The Dead Sea Scrolls Foresaw Salt Lake City? 

So glad it meant something to you. Thanks for commenting.

My wife is 4th generation LDS...Heck that ain't nothing. My wife is 4th generation LSD.

Very cool

@JJBrown-lw1dv yes. I agree. I brought it to the attention of my wife who has a Jewish background. I told her I was only coming up with 10, but she asked if SLC had a train. That finished it.

@johnrowley310 The priesthood throughout biblical history was held from almost every individual. With Moses, only the tribe of Levi held part, the decentants of Aron had priesthood and no one else. The prophets held priesthood but not the people. Women don't hold priesthood. So forth. I don't know why you are so butt hurt about it. It's not like it affects anyone's soul. No one is missing out on anything needful thing just because this aspect of gospel ordination wasn't bestowed. It's just not as big a deal as you and others would like it to be. It just isn't. Move on. That's all over. Few can even remember when it was a thing. Race batting doesn't do anything for anyone. You want to rehash history, take a class. Honestly, what do you think such comments accomplish outside of making yourself look petty and childish?

They have found walls certain people have covered up. I live 2 hours away . I show everyone when they visit .

Amen. Thanks for your comment.

A new Temple and new Jerusalem will definitely be coming in Jackson County, Missouri.

@@allanlwade2963 Yes, and that one will actually be holy.

Awesome.

It could be canyons running into the city from the mountains that equal 12 gates. But if you count the main roads, the train tracks, and the airport, you have 12 entrances to the city, or gates. This works with Jewish tradition of what a gate it.

I was about to leave the same comment when I read yours. Heber C. Kimball spoke of shutting down the passages that lead into the valley, should the need arise to defend the city. Without roads, the mountains become a barrier to an invading army. If you start on the west side with I 80 coming from Tooele, the going clockwise around the city. 1. I 80 west. 2 I 215 north 3 Redwood road north 4 I 15 north 5 Emigration canyon 6 I 80 east Parley's Canyon 7 I 15 south 8 Redwood Road South There are four train tracks that lead into the city. One on the west, one on the north, two on the south makes twelve major entrances into the city. Then there are some minor gates. Big Cottonwood Canyon (via Guardsman Pass to Park City). There are at least a couple of roads which travel across the Oquirh mountains. One road in corner canyon which connects Draper and Alpine. Another road which goes over the traverse mountains and connects Draper with Lehi.

Wow, good work!@@smallhelmonabigship3524

@@smallhelmonabigship3524 Great points! I think there’s plenty of evidence to support the idea of Salt Lake being the city mentioned in those writings.

Just checked Jon Levi out. Looks very interesting; thanks so much for the tip!

Bravo!

Yes.. Ancient civilizations. I have concluded in all my studies that America IS The Land Of The Great River and It's Seven Mighty Streams. Cedars of Lebanon ARE California Redwood's. Alabama CRIMSON Tide, Red Sea. Sodom and Gomorrah WERE in Yellowstone. Green River IS THE RIVER JORDAN.... Making Salt Lake City?? 🥁 🥁........ Jericho. Little Egypt Illinois. Explains ALL ancient mounds, GIANTS, inscriptions of Paleo Hebrew, Phoenicians Canaanites baal..... LIVE, Don't be the Dead Trust Name... open your eyes.. and smell the "OLD WORLD". Time is close. April 8th 2024 makanda Illinois....the Star of Egypt.

I have looked into that only briefly so far. Very intriguing, and I tend to have a very open mind, but I haven't gotten into them enough to form an opinion. Thanks for reminding me about it, maybe it's time to actually read the whole text.

There will be enclaves of Zion in every land. There is no longer the "gather to one place of Zion" message. The message now is to gather to the stakes of zion in one's own land.

Glad you enjoyed it!

