To Nephi, there are two groups of people in world, the Jews and the Gentiles. So even though as members of the church we are also descendants of Israel, Nephi considers us to be Gentiles since we are not full blooded Jews. However, I think the warning that Nephi gives his people that just because they are Jews they shouldn't assume they are more righteous than the Gentiles, it is a good warning for us. Just because we are members of the church, we should not assume we are more righteous than anyone else. Not knowing something does not make a person less righteous, it only makes them less accountable. Nephi tells the people that through us, the whole world, including the posterity of Lehi and the Jews of our day, will have the gospel and will be able to come to the a true knowledge of the Savior. And being the bearer of the message does not make us more righteous than those who will eventually receive it.
I think it gets more easy to see the division between the righteous and the wicked taking place that the Lord says he will cause in the last days. And just as we can all look forward to the time when there will be no danger and no wickedness, we can look forward to a time when all things will be made known. I look forward to that because I have lot's of questions and it will nice to have an understanding of all those things we wonder about but have no answers for.
Monday, March 8, 2010
Saturday, March 6, 2010
2 Nephi 29
There is logic in this chapter that is undeniable. If you believe in a God that has always given revelation throughout history, and that revelation was written by prophets and preserved as scripture, how could you assume he would not speak again? How could anyone assume that he had no more to say? And even more basic, who are we to decide that God will not speak again? The Lord even asks, "Why murmur ye, because that ye shall receive more of my word? Know ye not that the testimony of two nations is a witness unto you that I am God?" We only have a fraction of what was written by the prophets and to receive more confirms God's existence and the truth of what he says. And not only do we have more scripture from the past, but we have revelation and scripture in our day also. To assume that God is not active in our lives and not speaking to prophets is to close our eyes to the sun on a bright summer day and say there is no light.
Friday, March 5, 2010
2 Nephi 28
Chapter 28 is a strong prophetic warning to the people of our time. It is a long list of sins and transgressions that very much describe the problems of our day. One of the biggest is our acceptance of sin, the attitude that what is sin is not sin but acceptable and normal behavior. Just as Nephi describes, we have many contending religions, churches that teach doctrine that is based not on revelation but their own understanding and interpretations. There are many who do not believe in God, especially a God who is active in our lives, or at the least are agnostic. Unfortunately their shouts are louder than those who believe because they generally have control of the media. There is much class distinction and pride and rather than solve the problems of poverty, people capitalize on it and end up keeping the people in poverty they are professing to help out of it.
I think one of the most important things that Nephi says is in verse 30. He will give us line upon line and precept on precept, meaning our spiritual learning will come by step by step. If we accept and live what he gives us, he will give more. If we turn from that, if we do not continue to learn, we lose what we have. That is why people who leave the church eventually come to a point where they do not understand the doctrine and its application in their life and lose the foundation of their beliefs. What they used to believe becomes no longer relevant. If we stick with it, he tells us we will learn wisdom. Nephi basically says that it all comes down to whether we want to trust God, or trust in our own strength.
I think one of the most important things that Nephi says is in verse 30. He will give us line upon line and precept on precept, meaning our spiritual learning will come by step by step. If we accept and live what he gives us, he will give more. If we turn from that, if we do not continue to learn, we lose what we have. That is why people who leave the church eventually come to a point where they do not understand the doctrine and its application in their life and lose the foundation of their beliefs. What they used to believe becomes no longer relevant. If we stick with it, he tells us we will learn wisdom. Nephi basically says that it all comes down to whether we want to trust God, or trust in our own strength.
Thursday, March 4, 2010
2 Nephi 27
I wonder what Joseph Smith thought as he translated this chapter. As he translated these words, it had to have been both sobering and inspiring to realize that he was the person being referred to, that he was translating the book being prophesied about, and here he was fulfilling the very words being translating. Joseph could see that a portion of the plates were sealed and most likely realized that these sealed plates were the ones John spoke of in Revelations. I have no doubt that we do not realize how sacred this scripture is, and how blessed we are to be able to hold in our hands these ancient words written over 2500 years ago. I am sure that is why the Lord withholds knowledge and understanding of these words from those who would ridicule and scoff at them. He says he has poured out a spirit of deep sleep on them because they have closed their eyes and rejected the prophets.
