This is the second in a series involving the Covid-19 vaccines:

Before they were released for public use the following trials were conducted with the following results for the three versions of the vaccines: Pfizer: A total of 43,548 participants underwent randomization, of whom 43,448 received injections: 21,720 with BNT162b2 and 21,728 with placebo. A two-dose regimen of BNT162b2 conferred 95% protection against Covid-19 in persons 16 years of age or older.
Moderna: The trial enrolled 30,420 volunteers who were randomly assigned in a 1:1 ratio to receive either vaccine or placebo (15,210 participants in each group). The mRNA-1273 vaccine showed 94.1% efficacy at preventing Covid-19 illness, including severe disease.
Johnson & Johnson: The per-protocol population included 19,630 SARS-CoV-2–negative participants who received Ad26.COV2.S and 19,691 who received placebo. A single dose of Ad26.COV2.S protected against symptomatic Covid-19 and asymptomatic SARS-CoV-2 infection and was effective against severe–critical disease, including hospitalization and death.

The present state of testing for these is called Phase 4. Data is now being gathered through the Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS) to evaluate how these drugs interact in a much larger population.

All of these vaccines have adverse events being reported. An “adverse event” does not automatically mean cause-and-effect. For example, Hank Aaron received a much-publicized injection of the vaccine and died two weeks later. The Fulton County Medical Examiner attributed his death to a stroke, and therefore natural causes unrelated to the vaccine. Locally, this week a healthy 17-year-old high school basketball player received a vaccine shot and then began developing blood clots. He has been hospitalized and his case has received national attention in some media outlets.

In Wisconsin a 16-year-old girl received the vaccine and died shortly after receiving the second injection. This was reported on VAERS, but like Hank Aaron and the Draper basketball player, how and if there is a cause-and-effect will have to be investigated. It is possible all these and many more reported adverse events are unrelated to the vaccines they received.

Numerous drugs have passed clinical trials and entered into public distribution. Over time reports of adverse events accumulate, are investigated, and cause-and-effect is established. Then the drug is recalled, and oftentimes litigation follows. Fen-Phen, a weight loss drug, was on the market for 24 years before its danger was adequately proven. It was shown to cause potentially fatal pulmonary hypertension and heart valve problems.

Seldane was sold for 13 years before being removed from the US market. It caused potentially fatal disruption in heart rhythms.

Vioxx was an arthritis treatment marketed for 5 years. But it was linked to thousands of fatal heart-attacks and recalled.

Acutane is now known to cause birth defects. Zantac has been linked to cancer.

Perhaps the most notorious recall is Thalidomide. It was the only non-barbiturate sedative known at the time, and this gave the drug massive appeal. When it was discovered to help with morning sickness for pregnant women, many women took it for that purpose. The drug caused numerous horrific birth defects. These deformed children were so numerous and tragic in America that Thalidomide is mentioned in Billy Joel’s lyrics in his song We Didn’t Start the Fire. The lyrics survey significant historic events from the time of Billy Joel’s birth in 1949 until the year the song was written in 1989.

All of these drugs were “safe and effective” until enough data was gathered to show a cause-and-adverse-effect. Then they were dangerous. There are many other similarly recalled drugs, whose adverse effects could not be established until widely distributed and used.

Right now it is possible the three vaccines being administered are indeed safe and effective. But there are obviously those who fear otherwise. Eventually, the VAERS reports will be investigated, and perhaps there will be a cause-and-effect established that leads to a revised opinion from the health community. Or, it may prove that some or all of these vaccines are indeed altogether safe and effective. How any given individual evaluates the risks of receiving or refusing the offered vaccine should be their health choice. An intelligent person could very much want to get the vaccine, and should not be condemned or called foolish for that choice. But an equally intelligent person could decide to delay or refuse the vaccine, and they should also not be condemned or called foolish for the opposite choice.

Why has this choice become a charged, divisive issue today? Think about that, and in the next post I’ll suggest some reasons to consider.

