Baptism Math on Halloween

In 3 Nephi 12, Christ discusses that he had chosen 12 disciples.  I always wondered why they are called disciples, instead of apostles.  Verse 1 describes that they are called, given POWER and authority to baptize.  Christ tells the multitude that they are Blessed IF they give heed to the words of THESE twelve, which were chosen from among them to minister and to be their servants.  He expresses that he has given them POWER to baptize with water, and after that HE will baptize them with fire and with the Holy Ghost.  And they are Blessed if they will believe in him and be baptized.

A few days ago I began studying a lesson for my Primary class on the Sacrament.  It directed me to 3 Nephi 18: 1-11.  I read it, and was led well beyond verse 11.  Baptism and the sacrament tie in so beautifully together, but I think we have a lot of misconceptions and misunderstandings and FALSE TRADITIONS regarding them.  I don't even know how much some of the false traditions matter, but a false tradition is something that damned the Lamanites (damned meaning their progression was stopped).  These false traditions were things that were taught to them, and they simply believed because it was much like tradition.  Much like how Mormons celebrate Halloween and Christmas and Easter, which in reality are defunct pagan holidays.  (Why do Mormons celebrate Halloween again?  Because we believe in witches, evil ghosts and spells?  We've got some great trunk or treat pics I'm sure we all have on our cameras.  My nephew who is going on a mission soon won 1st prize in ours this week for his great rendition of a pirate ship on the back of his SUV.  I was happy for him when he won.  It was fun.  But also not exactly something I would imagine Christ's 12 disciples participating in if they were to make an impromptu appearance.  No offense!)  Anyways...

The Lamanites were damned due to their traditions.  But when they let go of their traditions, we have stories of King Lamoni and the marvelous transformations that happened when they simply gave up everything to know the God Ammon spoke of.  (Forgive me if I'm mixing up names.  Just going from memory.)  What are our traditions which keep us from knowing Christ?

Back to verse 1.  These twelve disciples were given power to baptize.  Why only 12?  What's the significance of 12?  The symbolism?

And down the road, three of these 12 request to tarry on the earth.  That's 1/4.  Why 1/4?  They certainly still have power to baptize.  And they roam the earth.  Where are they?  And why do we not plea to heaven for them to baptize us?

God can bestow his power on whomever he feels to.  Today is October 31st, the day that some believe the "realms" are more open than others.  I don't remember the tradition or explanation why.  But it's no wonder people have unexplainable things happen on this day, if that is the case.  And it's no wonder it is chosen by witches and werewolves to howl at the moon.  I wonder what would happen if all God-fearing people, particularly those who believe in the "3 Nephites" would supplicate their Father to allow them to make their presence known, offer baptism to those seeking it, and grow closer to returning Zion.

THAT would be something to celebrate!   

1 Nephi 1:11 - a Book

Continuing from 1 Nephi 1:10, 1 Nephi 1:11:

And they came down and went forth upon the face of the earth; and the first came and ^astood before my father, and gave unto him a ^bbook, and bade him that he should read.

It says "they" came down.  I trust that this means "the One" and the twelve, and I will assume that is the case.  (In the previous verses, the One descended and the twelve followed him.  This verse follows, so I trust they is all inclusive.)  So they came down.  Not up, but once again, they are descending from their sphere onto this earthly one.

They went forth upon the face of the earth.  Is this a loaded statement, or was this just a simple description that they came in contact with the earthly elements on this earth?  Did they do more than just walk around?  Did Lehi witness ministering, and then veil it in such a broad statement?

The first came and stood before Nephi's father.  Is this first the Savior?  I assume it is, but I'm not sure why it's not a capital F for first.  But assuming it is him, this is quite a remarkable experience.  At this point, Lehi is having a one-on-one encounter with Jehovah, the firstborn of the Father.  And He - Jehovah - came to Lehi.  This is noteworthy, as this is not just Lehi feeling overwhelmed with the Spirit any longer.  He's not only witnessing the heavens open, but now the One is approaching him, and giving him a gift.  This is a very significant experience, and is changing Lehi's live, milli-moment by milli-moment.

Lehi receives a book.  Of all things!  Not a flower, a hug, or a chocolate ice cream cone.  A book.  Books are one of my favorite things, because in such a small space can be such powerful information be contained.  That is the case with this book, as we will soon find out.

Lehi was then bidden to read the book.  Can you imagine if he received the book, but never took the time to read it?  I've given out lots of books to friends as gifts, and I'm always curious to know if they've read it.  Can you imagine if Jehovah would present you with a book, bid you to read it, and then you just don't have the time?  The horror!  I can't imagine Lehi giving that excuse.

Yet often we do it all the time.

When I come home to my parents', I always love looking at their bookshelves.  I scour them for anything new, and even better–anything old.  Today I found some really great old books.  But I have to think that to be given such a book as Lehi got to read... wow.  That'd be quite the gift! 

1 Nephi 1:10 - the Twelve Others

Continuing Lehi's experience of being carried away in a vision (from vs. 8).

1 Nephi 1:10:

And he also saw ^atwelve others following him, and their brightness did exceed that of the stars in the firmament.

Lehi saw twelve other beings following the One.  Why twelve? 

In the Bible, twelve is used on nearly countless occasions.  At biblestudy.org, so many of them are listed and explained.  (Oh, and did you know you can now get a Bible Degree online?:)  I really enjoy the very beginning of their discussion, where it reads:

"Twelve is a perfect number, signifying perfection of government, or of governmental perfection. It is found as a multiple in all that has to do with rule. The sun which "rules" the day, and the moon and stars which "govern" the night, do so by their passage through the twelve signs of the Zodiac which completes the great circle of the heavens of 360 (12 x 30) degrees or divisions, and thus govern the year." (ibid.)

I've never given much credence to Zodiac signs, but it's interesting to find a website which co-mingles the two.  I like the interpretation of how this number relates to government.  It is as if in this tenth verse in the Book of Mormon, we are perhaps learning about the structure of how things run in the heavenly realm.  One descends, and twelve others follow him.  They follow him literally, physically, and spiritually.  Yet if we presume these are the twelve apostles in their premortal existence, we can assume a few things.  They must have done something noteworthy to be worthy of being distinguished from the heavenly host.  Perhaps they were created sooner?  Perhaps they had gained this position from noble actions.  They were clearly chosen to play the part they would play, and from what we read in the bible, their lives were not necessarily easy.  They were not only followers, but teachers.  They carried on the ministry, after Jesus was crucified.  Their roles were critical, important, and not taken lightly.

Interesting question: Did these twelve whom Lehi saw include Judas Iscariot?

Their brightness did exceed that of the stars in the firmament.  In the previous verse we learned that the One's brightness did exceed that of the sun at noon-day.  Now we see the twelve's brightness compared to that of the stars, yet brighter.  

(photo source)

In Mormon culture, typically those who give much attention to the sky and symbolism in the stars are somewhat mocked.  Why do we do this?  Do we confuse soothsaying with symbolism, and judge matter in the universe as hokey?  Here, as one of the primary verses in this book, Jesus and the twelve are likened to these things.  Perhaps we should pay more attention to matter in the heavens?  Have a class on astronomy?  Or a whole class devoted to paying attention to such things?  Surely God knows where the planets and stars are, why they are there, and if they have any symbolic meaning. 

We also see that the brightness of these twelve exceeded the brightness of those stars.  They were brighter!  Yet these stars are so bright that we see their light through our atmosphere and light years away.  Traveling at the speed of light, it would take years for us to reach these stars, yet their brightness still shines to us.  And these twelve shone more brightly to Lehi than that. 

It's amazing his eyes worked, when all was said and done.