THE HEART OF THE COVENANT, THE BOOK OF MORMON AND BINDING WITH THE NAME (PART 3)

Thus far we have explored the binding of the Adversary and his band of Watchers employing the covenant God extends to his people.  The heart of this covenant and the heart of God's name are the instructions and the commandments he gives to his people.  In Hebrew the center of thought is the Heart.  God's commandments are the expressions and thoughts of His heart given to his people- his Torah.  Like the heart which pumps the life giving blood throughout the body, His Torah is the divine center that pumps the life of his spirit through the body of his people.  Without his instructions, there is no life.  This is why his Torah (often translated as Law) is the heart of his covenant and the means by which the Evil One and his Watchers are bound. 

When we understand that God's Torah (commandment's, etc) is the mechanism by which his spirit is manifest and able to function in this world, then the importance of his Torah takes on new life. Without the law there is no mechanism for God's spirit to function in this physical world.  This ancient truth was also reiterated by Joseph Smith when he declared:

"There is a law, irrevocably decreed in heaven before the foundations of this world, upon which all blessings are predicated— And when we obtain any blessing from God, it is by obedience to that law upon which it is predicated." (D&C 130:20-21)

If the law is the heart of God's covenant and the life giving muscle whereby he pumps his spirit through the body of his people, then it makes sense that the Adversary would go to great lengths to destroy, obscure, and dilute God's Torah as being old, done away with, and no longer applicable. But, as declared in the Torah, the Prophets, the New Testament, and the Book of Mormon God's commandments and word are eternal.  In fact the Messiah himself declares:

"Marvel not that I said unto you
that old things had passed away
and that all things had become new
behold I say unto you
that the Torah is properly interpreted and established
that was given unto Moshe
behold I am he that gave the Torah
and I am he who covenanted with my people Isra’el
therefore the Torah in me is properly interpreted and established
for I have come to properly interpret and establish the Torah
therefore it has a purpose
behold I do not destroy the prophets
for as many as have not been properly explained and established in me
Truthfully I say unto you shall all be properly explained and established
and because I said unto you
that old things had passed away
I do not destroy that which has been spoken
concerning things which are to come
for behold the covenant which I have made
with my people is not all explained and established
but the Torah that was given unto Moshe
has a purpose in me
Behold I am the Torah and the light
Look unto me and walk forward in the Torah to the end
and you shall live
for unto him that walks to the end will I give eternal life
behold I have given unto you the mitzvot
therefore keep my mitzvot
and this is the Torah and the prophets
for they truly testify of me"

(Voices from the Dust 173- Hebrew Roots translation- compare 3 Nephi 15:5...)

The purpose of the Messiah and his mission in overturning the dominion of the Evil One and his group of Watchers is to establish God's dominion by establishing God's Torah (Law/Commandments/ etc).

NEPHI AND DESTROYING THE SECRET COMBINATIONS

A people who establish God's commandments as the governing Law of their Land and Assemblies establishes the protecting wall that prevents the Evil One and his followers from gaining dominion. Establishing God's commandments literally binds the lawlessness (iniquity) of the Evil One and his followers.

Hidden in the Hebraic parallelisms of the Book of Mormon, the Prophet Nephi reveals in purity the power of God's Name as expressed in the Law he gave to his people.  It was taught in ancient Israel that the Torah God gave to Israel was given in response to the sins of the Evil One and his group of Watchers.  In true Israelite fashion, Nephi also echoes the ancient teaching that the foundations of the evils in this world are the result of the Evil One and his angels.  His warning to the Latter-Day Gentiles should resound as a voice of warning:

" And there are also secret combinations, even as in times of old, according to the combinations of the devil, for he is the founder of all these things; yea, the founder of murder, and works of darkness; yea, and he leadeth them by the neck with a flaxen cord, until he bindeth them with his strong cords forever." (2 Nephi 26:22)

Yehovah Elohiym does not work in darkness and all that he does he does for the benefit of the world.  Unlike the Evil One who seeks to subjugate the world under his dominion of darkness, Yehovah Elohiym seeks to proclaim his love and to draw all men and women to him to partake of the Heavenly Gift of his Salvation.  Unlike the Evil One, his gift is given in pure love (charity/tzedekah) to all men and women on earth to demonstrate that no one is forbidden to come to him and that all are priveleged one like unto another.

