All the Hosts of Heaven Behold, the kingdom is yours and the enemy shall not overcome. Verily I say unto you, Ye are clean but not all; and there is none else with whom I am well pleased, for all flesh is corruptible before me, and the powers of darkness prevail upon the earth, among the children of men, in the presence of all the hosts of heaven, which causeth silence to reign, and all eternity is pained, and the angels are waiting the great command to reap down the earth, to gather the tares that they may be burned; and, behold, the enemy is combined. (D&C 38:2c-3c) 11/9/2014 Prepared by Elder Dwight Burford 1
1. And now it came to pass after some years had passed away, there came a man among the people of Nephi, whose name was Sherem. 2. And it came to pass that he began to preach among the people, and to declare unto them that there should be no Christ. 3. And he preached many things which were flattering unto the people; and this he did that he might overthrow the doctrine of Christ. 11/9/2014 Prepared by Elder Dwight Burford 2
4. And he labored diligently that he might lead away the hearts of the people,* insomuch that he did lead away many hearts; 5. And he knowing that I, Jacob, had faith in Christ who should come, he sought much opportunity that he might come unto me. 6. And he was learned, that he had a perfect knowledge of the language of the people; wherefore, he could use much flattery, and much power of speech, according to the power of the devil. *Consider Acts 20:25-31 11/9/2014 Prepared by Elder Dwight Burford 3
7. And he had hope to shake me from the faith, notwithstanding the many revelations, and the many things which I had seen concerning these things; for I truly had seen angels, and they had ministered unto me. 8. And also, I had heard the voice of the Lord speaking unto me in very word, from time to time; wherefore, I could not be shaken. 11/9/2014 Prepared by Elder Dwight Burford 4
9. And it came to pass that he came unto me; and on this wise did he speak unto me, saying: Brother Jacob, I have sought much opportunity that I might speak unto you: for I have heard and also know, that thou goest about much, preaching that which ye call the gospel, or the doctrine of Christ; 10. And ye have led away much of this people, that they pervert the right way of God, and keep not the law of Moses, which is the right way; and convert the law of Moses into the worship of a being, which ye say shall come many hundred years hence 11/9/2014 Prepared by Elder Dwight Burford 5
11. And now, behold, I, Sherem, declare unto you, that this is blasphemy; for no man knoweth of such things:* for he can not tell of things to come. 12. And after this manner did Sherem contend against me. 13. But behold, the Lord God poured in his Spirit into my soul, insomuch that I did confound him in all his words. 14. And I said unto him, Deniest thou the Christ which shall come? 15. And he said, If there should be a Christ, I would not deny him; but I know that there is no Christ, neither has been, nor ever will be. *Consider Revelation 19:10 11/9/2014 Prepared by Elder Dwight Burford 6
16. And I said unto him, Believest thou the scriptures? 17. And he said, Yea. 18. And I said unto him, Then ye do not understand them; for they truly testify of Christ. 19. Behold, I say unto you, that none of the prophets have written, nor prophesied, save they have spoken concerning this Christ.* 20. And this is not all: it has been made manifest unto me, for I have heard and seen; and it also has been made manifest unto me by the power of the Holy Ghost; *Consider Luke 24:24-26 11/9/2014 Prepared by Elder Dwight Burford 7
21. Wherefore, I know if there should be no atonement made, all mankind must be lost. 22. And it came to pass that he said unto me, Shew me a sign by this power of the Holy Ghost, in the which ye know so much. 23. And I said unto him, What am I, that I should tempt God to shew unto thee a sign, in the thing which thou knowest to be true? 24. Yet, thou wilt deny it, because thou art of the devil. 25. Nevertheless, not my will be done; but if God shall smite thee, let that be a sign unto thee that he has power, both in heaven and in earth; and also, that Christ shall come. 11/9/2014 Prepared by Elder Dwight Burford 8
26. And thy will, O Lord, be done, and not mine. 27. And it came to pass that when I, Jacob, had spoken these words, the power of the Lord came upon him, insomuch that he fell to the earth. 28. And it came to pass that he was nourished for the space of many days. 29. And it came to pass that he said unto the people, Gather together on the morrow, for I shall die; wherefore, I desire to speak unto the people, before I shall die. 11/9/2014 Prepared by Elder Dwight Burford 9
30. And it came to pass that on the morrow, the multitude were gathered together; and he spake plainly unto them, and denied the things which he had taught them; and confessed (1) the Christ, and (2) the power of the Holy Ghost, and (3) the ministering of angels. 31. And he spake plainly unto them, that he had been deceived by the power of the devil. 32. And he spake of hell, and of eternity, and of eternal punishment. 33. And he said, I fear lest I have committed the unpardonable sin, for I have lied unto God: for I denied the Christ, and said that I believed the scriptures; and they truly testify of him. 11/9/2014 Prepared by Elder Dwight Burford 10
