Prophecies in names.

The scriptures: a Jewel case full of wonderful surprises.

If the human intellect had the full power, and it has when united to the steady desire to know, to explore the symbolic universe of the scriptures, not only it will find the answers that it is looking for from thousand of years, but it would be delighted from the divine poetry there contained. Joseph Fielding Mc Conkie, in his book "Gospel symbolism", in his introduction has this inspired words:" For many within the Church, symbolism is a dead language. The difficulties of interpretation and the barriers posed by scriptural language have discouraged some saints from feasting upon the inspired word. But those hungering for this greater substance have turned to the scriptures and commenced the struggle to learn the language of revelation. They have discovered that to be fluent in the language of the Spirit one must be fluent in the language of symbolism. Symbols are the language of feeling, and as such it is not expected that everyone will perceive them in the same way. Like a beautifully cut diamond, they catch the light and then reflect its splender in a variety of ways. Quoted this definition I'd like to enter directly in the topic: The names. Many names, of person or of places were given by God, or from inspired men with a prophetic purpose. For example When God have chosen the name for the first man, He has chosen Adam that in Hebrew language meant "many" or "mankind". It is very important that God Himself had chosen this meaning for the first man. Almost all the names of the prophet of old had a name related to their qualities and purposes. It is interesting to note that God sometimes changed their name in another name, because He wanted to make sure that the readers and even the person could have a stronger testimony of his task. It is enough to remember the case of Abraham or Jacob. I don't want to remember all the other cases, it would be enough to take a biblical dictionary to have a good idea of this. What I am saying it is true for the names of many places in the scriptures, for instance Jesus should born in Bethlem because the meaning of this place is "The House of bread" and Jesus was the bread of life. I'd like to remark here that sometimes those meanings are not just alone but sometimes in sequence, practically with all these pearls it will be possible to do a splendid necklace. To do a little example of this I'd like to remark that Jesus begun to preach the Gospel He started from capernaum that it means "consolation" in fact he was bringing consolation to the mankind. The last 2 nights He slept in Beftage or House of the fig tree and after in Bethany or the house of the poor. If you read my article the "fig tree" you will understand why. Joseph fielding Mc conkey gives this idea:" Symbols are the timeless and universal language in which God, in His wisdom, has chosen to teach his Gospel and bear witness of His Son. They are the language of the scriptures, the language of revelation, the language od the Spirit, the language of faith.Symbols are the language in which all Gospel covenants and ordinances of salvation have been revealed.They are a means whereby we enrich, deepen, and enhance understanding and expression. They enable us to give visual and conceptual form to ideas and feelings that may otherwise defy the power of words. Symbols take us beyond the language of words, granting us an eloquence in the expression of feelings." The mission of Jesus started with the immersion in the Jordan river, leaving aside all the explanations given in the past, there is another one that it is always missed, on my opinion, when Jesus explained to Nicodemus this concept He said in John 3:3
Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother's womb, and be born?
Nicodemus was well aware that the fetus was immersed in the water, but he didn't understand the full significance of this. Baptisim beyond to mean to wash our sins, the death of Adam and the resurrection in Jesus has another important meaning: the birth trough the pregnancy in the water, in fact trough the baptism or new birth there is also this temporary life in the water. Brother Roberto Asioli has given us a wonderful testimony regarding this concept of the symbolism in sequence when he taught this.
From Adam to Noah
Adam means Man
Seth means assigned Genesis 4:25 and she bare a son, and called his name Seth: For God, [said she], hath appointed me another seed instead of Abel, whom Cain slew. Therefore He took the place of Abel.
The son of Seth was Enos and his name means mortal, fragile,
Enos begat Cainan that it means sorrow, complaint
Cainan begat Mahalaleel that it means blessed God from the word Mahal "blessed" and el "God"
Mahalaleel begat Jared from the word Jaradh that it means go down
Jared begat Enoch that it means "teach" in fact He was the first preacher of four generations of preachers.
Enoch begat Methuselah that it means "his death will bring"
Methuselah begat Lamech that it means "complaint or sigh"
Lamech begat Noah that it means "rest".
Now if we put all the names in a row or better their definitions in a row we will have:
Man, assigned, mortal, sorrow, blessed God, will go down, to teach, and His death, will bring, sighed, rest.
In other words:
Man was assigned to the sorrow of death, but the Blessed God will go down to teach that His death will bring the sighed rest.
What a wonderful piece of work! I am sure that there are many other wonders in the scriptures, sure well hided, just for people that are hungering to find them. Probably every day we have this opportunity and everyday we read those things but we don't pay attention or probably you don't pay the price to bay this pearls of great price. The biblical students teach that most part of the scriptures are still a locked book for our understanding. Just when the Christ will come He will unveil the secrets of the words but even of each letter and even the empty spaces between the words. In this context we can better understand Matthew 5:17-18
Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfill.

