A Study of the Book of Mormon

2 Nephi 13:1-8 I was fortunate to read this account in Spanish first this go around. In Spanish the same verses equate the words "stay and staff" with the translated "sustain and support". In simple terms then, what Isaiah is saying is that the arm of the Lord which has been a support for his people, Jerusalem and Judah, will be taken away by the Lord because of their disobedience. He points to the great blessings of able leadership--counselors, wise men, men of war, prophets-- and says that these things shall be done away with. They will be replaced with inexperience in matters of ability and respect, and be led by those who are children. The reason for the demise of Jerusalem is in verse 8 , "their tongues and their doings have been against the Lord, to provoke the eyes of his glory." Clearly, the things we do and the things we say carry great weight in the sight of God. I do well to remember this.

1 Nephi 2:19-24 In this second communication that Nephi has with the Lord, the Lord extends to Nephi blessings and curses. The Lord pronounces a particular cursing upon his brethren -- if they rebel against Nephi, they would be separated from the Lord's presence. There is a parallel relationship between Nephi's brothers to him and me to my ecclesiastical leaders. Failure to sustain my leaders puts me at risk of separating myself from the Lord. This can be a hard principle to embrace. It is hard to think that God will entrust an imperfect man with judgment to act in my behalf when spiritual discernment is required, but I've seen it happen so I know the principle to be true. I take comfort in the fact that the Lord will sustain and magnify his chosen servants, despite their weaknesses, to act in behalf of all His children. *** There is a parallel between the patterns that the Lord uses with both Lehi and Nephi to reveal himself unto them. First they pray, the Lord speaks to ...