The Book of Esther, or the Story of the King's Bride

I believe that the Book of Esther is a book of prophecy for the last days. Here are a few things to think about when studying this book.

Who is the king?

What is the feast?

Who did the king specifically invite to his feast?

Who is the queen?

What does it mean if the king’s bride lost her standing?

What does it mean if the king was searching for a new queen/bride?

Is it significant that Esther was an orphan?

Mordecai took Esther under his wing when she had no one to take care of her. Does he represent anyone?

What are the things Esther was given for purification? Do those things mean anything today?

Is it significant that Esther was given seven maidens and given the best place in the house of women?

Why did it take twelve months for Esther to get ready before seeing the king?

Is it significant that Esther took nothing with her except for what was given her?

Esther “obtained grace and favor in [the king’s] sight more than all the virgins, so that he set the royal crown upon her head and made her queen”. Is that supposed to relate to something today?

Is it significant that Haman was promoted “above all the princes that were with him” right after Esther is made queen?

Mordecai refused to bow down to Haman, thus putting his life, along with the lives of all the Jews, in jeopardy. Will that have a real-world application?

Mordecai implored Esther to intercede on behalf of the Jews, raising the possibility that she might have “come to the kingdom for such a time as this”. What does this tell us about the purpose of being the bride of the King?

What is Esther’s “royal apparel” that she put on?

Has anyone else ever found themself in the presence of the King without being invited? If so, were there any common threads that allowed them to be in that situation?

Is it significant that it took five years before Mordecai was finally honored for what he did for the king?

Is there anything to learn from the way Mordecai was honored?

Haman faced the wrath of the king and lost his life. Is it significant that neither Esther nor Mordecai demanded any kind of punishment for Haman, even though they were directly threatened by him?

Is it significant that the plot against Mordecai and the Jews was turned against the enemies of the Jews?

What power protected the Jews on the day they were supposed to be killed?

“Mordecai went out from the presence of the king in royal apparel of blue and white, and with a great crown of gold, and with a garment of fine linen and purple, and the city of Shushan rejoiced and was glad.” The Jews had light, and gladness, and joy, and honor.” What does that mean for us in the last days?

The Jews, under the direction of Mordecai, held annual feasts to remember and celebrate their deliverance. Has that happened before? Will it happen again?

Book of Mormon Stories: Special Edition

[Original song can be found here]

Book of Mormon stories that my teacher tells to me

Are about the Lamanites in ancient history.

Long ago their fathers came from far across the sea,

Giv’n the land if they lived righteously.

Lamanites met others who were seeking liberty,

And the land soon welcomed all who wanted to be free.

Book of Mormon stories say that we must brothers be,

Giv’n the land if we live righteously.

Alma was rebellious, and he fought against the right.

Then one day an angel came to turn him to the light.

Struck before his brethren, Alma learned humility.

Then he taught in the land righteously.

Don’t forget Abinadi, who stood before the king.

All chained up from head to toe, the gospel he did bring.

If he would deny it, then the king would set him free.

He was true, and he died righteously.

Ammon was a missionary serving Lamanites,

Tending King Lamoni’s sheep for several days and nights.

Robbers came; he saved the sheep by fighting fearlessly.

He had learned he could live righteously.

Once two thousand sons of God were called to fight the foe.

Marching as an army into battle they did go.

They believed that Christ the Lord their guardian would be.

They had learned they should live righteously.

Samuel the Lamanite, high on the city wall,

Came to warn the people, and repentance was his call.

Arrows could not hit him, for a man of God was he,

And he taught in the land righteously.

After Christ was crucified and died for you and me,

He came forth to teach the truth to all who would be free.

Hands were laid upon each child. He blessed them tenderly,

And they lived in the land righteously.

Mormon saw his people fall; they turned away from love,

So he gathered records that would witness God above.

Mormon's son Moroni hoped that we'd have charity.

If we did, then we'd live righteously.

Joseph was a boy who wanted God to teach him right.

He received the records that would teach men not to fight.

Jarrings, strifes, contentions kept saints in captivity,

Lost their chance to be God’s, righteously.

Saints were cursed, condemned, and driven West; to God they yearned.

Still the Lord had mercy and He made sure they could learn.

They passed down the records so that their posterity

Might have hope to be God’s, righteously.

Weak from condemnation, now we're trying to be one.

Records are restored, we hope to cov'nant with the Son.

If we will live truly by His words of charity

We will live on this land righteously.

Once we are God’s people we will listen and obey.

Out of our abundant love, to Lamanites we’ll say,

"Won't you join us? Please come help us and we'll brothers be,

Giv'n the land, we shall live righteously."