There’s a title intended to make you curious. But, really, what the hell is going on with the COVID-19 vaccination? I’m not a doctor. But I am a lawyer. And lawyers sue doctors and pharmaceutical companies all the time when they screw up and injure people. Even if they do so negligently with the best of intentions, lawyers sue these health professionals.

As a result of the injuries caused while providing health care, the medical industry has chosen to shift the risk from themselves to those they treat through warnings. If you are warned, and you choose to proceed, then if there is an injury you assumed the risk. You can’t blame anyone for the injury you chose to accept.

These warning labels are because of the lawyers. Here are a few examples of warnings on common products you and your children have probably taken (or received) in the normal course of your life:

Ascorbic Acid (Vitamin C): You should not use ascorbic acid if you have ever had an allergic reaction to a vitamin C supplement. Ask a doctor or pharmacist about using ascorbic acid if you have: kidney disease or a history of kidney stones; hereditary iron overload disorder (hematochromatosis); or if you smoke (smoking can make ascorbic acid less effective). Your dose needs may be different during pregnancy or while you are breast-feeding a baby. Do not use ascorbic acid without your doctor’s advice in either case.
Aspirin: You should not use aspirin if you have a bleeding disorder such as hemophilia, a recent history of stomach or intestinal bleeding, or if you are allergic to an NSAID (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug) such as Advil, Motrin, Aleve, Orudis, Indocin, Lodine, Voltaren, Toradol, Mobic, Relafen, Feldene, and others. Do not give this medication to a child or teenager with a fever, flu symptoms, or chickenpox. Salicylates can cause Reye’s syndrome, a serious and sometimes fatal condition in children.
Benadryl: You should not use Benadryl to make a child sleepy. When taking Benadryl, use caution driving, operating machinery, or performing other hazardous activities. Diphenhydramine may cause dizziness or drowsiness. If you experience dizziness or drowsiness, avoid these activities. Use alcohol cautiously. Alcohol may increase drowsiness and dizziness while taking Benadryl. Do not give this medication to a child younger than 2 years old. Always ask a doctor before giving a cough or cold medicine to a child. Death can occur from the misuse of cough and cold medicines in very young children.
Vitamin E: Ask a doctor or pharmacist if it is safe for you to use vitamin E if you have other medical conditions, especially: anemia (low red blood cells); a bleeding or blood clotting disorder such as hemophilia; liver disease; kidney disease; any allergies; an eye disorder called retinitis pigmentosa; a vitamin K deficiency; high cholesterol or triglycerides (a type of fat in the blood); diabetes; a history of cancer; a history of stroke or blood clot; or if you need surgery, or have recently had surgery. FDA pregnancy category C. It is not known whether vitamin E will harm an unborn baby. Taking vitamin E in amounts that do not exceed the recommended dietary allowance (RDA) is considered safe; however, supplementation is not generally recommended unless dietary vitamin E falls below the RDA. Do not use this medicine without a doctor’s advice if you are pregnant. It is not known whether vitamin E passes into breast milk or if it could harm a nursing baby. Do not use this medicine without a doctor’s advice if you are breast-feeding a baby. Your dose needs may be different during pregnancy or while you are nursing.

Here are the same kinds of warnings you get for childhood vaccines we may have all received:

