2 Nephi 20:1: 1. rod = servant in the hands of Christ = Joseph Smith 2. stem of Jesse = Christ 3. branch = Christ 4. his roots = Joseph Smith's roots (i.e. lineage through Jesse) The First vision was in the Plan before we even came to this earth and everything has it's order. Blessing: I have amazing bosses that help me out a lot.
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2 Nephi 19:6, Our Savior Jesus Christ has many roles and responsibilities he is responsible for. He is our Savior, our Father of creation, our brother, exampler, and so much more... I am so thankful for the example our Savior set for me so that I may have a life to live my own life after, well try to. Wilford Woodruff said, "Jesus Christ was crucified, the Apostles were put to death, and most every man who bore the Priesthood was slain, excepting John the Revelator... These men laid down their lives, and the judgments of God overtook the Jewish nation, in fulfillment of the predictions of the Savior and the Prophets. Moses told them in his day, 'And thou shalt eat the fruit of thine own body, the flesh of thy sons and of thy daughters, which the Lord thy God hath given thee, in the siege, and in the straitness, wherewith thine enemies shall distress thee.' All this came to pass, and the kingdom was taken from the earth, the holy Priesthood was taken up to God, who ga...
2 Nephi 19:6 Oliver Cowdery said, "From those ancient inspired men we learn the fact, that, not only a Son was to be sent; but that that Son was to be no less than an everlasting Father, a mighty God, a Prince of peace! that from Bethlehem this illustrious personage was to come forth, and when he should come forth, was to be lead as a sheep to the slaughter, be numbered with transgressors, bear the sins of many, and be smitten for the children of men; but suffer this affliction to make intercession for the transgressors." (Messenger and Advocate, vol 2, p. 270) 2 Ne 19:6 and the government shall be upon his shoulder Jeffrey R. Holland "The fact that the government would eventually be upon his shoulders affirms what all the world will one day acknowledge-that he is Lord of lords and King of kings and will one day rule over the earth and his Church in person....All can take comfort from the fact that because the government-and the burdens thereof-will be upon his...
Christ was prepared and chosen from the beginning to be our redeemer and Savior of the world. He was ready and willing to give His life for each of us so that we could return to live with our Father in Heaven again. That is true love. 2 Ne 17:16 before the child shall know to refuse the evil and choose the good The Lord's prophecy has dual fulfillment and probably applies to Isaiah's son. The destruction of Syria and Ephraim are to come before this child reaches the age of accountability. Jeffrey R. Holland said "There are plural or parallel elements to this prophecy, as with so much of Isaiah's writing. The most immediate meaning was probably focused on Isaiah's wife, a pure and good woman who brought forth a son about this time, the child becoming a type and shadow of the greater, later fulfillment of the prophecy that would be realized in the birth of Jesus Christ. The symbolism in the dual prophecy acquires additional importance when we realize that Isa...
2 Ne 15:10 ten acres of vineyard shall yield one bath This verse uses three unfamiliar measures, "bath," "homer," and "ephah." In the Bible Dictionary, under "weights and measures," we learn that a bath is a volume of liquid approximately 8 ¼ gallons. An ephah is the dry equivalent to a bath, and a homer is ten times the amount of an ephah. The significance in these verses is that the crops and land will be cursed so that they will produce much less than would be expected. "In verse ten the seriousness of the desolation in the fields is demonstrated by the terms used. Ordinarily, a farmer would hope to get a thirty-, sixty-, or even a hundred-fold increase from the seed he planted. But instead, he would only get one tenth back, because one homer of seed (equal to ten ephahs) would yield only one ephah of harvest. This is a unique type of "reverse tithing." (Victor L. Ludlow, Unlocking the Old Testament, 149 as taken from Comm...
2 Ne 15:2 planted it with the choicest vine The house of Israel became the covenant people of the Lord because of the faith of the patriarchs, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. 'For the promise, that he should be the heir of the world, was not to Abraham, or to his seed, through the law, but through the righteousness of faith' (Rom 4:13). Abraham was favored of the Lord for his righteousness and faith. He could be considered 'the choicest vine' which the Lord planted in his vineyard, for Abraham was both choices and chosen (Abr. 3:23). -It talks about the vineyard and being able to do more to keep it growing. It's interesting because the last couple weeks I've been trying to decide what I need to do more? How can we improve our lives to follow more closely in the steps of our Savior Jesus Christ? Isaiah sees our day and doesn't know how to explain it I think that is why Isaiah is so confusing and it takes me like a week to get through one of his chapters. B...