Through the pow'r of Christ the Lord a standard we'll erect.

All across the world, they'll come from far, the Lord's elect.

We shall publish peace, proclaim to men, "You can be free,

Giv'n the land, if you live righteously!"

Jesus said He will return, He'll reign as Lord and King.

He has asked us to prepare and Zion He will bring.

He will dwell among His people, His own family.

On this Earth, saints will live righteously.

The Name Whereby We Shall Call This Church, Part III

Part I | Part II

Let us simply look at Jesus’ complete response to the disciples’ request about the name whereby to call the church to see what we can find. From 3 Nephi 12 [RE]:

Verily, verily I say unto you, Why is it that the people should murmur and dispute because of this thing? Have they not read the scriptures which say ye must take upon you the name of Christ, which is my name? For by this name shall ye be called at the last day. And whoso taketh upon him my name and endureth to the end, the same shall be saved at the last day. Therefore whatsoever ye shall do, ye shall do it in my name. Therefore ye shall call the church in my name, and ye shall call upon the Father in my name that he will bless the church for my sake. And how be it my church save it be called in my name? For if a church be called in Moses' name, then it be Moses' church; or if it be called in the name of a man, then it be the church of a man; but if it be called in my name, then it is my church, if it so be that they are built upon my gospel. Verily, I say unto you that ye are built upon my gospel. Therefore ye shall call whatsoever things ye do call in my name. Therefore if ye call upon the Father for the church, if it be in my name, the Father will hear you.

That last sentence is interesting. Even though Jesus previously said that the disciples were indeed built upon His gospel, the conditional in that last sentence (“if it be in my name”) indicates that that they might not always ask for something in His name. There was always the chance of deviating from the fullness of what Jesus taught them and asking amiss. You might say that the three disciples took Jesus’ counsel - the counsel to call upon the Father for the church in the name of the Lord - very seriously. What Jesus asked the three later was “What will ye that I should do unto you when I am gone unto the Father?” Jesus was going to the Father to relay their desires to Him. So the three’s desire to “bring the souls of men unto [Christ] while the world shall stand” was quite literally them calling upon the Father for the church in Jesus’ name. They understood the fullness of what Jesus was teaching them. They did not ask amiss. And, of course, the Father heard them, just as Jesus said would happen. Jesus continues His answer:

And if it so be that the church is built upon my gospel, then will the Father shew forth his own works in it.

Later in the record we find that that was true. The Father did show forth His own works in the church because of what the three desired. Before we continue on with Jesus’ response to His disciples, let’s look at this summary in 3 Nephi 13 [RE] of the marvelous work that happened after the three made their request and received according to their desires:

They did go forth upon the face of the land and did minister unto all the people, uniting as many to the church as would believe in their preaching, baptizing them, and as many as were baptized did receive the Holy Ghost. And they were cast into prison by them who did not belong to the church, and the prisons could not hold them for they were rent in twain, and they were cast down into the earth. But they did smite the earth with the word of God insomuch that by his power they were delivered out of the depths of the earth, and therefore they could not dig pits sufficient to hold them. And thrice they were cast into a furnace and received no harm. And twice were they cast into a den of wild beasts, and behold, they did play with the beasts as a child with a suckling lamb and received no harm. And it came to pass that thus they did go forth among all the people of Nephi, and did preach the gospel of Christ unto all people upon the face of the land. And they were converted unto the Lord and were united unto the church of Christ.

The three were given power to preach to and convert literally all the people on the face of the land. Everyone was baptized and truly received the Holy Ghost. There was intense resistance but all of it was overcome through God’s grace. I don’t see why we can’t do the same thing in our day that the three did in their day (especially since the three will continue their work at some point). Let’s continue on with Jesus’ response in 3 Nephi 12 [RE]:

But if it be not built upon my gospel and is built upon the works of men or upon the works of the devil, verily I say unto you, They have joy in their works for a season, and by and by the end cometh and they are hewn down and cast into the fire, from whence there is no return for their works do follow them. For it is because of their works that they are hewn down, therefore remember the things that I have told you.