So I pulled up Google Earth to see where else W111th runs. Turns out the one at the Temple is the Salt Lake Meridian, which was established by the pioneers as a measurement basis for other surveys in the valley. I guess they used it for all the streets, etc., from the temple. That one is actually W109.54. W111 makes up the boundary between Idaho and Wyoming, and must be the loneliest meridian going through the U.S. From the Arctic to the Antarctic, the only city it runs through is Tuscon. Otherwise is completely misses civilization, it barely touches Mexico and then is all ocean until Antartica.

You aren't lying! I looked too, nearly nothing!@@JJBrown-lw1dv

Wow, I had not heard about that find below the temple. Can't wait to learn more about that. I have been monitoring that site across from the Nauvoo temple. I did a google maps elevation measurement, and there is definitely a shallow crossing the river just south of that site. Not proof of anything, but an indication that it would have been a pinch point where a major city like Zarahemla would have been built, and it would have allowed people and armies to cross at that point, especially before the dam was built down river. Many folks don't know that the river is actually wider today because of the dam than it was in the 1800s.

Wayne May and John Lefgrin.

Ancient building under the temple in Salt Lake. I say bogus

I've read about this renovation and haven't heard about any ancient building underneath it. No pictures. No stories. Only yours. Do you have any sources?

Thanks Sharron. Because of the geography of the Salt Lake Valley, most of what we consider to be the valley floor has been buried by alluvium from the surrounding mountains. There have been reports of artifacts found up to 120 ft below the current surface (these finds are seldom reported due to federal laws), so yes, plausible.

Thanks.

You're very welcome

Excellent additional observations!

@@johnrowley310 comparably yes. In actuality no.

yeah, there is also the Mediterranean Sea to the east and the pacific ocean to the east of Utah. it's so similar.

Now go look in about 1960 National Geographic an article called "Geographical twins a world apart" it says just this and very much more

@@josephinadelamartiniquemin5448 how so?

Ha, ha. Thank you for this comment.

Thanks for watching it.

You are so welcome!

Glad you think so!

I love that. Thanks for watching it.

Wow. I'll definitely check that out. Thanks for the reference.

Love this type of thinking.

​@@JJBrown-lw1dvFour highways come into the valley with at least three lanes inbound on each.

7 canyons actually

@@Mcfunface I can think of at least 9, not including the gaps between the Wasatch Mountains and the Oquirrh Mountains. Namely Big Cottonwood, Little Cottonwood, Parleys, Mill Creek, City Creek, Brigham, Emigration, Butterfield and Red Butte. So if you include the gaps that's 11. Though there are a couple possibilities for the twelfth.

Interesting. I picture the New Jerusalem being built a certain way in the beginning. And after the Millennium fully matures, it will grow much bigger and maybe even eventually reach Adam ondi Ahman.

@@JJBrown-lw1dv What happened to Joseph saying that the New Jerusalem would be in Jackson Co., MO? Now it is Salt Lake? Thanks for the video.

@@icecreamladydriver1606 That's a good question. I address that in the video. I point out that the New Jerusalem is described in the Bible, but that this city described in the Dead Sea Scrolls, that I'm talking about, is very clearly a completely different city than the New Jerusalem that will be built in Jackson County. In the Scrolls, no name for the city is given, and the city is different than the two cities of God described in the Bible. In other words, the Scrolls were talking about a city no one else had described in scripture. The translators of the scrolls decided to call it the New Jerusalem Scroll, because they couldn't imagine there would be any other city than the New Jerusalem. So they incorrectly called it that. The city in the Scrolls doesn't meet the description of any other city ever referenced in scripture. But it perfectly describes SLC which was given to Joseph Smith in 1833. Then Brigham used Joseph Smith's revelation as a pattern for building SLC, which is a City of God in the everlasting hills and the Headquarters of God's church until the New Jerusalem in Jackson County can be built.

@@JJBrown-lw1dv Thanks for taking time to explain. I have several things going on while watching the video so I am sure I missed some things here and there. Very interesting video.

Thank you too!

Great comments. Thanks.

Interesting.

Thanks, obisbo.