Matthew 5:18
18 For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled.
Since my main purposes is to support the book of Mormon, and since I consider this book like the Bible, I'd like to remark several things regarding this topic. We should keep on mind that when Joseph Smith translated the golden plates he didn't have any knowledge of the Hebrew language and therefore I'd say that it was impossible for him to make a fraud. If somebody want to insist in this thesis, He should at least give to Joseph the benefit of an intelligence not only remarkable, for the intuitive knowledge of the Hebrew language (since he was an illiterate, he needed scribes!) but even more extraordinary because, like we will see these symbolic words set perfectly in the scriptural and temporal picture of the book of Mormon. We need to keep on mind that the Book of Mormon can't be completely similar to the Bible for the symbolism for a simple reason that it was well explained from Nephi in 2 Nephi 25:1-7
NOW I, Nephi, do speak somewhat concerning the words which I have written, which have been spoken by the mouth of Isaiah. For behold, Isaiah spake many things which were hard for many of my people to understand; for they know not concerning the manner of prophesying among the Jews.

2 Nephi 25:2
2 For I, Nephi, have not taught them many things concerning the manner of the Jews; for their works were works of darkness, and their doings were doings of abominat  br>
2 Nephi 25:3
3 Wherefore, I write unto my people, unto all those that shall receive hereafter these things which I write, that they may know the judgments of God, that they come upon all nations, according to the word which he hath spoken.

2 Nephi 25:4
4 Wherefore, hearken, O my people, which are of the house of Israel, and give ear unto my words; for because the words of Isaiah are not plain unto you, nevertheless they are plain unto all those that are filled with the spirit of prophecy. But I give unto you a prophecy, according to the spirit which is in me; wherefore I shall prophesy according to the plainness which hath been with me from the time that I came out from Jerusalem with my father; for behold, my soul delighteth in plainness unto my people, that they may learn.

2 Nephi 25:5
5 Yea, and my soul delighteth in the words of Isaiah, for I came out from Jerusalem, and mine eyes hath beheld the things of the Jews, and I know that the Jews do understand the things of the prophets, and there is none other people that understand the things which were spoken unto the Jews like unto them, save it be that they are taught after the manner of the things of the Jews.
But behold, I, Nephi, have not taught my children after the manner of the Jews; but behold, I, of myself, have dwelt at Jerusalem, wherefore I know concerning the regions round about; and I have made mention unto my children concerning the judgments of God, which hath come to pass among the Jews, unto my children, according to all that which Isaiah hath spoken, and I do not write them.

