The Book of Mormon Restoration Scripture

37 Pages·2013·18.52 MB·English

journal of
volume 17 | number 1–2 | 2008
The Book of Mormon
Restoration Scripture
a publication of the neal a. maxwell institute for religious scholarship
brigham young university
The Vision of Enoch
Structure of a Masterpiece
PAGE 6
I Will Contend With Them
That Contendeth With Thee
20
The Nahom Maps
40
Identifying Our Best
Candidate for
Nephi’s Bountiful
58
ON THE COVER: The Vision of Enoch,
by Robert T. Barrett. Oil on canvas.
40
6 20 58

f e at u r e a rt i c l e s
The Vision of Enoch: Structure of a Masterpiece
6
terrence l. szink
The Book of Moses contains a remarkable account of Enoch’s vision of the history and future of the world.
Understanding the deliberate and artistic literary structure of the vision can provide greater appreciation
for Enoch and his important revelation.
“I Will Contend With Them That Contendeth With Thee”:
20
The Divine Warrior in Jacob’s Speech of 2 Nephi 6–10
daniel belnap
Jacob’s magnificent speech to the Nephites in 2 Nephi explains the covenantal relationship between scattered Israel
and their God, who acts as a warrior to protect his people and provide peace and security. The principles taught by
Jacob to reassure the Nephites in troubled times can be applied to modern participants in the same covenant.
c o n t e n t s
journal of
volume 17 | number 1–2 | 2008
The Book of Mormon
Restoration Scripture
a publication of the neal a. maxwell institute for religious scholarship
brigham young university
d e pa rt m e n ts
2 Contributors
3 Editor’s Notebook
5 Editors
20

f e at u r e a rt i c l e s
40
The Nahom Maps
40
james gee
The term Nahom, which features prominently in studies of Lehi’s
journey from Jerusalem to Bountiful, can be found in various forms
on the finest eighteenth- and nineteenth-century maps of Arabia.
Identifying Our Best Candidate for Nephi’s Bountiful
58
warren p. aston
In the past few years, the pages of the Journal have featured
different opinions on the whereabouts of Bountiful, where Nephi
built the ship that carried the family to the promised land. This
article reviews and evaluates the proposed sites according to
scriptural as well as modern evidence.
Journal of the Book of Mormon
and Restoration Scripture
a u t h o r s
B-49, Brigham Young University
Provo, UT 84602-5900, USA
Phone: [phone]
Toll-free: [phone]
FAX: [phone]
E-mail: [email protected]
Web: jbmrs.byu.edu
Warren P. Aston is an independent researcher whose studies at the University of
Queensland, Australia focused on Islam, world religions, and archaeology. His ongo- volume 17, number 1–2, 2008
ing explorations in Yemen and Oman since 1984 have helped lay the foundation for
editor
a better understanding of Lehi’s journey across Arabia. He is the author or coauthor
Andrew H. Hedges
of many studies, including In the Footsteps of Lehi (1994) and Lehi in Arabia: The Old
associate editors Editor’s Notebook
World Origins of the Book of Mormon (forthcoming).
Warren P. Aston Grant Hardy
Steven C. Harper
Jennifer C. Lane
Kerry Muhlestein
Daniel Belnap (PhD, University of Chicago) is an assistant professor in the
Department of Ancient Scripture at Brigham Young University. He is married to Erin production editors
Jacob D. Rawlins
Pinney and has three children.
Paula W. Hicken
The Journal of Book of Mormon Studies was appropriate in light of the recent establishment of
art director and graphic designer first published sixteen years ago, under the the Laura F. Willes Center for Book of Mormon
Dan Belnap Bjorn W. Pendleton
editorial direction of Stephen D. Ricks. Seven Studies at the Institute.
