Metal Band Promised Land
Heavy metal meets heavy doctrine, plus other miscellaneous observations and hobbies of a Mormon Gen X'er.

Bruce H. Porter: The prophecies about the promised land in the Book of Mormon

2 Nephi 1:5-7: This land, inheritance for his seed. People there, brought there by God.
80% of prophesies in BOM are about the people AFTER the BOM ends, about the people in the promised land.
A chosen land, a new Jerusalem, protected from Others, Christ to Visit the Land, A record to be kept about this promised land. Old Testament is a record of fallen people. There is a reason for this. Key element in BOM is that a promised land is one of liberty.

New Jerusalem: Ether 13:2-4, 13:6, 13:8, 3 Nephi 21:23.
2 Nephi 1:8-9, preservation of this land b/c a land of inheritance that is preserved for the righteous.
Christ visits them: 1 Nephi 13:35.
Purpose of the plates: D&C 3:19-20, to save the Lamanites, and the rest of us.
Mormon 5:9-10: Given to Jew and Gentile. Most historians who write history don’t do so at the end of their own civilization, with point of view of WHY their civilization was destroyed. They are writing for a different people, different time. A remnant of the Lamanites and the Gentiles would come and scatter them.
Mormon 5:12-15; Mosiah 12:8; Mosiah 28:15: Preserve the abominations of the BOM people for the knowledge of other nations. So that future inhabitants of this land could become aware of those who were here before, of their iniquities and abominations of the Lord’s people.

Why do we need to know about these fallen people? What for?
Who reads the Book of Mormon? The readers are those who have it, believe it and accept it. To the readers of the last days, that we who believe in it, may understand it. It is a book that is intended to convince the masses, however, it is even more targeted for those who believe in it so that we may know and understand what happened to them, because the same thing is happening to us. The Old Testament is record of a fallen people. The Lord provides scripture of a fallen generation and nation to the next, so that may know and understand.

D&C 20:9: a fallen people; contains fullness of gospel of Jesus Christ. Fallen people message is for LDS. Message of gospel is for the world.
2 Nephi 1:7- a land of liberty for those who are righteous.

D&C 10:46-53: the ancients left a blessing on the land; the Lord will establish His church among them.  It must be a free land.
3 Nep 21:5-6. The Gentiles will bring the records back to the seed of Lehi. The Gentiles may be numbered among the Lord’s people. The BOM is for the Gentiles of the latter days. vs. 22: Lord says: I will establish my church among them, numbered among the remnant of Jacob, unto whom I have given this land for their inheritance.
21:3-4: Scattered Lehites, get BOM from the Gentiles. The Father established the land as free, with the Gentiles, so that the Gentiles can receive the Gospel.  Why do we have a Constitution of the U.S.? Because of the purpose of God, leading the religious out of bondage, into freedom, so that this land could be FREE, set up as a free people, in order that the Gentiles can receive the fullness of the Gospel.

Our freedom hinges on righteousness and responsibility, as described and talked about in the Book of Mormon.

D&C 101:77-80, free people, maintained for rights and protection of all flesh, according to just and holy principles.  The Lord established the Constitution of this land, by men HE raised up for this purpose and the land redeemed by the shedding of blood.
D&C 109:54, Constitution of our land, by our fathers, be established forever.
D&C 98:5, The law of the land which is constitutional, supporting that principle of freedom in maintaining rights and privileges, belonging to all mankind.   vs. 6-9: deviation from constitution leads to evil. the law makes you free. When wicked rule, the people mourn.

BOM is history of three migrations: Jaredites, Mulekites, Lehites. It is a prophetic record of a FOURTH migration: the Gentiles who come out of captivity. Records of these four migrations are given to us, for a reason. Mormon did not write for the first three! He was writing for the world and for the Latter-Day-Saints, and for the nation living on the promised land, which is non-denominational.

1 Nephi 13:13, 17. Puritans and pilgrims. Mother Gentiles: Revolutionary war in v. 17.
This is discussing the land, and the group of people coming to the same land.  vs. 18-19, God delivered the patriots and delivered them in order to establish a free land, where the Gospel could be restored.
2 Nephi 10:10-12, no kings here, fortify the land against other nations. 3 Nephi 21:4 the Gentiles will be free by the power of the Father.
1 Nep 13:15, the Gentiles obtain the land for their inheritance.
Mormon 5:19, the Lord gave the blessing of the Nephites to the Gentiles, the blessing are received in the land.  What blessings?

D&C 38:18-20, Old Testament language describing the land of promise. Must seek it with all your hearts (a responsibility). This inheritance is generational and forever. What are the responsibilities?

1 Nep 13:1-2, 14 the Gentiles taken into the house of Israel, not more confounded. The Gentiles shall be blessed and numbered among the house of Israel. Many multitudes of Gentiles upon the land of promise. The promises and prophecies are connected to the land itself.

Same restriction and stipulations placed upon the Jaredites, the Nephites, are the same for the Gentiles of the Latter-days.