I'm in the Isaiah chapter; God warns people throughout the scriptures both the Book of Mormon and the Bible to obey His commandments and obey or they will be punished and suffer. It's interesting that generation after generation His children do the same things. 2 Ne 13:16-24 the daughters of Zion are haughty Joseph Fielding Smith "As I sit on the stand in a stake conference and look down over the congregation, I see some of the conditions existing of which Isaiah spoke...The standards expressed by the General Authorities of the Church are that women, as well as men, should dress modestly. They are taught proper deportment and modesty at all times. It is, in my judgment, a sad reflection on the 'daughters of Zion' when they dress immodestly. Moreover, this remark pertains to the men as well as to the women." (Answers to Gospel Questions, 5:172-4 as taken from Latter-day Commentary on the Book of Mormon compiled by K. Douglas Bassett, p.34) Wilford Woo...
In 2 Nephi 12:3 Zion is referring to Missouri.* The people are going to take the law live it according to Gods will in a new land. I love this quote in regards to the greater good we could do to accomplish God's will: President Gordon B. Hinckley said, "Give me the money that has been spent on war,and I will clothe every man, woman, and child in an attire of which kings and queens would be proud. I will build a schoolhouse in every valley over the whole earth. I will crown every hillside with a place of worship, consecrated to the gospel of peace." (Charles Sumner, as quoted by Gordon B. Hinckley, Ensign, Mar. 1971, 20)" (K. Douglas Bassett, Commentaries on Isaiah in the Book of Mormon, [American Fork, UT: Covenant Publishing Co., 2003], 37) It's interesting to me how easy it is for people to turn from God to their "wicked ways" ( 2 Nephi 12:5). I seems that more and more people take that path all the time. We must be willing to do God's wi...
"he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths;" (2 Nephi 12:3) We have been given scripture and many teachings on the way to live the Gospel of Jesus Christ and follow in his path. We must use the words of God, having something and not using it is a waste. I know that the scriptures are the word of God and that they are here to lead us and guide us to live better lives. I'm thankful for the guidance and direction I get from them. Blessing: The gospel of Jesus Christ.
The Lord will protect and bless those who obey His commandments and do as He asks. We have been given agency, " Therefore, cheer up your hearts and remember that ye are free to act for yourself..." (2 Nephi 10:23) Our Father in Heaven trusts us enough to give us the responsibility of obeying His commandments and returning to His presence. So in order to do this, we must listen to His servants and obey and change our ways to be God's way. This is awesome: 2 Ne 11:2-3 he verily saw my Redeemer, even as I have seen him. And my brother, Jacob, also has seen him Nephi recognized the similarities between himself, Jacob, and Isaiah. All three had been privileged to see the Savior, to witness portions of his mortal ministry, and to be given knowledge about how the house of Israel will be gathered home in the last days. Their combined witness declares that Jesus Christ is the Messiah, that the promises of the fathers given to the house of Israel will all be fulfilled, and th...
2 Ne 10:3 they shall crucify him "Such knowledge could only be had by revelation. The fulfillment of the prophecy required not only that the Jews reject and kill their Messiah but also that he die by crucifixion. The prophecy was the more remarkable because crucifixion was unknown to Hebrew law. The Mosaic code prescribed the penalty of death in four forms: stoning, burning, beheading, and strangling." (McConkie and Millet, Doctrinal Commentary on the Book of Mormon, vol. 1, p. 266) The prophecy of our Savior and His purpose to die for each of us is amazing because this was hundreds of years before Christ was even born. The Lord with fortify the land of America against all other nations (2 Nephi 10:11-14) Christ also promised in vs 14 that he "will be a light unto them forever that hear my words." We need not only to hear the words of Christ but live our lives accordingly. We should always strive to live our lives in accordance with our Father in Heave...
2 Nephi 9:31-32 it warns those who are deaf and blind to not be or they will perish. It is talking about those who are spiritually blind and deaf. I think often times we are blind and deaf to the things we don't want to hear because we don't want to change our ways. What does it mean to be spiritually minded? And what do I need to improve in my own life to be more spiritually minded? I think to try to have an eternal perspective is a great way to be spiritually minded, although hard not impossible. 2 Ne 9:41 the keeper of the gate is the Holy One of Israel There is no way into the celestial kingdom except through gate make available by the atonement of Jesus Christ. He is the keeper of the gate. He will only open the gate to those who knock, And whoso knocketh, to him will he open (v. 42). Brigham Young "Let me give you a definition in brief. Your endowment is, to receive all those ordinances in the house of the Lord, which are necessary for you, after you ha...
