One of the topic entries of interest on page 283 of the LDS Topical Guide is "Least."  This is a crucial prerequisite as well as identifying factor of the kingdom of God.

"And again I say unto you, ye must repent, and be baptized in my name, and become as a little child, or ye can in nowise inherit the kingdom of God." (3 Nephi 11:38.)

It is the meek who inherit the earth.  It is pride that brings its destruction.  Hence the appropriate title of "servant of the Lord" for those who devote their lives to God.

The topic entry before this one, also on page 283, is "Learn, Learning."  While pride and learning lead to destruction, humbly seeking the mysteries of God is an attribute of the saints.  As the kingdom is a more male-like manifestation than the church, which was instigated with Christ at his first coming, so is humble learning and cognition an affiliated manifestation or attribute that will accompany the birthing of the manchild.

The word before that is "Leap," including a reference the usage in Luke 1:41, "babe l. in her womb."

Deuteronomy 18:18 is the first verse on page 283 of the Old Testament (LDS).

"I will raise them up a Prophet from among their brethren, like unto thee, and will put my words in his mouth; and he shall speak unto them all that I shall command him." (Deuteronomy 18:18.)

This is a key Messianic prophecy regarding both the first coming of Christ among the Jews as well as the second advent ministry of the Messianic Davidic Servant among the Gentiles in conjunction with the establishment of Zion.

Page 283 of the Index found at the conclusion of the Book of Mormon, D&C, PGP triple combination is filled with two entries.  One that starts on the previous page, and the other that begins almost half way down page 283.

PROPHECY, PROPHESY

PROPHET

This ties in well with page 283 of the Old Testament mentioned above, tying into the idea of the Messianic Davidic Servant ministry that will be central in the birthing of the manchild.

But this will not be a day of one prophet who speaks for all the people, but will be a day that will see a fulfillment of Moses' plea, "would to God that all were prophets."  All will know the Lord from the least to the greatest.

Also on page 282 with the entry "prophecy, prophesy" are these headings:

PROMISED LAND

PROPERTY

Actual real estate is part of the covenant God made to Abraham which will be fulfilled in the latter-days.  The kingdom of God is not just a place in the heart, though that is part of the personal overcoming that each needs to experience who will be part of the body of those who form an actual society, a government, a kingdom of God on earth.

Page 283 in the Doctrine and Covenants

Page 283 of the Doctrine and Covenants is the beginning of section 136.  This is significant to the context of the manchild on several counts.

First, it is "the word and will of the Lord, given through President Brigham Young."  It is the first post-Joseph Smith revelation.  Section 135 is the eulogy for Joseph Smith.  This symbolizes the new mantle of leadership with the setting in order that will likewise accompany the birthing of the manchild from the woman, she representing the purified element of the church that brings forth the kingdom.

Second, the subject matter is regarding the trek of the Saints from Nauvoo to their new land in the West.  This parallels the new exodus that will accompany the coming forth of the manchild.

Third, the first verse on the page is verse three:

"Let the companies be organized with captains of hundreds, captains of fifties, and captains of tens, with a president and his two counselors at their head, under the direction of the Twelve Apostles." (D&C 136:3.)

That is how Moses organized the children of Israel anciently, and it is how the kingdom of God will be organized when fully established on a government level.

Fourth, verses 17 and 18 on the page have strong relevance to the coming forth of the manchild/kingdom.

"Go thy way and do as I have told you, and fear not thine enemies; for they shall not have power to stop my work.  Zion shall be redeemed in mine own due time." (D&C 136:17,18.)

Verse ten uses the word "property" that is found on page 282 of the BofM, D&C Index.

"Let every man use all his influence and property to remove this people to the place where the Lord shall locate a stake of Zion." (D&C 136:10.)

Page 283 of the Book of Mormon (post -1981) spans from Alma 30:32b to Alma 30:47a.  It begins with the phrase, "the commencement of the reign of the judges," which is very appropriate to the idea of the emergence of the kingdom of God, which will likewise have democratic features in its government.

There are some interesting cross-correlations between page 283 of the Book of Mormon (Alma 30:3-5) and page 283 of the Doctrine and Covenants (D&C 136:5,8) in regard to each person doing his share but also sharing his surplus with those who stand in need.  This is another hallmark characteristic of the coming kingdom of God -- something that is far out of order in today's society.  Today, the government has taken over the redistribution of wealth, forcing the philanthropy that should stem spontaneously from the heart -- and which will flow readily in Zion when it is established.  Also, with the increased freedom in Zion, people will be more able to pursue those fields of expertise where they are best suited, hence contributing their portion to the abundance and generosity.

This section of Alma 30 also talks about how Alma served the people in his religious calling without receiving payment for his services.  He was able to do this because he had a sufficient-paying job as a judge.  Some ministers for Christ are not so fortunate and are dependent at least in part upon the charity of the people they serve in order to meet their needs.  Nephi taught that while it is priestcraft when the laborer in Zion labors for the sake of money, it is likewise a sin to let the laborer in Zion perish when he has need.

In light of the present study in which we have looked at the various occurrences of 283, the dialogue between Alma and Korihor on page 283 of the Book of Mormon takes on added irony.

43 And now Korihor said unto Alma: If thou wilt show me a sign, that I may be convinced that there is a God, yea, show unto me that he hath power, and then will I be convinced of the truth of thy words.

44 But Alma said unto him: Thou hast had signs enough; will ye tempt your God? Will ye say, Show unto me a sign, when ye have the testimony of all these thy brethren, and also all the holy prophets? The scriptures are laid before thee, yea, and all things denote there is a God; yea, even the earth, and all things that are upon the face of it, yea, and its motion, yea, and also all the planets which move in their regular form do witness that there is a Supreme Creator.

I've highlighted that last statement about the earth and the planets in their motion because the page that is receiving the most notice on this Greater Things web site right now is "May 5, 2000 Planetary Alignment Cataclysms Foretold in Alphabetics Bible Code."  The mention of "brethren" and "prophets" seems like another witness to the correlations we have seen, linking to word 283 in Hebrew "brotherly" as well as to page 283 of the Old Testament and its mention of a prophet being raised up like unto Moses, as well as page 283 of the BofM, D&C, PGP Index that has the word "prophet" as its heading.

These correlations could not have possibly been created by man.  They evidence the supernatural hand of almighty God.

Chapter 283 in the Old Testament

Chapter 283 in the New Testament

Chapter 283 in the Book of Mormon

There are 238 chapters in the Book of Mormon.  That number, 238, is a transposition of the number 283.  The Book of Mormon certainly is a key witness in preparing a people for the coming kingdom.

Extrapolating forward, the 283rd chapter of the Book of Mormon would correspond to Doctrine and Covenants 45, which section certainly is applicable to the coming forth of the manchild, the kingdom of God on earth.  Here is the overview of the chapter.

1-5, Christ is our Advocate with the Father; 6-10, The gospel is a messenger to prepare the way before the Lord; 11-15, Enoch and his brethren received by the Lord unto himself; 16-23, Christ revealed signs of his coming as given on the Mount of Olives; 24-38, The gospel shall be restored, the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled, and a desolating sickness cover the land; 39-47, Signs, wonders, and the resurrection are to attend the Second Coming; 48-53, Christ shall stand on Mount of Olives, and Jews shall see the wounds in his hands and feet; 54-59, The Lord shall reign during the Millennium; 60-62, The Prophet is instructed to being the translation of the New Testament, through which important information would be made known; 63-75, The saints are commanded to gather and build the New Jerusalem, to which people from all nations will come.

I would say that is a pretty good fit.

-- end --

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