2 Nephi 25:7
7 But behold, I proceed with mine own prophecy, according to my plainness; in the which I know that no man can err; nevertheless, in the days that the prophecies of Isaiah shall be fulfilled men shall know of a surety, at the times when they shall come to pass.
Therefore the Book of Mormon doesen't contain many symbolisms for the reason explained, Nephi didn't instruct his children according to the manner of the hebrew and he preferred to address them in a simpler path. Even the Bible explain that the problem with the Jews was always that they wanted to jump beyond the mark. So it becomes evident that the Book of Mormon can't have a lot of symbols> This is not meaning that there are not, sure they are and most of them are just at the very beginning of the Book of Mormon when Lehi was present and in charge. Lehi was an old Hebrew well versed in the knowledge of the scriptures, He knew his background and his culture better than anyone else in the Book of Mormon history. For this reason during his traveling he named the places according to the Hebrew culture. It is interesting to note that even though the Book of Mormon gives the Zenos' prophecies in the Book of Jacob, those were well known from Lehi because he gave an explanation of them in 1 Nephi 10:12-14
Yea, even my father spake much concerning the Gentiles, and also concerning the house of Israel, that they should be compared like unto an olive-tree, whose branches should be broken off and should be scattered upon all the face of the earth.

1 Nephi 10:13
13 Wherefore, he said it must needs be that we should be led with one accord into the land of promise, unto the fulfilling of the word of the Lord, that we should be scattered upon all the face of the earth.

1 Nephi 10:14
14 And after the house of Israel should be scattered they should be gathered together again; or, in fine, after the Gentiles had received the fullness of the Gospel, the natural branches of the olive-tree, or the remnants of the house of Israel, should be grafted in, or come to the knowledge of the true Messiah, their Lord and their Redeemer.
and after that He gave name to that place "Lemuel" that in Hebrew means "why God", in fact He gave there an explanation of the God's plan. When Ismael die 1 Nephi 16:34
And it came to pass that Ishmael died, and was buried in the place which was called Nahom.
Nahom means cry or sigh
The name Lehi in Hebrew means "Hitchcock's Bible Names and Meanings, Lehi
Lehi    Jawbone    Judges 15:9
Hitchcock's Bible Names and Meanings, Ramath-lehi
Ramath-lehi    Elevation of the jaw-bone    Judg 15:17
Jaw-bone of an ass.
Probably you will think:"Jaw-bone of an ass it doesn't mean nothing! But if you go digging deeper in the Hebrew prophecy specially at the time of Lehi you will see that Israel was compared from Jeremiah the prophet to a wild ass Jeremiah 2:24-37
A wild ass used to the wilderness, [that] snuffeth up the wind at her pleasure; in her occasion who can turn her away? all they that seek her will not weary themselves; in her month they shall find her.

Jeremiah 2:25
25 Withhold thy foot from being unshod, and thy throat from thirst: but thou saidst, There is no hope: no; for I have loved strangers, and after them will I go.

Jeremiah 2:26
26 As the thief is ashamed when he is found, so is the house of Israel ashamed; they, their kings, their princes, and their priests, and their prophets,

Jeremiah 2:27
27 Saying to a stock, Thou [art] my father; and to a stone, Thou hast brought me forth: for they have turned [their] back unto me, and not [their] face: but in the time of their trouble they will say, Arise, and save us.

Jeremiah 2:28
28 But where [are] thy gods that thou hast made thee? let them arise, if they can save thee in the time of thy trouble: for [according to] the number of thy cities are thy gods, O Judah.

Jeremiah 2:29
29 ¶ Wherefore will ye plead with me? ye all have transgressed against me, saith the LORD.
In vain have I smitten your children; they received no correction: your own sword hath devoured your prophets, like a destroying lion.

Jeremiah 2:31
31 O generation, see ye the word of the LORD. Have I been a wilderness unto Israel? a land of darkness? wherefore say my people, We are lords; we will come no more unto thee?

Jeremiah 2:32
32 Can a maid forget her ornaments, [or] a bride her attire? yet my people have forgotten me days without number.

Jeremiah 2:33
33 Why trimmest thou thy way to seek love? therefore hast thou also taught the wicked ones thy ways.

Jeremiah 2:34
34 Also in thy skirts is found the blood of the souls of the poor innocents: I have not found it by secret search, but upon all these.