Thanks, when I first came across the "New Jerusalem Scroll" it was in a book by Wise and Abegg (non-LDS scholars) who were trying to shed light on what the establishment scholars were ignoring. Since then, though, more scholars are looking at that text. Maybe someone else had come across the SLC connection to the text, but I've never seen anything. As I mention in the video, the phrase "new jerusalem" never shows up in the text, it was the translators who called it that, and that title may have misdirected readers as to what was being described.

I wrote it. I can send it to you if you like. jjbrown@thinkpolicy.org

Yes he said he wanted wagons to be able to turn around. But he also saw a vision of the valley in the future. Wilford Woodruff was driving Brigham's wagon and said the following: “While gazing upon the scene before us, he was enwrapped in vision for several minutes. He had seen the valley before in vision, and upon this occasion he saw the future glory of Zion and of Israel, as they would be, planted in the valleys of these mountains. When the vision had passed, he said, ‘It is enough. This is the right place. Drive on."

I totally missed that idea in the video, but you and a number of others have pointed that out. Very interesting about that "strongholds" quotation. Thanks, for that.

is there significance with this?

@@thealternativecontrarian9936 one could argue the Mountains are the walls and the canyons are the gates

I completely missed this idea when making the video, so thanks so much for that contribution to the discussion. Someone else just quoted Joseph Smith writing that someday the saints would reside in the "stronghold" of the Rocky Mountains. What else are walls around a city, if they aren't to make the city a stronghold?

Thanks, that's what I think. Too many correlations.

Thank you kindly

Pretty easy to figure out, I think. Cut and paste the Salt Lake Valley and place it over Independence, since the valley seems to perfectly match the east-west and north-south dimensions of the scrolls.

I have heard that also, but think of the reality of it. A horse and buggy would certainly not need that much room to turn around. And there would not have have been much of a need for an occasional covered wagon to turn around. It just seems way more than coincidental that within just 10 or so years from completion cars were to be invented. I mention this only in a humorous way, my mother told me that every time the eagle by Brigham Young’s home heard something [?] ring, it flew down and got a drink from the drinking fountain. I finally figured out that the cast iron eagle could not hear.

That's right. There's no hard evidence I'm aware of that Brigham had a vision of the future of Great Salt Lake City, but it wouldn't surprise me if he had.

So you're thinking the "lands beyond the seas" is the U.S. Could have been Lake Bonneville in those days. The lands beyond the sea description aligns with some other ancient legends that talk about a copper trade from a land with a similar description. I've always assumed that one was referring to the Hudson Bay area where the Adena had massive numbers of ancient copper mines.

There is a salt lake in north east India also. Fun fact I recently learned.

Lake Michigan copper ore has been found all over Europe and other places in the world (chemical/mineral content analysis). The Jaredites appear to have had world wide commerce even though the "history experts" deny world shipping existed until modern times. The fact that South American and even Central American cities architecture, art and artifacts show relationships with those same peoples that created the vast cities and temple complexes in the Thai regions also show world shipping existed within the last couple thousand years. You mentioned Wayne May in an above comment, and I would refer you there for a beginning place to research more. People seem to discount the intelligence, ingenuity and daring of ancient peoples far too often. @@JJBrown-lw1dv

Amen.

You're welcome

Someone else had mentioned that possibility, but i hadn't thought of it before. It's a cool idea.

​@@JJBrown-lw1dv How long did the wall keep Johnston's army out? Walls? I think so.

That's a good point. The church had men stationed at all the passes, so they did act as gates. @@michaelwhipple347

I would, too.

Thanks for you comment. No, no indication that Young foresaw cars, but it was absolutely for future needs. Wagons need more space than cars. However, the-non prophet city planners in those days were not make streets that large. The point of the video, though, is that it matched the description in the Dead Sea Scrolls.

I have heard the same thing.

Yes this is something Brigham Young said. But this was to help the people understand how wide he wanted the roads. But was not the purpose of such. The people complained of his design of the city. Again it was not his design. It was the design given him. Remember he said he seen the valley full of people in the vision he had. If only the members could see what I see Brigham had said. It was the same when he announced the building of a temple. The people complained. Saying whenever we build a temple all hell breaks out. Brigham Young replied. (We shall build many temples for I want to hear the bells of hell ring out.) For we are waging war against hell. And there has been opposition in every state and country temples have been built. So remember who's side we are on. And may God be with you as you further study his word and visions given to his prophets.

