The Daily World News Report of the 24th of February 2020

 Coronavirus

Iran abruptly becomes the Coronavirus highest country in deaths outside of China after a delayed announcement of 8 total deaths yesterday & 3 deaths and 15 cases newly reported that day. The site of the infections and deaths are at a city called Qom. “Turkey, Pakistan, Afghanistan and Armenia closed their land borders with Iran on Sunday.”[1] Kuwait, Iraq,[2] and Barhrain has reported their first cases of Coronavirus. [3] All three cases are tied to Iran. South Korea confirms seventh dead as they are reporting new cases increases to above 100 like China did last week.[4] Italy report six deaths as “more than 200 people have come down with the virus since Friday”. A town named Veneto with nearly twelve other towns in Lombardy are the affected region in southeast Italy.[5] China reports 150 new deaths today as the spike reported last week appears to be the new norm with 409 new cases up from an average of more than 100 for most of last week.[6]

India

Donald Trump is visiting India’s capital city of New Delhi today as the country has been facing protests of thousands of people throughout “several parts of the capital for the last two months”. The protests have become violent. They are concerning a new immigration law that “eases the path for non-Muslims from neighbouring Muslim-majority nations to gain citizenship”. There are “heavy stone pelting from both sides” of those who are for and against the law.[7] 4 people were killed including a head constable. Among the 50 injured are 10 policemen.[8]

Middle East

‘"Around 730 cell towers have restarted," said Naqeebullah Sailab, vice chairman of the Telecom Regulatory Authority of Afghanistan’ in the territory of the Taliban as part of ‘a week-long "reduction in violence"’, showing that the effort is for the long-term. They are preparing for a signing of a peace deal with the United States on February 29, 2020.[9]

On Sunday Palestinian militants attack southern Israel with more than twenty rockets “after Israel said it killed a Palestinian militant who tried to place a bomb along the Israel-Gaza barrier fence.”[10]

As I reported last week with the Algerian’s protests, demanding that their ruling elite to resign for more than a year now, Iraq confronts the same issue. One protestor was killed and seven others injured on Sunday by Iraqi forces in Baghdad. Almost 500 people have been killed since October 2019 in Iraq, “facing an extraordinary domestic crisis”. The protesters also seek “an end to foreign interference, mainly by Iran and the United States”. [11]

An earthquake hit the province of Van in Turkey. Its magnitude was 5.7. Nine people are confirmed killed, and 38 are injured with nine of them “in serious condition.” More than a thousand building collapsed. Earthquakes are common in the region of 43 villages at the border of Turkey and Iran.[12]

South America

Of the 300 human rights leaders killed in 31 countries last year 106 were killed in Colombia, and 40 have been killed in 2020 “including a national park ranger and several indigenous rights and environmental advocates, according to Indepaz, a Colombian peace-building nonprofit based in Bogotá”. When I searched for the article and publication of Indepaz, the website was malicious. Many illegal business such as mining, logging, and drugs kill to reduce the awareness of their business. The following human rights activist has received death threats many times; even getting shot in 2014:

“Becerra, 31, has dedicated her life to helping indigenous communities throughout Colombia [to] protect their territories by obtaining legal recognition of their lands by the government and stopping mega-infrastructure projects like roadways and hydroelectric power plants from being built in these regions without the communities’ consent, all while risking her life.”[13]

Africa

A bombing of a political rally happen on Sunday in Ambo, Ethiopia, injuring 29 people. The rally was in support of reelecting the Nobel Peace Prize winner Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed in August. Some arrests have been made; however, the attack has not been claimed or confessed at the time of the report.[14]

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[1] Bizaer, Maysam. “Neighbours Close Borders with Iran as Virus Concerns Rise.” Al Jazeera, 23 Jan. 2020, www.aljazeera.com/news/2020/02/neighbours-close-borders-iran-virus-concerns-rise-200223160135283.html.

[2] “First Confirmed Coronavirus Case in Iraq Is Iranian National.” Al Arabiya, AFP, 24 Feb. 2020, english.alarabiya.net/en/News/2020/02/24/First-confirmed-coronavirus-case-in-Iraq-is-Iranian-national.html.

[3] “Kuwait, Bahrain Announce First Coronavirus Cases.” ABS CBN, Agence France-Presse, 24 Feb. 2020, news.abs-cbn.com/overseas/02/24/20/kuwait-bahrain-announce-first-coronavirus-cases.