Jeremiah 2:35
35 Yet thou sayest, Because I am innocent, surely his anger shall turn from me. Behold, I will plead with thee, because thou sayest, I have not sinned.
Why gaddest thou about so much to change thy way? thou also shalt be ashamed of Egypt, as thou wast ashamed of Assyria.

Jeremiah 2:37
37 Yea, thou shalt go forth from him, and thine hands upon thine head: for the LORD hath rejected thy confidences, and thou shalt not prosper in them.
Let's consider this: Jeremiah was a contemporary of Lehi, no doubt on that, and accordig to the Bible dictionary these prophesies are given under the kingdom of Josiah during the time going from 626 b.c. to 608b.c. so this prophecy was well known at the Lehi's time and now let's go to better understand the meaning of this great leader, because he was a leader! Jaw is the place where people put the bit to lead the horse or donkey or whatever else therefore his name meant that God was leading by Lehi his people that at that time were compared to a wild donkey. Don't ell me that Joseph Smith knew all of this even because the word Lehi is just once in the whole Bible in Judges 15:9-19
Then the Philistines went up, and pitched in Judah, and spread themselves in Lehi.

Judges 15:10
10 And the men of Judah said, Why are ye come up against us? And they answered, To bind Samson are we come up, to do to him as he hath done to us.

Judges 15:11
11 Then three thousand men of Judah went to the top of the rock Etam, and said to Samson, Knowest thou not that the Philistines [are] rulers over us? what [is] this [that] thou hast done unto us? And he said unto them, As they did unto me, so have I done unto them.

Judges 15:12
12 And they said unto him, We are come down to bind thee, that we may deliver thee into the hand of the Philistines. And Samson said unto them, Swear unto me, that ye will not fall upon me yourselves.

Judges 15:13
13 And they spake unto him, saying, No; but we will bind thee fast, and deliver thee into their hand: but surely we will not kill thee. And they bound him with two new cords, and brought him up from the rock.

Judges 15:14
14 [And] when he came unto Lehi, the Philistines shouted against him: and the Spirit of the LORD came mightily upon
him, and the cords that [were] upon his arms became as flax that was burnt with fire, and his bands loosed from off his hands.

Judges 15:15
15 And he found a new jawbone of an ass, and put forth his hand, and took it, and slew a thousand men therewith.

Judges 15:16
16 And Samson said, With the jawbone of an ass, heaps upon heaps, with the jaw of an ass have I slain a thousand men.

Judges 15:17
17 And it came to pass, when he had made an end of speaking, that he cast away the jawbone out of his hand, and called that place Ramathlehi.

Judges 15:18
18 ¶ And he was sore athirst, and called on the LORD, and said, Thou hast given this great deliverance into the hand of thy servant: and now shall I die for thirst, and fall into the hand of the uncircumcised?

Judges 15:19
19 But God clave an hollow place that [was] in the jaw, and there came water thereout; and when he had drunk, his spirit came again, and he revived: wherefore he called the name thereof Enhakkore, which [is] in Lehi unto this day.

This story is not very popular in the scriptures, I mean not like many others and noone so far has never put in relationship this symbolism, neither the prophet.
Another interesting propheting name very interesting in the book of Mormon is Lemuel in Hebrew Lamma el and it is connected with Laman that it hase the same root "Lam", these two children of Lehi are always associated like rebels and unbelievers, how many fights had to face Nephi, how many times he had to remember them to keep the faith. Do you know what means in Hebrew Lamma el? it means "why God?"
1 Nephi 3:31
And after the angel had departed, Laman and Lemuel again began to murmur, saying: How is it possible that the Lord will deliver Laban into our hands? Behold, he is a mighty man, and he can command fifty, yea, even he can slay fifty; then why not us?
1 Nephi 7:6-12
And it came to pass that as we journeyed in the wilderness, behold Laman and Lemuel, and two of the daughters of Ishmael, and the two sons of Ishmael and their families, did rebel against us; yea, against me, Nephi, and Sam, and their father, Ishmael, and his wife, and his three other daughters.