It was when Joseph Smith was translating this chapter that he realized that others could see the plates and would have to stand by him as witnesses to their actual existence and purpose. After the three witnesses had the plates shown to them by the angel, Joseph went to his parents and wept because now the burden was not on him alone. Now others new without a doubt. It is one thing to say I have seen an angel, or I have seen and handled the plates. But when three or more can come forward and say I saw the angel too, I also saw and handled the plates, Joseph's testimony was validated and validated by men who were respected in the community.
It is so easy to forget what a miracle it is that we have the Book of Mormon. It is to easy to not remember the sacrifices made by those who wrote it, the blood that was spilt and the lives taken in order that we might have it today. And it is too easy to not realize how miraculous its coming forth in our day was. We are so very fortunate to have access to this sacred book and its words.
It was when Joseph Smith was translating this chapter that he realized that others could see the plates and would have to stand by him as witnesses to their actual existence and purpose. After the three witnesses had the plates shown to them by the angel, Joseph went to his parents and wept because now the burden was not on him alone. Now others new without a doubt. It is one thing to say I have seen an angel, or I have seen and handled the plates. But when three or more can come forward and say I saw the angel too, I also saw and handled the plates, Joseph's testimony was validated and validated by men who were respected in the community.
It is so easy to forget what a miracle it is that we have the Book of Mormon. It is to easy to not remember the sacrifices made by those who wrote it, the blood that was spilt and the lives taken in order that we might have it today. And it is too easy to not realize how miraculous its coming forth in our day was. We are so very fortunate to have access to this sacred book and its words.
Wednesday, March 3, 2010
2 Nephi 26
Nephi continues with his interpretations of Isaiah as they relate to his own people through verse 11. Much of what he tells them is also typical of what will happen in the last days. He tells his people that Christ will appear to them. But there will be wars and those who believe in Christ will be ridiculed and persecuted for their beliefs. They will kill the prophets and because of their wickedness and denial of Christ, they will be destroyed and the land will face great destruction. Nephi states that he has seen this in vision and it almost overwhelmed and consumed him. The righteous will not perish, but Nephi warns the wicked that the Lord will only strive with them so long. You have to wonder how long he's going to put up with the wickedness in our time.
The remainder of his interpretation of Isaiah is directed to the gentiles in the last days and this begins with verse 12 and continues through chapter 30. It's as if Nephi is saying, we can apply this to the Jews and to ourselves, but the message will be most important to the gentiles or us. And the main thrust of what he tells us is in verse 12, we must become "convinced that Jesus is the Christ, the Eternal God." Most churches believe that Christ didn't become the Savior until he was born and that he was only one of three possible manifestations of God. Nephi is saying he was a God before his earthly birth, he was a God on the earth, and he is a God now, not a temporary manifestation, but an eternal God. Here is some of what He prophecies to the gentiles in this chapter. There is too much to write about:
1. Verse 13. The Savior will manifest himself through the Holy Ghost to everyone who believes in him.
2. Verse 15. The descendants of Lehi's family will be driven and smitten by the Gentiles.
3. Verses 16. The Nephites will write about their people and seal this up and the Book of Mormon will come forth out of the ground and speak to them. It will sound familiar and have a familiar spirit. When I was on my mission, a Lamanite woman told me that the grandmothers in their tribe used to pass on their history to the grandchildren. They did this by telling them stories of their people. When she read the Book of Mormon the first time, she recognized the same stories in it that her grandmother had told her as a child.
