The Testimony of Other Nations
Ayahtkuhyaht Nemenhah
“I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine. As the Father knoweth me, even so know I the Father; and I lay down my life for the sheep.
And other sheep I have which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd.”
John 10:14-16
“Jesus answered them, I told you, and ye believed not: the works that I do in my Father’s name, they bear witness of me.
But ye believe not, because ye are not of my sheep, as I said unto you.
My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me.”
John 10:25-26
I attended and become a member of more than one Protestant church in my lifetime, typically those my mother took me to while growing up in different places. I met good people with good intentions at these churches and began my journey to not only discover Jesus Christ, but also my Heavenly parents. But more importantly, I began to ask questions about who I was and just how Jesus Christ fit into my life. Was Jesus really my friend as the hymn tells me, and how is He my advocate to Mother and Father? I think perhaps that is the true mission of any church, to put us on that path and give us fellowship with others also looking for answers.
But at age 19, I wanted more, and so I joined the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. I was confused by some of the Christian “mysteries” that were supposedly not ours to understand. The Book of Mormon answered the question of who some of these other sheep were as referenced in John. The Book of Mormon helped me to understand that I not only had a Savior, but also the same Heavenly parents that He did.
I suffered much persecution after joining this church. My friends would tell me that I only needed the Bible and that the Book of Mormon could not be true. But when I asked them to read it, they refused. But I could hear the Shepherd’s voice calling me, and I could not refuse despite whatever persecution I had to go through. I virtually lost most of my friends at a difficult age to be friendless.
Fast forward over four decades. I begin to see the church I was a member of for these four decades adopting the same practices as governments and corporations of the last days, not to mention the age-old practices of many of the world’s churches. I had been taught that we were supposed to be “peculiarly different” because we had the “authority”. But then again, don’t all churches teach that same thing?
I have been through much suffering over the last decade because of those selfsame practices and policies that both churches and governments have inflicted upon their own people. And through much study and prayer as to why I am suffering to this degree, God has seen fit to answer more of my questions. He persuades me to follow Him, and not other men.
I bear testimony that the ancient Nemenhah record speaks to me the same words unto their nation like unto the words spoken to the Jews and the Nephites. And yet, so many who have supposedly studied the Book of Mormon for a lifetime have also outwardly rejected the testimony of another nation as to its truthfulness – often because that would annul the false practices in both the churches and the nations. Or perhaps because, like my Christian friends, “The Book of Mormon, the Book of Mormon, is enough!”
Jesus speaks the same words unto one nation like unto another, but in both cases, men have distorted and altered some of Jesus’ direct words. It is our responsibility to find out for ourselves through the Holy Spirit – not other men. It is up to us through study, fasting, and prayer to follow Him. May He give you more pieces of your puzzle through the testimony of other nations, as He has to me. After all, we may be responsible to run our own race in this life, but remember, the testimony of us all will eventually “run together.” His work is not yet finished.
“Thou fool, that shall say: “A Bible, we have got a Bible. Have ye obtained a Bible save it were by the Jews?
Know ye not that there are more nations than one? Know ye not that I, the Lord your God, have created all men, and that I remember those who are upon the isles of the sea; and that I rule in the heavens above and in the earth beneath; and I bring forth my word unto the children of men, yea, even upon all the nations of the earth?
Wherefore murmur ye, because that ye shall receive more of my word? Know ye not that the testimony of two nations is a witness unto you that I am God, that I remember one nation like unto another? Wherefore, I speak the same words unto one nation like unto another. And when the two nations shall run together the testimony of the two nations shall run together also.
2 Nephi 29:6-8
And because I have spoken one word ye need not suppose that I cannot speak another; for my work is not yet finished neither shall it be util the end of man, neither from that time henceforth and forever.
Wherefore, because that ye have a Bible (or Book of Mormon) ye need not suppose that it contains all my words neither need ye suppose that I have not caused more to be written.