James B. Gee served as the president and CEO of Pro Sport Floors, Inc., from 1978
Published by the Neal A. Maxwell years later John L. Sorenson, as the Journal’s new With the retirement of Kent Brown from
to 2006. He is an independent researcher and antiquarian map collector with a pas-
Institute for Religious Scholarship
sion for travel and exploration. editor, changed its format to make the contents Brigham Young University, the Institute has asked
executive director more accessible to specialist and nonspecialist read- Andrew Hedges to assume the editorship of the
M. Gerald Bradford
ers alike. Under the direction of Sorenson’s succes- expanded Journal. Grant Hardy, Steven Harper, Jen-
Terrence L. Szink, (PhD, UCLA) is an assistant professor of ancient scripture at academic council sor, S. Kent Brown, the Journal has continued to fea- nifer Lane, and Kerry Muhlestein have agreed to
M. Gerald Bradford, Morgan Davis,
James B. Gee Brigham Young University. He is married to Eva Trujillo Gonzalez and has two sons, John Gee, Carl Griffin, Kristian Heal, ture first-rate scholarship on the Book of Mormon, serve as associate editors. The editors would like to
David and Ismail, and a niece, Sheigrid. Paul Y. Hoskisson, Daniel C. Peterson often accompanied by beautiful visual aids and thank Kent Brown and his predecessors, as well as
Publications Department images. Thanks to these scholars’ vision and edito- the staff at FARMS and the Maxwell Institute, for
rial skills, thousands of people now enjoy the Jour- all that they have done over the years to make the
director
Alison V. P. Coutts nal either as subscribers or through the Internet, Journal what it is today. We would also like to thank
editorial staff where they are able to stay abreast of the best that BYU’s and the Maxwell Institute’s administration
Donald L. Brugger, Paula W. Hicken, scholarship has to offer on the Book of Mormon. for their encouragement and support of scholarship
Terrence L. Szink Jacob D. Rawlins, Shirley S. Ricks,
Partly as a result of the Journal’s success, and in the foundational scriptures of the restoration.
Sandra A. Thorne
partly in answer to the apparent need for a schol- Our hope is that the expanded Journal will be a
© 2008 by the Neal A. Maxwell Institute
arly, faithful venue in which other Latter-day scrip- venue where scholars from a variety of backgrounds
for Religious Scholarship, Brigham Young
University tures can regularly be discussed, the Neal A. Max- can explore, discuss, and even debate important
All rights reserved well Institute for Religious Scholarship has decided topics relating to the texts, contexts, and mean-
to expand the Journal’s scope to include all of what ing of latter-day scripture. We believe that part of
The Journal of the Book of Mormon and
Restoration Scripture is a peer-reviewed might be termed “Restoration Scripture”—those this includes reexamining and unpacking familiar
publication dedicated to promoting books of Latter-day Saint scripture and related assumptions and arguments—even those that have
understanding of the history, meaning,
texts that were revealed through the ministry of found their best expression in past issues of the
and significance of the scriptures and other
sacred texts revealed through the Prophet the Prophet Joseph Smith. These include the Book Journal and related publications. We believe, too,
Joseph Smith. These include the Book of of Mormon, the Doctrine and Covenants, the Pearl that there are many topics yet to be explored in both
Mormon, the Doctrine and Covenants, the
Pearl of Great Price, and the Joseph Smith of Great Price, and the Joseph Smith Translation of the Book of Mormon and other restoration scrip-
Translation of the Bible. the Bible. With this issue, accordingly, the title of tures, and hope contributors and readers alike will
the Journal has been changed to the Journal of the consider the Journal a fitting venue for introducing
Back issues of the Journal are on the
Internet at jbmrs.byu.edu. Book of Mormon and Restoration Scripture—“the new subjects and directions for study.
Book of Mormon” being retained in the title not As we revisit old arguments and pursue new
Submitting Articles
only to help provide a sense of continuity with the lines of inquiry, readers will quickly see that
Contributions dealing with all aspects of
these texts and their contents are invited, former title but also in recognition of that book’s in many cases scholars disagree—sometimes
including textual, historical, cultural, continuing role as the keystone of the Mormon strongly—in their assumptions, the relative weight
archaeological, and philological studies.
Submissions must be consistent with a faith. Highlighting the Book of Mormon also seems they place on different pieces of evidence, and
faithful Latter-day Saint perspective,
and make a significant contribution to
our understanding, to be considered for
2 Volume 17, number 1–2, 2008 journal of the book of mormon and restoration scripture 3
publication. Only completed manuscripts
will be considered for publication.
Manuscripts should be submitted
electronically to [email protected].
e d i t o r s
their conclusions. This is the nature of academic authors we hope to make each paper’s argument as
discourse. It takes time and patience, but it is sound and rigorous as possible, and ask contribu-
through this critiquing, reviewing, and offer- tors to be patient with the reviewing and editing of
ing alternative explanations that we advance our their manuscripts.
understanding of the issues raised through a study Longtime readers of the Journal will notice a Andrew H. Hedges is an associate professor of Church History and Doctrine at Brigham Young University. He received
of the meaning, history, and contexts of texts. We change in how we have cited the sources used in the a BS from Weber State College, an MA from BYU, and a PhD from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. He
hope our readers will be open to the idea that final has published articles on a variety of Book of Mormon and Church History topics, and has edited several collections of
articles. Rather than being placed in the back of the
answers are not yet available for many interesting essays on Church History and the Doctrine and Covenants. He is currently an editor for the Joseph Smith Papers Project.