Measles: Applies to measles virus vaccine: subcutaneous powder for injection. Local:
Local side effects have included injection site burning/stinging, wheal and flare, erythema, swelling, and vesiculation. Hypersensitivity: Hypersensitivity reactions have included anaphylaxis, anaphylactoid reactions, angioneurotic edema (including peripheral or facial edema), and bronchial spasm. Cardiovascular: Cardiovascular side effects have included vasculitis. Dermatologic: Dermatologic side effects have included Stevens-Johnson Syndrome, erythema multiforme, urticaria, and rash. Gastrointestinal: Gastrointestinal side effects have included diarrhea. Hematologic: Hematologic side effects have included thrombocytopenia, purpura, regional lymphadenopathy, and leukocytosis. Musculoskeletal: Musculoskeletal side effects have included arthralgia and/or arthritis (usually transient and rarely chronic), polyneuritis, myalgia, paresthesia, and rarely chronic arthritis; these symptoms may also occur with natural rubella. Nervous system: Nervous system side effects have included measles inclusion body encephalitis (MIBE), encephalopathy, subacute sclerosing panencephalitis (SSPE), Guillain-Barré Syndrome (GBS), febrile convulsions, afebrile convulsions or seizures, ataxia, and ocular palsies. Significant central nervous system reactions such as encephalitis and encephalopathy have been very rarely temporally associated with measles vaccine (occurring within 30 days after vaccination); however, causality has not been determined in any case. A certain number of encephalitis cases unrelated to vaccines is expected to occur in a large childhood population; however, there is the possibility that some of these cases may have been caused by measles vaccine. The risk of measles vaccine-associated serious neurological disorders is much smaller than the risk for encephalitis and encephalopathy due to natural measles. Subacute sclerosing panencephalitis (SSPE) has been very rarely reported in children after measles vaccination. Some of these cases may have been due to unrecognized measles during the first year of life or possibly due to the measles vaccination. The results of a retrospective case-controlled study by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention suggest that measles vaccine has had the overall effect of protecting against SSPE by preventing measles with its greater risk of SSPE.
Mumps Vaccine also carries warnings about side effects that include risks of local injury, hypersensitivity, cardiovascular, dermatologic, endocrine, genitourinary, gastrointestinal, hematological, nervous system, ocular, and respiratory. (I’m omitting the details for each of these categories.)
Rubella Vaccine has similar potential side effects and warnings as measles and mumps, and also adds additional warnings about musculatoskeletal risks and and even deafness.

We know about the risks for these products because human trials allowed us to learn about the side effects through control groups (who do not receive the medication/vaccination) and those who are tested. Large samples over years of testing allow the risks to be identified. Not everyone is susceptible to each risk, and some people are more likely to suffer from specific side effects than others.

Unlike all other compounds, vitamins, medications and vaccines, this is what we are told about the COVID-19 vaccine (which has not undergone human trial testing-unless you consider what is happening at present to be that test): Covid-19 risks: COVID-19 vaccines are safe and effective. You may have side effects after vaccination, but these are normal.

How can that be? There is nothing yet documented to justify the claim it is safe, so why tell us that? What does it mean that something has “normal” side effects?

I’m hoping you ask yourself: “What the hell is going on?” (Rather than just trust the appeal to emotions, shaming, and social pressure used today to influence a health decision.) Think this through for yourself. And choose wisely. But if someone makes a different choice than you, refrain from using emotion, shame and social pressure to confront them. Let them go in peace. Every person has the right to choose to be vaccinated, and to choose against it. And every person has the right to then live with the consequences of their choice.

One last matter for you to consider: Because all these vaccinations were developed with emergency authorization, and normal FDA requirements were waived, the pharmaceutical companies are not liable for any injuries caused by the vaccines. Even if they tell you they are “safe and effective” and the vaccines later prove to be neither safe nor effective, you can’t sue the manufacturer.

I’ve been thinking about a statement made by the Lord in the Answer to Prayer for Covenant. We have been told, “Even a single soul who stirs up the hearts of others to anger can destroy the peace of all my people.” T&C 157:19

That is a sobering thought. The peace of a whole community can be destroyed by a single individual.

It is little wonder the scriptures report of so few places of peace and unity.

When believers were driven away from the designated gathering place in 1833, the Lord explained their failure: “Behold, I say unto you, there were jarrings, and contentions, and envyings, and strifes, and lustful and covetous desires among them; therefore, by these things they polluted their inheritances. They were slow to hearken unto the voice of the Lord their God, therefore the Lord their God is slow to hearken unto their prayers, to answer them in the day of their trouble. In the day of their peace they esteemed lightly my counsel, but in the day of their trouble, of necessity they feel after me.” T&C 101:2

As I think about it, the voice of the Lord tells us how to conduct ourselves. Some of our behavior seems to reflect very light esteem for His counsel.