In his record Nephi reveals one of the devices of the Evil One as being "priestcrafts".

"He commandeth that there shall be no priestcrafts; for, behold, priestcrafts are that men preach and set themselves up for a light unto the world, that they may get gain and praise of the world; but they seek not the welfare of Zion." (2 Nephi 26:29)

In Israelite thought the Light is the Torah and the Torah is the LAW.  For men to set themselves up for a light unto the world he is saying these men set themselves and their words up as LAW above the true GOD and his LAW (Torah) . In Israelite thought God's Torah/Word/Law is the Light as Psalms 119 demonstrates:

"Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.
I have sworn, and I will perform it, that I will keep thy righteous judgments.
I am afflicted very much: quicken me, O Lord, according unto thy word.
Accept, I beseech thee, the freewill offerings of my mouth, O Lord, and teach me thy judgments.
My soul is continually in my hand: yet do I not forget thy law (Torah).
The wicked have laid a snare for me: yet I erred not from thy precepts.
Thy testimonies have I taken as an heritage for ever: for they are the rejoicing of my heart.
I have inclined mine heart to perform thy statutes alway, even unto the end." (Psalm 119:105-112)


The prophet Nephi echoes this in his instructions to the Gentiles who have the Book of Mormon. He explains that we should have charity.  Charity in Hebrew is the word Tzedekah or acts of love or acts of righteousness.  In Hebrew Love is connected with action and not just an emotional feeling.  This is why the Prophet Moroni defines Charity in action oriented terminology or the how a righteous act of love should be carried out and what a righteous action looks like:

"And charity suffereth long, and is kind, and envieth not, and is not puffed up, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil, and rejoiceth not in iniquity but rejoiceth in the truth, beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things. Wherefore, my beloved brethren, if ye have not charity, ye are nothing, for charity never faileth. Wherefore, cleave unto charity, which is the greatest of all, for all things must fail— But charity is the pure love of Christ, and it endureth forever; and whoso is found possessed of it at the last day, it shall be well with him." (Moroni 7:45-47)


Nephi states that unlike the systems of priestcraft God's system is based on charity or actions of love and righteousenss.  He then goes on that the Laborer in Zion does not act to get gain (money) but they labor for Zion. He then goes on to delineate God's commandments from the Torah which are known in Israelite though as "Actions of Love":

"And again, the Lord God hath acommanded that men should not murder; that they should not lie; that they should not bsteal; that they should not take the name of the Lord their God in vain; that they should not envy; that they should not have malice; that they should not contend one with another; that they should not commit whoredoms; and that they should do none of these things; for whoso doeth them shall perish. For none of these iniquities (actions of lawlessness) come of the Lord..." (2 Nephi 26:32-33)

As discussed in part 2 of this series, in Israelite thought a name is much more than just a title like Tom, Dick, or Harriet. A name encapsulates a condition, a state of being, and all the authority and commandments associated with that name. God's Commanments or his Torah are the expression of his NAME.  By establishing his commandments we establish his domionion thereby binding the power and influence of the Evil One.

The Establishing of  God's commandment (His Instructions/Torah) is encapsulated in the Greatest Commandment known as the Shema and reiterated by the Messiah:

"Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God is one Lord:

And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might.

 And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart:

 And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up.

And thou shalt bind them for a sign upon thine hand, and they shall be as frontlets between thine eyes.

And thou shalt write them upon the posts of thy house, and on thy gates." (Deuteronomy 6:4-9)

and

"Master, which is the great commandment in the law (Torah)?

Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. On these two commandments hang all the law (Torah) and the prophets.” (Matthew 22:37-40)

The true love that binds the influence of the Evil One and His Watchers is the love of righteous actions in the keeping and establishing of God's commandments.  It is through establishing the Law that the secret combinations and priestcrafts are destroyed in the land.  This is why it is necessary for the people to know the Law of God. Without God's Law, his people do not receive the life giving flow of his spirit and they become weak:

"And that they had altered and trampled under their feet the laws of Mosiah, or that which the Lord commanded him to give unto the people; and they saw that their laws had become corrupted, and that they had become a wicked people, insomuch that they were wicked even like unto the Lamanites." (Helaman 4: 22)

The Law of God as his Name Binds the power of evil in the land. In these last days of the United States of America, the Evil One is employing many forces to remove and alter the commandments of God in America- The name of God being removed from all Edifices and Monuments, The commandments of God being removed from our Courthouses and State Capitals, even the name of God being removed from our Pledge of Allegiance, etc.  It is no coincidence that the modern Gentiles of America are warned of a Secret Combination that seeks to overthrow the freedom and liberties of this land.  The agents and angels of the Adversary are many and they come in many forms.  These forms take the shape of false prophets, false religions, false churches, false government officials, etc.  And while many false influences abound there is still one test that stands true:

"To the Torah and to the testimony: if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them." (Isaiah 8:19)

PART 4: (TO BE CONTINUED)

THE BOOK OF MORMON, THE BOOK OF ENOCH, AND DESTROYING SECRET COMBINATIONS

"And there was great joy amongst them,
And they blessed and glorified and extolled
Because the name of that Son of Man had been revealed unto them.
And he sat on the throne of his glory,
And the sum of judgment was given unto the Son of Man,
And he caused the sinners to pass away and be destroyed from off the face of the earth,
And those who have led the world astray.
With chains shall they be bound,
And in their assemblage-place of destruction shall they be imprisoned,
And all their works vanish from the face of the earth.
And from henceforth there shall be nothing corruptible;
For that Son of Man has appeared,
And has seated himself on the throne of his glory,
And all evil shall pass away before his face,
And the word of that Son of Man shall go forth

And be strong before the Lord of Spirits." (Enoch 69: 26-29)

As discussed in Part 1 of this article, The Book of Enoch records an account of 200 Angelic Beings (The Watchers) who came to the earth, rebelled, and bound themselves in a secret covenant which they sealed by the name of God upon themselves and upon others who came into league with them.  It was the leader of these Watchers and his covenant brothers, who fanned the flames of human carnality, sensuality, and devilishness. 


"And Adam and Eve blessed the name of God, and they made all things known unto their sons and their daughters. And Satan came among them, saying: I am also a son of God; and he commanded them, saying: Believe it not; and they believed it not, and they loved Satan more than God. And men began from that time forth to be carnal, sensual, and devilish...


And as Enoch spake forth the words of God, the people trembled, and could not stand in his presence. And he said unto them: Because that Adam fell, we are; and by his fall came death; and we are made partakers of misery and woe. Behold Satan hath come among the children of men, and tempteth them to worship him; and men have become carnal, sensual, and devilish, and are shut out from the presence of God." (Moses 5:12-13, 6:48-49)


Our western concepts of worship are far removed from the Israelite concepts of worship.  The Hebrew word for worship (shachah) literally means to bow down.  To understand the nature of the definition is to understand that the bowing down is ACTION of submission to the role, status, position, or authority of another.  In our modern vernacular a simpler definition is- IF YOU WANT TO KNOW WHO YOU WORSHIP, WHOSE LAW ARE YOU OBEYING?


As part of his and his followers designs, Satan came among the descendants of Adam and "tempted" them to obey his instructions (i.e. his commandments, his designs, i.e. his counterfeit torah) thereby placing mankind under his and his followers dominion.  As part of these designs, a covenant exchange was made between the parties involved, and it was sealed by their own life and by the NAME of God (YHVH). This covenant exchange is demonstrated by the oath between Satan and Cain in the Book of Moses:

"And it came to pass that Cain took one of his brothers’ daughters to wife, and they loved Satan more than God.

And Satan said unto Cain: Swear unto me by thy throat, and if thou tell it thou shalt die; and swear thy brethren by their heads, and by the living God, that they tell it not; for if they tell it, they shall surely die; and this that thy father may not know it; and this day I will deliver thy brother Abel into thine hands.