We looked at that portion of Jesus’ answer in part 2. Moving on:

Behold I have given unto you my gospel, and this is the gospel which I have given unto you: that I came into the world to do the will of my Father because my Father sent me. And my Father sent me that I might be lifted up upon the cross, and after that I had been lifted up upon the cross I might draw all men unto me. That as I have been lifted up by men, even so should men be lifted up by the Father to stand before me to be judged of their works, whether they be good or whether they be evil, and for this cause have I been lifted up. Therefore according to the power of the Father I will draw all men unto me that they may be judged according to their works. And it shall come to pass that whoso repenteth and is baptized in my name shall be filled, and if he endureth to the end, behold, him will I hold guiltless before my Father at that day when I shall stand to judge the world. And he that endureth not unto the end, the same is he that is also hewn down and cast into the fire from whence they can no more return because of the justice of the Father, and this is the word which he hath given unto the children of men. And for this cause he fulfilleth the words which he hath given and he lieth not, but fulfilleth all his words, and no unclean thing can enter into his kingdom. Therefore nothing entereth into his rest save it be those who have washed their garments in my blood because of their faith and the repentance of all their sins and their faithfulness unto the end. Now this is the commandment: Repent all ye ends of the earth and come unto me and be baptized in my name that ye may be sanctified by the reception of the Holy Ghost, that ye may stand spotless before me at the last day. Verily, verily I say unto you, This is my gospel and ye know the things that ye must do in my church. For the works which ye have seen me do, that shall ye also do, for that which ye have seen me do, even that shall ye do. Therefore if ye do these things, blessed are ye for ye shall be lifted up at the last day.

That is obviously a great summary of the Gospel. That is what drives (or what should drive) His disciples in any age of the world. That is what they need to be built upon. Everything they do (i.e. call) needs to be done (i.e. called) in the name of Jesus, or in other words, everything they do to invite, exhort, or urge people forward, needs to be done in remembrance of what Jesus’ life and mission means to accomplish (see part 1). His disciples need to want to accomplish the same thing that He wants to accomplish. This gospel is foundational, meaning that it’s not just an application of principles that He is advocating for. This gospel is getting at the heart of the Lord’s own “governing principles” that He lives by.

Continuing with Jesus’ response in 3 Nephi 13 [RE]:

Write the things which ye have seen and heard, save it be those which are forbidden. Write the works of this people which shall be even as hath been written of that which hath been. For behold, out of the books which have been written and which shall be written shall this people be judged, for by them shall their works be known unto men. And behold, all things are written by the Father, therefore out of the books which shall be written shall the world be judged. And know ye that ye shall be judges of this people according to the judgment which I shall give unto you, which shall be just. Therefore what manner of men had ye ought to be? Verily I say unto you, Even as I am.

In my view, there are at least three ways to be called in the Lord’s name. You can be a “Christian” who does Christian things. Get baptized, go to church, pray, etc. That’s one way to be called in His name. Another way is to be adopted by Christ. Be part of His family and take His family name upon you. Get promises about your eternal future. If you’re in His family, you’re called by His name. The last way I can think of to be called in the Lord’s name is to do what He does. When deciding what manner of men to be, be even as He is. Do His works. In this manner you are called in the Lord’s name because you are driven by the same purpose that drives Him. I think the three disciples understood that idea and put it into practice.

And now I go unto the Father. And verily I say unto you, Whatsoever things ye shall ask the Father in my name, it shall be given unto you, therefore ask and ye shall receive, knock and it shall be opened unto you; for he that asketh, receiveth, and unto him that knocketh it shall be opened.

We are on the cusp of removing the condemnation that has plagued us and our ancestors. I believe that means the Father will be ready to hear and grant what we ask Him in the name of Jesus. How seriously are we going to take such an opportunity? What will we decide upon as our “governing principles” that drive us and move us forward? What will we establish as our purpose? Whose works will we desire to do? What manner of men will we choose to be? Will we seek our own lives and choose to get promises for ourselves about a future in a glorious kingdom? Or will we choose to bring others to Christ while the world shall stand? We must choose carefully because our desires will be given to us.

And now behold, my joy is great, even unto fulness, because of you and also this generation, yea, and even the Father rejoiceth and also all the holy angels because of you and this generation, for none of them are lost. Behold, I would that ye should understand, for I mean them who are now alive of this generation, and none of them are lost and in them I have fulness of joy.

Do we understand the relevance of this part of Jesus’ response? Here’s a question: Why can’t we help this current generation to such a degree that literally none of them are lost, just as it was with that entire generation of people in Nephite times? Is God more limited than He was two millennia ago? Obviously not. So I find no reason the same miracle cannot occur in our day.

But behold, it sorroweth me because of the fourth generation from this generation, for they are led away captive by him, even as was the son of perdition, for they will sell me for silver, and for gold, and for that which moth doth corrupt, and which thieves can break through and steal. And in that day will I visit them, even in turning their works upon their own heads.