2 Ne 9:15 Who will be at the judgment-seat of Christ? We always imagine that Christ will be our judge. However, He is not the only one who will judge us at the judgment-seat. Nephi declared, I shall meet many souls spotless at his judgment-seat...and you and I shall stand face to face before his bar; and ye shall know that I have been commanded of him to write these things (2 Ne 33:7,11). Moroni also will be at the judgment-seat, we shall meet before the judgment-seat of Christ, where all men shall know that my garments are not spotted with your blood (Ether 12:38). The Savior gave the responsibility of judging the twelve tribes of Israel to his apostles (Matt 19:28) and the responsibility of judging the descendants of Lehi to the disciples of the Americas (3 Ne 27:27). Therefore, the Savior and his servants, who wrote the scriptures before us, will judge us according to our faithfulness to the light we had received in mortality. -I always thought it would just be Jesus Christ but ...
2 Ne 9:7 Wherefore, it must needs be an infinite atonement infinite -Without limits; unbounded; boundless; not circumscribed; applied to time, space and qualities. God is infinite in duration, having neither beginning nor end of existence. He is also infinite in presence, or omnipresent, and his perfections are infinite We also speak of infinite space. Russell M. Nelson said, "His Atonement is infinite-without an end. It was also infinite in that all humankind would be saved from never-ending death (see 2 Ne 9:7; 25:16; Alma 34:10,12,14). It was infinite in terms of His immense suffering. It was infinite in time, putting an end to the preceding prototype of animal sacrifice. It was infinite in scope-it was to be done once for all (see Heb 10:10). And the mercy of the Atonement extends not only to an infinite number of people, but also to an infinite number of worlds created by Him (see DC 76:24; Moses 1:33). It was infinite beyond any human scale of measurement or mortal comp...
We know that God will prepare a way for His work to be done and that if we are faithful and willing He will use us to fulfill His great work. It is our duty as children of our Father in Heaven to be faithful and ready to help at any time. (2 Nephi 9:2) the Jews will be gathered in their lands and " they shall be restored to the true church and the fold of God;" Is that supposed to happen in this life or in the next? When will the people realize that their leadership isn't true and that they need a prophet called of God that teaches what our Father in Heaven wants us to hear the truth spoken by His prophet. Blessing: I have jobs that keep me busy and I love
2 Ne 8:6 for the heavens shall vanish away like smoke, and the earth shall wax old like a garment Joseph Fielding Smith "This earth is filling the measure of its creation. (Sec. 88:18-26.) Today it is passing through its mortal state. The time will come when it shall die and pass away as do all things upon it. Isaiah says: 'The earth mourneth and fadeth away, the world languisheth and fadeth away, the haughty people of the earth do languish.'(Isa 24:4) "'The earth is utterly broken down, the earth is clean dissolved, the earth is moved exceedingly. The earth shall reel to and fro like a drunkard, and shall be removed like a cottage; and the transgression thereof shall be heavy upon it; and it shall fall, and not rise again.' (Isa 24: 19-20) Again he declares: 'Lift up your eyes to the heavens and look upon the earth beneath; for the heavens (i.e. the heavens surrounding the earth) shall vanish away like smoke, and the earth shall wax old like a garmen...
2 Ne 7:2 is my hand shortened at all that it cannot redeem? Jeffrey R. Holland "These children will have a happy home and sealed parents yet. In the last days that bill of divorcement against their mother will be set aside, and so will the demands of any creditors. The Lord is in debt to no one, so neither will his children be. He alone can pay the price for the salvation of Israel and the establishment of Zion. His wrath is turned away, and he will not cast off his bride or allow her children to be sold into slavery. "As for the shortening of his hands, the scriptures repeatedly testify that the reach of God's arm is more than adequate, the extent of his grace entirely sufficient. He can always claim and embrace the Israel that he loves. In spite of their unfaithfulness, his hand remains constant, not shortened or slackened or withheld." (Christ and the New Covenant, 84-85, as taken from Commentaries on Isaiah in the Book of Mormon, ed. by K. Douglas Bassett, ...
2 Ne 5:27 "we did live after the manner of happiness" Richard J. Maynes The world in which we live is putting great pressure on good people everywhere to lower or even abandon their standards of righteous living. However, despite the evils and temptations that surround us each day, we can and will find true joy today in living a Christ-centered life. Centering our lives in Jesus Christ and His gospel will bring stability and happiness to our lives… While living in Bountiful, Nephi was charged by the Lord with the responsibility to build the ship which would take them across the sea to the promised land. After they arrived in the promised land, great conflicts continued to arise between the people who centered their lives in Christ and the nonbelievers, who followed the examples of Laman and Lemuel. Ultimately, the risk of violence between the two groups was so great that Nephi and those who followed the teachings of the Lord separated themselves and fled into the wild...
"those who believed in the warnings and the revelations of God;" -Do we believe? How do we live to show that we believe? One of the first things Nephi has his people do is build a temple (2 Nephi 5:16) that shows how important it is. The pioneers did the same thing in Nauvoo, built a temple first. I need to go to the temple more often to receive answers to my prayer as well as peace and comfort throughout my life. Blessing: I'm thankful for warm clothes.