And Satan sware unto Cain that he would do according to his commands. And all these things were done in secret.  And Cain said: Truly I am Mahan, the master of this great secret, that I may murder and get gain. Wherefore Cain was called Master Mahan, and he gloried in his wickedness." (Moses 5:28-31)


For the oath to be binding in the courts of Heaven it must be sealed by the name of God and it must accompany a full knowledge and understanding between the parties and an exchange of life. One must then perform all that they vow to do:

"And Moses spake unto the heads of the tribes concerning the children of Israel, saying, This is the thing which the LORD hath commanded. If a man vow a vow unto the LORD, or swear an oath to bind his soul with a bond; he shall not break his word, he shall do according to all that proceedeth out of his mouth.." (Numbers 30:1-2)

The works of their rebellion (sin) and quest for dominion resulted in the pollution of mankind and the corruption of the earth.  Based upon the record, the rebellion was the result of God giving Adam dominion upon this earth and over these Watchers.  The ultimate consequence of the secret combinations that they formed and invited men to partake of was the Great Flood of Noah.  The purpose of the Flood being that of cleansing the earth of the evil, lawlessness, and pollutions created by these secret combinations.

THERE IS POWER IN THE NAME:

The teaching that there is power in THE NAME is found in Judaism, Christianity, Islam, and Mormonism.  It is because of this teaching the we see sacraments blessed in the name of Jesus Christ, we see blessings upon the sick, and prayers offered to God in the name of Jesus Christ. Unfortunately because of the cultural divide between Israel and our modern world, many see the invocation of the "The Name" as a magic ritual or magic spell to be cast.  


In Israelite thought a name is much more than just a title like Tom, Dick, or Harriet. A name encapsulates a condition, a state of being, and all the authority and commandments associated with that name.  For example, even in English culture when a king would issue a royal decree it was said to be done, "In the Name of the King".  The same concept existed in Israelite culture with much more depth.  For example, to "pray in the name" also meant that a person "prayed to God" to fulfill his commandments.  To "call upon the name" meant to come before the throne or court room of heaven to request a legal decree or to invoke the dominion of Heaven.  In other words "The Name" is associated with the establishment of God's dominion on this earth as it exists in Heaven.  This is why one of the greatest of promises is iterated and reiterated throughout the record of the Book of Mormon:


"Behold, I say unto you that whoso believeth in Christ, doubting nothing, whatsoever he shall ask the Father in the name of Christ it shall be granted him; and this promise is unto all, even unto the ends of the earth...And whosoever shall believe in my name, doubting nothing, unto him will I confirm all my words, even unto the ends of the earth." (Mormon 9:21,25)

Here the Prophet Mormon declares that all things asked in "the name" doubting nothing will be confirmed.  To ask in the name is to ask to establish, live, and carry out God's commandments here on this earth.  So whatever we ask God for, to carry out his commandments, will be legally granted from his Throne in the Court Room of Heaven.  To many people there does appear to be a catch in the phrase, "doubting nothing"  but doubt in the Israelite mind meant that a person was split or not sure between two alternatives.  In other words, to doubt would be that a person was undecided about whether he or she was going to establish, live, and carry out God's commandments. The doubt in the person is not that he had a mental thought that God may or may not do something. The doubt would be in the uncertainty that you-the person- wanted to establish, live, or carry out God's commandments or whether you wanted to follow a different path.

This same mindset is captured in the writings of James:


"If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.

But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed.

For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord.

A double minded man is unstable in all his ways." (James 1: 5-8)

Here James is stating the same principle that a double minded man (a man either stopped trying to decide between two paths or one that is attempting to walk two different paths) will receive nothing. Yet when a person seeks wisdom or the gifts of God to walk in his commandments and establish his dominion in his life, God is bound by his oath "whatsoever he shall ask the Father in the name of Christ it shall be granted him; and this promise is unto all, even unto the ends of the earth...And whosoever shall believe in my name, doubting nothing, unto him will I confirm all my words, even unto the ends of the earth."

To ask in the name is to ask to establish Gods domionion in our lives.  To believe in the name is to desire to establish God's dominion in our lives.  To obtain the promise, we must make the decision of which path we choose to walk and whose dominion we desire to establish in our lives on this earth in the here and now.

THE WATCHERS AND BINDING WITH THE NAME:

The stories of Satan and the Watchers clearly demonstrate that we have an Adversary.

