Expounding the Scriptures in One
Throughout the scriptures we find many parallels with different levels of comparison. These types and shadows can be understood more readily through an understanding of the model Book of Mormon pattern. It lays out a whole picture of Israel's progression from beginning to end, and that same pattern mirrors the progression of an individual through life, hence covering the temporal and the spiritual realms.
Was this pattern what the resurrected Lord taught the Nephites, when he "expounded all the scriptures in one, which they had written..."? (3 Ne. 23:14.) The vision of all, which we now have in parable form in Book of Mormon history, is a "revelation from God, from the beginning of the world to the ending thereof." (2 Ne. 27:7.) What the Savior taught the Nephites when he "expounded [the scriptures] unto the multitude" was "all things, even from the beginning until the time that he would come in his glory -- yea, even all things which should come upon the face of the earth...even unto the great and last day...." (3 Ne. 26:1,3-5.) The wicked having been destroyed from among the people, the Lord no longer had need to withhold his pearls from the faithful who had been "firm, and steadfast, and immovable, willing with all diligence to keep the commandments of the Lord." (3 Ne. 6:14.)
After Mormon recorded this account of Christ "expounding all things unto them, both great and small," he then spoke of the "greater things" that would "be made manifest," if the Gentiles would believe that portion of the Book of Mormon they would be given. By speaking of the greater things that the Savior taught, in the same context of speaking about the greater things to come forth in the latter days, Mormon points out the similitude of these two.
Inasmuch as Christ taught the "greater things" to the Nephites; and inasmuch as the Book of Mormon history contains the "greater things" in preparatory, parable form; and inasmuch as the pattern laid out in the Book of Mormon parallels is an overview of both the temporal/political and spiritual/religious progressions; and inasmuch that these patterns are woven throughout the scriptures; and inasmuch as these patterns interrelate to form a whole
understanding; we can therefore conclude that these patterns would have been a central part of what Christ discussed when he "expounded the scriptures in one."
Because our salvation hinges on our acceptance of the word of God, knowing more clearly what that path entails and where it leads will provide us with added strength to be able to endure to the end of that path. The stronger our roots of understanding the word of God become, the more able we will be to pluck from our lives those branches that corrupt, and graft in their place branches of righteousness until the perfect day. (Jacob 5:65,66; Rom. 11:16-27.) So it is with nations as well. The more mature the righteous wheat in the earth becomes, the sooner God will be able to pluck out the tares and burn these counterfeits, harvesting his wheat unto himself. (Matt. 13:24-30; 3:12; D&C 87:1-7.)
|
< Previous | GT home | VISION OF ALL - home | Contents | Next > |
Page last updated on November 04, 2007
|
LinkExchange contents not necessarily endorsed by Greater Things |
|
|
