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"A Sore Cursing...Save They Shall Repent," 2 Nephi 5: 21-25

2 Nephi 5:21-25

I struggled with these verses yesterday when I was study it in Spanish, not because of the language but because of my perceived severity of the curse. Because of their unrighteousness, this particular branch of the house of Israel was punished with the cursing of a darker skin.

In our modern circumstances, a darker skin seems hardly a curse. In fact, as I reflected in Doctrine and Covenants 95:1, I was reminded that with every chastisement, the Lord is merciful and had prepared a way for their eventual salvation, whatever their lot in life is. What's more, whom the Lord loves, He chastens. I feel that this condemnation that fell upon the Lamanites was also extended in love.

What is even more curious, as Nephi is making account of the Lamanites' curse, the Lord says unto him that the Lamanites will keep the Nephites in remembrance of the Lord unto repentance, or else "they shall scourge them even unto destruction," (vs. 25). Despite their curse, brought upon a nation because of the wickedness of their fathers, never are the Lamanites consigned to absolute destruction as were the Nephites for failure to keep God's commandments.
In a broader view of the situation, it seems that the Lord did have the Lamanites long term preservation in mind. Thus the eternal purposes of a loving God are considered to be far beyond our immediate circumstances.
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Comments

  1. LizzieMay 5, 2010 at 12:08 AM

    The darkening of their skins isn't the curse. The curse is being cut off from Heavenly Father. This is what my professor say at BYU.

    ReplyDelete
  2. BrentMay 5, 2010 at 7:08 AM

    Great insight. I guess I never stated it, but after re-reading that post, that's in a sense the conclusion that I had come to as well.

    Thank you.

    ReplyDelete

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