Tradition has it that Brigham said wide enough so a man could turn a wagon around without cursing.

The size was for a 4 horse team harnessed in 2 pairs pulling a wagon and being able to make a U turn.

Glad you enjoyed it!

Glad you enjoyed it

Glad you like it!

Who knows, probably never. Could be symbolic for a spiritual wall. Could just be a symbolic representation that it's a city of God. Could be referencing the fact that to be a member of the LDS church you are always assigned to one of the 12 tribes.

Who says man builds the wall? We already have a wall of mountains completely surrounding the Salt Lake Valley that provides better protection than any walls man could make. In an interesting side note, Utah, which was forced on us by hostile Senators back East, translates as Top Of The Mountains or A High Place (which in modern english could also mean a Sacred Place).

I actually hadn't thought of that. That's why I love the comments. Some in the comments have even counted up about 12 entryways into the valley though the mountains. And one talked about Joseph Smithing writing that the Saints would someday live in the "stronghold" of the mountains in the Rockies. Of course, what better walls to surround you than mountains?

Thanks so much for watching it, and for your comment.

Thanks!

@@JJBrown-lw1dv Welcome!

Does it meet the other descriptions in the scroll as well?

You're welcome. Thanks for watching.

My pleasure!

Thanks so much for watching it.

Whoah, that's a good one. I think there's unlimited layers of meaning in all of God's actions. That's just how he works. In my book, if you find some meaning that makes sense, then it means something.

@@JJBrown-lw1dv I’m currently writing a book on John’s Book of Revelation. I’ve come across some amazing LDS discoveries. Who would you recommend in the LDS community to run some concepts by?

For Revelation, probably Michael B. Rush, but I don't know him. I did a Gospel Doctrine class video on Revelation, but it's pretty basic so it may not add too much. Be sure to study Joseph Smith Matthew 1 (Matthew 24) in the PoGP carefully to get things in the right order, If you haven't done so already. Joseph makes a LOT of clarifications about the last days. I've done a pdf that highlights all the corrections Joseph makes and what they might mean. It clarifies the distinction between the first Abomination of Desolation which was Titus, and the second one, which will be just before the Mt. of Olives. I can email it to you if you want. If you haven't already, I recommend my Hidden Remnant of the Lost Tribes? video I made. There are a couple new ideas in there. I've also done a big Word document that's sort of an index on all the Last Days scriptures. I can also email that to you if you want. Nothing I've done is proprietary.

A few others have mentioned that. I hadn't thought of that before, but it's an interesting idea, for sure.

If you count Redwood Road and I-15 from the South, I-80 from the East, I-15 and Legacy Hwy from the North, I-80 from the West, and then also include the SLC International Airport, well, that totals seven ways or seven “gates” into the city. Ha.

The only thing I could find in the DSS text that clearly contradicted the idea of it being SLC was that the city had a wall around it. I do address that in my video, though.

@@JJBrown-lw1dv Yeah, I saw that part. I was thinking that someday there MIGHT be a wall around it. Because we don't know what time period it was talking about. It could still be some future time period. Really fascinating stuff!! I really enjoyed the video!

@@JJBrown-lw1dv it does....mountain ranges that nearly encircle it.

Well, there are references in Isaiah about the people of God at the tops of the Mountains and references to the Everlasting Hills. Oh, and the blessing upon Joseph's seed like branches going over a wall--- the chapter and verse in the Old Testament where George Washington put his finger when being sworn in as President, after which he went to a church and prayed a "Covenant" prayer with God on behalf of this new nation.

@@derrickcox7761 Maybe the 'gates' refer to canyons or passes. City Creek, Emigration, Parleys, Mill Creek, Big Cottonwood, Little Cottonwood, Corner, Jordan Narrows, Butterfield, Bingham, South of the Great Salt Lake and West of the Great Salt Lake can be accessed by vehicles.