"But whatsoever thing persuadeth men to do evil, and believe not in Christ, and deny him, and serve not God, then ye may know with a perfect knowledge it is of the devil; for after this manner doth the devil work, for he persuadeth no man to do good, no, not one; neither do his angels (The group of Watchers); neither do they who subject themselves unto him." (Moroni 7:17)

While their goal is to establish their domion over the face of this earth and over all mankind, God has decreed otherwise.  We as humans on this earth are placed in a position to choose- to act or to be acted upon as the Prophet Lehi stated:

"And now, my sons, I speak unto you these things for your profit and learning; for there is a God, and he hath created all things, both the heavens and the earth, and all things that in them are, both things to act and things to be acted upon. And to bring about his eternal purposes in the end of man, after he had created our first parents, and the beasts of the field and the fowls of the air, and in fine, all things which are created, it must needs be that there was an opposition; even the forbidden fruit in opposition to the tree of life; the one being sweet and the other bitter. Wherefore, the Lord God gave unto man that he should act for himself. Wherefore, man could not act for himself save it should be that he was enticed by the one or the other.

And I, Lehi, according to the things which I have read, must needs suppose that an angel of God, according to that which is written, had fallen from heaven; wherefore, he became a devil, having sought that which was evil before God.

And because he had fallen from heaven, and had become miserable forever, he sought also the misery of all mankind. Wherefore, he said unto Eve, yea, even that old serpent, who is the devil, who is the father of all lies, wherefore he said: Partake of the forbidden fruit, and ye shall not die, but ye shall be as God, knowing good and evil." (2 Nephi 2:14-18)

Lehi then goes on to declare:

"And the Messiah cometh in the fulness of time, that he may redeem the children of men from the fall. And because that they are redeemed from the fall they have become free forever, knowing good from evil; to act for themselves and not to be acted upon, save it be by the punishment of the law at the great and last day, according to the commandments which God hath given." (2 Nephi 2:26)

In Israelite teaching and thought, God's name (YHVH) is expressed in his law.  In fact, the carrying out and establishing of God's commandments in our lives according to his Torah is referred to by many terms such as Taking upon the Name, Walking in the Name, Walking in the Way or Walking in the Torah- these terms being synonymous. Because of the work of Messiah, the path of ascension to God has been established as opposed to the fall that took place.  In doing so, men and women are placed in a condition to act or be acted upon.  They may walk under God's dominion or the Dominion of the Evil One. The Choice is now theirs.

Binding in Hebrew means to forbid something.  In other words the idea to to place something in a position to where it cannot do something.  To Bind the Evil One and the Watchers is forbid them or place them in a position where their secret combinations, oaths, and devices have no power over us.

Binding In The Name:

Even as the Watchers enacted Secret Combinations to obtain Dominion so also does God act on principles of covenant dominion. As part of God's covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob he promised to deliver their seed from all Enemies.  This covenant deliverance is demonstrated in the Deliverance of Israel from Egypt and from the Authority of Pharaoh- A Mighty One.  The First step in binding the Adversary and His Watchers is to first identify with the Name.  In other words, do we choose the chosen status of God's people by identifying with HIM.  Do we see ourselves as his bride?  As any bride does take upon the Name of her Husband. In Other words, do we begin to establish ourselves according to the requirements of the Covenant Relationship and Covenant Dominion:

1.God's Pattern of Righteous Dominion: Obedience To God 

The First Principle in "binding with the name" is establishing God's Pattern of Righteous Dominion. This pattern of righteous dominion is demonstrated in God's dealings with Israel when he declared:

"And Moses went up unto God, and the LORD called unto him out of the mountain, saying, Thus shalt thou say to the house of Jacob, and tell the children of Israel;

Ye have seen what I did unto the Egyptians, and how I bare you on eagles' wings, and brought you unto myself. Now therefore, if ye will obey my voice indeed, and keep my covenant, then ye shall be a peculiar treasure unto me above all people: for all the earth is mine:

And ye shall be unto me a kingdom of priests, and an holy nation. These are the words which thou shalt speak unto the children of Israel. And Moses came and called for the elders of the people, and laid before their faces all these words which the LORD commanded him.