I know the Lord is determined to fulfill His covenants, the prophecies, and keep His word. But if a single soul can disrupt all the people (and he/she can), then there are only two ways I can see the Lord accomplishing His work. The first would be for Him to be selective about who He gathers. The second would be to send “the day of trouble” again to humble people enough to change their pride into humility.

He is watching us, and taking note of our conduct. I’m assuming the first choice will be the one the Lord follows. At least initially. Then, later, maybe the second will be added.

We are facing many serious issues that are being ignored. Instead of dealing with directly relevant challenges that we now face, education, news, governmental and entertainment opinion-leaders urge us to focus on divisive side-issues.

There are very small and extreme groups who use social media to influence the larger population. This is organized and intended to misrepresent public reaction in order to sway opinion. It is unfortunately effective. We are fed a constant stream of misrepresentations, deceptions and distractions to occupy our attention. We have all become “Nero” while “Rome is burning.”

There is a fog of lies so deep, widespread and effective that even the very elect have a challenge to remember what matters most.

The left-leaning media and politicians accuse conservatives of being an actual threat to peace and order. And the right-leaning media outlets engage in a constantly shrill counter-attack accusing “liberals” of being a threat to freedom. The objective of both left and right is to stir up anger against our fellow-man.

Anger distracts us. In a July 2017 revelation the Lord described this condition and urged us to avoid engaging in the angry current social disorder: “Study to learn how to respect your brothers and sisters and to come together by precept, reason, and persuasion, rather than sharply disputing and wrongly condemning each other, causing anger. Take care how you invoke my name. Mankind has been controlled by the adversary through anger and jealousy, which has led to bloodshed and the misery of many souls. Even strong disagreements should not provoke anger, nor to invoke my name in vain as if I had part in your every dispute.” T&C 157:54

We are being distracted as a very dangerous tactic. Leaders who incite anger run the risk of leading us into “bloodshed and the misery of many souls.” Even if we disagree with one another, strong political disagreements should never be allowed to “provoke anger, nor to invoke [God’s] name in vain, as if [He] had part in our every dispute.” We do that. It should end.

I’ve heard perplexed news reporters, commentators and politicians say that many of our national government’s decisions are inexplicably stupid. One new book attempts to explain the course the United States is taking. It is methodical and deliberate, not random and inadvertent. I read an advance copy of the book and can recommend it as a very good read.

The book is now available through a number of outlets. You can see how to order Irresistible Revolution HERE.

If the money supply outstrips the increase of goods and services then the value of money decreases. The growth of the money supply when the national output is either steady or declining will result in money having less value or inflation. Things will cost more.

The United States money supply has increased under both Republican (Trump) and Democrat (Biden) administrations as national debt has soared by trillions of newly printed dollars to cope with the “Covid-19 emergency.” That increase of the money supply started by Trump continues unabated by his successor.

Inflation is inevitable. It is impossible for the Federal Reserve Bank to hold interest rates as low as they are now. We are likely to see a significant increase in inflation, interest rates, and related economic troubles because these foolish decisions have been made before and the outcome is predictable.

Foolish choices are not being made, but instead we are seeing deliberate efforts to accomplish an outcome for the United States. Irresistible Revolution explains the long history that has led to current circumstances.

Former LDS Assistant Historian and BYU faculty member D. Michael Quinn died last evening. He was an important and prolific writer whose contributions were not always welcome in the community he served. When I first read his work I thought him a heretic, writing agenda-driven and unreliable assortments of anti-Mormon tripe. His writing drove me to find and read the primary sources rather than the “faithful histories” I relied on as an LDS convert. The more I became acquainted with the primary sources, the more I realized Michael’s conclusions were not only reasonable, but in many ways more truthful than the LDS orthodox “faithful histories.”

His writing resulted in his excommunication from the LDS church. But even before my own excommunication, I didn’t hold that against him. Like me he never doubted the authenticity of the restoration or the Divine calling of Joseph Smith. He was just more willing to pursue a truthful telling of the restoration than was willing to submit to church dictates, when they conflicted.

His writing drove me to acquire a new library of Mormon historical sources and to research more deeply into the life, ministry, and teachings of Joseph Smith, as well as what happened to the faith following Joseph’s death. Michael was and always will be a watershed figure in Mormon history. I am indebted to and grateful for his important life’s work.

