Jesus Christ taught the descendants of Lehi in the Americas (who were of the house of Israel) many of the same principles He taught to His Jewish disciples in the Old World. The teachings as recorded in the book of Matthew, found in the New Testament, known as the Beatitudes (Matthew 5:1-12) were again taught by the Savior when he visited Lehi’s descendants.
Below is the first of the Beatitudes, as recorded in the King James version of Matthew, and the comparable teaching as found in 3 Nephi of the Book of Mormon.
“Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 5:3)
“Yea, blessed are the poor in spirit who come unto me, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” (3 Nephi 12:3)
Questions:
-Why would God inspire Joseph Smith to interpret the Beatitudes – as taught by Christ to Lehi’s descendants in the Americas — in language very similar to the King James version of the Bible?
-Do you feel the phrase, “who come unto me,” is an inspired addition to what is found in Matthew.
-What does it mean to be poor in spirit?
-Is it possible to truly come unto Christ if one is not poor in spirit?
Messages of the Book of Mormon 