BOOK OF MORMON NAMES FOUND ON CLAY TABLETS
THE AKKADIAN DICTIONARY
LIB TO LUCIFER
INTRODUCTION
This entry will complete the study of Book of Mormon names through the L’s. We will start on the M letter names in the next entry. We have finished researching all the letters to the L’s and now have only nine letters to go. The letter which had the most names was A. The second most letter were the S names. Many of the future names to be studied are remarkable. They pose a great challenge. A specialist in Onomastic or Philological studies would see by a glance at the names in the pronouncing guide that many belong to West Semitic languages with a few that are a challenge. Many are Adamic names. In this current study we encounter areas of ancient history not dealt with as yet, and geographies that are highly suggestive of the regions familiar to the Jaredites. Everything written about the Jaredites can be upgraded and updated by what has become available the last seven years. How far one can go will depend on the resources that are now available and how quickly new resources can be integrated into this prolonged study. To say the least, it has been fun and inspiring.
LIB
LIB is found in the AKKADIAN DICTIONARY as a prefix in more than ten names and variations of that many more, depending on the suffix, generally meaning ‘inside, or within.’
LIB is the name of an early Jaredite king. (Ether 1:17) It is one of the short names with only three letters, common in the Jaredite record.
LIB is also the name of a late Jaredite King (Ether 14:10).
LIB is another example of Jaredite paponymy, a practice also prevalent in Nephite history.
LIB is also the name of a city. We are also told that many mighty cities were built and that a great city, probably LIB, was built by the narrow neck of land by the place where the sea divides the land. (Ether 10:20; Allen p 395)
In the Akkadian Dictionary there are more than eleven names with LIB- as a prefix. However, the meaning depends on which language the name is appearing in, and the suffix used to modify the meaning of the prefix. It is important that LIB was in current usage at the time of the Jaredites in Akkadian and surrounding languages; found on clay tablets recovered from the excavations of ancient City States, such as EBLA and MARI. Thus the name was in circulation at the time of the Jaredites. (Black p.181) One of the names is LIBBANUS, meaning ‘inside or within,’ with a common Akkadian suffix or abbreviated ending of U, found in ancient Elamite sources and the ancient city Mari, on tablets dating before 2250 BC. (Black p.181) At EBLA the name element LIB appears inscribed on tablets as LIBA-AD, meaning ‘compensation’ (Pagan p.345). EBLA was conquered and burned by the Akkadians in that year. LIB is listed by Ether as number 31 from Jared. (Largey p. 431) When a name comes up in the Jaredite language it is quite certain it will be found in the Akkadian Dictionary, and when it does, we can expect further verification quite likely from discoveries at MARI, ELAM, SUMER, and EBLA, and quite often in Phoenician sources; all are places where thousands of tablets have been found and are now or will be translated. The prefix name LIB- also appears in the names meaning ‘inner, or may,’ on Assyrian tablets. (Baker p.661) The consonant element LB is found in an inscription from Phoenician sources as LB, meaning ‘lion’ (Benz p 337). All of the above places the name in antiquity and in Jaredite times, at least between 2250 and 2350 BC. The Book of Mormon must be authentic or that would be impossible.
The prefix name LIB- is in two names from Biblical sources, LIBNI (Exodus 6:17), also called Laadan, (I Chronicles 23:7) a descendent of LEVI, the name of a son of MAHLI. There are those who claim the name LIBNI, is of Hebrew origin meaning ‘whiteness,’ or a variation of LIB. LIBNI’S descendant, Asaiah was a Levite appointed by King David to be in charge of the singers in the House of the Lord, from the time the Ark came to rest in Jerusalem. (Mandel p 330)
LIB, SON OF KISH
LIB is listed by Ether in his own genealogy as a Jaredite king. (Ether 1:8) LIB succeeded in his father KISH. (SEE earlier CDs and entries on KISH) “…and did that which was good in the sight of the Lord” (Ether 10:19). LIB was a great hunter who established game preserves for the nation. He fostered industry, commerce, of all kinds. “And never could there be a people more blessed than were they, and more prospered by the hand of the Lord. And they were in a land that was choice above all other lands, for the Lord had spoken it.” (Ether 10:28; Pinegar p. 112) Wherever that place was it was the best place to be. Probably somewhere in the southwest corner of the Gulf of Mexico, quite likely the region of La Venta. (Sorensen p. 815)
LIB BROTHER OF SHIZ
This LIB was a member of a secret conspiratorial group (Jaredite Gadiantons) during the reign of Coriantumr, the last of the three Jaredite kings. He “was a man of great stature, more than any other man among all the people.” (Ether 14:10) He was responsible for murdering the high priest of their secret compact who, in turn, had murdered Gilead, the intended usurper of the throne of Coriantumr. Coriantumr came against LIB with his army, but LIB wounded Coriantumr and forced the army to retreat. IN a subsequent battle on the Plains of Agosh, (Largey p. 520) LIB was killed by Coriantumr. (Ether 14:16) The brother of LIB, man by the name of Shiz, carried on the campaign against Coriantumr until, through a series of final battles the nation was totally destroyed leaving only Coriantumr. Shiz was be-headed in the final confrontation between the two. (Ether 15:1-32) Ether, their great prophet, had spoken the “word of the Lord” to Coriantumr that he and his household and people would ALL be destroyed if they did not heed the ‘word,’ and Coriantumr would be the last survivor. They cast Ether out, persisted in their evil ways, fought losing battles, until they were all destroyed, leaving Coriantumr wounded to be found by people of Zarahemla, the Mulekites, (Ether 13:21) people who he had been told would take over their choice land. He lived with them nine months, (Omni 1:21), finally dying of his wounds. “And it came to pass in the days of Mosiah, there was a large stone (carved by Coriantumr) brought unto him with engravings on it: and he did interpret the engravings by the gift and power of God. And they gave an account of one Coriantumr, and the slain of his people. And Coriantumr was discovered by the people of Zarahemla; and he dwelt with them for the space of nine moons.” (Omni 1:18-20) Most likely peripheral Mulekites and Jaredites had relationships and interactions with each other, it is just not clearly recorded anywhere. (Sorensen pp. 504-506)
The last writings of Ether were his contemplations that he would die or be translated, the option did not matter much to him, as long as he would be “saved in the kingdom of God.” (Ether 15:34; Largey p. 252) Most likely he was translated, or why even mention that possibility.
