From the Dust Newsletter

From the Dust Newsletter. As we anticipate the *very* soon release of From the Dust #1, please consider signing up for our Newsletter. Here's what you get:

• Priority knowledge of our new products and promotions (we will always give our newsletter people about a day's heads up before blog, twitter, and everybody else)
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Why is today a great day? Also, when you sign up, you get a chance to tell us why today is a great day. Here are some responses from December!

"Because I'm a Mormon!!!" -- Anthony
"Because I found you!!!! Love that you are helping bring truth back!" -- April
"Christmas Eve:  The day before Christ was born." -- Chris
"I got the Fan Kit for Christmas and loved it! Can't wait for From the Dust #1!" -- Colby
"I've been looking for something like this." -- David
"It's an awesome day - my leave started today." -- Debbie
"God has given me comfort.  :D " -- Debra
"This comic is going to be awesome!" -- Dustin
"My 11 year thinks this is SO cool!  That's awesome!" -- Honor
"It's a great day because it's stormy and windy outside and I have two days off work." -- Inari
"My grandson will love this series of books!" -- Jimmy
"Because I just found out about From The Dust!" -- Kel
"To Day is a whole new beginning to a wonderful world of learning it's never to late for new thighs in life." -- Luz

 (PS - Luz, I'm not sure where you got your new thighs...but I'm glad they are working out!)

Anyway, see you soon! My next post...I will be giving you the REAL release date! Yes...we're that close!!!

New www.bookofmormoncomic.com!!

New website! A new website has launched with a new commercial! We've completely redesigned everything and have gone for a much simpler, much more professional look to the website. Let us know what you think!

New commercial! And don't forget to watch our commercials! Love you guys and thanks for supporting the project. My deepest gratitude to everyone who has ever said a kind word about the project or helped it in any way! Let's make this the big thing this Christmas season! I'm getting to work on a slew of 20-30 paintings to do in the next few weeks and then I send this baby to the printers!

Happy Holidays!
And yes Halloween counts!
Mike

Click the image to visit the new website!

A Serendipitous Convention

This video tells the story better than I can. It was recorded last Wednesday.

The “Al” mentioned in the video is both my neighbor and my surrogate grandfather. He’s a businessman at heart and helps me stay on top of the business side of things.

I had no idea the conference even existed last Wednesday morning, and by Thursday morning I had a booth with a sweet setup and a new video. Needless to say I didn’t sleep much. At all, really.

The booths typically cost $400. Dot’s husband, George, while musing to me while Dot did some paperwork for me, said, “This doesn’t usually happen. You must have a product that somebody really wants out there.”

From the Dust's booth on Wednesday afternoon.

From the Dust's booth on Thursday morning at the start of the convention.

I had many wonderfully fortuitous experiences at the LDSBA (Latter-day Saint Booksellers Association) Convention, the highlight of which is an appointment to present From the Dust to the leaders of Deseret Book in a few weeks.

I made a ton of other friends, many of whom you will meet in the coming weeks as we partner to help get From the Dust into the hands of Latter-day Saints worldwide.

And here's the intro video I made Wednesday night.





Just go to www.bookofmormoncomic.com to see it in action!

Prophets of Old...

Jeremiah blesses Nephi as a kitten.

Most people think of prophets as old guys. History doesn't support this concept. Numerous prophets have been called in middle-age. Others still were called while in their youth.

Jeremiah is one that was called while still young. Daniel, Ezekiel, David, and others--these people were young when they performed much of their work. Why do we insist on giving them big gray beards all the time? In reality most of these people that have interacted with Deity were middle-aged or younger, including Jesus and John the Baptist, and if you're Mormon, let's not forget Joseph Smith. Get with the program people. Being young is cool. People over 30 are boring.

The "laying on of hands" was an established practice for blessing or conferring authority during Biblical times. Moses and numerous other prophets and patriarchs are recorded having done so.

The Melchizedek Priesthood

Lehi prays fervently for the welfare of his people.

At the beginning of Season 1, we spend ample time getting to know Lehi and his family in their land of inheritance. One of the important events that happens here is Lehi's call to the ministry by Jeremiah -- in other words, his ordination to the priesthood. Lehi's experiences and visions--which are comparable to Moses'--would have merited such a call.

Lehi travels to Jerusalem to be ordained to the Melchizedek priesthood by the hand of Jeremiah. In those days very few people held the authority of the higher priesthood, and fewer still were worthy to wield its power.

This being a pivotal moment in Lehi's life, he chooses to bring his four sons to witness the ordination. The older boys have been to Jerusalem numerous times and have even dwelt there for extended periods to be taught and trained by their father.

Nephi, however, has been sheltered in his family's land of inheritance during his youth. He is experiencing the fallen nation of Judea for the first time. It is a dangerous place. The land is ripe with iniquity, a dark world defiled by the many curses Moses pronounced would follow the breaking of the Covenants.

One morning of the journey Nephi wakes up to find his father missing. Concerned, he searches for his father only to find him in solitude praying for the welfare of his people--and begging Yahweh for strength to live up to his call. It is a tender moment where young Nephi sees the true character and faith of his father. Nephi's true character, however, will remain hidden from his father's view for quite some time.

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Come back next Tuesday for my next "best effort" at creating this amazing world! 