I did not agree with all of his conclusions. We shared dinner one evening and discussed our differences on the issue of plural marriage. He was engaging, interesting, and open to examining ideas that challenged his own. I doubt he could have produced as much important material if he were not open to other’s ideas.

He cannot be replaced. He will be missed.

Nephi received an extended tutorial from an angel that resulted in prophecy about events now happening. The prophecy mentions “other books” that would come by the power of the Lamb of God to the gentiles. 1 Ne. 3:24

At the time the Book of Mormon was translated and published in 1829-1830 there was nothing available to help Joseph Smith and early believers understand what these “other books” would include. Work on the Joseph Smith Translation of the Bible would not begin until June 1830. Work on the Book of Abraham would not begin until July 1835. Neither of these would be finished for many years following the Book of Momon translation and publication. Yet the Nephi prophecy anticipated both of these, and more. The Teachings & Commandments include two centuries of additional material provided by the power of the Lamb of God to the gentiles from 1820 to 2019.

The purpose of these other books is to convince three groups of today’s people. Nephi explains they are: “unto the convincing of the gentiles, and the remnant of the seed of my brethren, and also the Jews who were scattered upon all the face of the earth, that the records of the prophets and of the twelve apostles of the Lamb are true.” These “other books” are to first persuade the gentiles, so they will undertake the effort required to bring them to the other two groups.

The second group are “the remnant of the seed of my brethren” or the Native American descendants living today. Although a poor effort has been attempted in the past, we are today actively working to bring these records to the second group.

The third group are “the Jews who were scattered upon all the face of the earth.” Essentially no effort has been made in the past to accomplish this work. But we are now also actively working to accomplish this as well.

The objective of the records is explained by Nephi: “These last records which thou hast seen among the gentiles shall establish the truth of the first, which are of the twelve apostles of the Lamb, and shall make known the plain and precious things which have been taken away from them, and shall make known to all kindreds, tongues, and people that the Lamb of God is the Son of the Eternal Father and the Savior of the world, and that all men must come unto him or they cannot be saved.”

There needed to be a Savior. The Jewish Messiah was and is the only one who can save all mankind. The twelve apostles who accompanied Him in His mortality at Jerusalem testified that He lived, sacrificed His life, and rose from the grave. He promised to likewise raise all mankind from the grave and reverse the fall of Adam. They testified that His blood was shed for all sin, and to fully reconcile mankind to God.

Just as Nephi foretold, the “other books” not only confirm the testimony of the twelve apostles of the Lamb, but also make known many plain and precious things that have been removed from existing scripture. The Book of Mormon and “other books” combine to restore plain and precious truths we need to understand. They help us awaken and arise, and flee from the coming wrath.  

This weekend is associated with the death and resurrection of the rejected Messiah, a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief. The One whose shed blood was foreshadowed in the Passover and the Day of Atonement rites.

He was wounded for our transgressions. The chastisement of our peace was put upon Him.

His apparent defeat on the cross was turned into triumph by His resurrection. That triumph was not only His but all mankind’s. We have every reason to rejoice this coming Sunday. He who was slain lives. Though we will die, we, too, will live again. He intends to wipe away every tear, and bring us forth rejoicing.

Spring awakens nature, and new life springs from the ground, the trees, and the animal kingdom. All the world breaks out in its symbolic testimony confirming that the Messiah brings new life for all of this creation.

He suffered terribly, enduring more than any man could endure. And He secured a triumph greater than any man could achieve.

We returned from the conference in Aravada Springs. A transcript of the talk I gave at the conference is now available for download here: Religion of the Fathers

The setting was beautiful and the conference was well organized. I appreciate the invitation and opportunity to speak. The conference is continuing today and this next week (but I had to return for work tomorrow).

Part 5 of the video series on the continuing restoration is now live. It can be seen by using this link: Part 5: Recovering Scripture

Today is the Equinox and the video is released to commemorate the date.