LIMHAH
LIMHAH was a Nephite general who with his 10,000 soldiers, fell in the final Battle at Cumorah around AD 385. (Mormon 6:10-15)
The name and word LIM, used as a prefix in this name, is found in the Akkadian Dictionary as LIM. In pre-Sargon and in Old Akkadian it means “thousand” and also “Captain of 1,000. (Black p. 182) In an abbreviation, LI, in the name LI-MISU, it means 1,000 times. (Black p. 182) When the ancients gave names, they often were inspired to be predictive and prophetic though it might take a life time before the realization is experienced and recognized.
“LIM is also the name of an AMORITE DEITY. This god is honored in the names of all three non-Assyrian rulers of the ancient city state of MARI, [a city near Babylonia from whence the dynasty of Sargon and generations of the Akkadians, and their language originated.] During the Old Babylonian period, the probable explanation of the name referred collectively as a “thousand.” (Hoffman p. 226)
There are a number of variations and form of the name with modifying suffixes in AMORITE, assembled by Gelb, using the abbreviation of LI, such as LI-MA-A-DU, LI-MI-D-IM, and LI-ME-D-IM. (Gelb p. 145). But no meaning are given.
From EBLA there are several names where LIM is a prefix with a deity suffix, including LIMA-DAGAN, meaning ‘Dagan is love.’ (Pagan p. 346) DAGAN was a popular deity for many hundreds of years in ancient Mesopotamia. Also recall the story of Samson and the Temple to Dagan.
The prefix LIM- is the prefix to an old Iranian name, LIMEPIRDA, and a variation in Elamite, LI-ME-PIR-DA, almost exactly the same, so old, no meaning is given. (Tavernier p. 483)
The consonantal element LM is found in Phoenician inscriptions with abbreviations that include LY, l’, LT and L’Y. L’Y is also considered a root, meaning to ‘prevail, be strong,’ found at UGARIT and at MARI. (Benz 336-337)
LIMHER
LIMHER was one of the spies along with Zeram, Amnor and Manti, sent by ALMA early in his appointment as the first chief judge to discover and watch the movements of AMLICI, (Largey p. 52) and his fellow dissenters who had failed in their attempt to over-throw the government about 87 BC. (Alma 2:21-22) LIMHER’s team returned to inform ALMA that Amlici had united with the Lamanites who were even then descending upon the Nephites with a massive army, slaying many as they marched forth. Forearmed by the intelligence gathered by LIMHER, THE Nephite army was victorious in the battle that ensued. (Pinegar pp. 112-113)
When the suffix –HER in the name is examined in more detail, even with changes in the vowels, there is an unusual association with the military. For example HER-AKU, ‘to post’ troops, (Black p. 197); HER-RU(U)M ‘to get back home’ from the army, [note the mimation common in the Jraedite record). (Black p. 114); HI-ALU, even with the missing final R ending means a ‘kind of military force, (Ibid); HUR-ADU, means ‘soldier, army, military commander.’ (Black p. 121)
Recall from what is mentioned above, one of the meanings of LIM- is ‘to prevail [as in battle] to be strong, mighty one,’ so linking the prefixes and suffixes as described there is in unusual military connotation for this name and the others in this series with LIM- as a prefix. Joseph and Oliver were never glibe about the names, but it is evident they were thoroughly unaware of all the ramifications in the names spelled out for them that would not be recognized or found until nearly 185 years after the translation, and this is only the beginning of the analytical study of the Book of Mormon names. Nibley accelerated it 65 years ago. No doubt a future study will furnish startling strings that o in many directions, confirming the text Joseph was having names identified for him was a real, well prepared text, with no doubt of its authenticity. If the record was fiction there should be no such relationships and connections, no thread going anywhere.
LIMHI
The prefix LIM- and the suffix –HI in the name LIMHI have been briefly discussed in the above.
LIMHI was the name of a king of the Nephites in the Land of Nephi about 121 BC. (Mosiah 7:17) The prefix LIM- is the name for an AMORITE Deity discussed above (Huffman p. 226) LIM-HI is likely a hypocoristicon of the theophoric name LIMHIAH, the ending standing in a short suffix for JEHOVAH, so common in Old Testament names. Many prophets had names ending with the –IAH.