That's correct. I address that in the video. The Bible has descriptions of two cities of god, one being the New Jerusalem. The Dead Sea Scrolls text I'm referring to here describes a completely differently city than the two cities in the Bible; it's a third city of God. The city in the scrolls is never use the term New Jerusalem in the text or title of the scroll. The translators of the scrolls didn't know what to call it, so they just called it the New Jerusalem Scroll, which I consider to be a misnomer. My thesis is that the Dead Sea Scrolls are not describing the New Jerusalem, but Salt Lake City, which is a lesser city of god that is a precursor to the New Jerusalem that will be built in Jackson County.

Thanks.

The Book of Mormon also tells us that we must awaken to the awful state we are in. We are warned that our leaders are corrupt so which part of the Book of Mormon do we accept? Very confusing.

​@@icecreamladydriver1606you are referring to the secret combinations of the last days. We have been warned of those secret combinations by prophets of old in the Book of Mormon of our day being over taken by those evil combinations. The church for a time will be over taken by the anti Christ, but that will only last for a short time.

Thanks for the feedback.

😀

There will be many more than 144000 that are exalted.

Will do. Thanks.

If you’re interested in the book, let me know. You can’t buy it, I know the author and can get you one at no cost to you. The author doesn’t sell the books but will gladly give you one. It was written 16+ years ago, it’s right down the line you’re on.

I would love a copy as well!

@@mwuth3727 I’m in Utah, where are you?

I'd love a copy, but am willing to pay. jjbrown@thinkpolicy.org

Possibly; I've thought about that. But in terms of its role of the great gathering, SLC has played a central role in the Marvelous Work and Wonder that was prophesied. It may be important enough on its own to be seen in a vision by an ancient prophet.

@@JJBrown-lw1dv it also seems clear that SLC will still be around in the Millenium, even when NJ is built in Missouri

I think so too. I think it will be messed up during the first 3.5 years of tribulations, but not totally or permanently destroyed. I think it will be reclaimed as a city of light by Christ during the second 3.5 years of the tribulations after Christ appears at the Mt. of Olives. Although the new headquarters will be the New Jerusalem and the Renewed Jerusalem.

I hope so. He's my favorite mortal in history. If you want to talk more about him, send me an email: jjbrown@thinkpolicy.org

I hadn't thought of that before, but a number of astute students like yourself have made that connection. Some have pointed to the various entry points into the SL Valley and have counted about 12 of them. Interesting idea, for sure. Thanks for watching and commenting.

Hmm. I've never heard of the Essenes doing that. Do mushrooms grow in the dry desert? I'm no expert on the Essenes, but it seems they weren't the authors of the scrolls, as much as collectors and protectors of ancient sacred texts.

@@JJBrown-lw1dv There is a research speech conducted by Sunstone title: "The Restoration and the Sacred Mushroom" where they show how psychedelics played a roll in Christianity and how it brought forth visions and the spiritual experiences in the early days of the Saints. Psychedelics are all over the world, so yes they would be available even in the deserts as well as in colder climates like Alaska. However I don't believe we should discredit visions induced by psychedelics because there is strong evidence that it may be something God gives us as a way to connect our consciousness to the spirit realm. Scientists have recently been doing studies on it and finding that people's experience is more real then our reality on earth. They have seen people go into these studies as atheists and come back from their experience completely changed into a believer in God. Joseph would have saw his experience as very real. I have been doing studies on this over the last year and it is mind blowing.

Steven you might find this video interesting. (Channel - Delafe' Testimonies) / Video name: "I took Psychedelics as a Christian What I Saw Shocked Me." The man tells the story about eating mushrooms when he should have known better and feeling a rebuke from God for it. Does that sound a little bit like the word of wisdom to you?

