Lucifer's Lantern

It's been a few weeks since my last post, and I apologize. Life got crazy for a minute there and I had to put this project on the back burner. Let's just jump right back in to where we were. Nephi had just killed Laban and is about to attempt to finally retrieve the plates. We are going to focus this post on Zoram, the servant of Laban.  The Book of Mormon, pg 13 ~~~~~The Book of Mormon~~~~~ "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. 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." "And after that 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 armour about my loins. " (pg 13) ~~~~~~~~~~ This type of language sorrounding 'girding' the armor is found several tim...

The following email was sent to the Sydney Australia Mortdale Stake on Sunday Oct, 28th 2024 by an  individual (likely using an alias) who pretended to be distributing an official church statement. ----------------- Sydney Australia Mortdale Stake Pilot Program: Informed Consent Dear Brothers and Sisters, I have some wonderful news, your Stake has been chosen to trial a new approach to learning about the Gospel. As you know our leaders are trying to be more transparent with some of the messiness in our history. No doubt you have all started to notice this with the release of the Gospel Topics Essays (https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/manual/gospel-topics-essays/essays?lang=eng) 10 years ago and videos of President Nelson  showing us how Joseph translated the Book of Mormon, with his face in a white stove pipe hat, with a seer stone. This pilot program will involve two different objectives. The first is for our beloved missionaries to ensure that all converts are fully ...

    Several years ago I collected a handful of rocks from the Oregon coast. One in particular I called "The perfect rock" and even though I'm not superstitious, I have a habit of carrying it with me. At one point, while I was obsessively researching Joseph Smith and his seer stones, I decided to refer to my "perfect rock" as my seer stone, as a sort of inside joke with myself.     Coincidently, I had began meditating a lot after leaving the church. One method of meditation involved focusing your mind onto a singular object.  I will admit that I prefer sensory deprivation meditation by means of a blindfold, but focusing on an object changes things up a bit and provides a different experience.       Sometimes I will meditate using a candle, or by staring at a particular point on the wall. One day, I opted to use my "seer stone" as my object of focus. Its smooth black surface tends to fade in and out of clarity and serves its purpose in getting ...

The Book of Mormon, pg 12 ~~~~~ The Book of Mormon~~~~~      " Now when I had spoken these words, they were yet wroth, and still did continue to murmur; Nevertheless they did follow me up until we came without the walls of Jerusalem. (pg 12) ~~~~~~~~~~      We now find Nephi and his brothers outside of the walls of Jerusalem as they return a third time to retrieve the plates from Laban. We can see some similarities to the Book of Joshua as Joshua leads the Isrealites from city to city as they claim their inheritance. This final encounter with Laban is the final colmination of Nephi's effort to preserve their family's records. Much like the Book of Joshua is the finale of the Isrealites claiming their lands.    As we have seen with previous events, the Killing of Laban will be a conglomerate of multiple events across the Old Testament.  ~~~~~ The Old Testament~~~~~    1  And the Lord said unto Joshua, Fear not, neither be thou ...