A Study of the Book of Mormon

2 Nephi 30 Obedience and sin: these are the two principles upon which all men are measured equally. No amount of worldly wealth, no inheritance, no privileged station or social class can exclude us from the effects of sin or obedience. If a wealthy man sins, is it the same as if a poor man sins? This is not for me to decide. If a poor man is obedient, does he receive any greater reward than if a rich man is obedient? I can not say. These things are for God to decide, but the scriptures are clear that repentance and obedience, regardless of who you are in the eyes of the world, are the only way back into God's presence. Perhaps for some, poverty is their appointed and perfect test. Then for others, perhaps it is prosperity that will be the greatest proving ground for their souls. This chapter accomplishes two end for me this morning: 1) a reminder of the equality of Christ's doctrine (all that repent and believe in Christ shall be numbered among his people, and 2) all the righte...

2 Nephi 26:14-33 The footnotes to verse 20 are quite insightful as to where true power lies: in humility.  The Lord places stumbling blocks in our paths when we know the right way and turn from it. The work of the Lord is accomplished by the humble and weak things of the earth. The poor in Spirit are greater than the mighty ones for they have access to the grace and Spirit of God. Christ, the Lord, placed himself among the humble and poor things of the earth. "But the laborer in Zion shall labor for Zion; for if they labor for money they shall perish,"( vs. 31 ). See also Doctrine and Covenants 38:39 which says, "but beware of pride, lest ye become as the Nephites of old." Coming back to this entry after having let it sit for a couple of days, I appreciate the title even more: "Concerning the Last Days."  At no other time in the history of the world, has the work of the Lord been so uninhibited. It is interesting to note that as part of this prophe...

2 Nephi 15:30 (29&30) The pretext to this last verse is found in the previous verse and some of the footnotes that are found in the actual book of Isaiah in the Bible also give more insight. Back in verse 29, there is a footnote on "prey" which leads over to a prophecy made by the Savior himself in 3 Nephi 21. The wording is definitely misleading if taken in the wrong spirit. And my people who are a remnant of Jacob shall be among the Gentiles, yea, in the midst of them as a lion among the beasts of the forest, as a young lion among the flocks of sheep, who, if he go through both treadeth down and teareth in pieces, and none can deliver. (3 Nephi 21:12 ) To my understanding this is a prophecy of missionary work that will take place in the last days. The perceptions of the world towards our efforts as missionaries is that we come among them as ravaging beasts to steal away their family members and neighbors. Nothing could be further from the truth. Yet effective are the m...

2 Nephi 15:28-29 These verses appear to be Isaiah's best attempt at describing what he sees and hears in our day and time. I wonder if what he sees has already transpired or if he was seeing even yet further into the future beyond the present. "arrows... sharp," "bows bents," "horses' hooves... like flint," "wheels like a whirlwind." He has to use things that he understands and to describe it those around him. The roaring of lions mentioned several times in these verses has to be in reference to modern aircraft. If you've ever spent anytime near an airport and listened to the sounds of the planes coming and going, it is easy to see why Isaiah would say this is as the roaring of lions. The footnotes on the verses in Isaiah seem to almost suggests a symbolic parallel between this roaring of transportation and the Gathering of Israel in the last days. In looking for a personal application is it curious to observe how all things served to...

2 Nephi 15:27 "None shall slumber nor sleep; neither shall the girdle of their loins be loosed, nor the latchet of their shoes be broken; " A fresh reading of this verse, simply illustrates how quickly the traveling process will become. The travel shall become quick enough to not require sleep. "The girdle of their loins," this is a belt. "Latchet of their shoes" shoe buckle or anything else used to fasten a shoe. It simply seems to me that the point that Isaiah is trying to communicate here, is that travel will allow people to gather so quickly in the last days that it can be accomplished in less than a day. Such a concept was completely unfathomable even 60 years ago. In the history of the world, 60 years is a considerably small time frame.

2 Nephi 12:4-22 The remainder of this chapter is a reminder to the house of Jacob (and to me) that in the end "the Lord alone shall be exalted," ( 2 Nephi 12:17 ). All that man aspires to is of no worth in the end. These verses are very descriptive in depicting in great details that last day with abundant use of local symbolism that has great meaning in the regions surrounding Jerusalem. All the vain labors of man throughout all time will eventually be counted as nothing before the Lord in the end of times. This is thus a powerful reminder that the efforts expended in the work of the Lord are of such greater worth to man.

1 Nephi 22:20-26 I am familiar with this verse that I've extraction the post title from, verse 20. What I had not done was put the two parts of the verse together. The Lord will surely prepare a way for his people. What is that way? Nephi then references Moses in his prophecy of the advent of the Savior. Moses calls him a prophet that the Lord our God will raise up--A prophet whom we should obey in all things. Going over to John, where the Savior proclaimed himself "the way, the truth, and the life", I've read from John 14:6 to verse 14 . Very strongly impressed in my mind this morning is that promise: "If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it," (vs.14). Back in 1 Nephi, Nephi states "the righteous need not fear, for they are those who shall not be confounded," ( vs. 22 ). Nephi concludes this section with a personal witness of what he has seen in our day, of the Lord Jesus Christ (herein called the Holy One of Israel) performing his gr...