Names ending in –I are commonly found in the documents and represent the first person singular nominal suffix. (Coogan, 109)
The eventual discovery of the Jaredite remains came by sheer accident years after the final call to battle faced into silence, but not so long that the bones had not all disintegrated in the open air. This helps estimate about when the Jaredite nation came to an end, and may help correlate with the OMEC civilization they are equated with archaeologically. (Sorensen pp. 145-146) The Lord had brought to this continent another people [Mulekites] who established a city called Zarahemla and also colonized much of the surrounding area. One group built a city deep in the wilderness. “After some years of isolation they yearned to return to their relatives and friends in Zarahemla, but they had forgotten the way back…they sent out an expedition to determine the direction to travel, it failed in its journey…the search party came upon the last battle ground of the Jaredites…the party was appalled at what they saw. The expedition discovered a “land which was covered with bones of men and of beasts…with buildings of every kind a land which had been peopled with a people who were so numerous as the hosts of Israel. [as evidence]…the brought back twenty-four plates of gold, filled with engravings, as well as large breastplates of brass and cop9per, and swords, the blades of which were ‘cankered with rust.” No one in the land was able to interpret the language or the engravings on the plates. (Mosiah 8:8-11)…Later this colony did rejoin the people of Zarahemla their leader…KIMHI delivered the mysterious gold plates to MOSIAH, king of Zarahemla. MOSIAH, a prophet had received from the Lord a Urim and thummim by which he was able to translate form one language to another. News of the discovery of the twenty-four plates soon circulated among the people of ZARAHEMLA…they were desirous beyond measure to know concerning those people who had been destroyed…MOSIAH translated the records by the means of those two stones which were fastened into the two rims of a bow. Now these things were prepared from the beginning, and when handed down from generation to generation, for the purpose of interpreting language; and they have been kept and preserved by the hand of the Lord that he should discover to every creature who should possess the land the iniquities and abominations of his people; and whosoever has these things is called a seer, after the manner of old times…these records gave an account of the people who were destroy…back to the building of the great tower, at the time the Lord confounded the language of the people and they were scattered abroad upon the face of all the earth…the account did cause the people of MOSIAH to mourn exceedingly, yea, they were filled with sorrow, nevertheless it gave them much knowledge, in the which they did rejoice. (Mosiah 28:2-18)…The prophet ALMA later gave these same twenty plates…to his son Helaman…”And now, I will speak unto you concerning those twenty four plates…ye keep them, that the mysteries and the swords of darkness, and their secret works, or the secret works of those people who have been destroyed, may be made manifest unto this people yea, all their murders, and robbings, and their plunderings, and all their wickedness and abominations, may be made manifest unto this people, yea, and that ye reserve these interpreters…the Lord saw that his people began to work in darkness, yea, work secret murders and abominations therefore the Lord said, if they did not repent they should be destroyed from off the face of the earth.” (Alma 37:21-11) These plates had been prepared by the Jaredite Prophet Ether. (Petersen pp. 3-4)
There are several things in the above summary that are of interest to archaeologists. The mention of ‘rust’ which seems to have set in very fast, implies a low quality iron metal. I do not know if archaeologists as they dig are carefully looking for tin seams of rust which would represent oxidized metal. They may have overlooked evidence for the presence of metal swords. The city in the wilderness seems isolated, a wilderness of dense forest and vegetation, and they had found their way into open spaces with lots of water and where buildings could be erected and the mighty battles fought. Was this area where the Jaredite interface with the Mulekites in the southwestern part of the Gulf of Mexico where there is an abundance of waters, and ruins, such as La Venta considered by some scholars to perhaps be the City of Mulek. (Sorensen pp. 538-542)
LIMNAH
LIMNAH is not a personal name nor is it a place name. It is a term for a thing, MONEY. The Nephite system of monetary exchange for good and services is specifically out lined in Alma 11:5-19, to underscore the high value of the bribe that Zeezrom offered to Amulek while Amulek was preaching in Ammoniah, a very wicked city. The bribe was six ontis of silver equal in value to 42 measures of grain, which is equal to 42 day’s pay for a Nephite Judge, (Alma 11:3, 13) if he would deny the existence of a supreme being. (Alma 11:22) Zeezrom must have been very naïve to think someone would sell off his testimony for a mere pinch of money less than a month and half of wages! An ONTI was worth about SEVEN MEASURES OF GRAIN, or ONE LIMNAH. The measure of a quantity of gold. (Alma 11:5) The brie would have been worth about 6 LIMHAHS. (SEE the web site entry on WEIGHTS AND MASURES) King Mosiah’s system of weights and measures established equivalencies between amounts of silver, gold and grains.(Alma 11:19; Welch Chart 111) while the Nephite system of weights and measures was not based on a decimal system as are all modern currencies, it was more efficient, for example, then the system of coins used today in the United States. (Welch Chart 112; Alma 11:1-19) On this, the utility of the ONTI and the LIMNAH is provided.
LIMNAH is a Hebrew word which means ‘to count or weigh’ (Jesclard 1:5) This is a significant parallel that this term used in the Book of Mormon for a measure of gold would just happen to be authentic Hebrew with a meaning in close harmony with its use by the Nephites. Note the ending is theophoric, -AH, the Jehovah element. The system of weights and measures known in the Book of Mormon is not a continuation of the system known in the Old Testament. It is “note recognized after the manner of the Jews.” (Alma 11:4) Apparently, the Nephites worked out their own system, a very remarkable one, though it reflects Egyptian and Hebrew influence. (Largey p. 609) in this instance Joseph could have goofed but he didn’t, it is all consistent!
LURAM
LURAM was the name of a Nephite Officer, who, about 385 AD along with fellow officers each of them commanding 10,000 soldiers were destroyed in the battles of CUMORAH. (Moro. 9:2) Mormon had singled these commanders out and spoke of them as though they had been known to him personally and felt the hurt of their loss and the hurt of his entire people as he saw them slaughtered.
