Avraham’s Mailbox

Question: Are we currently in the tribulation period? If not, how shall we I know when it begins? Answer: Judging by the current worldwide pandemic, the demise of world economies, the increase of rumors of war, natural disasters and food shortages, it does seem we have entered the prophesied Time of Trouble and that the […]

Question: Who are designated as “the Gentiles” in the Book of Mormon? Answer: Two main categories of people identify as “the Gentiles” in the Book of Mormon: (1) those who come from the old world to the new to inherit this land (1 Nephi 13:12–15); and (2) those among them called “the fulness of the

Question: What does Isaiah say about my role as part of God’s covenant people? Answer: Because each step on Isaiah’s spiritual ladder is determined by God’s law on that particular level, the entire human family fits somewhere on this ladder. From Perdition through Babylon, Jacob/Israel, Zion/Jerusalem, sons/servants, seraphim, and Jehovah, ascent or descent on the

Question: What role, if any, does Heavenly Mother play in our lives? Answer: The role our Heavenly Mother plays in our lives is as great or equal to that of our Heavenly Father. Particularly is that the case with the spiritual nourishment we receive from heaven. Just as it is in an earthly family—where the

Question: In our Isaiah Decoded discussion group last week, we discussed the “New and Everlasting Covenant.” In this week’s reading material of Isaiah Decoded (pages 157-167), God’s “ancient” or “everlasting” covenant is mentioned again (see page 158 about Isaiah 24:5). I would like some clarification about that term. I have always considered that this covenant refers to the Book

Question: I came upon a verse with Come Follow Me this week in D&C 35:17 which stumped me. I was beginning to believe we didn’t have the fulness of the gospel. But this scripture says we did. Could it be that we did have it, and that something happened to Joseph Smith during his last

Question: Will the Davidic King perform his work under the keys of the current President of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints? Because the Davidic King is one of the central figures in the end times I am wondering how the Prophet of the Church of Jesus Christ fits into the picture in

Question: We have been studying Isaiah quite a bit using your materials. We are also LDS. When Isaiah talks about Ephraim and its leaders’ wickedness, do you think it applies (in general) to God’s people who have received His ordinances and made covenants, or does it apply to all peoples who are trying to follow

Question: What will it take for the servant to emerge? A falling apart of the current ecclesiastical order? Would it be through martyrdom or apostasy? Answer: Isaiah, Jeremiah, and Ezekiel all predict that God raises up his servant in response to abuses by the shepherds of his people, that his principle task is to gather

Question: How do we overcome iniquities? How do we know we are forgiven? Answer: We overcome “iniquities”—our inherited or our own dysfunctional patterns—the same way we overcome our “sins,” which are our transgressions of God’s commandments. That is, we keep repenting of them until the perfect day. When we fully repent of transgressions, we receive

Question: When might we expect the prophecies of Isaiah to be fulfilled? Answer: Isaiah’s prophecies cover the brief period of time that immediately precedes the coming of Jehovah to reign on the earth, also known as the “Day of Jehovah.” It begins with God’s raising up his endtime servant in response to a general apostasy

Question: What did Jesus and Israel’s prophets say about the writings of Isaiah?Answer: As the most quoted prophet in all of scripture, Isaiah is accorded the highest honors among God’s prophetic messengers. When Jesus says, “Search the scriptures for in them you think you have eternal life, for they are those that testify of me”