This is the part of the history of the Nephites that we must avoid repeating if we are to establish a millennium of peace. Only three or four generations of peace will not cut it. So how will we do better? Let’s use some math to figure it out. In the Old World, one disciple - John - desired to build upon the surest foundation of charity and thus true Christianity lasted for several decades. In the New World, three disciples desired to build upon the surest foundation of charity and thus that era of peace lasted for a few centuries. If my math is correct, in order to have an entire millennium of peace, we just need to have at least 15 disciples who are built upon the surest foundation of charity. The more people who decide to be built upon the Lord’s gospel, driven by the Lord’s own “governing principles”, and who desire to do His works; the better!

And it came to pass that when Jesus had ended these sayings, he saith unto his disciples, Enter ye in at the straight gate. For straight is the gate and narrow is the way that leads to life and few there be that find it, but wide is the gate and broad the way which leads to death and many there be who travel therein until the night cometh, wherein no man can work.

To go through the straight gate and the narrow way, there is simply no room to bring all the rules, regulations, and specific applications of truth with us as our foundational and governing principles. There is only room for the Lord’s own principles which never fail. There is no time to worry about all the contention concerning exactly how we are all to conduct ourselves as a great Gentile church. There is no time to do any of that because we need to spend a great deal of time and energy practicing charity and pleading with the Lord so that He can change our hearts to match His. Only then will we truly know the name whereby to call this church.

Out of Captivity, Part III

Part I | Part II

In Ether 4 [RE], Moroni says, “And it is by faith that my fathers have obtained the promise that these things should come unto their brethren through the Gentiles.” Moroni saw the destruction of his people and the awful state of unbelief of his brethren, the Lamanites. He knew the promises made to the Lamanites in the latter-days. We can read of those promises throughout the Book of Mormon. Moroni knew that the Gospel had to come to the Lamanites through the Gentiles. And that’s exactly what worried him.

Almost immediately after what I quoted above, Moroni expresses to the Lord his worry that the Gentiles will mock the things that they are supposed to deliver to the Lamanites. After giving his reason for worrying (i.e. weakness in writing) he reiterates, “And I fear lest the Gentiles shall mock at our words.” The Lord proceeds to reassure Moroni while teaching a very important lesson to us, the Gentiles.

Among other things, the Lord says, “I will shew unto them [the Gentiles] that faith, hope, and charity bringeth unto me, the fountain of all righteousness.” All three of those things must be present if the Gentiles seek to bring the Lamanites to Christ. We’ve discussed faith before and we’ll discuss it later, so let’s talk about hope. Hope, according to the Book of Mormon, is a very big deal and is much more than just wishful thinking. In the previous chapter (Ether 3 [RE]) Moroni writes, “Wherefore, whoso believeth in God might with surety hope for a better world, yea, even a place at the right hand of God, which hope cometh of faith and maketh an anchor to the souls of men, which would make them sure and steadfast, always abounding in good works, being led to glorify God.” I know of a group of nine people that received such hope, and they were blessed for it, for they knew that they would enter into Jesus’ kingdom. But for all that is said about that kind of hope, charity is greater still in the eyes of God.

And I also remember that thou hast said that thou hast prepared a house for man, yea, even among the mansions of thy Father, in which man might have a more excellent hope. Wherefore, man must hope, or he cannot receive an inheritance in the place which thou hast prepared. And again I remember that thou hast said that thou hast loved the world, even unto the laying down of thy life for the world, that thou mightest take it again, to prepare a place for the children of men. And now I know that this love which thou hast had for the children of men is charity. Wherefore, except men shall have charity, they cannot inherit that place which thou hast prepared in the mansions of thy Father. (Ether 4 [RE])

Moroni makes a distinction with the words “among” and “in” when referring to the mansions of the Father. You will be “among” or “in”, depending on the presence of charity. The same principle is illustrated by the difference between the kingdom promised to the nine Nephite disciples and the kingdom promised to the three Nephite disciples. To the nine Jesus said, “ye shall come unto me in my kingdom” while to the three He said, “ye shall sit down in the kingdom of my Father” (3 Nephi 13 [RE]).