Ether 9:20: possess the land unto the Lord. Anyone who possesses the land is under this obligation to serve the Lord, worship Him. 2 Nephi 10:19.
Ether 2:8-10, possessors of this land, must serve him. whatsoever nation shall possess it shall serve God or they shall be swept off. This is a land whose inhabitants must serve God, regardless of whether they are Latter-Day Saints.  Hearken back to Lehi in 2 Nephi 1:5-7, land of inheritance for Lehi’s seed and for those the Lord would bring.
1 Nephi 13:30 Gentiles left captivity, brought to this land, for inheritance.

The Lord has made it clear that the United States of America IS the land he is talking about in all these scriptures. If we can’t understand the difference between this land and Central America and Southern Mexico, then all these promises in the Book of Mormon, and requirements, are worthless! We must be able to understand the prophecies and promises about the Gentiles in the last days, which are predicated on us knowing what land is being described. this land of freedom and liberty is here.

3 Nephi 21:3-4. Gentiles become a mighty nation on the land.

Title of Liberty on the promised land. Alma

Q: The question about Isaiah prophecy about the cities desolate and inhabited by the ten tribes. A: the land of America is for Joseph = Ephraim and Manasseh. The Old Jerusalem is for the ten tribes. The immediate preceding time of the second coming may be the time when this occurs. Me: Brigham Young yellow dog prophecy.
Three chapters in 3 Nephi 16, 21,22 are about the Gentiles on the promised land.

Bruce H. Porter: A Title Of Liberty and Responsibility for Freedom (last presentation in the conference)

His research: living prophets and scriptures.  The scriptures are the best commentary on the scriptures.  The Book of Mormon is the only hope of temporal and spiritual calamities before us. The writing is for US. You can’t liken doctrine to yourself. You can liken the character, nature, attitudes and failings of the people. We have a record of a fallen people for Latter-Day Saints, and the world. Mormon has a point of view where he knows the beginning and the end. He participated in the end. He knows what caused the destruction of the Nephites. He is passing it on to us.

Ether 2:8 – Inhabitants of this land of promise must serve God or be swept off. This is in force for now and forever. This is attached to the land and is constantly and forever a prophecy and promise attached. Like a covenant that runs with the land, in a legal sense. It touches and concerns the land. vs. 9-11 continue. v. 11 – this comes to you, the Gentiles.  This land will be free if you serve the God of this land, Jesus Christ. Freedom from bondage and from captivity hinges on our serving God.   See 2  Nephi 1:5, 13:30.

Relationship of faith to freedom. A land of liberty to those who serve God. 2 Nephi 1:7-9. The promise of keeping the land from other nations, applied to the Nephites and the Mulekites. Also a promise to us.

Jacob speaks of promise of the land and the relationship to the Gentiles.  2 Nephi10:9-13, 16, 18-19.

It is a mistake to try and make a map out of the Book of Mormon and leave out the inspired words, the prophecies about the land and those who live on it. There are over 150 different maps purporting to locate the BOM lands. The plats were small and there simply isn’t enough to have a complete understanding of the geography of the Book of Mormon.

The promises connected to the chosen land are secured by worship and faith.

The responsibility to connect faith to freedom is on all who read and understand. This is about the land, not just one LDS religion. The promised land has many people and religions. The BOM recognizes that a recognition of and faith in Jesus Christ is necessary for prosperity. A non-denominational cry of faith. The title of liberty raised by Moroni was not just raised to members of the Church of Christ.

Glenn Beck, and others, are attempting to bring the nation back to a recognition of God and the principles of the founding fathers.

Moroni 8:27-29: the pride of the nation = their destruction. Seeking to put down power and authority from God. Denying the Holy Ghost. This is how our nation can fall. When the people begin to do this en masse.

Who do we look for and How do we do it?

Mosiah 29:13: Leaders who are just men, who would establish the laws of God, and judge people according to His commandments. When the voice of the people choose wickedness then trouble. Vote according to the laws given by our fathers, which are correct.  We have a moral responsibility to choose God-fearing leaders. This is a requirement in the BOM, not a suggestion.

How to Choose Leaders: Moroni articulates how to judge between good and evil. “Rights are good. Therefore gay rights are good.”  The political correctness movement and the tolerance of wickedness is diabolical. Moroni 7:11-17.

The Constitution is established for Religion and Agency: D&C 101:77-80. Laws and Constitution: maintain it, just and holy principles. Accountability of man in use of agency, according to the moral agency which Gad has given man. So that every man may be accountable for his own sins in the day of judgment. Pertaining to futurity = there is life after death. Act as though we live on, and will be judged. We are accountable. The Constitution of the United States in inextricably linked to Moral Agency.

The Anti-Christ: This doesn’t necessarily have to be a single guy. This often can refer to a system of beliefs, such as when Korihor was “anti-Christ” not “he was an anti-Christ.”  Korihor was anti-Christ b/c he preached unto people against the prophecies which had been spoken by the prophets, concerning the coming of Christ. Mormon wants us to understand the philosophies of anti-Christ (not THE anti-Christ.)  it is a way of thinking or philosophical premise that God does not exist and should not be associated in any way with civil life and order. The anti-Christ is an intellectual and calculated platform and action based on a replacement of God; by man’s abilities and the desires; and a morality founded on the absence of God and Faith.