2 Nephi 29:9-10
-Leanne Dalton
“I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine. As the Father knoweth me, even so know I the Father; and I lay down my life for the sheep.
And other sheep I have which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd.”
John 10:14-16
“Jesus answered them, I told you, and ye believed not: the works that I do in my Father’s name, they bear witness of me.
But ye believe not, because ye are not of my sheep, as I said unto you.
My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me.”
John 10:25-26
I attended and become a member of more than one Protestant church in my lifetime, typically those my mother took me to while growing up in different places. I met good people with good intentions at these churches and began my journey to not only discover Jesus Christ, but also my Heavenly parents. But more importantly, I began to ask questions about who I was and just how Jesus Christ fit into my life. Was Jesus really my friend as the hymn tells me, and how is He my advocate to Mother and Father? I think perhaps that is the true mission of any church, to put us on that path and give us fellowship with others also looking for answers.
But at age 19, I wanted more, and so I joined the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. I was confused by some of the Christian “mysteries” that were supposedly not ours to understand. The Book of Mormon answered the question of who some of these other sheep were as referenced in John. The Book of Mormon helped me to understand that I not only had a Savior, but also the same Heavenly parents that He did.
I suffered much persecution after joining this church. My friends would tell me that I only needed the Bible and that the Book of Mormon could not be true. But when I asked them to read it, they refused. But I could hear the Shepherd’s voice calling me, and I could not refuse despite whatever persecution I had to go through. I virtually lost most of my friends at a difficult age to be friendless.
Fast forward over four decades. I begin to see the church I was a member of for these four decades adopting the same practices as governments and corporations of the last days, not to mention the age-old practices of many of the world’s churches. I had been taught that we were supposed to be “peculiarly different” because we had the “authority”. But then again, don’t all churches teach that same thing?
I have been through much suffering over the last decade because of those selfsame practices and policies that both churches and governments have inflicted upon their own people. And through much study and prayer as to why I am suffering to this degree, God has seen fit to answer more of my questions. He persuades me to follow Him, and not other men.
I bear testimony that the ancient Nemenhah record speaks to me the same words unto their nation like unto the words spoken to the Jews and the Nephites. And yet, so many who have supposedly studied the Book of Mormon for a lifetime have also outwardly rejected the testimony of another nation as to its truthfulness – often because that would annul the false practices in both the churches and the nations. Or perhaps because, like my Christian friends, “The Book of Mormon, the Book of Mormon, is enough!”
Jesus speaks the same words unto one nation like unto another, but in both cases, men have distorted and altered some of Jesus’ direct words. It is our responsibility to find out for ourselves through the Holy Spirit – not other men. It is up to us through study, fasting, and prayer to follow Him. May He give you more pieces of your puzzle through the testimony of other nations, as He has to me. After all, we may be responsible to run our own race in this life, but remember, the testimony of us all will eventually “run together.” His work is not yet finished.
“Thou fool, that shall say: “A Bible, we have got a Bible. Have ye obtained a Bible save it were by the Jews?
Know ye not that there are more nations than one? Know ye not that I, the Lord your God, have created all men, and that I remember those who are upon the isles of the sea; and that I rule in the heavens above and in the earth beneath; and I bring forth my word unto the children of men, yea, even upon all the nations of the earth?
Wherefore murmur ye, because that ye shall receive more of my word? Know ye not that the testimony of two nations is a witness unto you that I am God, that I remember one nation like unto another? Wherefore, I speak the same words unto one nation like unto another. And when the two nations shall run together the testimony of the two nations shall run together also.
2 Nephi 29:6-8
And because I have spoken one word ye need not suppose that I cannot speak another; for my work is not yet finished neither shall it be util the end of man, neither from that time henceforth and forever.
Wherefore, because that ye have a Bible (or Book of Mormon) ye need not suppose that it contains all my words neither need ye suppose that I have not caused more to be written.
2 Nephi 29:9-10
-Leanne Dalton