Steven, I actually know a bit about mushrooms, I just hadn't heard about them being used by the Essenes. I think it's a valid question, though. I had a family member use mushrooms for a while and ended up having some negative entities attached that had to be gotten rid of. However, I think anyone who seeks to get through the veil without very strong protection from the Light becomes vulnerable to that type of thing. I've also heard of some early church leaders who used them to enhance their ability to "see." If that's true, and it was a positive experience, then I'm guessing they must have had assistance and/or protection from the Holy Ghost. I don't blame people for considering them spiritually dangerous, but I've known of trauma victims who have used them carefully to deal with subconscious issues with success. So I see them as a neutral tool that the dark side is always quick to take advantage of. So, potentially helpful, but also potentially hazardous. I can see why the Church would object to their use. Just a mildly informed personal opinion.

@@rconger384 I just watched it and it was interesting how he described that there were levels in heaven and he basically chose where he felt the most comfortable. I have heard a lot of accounts of people having these psychedelic experiences and feeling as though it was more real then our life here. I have a theory that I am trying figure out. I am wondering if it is possible that Joseph Smith Jr. was introduced to psychedelics by his father to cope with young Joseph's pain from the leg surgery. There is an account of Joseph Smith Sr. Seeing the vision of the tree of life after consuming contents from a box. Huge indicator that Joseph Smith Sr may have been very knowledgeable about psychedelics which may have influenced young Joe.

Thank, you!

And the importance of this work in the context of history. Sometimes I think we're so close to the work of the gathering that we forget what a marvelous work and wonder it is. I delve into that a lot more in my Lost Ten Tribes video, if you haven't seen that one.

A prophet that taught racism, blood atonement, Adam god theory and many other doctrines that are not true. 🤔

@@chrisdraney4526 arrogant. That’s funny

@@zacdavis8234 Facts. He used the biblical curses as justification for barring Black men from the priesthood, banning interracial marriages, and opposing Black voting rights. "If the white man who belongs to the chosen seed, mixes his blood with the seed of Cain, the penalty, under the Law of God, is death on the spot. THIS WILL ALWAYS BE SO." -Brigham Young

@@zacdavis8234all of them are true

You're right. I point that out in the video. I mention that there's scriptural accounts that depict the New Jerusalem, but that this city in the Dead Sea Scrolls describes a very different city. The actual Dead Sea Scrolls don't refer to this city as the New Jerusalem. The translators added that description on their own in the title. So I think the scrolls are not depicting the final Mt. Zion, which will be the New Jerusalem in Jackson County, it's actually depicting the Headquarters for the Latter-day Work of gathering that leads up to the Millennium, which is SLC. I go into more detail about Mt. Zion in my video, A Hidden Remnant of the Lost Ten Tribes? ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-ZLedhaXkL_I.html

No, I actually haven't done that measurement, mostly because I live on the east coast and don't have a way to go measure the different streets, etc. But also, I don't really care too much about that level of specificity. 6 very strong correlations all coming together was much more evidence than I was expecting to find. Then, I did the measurement of the city dimensions, and I didn't need any more detail to make my own conclusions. However, it's a valid question and could be fun to see if there's another layer of confirmation.

Amen. It's a Telestial version of a City of God to be sure.

Did you watch the video? I make it pretty clear that the city in the Dead Sea Scrolls doesn't match any of the cities talked about in scriptures. And the Dead Sea Scrolls weren't available in Brigham's day. The scrolls describe a city that's not described anywhere else. Yet, the city in the scrolls matches very well with the city built by Brigham.

@@JJBrown-lw1dv The dead sea scrolls match already existing 1,000's of manuscripts.

@@DrHarryT But nothing in the scriptures matches the city described in the Scrolls I reference. The city described in the Scrolls is unique.

Yes. no gives, no backs, no takes.

Your argument doesn't compute in relation to this video. Salt Lake City looks nothing like the city in Ezekiel. And the Dead Sea Scrolls city I refer to also looks nothing like the city in Ezekiel. However, Salt Lake City matches remarkably well with the Dead Sea Scrolls city. The Dead Sea Scrolls city does not match with any other city in the Bible, and it was not available in Brigham Young's day. So there was nothing available for Brigham to copy.

