A Study of the Book of Mormon

2 Nephi 10:17-25 (I am still basking in the light of a glorious day of conference sessions. Here we are, the people of God ready to take action in a worldwide organization. There is no gathering like this anywhere on the earth. ) As I read through the final part of this chapter, I can't help but think of how optimistic and hopeful Jacob sounds as he concludes these remarks. This is a true mark of a Christian prophet. Jacob tells how the Gentiles will be raised up as a mighty people upon the land of promise, and that they will afflict their seed. Ultimately, however, they shall be the means of bringing the Gospel to their posterity. The outcome is optimistic. ( see vs. 17-18 ) Jacob tells about how they have been taken out of Jerusalem and the land of their inheretance. However, the Lord's will was done in this thing and as a result they had received an even greater land of promise. Additionally, Jacob references scriptural promises made to those that are found upon the isles o...

2 Nephi 10:7-16 There is a trigger in these verses that has been put in place by way of covenant, or promise, to the children of men. In verse 7 , we learn that when the house of Israel is brought to believe in Jesus as the Christ, then will He fulfill the promises which He had made to their fathers. These divine promises are of such strength that in order for the Lord to bring them about, He must destroy the work of the wicked, or those that fight against Zion. In other words, as the righteous (like young plants) begin to grow, the Lord will go about clearing the way for their growth, so that they are not overpowered by the wicked. "...That my covenants may be fulfilled... I must needs destroy the secret works of darkness, and of murder, and of abominations," ( vs. 15 ). There are specific promises that are made to the believing among the Gentiles. The Lord has promised to bless them upon the promised land forever, so that they would never be subjected to kings. The Lord h...

1 Nephi 22:6-12 Yesterday, I sat in on part of a church service for one of our Spanish congregations. With a recent influx of locally called missionary couples into the ward, the fulfillment of these verse was ever present in my mind. Here Nephi reviews the prophecies of Isaiah about the Gentiles being nurses to the House of Israel. Nephi expands upon Isaiah's prophecies and explains that the Lord God will proceed to do a marvelous work among the Gentiles--building them up unto a great nation. These gentiles would first scatter the remnant of the House of Israel. Then in due season, with great love, the gentiles would gather together the House of Israel.

1 Nephi 13:29-42 The series of events leading up to the introduction of the Book of Mormon is unsuspecting. The Gentiles are blessed in the land of promise. However, the descendants of Lehi (according to the covenants of the Lord that he made with Lehi) are not utterly destroyed either. They are smitten for a season because they had rejected the truth. Then the Gentiles who had smitten them also "stumble[d] exceedingly" ( see vs. 34 ) because of the many important parts of the Bible that were removed in erroneous translations. Both groups in question had fallen short. It seems that that Book of Mormon didn't come about until the world absolutely needed it. It is characteristically described as containing plain and precious truths, culminating in a witness for Jesus Christ as the Son of the Eternal Father and as the Savior of the world ( see vs. 40 ). In the Savior's own words, he says that in it is "written my gospel... my rock and my salvation," ( vs. 36 )...