Journal, the sources for each article are cited in end-
and important questions related to the scriptures of
notes immediately following the article. We have
the restoration, and that they will be patient with
also adopted a larger font for the references. All this Andrew H. Hedges
scholars’ efforts to work through the issues leading Grant Hardy is a professor of history at the University of North Carolina at Asheville, with a BA from BYU and a PhD from
has been done in an effort to make the references
to those answers. Yale. He has published on early China, historiography, and the Book of Mormon, and his books include Worlds of Bronze and
more accessible to readers interested in examining Bamboo: Sima Qian’s Conquest of History; The Book of Mormon: A Reader’s Edition; Enduring Ties: Poems of Family Relation-
One might argue that if there has been a weak-
an author’s sources for themselves. ships; The Establishment of the Han Empire and Imperial China; and The Oxford History of Historical Writing, vol. 1.
ness in LDS scholarship in the past—especially
Without further ado, then, we are pleased to
regarding the Book of Mormon—it has been a ten-
present our readers with this issue of the Journal of
dency on the part of some to base their acceptance
the Book of Mormon and Restoration Scripture, and Steven C. Harper joined the BYU faculty in 2002 after teaching religion and history at BYU—Hawaii. He has a BA in
of a given explanation on its apologetic tone rather
at the same time issue a standing call for papers Grant Hardy history from BYU and a PhD in early American history from Lehigh University. He and his wife Jennifer are the parents of
than on the relative strength of its argument and
five children. His publications include Making Sense of the Doctrine and Covenants: A Guided Tour Through Modern Rev-
the evidence that can be adduced in its favor. To be on the background, context, history, development,
elations. He is currently an editor for the Joseph Smith Papers Project.
sure, maintaining scholarly standards when deal- language, and meaning of latter-day scripture. The
ing with questions that are related to one’s faith can field, we believe, is wide-open, and we look forward
be difficult, but both faith and knowledge are the to exploring it with you through the best efforts that
Jennifer C. Lane is an assistant professor of Religious Education at Brigham Young University—Hawaii. She received
ultimate beneficiaries of doing so. Through quality faithful scholarship has to offer.
her PhD in religion with an emphasis in history of Christianity from Claremont Graduate University in 2003. Her master’s
peer review, source-checking, and dialogue with the —The Editors
and bachelor’s degrees, both from BYU, are in Ancient Near Eastern Studies and history with a minor in philosophy. In
Steven C. Harper addition to work on LDS doctrine and New Testament context, Lane has written widely on adoptive redemption in scrip-
ture, including in Sperry Symposium Classics: The Old Testament. She and her husband Keith live and work in Laie, Hawaii.
Kerry Muhlestein received his bachelor’s degree from Brigham Young University in psychology with a Hebrew minor.
He spent time at the BYU Jerusalem Center for Near Eastern Studies in the intensive Hebrew program. He received an
MA in ancient Near Eastern studies from BYU and a PhD from UCLA in Egyptology. Muhlestein’s research focuses on the
texts and iconography of Egyptian religion, international contact between ancient Egypt and her neighbors, the Egyptian
Jennifer C. Lane
juridical process, Egyptian literature, and the overlap of the Biblical and Egyptian worlds, including the ancient and mod-
ern history of the Pearl of Great Price, among other things. He and his wife Julianne have six children.
Kerry Muhlestein
4 Volume 17, number 1–2, 2008 journal of the book of mormon and restoration scripture 5
the
Vision Enoch
of
structure of a masterpiece
terry szink
6 Volume 17, number 1–2, 2008 journal of the book of mormon and restoration scripture 7
The Vision of Enoch, by Robert T. Barrett
The seventh chapter of the Book of Moses The author wove these different characteristics and rain upon the mountains?”6 Later he continued the
in the
time periods to produce a beautiful, complex tap- question “And thou hast taken Zion to thine own
Pearl of Great Price contains an account of an important vision of the history and
estry. The following chart illustrates this structure. bosom, from all thy creations, from all eternity to
future of the world given to the prophet Enoch. I will demonstrate that the author The numbers in the chart refer to the verse numbers all eternity; and naught but peace, justice, and truth
in Moses 7 in which the different characteristics is the habitation of thy throne; and mercy shall go
presented the vision in a very deliberate and artistic way, using a literary structure. Under-
appear: before thy face and have no end; how is it thou canst
standing the framework will give the reader a greater appreciation for the vision. I will also weep?” (Moses 7:31, emphasis added).
As Enoch saw the destruction of the wicked in
compare the vision with nonbiblical materials that cover the same events. While the Bible
Days of Meridian the flood, he also wept: “And as Enoch saw this, he
Last Days
presents precious little information about Enoch (six verses in Genesis [5:18–24], one verse Noah of Time had bitterness of soul, and wept over his brethren,
and said unto the heavens: I will refuse to be com-
each in Luke [3:37], Hebrews [11:5], and Jude [1:14]) quite a bit of Enoch material appears in
forted” (Moses 7:44, emphasis added).