Yes, a far cry from a true 'City of God." But in my opinion, it was built for God under His influence, and even today serves His purposes. Sort of like Jerusalem and its two temples all those years being run by Jews who were FAR from perfect. But I would still consider it a City of God, technically, because of how God has used it.

Where the most righteous or Godly people are, the adversary will counter that with the most wicked. It is a city of God but the evil one will fight against it continually.

Very true. In my "A Hidden Remnant" video, I point out that SLC is far from holy. However, it was built for God's purposes, like Jerusalem. And it has been the headquarters for a marvelous work and wonder, in spite of the weaknesses of the members of the church. For the purposes of this video, the fact that it was a city built and dedicated for God's purposes is what makes it unique from almost every other city on earth (in spite of its Telestial nature) and what provides an important corollary between SLC and the City described in the Scrolls.

Your statement needs clarification. Are you saying these manuscripts don't translate to what the experts have translated them to say? Or are you saying that these measurements aren't what he said they are? Both of these are facts. It is also a fact that no city, ancient or modern, comes near as close to the measurements given in The New Jerusalem Scroll. And since the measurements of a Cubit and Rod varied throughout time, our modern measures could be a little different from the Essenes. So it could be an exact match.

LOL. Thanks for stopping by. I love you too.

I agree with you. I sort of address that in my Hidden Remnant video. In my usage, it's a city of God because it was built and dedicated to God's purposes. I'm not sure any large city in the world can live up to the expectations of being an actual City of God until the millennium. Jerusalem would also fit this description in that it was built for the purposes of God, even though it never really lived up to it for very long. However, as I point out in the A Hidden Remnant video, SLC, in all its very real weakness, has been host to a marvelous work and wonder and fulfilled many ancient prophecies. And so has Jerusalem.

I grew up LDS overseas, and then on the East Coast, but spent time in Utah, as well. I've also felt that the SLC LDS culture can be a little insular. It's basically true of any mono culture, where a high concentration of people are the same race and religion. But I think things are much better now than what I experienced in SL in the 80s.

I am a convert to the church. And went through Utah in the 80s. I have since moved here a few years ago it still has members who are very clickish as you say. But there are also a lot of them who are very beautiful people. You just have to look for them. Unfortunately just because you have the truth does not mean you understand how you should act. I also feel it may partly be they are too close to the fire. Making them become numb towards those around them. There are just too many members and not enough places to serve others. Which helps to keep you humble and to feel needed.

You're being silly. I literally showed the cover of the book by Wise and Abegg (non-LDS scholars) who produced the text I used. Anyone can go to the book and check my work and see that my quotations from the book are accurate. Also, of course the scroll is available for anyone to test the translation on their own. Here is the book with the translation I used: www.amazon.com/Dead-Sea-Scrolls-New-Translation/dp/006076662X Here's where anyone has free access to the actual scrolls: orion.huji.ac.il/resources/DSS_online.shtml#:~:text=The%20Israel%20Antiquities%20Authority%20(IAA,search%20options%20on%20the%20site.

Right, faith shouldn't have "a label"? Or in other words, an objective standard by which to measure the commitment to an ideal you claim to hold? People who claim that they believe in God, but not in religion, are idolators pure and simple. They worship themselves and rationalize their behavior as moral. Probably 90% or more of people easily fulfill the bulk of any moral code as a matter of course. Most people don't want to kill, so it's easy for them to obey that commandment, as an example. But religion says that it is insufficient to refrain from being evil, and instead we must actively strive for consistent positive action. And this is where we see people crumble. And where they leave "religion" but say they still embrace "God" as a way of justifying their failure while creating an environment where they can't fail anymore because "God" doesn't judge them anymore. So you couldn't handle the performance standards and you left. But you can't have faith now because you had no faith then. You never cottoned on to the fact that the standards in "For the Strength of Youth" were to be followed so the Spirit could teach you of Christ. You didn't understand that the Scripture Mastery in Seminary was not for a grade, but to open your mind and spirit, to the Spirit, in order to be taught about the Atonement. You went through the checklist, but never put in that bit of greater effort to understand why the checklist was even there. It's like that anecdotal lesson that starts out "For want of a nail, the shoe was lost..."

