Twenty-Three (1828)The Book of Mormon reader will notice that many verses from Isaiah (King James
Bible) were interspersed within that text. As discussed, Joseph was commanded to do this.
However, the most profound of all Isaiah’s remarks was noticeably absent. Where was
Isaiah, chapter one? Without chapter one, the rest of Isaiah cannot make complete sense, as
chapter one was designed to set up the scenario for all that followed. As it turns out, it was
included in the 116-pages that would not become a part of the published Book of Mormon. Of
all the passages or script found anywhere else in the Bible, there was none other that more
profoundly denounces religious practices than the first chapter of Isaiah.
According to the Book of Mormon narrative, Lehi was not commanded by God “to
declare unto [the Jews] concerning the things which he had both seen and heard.”^15 Lehi had
no right to tell the Jews that they were wrong. Lehi was not doing unto others as he would
have wanted done unto him. His desire to tell the Jews what he knew led to them persecuting
and rejecting him, causing him to leave Jerusalem. The Jews were fine with their religion.
Lehi’s two oldest sons would later testify of the common attitude of the Jewish people:
And we know that the people who were in the land of Jerusalem were a
righteous people; for they kept the statutes and judgments of the Lord, and
all his commandments, according to the law of Moses; wherefore, we know
that they are a righteous people; and our father hath judged them, and hath
led us away because we would hearken unto his words; yea, and our brother
is like unto him. And after this manner of language did my brethren murmur
and complain against us.^16The following are specific lessons taught in the Book of Mormon:
Lesson 1: Respect and Love Everyone
The first parabolic lesson of the Book of Mormon is this: “We claim the privilege of
worshipping Almighty God according to the dictates of our own conscience, and allow all
men the same privilege, let them worship how, where, or what they may.”^17 This dovetails
Christ’s own words: “Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that
hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you.”^18
Lehi was a man who listened to a true messenger and his companion, who came to
Jerusalem with a message for the people. The names of this messenger and his companion,
Zenos and Zenock, respectively, were given in the book of Lehi (116-page lost manuscript).
Modern Book of Mormon scholars cannot explain why the published Book of Mormon
mentions Zenos and Zenock, but makes no mention of where they came from or what they
actually did. This is because the modern LDS/Mormons didn’t have access to the contents
of the lost manuscript until 2004. Even then, when it was finally retranslated,
LDS/Mormons wouldn’t accept it, because it didn’t come from and through their leaders
and their “priesthood authority.”^19
Lesson 2: How People Act When They Believe They Are “Chosen”
The next lesson taught in the Book of Mormon is how most men act who think they are
“special” and “chosen.” It explains from where these men receive their “inspiration” and
“revelations from God.”^20 Lehi had a dream; and in the dream he was commanded by the