My friend Tom Nibley has died. He was 70 years old. The son of Hugh Nibley, his was the most memorable and provocative talk at his father’s funeral. I thought it took some nerve to deliver his remarks in the presence of Dallin Oaks, Jeffrey Holland, and Merrill Bateman. In that he was much like his father.

The last time we ate lunch together he was ill and commented that he did not think he would ever return to Utah again in this life. He could be stubborn, and I wonder now if he died to prove himself right. He was a bright, witty, insightful and kindly man who will be missed.

In T&C 50:6-7 the following instruction (and commandment) was given:

“But, unto him that keeps my commandments, I will give the mysteries of my Kingdom, and the same shall be in him a well of living water springing up unto everlasting life. And now behold, this is the will of the Lord your God concerning his saints — that they should assemble themselves together unto the land of Zion, not in haste, lest there should be confusion, which brings pestilence.
“Behold, the land of Zion; I, the Lord, hold it in my own hands. Nevertheless, I, the Lord, render unto Caesar the things which are Caesar’s. Wherefore, I, the Lord, will that you should purchase the lands, that you may have advantage of the world, that you may have claim on the world, that they may not be stirred up unto anger. For Satan puts it into their hearts to anger against you and to the shedding of blood. Wherefore, the land of Zion shall not be obtained but by purchase or by blood; otherwise, there is no inheritance for you. And if by purchase, behold, you are blessed, and if by blood, as you are forbidden to shed blood, lo, your enemies are upon you and you shall be scourged from city to city, and from synagogue to synagogue, and but few shall stand to receive an inheritance.”

This 1831 instruction remains as relevant to us today as when originally given. There is a direct cause and effect between keeping commandments and gaining understanding. Christ taught: “If any man will do [God’s] will, he shall know of the doctrine whether it is of God or whether I speak of myself.” NC John 6:4

Haste is no better today than it was before. Cutting corners and moving quickly always results in compromises. There are not short-cuts in following the Lord. He is the prototype, as explained in Lecture 7, paragraph 9 of the Lectures on Faith: “Where is the prototype? Or where is the saved being? We conclude as to the answer of this question there will be no dispute among those who believe the Bible that it is Christ. All will agree in this, that he is the prototype or standard of salvation, or in other words, that he is a saved being. And if we should continue our interrogation, and ask how it is that he is saved, the answer would be, because he is a just and holy being. And if he were anything different from what he is he would not be saved, for his salvation depends on his being precisely what he is and nothing else.” T&C 110

Christ explained the process He followed: “Truly, truly I say unto you, the Son can do nothing of himself, but what he sees the Father do; for whatever things he does, the Son likewise does these also, for the Father loves the Son and shows him all things that he himself does.” NC John 5:4

If we follow Him, we will also obey the commandments and let them direct our behavior. We will not act in haste, but proceed wisely, patiently, and respecting the demands of Caesar. It does not matter that Caesar (or “Babylon” or “the world”) is corrupt, vain, anti-Christ, and doomed, we “may have advantage of the world” by satisfying their demands. By meeting their demands, we get to have a “claim on the world” rather than the world having claim on us.

There are clearly many signs underway in the heavens above and in the earth beneath. NC Luke 12:17 Christ told our generation to “look up” and realize He will soon come. Of course the meaning of “soon” is the Lord’s, and He alone will set the event. But the generation now lives who will see Him vindicate His prophecies.

There are great reasons to be optimistic and hopeful. Far more reasons for that than for despair and gloom. Keeping the commandments is the first step in having the mysteries of God’s last-days “strange act” revealed. (T&C 101:20)

A recording of the talk to the youth titled Understanding Your Soul is available at this link: UNDERSTANDING YOUR SOUL

On Saturday February 6 at 10am MST I will be talking to the youth. I plan to discuss the topic of “Understanding Your Soul.” The discussion will be available through Zoom at the following link: UNDERSTANDING YOUR SOUL

All the youth are invited to listen in, and those who can attend in person are invited to do so. It will originate at the upstairs meeting room of the Athena Event Center located at 111 West 9000 South in Sandy, Utah.