[4] Awhotu, Ese. “Coronavirus: China Reports 150 New Deaths.” Peoples Daily, 24 Feb. 2020, peoplesdailyng.com/coronavirus-china-reports-150-new-deaths/.

[5] Italy records sixth death from coronavirus; stock market slides

[6] Awhotu, Ese. “Coronavirus: China Reports 150 New Deaths.” Peoples Daily, 24 Feb. 2020, peoplesdailyng.com/coronavirus-china-reports-150-new-deaths/.

[7] “Violence Breaks out in India's Capital over New Citizenship Law Ahead of Trump Visit.” The Straits Times, 2020 Singapore Press Holdings Ltd. Co.., 24 Feb. 2020, www.straitstimes.com/asia/south-asia/violence-breaks-out-in-indias-capital-over-new-citizenship-law-ahead-of-trump-visit.

[8] “CAA Protests Live Updates: Cop among 4 Killed in Violence; Schools Shut on Tuesday in Northeast Delhi.” The Times of India, Times Internet, 24 Feb. 2020, timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/delhi/caa-protests-live-updates-policeman-killed-entry-exit-gates-of-5-metro-stations-closed-in-northeast-delhi/liveblog/74267159.cms.

[9] Blanchard, Elise. “Mobile Phone Services Restored as Afghan Truce Holds.” Yahoo!, AFP, 22 Feb. 2020, news.yahoo.com/mobile-phone-services-restored-afghan-truce-holds-110912584.html.

[10] Federman, Josef. “Https://Www.theglobeandmail.com/World/Article-Palestinian-Rockets-Strike-Israel-after-Gaza-Border-Clash/.” The Globe and Mail, The Associated Press, 23 Feb. 2020, www.theglobeandmail.com/world/article-palestinian-rockets-strike-israel-after-gaza-border-clash/.

[11] “Iraqi Security Forces Kill One, Wound Seven in Baghdad.” The Daily Star, Reuters, 23 Feb. 2020, www.dailystar.com.lb/News/Middle-East/2020/Feb-23/501623-iraqi-security-forces-kill-one-wound-seven-in-baghdad.ashx.

[12] “Several Dead in Turkey after Earthquake Hits Iran Border Area.” Al Jazeera, 23 Feb. 2020, www.aljazeera.com/news/2020/02/dead-turkish-province-bordering-iran-earthquake-200223080425944.html.

[13] Tomassoni, Teresa. “Colombia Was the Deadliest Place on Earth for Environmental Activists. It's Gotten Worse.” NBC News, NBC Universal, 23 Jan. 2020, www.nbcnews.com/science/environment/colombia-was-deadliest-place-earth-environmental-activists-it-s-gotten-n1139861.

[14] “Ethiopia: 29 Injured in 'Bomb Attack' at pro-Abiy Rally.” MSN, AFP, 23 Feb. 2020, www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/ethiopia-29-injured-in-bomb-attack-at-pro-abiy-rally/ar-BB10iNCC.

"Manifesting himself unto all nations" part 2

I have a simple precept to write about; although, there are many options. I will keep it simple today, a testimony of Christ, expounding on what I wrote about last time. I wrote about how Moroni testified that Jesus Christ manifests himself to all nations.

This morning Jessica and I read 2 Nephi chapter 26 verses 12 and 13, a family scripture study opportunity from “Come, follow me”. The verses states the following:

“And as I spake concerning the convincing of the Jews, that Jesus is the very Christ, it must needs be that the Gentiles be convinced also that Jesus is the Christ, the Eternal God; And that he manifesteth himself unto all those who believe in him, by the power of the Holy Ghost; yea, unto every nation, kindred, tongue, and people, working mighty miracles, signs, and wonders, among the children of men according to their faith.”

When I read this, I thought of the three kings that visited Jesus Christ as a child. These kings had the luxury to travel to Bethlehem; however, I expect many other people of their nations would have loved to have joined. They did observe the mighty “signs, and wonders”. That is my simple precept. You don’t have to trust me that there are evidences that God manifested himself unto the Chinese people as I have written last time. The Bible states a story “that he manifesteth himself unto all those who believe in him, by the power of the Holy Ghost; yea, unto every nation, kindred, tongue, and people.”