At first glance the prefix of the name is LUR- and the suffix is –AM. I generally start by looking in the WHO’S WHO IN THE TENAKH by MANDEL. These are Jewish holy records. In his listings he has entered two names: LUD and LUDIM. (Mandel p. 332) These names are older than when Hebrew emerged as a language which is where Mandel attributes their origin. But the names are so old there is no meaning given. Notice in the two names there are only three and five letters recalling Jaredite short names, suggesting a Jaredite time or earlier. But Lud is mentioned in Genesis 10:22. He was the son of SHEM and grandson of NOAH. That places the name before the Jaredites, at the time of the flood. The other name, LUDIM, was the name of the son of MAZRAIM, and the grandson of HAM. (Gen. 10:13) Now we are getting a snippet of history filled with suggestions. These two names are from the Adamic language and older than the time of the flood. The HITTITES are generally referred to as descendants of HAM. The two names used LU as the prefix, not LUR. The Akkadian Dictionary did not seem to make much sense using LUR as a separate prefix. There were only six names where LUR might be a prefix where LUR was at the beginning of the names. The suffixes in the names greatly modify the meaning. One name referred to an egg, two to minerals, such as silver, another to pomegranate, another to the culinary profession and the last to a man with a ‘feminine voice.’ It was apparent that LUR- was not being used as a true prefix, and –AM may not be a suitable suffix! But RAM maybe the true suffix or ending, so we should be looking for LU and RAM separately as a prefix and a suffix.
The search through the dictionaries and compendiums began. There is a reference to ancient incursions by outsiders into the Euphrates and Tigres River systems and regions which included invasions into the area of UR, ancient Sumer, by foreign elements out of eastern Iran called the LU-SU. Very little is known about them. This onslaught occurred at about the same time as the implosion of the bureaucratic system of UR at the end of the Third Dynasty of UR, ca. 2600-2350 BC. (Sasson p. 812). In the HITTITE DCTIONARY there is no use of the letters Q or R, in prefixes or suffixes, but the HITTITES were using LU as a prefix. In ANCIENT Egyptian, which replaces the L with an R, we find a lot of parallels and answers to questions as evidence the Great Joseph had it right the first time. R, and Egypt, will be discussed below.
ANCIENT LUWIAN
So LU has an older history than RAM. Ancient north central Turkey was the homeland of the HITTITES. The second name on the list of names was LU-HA, meaning ‘light.’ The prefix is found on a list of LUWOID words of ‘good things.’ The word and meaning is LUWIAN, the predecessor language of HITTITE. (Kloekhorst p. 330) Even the name LUWIAN starts with an LU- prefix. This is the first link, or name, that has turned up with a LUWIAN connection. Who were they? They were an Indo-European speaking group in Anatolia (Turkey) known mainly from references in HITTITE RECORDS from the old kingdom onwards. They appeared to have migrated into Anatolia from the Pontic steppes in southern Russia in the 3rd millennium BC and spread out through western Anatolia and as far as the Cilician plain. The LUWIANS are rather difficult to recognize in the archaeological records, but there is some evidence to suggest that it was they rather than the HITTITES who developed the so-called ‘HITTITE, hieroglyphic’ writing system and it seems by the 16th century BC, LUWIAN had become the dominant spoken language of the HITTITE STATE. (Whitehouse p. 292) Four of the first five names in the HITTITE dictionary have to do with ‘light.’ LU-HA, ‘Light,’ LU-KK, ‘to get light, to light up, to dawn,’ LU-KKATT, to ‘dawn,’ and LU-KKANU, ‘ to make light,’ ‘to shine.’ Another name, LU-KKATI, meaning ‘to dawn,’ is not far off the meaning of LU- as ‘light.’ (Klockhorst p. 632-634) The LUWIANS could be called ‘the people endowed with light!’
Many scholars have been working on the decipherment of the LUWIAN language for more than 120 years with major progress not made until after 1970. But there are still areas with difficulties. (Sassons pp. 88-90) Cuniform texts from HITTITE centers, such as KHATTUSHA, in northcentral Turkey, include a number of items written in LUWIAN. There are also LUWIAN words scattered throughout HITTITE texts. LUWIAN was spoken over a vast area of southern and southwestern portions of Turkey and Syria. It may have even been the language of ancient Troy. There is not enough recovered documents to distinguish LUWIAN dialects whose chronological and geographical relationships remain to be determined. Wars have interrupted excavations, losses by museum of inscribed artifacts by current extremists in areas of Iraq and Syria have done untold damage to such efforts that were in progress. What will be recovered is unknown, when the study of names and places mentioned in inscriptions can resume or start over again is unknown. LUWIAHN resembles HITTITE in many respects. It has the same consonants, minus ‘g’ and only three vowels a, i, u. What is available shows frequent RHOTACISM, which is the replacement of D and L with R, as well as other unique features. (Sasson p.2155) So, future work on Book of Mormon names may establish links to ancient languages that will be important for studies of the Jaredites.
In the Akkadian Dictionary LU is listed as a separate prefix in more than 100 names with at least that many more variations, depending on the suffix. (Black pp. 184-186) This further confirmed that the element LU was the prefix to research. In Akkadian there were also sixteen names in which RAM was present as a distinct prefix, with the meaning depending on the suffix. It should be noted that those names that ended in a U, or UM, recalls the mimation often found in Jaredite names, such as RAMU, RAMUM), where the meaning is ‘love or to love’ with variations. By itself RAM is a name and word separate from LU. In such names, LU-RAM would mean ‘to love light.’
