I have been transfixed by the word “in” in scripture since pondering the meaning of “in” in Doctrine and Covenants 88. Here are a few verses to illustrate verses containing “in.”
He that up on high, as also he below all things, in that he all things, that he might be in all and through all things, the of truth;
Which truth shineth. This is the . As also he is in the sun, and the light of the sun, and the power thereof by which it was .
As also he is in the moon, and is the light of the moon, and the power thereof by which it was made
The which is in all things, which giveth to all things, which is the by which all things are governed, even the of God who upon his throne, who is in the bosom of eternity, who is in the midst of all things. (color and emphasis added)
I’ve been setting aside my presumptions of what words mean to me to learn more deeply what the Lord means by the words He says and I’ve stopped glossing over words and phrases that I don’t fully understand. One tool I use to increase my perspective is to study the meaning of scriptural words, in this case “in,” from the 1828 Websters Dictionary to consider the cultural definition of the words when Joseph Smith received the revelations.
IN, prepositionin denotes present or inclosed, surrounded by limits; as in a house; in a fort; in a city. It denotes a state of being mixed, as sugar in tea; or combined, as carbonic acid in coal, or latent heat in air. It denotes present in any state; as in sickness or health. It denotes present in time; as in that hour or day. The uses of in however, cannot, in all cases, be defined by equivalent words, except by explaining the phrase in which it is used; as in deed; in fact; in essence; in quality; in reason; in courage; in spirits, etc. A man in spirits or good courage, denotes one who possesses at the time spirits or courage; in reason is equivalent to with reason; one in ten denotes one of that number, and we say also one of ten, and one out of ten.
IN the name, is used in phrases of invoking, swearing, declaring, praying, etc. in prayer, it denotes by virtue of, or for the sake of. in the name of the people, denotes on their behalf or part; in their stead, or for their sake. (emphasis added)
Using those definitions of “in,” I read Moroni 7 again and noted the definitions I felt would or could apply. Many times it’s the “could apply” possibilities that spur on greater pondering for me.
In in Moroni 7
1 And now I, Moroni, write a few of the words of my father Mormon, which he spake concerning , hope, and charity; for after this manner did he speak unto the people, as he taught them in the which they had built for the place of worship. (present or inclosed, surrounded by limits)
3 Wherefore, I would speak unto you that are of the , that are the followers of Christ, and that have obtained a sufficient by which ye can enter into the of the Lord, from this time henceforth until ye shall rest with him in heaven. (present or inclosed, surrounded by limits, a state of being mixed or combined, present in any state, present in time(though time is no longer))
16 For behold, the is given to every , that he may good from evil; wherefore, I show unto you the way to judge; for every thing which inviteth to do good, and to persuade to believe in Christ, is sent forth by the power and gift of Christ; wherefore ye may know with a perfect knowledge it is of God. (“In Christ” is the phrase that initiated this study. It’s a promise I seek and want to understand—present or inclosed, surrounded by limits, a state of being mixed or combined, present in any state, present in time)
17 But whatsoever thing persuadeth men to do , 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; neither do they who subject themselves unto him. (present or inclosed, surrounded by limits, a state of being mixed or combined, present in any state, present in time)
19 Wherefore, I beseech of you, brethren, that ye should search diligently in the that ye may know good from evil; and if ye will lay hold upon every good thing, and condemn it not, ye certainly will be a of Christ. (present or inclosed, surrounded by limits, a state of being mixed or combined, present in any state, present in time)
22 For behold, God all things, being from to everlasting, behold, he sent to minister unto the children of men, to make manifest concerning the coming of Christ; and in Christ there should come every good thing. (by virtue of, or for the sake of, invoking, swearing, declaring, praying, present or inclosed, surrounded by limits, a state of being mixed or combined, present in any state, present in time)
25 Wherefore, by the ministering of , and by every word which proceeded forth out of the mouth of God, men began to exercise faith in Christ; and thus by faith, they did lay hold upon every good thing; and thus it was until the coming of Christ. (by virtue of, or for the sake of, invoking, swearing, declaring, praying, present or inclosed, surrounded by limits, a state of being mixed or combined, present in any state, present in time)
26 And after that he came men also were by faith in his name; and by faith, they become the of God. And as surely as Christ liveth he spake these words unto our fathers, saying: thing ye shall ask the Father in my name, which is good, in faith believing that ye shall receive, behold, it shall be done unto you. (by virtue of, or for the sake of, invoking, swearing, declaring, praying, present or inclosed, surrounded by limits, a state of being mixed or combined, present in any state, present in time)
28 For he hath answered the ends of the law, and he claimeth all those who have faith in him; and they who have faith in him will unto every good thing; wherefore he the cause of the children of men; and he dwelleth eternally in the heavens. (by virtue of, or for the sake of, invoking, swearing, declaring, praying, present or inclosed, surrounded by limits, a state of being mixed or combined, present in any state, present in time)
30 For behold, they are subject unto him, to minister according to the word of his command, showing themselves unto them of strong faith and a firm mind in every form of . (by virtue of, or for the sake of, invoking, swearing, declaring, praying, present or inclosed, surrounded by limits, a state of being mixed or combined, present in any state, present in time)
What Definitions Would You Choose?
Which definitions seem to fit for the rest of the verses? If you contemplate all of the definitions in each instance, what do you learn?
32 And by so doing, the Lord God prepareth the way that the of men may have in Christ, that the Holy Ghost may have place in their hearts, according to the power thereof; and after this manner bringeth to pass the Father, the covenants which he hath made unto the children of men.
33 And Christ hath said: ye will have in me ye shall have power to do whatsoever thing is in me.
34 And he hath said: all ye ends of the earth, and come unto me, and be baptized in my name, and have faith in me, that ye may be saved.
38 For no man can be saved, according to the words of Christ, save they shall have faith in his name; wherefore, if these things have ceased, then has faith ceased also; and awful is the state of man, for they are as though there had been no redemption made.
39 But behold, my beloved brethren, I judge better things of you, for I judge that ye have faith in Christ because of your meekness; for if ye have not faith in him then ye are not to be numbered among the people of his church.
41 And what is it that ye shall for? Behold I say unto you that ye shall have through the atonement of Christ and the power of his resurrection, to be raised unto life , and this because of your faith in him according to the promise.
44 If so, his and hope is vain, for none is before God, save the and lowly in heart; and if a man be meek and lowly in heart, and by the power of the Holy Ghost that Jesus is the Christ, he must needs have charity; for if he have not charity he is nothing; wherefore he must needs have charity.
45 And suffereth long, and is , and not, and is not puffed up, seeketh not her own, is not easily , 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.
Impact of all of the “Ins” in Moroni 7
After pondering all of the verses with in, when I read the final verse in the chapter, the lack of in really struck me. I learned that the effect of being in result in being filled and like. When we are in, we will have and be.
48 Wherefore, my beloved brethren, unto the Father with all the energy of heart, that ye may be filled with this love, which he hath bestowed upon all who are true of his Son, Jesus Christ; that ye may become the sons of God; that when he shall appear we shall like him, for we shall see him as he is; that we may have this hope; that we may be even as he is pure. Amen.
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