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588-Page Book of Mormon in Alphabetics - First BofM had 588 pages.

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  Introduction

Since 1981, when the new footnotes and chapter headings were added, the LDS publication of the Book of Mormon has had 531 pages, whether small print or large, leather-bound or paperback.

Hence the number 531 becomes a great candidate for looking up in various sources for commentary regarding the Book of Mormon according to the methods of Alphabetics Word-Number decoding.

We will see that this method provides powerful witness from the Bible that the Book of Mormon, like the Bible, is indeed a wholly worthy "witness for Jesus Christ," as stated in its recently appended title.

The 531^st word of the New Testament Greek, listed alphabetically, according to James Strong, who set the lexicon standard around the turn of the century, is as follows:

   531 "B"D"$"J@H aparabatos <from a (1), without, and parabaino (3845), to go beyond, transgress> 
   Unchangeable.  Only in Heb. 7:24, speaking of the unchangeable, eternal priesthood of Christ.  Contrasted to the Jewish high priesthood which was passed from father to son and successor and was liable to be violated and transgressed (Heb. 7:11), Christ's priesthood cannot be transferred to another; it is final.
   Syn. (1476) and (277), immovable; (276), unchangeable; (4731), solid, stable, steadfast; (949), firm.
   Ant. (2000), insecure.

This definition, with usage, synonyms and antonyms by Spiros Zodhiates is rich with profound application to the Book of Mormon.

First, consider the etymology of the word, "from a (1), without, and parabaino (3845), to go beyond, transgress."

One of the primary contentions wrongfully put forth by the Christian world is that the Book of Mormon countermands the decree in the book of Revelation that states

"For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book." (Rev. 22:18.)

"A Bible, a Bible, we have got a Bible, and there can be no more Bible," they say.  (II Nephi 29.)  Yet they fail to realize that this verse in Revelation is speaking of the book of Revelation -- which was written prior to several other books included in the New Testament.  Regarding the Book of Mormon, the Lord said, "Behold, I do not bring it to destroy that which they have received, but to build it up." (D&C 10:52.)

The etymology of word 531 in the New Testament lexicon confirms this, "from a (1), without, and parabaino (3845), to go beyond, transgress."  The Book of Mormon does not go beyond in a way that transgresses that which had already been given in the Bible.

As for the meaning of word 531 itself -- "unchangeable" -- again, much could be said.  First, I think of what the Christians say in regard to the Bible being the "immutable word of God."  Second, though, I believe that the "unchangeable" aspect is not the text itself, but rather the God of whom the text testifies.  Jesus Christ is the only sure foundation, as repeatedly testified in the Book of Mormon (and the Bible).

Also of interest and profound relevance in word 531 is the antonym listed by Zodhiates.  In contradistinction to "unchangeable," he lists word 2000 which means,

2000 ,B4FN"80H episphales Literally, near to falling, ready to fall, not firm, insecure, dangerous.

Such is the fate of the great and abominable church of the devil, in contrast to the church of Christ that consists of all those who repent and come unto Christ.  Curious indeed that such is the definition of word 2000, which happens to be the number of the current year A.D.  Many are the reasons why this definition is vividly appropriate to the current state of affairs in the world.  [See write-up on "Year 2000 Foretold in Alphabetics Bible Code."]

The corollary to this woe is that the remedy is found in Christ as testified to in the words of life, especially as are found in the Book of Mormon.

Page 531 of Zodhiates' Word Study Dictionary: New Testament is the third of a six-page-spanning definition that means, simply, "of" -- as in the Book of Mormon.  It is word 153, which is a transformation of 531.

The following expositions are found on page 531 for the word "of."

(A) Of persons, of the place, stock, family, condition, meaning out of which one is derived or to which he belongs.

Lineage and heritage are extremely important themes in the Book of Mormon, which prophecy refers to as the stick of Joseph, as that is who Lehi descended from. The Book of Mormon starts out with the statement, "I, Nephi, having been born of goodly parents."  The theme of the house of Israel as being those who are God's people (through repentance) is central in the Book of Mormon.

The definition continues:

(B) Of the source, i.e., the person or thing, out of or from which anything proceeds, is derived, or to which it pertains. (1) Used generally (Matt. 21:19; Mark 11:30, "the baptism of John, was it out of heaven or from men?"); (2) As marking not only the source and origin, but also the character of any person or thing as derived from that source, implying connection, dependence, adherence, devotion, likeness (John 7:17, "he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God," the character or content of the doctrine will show whether it originates in God; 8:44, "He that is of God, heareth God's words," means your hearing God's words proves that you have come out of God, i.e., character shows origin."

The word "source" is found twice in LDS scripture.  Both are wholly germane to our context.  The first is Nephi, a major writer for what was later compiled as the Book of Mormon, speaking about why they keep records.

"And we talk of Christ, we rejoice in Christ, we preach of Christ, we prophesy of Christ, and we write according to our prophecies, that our children may know to what source they may look for a remission of their sins." (2 Nephi 25:26.)

The second comes from Joseph Smith History, talking about the contents of the Book of Mormon.

"He said there was a book deposited, written upon gold plates, giving an account of the former inhabitants of this continent, and the source from whence they sprang. He also said that the fulness of the everlasting Gospel was contained in it, as delivered by the Savior to the ancient inhabitants." (JS-H 1:34.)

Who would have thought so much insight could be gleaned from a word so simple as "of."  The Book of Mormon.  The book compiled by Mormon of his people, to be brought forth in the latter-days to those who would be called after that name, inviting them to live according to the witness of the Book, which is of Christ.  How have we done?  For a sample answer, see the write-up "Mormons and 801 -- as Salt that has Lost its Savor."

Page 531 of James Strong's Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible is the sixth page of the eight-page-spanning entry for the word "Israel."

As mentioned previously, the house of Israel is a prevalent theme of the Book of Mormon.  Consider these two sentences, for example, from the Title Page statement in the Book of Mormon.

"Written to the Lamanites, who are a remnant of the house of Israel; and also to Jew and Gentile"

"...To show unto the remnant of the House of Israel what great things the Lord hath done for their fathers; and that they may know the covenants of the Lord, that they are not cast off forever)) And also to the convincing of the Jew and Gentile that JESUS is the CHRIST, the ETERNAL GOD, manifesting himself unto all nations"

Yes, the word "Israel" in conjunction with 531, is very fitting to the idea of the Book of Mormon and serves as another Biblical witness for this work of God.

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Page created by Sterling D. Allan Feb.20, 2000
Last updated August 07, 2003
 visits since July 21, 2003