The activity invited me to express how Christ was manifested to me by the power of the Holy Ghost. I have had many experiences, and I did not recall one this morning. We don’t need to have one conversion experience to recall. I said that I remember feeling the love of God in the temple. Remembering Christ is what the sacrament prayer states that we may have his spirit to be with us after obedience to his commandments.

The Daily World News Report of the 22nd of February 2020

Coronavirus

Today is the second day of new cases over 400 as South Korea counts 229. 200 of the newly infected were related to the Daegu church super-spreader at the Shincheonji church of Jesus.[1] One of the reported cases was an employee of Samsung at a small factory in the city of Gumi near the super-spreader event. They closed the facility down immediately at the discovery, placing his close colleagues on self-quarantine.[2]

Asia

Min Htin Ko Ko Gyi, a well-known filmmaker, in Myanmar was sentence to one year in August last year for criticizing the military on Facebook, and he was released seven months later after possible justice reform as he says that “The prison law in Myanmar is out of date and needs to be replaced.”[3]

Africa

The ruling elite of Algeria have been facing a year of pressure to step down as the demonstrators “mark the first anniversary of a protest movement.”[4] In April 2019 President Abdelaziz Bouteflika resigned after ruling for five four year terms, totaling twenty years, due to the movement.[5]

Middle East

Around 3000 troops of the United States army are returning home from “Iran and its proxies in the region” including Iraq and Kuwait. They are members of the “rapid-respond force”, who were called in “the most significant no-notice deployment of military forces in more than 30 year” according to the 82nd Airborne Division Facebook page.[6] These troops were sent to help relieve tension as a result of the Iran backed attack at the US embassy on December 31, 2019.[7]

Although the Taliban and the United State have confirmed to sign an agreement on February 29, 2020 in Afghanistan, the Taliban attacked the Afghan forces in the Balkh province on the first day of their ‘week-long “reduction in violence”. “The incidents did not spark immediate alarm on either side” according to Reuters.[8] “The violence reduction period” still seems to be possible to be successful.

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[1] Ly, Mimi Nguyen. “South Korea Sees Record Jump in Virus Cases to 433.” The Epoch Times, 22 Feb. 2020, www.theepochtimes.com/south-korea-sees-record-jump-in-virus-cases-to-433_3246680.html.

[2] “Samsung Electronics Confirms Coronavirus Case at Phone Factory Complex in South Korea.” Reuters, 22 Feb. 2020, www.reuters.com/article/us-china-health-southkorea-samsung-elec-idUSKCN20G0CG.

[3] Lwin, Khin Moh Moh, and Mratt Kyaw Thu. “Filmmaker Min Htin Ko Ko Gyi Freed from Prison .” Myanmar Now, 21 Feb. 2020, myanmar-now.org/en/news/filmmaker-min-htin-ko-ko-gyi-freed-from-prison.

[4] “Algerians Mark First Anniversary of Anti-Regime Protests.” PressTV, 21 Feb. 2020, www.presstv.com/Detail/2020/02/21/619198/Algeria-protests-first-anniversary-Bouteflika.

[5] “Abdelaziz Bouteflika: Algerian Leader Resigns amid Protests.” BBC News, BBC, 3 Apr. 2019, www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-47795108.

[6] Ly, Mimi Nguyen. “800 US Soldiers Return Home from Middle East.” The Epoch Times, 20 Feb. 2020, www.theepochtimes.com/800-us-soldiers-return-home-from-middle-east_3245505.html.

[7] Stieber, Zachary. “Iran-Backed Groups Attack US Embassy in Iraq.” The Epoch Times, 31 Dec. 2019, www.theepochtimes.com/us-embassy-evacuated-after-iranian-backed-protesters-breach-compound_3189675.html.

[8] Sediqi, Abdul Qadir, and Orooj Hakimi. “Taliban, Afghan Forces Clash on First Day of Violence Reduction Period.” Reuters, 22 Feb. 2020, www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-afghanistan-talks-idUSKCN20G0KT.