In the Neo-Assyrian dictionaries LU was a distinct prefix for nearly 30 names with additional variations. (Baker p. 669) From the EBLA tablets they have obtained more than twenty-five names and words using the LU as a prefix, but with few variations; though in EBLA, they also used LU as a part of a divine or kinship name, like LUGAL, which has the meaning of ‘KING,’ and LUGAL-ABA, the KING is beloved’ or the ‘KING IS FATHER,’ and LUGAL-GABA-GAL, meaning ‘the king is a shield.’ (Pagan p, 346) In the last two names notice the use of GAL, which appears in some Book of Mormon names. It is little threads like these that holds the great work together confirming it is an authentic text. The tablets from EBLA showed they had developed in their language a slight improvement on the name or prefix LU, a superlative of light. Many of the names from EBLA have the meaning ‘splendor and divine strength.’ One of the reasons they were using the LU prefix to mean ‘king,’ their king was considered a GOD. (Pagan p 346) If the families of SHEM and HAM, carried a baggage of names with them, most likely it included LU and RAM prefixes and suffixes because they used them in family names taking the names with them onto the ark. So many of the families of ADAM before the flood must have also been using LU as a prefix for ‘Love and Light,’ and RAM as a suffix and prefix meaning, ‘to endow with light and knowledge’ with ‘splendor and divine strength.’ It all has a familiar ring to it!
In the NEO-ASSYRIAN dictionaries the general substance of the meaning is about the same in the translation of tablets and inscriptions they tabulate the element or prefix LU- which appears in the first 17 names with variations in spelling; all are attributed to Akkadian, and have the meaning ‘may,’ the eighteenth name has a variation which is like one found in Phoenician with the element L in the name LUBABA, but meaning ‘lion,’ king of animals. The name LUBARNA, included in the list of names, is attributed to HITTITE and has the meaning of ‘king.’ One entry is very interesting, the king of SIDON had the name LULI, meaning ‘LU is my God,’ another thread linking back to Phoenicians. (Baker Vol. 2, p. 669) Could the Plates of Brass have the names in it because of the evident familiarity with SIDON? In Neo-Assyrian sources there were more than an additional 60 names, with variations in spelling, most of them were attributed to Akkadian where LU also had the meaning of ‘may.’ (Baker Vol. 2 pp. 665-673) Among them were names of considerable interest and threads that were very suggestive of links to other ancient sources briefly discussed above.
From the same dictionaries we get the name RAMA-ADA, where RAMA means ‘exhalted.’ We will encounter this again when we get to the letter R. The full name means ‘EXALTED IS ADA. Similarly the name RAMA-IL means ‘exalted is the God EL.’ EL here stands for Elohim. Another name down the list, RAMATEIA, is a compound name where the element RAMA means ‘peace,’ symbol of ‘light, bright, sun, exalted, peace, god,’ are associated with the meaning of R, RA, and RAMA. And this will get us back to Egypt. There are about 12 names listed with others under L or LU, with the element RAM- used in the prefix, and with similar meanings as those discussed above. (Baker vol. 3, pp. 1031-1032) The name LURAM has taken us on quite a trip, but did we see everything there was to see?
EGYPT AND RA
Now we return to Egypt and R. There is significant influence of things Egyptian in the Book of Mormon including the reformed Egyptian used at times in its original composition and compilation. R is used in Egyptian in lieu of an L. The R is an abbreviation for RA, meaning in Egyptian the SUN GOD, or just GOD. In the hieroglyphics the representation for RA is of a MAN with the head of a falcon, surmounted by the solar-disc, a circle with a dot in the middle; and with the UREAUS-SERPENT represented by the head and tail of the snake on the bottom of the solar disc, the sun, a circle with a dot in the center, and with the snake head facing to the left. This is the most frequent form of the SUN-GOD. (Shorter p. 138) In the Egyptian Dictionaries and wall inscriptions, one can easily recognize this symbol. (Budge pp. 417-418
RA- AS-T- AB, this is the name of the SUN TEMPLE of Sabura. Here the name is a ‘thing.’ The solar disc is on the left side at the end of the inscription-reading right to left, of the hieroglyphics for the Temple. There were many temples all with their names and the symbols of RA. RA alone can also mean ‘Ra the great’. There are various RA forms for each hour of the daily sun cycle, even for the night. Superlatives are also found such as RA ER-NEHEH, meaning the ‘everlasting RA, the sun god.’ There is also a HORUS name, RAHARU-AAKHUTI, meaning ’Horus of the two horizons,’ which will be referred to in some future names to be discussed. And at the main center of the SUN GOD, in Egypt, HELIOPOLIS, or, ON. There is R, and RA, in the triad of the solar gods R, represented in the hieroglyphic RA-TEM KHEPER. (Budge pp. 417-418) When my eldest son RANEL was born I was studying Egyptian history, so we named him RA, after the great Egyptian god, and EL, Elohim, so the name would mean, THE GREAT GOD OF LIGHT IS ELOHIM. This establishes an Egyptian link to the name LURAM.
LUCIFER
In the Book of Mormon, the only reference to LUCIFER is provided when NEPHI quotes from ISAIAH 14: “How art thou fallen from heaven, O’ LUCIFER, SON OF THE MORNING! [O’ Helal, i.e. Morning Star, children of God…son of SHARAR, i.e. son of the Dawn] “Helal son of Shahar is found in the Ras Shamra texts, translated by William F. Albright, who thinks it is Canaanite poetry “in which God appears as Helel, ‘son of dawn.’” (Sperry Compendium pp.240-241) The content of the Canaanite (Phoenician) poetry suggests they knew something in ancient times about the pre-existence and things that happened there.