And all the people answered together, and said, All that YHVH hath spoken we will do. And Moses returned the words of the people unto the LORD" (Exodus 19:3-8)

Even before knowing the details of the covenant, the path of mediation, and the law upon which the covenant functions the people first declare Obedience to the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob the God who has delivered them from Pharaoh.  God's pattern of Righteous Dominion can also be seen with the people of King Benjamin:

"Therefore, he had Mosiah brought before him; and these are the words which he spake unto him, saying: My son, I would that ye should make a proclamation throughout all this land among all this people, or the people of Zarahemla, and the people of Mosiah who dwell in the land, that thereby they may be gathered together; for on the morrow I shall proclaim unto this my people out of mine own mouth that thou art a king and a ruler over this people, whom the Lord our God hath given us.

And moreover, I shall give this people a name, that thereby they may be distinguished above all the people which the Lord God hath brought out of the land of Jerusalem; and this I do because they have been a diligent people in keeping the commandments of the Lord. And I give unto them a name that never shall be blotted out, except it be through transgression."  (Mosiah 1)

and

"And under this head ye are made free, and there is no other head whereby ye can be made free. There is no other name given whereby salvation cometh; therefore, I would that ye should take upon you the name of Christ, all you that have entered into the covenant with God that ye should be obedient unto the end of your lives." (Mosiah 5:8)

By declaring our obedience and loyalty to God (YHVH) we take upon his name. In keeping his commandments we "Walk in HIS name".  This same principle and pattern of covenant making was also exhibited in Mormonism:

" Sister, Arise: Each of you bring your right arm to the square. You and each of you solemnly covenant and promise before God, angels, and these witnesses at this altar that you will each observe and keep the law of your husband and abide by his counsel in righteousness....

Brethren, Arise: Each of you bring your right arm to the square. You and each of you solemnly covenant and promise before God, angels, and these witnesses at this altar that you will obey the law of God and keep his commandments." (Temple Liturgy 1931)

The act of placing Adam under covenant to directly obey the Law of God and to Keep (shamar-guard) his commandments begins to establish the pattern of righteous dominion with God as the Law Giver and Man as his covenant agent.  The pattern is fulfilled when the woman covenants to obey the law of her husband and abide his counsel in righteousness-i.e. his halakha or instructions for his home on how to carry our God's commandments in his home or dominion given to them by God.  With God there is order in all things from the beginning even as he stated to Adam and Eve:

"Unto the woman he said, I will greatly multiply thy sorrow and thy conception; in sorrow thou shalt bring forth children; and thy desire shall be to thy husband, and he shall rule over thee." (Genesis 3:16)

And the Apostel Paul reiterating this pattern of righteous dominion:

"Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ. Now I praise you, brethren, that ye remember me in all things, and keep the ordinances, as I delivered them to you. But I would have you know, that the head of every man is Christ; and the head of the woman is the man; and the head of Christ is God." (1 Corinthians 11:1-3)

The establishment of a pattern of righteous dominion in this world whereby order is maintain and joy is experienced is not meant to enthrone tyrannical man above women and children who would be his immediate victims.  It is to establish order with God and his law being the governing factor not emotion, ego, or raging testosterone.  The oneness that God means to exist between man and woman is accomplished through the establishment of this pattern.  It is meant to describe form and function to create sacred space and the balancing of the divine masculine and divine feminine as both are receiving to bestow.  When people set aside the principle of obedience to God and the divine pattern of order, the Watchers become loosed and the havoc they create can be seen in broken homes, abused lives, adolescent criminals, drug use, etc. etc.

2. Sacrifice and Mediation:

"And after many days an angel of the Lord appeared unto Adam, saying: Why dost thou offer sacrifices unto the Lord? And Adam said unto him: I know not, save the Lord commanded me.

And then the angel spake, saying: This thing is a similitude of the sacrifice of the Only Begotten of the Father, which is full of grace and truth.

