Alma 7:10 — Part 4

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My colleague at MRM we continue our look at Elma 710. In the book of Mormon, a controversy, a passage for reads, and behold, he speaking of Jesus shall be born of Mary at Jerusalem which is the land of our forefathers. Mormon apologists will argue that the phrase at Jerusalem does not necessarily mean in Jerusalem even though so far when it comes to the dwelling place of Lehigh, a principal character in the early portion of the book of Mormon. It seems very clear that that's where he supposedly lived.

Even though the phrase at Jerusalem was used to describe where his dwelling place was located going to continue looking at the phrase at Jerusalem and we want to remind you that so far in this series we have demonstrated that the book of Mormon uses the phrase at Jerusalem nine team times that so many times if you were to do a word search, then you look for at Jerusalem you would get 19 different locations where that phrase is found in the book of Mormon. Since it's established that Lehigh lived in Jerusalem. This accounts for only seven of those 19 and that's important so so far we are not seeing the argument that is been proposed by some Mormon apologists that the phrase at Jerusalem means outside of Jerusalem so far this study were not seen them working to continue looking at some more passages within the book of Mormon to see what it actually says two more examples that we can give you for at Jerusalem would be first Nephi 1920 and first Nephi 22 four. Again, if you're not driving grab your copy of the book of Mormon look these up first Nephi 1920 and first Nephi 22 four. The former first Nephi 1920 records Nephi's weariness quoted quoting now for those who are at Jerusalem." It talks about Nephi being weary for those who are at Jerusalem. Page 53 of the book of Mormon student manual interprets this to mean that Nephi knew and I'm quoting quote Nephi knew that the Jews in Jerusalem had suffered the fate his father said they would. In other words, this vetted manual.

This book of Mormon student manual page 53 is saying that the phrase at Jerusalem when it speaks of Nephi being weary for those who are at Jerusalem speaks of Nephi, knowing that the Jews Jerusalem had suffered the fate his father said they would and first Nephi 22.

Four.

Mention again is made of those same people who are suffering at Jerusalem. So it's in Jerusalem. According the manuals understood to mean in the city so we have 19 instances, nine of them are specifically referring to the city of Jerusalem. We have 10 passages left when we examine the remaining 10 passages that use the phrase at Jerusalem. Three of them refer to the people who were responsible for Jesus's crucifixion first Nephi 1913 reads quoting and for those who are at Jerusalem, saith the prophet, they shall be scourged of all people because they crucify the God of Israel, well, where was Jesus crucified. Well, he was crucified in Jerusalem. So obviously at Jerusalem in Jerusalem it's it's anonymous here so that takes care of three more first Nephi 1913. As you mentioned, and it's also the same with second Nephi 10 five and forth.

Nephi 131 for other examples are supposed to be.

Allegedly the words of Jesus himself. In the book of Mormon found in third Nephi 1514 third Nephi 16 for in third Nephi 17 8/3 Nephi 10 five records Jesus virtually repeating what he said in Matthew 2337 and it reads in part, O ye people of the house of Israel, ye that dwell at Jerusalem, as he that hath fallen yay how often would I have gathered you as a hen gathers her chickens and he would not in the New Testament we have two occasions where Jesus is credited with using the phrase at Jerusalem.

These are found in Luke 2447 and John 421. Why is that important. Well it's important because in both cases we have no reason to believe that it is a reference to anything but the city itself. So we have Luke John and Paul all use the phrase at Jerusalem, and in every case it speaks directly to the city.

It's not to be understood that is talking about some vague suburb somewhere and that's because it's going back to the New Testament gospel accounts were Jesus is talking and he understood and everybody at that time understood that he was referring specifically to the city of Jerusalem, which bill that only leaves us three more. Let's look at healing in 1618 he laments, 16, 18, in the book of Mormon says that the wicked neophytes and Lamanites began to doubt that Christ should come and asked quote why will he not show himself unto us as well as unto them, who shall be at Jerusalem. Now if you go to the book of Mormon and the headings and the heading even though was revised last year that there is actually it was earlier this year that the headings were revised and the heading of chapter 16 to go to LDS.org has the same statement. The believers say it is not reasonable to believe in Christ and his coming in Jerusalem in Jerusalem that's with the heading says that folks that heading of chapter 16 the book of Hileman says the unbelievers say it is not reasonable to believe in Christ and his coming in Jerusalem even though the phrase in the text says at Jerusalem and it was not changed. According to L dated on our change. Okay now we come to Elma 11 four it reads in part. Now these are the names of the different pieces of their gold and of their silver according to their value, and the names are given by the neophytes, for they did not reckon after the manner of the Jews who were at Jerusalem. Now this one becomes a little bit touchy because many apologists have more than apologists of argued against the phrase having to do with actual coinage.

That's a whole other issue we dealt with at another broadcast but we can't find anything specific regarding where the decisions for the values of precious metals would been made. We can assume, however, and I think assume pretty well that these decisions were probably made in Jerusalem because Jerusalem was the capital city of Israel. So if that's the case, then this phrase at Jerusalem when it talks about these court this this money, we don't want to say coinage anymore because the Mormons realize they don't want to say that in the northern but that says that this took place at Jerusalem well if it was at Jerusalem, and we understand that the capital city is were all these decisions were made, then we would assume that it's talking about the city itself. This now leaves us with one more reference to at Jerusalem, and that is the verse that were studying right now. Elma, seven, 10, and here's what we want to bring out folks, we can only offer you our listeners and our readers.

The simple suggestion that if the phrase at Jerusalem is used 19 times and in 18 of those times it can be reasonably demonstrated that it means the actual city of Jerusalem and we know this by the words of the Mormon church itself in its manuals and other Mormons as well. It is inconsistent to a