Wickedness 25, 26, 33,
the Pseudepigrapha and other nonbiblical sources. Certainly the pseudepigraphical sources 46 60 God’s weeping over the wickedness and
and vengeance 34, 41
in no way date back to the time of Enoch; most were written between 200 bc and ad 200, yet destruction of his children shows Him to be differ-
ent from how some have viewed Him. For example,
occasionally interesting parallels with Enoch in the Book of Moses can be discovered.1
28, 29, 31, one author has written that God was “merciless”
Weeping 49 58
44 in his determination to exterminate humankind.7
The Text As portrayed in the Book of Moses, the decision
to destroy humankind was not reached lightly.
When will the
The text of the Book of Moses comes from the 45 48, 54 58, 61, 64 God was sad that he had to send the flood, and the
earth rest
Joseph Smith Translation of the Bible. The Book of heavens wept over the wickedness of humankind
Moses corresponds to Genesis 1:1–6:13.2 The text of and its destruction. In fact, Latter-day Saints can
Moses 7 was first published in the newspaper the Destruction— understand the flood to be an act of mercy. While
Evening and Morning Star in August 1832. As Kent seismic activity 34, 38 56 61 the flood destroyed the wicked, it also stopped
Jackson has pointed out, that publication was based them from continuing to sin. Furthermore, with an
on the first of two manuscripts that Joseph pro- understanding of the premortal existence, we can
duced as part of the JST, and thus it did not contain Righteous 47, 55, 56, see that the flood was also merciful to the spirits
21, 23, 27 63
all the Prophet’s corrections.3 Franklin D. Richards lifted up 59 waiting to come to earth; they would thus not be
included that version of the text in the first edi- born into a world full of rebellion and violence.
tion of the Pearl of Great Price published in 1851.4 Enoch spoke the truth when he proclaimed to God,
The current text is based in part on a better manu- “thou art just; thou art merciful and kind forever”
Noah’s day
script and thus contains most, but not all, of Joseph (Moses 7:30).
Smith’s corrections.5 The vision begins with the narrator noting that While weeping is associated with the flood
The Structure Zion was taken into heaven. After the translation in Enoch’s vision in the Book of Moses, there is
of Zion, “Enoch beheld, and lo, all the nations of no mention of it in Genesis. However, weeping is
Enoch’s vision deals with three periods of time: the earth were before him” (Moses 7:23). Enoch linked with the flood in nonbiblical accounts. In
(1) the days of Noah, (2) the meridian of time, and saw that not only had his city been removed from the eleventh tablet of the Epic of Gilgamesh,8 the
(3) the last days. With a carefully crafted literary the earth but that other people who accepted the gods who sent the flood were disconcerted by it
framework, the author portrayed each of these time message of the gospel preached by angels sent from and wept:
periods using similar characteristics: heaven were also translated. The result was that all
The gods were frightened by the deluge,
• God described each of the three time periods as those remaining upon the earth were wicked and
And, shrinking back, they ascended to the heaven
days of wickedness and vengeance. under the control of Satan, who “had a great chain
of Anu.
• There was weeping because of the wickedness in his hand, and it veiled the whole face of the earth
The gods cowered like dogs crouched against the
and vengeance. with darkness; and he looked up and laughed, and
outer wall.
• Enoch asked “When will the earth rest?” or a his angels rejoiced” (Moses 7:26).
Ishtar cried out like a woman in travail,
similar question. Weeping. While Satan and his angels laughed
The sweet-voiced mistress of the [gods] moans
• There was great destruction, often caused by at the darkness that covered the face of the earth,
aloud:
seismic activity. Enoch saw that God and the heavens wept because
‘The olden days are alas turned to clay,
This page from the Joseph Smith Translation features a portion of • While the seismic activity destroyed the wicked, of this wickedness, and asked, “How is it that the
Enoch’s vision. Courtesy Community of Christ Archives, Independence, Because I bespoke evil in the Assembly of the gods.
the righteous were “lifted up” and preserved. heavens weep, and shed forth their tears as the
Missouri. How could I bespeak evil in the Assembly of the gods,
8 Volume 17, number 1–2, 2008 journal of the book of mormon and restoration scripture 9
Ordering battle for the destruction of my people, him, “Tell me what this thing is which is being wept and stretched forth his arms, and his heart In some nonbiblical accounts, the flood also
When it is I myself who give birth to my people! done upon the earth, for the earth is struggling swelled wide as eternity; and his bowels yearned; seems to be associated with seismic activity. The
Like the spawn of the fishes they fill the sea!’ in this manner and is being shaken; perhaps I and all eternity shook” (Moses 7:40–41, emphasis eleventh tablet of the Epic of Gilgamesh is similar in
The Anunnaki gods weep with her, will perish with her in the impact.” At that mo- added).13 attributing its flood not only to rain but also to the
The gods, all humbled, sit and weep, ment, there took place a tremendous turbulence This wickedness of humankind brought a strong breaking up of the earth.