The Weeping Prophet - Jeremiah 13:17

This image is an actual page from the comic book. 2! 2 pages! Mwa-ah-ah! Only 2000 more to go.

 Jeremiah, the Prophet

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An unconventional but highly charismatic prophet that never gives up.

Ever.

Quirky, small, and funny-looking, Jeremiah has never been popular with the ruling class, despite the fact that he has been an advisor to multiple kings. While still a tadpole, Yahweh called him as a prophet. The weight of his assignment--to cry repentance during Jerusalem’s darkest hour--has forced him to cling to all things lively and fun just to guard from eternal depression. He is not only a prophet, but the prophet, and the remnant of loyal followers of Yahweh follow his divinely inspired lead. His patience and long-suffering are truly inspiring.

Jeremiah's father, Hilkiah the Priest, discovered lost scripture in the Holy Temple while Jeremiah was still a boy. Known now as the Book of Deuteronomy, these scriptures contained the prophecies concerning the destruction of Jerusalem and the horrors that should befall the Holy City should the Covenant People fall from grace. Someone had hidden these records from the people. But why?

Now, knowing the destruction of his people (and the temple) is eminent, Jeremiah and the last few loyal followers of Yahweh dedicate themselves to collecting and preserving what is left of their sacred records, but it is not easy. Baruch, Jeremiah's scribe and loyal friend, helps Jeremiah record his own words, and others of Jeremiah's followers help him find and collect truly inspired writings. Their dream is to one day combine these sacred histories into a single volume and preserve them for future generations. They call these writings the "Holy Books."

But time is running out. Will they accomplish their task before the foretold destruction? Will anyone even survive it to read them?

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Jeremiah is a European Green Toad, which is endemic to Israel. He is often referred to as a frog...a bullfrog.

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Jeremiah 1:5-10

     Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee, and I ordained thee a prophet unto the nations. Then said I, Ah, Lord God! behold, I cannot speak: for I am a child. But the Lord said unto me, Say not, I am a child: for thou shalt go to all that I shall send thee, and whatsoever I command thee thou shalt speak. Be not afraid of their faces: for I am with thee to deliver thee, saith the Lord. Then the Lord put forth his hand, and touched my mouth. And the Lord said unto me, Behold, I have put my words in thy mouth. See, I have this day set thee over the nations and over the kingdoms, to root out, and to pull down, and to destroy, and to throw down, to build, and to plant.

Jeremiah 13:17

But if ye will not hear it, my soul shall weep in secret places for your pride; and mine eye shall weep sore, and run down with tears, because the Lord’s flock is carried away captive.

Valentine's

Dear Fans,

1. I'm sorry--I don't have Jeremiah finished yet.
2. I have a really good excuse!
3. My day job is awesome and has had me working *very* hard helping to pass an important "government spending bill" through our state congress (it's meeting resistance from people that are irresponsible with state funds).
4. Jeremiah's post would have been really sad anyway, which is not very heartening on Valentine's Day. A lot of scholars think he didn't even have a sweetheart (wife) but I don't think that's the case.
5. I will make up for it this weekend and the posts will continue every Tuesday!!!! PROMISE!
6. Expect Jeremiah on Saturday--and either Laman or a Sariah pic next Tuesday!

Click this link for more info about SJR22 ("The Government Spending Bill")

On a side note, it has become apparent to me that I will need to learn Hebrew to really take this comic where I want it to go.

See you this weekend!

"I will make Jerusalem Heaps and a Den of Dragons" -- Jeremiah 9:11

Nebuchadrezzar, Lord of the Chaldeans (pronounced kal-DEE-ens)

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The austere Lord of the Chaldeans, the King of Babylon.

Nebuchadrezzar is fierce and ruthless in the establishment of his new empire. He drives conquered peoples into submission by banishing the ruling class to be assimilated permanently into Babylonian culture. He does not tolerate disobedience. He is the most powerful man in the world, and that power has corrupted him entirely. He is determined to rule the world--and he will, for a short time. Even the 2000-year-old Egyptian dynasties will fall to him.

In addition, he is destined to destroy Jerusalem and its people into dust. He will take the treasures of his military campaigns (including treasures from the Holy Temple) and build the Hanging Gardens--one of the great wonders of the world.

Despite his merciless politics, Lord Drezzar is a highly cultured, highly intelligent individual that respects other like-minded persons. He treats the prophet Jeremiah with dignity and civility.

Nebuchadrezzar is also known as Nebuchadnezzar.

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Lord Drezzar (as he is sometimes called in From the Dust) is inspired by Desert Monitors and other reptiles of the Fertile Crescent region. His armies are famous for their ruthlessness, might, and "fierce countenance." (see Deut 28:49-51)

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Jeremiah 51:34

     Nebuchadrezzar the king of Babylon hath devoured me, he hath crushed me, he hath made me an empty vessel, he hath swallowed me up like a dragon, he hath filled his belly with my delicates, he hath cast me out.

Jeremiah 39:11-12

     Now Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon gave charge concerning Jeremiah to Nebuzar-adan the captain of the guard, saying, take him, and look well to him, and do him no harm; but do unto him even as he shall say unto thee.

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I will have "Jeremiah, the Weeping Prophet," done next Tuesday! See you then!