34. And because I have thus lied unto God, I greatly fear lest my case shall be awful; but I confess unto God. 35. And it came to pass that when he had said these words, he could say no more; and he gave up the ghost. 36. And when the multitude had witnessed that he spake these things as he was about to give up the ghost, they were astonished exceedingly; insomuch, that the power of God came down upon them, and they were overcome, that they fell to the earth. 37. Now, this thing was pleasing unto me, Jacob; for I had requested it of my Father who was in heaven: for he had heard my cry, and answered my prayer. 11/9/2014 Prepared by Elder Dwight Burford 11
38. And it came to pass that peace and the love of God were restored again among the people; and they searched the scriptures, and hearkened no more to the words of this wicked man. 39. And it came to pass that many means were devised, to reclaim and restore the Lamanites, to the knowledge of the truth; but it was all in vain: for they delighted in wars and bloodshed; and they had an eternal hatred against us, their brethren. 11/9/2014 Prepared by Elder Dwight Burford 12
40. And they sought by the power of their arms to destroy us continually; 41. Wherefore, the people of Nephi did fortify against them with their armies, and with all their might, trusting in the God and rock of their salvation; wherefore, they became as yet, conquerors of their enemies. 11/9/2014 Prepared by Elder Dwight Burford 13
Lord of Hosts Old Testament (235 in KJV) 1 Samuel (5) 2 Samuel (5) 1 Kings (1) 2 Kings (2) 1 Chronicles (3) Psalm (7) Isaiah (53) Jeremiah (71) Micah (1) Nahum (2) Habakkuk (1) Zephaniah (2) Haggai (12) Zechariah (46) Malachi (24) Book of Mormon (50) I Nephi (1) II Nephi (30) Jacob (5) Helaman (3) III Nephi (11) D&C (6) Sec. 1:5g Sec. 28:2e* Sec. 56:3c Sec. 64:5b* Sec. 104:3b Sec. 108:12b* * Ref. Malachi 4:1 (see also Isaiah 5:24) 11/9/2014 Prepared by Elder Dwight Burford 14
Ministry of Angels Moroni 7 24. Wherefore, by the ministering of angels, and by every word which proceedeth forth out of the mouth of God, men began to exercise faith in Christ; and thus by faith, they did lay hold upon every good thing; and thus it was until the coming of Christ. 25. And after that he came, men also were saved by faith in his name; and by faith, they become the sons of God. 26. And as sure as Christ liveth, he spake these words unto our fathers, saying, Whatsoever thing ye shall ask the Father in my name, which is good, in faith believing that ye shall receive, behold it shall be done unto you. 11/9/2014 Prepared by Elder Dwight Burford 15
Ministry of Angels Moroni 7 27. Wherefore, my beloved brethren, hath miracles ceased, because Christ hath ascended into heaven, and hath sat down on the right hand of God, to claim of the Father his rights of mercy which he hath upon the children of men; 28. For he hath answered the ends of the law, and he claimeth all those who have faith in him; and they who have faith in him, will cleave unto every good thing; wherefore he advocateth the cause of the children of men; and he dwelleth eternally in the heavens? 29. And because he hath done this, my beloved brethren, hath miracles ceased? 30. Behold, I say unto you, Nay; neither have angels ceased to minister unto the children of men. 11/9/2014 Prepared by Elder Dwight Burford 16
Ministry of Angels Moroni 7 31. For behold, they are subject unto him, to minister according to the word of his command, shewing themselves unto them of strong faith and a firm mind, in every form of godliness. 32. And the office of their ministry is, (1) to call men unto repentance, and (2) to fulfill and to do the work of the covenants of the Father which he hath made unto the children of men, (3) to prepare the way among the children of men, by declaring the word of Christ unto the chosen vessels of the Lord, that they may bear testimony of him;* * Consider Mosiah 1:93 11/9/2014 Prepared by Elder Dwight Burford 17
Ministry of Angels Moroni 7 33. And by so doing, the Lord God prepareth the way that the residue of men may have faith in Christ, that the Holy Ghost may have place in their hearts, according to the power thereof; 34. And after this manner bringeth to pass the Father the covenants which he hath made unto the children of men. 11/9/2014 Prepared by Elder Dwight Burford 18
Genesis 5 44. And thus the gospel began to be preached from the beginning, being declared by holy angels, sent forth from the presence of God; and by his own voice, and by the gift of the Holy Ghost. 45. And thus all things were confirmed unto Adam by an holy ordinance; and the gospel preached; and a decree sent forth that it should be in the world until the end thereof; and thus it was. Amen. 11/9/2014 Prepared by Elder Dwight Burford 19