Back home in Vila Real, family vacation is over!

On Tuesday, January 3rd we drove 4 hours from Cascais to our cold apartment in Vila Real. We have enjoyed being with members of our family since December 20th but it’s back to full time missionary service! On Thursday, January 5th we taught seminary and now have 16 year old Felipe attending.

Here is a rundown of the past week:

On Friday, December 30th we visited Saint George’s castle

There were several beautiful peacocks at the castle.

Even an albino peacock!

On Saturday, December 31st we visited the oldest bookstore in the world! Guinness World Records, established in 1732!

On Sunday, January 1st we attended the Lisbon 1st Branch which was the first branch in Portugal created in 1975. The branch is located in a beautiful former residence that was also used as the original mission office.

On Sunday, January 1st we went with the Hoffmann family (Brooke, Joshua, Grant, Ellory, Rockwell & Evelyn) to Cascais. 

On Monday, January 2nd we went to the beach.

Elder Palladino drove 45 minutes to rescue us when the car key was locked inside the car.

   SCRIPTURE POWER

The prophet editor Mormon who was “visited of the Lord” (Mor. 1:15) when he was 15 years old. Received all the Plates of Nephi when he was 24 years old. He then makes additional plates known as the Plates of Mormon (3 Ne. 5:10-11) on which he abridges the Plates of Nephi. He keeps these records for 50 years. Now just before the final battle in which the Nephite nation is destroyed and he observes 230,000 of his men  killed (all except 24). He is commanded to hide up these sacred records   “save it were these few plates which I gave unto my son Moroni.” (Mor. 6:6) 

 

Mormon 7 contains the last writing of Mormon. This chapter is only 10 verses written from memory and demonstrates that he is very familiar with the scriptures as he references numerous prior scriptures he edited.

 

He begins “I would speak somewhat unto the remnant of this people who are spared, if it so be that God may give unto them my words, that they may know of the things of their fathers;” (Mor. 7: 1) He then references various phrases and doctrines “of their fathers”: “know concerning your fathers” (Mor. 7:9)

 

Examples of Mormon referring to prior scriptures (of their fathers):

 

1.)“lay down your weapons of war, and delight no more in the shedding of blood, and take them not again” (Mor. 7:4) “And it came to pass that they threw down their weapons of war, and they would not take them again,” (Alma 24:25)  

 

2.)“repent of all your sins and iniquities, and believe in Jesus Christ, that he is the Son of God,” (Mor. 7:5) Samuel the Lamanite: “that ye might know of the coming of Jesus Christ, the Son of God,… if ye believe on his name ye will repent of all your sins,” (Hel. 14:12-13)

 

3.) “the redemption of the world” (Mor. 7:7) this exact phrase is used only one other time in 1 Ne. 1:19

 

4.) “gained the victory over the grave; and also in him is the sting of death swallowed up.” (Mor. 7:5) Abinadi: “the grave hath no victory, and the sting of death is swallowed up in Christ.” (Mosiah 16:8)

 5.) “he that is found guiltless before him at the judgement day” (Mor. 7:7) Alma: “ for such an one is not found guiltless.” (Alma 5:29) “hold guiltless before my Father at that day when I shall stand to judge the world.” (3 Ne. 27:16) 

6.) “to sing ceaseless praises with the choirs above“ (Mor. 7:7) King Benjamin “ join the choirs above in singing the praises of a just God.” (Mosiah 2:28)

 

7.) “unto the Father, and unto the Son, and unto the Holy Ghost, which are one God,” (Mor. 7:7) Nephi: “ this is the doctrine of Christ, and the only and true doctrine of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost, which is one God, without end. Amen.” (2 Ne. 31:21)

 

8.) “a state of happiness which hath no end.” (Mor. 7:7) Alma speaking to Corianton: “righteous are received into a state of happiness” (Alma 40:12) “raised to endless happiness” (Alma 41:4) 

 

9.) “repent, and be baptized in the name of Jesus,” (Mor. 7:8) Jacob:“he commandeth all men that they must repent, and be baptized in his name“ (2 Ne. 9:23) 

 

10.) “lay hold upon the gospel of Christ” (Mor. 7:8) Helaman: “ lay hold upon the word of God,” (Hel. 3:29) Mormon’s previous letter to Moroni: “lay hold upon” (Mor. 7:19, 20 & 25)

 

11.) “ ye are a remnant of the seed of Jacob” (Mor. 7:10) captain Moroni-“Moroni said unto them: Behold, we are a remnant of the seed of Jacob” (Alma 46:23) “a remnant of the seed of Jacob” (Mor. 5:24)

 

12.) “baptized, first with water, then with fire and with the Holy Ghost, following the example of our Savior,” (Mor. 7:10) Nephi: “he was baptized with water the Holy Ghost descended upon him... he having set the example before them. (2 Ne. 31:8-9)

 

In addition to these 12 echos Mormon, also includes the seven (7) elements of faith or the word/seed which Alma said: “I desire that ye shall plant this word in your hearts” (Alma 33:22)

 

“begin to believe in the Son of God, that he will come to redeem his people, and that he shall suffer and die to atone for their sins; and that he shall rise again from the dead, which shall bring to pass the resurrection, that all men shall stand before him, to be judged at the last and judgment day, according to their works.” (Alma 33:22)

 

The articles of faith according to Alma include:

(1) belief in the Son of God;

(2) belief that he will redeem his people;

(3) belief that he shall suffer and die;

(4) belief that he will perform the Atonement;

(5) belief that he will rise from the dead;

(6) belief that he will bring to pass the resurrection of the dead;

(7) belief in the final judgment

 

“ Know ye that ye must come to the knowledge of your fathers, and repent of all your sins and iniquities, and believe in Jesus Christ, that he is the Son of God, and that he was slain by the Jews, and by the power of the Father he hath risen again, whereby he hath gained the victory over the grave; and also in him is the sting of death swallowed up. And he bringeth to pass the resurrection of the dead, whereby man must be raised to stand before his judgment-seat. And he hath brought to pass the redemption of the world, whereby he that is found guiltless before him at the judgment day hath it given unto him to dwell in the presence of God in his kingdom, to sing ceaseless praises with the choirs above, unto the Father, and unto the Son, and unto the Holy Ghost, which are one God, in a state of happiness which hath no end.” (Mor. 7:5-7)

 

(1  (1)  “belief in Jesus Christ, that he is the Son of God”;

(2. (2)  belief in “the redemption of the world”;

(3. (3)   belief “that he was slain”;

(4. (4)   belief that through the Atonement we can be “found guiltless” from our sins; (see 3 Ne. 27:16)

(5. (5)  belief that “he hath risen again”;

(6. (6)  belief that “he bringeth to pass the resurrection of the dead”;

(7. (7)  belief in “the judgement day”