In D&C 27 [RE] the Lord tells the saints that, to remove their condemnation, they need to “remember the new covenant, even the Book of Mormon and the former commandments which I have given them, not only to say, but to do according to that which I have written, that they may bring forth fruit meet for their Father's Kingdom.” Does the fruit meet for the Father’s Kingdom have anything to do with the charity that is required to be “in,” and not just “among,” the mansions of the Father? Does it relate to sitting down in the kingdom of the Father rather than coming to Jesus’ kingdom? Does it relate to the natural fruit of the vineyard that is so difficult to produce? Does it relate to the fruit-bearing branches that are necessarily connected to the True Vine described in John’s Gospel? Perhaps these are all related and extremely critical to the work that is facing us. But if this was all so important, wouldn’t it be part of Christ’s doctrine? Let’s take a look. At the end of His discourse on His doctrine in 3 Nephi 3 [RE], Jesus said:

Verily, verily I say unto you that this is my doctrine. And whoso buildeth upon this buildeth upon my rock and the gates of hell shall not prevail against them. And whoso shall declare more or less than this and establish it for my doctrine, the same cometh of evil and is not built upon my rock, but he buildeth upon a sandy foundation and the gates of hell standeth open to receive such when the floods come and the winds beat upon them.

Immediately after He finished His discourse on His doctrine, Jesus gave His sermon. It is almost identical to the Sermon on the Mount. I would say that that sermon describes, above all else, charity in action. It is what charity looks like. It is what a person with charity, not only says, but does. At the end of that sermon, Jesus said:

Therefore whoso heareth these sayings of mine and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man who built his house upon a rock, and the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat upon that house, and it fell not for it was founded upon a rock. And every one that heareth these sayings of mine and doeth them not shall be likened unto a foolish man who built his house upon the sand, and the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat upon that house, and it fell, and great was the fall of it.

Repenting and being baptized is like someone who “buildeth” (present tense) upon a rock. Having charity as the Lord does, as He explained in His sermon, is like someone who “built” (past tense) upon a rock and now has a house. The former is a process while the latter is a product of that process. What is the ordinance of baptism meant to teach us and do for us, anyway? Definitions for “ordinance” include “a piece of legislation enacted by a municipal authority” and “an authoritative order; a decree.” Thinking about the ordinance of baptism in this manner, it can be understood that baptism is a law from God. I suspect that all ordinances of the Gospel are laws. We already know that “out of Zion shall go forth the law” as the house of the Lord will be there (2 Nephi 6 [RE]). I imagine it would be just as correct to say, “out of Zion [and the house of the Lord found there] shall go forth the [ordinances].” The ordinance of baptism is a law and Jesus demonstrated the fulness of that law in His life and taught the fulness of that law in His sermon.

Let’s apply this to our day. Going back to Ether 4 [RE], Moroni lets us Gentiles know that we need charity, the fulness of the ordinance or law of baptism, to participate in the work that God is doing. “If the Gentiles have not charity because of our weakness…thou wilt prove them and take away their talent.” Needless to say, this is a very high bar. And charity apparently comes from a very high Source. In Moroni 7, Mormon tells us that it is the Father that bestows the pure love of Christ upon all the true followers of His Son Jesus Christ (as an aside, I wonder if there is any equivalency between “true followers” and “true worshipers”). Back in Ether 4 [RE] Moroni “prayed unto the Lord that he would give unto the Gentiles grace, that they might have charity.” Interestingly enough, the Lord refused to grant Moroni’s request. I think I have an idea why the Lord couldn’t promise to give charity to us Gentiles.

As we have seen when the Lord asked His Nephite disciples what they desired, three of them had to specifically ask for that which would allow them to bless and convince all the people upon the land. The Lord could not force that charity upon them. It all depended on their desires. It only makes sense that some Gentiles will only receive charity if they specifically request it. No one can ask for that blessing for you. The three Nephites “were caught up into heaven and saw and heard unspeakable things” directly before they preached to all the people and converted them all (3 Nephi 5 [RE]). Could it be that what they saw and heard in heaven was the Father bestowing charity upon them? I can’t say, but whatever it was, it seems that it was the final necessary component that enabled the great and marvelous work that happened among the Nephites in that generation.

Moroni knew that some Gentiles would need charity. He knew that a great and marvelous work would have to come forth in our generation. He was personally acquainted with the three Nephites who convinced an entire generation that Jesus is the Christ. Moroni, who knew the Lord intimately, could not secure charity for and in behalf of us Gentiles. Can anything less than the charity possessed by the three Nephites be adequate to convince the Lamanites in our day to come unto Christ? I don’t think so. Whether or not we possess that charity will depend entirely upon our desires. Ask and ye shall receive.

Wherefore, my beloved brethren, pray unto the Father with all the energy of heart that ye may be filled with this love which he hath bestowed upon all who are true followers of his Son Jesus Christ, that ye may become the sons of God, that when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is, that we may have this hope, that we may be purified even as he is pure. Amen (Moroni 7).

Part IV | Part V | Part VI | Part VII

An Invitation to Go to Work