"Manifesting himself unto all nations"

Today in the Maxwell Institute Study Edition of the Book of Mormon: Another Testament of Jesus Christ, I read the reformatted title page. This title page was written by Moroni. The only difference between the text of the study edition and the standard edition of the Book of Mormon is that parenthesis are added around the statement concerning the “abridgment taken from the Book of Ether”. These parenthesis were added to emphasize the editor’s belief that the following phrase applies to the entire book; not only Moroni’s abridgment:

“Which is to show unto the remnant of the house of Israel what great things the Lord hath done for their fathers; and that they may know the covenants of the Lord, that they are not cast off forever—And also to the convincing of the Jew and Gentile that Jesus is the Christ, the Eternal God, manifesting himself unto all nations”

The current scripture set that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is commonly known as the “quad”, including the Old Testament, New Testament, Another Testament, and the Doctrine and Covenants. Three of the four parts of the quad was written by the House of Israel (I think that this may be due to the Abrahamic covenant.); however, Jesus is the Christ, and he manifests himself unto all nations.

I have visited China and have friends with ties to the country, and they have seen evidences that Jesus Christ has visited the people of China. We mainly have the records of the House of Israel. All things will be revealed in the millennium. 

Jesus Christ is the savior of the whole Earth. He has suffered for the sins of all mankind that he may forgive them of their sins. Jesus Christ also resurrected, having power over death. This enables all mankind’s resurrection.

I will conclude by quoting the last words that Moroni wrote on his title page of the Book of Mormon. “And now, if there are faults they are the mistakes of men; wherefore, condemn not the things of God, that ye may be found spotless at the judgment-seat of Christ.” I love this quote because it testifies of Christ’s role that he is a merciful judge. Pondering this, I have a precept to write about next time. Please do not condemn the Book of Mormon. Give it a chance. Read the Book from the beginning with a sincere attempt to find that it is true. I believe that the Book of Mormon is the word of God, and it restores many truths that were lost in the translation of the Bible.

Bonus

I also wrote the following, but I removed it because I don’t believe that it is the true interpretation; however, I will include it because it is pondering of a prophecy:

One understanding of ‘the first shall be last and that last shall be first’ phraseology is that the House of Israel may be understood to receive the Gospel first; then, they will receive the fullness of the Gospel as they are being gathered in the Latter-days by the Gentiles.

There are many understandings of this phrase. I also believe that it means that the Earth was created in a different state than what is it in today called the paradisiacal state or the glory of the Terrestial kingdom. The Earth’s glory fell to a state of Telestial glory after the fall of Adam; however, at the second coming of Jesus Christ the Earth will be raised up again to the paradisiacal state and the glory of the Terrestial Kingdom. I am on a tangent.

Or maybe the Gentiles are the first and the last, since the Jews will reject that Jesus is the Christ until the second coming. The word Gentile alludes to all the nations other than the House of Israel. Adam raised the first families, preaching to them the Gospel of Jesus Christ, in the beginning. The many nations of Adam’s seed, which bottlenecks down to the immediate family of Noah after the flood, are Gentiles. Abraham’s seed and the House of Israel was established a long time after the flood, and there are many other nations covering the Earth before the House of Israel, including the Jaredite nation. The restoration of the fullness Gospel of Jesus Christ in the Latter-days was through the Gentiles.  

The quote was going to be after the second paragraph, and the third paragraph was going to be at the end of the fourth paragraph.

South Sudan's 6 Year Government Stalemate Concludes - 21st February 2020

Hi. I am Alex Hicken, summarizing my daily world news report on February 21^st, 2020 from my blog “Read the Story of the World.” If you enjoy the world news reports, the link to today’s report is in the show notes. The report has more details and the citations; furthermore, a sign up form is available on the article page that will enable the system to email you when I publish a new article. It is on the top right corner.

Let’s begin with the Coronavirus update. There was a spike in the detected infections in China today. A couple days ago, I said that on an average in the past week, there were a little over 100 new cases. The spike was a count of 411 cases. The reason for the spike was the prisons in Wuhan reported nearly 300 infected. Most of which were from a women’s prison. The government fired 11 officials who overlooked the prison situation.

I have some follow up news with the Diamond Princess Cruise ship cluster. The count of 621 cases on the ship was incomplete as they let people disembark as some were infected. Two were discovered in Australia and eleven were detected in Nebraska. It seems like we need to quadruple check, since some organizations detection processes are not as thorough as one would expect.

As Iran ran their parliament elections, the United States placed sanctions on five election managers. The most notable is the powerful clergyman Ahmad Jannati, and the other four are Abbas Ali Kadkhodaei, Siamak Rahpeyk, Mohammad Moghadam, and Mohammad Yazdi. Many good people have tried to campaign for parliament positions, but thousands have been denied the opportunity as they did not favor the regime.