Lehi had several visions, including an extended visit from the Lord where he was given a heavenly record to read. After the brass plates were recovered, Nephi recorded that, “my father Lehi took the records which were engraven upon the plates of brass and he did search them from the beginning. And he beheld that they did contain the five books of Moses, which gave an account of the creation of the world and also of Adam and Eve, who were our first parents, and also a record of the Jews from the beginning, even down to the commencement of the reign of Zedekiah, king of Judah, and also the prophecies of the holy prophets from the beginning, even down to the commencement of the reign of Zedekiah, and also many prophecies which have been spoken by the mouth of Jeremiah.” 1 Ne. 1:22 RE

The result of his study was more prophecy: “And now when my father saw all these things, he was filled with the spirit and began to prophesy concerning his seed — that these plates of brass should go forth unto all nations, kindreds, and tongues, and people, who were of his seed. Wherefore, he said that these plates of brass should never perish; neither should they be dimmed anymore by time. And he prophesied many things concerning his seed.” Id.

Later Lehi prophesied about the Messiah, John the Baptist, and the future destiny of Israel, including his descendants. 1 Ne. 3:2-4 In his prophecy, Lehi compares the scattering and gathering of Israel to grafting an olive tree: “Yea, even my father spake much concerning the gentiles, and also concerning the house of Israel, that they should be compared like unto an olive tree whose branches should be broken off and should be scattered upon all the face of the earth. Wherefore, he said it must needs be that we should be led with one accord into the land of promise, unto the fulfilling of the word of the Lord that we should be scattered upon all the face of the earth. And after the house of Israel should be scattered, they should be gathered together again, or in fine, after the gentiles had received the fullness of the gospel, the natural branches of the olive tree — or the remnants of the house of Israel — should be grafted in, or come to the knowledge of the true Messiah, their Lord and their Redeemer.” Id., 4

Lehi’s prophecy was original. But the brass plates included the allegory of the olive tree which Lehi’s son, Jacob, would later copy into the small plates of Nephi. That allegory (Jacob 3:7-28) was the apparent inspiration for Lehi’s prophecy. Jacob also prophesied about Israel, using the allegory of Zenos. Jacob’s prophecy consisted of reading Zenos’ words after which he declared this: “as I said unto you that I would prophesy, behold, this is my prophecy, that the things which this prophet Zenos spake concerning the house of Israel, in the which he likened them unto a tame olive tree, must surely come to pass. And in the day that he shall set his hand again the second time to recover his people, is the day, yea, even the last time, that the servants of the Lord shall go forth in his power to nourish and prune his vineyard. And after that, the end soon cometh.” Jacob 4:1

Compare the words of Micah 1:9: “But in the last days, it shall come to pass that the mountain of the house of the Lord shall be established in the top of the mountains, and it shall be exalted above the hills, and people shall flow unto it. And many nations shall come and say, Come, and let us go up to the mountain of the Lord and to the house of the God of Jacob; and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths. For the law shall go forth of Zion and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem.”

With the words of Isaiah 1:5: “it shall come to pass in the last days, when the mountain of the Lord’s house shall be established in the top of the mountains, and shall be exalted above the hills, and all nations shall flow unto it. And many people shall go and say, Come and let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the house of the God of Jacob, and he will teach us of his ways and we will walk in his paths. For out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem.”

Divine, original prophecy can be inspired by the words of earlier prophets. Just like the message of angels can be quotes from scripture. Nephi appeared to Joseph Smith to inform him of the Nephite record, and, “After telling me these things he commenced quoting the prophecies of the Old Testament. He first quoted part of the third chapter of Malachi [Mal. 1:6 – 8RE], and he quoted also the fourth or last chapter of the same prophecy [Mal. 1:9 – 11]” continuing on to quote Isaiah 5:3-5, Acts 2:3, and Joel 1:12.

The words of prophets and angels are taken from scripture. Therefore, studying scripture is central to understanding God’s will. What He has done, is now doing, and will soon accomplish are all set out in scripture. Lehi’s example sets out the pattern of prophets and angels.