A Study of the Book of Mormon

2 Nephi 29 This is a particularly curious chapter that was given directly as a revelation of the Lord to Nephi in very strong an clear terms. It deals with the general rejection of the Book of Mormon as scripture in our time. Upon understanding the scope of the Lord's work, that it has extended and will continue unto all nations of the earth, the argument for additional scriptures becomes much more plausible. A broader view, and the possibility that Christianity was preached elsewhere besides Judea in antiquity, lead to the natural conclusion that there must have been records kept elsewhere. Verses 12 and 13 are of particularly curious note in that they state that there are yet other records which have been kept by nations other than the Jews and the Nephites that we have not yet received, but will at some future date and time.

Chapter 28 is completely dedicated to the subject of false teachings and apostasy as it shall abound in the last days, or in other words, our times. It is interesting that Nephi finds it appropriate to dedicate an entire chapter to this subject. Perhaps it is because of the broad acceptance of these teaching; perhaps it is to prepare true disciples to be capable of discernment. Then at the end of the chapter, Verse 30 is one of the more well-known verses of scripture from the Book of Mormon, and it stands in direct contrast to apostasy, apathy, and indifference. For behold, thus saith the Lord God: I will give unto the children of men line upon line, precept upon precept, here a little and there a little; and blessed are those who hearken unto my  precepts, and lend an ear unto  my counsel, for they shall learn wisdom; for unto him that receiveth I will give more; and from them that shall say, We have enough, from them shall be taken away even that which they have.  It ...

2 Nephi 27 Verses one through five describe the apostate state of the world in the last days. What I find to be interesting is that these conditions are spoken of spiritually. Drunkenness, famine, thirst -- there is a void that is unable to be satisfied by wicked practices. One of the qualifiers that defines those that are drunken in iniquity is "all the nations that fight against Zion," ( vs. 3 ). Verses six through ten talk about the contents of the sealed portion of the Book of Mormon. In it there is a revelation or prophecy which spans from the beginning to the end of the world. Nephi goes on to say that it is a prophecy from God that reveals "all things from the foundation of the world to the end thereof," ( vs. 10 ). This is interesting to consider, that there is a prophecy that is being kept from us during this period of history because of wickedness. With that in mind, verse 11 looks forward to the day when that sealed portion of the book shall be read u...