Thanks for watching the video and for sharing your views on God. That is welcome here, and that doesn't make you an idolator, in my opinion. To your point, though, the Bible does not include this account found in the Dead Sea Scrolls. Nothing like it shows up in the Bible, and no city in the Bible has all these elements together. The vision that some ancient prophet had which was included in the scroll describes a city that was unusual in those days and unusual at the time Brigham was designing Salt Lake City. The scrolls were only discovered in recent decades.

@@jasondraper2829 Jesus spent a lot of time talking about false teachers and false churches and was in fact killed by His own culture's religious institutions.

@@JJBrown-lw1dv I am 69 years old and I was taught that the plans for Salt Lake City came from Joseph. I have found that many of the things I was taught growing up and beyond are becoming a thing of the past. I just can't imagine that the true church of God would be constantly changing and so I am very confused.

@@icecreamladydriver1606 You're correct. In fact I mention at minute 1:03, at the very beginning of the video that Brigham patterned the city after a plan revealed to Joseph Smith in 18.33. So yes, it was revealed to Joseph first, and then Brigham Young used that as a template for the Great Salt Lake City.

Cool bro. You do know that the promises of God are always conditional, right? Had they been righteous and not let contention within the community, then yes, that temple would've been built at that time. They didn't step up and do what they were commanded to live. Just because you don't want to believe we need prophets, doesn't mean they don't exist. I mean, look at the ancient Israelites... They crucified their God. The people who should've know better. So why would I really care if people criticize me for following a prophet of God. I'm a much better person because of it. You don't have to agree, but comments like this just come off so condescending and disrespectful. Good luck in life.😊

Uuuuuuuuuh, okay?

Never will I leave the church. The Church is true. Too many things have happened in the church for it not to be true.

This video is about what the Dead Sea Scrolls actually say and about the physical realities of SLC. There is nothing in the Bible that addresses this connection, one way or another.

May I say to you. That you have a lot to learn about the Bible. And about and how the members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints feel about the Bible. At no time has any member said the Book of Mormon is greater then the Bible. The Book of Mormon testifies of the truthfulness of the Bible. It is a second witness to the Bible. In the mouth of two or three witnesses shall every word be established. If you have ever done any carpentry work you would understand this better. If you take two boards and put one nail in them you can turn those boards every which way you desire. And this is what people have done with the Bible. They turn it to fit their narrative. That is why there are over two thousand different translations of the Bible. Which being are even more churches then there are translations of the Bible. This showing that there is much confusion in the world. People taking away from the meaning of the Bible by changing it to say or teach what they want it to say or mean. The Bible is not for private interpretation. Mans wisdom is limited and his understanding is weak. The Book of Mormon is like putting a second nail in those two boards. The Bible being the first nail. And with that you stop men from turning the Bible to say what he wants. And just so you know the Bible testifies of the Book of Mormon. God is no fool, he knows and understands the hearts of men. God also loves us all and does not desire to have his children stumbling around blindly. For he knows all things and has provided a way to help us find our way through all of the confusion in the world. So instead of cursing that which you do not know and understand. Read the Book of Mormon and follow the promise made to you in it as many before you have. The same promise is made in the Bible as well. Ask God if it is not true. If you ask with a sincere heart with real intent. He God through the Holy Ghost will make the truthfulness of it known unto you. For the Holy Ghost can help you to know the truthfulness of all things. And neither the devil or any man can lead you astray again. Unless you allow it. God does not leave loop holes or cracks for you to fall into. He loves you and wants you to return to him.

We just have to wait and see who is wrong and who is right because all the signs are pointing that the end of time is near if it happen 5 or 100 years from now. It coming and it can't be stop. Also if you die early for some reason you will learn the truth. James 2 17 Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.18 Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works.19 Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble. 20 But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead? 21Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar?22 Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect