Principles of the BEATITUDES Known as Sermon on the Mount in the Scriptures and is in reality "The Doctrine of the Fruits of the Spirit" BEATITUDES 'The Beatitudes, or promises of blessings in Jesus' Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5:3-12), hold a particular significance for Latter-day Saints because the resurrected Lord gave essentially that same sermon to the Nephites and the Lamanites in the Western Hemisphere, as recorded in 3 Nephi 12-14. The words in the Beatitudes echo Isaiah 61:1-2 and Psalm 107:4-7, 9. Church members cite the setting of the Book of Mormon sermon as well as a few notable verbal differences (such as "Blessed are the poor in spirit who come unto me," and the phrase "for they shall be filled with the Holy Ghost") as examples of how the Book of Mormon complements the Bible, attesting to its message while clarifying and expanding it (cf. 1 Nephi 13 [esp. verses 39-42]; 2 Nephi 27, 29). In the Book of Mormon, most of the sermon is addressed to baptized members of the Church (cf. 3 Nephi 11 and 12:1-2). Thus, the expectations in the sermon concern those living the law of the gospel as taught by Christ. Other parts of the sermon are directed specifically to leaders. "Some significant differences appear in the wording of the biblical and Book of Mormon versions of the Beatitudes. In the Book of Mormon, two new "beatitudes" precede those in Matthew: baptized members are blessed if they give heed to their leaders and have faith in Christ (3 Nephi 12:1), and "more blessed" are those who receive the testimony of emissaries whom Christ has called (3 Nephi 12:2). These two additional beatitudes are incorporated into the biblical sermon in the Joseph Smith Translation of the Bible (JST). Matthew 5:3 is elaborated as noted above (cf. D&C 84:49-53). Matthew 5:4 is virtually unchanged in 3 Nephi 12:4 but is somewhat developed at 3 Nephi 12:19 (cf. Mormon 2:11-13). The words "shall be filled with the Holy Ghost" (3 Nephi 12:6) express on a spiritual level (cf. Psalm 17:15, Septuagint) the implicit meaning of cattle feeding upon grass (Matthew 5:6; Greek, chortasthˆsontai; cf. the grass [chortos] where the disciples are miraculously fed at Matthew 14:19 and the verb "filled" at Matthew 15:33, 37). Matthew 5:5 is unchanged, as are Matthew 5:7-9; but Matthew 5:10 reads "which are persecuted for righteousness sake," while 3 Nephi 12:10 has "who are persecuted for my name's sake," reflecting the Messiah-centered theme throughout the Nephite’s version of the sermon. For the first two verbs of Matthew 5:12, which the KJV takes as imperatives, 3 Nephi 12:12 has "For ye shall have great joy and be exceeding glad." Church leaders often refer to the Beatitudes as the Lord's promises of blessings and happiness to those who follow Him and as the result of obedience or the "fruit of the Spirit" (Gal. 5:22-23). Those who would be obedient have the individual responsibilities of turning to the Lord and of implementing the principles inherent in the qualities described in the Beatitudes (cf. D&C 88:63-65 and 97:16, which adapt the sixth beatitude to temple worship). The problem with these ideas is, like the 6th Beatitude being adapted to temple worship, as in attending the Temple, if one is pure in heart, they will receive or see G_d in the Temple, let alone this life. No man has seen God at anytime save, Adam in the Garden and the Messiah, who said He was the only one who has ascended up into heaven and has come down again, to tell us about heaven. No one will see G_d in this world, as in this Telestial world, whether in or out of a Temple, whether pure in heart or not, it is NOT POSSIBLE, because G_d has said so, and just him physically entering or appearing in this world would utterly destroy this creation, and all life! Then there is the whole thrust of the Beatitudes reiterated in 3 Nephi 12:1-2 that first give two notes on instruction (for possibly only baptized members and some have suggested these are New Beatitudes), which could be likened unto the notes of instruction given in Matthew 5:11-16, which gives two sediments of advice, like those two words of counsel found in 3 Nephi 12:1-2 which are plainly just adding words of advice. Lets compare: Matthew 5:11-16 1) Blessed are you when men revile, persecute or say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake. Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you. 2) You are the light of the world. So, let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven. 3rd Nephi 12:1-2 1) Blessed are ye if ye shall give heed unto the words of these twelve whom I have chosen to minister and to be your servants; and I have given power that they may baptize you with water; and after ye are baptized with water, behold, I will baptize you with fire and with the Holy Ghost; therefore blessed are ye if ye shall believe in me and be baptized, after that ye have seen me and know that I am. 2) More blessed are they who shall believe in your words because ye testify that ye have seen me, and know that I am. Yea, blessed are they to who shall believe in your words, be baptized, for they shall be visited with fire and with the Holy Ghost, and shall receive a remission of their sins. Both of these sediments of advice are true and apply to those whom it was spoken to and who chose to embrace such and those who believe on them thereafter. However, these are not Beatitudes! Matthew and later scribes faithfully understood this, and reader of 3 Nephi would be wise to do the same. Other significant differences appearing in the wording of the New Testament, the Bible version of the Beatitudes and Book of Mormon version of the Beatitudes, with the Nephite version and later Joseph Smith Translation of the New Testament, reflecting a more Messiah-centered theme of the sermon, it hide the real foundations of what the Messiah original said, and actually give a false understand in a few instances! Bibliography Thomas, Catherine, "The Sermon on the Mount: The Sacrifice of the Human Heart (Matthew 5- 7; Luke 6:17-49)." In Studies in Scripture, ed. R. Millet, Vol. 5, pp. 236-50. Salt Lake City, 1986. Welch, John W. The Sermon at the Temple and the Sermon on the Mount. Salt Lake City, 1990. Wilcox, S. Michael. "The Beatitudes Pathway to the Savior." Ensign 21 (Jan. 1991):19-23." Encyclopedia of Mormonism, Vol.1 Yes! Unless one has eyes to see and ears to hear in past times, or they live in the End Time, and it has been revealed unto them, the true meaning of the Beatitudes has been sealed up until now. The Messiah was teaching about the nature of challenges and blessings one receives as they pass through the different Estates of Creation (your creation). And yes I could expound upon these points of doctrine, tying them to scriptural references and the Endowment, but it is given here in its simplicity to bring a basic understand of these steps initially delineated for us by the Messiah personally. Is there any need to do so here? No, I have other writings for a more in depth clarification the Estates of Probation and Progression elsewhere. 1. [Yea,] Blessed are the poor in spirit:[;] [First Estate Beings (born into a prior Millennial creation) having no physical bodies hence they are poor indeed but they do dwell in the third heaven.] for theirs IS [present tense] the kingdom of heaven. 2. [And again,] Blessed are those who mourn: [and come unto me;] [Second Estate Beings (here) will mourn because of pain, suffering and death, but will be recompensed hereafter.] for they SHALL be [future tense] comforted. 3. [And] Blessed are the meek:[;] [Third Estate Beings (the Millennium of this Creation), they dwell in Zion and shall come forth and inherit the earth.] for they SHALL (future tense) inherit the earth. 4. [And] Blessed are [All] they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness:[;] [Fourth Estate Beings (those whom come down as emissaries of G_d) Dispensation Presidencies (King's), 144,000 High Priest (Priests), and many many True Messengers (Prophets)] for they SHALL be (future tense) filled. 5. [And] Blessed are the merciful:[;] [Messiah's are Fifth Estate Beings. His calling was to do nothing but stand in the office of mercy!] for they SHALL obtain (future tense) mercy. 6. [And] Blessed are [All] the pure in heart:[;] [Adam's are Sixth Estate Beings, and they are pure in heart and do walk and talk with G_d, which no other Being upon the earth has seen, Yah (Yahweh / the Great Yahovah).] for they SHALL (future tense) see G_d. 7. [And] Blessed are [All] the peacemakers:[;] [The Great Yahovah's are Seventh Estate Beings (the Eternal Son's in the Heavens) and are called the Sons of G_d. The G_d of this Creation is one of Twelve Som’s of El / an Eloheim] for they SHALL be called (future tense) children (Sons) of G_d. 8. Blessed are [All] those whom ARE (present tense) persecuted for righteousness sake:[;] [The Eloheim are the Eighth Estate Beings and are eternally persecuted because they fight for the cause of righteousness. They dwell eternally in the heavens!] for theirs IS (present tense) the kingdom of heaven. (Matthew 5:3-12, KJV, Translators additions in Italics, Comments added in Brackets, Notes inserted into the text in Parentheses, Joseph Smith Translation (JST) differences added in Brackets and Italicized, New King James Version (NKJV) more correct translation added in Parentheses and Italicized, Emphasis added to text by capitalization denoting verb tense used) Behold, this is the ancient mystery hidden from the foundations of the earth. Only hinted at during the meridian of time by the Messiah, understood very well by Joseph Smith towards the end of his ministry, but never revealed to the Saints because of their lack of faith. And only now is it being revealed prior to the millennium, as it is now fully time to the Elect to re-remember. The Fullness of Time lays just ahead! Shalom (So please if you do not see this, explain to me what you think the Sermon on the Mount that the Messiah gave was ALL about. Who was he talking too? How is one blessed if you have this or that bad things happen, like ‘poor in spirit’ or you ‘mourn’ and are then told eventually some good thing will bless you afterwards, or if you embody these few good things you will receive the same and be called a Son of G_d. Yet only Adam was called a Son of G_d up to until the Messiah came as the Son of G_d. But I will tell you of a truth... the Messiah taught in Parables because those who have shall have more in abundance, but unto those who have not, even that which they have shall be taken from them!) * ® Copyrighted * * by Kingdom of ZION (KoZ) Ver 2/23, 2003