Book of Raphael Volume Three Journal Entries since 2025

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Introduction
Introduction to the Book of Raphael

Table of Contents
Table of Contents

Raphael Volume One Index
Index of Posts 1-204

Transition to Book of Raphael Volume Two (see below)

Book of Raphael Volume Two
References in the Book of Mormon
References in the Doctrine and Covenants
References in the Pearl of Great Price
References in the Joseph Smith Translation
References in the Old Testament
References in the New Testament

Transition to Book of Raphael Volume Three
Transition to Book of Raphael Volume Three

Book of Raphael Volume Three
2025 Journal
2026 Journal (see journal entries below)

Book of Raphael Download
Book_of_Raphael.zip (will take some time, depending on your internet speed, (see instructions here)

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January 2, 2025

I had time this early morning to pray and ask my Father where he wanted me to study in the scriptures today. I asked again if this was a pleasing way to commune with him, and to have him or Heavenly Mother direct what they wanted to have as the content of my Book of Raphael current journal. I felt strongly that Heavenly Father was pleased with what I have been doing, to ask of them what they wanted me to study from the scriptures. I always look in my Book of Raphael what my Gods have already spoken to me about the passage of scripture that they have led me to study. I then ponder these words, and seek to receive more revelation from God. In all of this, I try to be very open, humble, full of faith, and then the revelation comes from them to me. Once they speak and I write their words, I always seek for the confirmation of the Spirit that what I wrote is pleasing to them, and from them, not from me.

This morning I was directed to study Joseph Smith Matthew 1:10-11, found in the Pearl of Great Price:

"And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold;

But he that remaineth steadfast and is not overcome, the same shall be saved."

According to the header of this chapter, this scripture is "an extract from the translation of the Bible as revealed to Joseph Smith the Prophet in 1831: Matthew 23:39 and chapter 24." I found out further from an Artifical Intelligence (AI) search I did that these verses were originally in the Joseph Smith Translation, but in 1979, the LDS Church published a new edition of the Bible that included hundreds of JST footnotes and a 17-page appendix for longer excerpts. However, they kept Joseph Smith—Matthew in the Pearl of Great Price because it had already been a "Standard Work" (canonized scripture) for nearly a century. Moving it would have disrupted its status as an independent book of scripture that members were already accustomed to studying.

Also, I found this interesting tidbit from my Grok AI inquiry this morning: "The Pearl of Great Price was originally compiled in 1851 by Apostle Franklin D. Richards as a missionary pamphlet for the British Saints, who had limited access to Church publications at the time. It gathered various revelations, translations, and writings by Joseph Smith that were seen as essential for instruction, inspiration, and defending the faith, including extracts from his Bible translation work. Richards included the revised version of Matthew 24—now called Joseph Smith—Matthew—because it represented a significant restoration of plain and precious truths, clarifying Jesus Christ's prophecies about the destruction of Jerusalem, the scattering of the Jews, the great apostasy, signs of the Second Coming, and preparations for the end times. The King James Version of Matthew 24 is often confusing in its organization and wording, mixing events from different time periods, whereas Joseph Smith's inspired changes separate these prophecies clearly, making them more understandable and doctrinally valuable.

This portion was extracted and placed in the Pearl of Great Price (which was later canonized in 1880) rather than left solely within the broader Joseph Smith Translation manuscripts, as the full JST was not published by the Church during Joseph Smith's lifetime or for many years afterward—it remained unpublished and in the possession of others outside the main body of the Church. By elevating key sections like this one (along with the Book of Moses from Genesis) into a separate volume of scripture, Church leaders ensured these restored teachings were preserved, accessible, and integrated into the standard works for study and use by the Saints, rather than limited to footnotes or an incomplete Bible revision project."

I hadn't recorded anything under this scripture in my Book of Raphael, so I added it in my record under Joseph Smith Matthew 1:10-11.

(To be continued)