“Art thou cut down to the ground, which did weaken [defeat, lay low] the nations! For thou has said in thy heart: I will ascend into heaven, will exalt my throne above the stars [children] of God, I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation [priesthood authority], in the sides of the north [official sacred place]. I will ascend above the heights [above those with authority, the FATHER and THE SON] of the clouds; I will be like the MOST HIGH [FATHER]. Ye thou shalt be brought down to hell, to the sides of the pit.” (2 Nephi 24:12-15; Sperry Vol 4, pp. 240-241) LUCIFER was one of those born early in the Spirit world and by his performances had attained great authority, now he wanted it all!
From the Doctrine and Covenants we get from the great vision: “And this we saw also, and bear record, that an angel of God who was IN AUTHORITY in the presence of God, who rebelled against the Only Begotten Son whom the Father loved and who was in the bosom of the Father, was thrust down from the presence of God and the Son. And was called Perdition, for the heavens wept over him-he was LUCIFER, A SON OF THE MORNING. And we beheld, and lo he is fallen! Even a son of the morning!” (D&C 76:25-27 [A SON-one among many, Doxey p. 467] References to THE SON OF THE MORNING; meaning THE FIRST BORN, and A SON OF THE MORNING, and SONS OF THE MORNING and MORNING STARS seem to refer to those who were early born in the Spirit World, CHIRST BEING THE FIRST. If a man [or spirit] have all knowledge, and does not use it for good, it will prove a curse instead of a blessing, as it did to LUCIFER. (Clark p.86; Sixth General Epistle of the First Presidency January 15, 1852; “…scripture show that all people who come to this earth and are born in mortality, had a pre-existent, spiritual personality, as the sons and daughters of the Eternal Father…[and the eternal mother]. Jesus Christ was the FIRST BORN. A spirit born of God is an immortal being...He is the great HIGH PRIEST; Adam next.” (Clark Vol. 2. p. 264; Message of the First Presidency Jan. 31, 1912)
Joseph the Prophet made a significant change in the first chapter and The Gospel of John. It now reads “in the beginning was the Gospel preached through the Son. And the Gospel was the word, and the Word was with the Son, and the Son was with God, and the Son was of God.” [of, meaning born of] (Andersen p. 44; JST-John 1:1) This single verse raises many questions. We know that Christ is the First Born, the first child born to Mother and Father in Heaven. At that point in time, he was a lone child. THE GOSPEL was preached “in the beginning” it was preached by the Son. To whom he was preaching? He was preaching the Gospel, which was the Word. He was evidently preaching the well thought out and complete PLAN OF SALVATION. The WORD, the PLAN, was all about the Son and the work was planned by the Father to work out the IMMORTALITY AND ETERNAL LIFE of man. (Moses 1:29) Without many assumptions, we know that Father and Mother were exalted beings. There are very few accounts of how they accomplished this. One relates: “In the beginning…God…exercised his will vigorously, and this gained experience of the force lying about him. As knowledge grew into greater knowledge, by persistent efforts of will, his recognition of universal laws became greater until he attained at last a conquest over the universe which to our finite understanding seems absolutely complete…We may be certain that through self-effort, the inherent and innate powers of God have been developed to a God-like degree, Thus, He has become God…His intelligence is as the sum of all other intelligences [Abraham 3:19]….There can be no rational discussion of the details of God’s life or nature…His Godhead however is the product of simple obedience to the laws of the universe.” [Widtsoe 1. P. 25]”
“God offered to help some of the waiting intelligent beings secure the knowledge that he had already gained in such a manger that they need not traverse the road that he had traversed, but might find other and perhaps simpler opportunities of universal existence. He devised plans of progression [Plan of Salvation, Plan of Happiness, Plan of Redemption] whereby the experiences of one person might be used by an inferior one…the progress of intelligent beings is a mutual affair…A lone God in the universe cannot find great joy in his power…the Lord being in harmony with eternal laws, can accomplish his purpose best as the whole universe advances.” (Widtsoe 2. p. 27) This book by Widtsoe was used by the church for more than 60 years. I have a lesson plan my Mother had prepared as Stake relief Society President using that book more than fifty years ago.