Freedom was very important to the Nephites. There was no law against a man’s belief; it was strictly contrary to the commands of God that there should be a law which should bring men on to unequal grounds. (Korihor chapter). All men were on equal grounds. read Elder Oakes talk he gave in February, where he explains how the laws are beginning to turn against our beliefs, now.

Korihor: 34 elements that describe the philosophies or platform of anti-Christ. vs. 13-15. Later he’s addressed Alma and the priesthood. Guilt is god-given, shame also. They tell us when something is wrong. they are like pain. Pain tells us when there is something wrong, drives us to find a cure.

The teachings of Korihor have become foundation of modern political platforms, contrary to laws of God. Reduce religion to foolish traditions. Freedom exists b/c of religion. Law exists to protect life, liberty, freedom. When laws enacted or judgments made that favor one individual or entity or belief over another; individual freedoms are compromised and the corruption of power is imminent. Political correctness is one of these.

Secret Oaths and Combinations. Goal: sought power to gain power, and to murder, and to plunder, and to  lie, and to commit all manner of wickedness and whoredoms. How do they work? Ether 14:16? In Hebrew when you make a covenant, you cut it. You swear it. Performing an oath which is a symbol of death or a symbol of sacrifice. A finger across the throat was used in ancient times to symbolize what God could do to them for breaking the covenant.  In our time, when we make a secret, we say cross my heart and hope to die. The cross of the heart is similar to Abraham making the covenant and then sacrifice the large animal which was cut in two and the small animals had their throats cut. Then he waked back and forth between the two.

Helaman 6:21-22. Oaths and covenants and oaths and combinations. The difference is that oath and covenant is when person acts alone, perhaps between you and God. In combinations, covenants are made with the combined group. The combined group can do what they please under protection of the group. Gangs, drug cartels, etc. They have signs, words, etc to distinguish members of the group.

The Goal of Secret Oaths: to get gain. Often to turn out of the way of righteousness and trample the commandments of God. destroy peace of people and government of the land. Overthrow the freedom of all lands, nations, and countries; overthrow the kingdom: Ether 8:25, Ether  9:1, 10:33. The goal of secret combinations:  They start with the most wicked and then slowly seduce the more part of the righteous and seduce them, implement programs and plans, breed dependency among them, and garner their apathy as they gain control, until they obtain sole control of the government.  Why did Mormon give us this information in the last days?

Alma 37:25, 28-29, Alma wants these oaths kept from the people.  Secret combinations are already among us, Moroni saw it. He wanted us to know how they work, otherwise we will suffer the same fate as the Nephites.  Ether 8:22-25.  Why do they want to overthrow freedom?  To control religion. Freedom protects religion. Govt. protects freedom. When no freedom, no religion.  Destruction of freedom is to stop the worship of Jesus Christ, Satan’s ultimate plan.  Ether 8:26, Moroni was commanded to write these things to us.

We must chose representatives who protect and maintain that Constitution and the moral agency of mankind.  Mosiah 29:25-27 – the people must chose the leaders of these types of platforms and positions.  The voice of the majority is usually righteous. If they have no voice, the silent apathetic majority will become the minority. By apathy, the majority let the minority to become the voting “majority” and choose wrong.  Utah voting statistics: 2010, out of 50 states we were 48 in voter turnout.

The BOM is our deed restrictions. (Return to equitable servitudes and covenants that run with the land.)

Helaman 5:2Alma 50:39 = the character of the people we are electing. Note, a sacred ordinance. The Book of Mormon exists as a spiritual and temporal Title of Liberty to the Promised Land.

Joseph said: “We shall build this the Zion of the lord in peace until the servants of the lord shall begin to lay the foundation of a great and high watch tower. Then shall they begin to say w/in themselves, “what need hath my lord of this tower seeing this is a time of peace?” Then the enemy shall come as thief in the night and scatter the servants abroad, and when the seed of these twelve olive trees are scattered abroad. They will wake up the nations of the Earth, and even this nation will be on the very verge of crumbling to pieces and tumbling to the ground, and when the Constitution is upon the brink of ruin this people will be the staff upon which the nation shall lean and they shall bear the Constitution away from the very verge of destruction.” (The historians Corner (?), BYU Studies vol. 19 1978 -1979 number 3, spring 1979.)

The vehicle of salvation for the Constitution may come by members of the church, and take place by an awareness of the resp. to elect leaders and representatives that have the morals and values of faith that will preserve these freedoms.  Make declarations of FAITH, not Mormonism, to all who will hear. As many members in the U.S. we could almost sway every election. Elect those with morals and values of faith.

D&C 84:55-57: Vanity and unbelief have brought the whole church under condemnation, remember the new covenant, even the Book of Mormon, to do what it says.

Nephi warned us: The members of the church who declares “all is well in Zion” is a form of apostasy.  The protection of our religion and freedoms, our conduct, our actions, our culture. We have a culture of corruption, just like the Israelite nation of old. (I’m talking about a Mormon culture of corruption.) We need both individual righteousness and a collective righteousness. The collective righteousness can be micro and macro (community and nation).