A Few Fathers in the Scriptures*
*The Holy Bible, The
Book of Mormon, The Doctrine and Covenants, and
the Pearl of Great Price; the Four Standard Works of The Church of
Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
Zebedee: (Matthew 4:19-20; Luke 5:10) He
was the father of 2 apostles, James and John.
Mormon: (The book of Mormon in The Book of Mormon). He is the father of
the prophet Moroni.
Story:
Mormon was a general and prophet. He abridged a cavern full of records covering
about1,000 years of history. He also wrote an account of his own experiences and throughout the record there are his commentary and explanations. A very small part of the
abridgment is The Book of Mormon. His people were at war approximately
60 years. When their enemies took over a city they would
sacrifice the women and children to their idols. His people and army were victims of mass genocide,
100s of thousands. Only Mormon, Moroni and 24 others survived. Mormon mourned
the loss of his people, he wrote,
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And my soul was rent with anguish, because of the
slain of my people, and I cried…’O ye fair ones, how could
ye have departed from the ways of the Lord! O ye fair ones, how could ye have
rejected that Jesus, who stood with open arms to receive you! Behold, if ye had
not done this, ye would not have fallen. But behold, ye are fallen, and I mourn
your loss. O ye fair sons and daughters, ye fathers and mothers, ye husbands
and wives, ye fair ones, how is it that ye could have fallen! But behold, ye
are gone, and my sorrows cannot bring your return.
When Mormon died, he left Moroni to keep the
abridgment safe from their enemies. He died knowing that his son was going to
be a hunted man.
Zacharias
(Luke 1) His son was John the Baptist.
Story: He was a very active member of the faith. He did not expect to be a father. When finding out he would be, he doubted and his power to speak was taken away. Only after his silence proved to be a testimony to others was it restored. He knew the baby's name should be John and that he had a great work to do. To escape the mandated execution
of baby and toddler boys, Elizabeth hid Zacrarias’ and her son in the
wilderness. When the soldiers were searching out and killing, Zacrarias would not disclose John’s location.
Zacrarias was killed. Interesting, Zacharias' silence … the forced upon experience bore witness of the power of God in giving Zacharias a son and his voluntary silence saved that son.
The Father of Abish. He is not named. (Alma
19:16)
Story: Abish was converted to the Gospel of Jesus
Christ because of her father – years before the
missionaries were teaching in her city.
In fact, the Gospel of Jesus Christ was the religion of her people’s
enemies. Her people are describe as a…,
wild and a hardened and a ferocious people; a
people who delighted in murdering [Christians], and robbing and plundering
them; and their hearts were set upon riches, or upon gold and silver, and
precious stones; yet they sought to obtain these things by murdering and
plundering, that they might not labor for them with their own hands. Thus they
were a very indolent people, many of whom did worship idols, and the curse of
God had fallen upon them because of the traditions of their fathers.
She did not disclose her testimony until it could
have a positive impact. Upon hearing the king
had met with the missionaries, Abish ran from house to house and the people
went to the king's home. Because of her father, Abish contributed greatly to an entire society's change.