Their lips drawn tight, [ . . . ] one and all.9 upon the earth; and a voice from heaven was reaction from God: “And the fire of mine indigna- With the first glow of dawn,
heard, and I fell upon my face. Then Enoch, my
tion is kindled against them; and in my hot displea- A black cloud rose up from the horizon.
grandfather, came and stood by me, saying to
As Hugh Nibley first pointed out, there is weeping sure will I send in the floods upon them, for my Inside it Adad thunders,
me, “Why did you cry out so sorrowfully and
associated with the flood in the pseudepigraphal fierce anger is kindled against them” (Moses 7:34). While Shullat and Hanish go in front,
with bitter tears?”11
book of 1 Enoch as well.10 In 1 Enoch 65:1–5, Noah Seismic Activity. Destruction in Noah’s day Moving as heralds over hill and plain.
wept to his grandfather about the coming flood: was caused by the flood: “I send in the floods upon Erragal tears out the posts;
As we will see, this weeping by God, the heavens, them” (Moses 7:34). “But behold, these which thine Forth comes Ninurta and causes the dikes to follow.
In those days, Noah saw the earth, that she and Enoch continues through the vision.
eyes are upon shall perish in the floods” (Moses The Anunnaki lift up the torches,
had become deformed, and that her destruction Wickedness and Vengeance. God answered
7:38). In literature depicting the flood, an extended Setting the land ablaze with their glare.
was at hand. And (Noah) took off from there Enoch and explained that he had given the com-
heavy downpour of rain was not the only cause. For Consternation over Adad reaches to the heavens,
and went unto the extreme ends of the earth. mandments to men “that they should love one
example, the author of Genesis explained that “in Who turned to blackness all that had been light.
And he cried out to his grandfather, Enoch, and another, and that they should choose (him)” (Moses the six hundredth year of Noah’s life, in the second [The wide] land was shattered like [a pot]!16
said to him, three times, with a bitter voice, 7:33). Note that these two commandments are month, the seventeenth day of the month, the same
“Hear me! Hear me! Hear me!” And I said unto those that Jesus would later identify as the “great day were all the fountains of the great deep broken In this account, the god Adad thundered within
commandments,” which serve the black cloud while the gods Erragal and Ninurta
up, and the windows of heaven were opened” (Gen-
as the basis for the “law and destroyed the dikes and released the subterranean
esis 7:11, emphasis added). When the destruction
prophets,” meaning the whole of waters, leaving the land “shattered like a pot.”
had been accomplished, the author described the
the Bible (Matthew 22:34–40).12 The dual source of the flood waters appears
end of the flood in similar terms: “The fountains
Humankind’s rejection of these in the Pseudepigrapha as well. In 1 Enoch 54:7, we
also of the deep and the windows of heaven were
commandments to love was read: “And in those days, the punishment of the
stopped, and the rain from heaven was restrained”
effectively a rebellion against the Lord of the Spirits shall be carried out, and they
(Genesis 8:2, emphasis added). So there were two
whole of God’s plan. Because of shall open all the storerooms of water in the heav-
sources for the flood: the opening of the floodgates
this, humankind became “with- ens above, in addition to the fountains of water
of heaven from above and the breaking up of the
out affection, and they hate their which are on earth.”17
earth, perhaps through seismic activity, releasing
own blood” (Moses 7:33). Clearly Righteous Lifted Up. While the flood destroyed
the subterranean waters of the deep. Ed Noort has
great wickedness characterized the wicked, who had rejected God’s plan, the righ-
explained, “The Deluge occurs because the large
Enoch and Noah’s day. Later on, teous were preserved by being lifted up. The narra-
springs of the deep-lying underworld ocean break
the narrator further describes tor explained that Enoch and his city, “Zion,” were
to the surface at the same time as heaven’s sluice
the wickedness of this period: “taken up into heaven” (Moses 7:21, 23). As noted
gates are opened and the heavenly ocean is allowed
“And God saw that the wicked- above, not only did God lift up Enoch, but angels
to return to the earth.”14
ness of men had become great in descended and proclaimed the gospel, and those
In essence, the work of the creation had been
the earth; and . . . the imagina- who accepted their teachings were “caught up by the
reversed. During the creation, God had said: “Let
tion of the thoughts of his heart powers of heaven into Zion” (Moses 7:27). Although
[was] only evil continually” there be a firmament in the midst of the waters, Noah and his family remained on the earth, God
(Moses 8:22). This depraved state and let it divide the waters from the waters. And also preserved them in the ark. In Genesis the
of man was the reason that the God made the firmament, and divided the waters theme of the righteous being lifted up is extended
heavens wept. “Wherefore, for which were under the firmament from the waters to Noah and his family: “And the flood was forty
this shall the heavens weep, yea, which were above the firmament: and it was so. And days upon the earth; and the waters increased, and
and all the workmanship of mine God called the firmament Heaven.” And later: “Let bare up the ark, and it was lift up above the earth”
hands. And it came to pass that the waters under the heaven be gathered together (Genesis 7:17, emphasis added).18 The narrator of
the Lord spake unto Enoch, and unto one place, and let the dry land appear: and it Enoch’s vision explained that “Noah built an ark;
told Enoch all the doings of the was so” (Genesis 1:6–9). With the flood, the waters and that the Lord smiled upon it, and held it in his
children of men; wherefore Enoch of the earth were no longer gathered together, and own hand” (Moses 7:43). This passage is similar to
knew, and looked upon their those of the heavens were no longer held back by the one in 1 Enoch 67:1–2: “In those days, the word of
wickedness, and their misery, and firmament.15 God came unto me, and said unto me, ‘Noah, your
10 Volume 17, number 1–2, 2008 journal of the book of mormon and restoration scripture 11
lot has come up before me—a lot without blame, a and the rending of the rocks may be descriptions of Perhaps better known to Latter-day Saints is the
lot of true love. At this time the angels are working the seismic activity that certainly took place in the destruction in the New World that took place at the
with wood (making an ark) and when it is com- meridian of time at the time of the death of Christ. time of the death of the Savior:
pleted, I shall place my hands upon it and protect The Gospel of Matthew describes it:
But behold, there was a more great and terrible
it, and the seed of life shall arise from it; and a sub-
Jesus, when he had cried again with a loud destruction in the land northward; for behold,
stitute (generation) will come so that the earth will
voice, yielded up the ghost. And, behold, the the whole face of the land was changed, because
not remain empty.’ ”19
veil of the temple was rent in twain from the of the tempest and the whirlwinds, and the thun-
When will the earth rest? After viewing the
top to the bottom; and the earth did quake, and derings and the lightnings, and the exceedingly
destruction of the wicked, Enoch was distraught:
the rocks rent; And the graves were opened; and great quaking of the whole earth; And the high-
“And it came to pass that Enoch looked; and from
many bodies of the saints which slept arose, ways were broken up, and the level roads were
Noah, he beheld all the families of the earth; and
And came out of the graves after his resurrec- spoiled, and many smooth places became rough.
he cried unto the Lord, saying: When shall the day
tion, and went into the holy city, and appeared And many great and notable cities were sunk,
of the Lord come? When shall the blood of the
unto many. Now when the centurion, and they and many were burned, and many were shaken
Righteous be shed, that all they that mourn may be
that were with him, watching Jesus, saw the till the buildings thereof had fallen to the earth,
sanctified and have eternal life?” (Moses 7:45). This
earthquake, and those things that were done, and the inhabitants thereof were slain, and the
question about the fate of the earth and those who
they feared greatly, saying, Truly this was the places were left desolate. (3 Nephi 8:12–14)
live upon it, along with the weeping, will continue
Son of God. (Matthew 27:50–54)
to drive the vision forward. Nephi, quoting the prophet Zenos, prophesied
the destruction in the New World which would take
Meridian of Time
place at the time of the death of Jesus. “And all these
The second period of time that the author of the things must surely come, saith the prophet Zenos.
vision addresses is the meridian of time. The term And the rocks of the earth must rend; and because
meridian means the highest point and refers to the of the groanings of the earth, many of the kings of
fact that Christ was born and had his mortal exis- the isles of the sea shall be wrought upon by the
tence during this period.20 The author of the vision Spirit of God, to exclaim: The God of nature suffers”
described this period of time in terms similar to (1 Nephi 19:12). Here the “groaning of the earth”
ones he used in discussing Noah’s day. is directly connected with destruction in the New
Wickedness and Vengeance. In Enoch’s vision World. The source of this destruction was almost
the Lord described the meridian of time as “days certainly seismic activity, consisting of earthquakes
of wickedness and vengeance” (Moses 7:46). Cer- with accompanying tsunamis and explosive volca-
tainly this is an accurate description of the era. The the Roman siege and capture of Jerusalem.21 Jesus, nic activity.22
Book of Mormon prophet Jacob described those while prophesying of this destruction, identified the When will the earth rest? As Enoch witnessed
who crucified Jesus as “the more wicked part of era as days of vengeance: “For these be the days of the terrible scenes of wickedness and vengeance, he
the world” and went on to say that there was “none vengeance, that all things which are written may be heard the voice of the personified earth speaking:
other nation on earth that would crucify their God” fulfilled” (Luke 21:22, emphasis added). “Wo, wo is me, the mother of men; I am pained, I
(2 Nephi 10:3). The vengeance in the New World was no less am weary, because of the wickedness of my chil-
Not only was there wickedness in the Old destructive. Third Nephi 8 recounts the many natu- dren. When shall I rest, and be cleansed from the
World that resulted in the crucifixion of Jesus, but ral disasters that took place at the time of the death filthiness which is gone forth out of me? When will
there was great wickedness among the Nephites and of Christ and destroyed the more wicked part of the my Creator sanctify me, that I may rest, and righ-
Lamanites in the New World at that time. Third Nephites and Lamanites. teousness for a season abide upon my face?” (Moses
Nephi describes the rise of the secret combina- Seismic Activity. One of the ways in which the 7:48, emphasis added). Enoch then saw the coming
tions, the collapse of the government, the murder of author of the vision characterized each of the three of the Messiah and forwarded the earth’s request:
prophets, and general wickedness that characterized periods treated in the vision is seismic activity. “And it came to pass that Enoch cried unto the
the age (see 3 Nephi 7:5–7). As Enoch saw in vision the crucifixion of the Sav- Lord, saying: When the Son of Man cometh in the
Because of this wickedness, vengeance was swift ior, “he heard a loud voice; and the heavens were flesh, shall the earth rest?” (Moses 7:54, emphasis
in coming. According to Nephi, “the Jews shall be veiled; and all the creations of God mourned; and added). After seeing the death of the Savior, Enoch
scattered among all nations; yea, and also Babylon the earth groaned; and the rocks were rent; and the repeated the plea: “When shall the earth rest?”
shall be destroyed; wherefore, the Jews shall be scat- saints arose, and were crowned at the right hand (Moses 7:58). In writing this question, the author
tered by other nations” (2 Nephi 25:15). The Jew- of the Son of Man, with crowns of glory” (Moses may have been making a subtle reference back to
ish historian Josephus described in graphic detail 7:56, emphasis added). This groaning of the earth Noah. The personal name Noah comes from the
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Hebrew verb nwh, which means to “settle down,” The author of the vision of Enoch noted that said unto Enoch: As I live, even so will I come in
“rest,” “repose.”23 This possible wordplay in Hebrew this lifting up of the Son of Man would make pos- the last days, in the days of wickedness and ven-
did not come from Enoch, who did not speak sible the lifting up of many who believed in him: geance, to fulfil the oath which I have made unto
Hebrew, but from a later author or editor. Not only After seeing the events of “And he heard a loud voice; and the heavens were you concerning the children of Noah” (Moses 7:60,
did the author use the wordplay on Noah’s name to the meridian of time, Enoch veiled; and all the creations of God mourned; and emphasis added).
refer back to the patriarch, but he also mentioned the earth groaned; and the rocks were rent; and the Later he added that the “heavens shall be dark-
again repeated the question that
Noah three times in this section: “Wilt thou not saints arose, and were crowned at the right hand ened, and a veil of darkness” would cover the earth
bless the children of Noah? And it came to pass that drove the account of the vision of the Son of Man, with crowns of glory” (Moses (Moses 7:61). Notice how this last statement echoes
Enoch continued his cry unto the Lord, saying: I forward: “When shall the 7:56, emphasis added). This fact was also witnessed the description of the earth at the beginning of the
ask thee, O Lord, in the name of thine Only Begot- in the Gospel of Matthew: “And the graves were vision: “And he beheld Satan; and he had a great
earth rest?” (Moses 7:58).
ten, even Jesus Christ, that thou wilt have mercy opened; and many bodies of the saints which slept chain in his hand, and it veiled the whole face of the
upon Noah and his seed, that the earth might never The answer was that after the arose” (Matthew 27:52, emphasis added). This fact earth with darkness; and he looked up and laughed,
more be covered by the floods. And the Lord could vengeance and destruction, had been prophesied by Samuel the Lamanite (see and his angels rejoiced” (Moses 7:26).