“The Church does set up…the doctrine that there are found in the universe personal individual intelligences…characterized by the possession of a WILL, which may be used by the individual…to accomplish a definite purpose…The Church holds…that the contents of the universe may be divided into ….personal intelligences, and the contents of the universe upon which these intelligences act. These are two universal realities…There is in the Universe…[with all of its complexities,[i.e. containing the kingdoms of glory and no glory, and all mortal worlds] and [regions of]…God, [is] the Highest Intelligence (D&C 76:92; 93; 88:19; 109:77) …The foremost intelligence in the universe is God. Him who we address in our prayers as FATHER. (D&C 20:17; Abraham 3:19) The plan of salvation provides that all who live under it will receive help from a higher source. God is the Author for the full plan. It was devised for man’s progress and ultimate salvation and exaltation.” (Widtsoe p. 200; John 3:8, 16; Moses 1:39)
“In the beginning” God and man were there. (D&C 93:29) “The rising intelligences progressed by gaining master of the surrounding forces. [and listening to the WORD, or GOSPEL, preached to them by Jesus Christ. JST-John 1:1] They learned through experience. At first their progress was slow, but gradually increased. GOD was there to point out the way of progress and to give direct help when needed. Meanwhile, the will of man was left undisturbed. Progress if any, and the rate of progress, Must be and has ever been the result of the operation of the untrammeled will. [Man always had his will and freedom of choice.] The time came, no doubt, as an EARNED STEP to progress, when through the intervention of the Lord, personal intelligences became invested with spirit bodies. Man was BORN as it were into the spirit world. GOD became the father of our spirits. Life in the world of personal intelligences clothed upon with spirit bodies is called the FIRST ESTATE OF MAN. In that estate we were as sons and daughters of God. The fatherhood of God is made a reality under this doctrine.” (Widstoe pp.200-201)
LUCIFER heard the word from Christ, he persisted and EARNED the opportunity to be born into the family of Father. An ancient document preserves some of this: “He who took a great strength from his mother; and he went away from her and turned away from the regions where HE WAS BORN.” (Giversen p. 65) A verification that the documents of the ancients contained this information, they knew Lucifer had been born into the spirit world. He made pacts with different individuals including CAIN: “The sixth is KAIN HE WHOM THE GENERATIONS OF MANKIND CALL THE SUN.” (Giversen p. 65) “This archon, [leader] who was weak had three names…the first…is IALTABOTH; the second is Saklas; the third is SAMAEL [The blind GOD]…he was ungodly in his ignorance…he said ‘I am God and there is no other God but me;’ for he was ignorant of his strength and the PLACE FROM WHICH HE CAME.” (Giversen p. 67) “He was not obedient to that place from which he came.” (Giversen p. 69) “But when the mother had recognized the veil of darkness because he was not created perfect…she repented [grieved] with much WEEPING, and the whole PLEROMA [the heavens] heard the prayer of her repentance [grieving].” (Giversen p. 71-73) “THE HEAVENS WEPT OVER HIM, he was LUCIFER, A SON OF MORNING. And we beheld, and lo, he is fallen! Is fallen, even A SON OF THE MORNING.” (D&C 76:25-27) Where could Joseph Smith have found such a parallel in 1832? The sources are from the Discovery of the Nag Hammadi Library found in Egypt about 1945, and not announced until Jan. 1946. (Giversen pp. 7-8)
INTELLIGENCES
“Intelligences are eternal, intelligence is their chief characteristic; consciousness in them is a necessary quality for they are both self-conscious, and conscious of an external universe. They have the power to generalize, to rise from contemplation of the particular, to the general, from individuals to universal. They can perceive the existence of inconvertible necessary truths which form a basis of knowledge. They possess the power of imagination and imaginative memory by which they hold pictures of perceptions before the mind and form from them new combinations of thought and consciousness. They have power to reason, ratiocination, to deliberate, to form judgments. They have volition, physical, mental, and moral with certain limitations, power to both will and to do. They are free agents.” (Roberts pp. 5-6; John 1:1-4, JST John 1:1-4, establish the co-eternity of the Word of Christ with God, the Father)
By possession of a spirit body we were taught and we learned and increased in power over the universe. “When in the course of time the spirit children of the Lord had reached a certain state of advancement, another forward step was taken by the Father in behalf of his children. This FIRST ESTATE dealt only with the elements and forces of the spirit world.” (Widtsoe p. 201) As an early born in the spirit world, Lucifer had an early start. From the information we get from the scriptures he persisted and arose to great authority. Christ was our elder brother, he being the first born, Adam seems to have been second. Christ was in the role of the ELDER BROTHER, LUCIFER was also a brother. This thought makes a lot of folk wince. He was known, revered by us all, but he had a serious flaw. Father said: “the same which was from the beginning…came before me…behold, here am I, send me, I will be thy son…I will redeem all mankind that one soul shall not be lost…I will do it; wherefore give me thine honor.” (Moses 4:1) He “sought to destroy the agency of man…give unto him mine own power…[he is] the father of all lies, to deceive and to blind men…lead them captive at his will, even as many as would not hearken unto my voice.” (Moses 1:3-4) His offer at the Council, which along with Christ and Father, was declined. His rebellion and subsequent turning away one third of the hosts show how persuasive he was, but his logistic and effective power was deficient. (Abraham 3) “Now, the difference between Jesus and Lucifer was this: Jesus was willing to submit to the Father,” (George Q. Cannon in Clark Vol. 2 p. 467) Lucifer wasn’t. “Lie, and Lie again!” That is what “Lucifer who goes about defiling people, is breathing into the souls of whomever he can.” (George Albert Smith in Clark Vol. 61 p. 270) Something nearly every prophet has been outspoken on. Follow our Elder Brother, ignore this other brother. Give him no heed.
In the spirit world, we knew and mingled with one another and were taught by those who had obtained knowledge by persistence and diligence. “They had earned the right to come upon earth…an onward progressive step…the spirits had accepted the plan and its conditions. They came upon earth, willingly…Earth life is said to be man’s Second Estate.” (Widtsoe p. 202) We learned administration skills in the FIRST ESTATE, after all, LUCIFER was in AUTHORITY, in the presence of God, we all knew him so well, that the heavens, not a few, but the Heavens, WEPT over his fall. (D&C 76:24; Giversen pp. 71-73) “Based on the Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith…the doctrine of the Church…is clearly a doctrine of individual, separate intelligences…the First Presidency [in an] article…published with their encouragement and endorsement. (April 1907 Improvement Era p. 419) …’the existence of independent, uncreated, self-existent intelligences,’ which, though they differ are ‘alike in their eternity and their freedom.’” (Madsen pp. 24-25) “There is on beginning to our ‘beginning’…No one is older, or younger, than anyone else. Through all…eternity…identity remains.” (Madsen p. 26) You are always you and I am always me. In the PROCLAMATION ON THE FAMILY, gender is eternal.
