A Study of the Book of Mormon

2 Nephi 21:1-5 At the beginning of this chapter there is a yet another descriptive prophecy of Chirst's coming and of the nature of his righteousness. The personal application is that as Christ was and is, so I can also become through faith in Him. This comes with the hope that I may one day be worthy to be called a son of Christ (see Mosiah 5:7 ).  What stands out to me in this reading is the definition of the Spirit of the Lord found in verse 2 and then the results of having the Holy Spirit as a companion that follow in subsequent verses. Parenthetically, this is for me one of the most unique and empowering doctrines of my "Mormon" faith, in contrast with the rest of modern Christianity. I am blessed to enjoy the continual companionship of the Spirit of the Lord, as long as I prove faithful to the baptismal and sacramental covenants that I have made, which covenants entitle me to be the recipient of such a blessing as this. This companionship is very real, constant, a...

2 Nephi 19:1-2 , see also Isaiah 9:1-2 Isaiah continues to explain the calamities that are to come upon the House of Israel, as they ignore the Lord their God, his law, and the testimony of the prophets. Yet Isaiah pauses here at the beginning of this chapter to testify of the coming of Jesus Christ. He says that their gropings in darkness will not be as bad as in times past, primarily because "the Light" will come among them. It makes reference to the lands of Zebulun and Naphtali. We learn from footnotes and from an account of the Savior's ministry that these were lands near or within the land of Galilee. (Galilee is also referenced here in the same verse, but it doesn't really illustrate the proximity of the regions to one another. ) In Matthew 4:14-16 , there is a direct reference to these verses of scripture as being the reason for which the Savior did set off in the specific direction that he did at that point in his ministry. This is one of many instances where...