"wilt thou make me that I may shake at the appearance of sin?" (2 Nephi 4:31) What an amazing request. The rest of us ask for crazy little things during the day but to fear sin would be the greatest blessing on earth. "wilt thou encircle me around in the robe of thy righteousness!" (2 Nephi 4:33) The desire is what we need to allow to grow within us, if we have a desire we can accomplish out goals with Christ. Blessing: I was able to go the the fair with some friends.
2 Ne 4:11 thy seed shall be numbered with his seed This is consistent with other scriptures in the Book of Mormon and D&C. The term "Samites" is never found. This is because they were numbered with the "Nephites." In Jacob's list of the "ites" of the Book of Mormon, "Samites" are notably absent, Now the people which were not Lamanites were Nephites; nevertheless, they were called Nephites, Jacobites, Josephites, Zoramites, Lamanites, Lemuelites, and Ishmaelites (Jacob 1:13). DC 3:17-18 lists the Nephites, Jacobites, Josephites, Zoramites, Lamanites, Lemuelites, and Ishmaelites. Again "Samites" are notably absent. This is remarkable doctrinal consistency for the machinations of an unschooled farm boy from Vermont. Unless, of course, he was a prophet of God. "For my soul delighteth in the scriptures, and my heart pondereth them, and writeth them for the learning and profit of my children." "Behold, my soul de...
2 Nephi 4:5, "I know that if ye are brought up in the way ye should go ye will not depart from it." That's an amazing blessing, it also shows that if there is good parenting that the gospel will more fully be part of the children's lives. Gordon B. Hinckley "Parents haven't measured up to their responsibilities. It is evident. A nation will rise no higher than the strength of its homes. If you want to reform a nation, you begin with families, with parents who teach their children principles and values that are positive and affirmative and will lead them to worthwhile endeavors. That is the basic failure that has taken place in America....parents have no greater responsibility in this world than the bringing up of their children in the right way...." (Ensign, Nov. 1996, pp. 48-9 as taken from Latter-day Commentary on the Book of Mormon compiled by K. Douglas Bassett, p. 99) Spencer W. Kimball "Though the parents are not always charged with t...
This chapter has a lot of prophecies in it of seeing the Nephites vision, seeing Joseph Smith and the role he would play in life This is interesting; 2 Ne 3:9 Similarities between Moses and Joseph Smith Moses delivered the children of Israel from spiritual bondage-Joseph delivered the people from spiritual bondage. Moses gathered the children of Israel in a literal sense-Joseph gathered the children of Israel in a figurative, or spiritual sense. Satan tried to destroy Moses by having the Hebrew firstborn killed (Ex 1:16)-Satan tried to destroy Joseph Smith at the first vision and on many other occasions. Moses fought against the political forces of his day-Joseph fought the religious elements and bigotry of his day Moses gave a new law with its associated covenants, priesthood, and temple ordinances-Joseph restored the greater law with its covenants, priesthood, and temple ordinances Moses was given an assistant named Aaron-Joseph was given assistants who acted with the gift...
2 Nephi 2:22-26; if we don't understand the fall and the importance of it then we aren't going to ever understand the Atonement. We must gain a complete understanding of both. in vs 28 it is inviting us to do a few things, "ye should 1. look to the great Mediator, and 2 Hearken unto his great commandments; and 3. be faithful unto his words, and 4. Choose eternal life according to the will of his Holy Spirit;" In regards to 2 Nephi 2:29, Elder David A. Bednar said "The journey from bad to good is the process of putting off the natural man or the natural woman in each of us. In mortality we all are tempted by the flesh. The very elements out of which our bodies were created are by nature fallen and ever subject to the pull of sin, corruption, and death. And we can increase our capacity to overcome the desires of the flesh and temptations, as described in [Mosiah 3:19], “through the atonement of Christ.” When we make mistakes—as we transgress and sin—we are a...
There is opposition in all things so that we know what is of God and what is of Satan. "Partake of the forbidden fruit, and ye shall not die, but ye shall be as God, knowing good and evil." (2 Nephi 2:18) This concept of disobeying God and partaking of the forbidden fruit is a big one, It is also one I wish I knew or understood more about the significants of it and what it truly means or should mean in our own lives. 2 Ne 2:21 And the days of the children of men were prolonged Lehi is referring to the state of probation which began with the fall of Adam. He is also making reference to the long lifespan of those who lived in the days of Adam. Adam lived 930 years, Seth lived 912 years, Methusaleh has the record with 969 years, and Noah lived 950 years. After the flood, something happened. Lifespans began to be cut much shorter. This was according to will of God, And the Lord said, My spirit shall not always strive with man, for that he also is flesh: yet his days shall b...