One development in the country of South Sudan seems to be good. The president, Salvar Kiir and the opposition leader Riek Machar was able to negotiate a resolution after rejected peace proposal over the weekend. Riek would become one of five vice presidents, and the “dissolution of all institutions at nation and state levels” was a condition to the progress toward a more united government. Mister Machar will be sworn-in to office tomorrow. Although they do have a lot of work to reorganize their entire government, this decision will hopefully be an end of the 6 year long stalemates in the country’s government coalition.

I am going to give an update to the Syrian war before I report on a couple somewhat more optimistic things. Turkey and Russia are still backing the rebels and Assad at Idlib, and the rebels are on the offensive recently as more than 50 Syrian soldiers were killed in an airstrike.

The more optimistic things have to do with Tesla and stopping of a drug trafficking operation.

Tesla was approved to continue the construction of their new Gigafactory in Gruenheide, Brandenburg near Berlin. The courts have stopped the work twice this month due to petitions by environmental groups. The court said that this is their final decision, joining Germany’s government, who praised the developing business with Tesla.

The second good news is that a Colombian delivery of 5 tons of drugs was observed by the Panama’s National Aeronaval Service. It was not a normal boat as it was partially submerged in the water. Their vessel was a homemade submarine. The Aeronaval Service arrested the four people. They were grateful that they seized a rare opportunity as it is very difficult to detect submarines without aircraft and prior knowledge of the drug trafficking.

I would like to conclude by thanking you for listening as this is my first week of my publication. I hope that it will prosper. My first step to establishing the business is the secure an income for myself; then, we could invest in expanding. If you think that my publication is worth funding, please look up Alex Hicken on Patreon, where creators have their fan’s direct support. I will report again tomorrow. I hope that Riek Machar’s appointment tomorrow to be vice president of South Sudan is successful.

The Daily World News Report of the 21st of February 2020

Coronavirus

411 new cases of the Coronavirus were confirmed on Thursday in epicenter of Wuhan city in the Hubei Province of China. I reported yesterday that the infection rate is not reducing, being about 100, but the rate has spiked as the death toll has increased to 2,249.[1] One reason for the spike is that 271 were detected as infected in Wuhan prisons. Eleven official were dismissed due their oversight.[2] 1451 patients were discharged after recovery on Thursday, adding to the total of 11,788 from the Wuhan medical facilities.[3]

Two passengers that disembarked the Diamond Princess Cruise ship were discovered to be infected after arriving in their home country of Australia from Japan. The detection process of the people may not be as thorough as expected.[4] 11 were detected in the United States as well in Nebraska from the cruise.[5]

Middle East

The parliamentary election in Iran is happening this week, and the execution of it has been corrupt as thousands of people have been disqualified from running. Ahmad Jannati, the official who is partially responsible for the qualification process, was given notice that he and four others were sanctioned by the United States. The four others are the following: “Abbas Ali Kadkhodaei, Siamak Rahpeyk, Mohammad Hasan Sadeghi Moghadam and Mohammad Yazdi. The United States does not approve of how the election is being conducted.[6]

Although the Syrian rebel’s attack failed yesterday, their airstrikes killed more than 50 of Syrian soldiers on the front at Idlib in northwestern Syria.[7]

South Sudan

South Sudan has taken a crucial step to a united government as Riek Machar has agreed to be the vice president of President Salvar Kiir. Riek Machar will be swear-in to his new role on Saturday. He will be the president’s fifth vice president. The negotiation between the opposing parties included “the dissolution of all institutions at national and state levels.”[8] They have a lot of work to do ahead of them to appoint new officials throughout the country.

Central America

Panama’s National Aeronaval Service observed a semi-submersible vessel on a patrol. They discovered that it was a Colombian delivery of 5 tons of drugs. 4 were arrested. The submarine was homemade, and most of the time drug submarines are hard to find. They are easily detected by aircraft and when they have been informed previously of the shipment.[9]

Germany

Tesla resumes the clearing of their land in Gruenheide, Brandenburg near Berlin for their new Gigafactory as courts stopped them for the second time this month with several environmental groups petitioned the cancellation of the project.  The construction was approved and praised by Germany’s government for business with Tesla, and the court has concluded their delays of the project as they have confirmed that this is their final ruling.[10]

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[1] Griffiths, James. “Novel Coronavirus Deaths Top 2,200 as Number of New Cases in China Rises Again.” CNN, Cable News Network, 21 Feb. 2020, edition.cnn.com/2020/02/21/asia/novel-coronavirus-covid-19-update-intl-hnk/index.html.