4. Verse 20. The gentiles become built up in their pride (great and spacious building sound familiar?) and they become a great stumbling block to the church. They rely on their own wisdom, do not take care of the poor and dismiss the powers and miracles of God as nothing.
5. Verse 23-28, 30. The Lord will not turn anyone away. Everything he does is done because of his love for everyone and no one is privileged above another. No one will be denied his love regardless of their race, gender or religion.
6. Verses 29-30. To church members, he says that instead of doing everything for their own gain and power, priestcraft, he commands that everything should be done out of charity or love
The remainder of his interpretation of Isaiah is directed to the gentiles in the last days and this begins with verse 12 and continues through chapter 30. It's as if Nephi is saying, we can apply this to the Jews and to ourselves, but the message will be most important to the gentiles or us. And the main thrust of what he tells us is in verse 12, we must become "convinced that Jesus is the Christ, the Eternal God." Most churches believe that Christ didn't become the Savior until he was born and that he was only one of three possible manifestations of God. Nephi is saying he was a God before his earthly birth, he was a God on the earth, and he is a God now, not a temporary manifestation, but an eternal God. Here is some of what He prophecies to the gentiles in this chapter. There is too much to write about:
1. Verse 13. The Savior will manifest himself through the Holy Ghost to everyone who believes in him.
2. Verse 15. The descendants of Lehi's family will be driven and smitten by the Gentiles.
3. Verses 16. The Nephites will write about their people and seal this up and the Book of Mormon will come forth out of the ground and speak to them. It will sound familiar and have a familiar spirit. When I was on my mission, a Lamanite woman told me that the grandmothers in their tribe used to pass on their history to the grandchildren. They did this by telling them stories of their people. When she read the Book of Mormon the first time, she recognized the same stories in it that her grandmother had told her as a child.
4. Verse 20. The gentiles become built up in their pride (great and spacious building sound familiar?) and they become a great stumbling block to the church. They rely on their own wisdom, do not take care of the poor and dismiss the powers and miracles of God as nothing.
5. Verse 23-28, 30. The Lord will not turn anyone away. Everything he does is done because of his love for everyone and no one is privileged above another. No one will be denied his love regardless of their race, gender or religion.
6. Verses 29-30. To church members, he says that instead of doing everything for their own gain and power, priestcraft, he commands that everything should be done out of charity or love
Tuesday, March 2, 2010
2 Nephi 25
Nephi now interprets the Isaiah chapters for his people because he knows they do not understand them. The reason they don't is because they don't understand the way that the Jews prophesied. Nephi says the words weren't plain to them and we can certainly identify with them on that. In this chapter, the verses through verse 20 have Nephi relating the words of Isaiah to the Jews at Jerusalem specifically since the majority of his people would not have ever known Jerusalem or what it was like. And what Nephi does is show how the words of Isaiah were fulfilled. Beginning in verse 21, Nephi relates them to the Nephites and Lamanites. I picked out seven things in verses 1-20 that Nephi speaks to show the prophecies have been fulfilled with the Jews.
1. Verse 10. The Jews were destroyed and taken captive into Babylon.
2. Verse 11. After this, they were returned from Babylon and restored to their lands and Jerusalem.
3. Verses 12-13. They have many wars until the Savior comes who they reject because of their wickedness and crucify him.
4. Verses 14-15. The Savior will rise from the dead and Jerusalem is destroyed again, this time completely and the Jews are scattered among all the earth.
5. Verse 16. They will remain scattered among all the nations and persecuted by them until they believe in Christ and don't look forward to a different Messiah or believe in false ones.
