. Was it a coincidence?
Then why did the Lord say "I did it." He keeps saying "I did it." (Teachings of the Book of Mormon, v. 4., 3 Nephi 3.)

3 Nephi 9
1 And it came to pass that there was a voice heard among all the inhabitants of the earth, upon all the face of this land, crying:
2 Wo, wo, wo unto this people; wo unto the inhabitants of the whole earth except they shall repent; for the devil laugheth, and his angels rejoice, because of the slain of the fair sons and daughters of my people; and it is because of their iniquity and abominations that they are fallen!
3 Behold, that great city
, and the inhabitants thereof.
4 And behold, that great city
in the depths of the sea, and the inhabitants thereof to be
.
5 And behold, that great city
and the inhabitants thereof, to hide their iniquities and their abominations from before my face, that the blood of the prophets and the saints shall not come any more unto me against them.
6 And behold, the city of
, and the inhabitants thereof to be
up in the depths of the earth;
7 Yea, and the city of
and the inhabitants thereof, and the city of
and the inhabitants thereof, and the city of
and the inhabitants thereof; and
in the stead thereof, to hide their wickedness and abominations from before my face, that the blood of the prophets and the saints shall not come up any more unto me against them.
8 And behold, the city of
, and the city of
, and the city of
, and the city of
, all these
, and made hills and valleys in the places thereof; and the
up in the depths of the earth, to hide their wickedness and abominations from before my face, that the blood of the prophets and the saints should not come up any more unto me against them.
9 And behold, that great city
, which was inhabited by the people of king Jacob,
because of their sins and their wickedness, which was above all the wickedness of the whole earth, because of their secret murders and combinations; for it was they that did destroy the peace of my people and the government of the land; therefore
, to destroy them from before my face, that the blood of the prophets and the saints should not come up unto me any more against them.
10 And behold, the city of
, and the city of
, and the city of
, and the city of
,
, and the inhabitants thereof, because of their wickedness in casting out the prophets, and stoning those whom I did send to declare unto them concerning their wickedness and their abominations.
11 And because they did cast them all out, that there were none righteous among them,
, that their wickedness and abominations might be hid from before my face, that the blood of the prophets and the saints whom I sent among them might not cry unto me from the ground against them.
12 And
to come upon this land, and upon this people, because of their wickedness and their abominations.
13 O all ye that are spared because ye were more righteous than they, will ye not now return unto me, and repent of your sins, and be converted, that I may heal you?
14 Yea, verily I say unto you, if ye will come unto me ye shall have eternal life. Behold, mine arm of mercy is extended towards you, and whosoever will come, him will I receive; and blessed are those who come unto me.
15 Behold, I am Jesus Christ the Son of God. I created the heavens and the earth, and all things that in them are. I was with the Father from the beginning. I am in the Father, and the Father in me; and in me hath the Father glorified his name.
16 I came unto my own, and my own received me not. And the scriptures concerning my coming are fulfilled.
17 And as many as have received me, to them have I given to become the sons of God; and even so will I to as many as shall believe on my name, for behold, by me redemption cometh, and in me is the law of Moses fulfilled.
18 I am the light and the life of the world. I am Alpha and
Omega, the beginning and the end.
19 And ye shall offer up unto me no more the shedding of blood; yea, your sacrifices and your burnt offerings shall be done away, for I will accept none of your sacrifices and your burnt offerings.
20 And ye shall offer for a sacrifice unto me a broken heart and a contrite spirit. And whoso cometh unto me with a broken heart and a contrite spirit, him will I baptize with fire and with the Holy
Ghost, even as the Lamanites, because of their faith in me at the time of their conversion, were baptized with fire and with the
Holy Ghost, and they knew it not.
21 Behold, I have come unto the world to bring redemption unto the world, to save the world from sin.
22 Therefore, whoso repenteth and cometh unto me as a little child, him will I receive, for of such is the kingdom of God.
Behold, for such I have laid down my life, and have taken it up again; therefore repent, and come unto me ye ends of the earth, and be saved.

Christlike Attributes
Circle all of the following that are attributes of Christ –
A. B.
1. Loves Hates
2. Loves unconditionally Love conditionally
3. Loves everyone equally Has favorites
4. Peaceful Warlike
5. Healing
6. Accepting
Afflicting
Critical
7. Patient
8. Forgiving
9. Open hearted
10. Serious, sober
Angry
Vengeful
Jealous
Cheery, lively
Christlike Attributes
Circle all of the following that are attributes of Christ –
A. B.
1. Loves Hates
2. Loves unconditionally Love conditionally
3. Loves everyone equally Has favorites
4. Peaceful Warlike
5. Healing
6. Accepting
Afflicting
Critical
7. Patient
8. Forgiving
9. Open hearted
10. Serious, sober
Angry
Vengeful
Jealous
Cheery, lively
Christlike Attributes
Circle all of the following that are attributes of Christ –
A. B.
1. Loves Hates
2. Loves unconditionally Love conditionally
3. Loves everyone equally Has favorites
4. Peaceful Warlike
5. Healing
6. Accepting
Afflicting
Critical
7. Patient
8. Forgiving
9. Open hearted
10. Serious, sober
Angry
Vengeful
Jealous
Cheery, lively
Christlike Attributes
Circle all of the following that are attributes of Christ –
A. B.
1. Loves Hates
2. Loves unconditionally Love conditionally
3. Loves everyone equally Has favorites
4. Peaceful Warlike
5. Healing
6. Accepting
Afflicting
Critical
7. Patient
8. Forgiving
9. Open hearted
10. Serious, sober
Angry
Vengeful
Jealous
Cheery, lively