[2] Fang, Frank. “Hundreds of Prisoners Test Positive for Coronavirus in China, 11 Officials Sacked.” The Epoch Times, 21 Feb. 2020, www.theepochtimes.com/11-chinese-officials-sacked-over-coronavirus-outbreak-in-prisons_3245781.html.

[3] “China Reports 115 More Deaths, 411 New Coronavirus Cases.” Khaleej Times, IANS, 21 Feb. 2020, www.khaleejtimes.com/coronavirus-outbreak/china-reports-411-new-coronavirus-cases-covid19.

[4] “Two Australian Evacuees Positive for Virus after Being Cleared in Japan.” Yahoo!, AFP, 21 Feb. 2020, sports.yahoo.com/australian-coronavirus-victims-had-tested-negative-japan-032356382.html.

[5] Chavez, Nicole, and Hollie Silverman. “11 Americans at Omaha Facility Tested Positive for Coronavirus, Hospital Says.” CNN Health, Cable News Network, 21 Feb. 2020, www.cnn.com/2020/02/20/health/nebraska-coronavirus-positive-tests/index.html.

[6] “US Slaps Sanctions on Iranian Officials for barring Candidates.” Khaleej Times, Reuters, 21 Feb. 2020, www.khaleejtimes.com/business/economy/5-iranians-targeted-in-latest-sanctions-action-.

[7] “Turkey Claims 'More Than 50' Syrian Forces Killed After Two Turkish Soldiers Killed in Airstrike .” Haaretz, Reuters, 20 Feb. 2020, www.haaretz.com/middle-east-news/syria/turkey-more-than-50-syrian-government-forces-killed-near-syria-s-idlib-1.8561003.

[8] “S.Sudan Rebel Leader Appointed Vice President.” Yahoo!, AFP, 21 Feb. 2020, news.yahoo.com/sudan-rebel-leader-appointed-vice-president-155918433.html.

[9] McCluskey, Mitchell, and Nicole Chavez. “Police in Panama Found More than 5 Tons of Drugs in a Homemade Semi-Submersible Vessel.” CNN World, Cable News Network, 21 Feb. 2020, edition.cnn.com/2020/02/20/americas/panama-drug-bust-semi-submersible-vessel/index.html.

[10] “Tesla Gets Court Approval to Clear Forest for German Gigafactory.” The Straits Times, Reuters, 21 Feb. 2020, www.straitstimes.com/world/europe/tesla-gets-court-approval-to-clear-forest-for-german-gigafactory.

An Introduction to the Sword

     I concluded reading the introduction of the Maxwell Institute Study Edition of the Book of Mormon: Another Testament of Jesus Christ. From my experience reading to 1 Nephi chapter 18 in my first attempt to read the book, I have found it more insightful than reading the standard version of the Book of Mormon. There are a few things that I would like to point out from the introduction. I will address the following: the book is designed with a scholarly perspective, context is preserved better, and reference to the original translation is abundant.

     I am not too scholarly; however, the book keeps in mind the Royal Skousen’s studies of the Book of Mormon. The book states the following concerning him in the Brief History of the Text section: “Royal Skousen, a professor of linguistics and English language at Brigham Young University, is the central figure in the academic analysis of the Book of Mormon text, including its origins, transmission, variants, and grammar.” The current Book of Mormon offers a lot more footnotes with bold chapters with headings. The Maxwell Institute Study edition reduces the extra headings and footnotes to a minimum, respecting that the original golden plates do indicate different chapters; although, the transcript was given to the printer at first without paragraphing or punctuation. The type setter, who is named John Gilbert, organized the transcript with punctuation. One may realize that one person deciding the punctuation of the text can cause variations of meaning in the writing. Clarification have been made throughout the years by the church, but I have found that there has been very minor changes to the original translation.