Wherefore, thou shalt do all that thou doest in the name of the Son, and thou shalt repent and call upon God in the name of the Son forevermore." (Moses 5:6-8)

The idea of sacrifice usually draws images of someone taking a lamb or bull, placing it on an altar, and there taking its life to appease the god.  In Israelite understanding the sacrifice and altar upon which it takes place are earthly types and shadows of God's courtroom.  While the outward visual aides of sacrifices have fallen by the wayside of history, what is more important is the legal protocol being established in how men relate and interact with God. As the Father has given his Son the fullness of his NAME there is a oneness that exists between them into which man is invited. To call upon God is to approach the throne of the King of Heaven in the midst of his heavenly courtroom and to make all covenant reparations and requests.  Here God is instructing his people in his legal protocol (the same legal protocol which Satan and his group of Watchers are fully aware).  The idea of the sacrifice of the Only Begotten is not only being tied to the atonement of Messiah but to an ancient principle called Zeir Anpin (the little face of God) and also describes a condition to which mankind should ascend to in balancing mercy, judgment, long-suffering, and power--i.e. being full of grace and truth.

It seems strange to us that God would interact with man and angels in what amounts to a Heavenly Court, but this Israelite concept is demonstrated throughout scriptures with legal markers using such words as:


Mediator
Law
Judge (of All the Earth)
Justified
Sanctified
Penalty
Petition
Throne
Court
Altar
Call Upon
etc

In fact in what appears to be a long and drawn out boring account of the Judges in the Books of Alma and Helaman while documenting actual political and judicial scenes is also a guidebook to learn how Righteous Judges and Men petition, intercede, and call upon, and transact business before God as well- the behavior and words of the righteous Earthly being a type and Shadow of righteous behavior and protocol in Heaven. This is why Satan (ha Satan- The accuser) appears in a legal role before the Throne of Heaven to petition God regarding Job.

There is a legal battle over the domion of this earth between Satan, his group of Watchers, and the Most High. This same legal battle for dominion is also demonstrated in temple liturgy:

"I have a word to say concerning these people. If they do not walk up to every covenant they make at these altars in this temple this day, they will be in my power!"

All covenants made in the name of YHVH are binding in the Court of Heaven. There is an accuser, and there is a Righteous Judge. Where beauty and sacred space is established is when we come before the Judge, know his will, and petition in prayer according to the laws and protocol of Heaven to balance Justice and Mercy- following in the footsteps of Messiah. This is why Messiah gave the parable of the unjust Judge. This parable was given to demonstrate not that God must be continually petitioned or that we must bug the hell out of him, but that God is NOT like the unjust judge.  In fact he is perfectly just and upright and will answer and give Righteous Judgment that balances Justice and Mercy, Power and Long Suffering.

While we don't need a law degree to fully understand God's system, having this paradigm certainly helps when we see how God deals with his people, both earthly and Heavenly. By digging into the Hebrew Legal Roots of the Book of Mormon and Bible, we begin to learn how righteous men like Captain Moroni, Isaiah, Ezekiel, Daniel, Nephi, 3 Nephi, and Lehi approached the throne of Heaven and obtained legally binding decrees for themselves, their families, and their posterity. 

It seems strange to us that Satan would have legal rights before the Throne of Heaven and while limited he is given titles such as the "god of this world" (2 Cor. 4:4), the prince of power of the air (Ephesians 2:2), and "ruler of the world" (John 12:31). As demonstrated by his interaction with Cain and the oaths taken by the Watchers, his knowledge of Heaven and it's laws is quite extensive. But while his knowledge of this protocol is extensive, we have an advocate (a defense attorney) whose knowledge, power, and experience surpasses that of the adversary- even Messiah.

In Hebrew there are 72 Names of God that describe his character and attributes.  The titles such as YHVH Savaoth (Lord of Heavens Armies), El Shaddai (the great nourisher, Wise Counselor, Might Hand, etc all teach us about his character and many roles and now we may call upon him after various protocol:

Protocol of Calling Upon the Name:

As God wears many hats, the title we use in regard to him signals the role and administrations we are seeking from him.  As a man or woman we wear many hats or have many roles: Father, Mother, Judge, Referee, Comforter, Disciplinarian, etc.  The same is true with God.  In Israelite thought the titles with which we use when we approach God opens up how he interacts with us.  For example:


1. Calling upon God as Friend:


This may seem strange and yet both Messiah called his disciples friends and Abraham was called the friend of God.  Covenant Friendship is exemplified in the scriptures by David and Jonathan. In calling upon God as a friend we open ourselves to receive the Counsel of YHVH.  This was also exemplified in the parable of the Friend

" And he said unto them, Which of you shall have a friend, and shall go unto him at midnight, and say unto him, Friend, lend me three loaves;

For a friend of mine in his journey is come to me, and I have nothing to set before him?