1 Nephi 7:7
7 And it came to pass in the which rebellion, they were desirous to return unto the land of Jerusalem.

1 Nephi 7:8
8 And now I, Nephi, being grieved for the hardness of their hearts, therefore I spake unto them, saying, yea, even unto Laman and unto Lemuel: Behold ye are mine elder brethren, and how is it that ye are so hard in your hearts, and so blind in your minds, that ye have need that I, your younger brother, should speak unto you, yea, and set an example for you?

1 Nephi 7:9
9 How is it that ye have not hearkened unto the word of the Lord?

1 Nephi 7:10
10 How is it that ye have forgotten that ye have seen an angel of the Lord?

1 Nephi 7:11
11 Yea, and how is it that ye have forgotten what great things the Lord hath done for us, in delivering us out of the hands of Laban, and also that we should obtain the record?
Yea, and how is it that ye have forgotten that the Lord is able to do all things according to his will, for the children of men, if it so be that they exercise faith in him? Wherefore, let us be faithful to him.
1 Nephi 8:35-37
And Laman and Lemuel partook not of the fruit, said my father.

1 Nephi 8:36
36 And it came to pass after my father had spoken all the words of his dream or vision, which were many, he said unto us, because of these things which he saw in a vision, he exceedingly feared for Laman and Lemuel; yea, he feared lest they should be cast off from the presence of the Lord.

1 Nephi 8:37
37 And he did exhort them then with all the feeling of a tender parent, that they would hearken to his words, that perhaps the Lord would be merciful to them, and not cast them off; yea, my father did preach unto them.
Why God? means that they questioned God all the times, they didn't have faith on Him. It is interesting to note that the initial root of Laman and the complete name of Lemuel means "Why God?" For the opposite reason after he taught them the great purpose of God for them Lehi gave the name at the place in which preached it Lemuel's valley because there he explained the God's purpose. 1 Nephi 10:12:16
Yea, even my father spake much concerning the Gentiles, and also concerning the house of Israel, that they should be compared like unto an olive-tree, whose branches should be broken off and should be scattered upon all the face of the earth.

1 Nephi 10:13
13 Wherefore, he said it must needs be that we should be led with one accord into the land of promise, unto the fulfilling of the word of the Lord, that we should be scattered upon all the face of the earth.

1 Nephi 10:14
14 And after the house of Israel should be scattered they should be gathered together again; or, in fine, after the Gentiles had received the fulness of the Gospel, the natural branches of the olive-tree, or the remnants of the house of Israel, should be grafted in, or come to the knowledge of the true Messiah, their Lord and their Redeemer.

1 Nephi 10:15
15 And after this manner of language did my father prophesy and speak unto my brethren, and also many more things which I do not write in this book; for I have written as many of them as were expedient for me in mine other book.