     The Book of Mormon was originally publish in a paragraph format, and I have come to appreciate this. I would say that Book of Mormon’s context is preserved better this way. The current verse structure can fragment the context of the scriptures. Some verses may be ignored because it is not the rich doctrinal statements that we love. Complete contextual messages are more obvious, since they are in a paragraph, while one might stop reading in a middle of a paragraph without the paragraphing that is found in the current edition of the Book of Mormon.

     I have a reference and a clarification that I would like to relate to you that I have found meaningful in the Maxwell Study Edition of the Book of Mormon as it is a reference to the original translation, which I said that I was going to address. The verse that a word was clarified in is verse 18 of 1 Nephi chapter 12 read as follows:

"And the large and spacious building, which thy father saw, is vain imaginations and the pride of the children of men. And a great and a terrible gulf divideth them; yea, even the word of the justice of the Eternal God, and the Messiah who is the Lamb of God, of whom the Holy Ghost beareth record, from the beginning of the world until this time, and from this time henceforth and forever."

Coincidently the word that was clarified was the word “word”. I have italicized it in the quotation. In the original transcript the “word” was sword. The ‘sword of justice… beareth record’. The word and sword have the same meaning. 

The word might be the sword of Justice, yet the book of Alma chapter 31 verse 5 says the following:

"And now, as the preaching of the word had a great tendency to lead the people to do that which was just—yea, it had had more powerful effect upon the minds of the people than the sword, or anything else, which had happened unto them—therefore Alma thought it was expedient that they should try the virtue of the word of God."

However the word has been referred to as the sword many times. Most notably is in the Book of Revelation chapter 19 verse 15, stating the following: “And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God.” An interesting thing is that Joseph Smith translation removes the sword again as shown the following quote: “And out of his mouth proceedeth the word of God, and with it he will smite the nations; and he will rule them with the word of his mouth; and he treadeth the winepress in the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God.” Okay. Now that Joseph Smith’s clarification confirmed that God will rule by his word. I need to look into this more. I found the following verses relating the word to a sword or a rod. I also looked up the word rod because it can be related to a hilt or handle of a sword.

• Hebrews 4:12 For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.
• Helaman 3:29 Yea, we see that whosoever will may lay hold upon the word of God, which is quick and powerful, which shall divide asunder all the cunning and the snares and the wiles of the devil, and lead the man of Christ in a strait and narrow course across that everlasting gulf of misery which is prepared to engulf the wicked.
• sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, Eph. 6:17.
• word of God … sharper than any twoedged sword, Heb. 4:12 (D&C 6:2).
• out of his mouth went a sharp twoedged sword, Rev. 1:16
• And he hath made my mouth like a sharp sword; in the shadow of his hand hath he hid me, and made me a polished shaft; in his quiver hath he hid me; 1 Nephi 21:2 (Isa. 49:2.)
• sword of justice hangeth over this people, Hel. 13:5.
• take … the sword of my Spirit, D&C 27:18.
• I would let fall the sword of mine indignation, D&C 101:10.
• repent, lest I smite you by the rod of my mouth, D&C 19:15.      
• rod of iron … was the word of God, 1 Ne. 11:25 (15:23).
• he did straiten them … with his rod, 1 Ne. 17:41.
• he shall rule them with a rod of iron, Rev. 2:27 (12:5; 19:15).
• smite the earth with the rod of his mouth, Isa. 11:4 (2 Ne. 21:4; 30:9).

     The word is referred to in the scriptures many time as a sword, and the words of sword and rod is referred to as the word as well. Why is this important? In our homes, we may be tempted to rule with fear for that is the way of the natural man, seeking to accomplish the things that we desire with the least amount of effort; however, many prophets and Jesus Christ himself teaches that his word is sharper than any two edged sword, which is quick and powerful, yet Doctrine and Covenants section 121 verse 41 states “No power or influence can or ought to be maintained by virtue of the priesthood, only by persuasion, by long-suffering, by gentleness and meekness, and by love unfeigned;”

     I believe that the word sword can be attributed to the nature of God as a person of justice, judgement, and order. We should fear the justice of God. We should fear the consequences of sin.

     The power of the word can also be used as a tool to bless the earth by bring others to God, for it is true. The truth is more powerful than fear. We have been charged to take the sword of the Spirit to fight “principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.” (Ephesians 6:12) The word, when we hearken to it, holding on to the iron rod, “shall divide asunder all the cunning and the snares and the wiles of the devil.” (Helaman 3:29) Let us take heart and feast of the word of God that we may face the world without fear.