6. Verse 17. The Lord will set his hand a second time to restore his people by doing a marvelous work and a wonder.
7. Verse 18. He will bring forward new scripture that will convince them that Christ is the true Messiah.
The last verses of the chapter contain Nephi's poignant plea for his people to keep the Law of Moses but to look to and believe in Christ. He tells them that the only way to live is to believe in him, not half way, but with full commitment, "with all your might, mind, and strength, and your whole soul." Verse 23 is used a lot but misunderstood in my mind. It says we are saved by the grace of Christ after all we can do. I don't think it means were saved by his grace after doing everything we can. I think it is saying regardless of everything we could possibly do, the only way we are saved is by his grace. Nothing we do saves us, it only qualifies us for some level of exaltation. That is why Nephi says "we talk of Christ, we rejoice in Christ, we preach of Christ, we prophecy of Christ... that our children (and us) may know to what source they may look for a remission of their sins."
1. Verse 10. The Jews were destroyed and taken captive into Babylon.
2. Verse 11. After this, they were returned from Babylon and restored to their lands and Jerusalem.
3. Verses 12-13. They have many wars until the Savior comes who they reject because of their wickedness and crucify him.
4. Verses 14-15. The Savior will rise from the dead and Jerusalem is destroyed again, this time completely and the Jews are scattered among all the earth.
5. Verse 16. They will remain scattered among all the nations and persecuted by them until they believe in Christ and don't look forward to a different Messiah or believe in false ones.
6. Verse 17. The Lord will set his hand a second time to restore his people by doing a marvelous work and a wonder.
7. Verse 18. He will bring forward new scripture that will convince them that Christ is the true Messiah.
The last verses of the chapter contain Nephi's poignant plea for his people to keep the Law of Moses but to look to and believe in Christ. He tells them that the only way to live is to believe in him, not half way, but with full commitment, "with all your might, mind, and strength, and your whole soul." Verse 23 is used a lot but misunderstood in my mind. It says we are saved by the grace of Christ after all we can do. I don't think it means were saved by his grace after doing everything we can. I think it is saying regardless of everything we could possibly do, the only way we are saved is by his grace. Nothing we do saves us, it only qualifies us for some level of exaltation. That is why Nephi says "we talk of Christ, we rejoice in Christ, we preach of Christ, we prophecy of Christ... that our children (and us) may know to what source they may look for a remission of their sins."
Monday, March 1, 2010
2 Nephi 24
Nephi finishes his quoting of Isaiah and in this chapter we learn of Lucifer's fall from his high station in the premortal life. When we finally see him for what he is, we will look upon him as a small and cowardly person and wonder how such a weak being could cause so much evil.
Isaiah once again talks of Israel's triumph over Babylon and the Lord returning them to the lands of the inheritance. All of this took place, but as one commentary states: "As history has its cycles, so prophecies of events now past foretell events yet future. The past is the stage upon which the future is portrayed. The scriptures thus have a timeless value and an eternal relevance." I was noticing on Sunday how all the hymns have a foundation in Isaiah. The establishment of Zion, the triumph over the church's enemies, the coming of the Lord both in the meridian of time and at the second coming, the triumph over evil, the need for righteousness, the restoration of the gospel, the prophetic calling of Joseph Smith; all of these and more are in Isaiah and in our hymns. Everytime I read Isaiah in the Bible and Book of Mormon, I learn more and it becomes a bit easier to understand. It's hard reading at first, but over time, it's reading that is well worth it.
Isaiah once again talks of Israel's triumph over Babylon and the Lord returning them to the lands of the inheritance. All of this took place, but as one commentary states: "As history has its cycles, so prophecies of events now past foretell events yet future. The past is the stage upon which the future is portrayed. The scriptures thus have a timeless value and an eternal relevance." I was noticing on Sunday how all the hymns have a foundation in Isaiah. The establishment of Zion, the triumph over the church's enemies, the coming of the Lord both in the meridian of time and at the second coming, the triumph over evil, the need for righteousness, the restoration of the gospel, the prophetic calling of Joseph Smith; all of these and more are in Isaiah and in our hymns. Everytime I read Isaiah in the Bible and Book of Mormon, I learn more and it becomes a bit easier to understand. It's hard reading at first, but over time, it's reading that is well worth it.
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