1 Nephi 10:16
16 And all these things, of which I have spoken, were done as my father dwelt in a tent, in the valley of Lemuel.
The Book of Mormon maintain that the man who discovered the Americas, Cristoforo Colombo was inspired from God 1 Nephi 13:12
And I looked and beheld a man among the Gentiles, who was separated from the seed of my brethren by the many waters; and I beheld the Spirit of God, that it came down and wrought upon the man; and he went forth upon the many waters, even unto the seed of my brethren, who were in the promised land.
This could be a very hard point even because the name to this continent was given from another person Amerigo Vespucci, another great Italian and Joseph Smith being an unlearned person could have chosen this last guy, there are many learned person that sometimes mix up people and places. You could say that you don't understand the difference, instead it is important to show that the name of Cristoforo Colombo was also an inspired name. Let's see Cristoforo is the Italian name for Christopher and its meaning is very easy to understand it means Christbearer the second one is the one that english people don't usually realize because they are not familiar with Italian language Colomdo is the literal translation for "Dove" and everybody knows that the dove is the symbol for the Holy Ghost. Do you want more to accept his first and last name to be inspired. he had the names of the first counselor and Son of God and the second, the great Conforter and the great Revelator. Even though he was well acquainted with sciences of his day and his voyage have been viewed by some historians as primarily an economic triumph of Spain over Portugal, Columbus apparently had bigger motives for his voyage and felt himself spiritually driven to discover new lands. Newly acknowledged documents show that medieval eschatology, the scriptures, and divine inspiration were the main forces compelling him to sail. His notes in the works of Pierre d'Ailly and his own unfinished book Book of Prophesies substantiate his apocalyptic view of the world and his feelings about his own prophetic role.He had a testimony of his mission because Cristoforo Colombo said regarding himself and his mission:"The years will come......when the Ocean will loose the bonds by which we have been confined, when an immense land shall lie revealed" (Watts, p. 94. He believed himself chosen by God to find that land and deliver the light of Christianity to the natives there. He was called Christoferens (the Christ bearer). A map contemporaneous with his voyages depicts him bearing the Christ child on his shoulders across the waters. He believed that he was to help usher in the age of "one fold, and one sheperd" citing John 10:16 (cf. 3 Nephi 15:21) and spoke of finding " the new heaven and new earth". Writing to king Ferdinand and queen Isabella to gain financial support, Columbus testified that a voice had told him he had been watched over from infancy to prepare him for discovering the Indies. He felt that he was given divine keys to ocean barriers that only he could unlock (Merril, p. 135). In a second letter, he emphasized his prophetic role:"Reasons, mathematics, and maps of the world were of no use to me in the execution of the enterprise of the Indies. What Isaiah said (Isaiah 24:15) was completely fulfilled" (Watts p.96) Unknowingly, Columbus also fulfilled Nephi's prophecy.
Another important declaration of Columbus is:"The Lord was well available toward me and my desires. He gave me courage and intelligence. he gave an huge knowledge of the sea's life, of geometry and astronomy. I did read and study many books by which the Lord has opened my mind. Many persons that listened my ideas laughed at me but now who can doubt that the Spirit of the Lord inspired myself?
Even the dates are interesting specially if you read before "Keys for numbers" Columbus sailed 3/8/1492 the sum is 27 3 per 9 that is a symbol of perfection, so he had a perfect start. His voyage ended 12/10/1492 the sum is 20 and it contains 3 9 and 8 and it means a perfect new beginning.
Turning back at the initial symbolism we have to keep on mind that in the Bible the symbols were to give testimony of the mission of Jesus, of His Gospel and His ordinances. I don't want to stay on this point a lot time it is enough to say that Paul explained that the law was given to be a teacher()pedagogue) to bring to Christ and that the symbolism was something to prefigure the things to come.. In the Book of Mormon this necessity is well different because Christ is prophesied well clearly ( this is one of the reason that the critics use against us) so there is no need of any symbol because it is clear and also like I said at the beginning Nephi taught his children to be very simple in the writing. The Bible is a book full of treasures to unveil, but without the help of the holy Ghost they will remain unveiled or at least misunderstood like it is easy to see today, for the same symbols we have different interpretations. For this reason we have hundreds of different denominations. Even the Book of Mormon needs the guide of the Holy Ghost but it is clearer and simpler because his purpose is to "WHICH 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."
There is only a name in common in these two sacred books that it has a great importance like symbolic prophecy the name is:"Joseph" in Hebrew this name is Asaph that it means "God will increase" and this could be refers to a second canon of scriptures or to a new promise land, anyway this name has another meaning too in Hebrew it means also "the Gatherer" or who will cause to return. No name could have been more appropriate for the prophet of the last days, surely Joseph has not chosen this name by himself, correct? Eve his parents when he was born it is presumably easy to say that they had no idea that in the future Joseph will find the golden plates and ........
There is only one place in the book of Mormon after the death of lehi, an Hebrew of old, in which the book of Mormon use the symbolism in the old fashion way, probably because Moronih intended impress on the minds of his brothers a sacred and important principle and which is connected to the free agency: the principle of liberty! Therefore in Alma 46:12-22
And it came to pass that he rent his coat; and he took a piece thereof, and wrote upon it--In memory of our God, our religion, and freedom, and our peace, our wives, and our children--and he fastened it upon the end of a pole.

