A thoughtful article used the BYU scripture citation index to review the most-cited scriptures from the October 2019 general conference.
https://www.ldsliving.com/Found-in-the-Footnotes-What-the-Most-Referenced-Verses-of-Last-Conference-Can-Teach-Us/s/92640
Because the works of Jonathan Edwards are solid evidence that Joseph Smith actually translated the ancient Nephite plates, let's look at some of these scriptures.
Here, we focus on non-biblical Book of Mormon phrases; i.e., phrases that are not found in the Bible. (Many Book of Mormon phrases are found in the Bible, rearranged the way we would expect if Joseph was the translator.)
Mosiah 2:41: “And moreover, I would desire that ye should consider on the blessed and happy state of those that keep the commandments of God. For behold, they are blessed in all things, both temporal and spiritual; and if they hold out faithful to the end they are received into heaven, that thereby they may dwell with God in a state of never-ending happiness. O remember, remember that these things are true; for the Lord God hath spoken it.”
Jonathan Edwards used the term "happy state" over 100 times. He used the phrase "blessed and happy" 15 times. Here, he combined the two: There have been some instances of this glorious work amongst us of late, as we have reason to hope. Let it stir you up to get in the like blessed and happy state and condition that they are got into. Let it encourage you to seek it.
Jonathan Edwards used the phrase "temporal and spiritual" 10 times. It appears 3 times in the Book of Mormon. E.g., 'Tis by God that our well-being is preserved. All our good things, all the comforts, temporal and spiritual , that we enjoy are by him given to us and by him preserved.
Edwards: But the time would fail me to tell of apostles, and prophets, and martyrs, and saints, and of Christ himself, who were faithful alike through good report and evil report, and in sufferings and trials, and who counted not their lives dear, so that they might be faithful to the end.
Edwards: There they shall dwell with that God whom they have loved with all their hearts, and with all their souls, and with all their minds. There they are brought to be with their beloved Savior.
Mosiah 18:8–9: “And it came to pass that he said unto them: Behold, here are the waters of Mormon (for thus were they called) and now, as ye are desirous to come into the fold of God, and to be called his people, and are willing to bear one another’s burdens, that they may be light; Yea, and are willing to mourn with those that mourn; yea, and comfort those that stand in need of comfort, and to stand as witnesses of God at all times and in all things, and in all places that ye may be in, even until death, that ye may be redeemed of God, and be numbered with those of the first resurrection, that ye may have eternal life—”
Mosiah 24:14: “And I will also ease the burdens which are put upon your shoulders, that even you cannot feel them upon your backs, even while you are in bondage; and this will I do that ye may stand as witnesses for me hereafter, and that ye may know of a surety that I, the Lord God, do visit my people in their afflictions.”
https://www.ldsliving.com/Found-in-the-Footnotes-What-the-Most-Referenced-Verses-of-Last-Conference-Can-Teach-Us/s/92640
Because the works of Jonathan Edwards are solid evidence that Joseph Smith actually translated the ancient Nephite plates, let's look at some of these scriptures.
Here, we focus on non-biblical Book of Mormon phrases; i.e., phrases that are not found in the Bible. (Many Book of Mormon phrases are found in the Bible, rearranged the way we would expect if Joseph was the translator.)
Mosiah 2:41: “And moreover, I would desire that ye should consider on the blessed and happy state of those that keep the commandments of God. For behold, they are blessed in all things, both temporal and spiritual; and if they hold out faithful to the end they are received into heaven, that thereby they may dwell with God in a state of never-ending happiness. O remember, remember that these things are true; for the Lord God hath spoken it.”
Jonathan Edwards used the term "happy state" over 100 times. He used the phrase "blessed and happy" 15 times. Here, he combined the two: There have been some instances of this glorious work amongst us of late, as we have reason to hope. Let it stir you up to get in the like blessed and happy state and condition that they are got into. Let it encourage you to seek it.
Jonathan Edwards used the phrase "temporal and spiritual" 10 times. It appears 3 times in the Book of Mormon. E.g., 'Tis by God that our well-being is preserved. All our good things, all the comforts, temporal and spiritual , that we enjoy are by him given to us and by him preserved.
Edwards: But the time would fail me to tell of apostles, and prophets, and martyrs, and saints, and of Christ himself, who were faithful alike through good report and evil report, and in sufferings and trials, and who counted not their lives dear, so that they might be faithful to the end.
Edwards: There they shall dwell with that God whom they have loved with all their hearts, and with all their souls, and with all their minds. There they are brought to be with their beloved Savior.
Mosiah 18:8–9: “And it came to pass that he said unto them: Behold, here are the waters of Mormon (for thus were they called) and now, as ye are desirous to come into the fold of God, and to be called his people, and are willing to bear one another’s burdens, that they may be light; Yea, and are willing to mourn with those that mourn; yea, and comfort those that stand in need of comfort, and to stand as witnesses of God at all times and in all things, and in all places that ye may be in, even until death, that ye may be redeemed of God, and be numbered with those of the first resurrection, that ye may have eternal life—”
Mosiah 24:14: “And I will also ease the burdens which are put upon your shoulders, that even you cannot feel them upon your backs, even while you are in bondage; and this will I do that ye may stand as witnesses for me hereafter, and that ye may know of a surety that I, the Lord God, do visit my people in their afflictions.”