not withhold; and he covenanted with Enoch, and 3 Nephi 23:9–10). Certainly many prophecies of the last days
Christ would return and finally
sware unto him with an oath, that he would stay Finally, Enoch also saw Christ taken up into decry the wickedness that characterizes that time
the floods; that he would call upon the children of the earth would find rest: heaven: “And Enoch beheld the Son of Man ascend period. For example, Matthew 24 in the New Tes-
Noah” (Moses 7:49–51, emphasis added). Not only up unto the Father” (Moses 7:59, emphasis added). tament and Joseph Smith—Matthew in the Pearl
“And the day shall come that
is there possible wordplay, but by specifically men- of Great Price24 contain a prophecy of Christ that
the earth shall rest” Last Days
tioning the name Noah the author also reminds the states that “because iniquity shall abound, the love
reader of the previous section. (Moses 7:61). The final period of time which the author of the of men shall wax cold” (JS—Matthew 1:30). Com-
Weeping. The theme of weeping continues in the vision addressed is the last days. The author used pare this to the description of the wickedness in the
section on the meridian of time. We read in Moses the same terminology that he previously used in days of Noah where the author describes human-
7:49: “And when Enoch heard the earth mourn, he describing Noah’s day and the meridian of time. kind as being “without affection, and they hate their
wept, and cried unto the Lord” (emphasis added). earth, will draw all men unto me. This he said, sig- Weeping. The final section depicting the last own blood” (Moses 7:33).
Righteous Lifted Up. In the first period of time nifying what death he should die” (John 12:32–33, days begins with Enoch continuing his weeping: Speaking to those who would live in the last
examined in the vision, the righteous who were emphasis added). This phrase is also included in “And again Enoch wept and cried unto the Lord, days, Mormon proclaimed: “Turn, all ye Gentiles,
living in Zion were translated, while Noah and his the Book of Mormon by various speakers and writ- saying: When shall the earth rest?” (Moses 7:58, from your wicked ways; and repent of your evil
family were saved from the destructive flood in the ers. Nephi wrote: “And I, Nephi, saw that he was emphasis added). doings, of your lyings and deceivings, and of your
ark, which the waters lifted up. In an ironic twist lifted up upon the cross and slain for the sins of Wickedness and Vengeance. Again the Lord whoredoms, and of your secret abominations, and
in the meridian of time, the “lifting up” did not the world” (1 Nephi 11:33, emphasis added). It may described the final period discussed in the vision as your idolatries, and of your murders, and your
save the righteous directly; rather, the lifting up of be that Nephi’s use of these words is based on the days of wickedness and vengeance: “And the Lord priestcrafts, and your envyings, and your strifes,
the Righteous One saved all others. Enoch saw in writings of the prophet Zenock, for he reported that and from all your wickedness and abominations,
vision the crucifixion of Jesus, and the author used Christ would be “lifted up, according to the words and come unto me, and be baptized in my name”
the phrase “lifted up” to report it: “The Righteous is of Zenock” (1 Nephi 19:10). Another prophet named (3 Nephi 30:2). These types of prophecies abound in
lifted up, and the Lamb is slain from the foundation Nephi wrote that just as the brazen serpent was the scriptures, most often accompanied by predic-
of the world; and through faith I am in the bosom lifted up in the wilderness, Christ would be lifted tions of vengeance that will befall the wicked.
of the Father, and behold, Zion is with me” (Moses up (Helaman 8:14). Moroni used it in his abridge- Modern prophets have even compared the wick-
7:47). The author used this phrase not just once but ment of the plates of the Jaredites in the book of edness of the last days to that of previous times.
twice: “And the Lord said unto Enoch: Look, and Ether (Ether 4:1). The risen Christ himself also used Joseph Smith is reported to have said, “I prophecy
he looked and beheld the Son of Man lifted up on this phrase: “And my Father sent me that I might be in the name of the Lord God anguish & wrath . . . &
the cross, after the manner of men” (Moses 7:55). lifted up upon the cross; and after that I had been tribulation and the withdrawing of the spirit of God
Later, this phrase would appear several times in the lifted up upon the cross, that I might draw all men await this generation. until they are visited with
Gospel of John referring to the death of the Son of unto me, that as I have been lifted up by men even utter destruction. this generation is as corrupt as
Man: “And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wil- so should men be lifted up by the Father, to stand the generation of the Jews that crucified Christ. and
derness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up” before me, to be judged of their works, whether they if he were here today & should preach the same doc-
(John 3:14, emphasis added); “When ye have lifted be good or whether they be evil—And for this cause trine he did then why they would crucify him.”25
up the Son of man, then shall ye know that I am he, have I been lifted up; therefore, according to the Seismic Activity. Enoch saw that earthquakes
and that I do nothing of myself; but as my Father power of the Father I will draw all men unto me, would be part of the vengeance inflicted upon the
hath taught me, I speak these things” (John 8:28, that they may be judged according to their works” wicked: “The heavens shall be darkened, and a veil
emphasis added); “And I, if I be lifted up from the (3 Nephi 27:14–15, emphasis added; see 28:6). of darkness shall cover the earth; and the heavens
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