Alma 46:13
13 And he fastened on his head-plate, and his breastplate, and his shields, and girded on his armor about his loins; and he took the pole, which had on the end thereof his rent coat, (and he called it the title of liberty) and he bowed himself to the earth, and he prayed mightily unto his God for the blessings of liberty to rest upon his brethren, so long as there should a band of Christians remain to possess the land--

Alma 46:14
14 For thus were all the true believers of Christ, who belonged to the church of God, called by those who did not belong to the church.

Alma 46:15
15 And those who did belong to the church were faithful; yea, all those who were true believers in Christ took upon them, gladly, the name of Christ, or Christians as they were called, because of their belief in Christ who should come.

Alma 46:16
16 And therefore, at this time, Moroni prayed that the cause of the Christians, and the freedom of the land might be favored.

Alma 46:17
17 And it came to pass that when he had poured out his soul to God, he named all the land which was south of the land
Desolation, yea, and in fine, all the land, both on the north and on the south--A chosen land, and the land of liberty.

Alma 46:18
18 And he said: Surely God shall not suffer that we, who are despised because we take upon us the name of Christ, shall be trodden down and destroyed, until we bring it upon us by our own transgressions.

Alma 46:19
19 And when Moroni had said these words, he went forth among the people, waving the rent part of his garment in the air, that all might see the writing which he had written upon the rent part, and crying with a loud voice, saying:

Alma 46:20
20 Behold, whosoever will maintain this title upon the land, let them come forth in the strength of the Lord, and enter into a covenant that they will maintain their rights, and their religion, that the Lord God may bless them.

Alma 46:21
21 And it came to pass that when Moroni had proclaimed these words, behold, the people came running together with their armor girded about their loins, rending their garments in token, or as a covenant, that they would not forsake the Lord their God; or, in other words, if they should transgress the commandments of God, or fall into transgression, and be ashamed to take upon them the name of Christ, the Lord should rend them even as they had rent their garments.

Alma 46:22
22 Now this was the covenant which they made, and they cast their garments at the feet of Moroni, saying: We covenant with our God, that we shall be destroyed, even as our brethren in the land northward, if we shall fall into transgression; yea, he may cast us at the feet of our enemies, even as we have cast our garments at thy feet to be
trodden under foot, if we shall fall into transgression.
In this scripture Moronih remember them that they are a remnant of the house of Israel and he united the symbol to that of the broken garment of Joseph of Egypt, this is quoted in the Bible and probably Mormonih wanted to restore it. Moronih explains that Jacob had prophesied before of his death using the garment of Joseph like a symbol and therefore he had to explain it to them using the same symbol to make clear the point of his talk Alma 46:22-24
Moroni said unto them: Behold, we are a remnant of the seed of Jacob; yea, we are a remnant of the seed of Joseph, whose coat was rent by his brethren into many pieces; yea, and now behold, let us remember to keep the commandments of God, or our garments shall be rent by our brethren, and we be cast into prison, or be sold, or be slain.

Alma 46:24
24 Yea, let us preserve our liberty as a remnant of Joseph; yea, let us remember the words of Jacob, before his death, for behold, he saw that a part of the remnant of the coat of Joseph was preserved and had not decayed. And he said--Even as this remnant of garment of my son hath been preserved, so shall a remnant of the seed of my son be preserved by the hand of God, and be taken unto himself, while the remainder of the seed of Joseph shall perish, even as the remnant of his garment.
How could have done Joseph to connect everything so well? This is a good question.