PERDITION
“There are many additional things about LUCIFER (Satan) and his fall revealed in Section D&C 76. That he was in a position of authority in the beginning is amplified…by the descriptive “authority great.” The titles given him in section 76 are revealing. That he was called ‘PERDITION’ explains why the heavens wept over him…the word means utter destruction, loss, eternal damnation, hell…According to President Joseph Fielding Smith, Lucifer means “a torchbearer.” “son of the morning”…he was one of the early-born spirit children of Elohim…as one of the older of the children of God and someone in a position of authority, the title of Lucifer implies he was not only rebelling against God but also leading others to do likewise; therefore, he is designated a torchbearer or crusader against God…he “sought to take the kingdom of our God and his Christ.” (D&C 76:28) To do this “he maketh war with the sons of God, and encompass them around about” (verse 29) “…his primary function on earth is to oppose the work of the church and its members. …the devil always sets up his kingdom at the very same time in opposition to God.” (Nyman in Manscill pp. 193-194)
“Limitations were placed on Lucifer for his rebellion in the pre-mortal world. His damnation consists of his never being allowed to marry or have posterity. He is single and impotent forever, and he wants all of mankind to be as he is. He does not want any who kept their first estate, who now are in their “second estate,” to retain the power of procreation beyond this life…they [who keep their “second estate,” to retain the power of procreation beyond this life…[they] come to the highest state of exaltation…He does not trust this privilege of multiplying spirits with the Terrestrial or Telestial or the lower order of being there, nor with angels. But why not? Because they have not proved themselves worthy of this great privilege…[they] suffer “deaths” (D&C 132:25) …no longer able to propagate their own kind after resurrection.” (Brintley in Manscill pp. 301-302) “The offspring would partake of all the evil, wicked, and malicious nature of their parents…It is for this reason that god will not permit the fallen angels to multiply…God has ordained marriages for the righteous only…those who have kept the celestial law will be permitted to multiply after the resurrection. Satan (LUCIFER) will do his best to destroy the plan of God by destroying families.” (Pratt in Manscill p. 302) There will be more to say when we get to the letter S, under SATAN.
In the pre-earthly council, Lucifer placed his proposal in competition with the Father’s plan as advocated by Jesus Christ. (Moses 4:1-3) He wished to be honored above all others. (2 Ne 24:13) In short, his prideful desire was to dethrone God. (D&C 29:36, 76:28)
See the discussion about Lucifer in DOXY, Vol 2, pp. 466-469 and the CD set on Lucifer.
LUCIFER-SOME NAMES AND TITLES
The following is merely a selection of names and titles LUCIFER is known by. A useful source for more details is the TOPICAL GUIDE. I assembled most of these along with other notes on Satan when I was seventeen to help my father prepare a talk for a High Council talk.
I. ABADDON Rev. 9:11. Hebrew meaning the destroyer
2. ACCUSER Rev. 12:10, D&C 29:136-141
3. ADVERSARY 1 Peter 5:8 Enemy of all righteousness, opposes every good thing with evil, (2 Nephi 2:11) Walking about seeking whom he may desire
4. ANGEL OF BOTTOMLESS PIT Rev. 9:11 Refers to his status as king of Hell. Ruling authority over those cast into the pit which is hell. Unless Cain exerts his rights as an embodied being
5, APPOLYON Rev. 9:11 Greek for destroyer, D&C 61:19, rides upon the waters;
6. BEELZEBUB OR BAALZEBUBB Matt. 12:24 GOD OF LICENTIOUSNESS. Canaanitish, Phoenician
7. BELIAL 2 Cor. 6:15, Deut. 13
8. GOD OF THIS WORLD 2 Cor. 4:4, God of men of carnality and lust
9. LUCIFER Shining one, Light Bearer, High Station, D&C 76:25-27, Luke 10:18, 2 Ne. 2:17-18
10. MURDERER John 8:44
11. PRINCE OR CHIEF OF DEVILS Matt, 10:25, 20:22-30, 2 Kings 1:3
12. PRINCE OF THE POWER OF THE AIR Eph. 2:2
13. PRINCE OF THIS WORLD, of carnal men and corruption John 14:30, 12:31
14. RULER OF DARKNESS, OUTER DARKNESS, PERDITION, Eph. 6:12
15. SERPENT Gen. 3:4, Moses 4:15-21, Rev 12:9, 20:2, D&C 76:28, 88:12
16. SATAN LUKE 10:18 The most used term for LUCIFER
17. TEMPTER 1 Thess. 3:6 His aim it to lead all men to do evil and to follow that carnal existence which will take them to Hell.
18. WICKED ONE Matt. 3:10
19. A SON OF THE MORNING D&C 76:25-27, Isa. 14:12, son of prominence and authority, early born. Christ was called THE SON OF THE MORNING, THE FIRST BORN
20. MASTER MAHAN Moses 5:116, Master of secrets of how to get gain by murder. Cain would lord it over LUCIFER
21. PERDITION 2 Ne. 9:9, 17-18; D&C 76:25-27, Moses 5:18-25
22. DRAGON Rev. 13:24; 16:13; 20:2, fierce and relentless wickedness
23. ANGEL OF DARKNESS, Calumny
24. FATHER OF LIES John 8:44; Moses 4:4
25. DEVIL D&C 76:25-27; 93:25; 2 Ne. 2:17; always seeks evil
26. SLANDERER Moses 4:1-4
27. DEMON Heb. 13:37
28: DECEIVER Moses 1:16; 4:4; JS-M 1:5-6, 22; Matt 24:5, 22-24
29. LIGHT BEARER, A SON OF THE MORNING (Sperry p. 240)
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