 And he from within shall answer and say, Trouble me not: the door is now shut, and my children are with me in bed; I cannot rise and give thee.

 I say unto you, Though he will not rise and give him, because he is his friend, yet because of his importunity he will rise and give him as many as he needeth.

And I say unto you, Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you." (Luke 11:5)

Knowing that God is a Mighty Friend and Counselor allows us to call upon him in that role and receive counsel.



2. Calling upon God as Judge:


When God is called upon as Judge we petition as if it were God before his courtroom in Heaven. When court is convened the respective parties come before the Judge to seek Justice and recompense.  Here God's law is upheld and Justice and Mercy are balanced.  The parable of the Unjust Judge also demonstrates this:

"And he spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint;

Saying, There was in a city a judge, which feared not God, neither regarded man:

And there was a widow in that city; and she came unto him, saying, Avenge me of mine adversary.

And he would not for a while: but afterward he said within himself, Though I fear not God, nor regard man;

Yet because this widow troubleth me, I will avenge her, lest by her continual coming she weary me.

And the Lord said, Hear what the unjust judge saith.

And shall not God avenge his own elect, which cry day and night unto him, though he bear long with them?

I tell you that he will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless when the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth?" (Like 18:1-8)

This is why we also see Abraham, a Friend of God, relating to God as both friend and Judge when he said:

"Peradventure there be fifty righteous within the city: wilt thou also destroy and not spare the place for the fifty righteous that are therein?

That be far from thee to do after this manner, to slay the righteous with the wicked: and that the righteous should be as the wicked, that be far from thee: Shall not the Judge of all the earth do right?" (Genesis 18:24-25)

And why the Prophet Nephi exclaimed:

"And you that will not partake of the goodness of God, and respect the words of the Jews, and also my words, and the words which shall proceed forth out of the mouth of the Lamb of God, behold, I bid you an everlasting farewell, for these words shall condemn you at the last day.

For what I seal on earth, shall be brought against you at the judgment bar; for thus hath the Lord commanded me, and I must obey. Amen." (2 Nephi 33:14-15)

And why the Prophet Jacob exclaimed:

" Know ye not that if ye will do these things, that the power of the redemption and the resurrection, which is in Christ, will bring you to stand with shame and awful guilt before the bar of God?... Finally, I bid you farewell, until I shall meet you before the pleasing bar of God, which bar striketh the wicked with awful dread and fear. Amen." (Jacob 6:9,13)

3. Calling upon God as Father:

When we call upon God as Father it is said we approach the seat of grace and mercy a Father would have for his child:

"“Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.”(Hebrews 4:16)

To Repent and Call upon God in the Name of the Son forevermore is interwoven with legal mediation and the at-one-ment- the balancing of Justice and Mercy, Power and Long Suffering. With Messiah as both example and legal advocate we are given the protocol to approach the Throne/Courtroom of Heaven. We enter God’s court rooms and there he sits in judgment to hear and respond to our petitions. It is courtroom of reverence and respect where one would definitely not want to be held in contempt. Once convened God then decrees, "Let us review the situation together, and you can present your case to prove your innocence." (Isaiah 43:26)  God's rulings are binding whether we, Satan, or The Watchers like the ruling or not.

The decrees of God are unalterable. Satan and his followers have no power and cannot stated against the ruling of God once the decree is issued. This second principle of binding Satan and his group of Watchers then is a legal protocol that we have covenanted to walk to fulfill our covenant to establish God's dominion in the Name of his Son----FOREVERMORE.



TO BE CONTINUED (PART 3)- THE REMAINING 3 PILLARS TO BINDING THE WATCHERS.