We divided these chapters into four subjects: (1) the scattering of Israel, (2) the gathering of Israel, (3) the Millennium and (4) prophecies about Jesus Christ.
With the scattering their were natural consequences to their sins. We learned that many sins were being committed such as listening to soothsayers, marrying outside of the covenant, worshipping idols, not worshipping God, prideful, preying on the poor, drunkenness, calling evil good and good evil, and cursing God. Do we see any of these sins today? The natural consequences to their sins were: hiding from the Lord, idols destroyed, wicked will perish, all their finery will be taken away, no knowledge of God, all sinners will suffer whether rich or poor, and will be in darkness. Do we suffer from these natural consequences to our sins? Do we sometimes hide from the Lord because of our shame (do not want to pray) and we know the Holy Ghost cannot dwell with us in our sins (be in darkness). But, throughout all of this we read that the Lord's hand will still be stretched out....we just need to reach for it.
We learned that the gathering has commenced. We discovered that The Book of Mormon is a good gathering tool. President Benson said, "We must not forget that the Lord Himself provided the Book of Mormon as His chief witness. The Book of Mormon is still our most powerful missionary tool. Let us use it." 2 Nephi 2:10-12 taught us that a root of Jesse (Joseph Smith) will stand for an ensign of the people. Gentiles will seek this ensign. It also taught that the Lord will recover His people a second time (first time they were saved with Moses) and they will be come all around the world. Elder Maxwell made the following statement: "President Brigham Young noted....that as the Church extended and expanded into the nations of the world..., so in like manner and simultaneously would the power of the adversary rise...In such dramatic circumstances you will need those virtues which President George Q. Cannon ascribed to those of the latter days: courage, determination, and 'obedience to God under all circumstances.' ALL THE EASY THINGS THE CHURCH HAS HAD TO DO HAVE BEEN DONE. FROM NOW ON IT IS HIGH ADVENTURE!" What can we do to help with the gathering?
During the Millennium we found out that everyone on the earth will be holy. We will not need to worry about door locks, prisons Satan, a strong military, national elections, poverty or pornography. Christ will be the leader of our government. The animals will change. The wolf will dwell with the lamb, etc. This can be figurative or literal. Literal...just like it states -- figurative the wolf, lion and leopard representing the powerful, aggressive people and the lamb, kid and calf may represent peaceful and meek people. Do you want to be there? If so, what are we doing to become a "holy" person?
Wednesday, September 30, 2009
Wednesday, September 23, 2009
2 NEPHI 9
Imagine that you are walking along a beam of a high-rise building under construction. While walking on the fifteenth floor beam, you slip and fall off the edge. What safety device would you rather have: an umbrella, a parachute, a bungee cord, or a net around the base of the whole building? Why? We used this as a representation of the Atonement. If we choose correctly what our safety device will be, we can be saved.
Joseph Fielding Smith said, "The ninth chapter of II Nephi should be carefully read by every person seeking salvation."
Joseph Fielding Smith said, "The ninth chapter of II Nephi should be carefully read by every person seeking salvation."
Tuesday, September 22, 2009
2 NEPHI 6-8
Nephi asked his brother, Jacob, to speak to the people about some of Isaiah's writings. In chapter six we learned that Jacob was qualified to teach the gospel because: he was called of God (verse 2); was ordained after "his holy order" (he held the priesthood -- verse 2); was consecrated, or set apart, by the prophet Nephi (verse 2); he cared deeply about his people (verse 3); and Jacob had already put a great deal of effort into teaching the gospel (verse 3). Is our prophet as qualified as Jacob? How about our stake president, bishop, parents and even ourselves?
Chapter 7 tells us that the Lord has not abandoned covenant Israel in spite of their transgressions. In likening the scriptures unto ourselves we learn that the Lord will not abandon us....ever. We may abandon Him, but He will never abandon us. How can we abandon Christ? We learn from verses 10 and 11 that God is the source of light and truth. If we walk in our own light we will only have sparks, which last only an instant and give off little light. It was compared to fireworks....not very bright and can be a distraction.
Chapter 8 wants us to wake up and remember all the things the Lord has done for us. In verse 25 we are told to arise from the dust and sit down. Sounds like a contradiction at first but when we learn that dust was a symbol of mourning it makes more sense. We are to arise from our mourning and sit down in a place of dignity and loose thyself from the bands of thy neck (huh?). Invaders often took conquered inhabitants of the land as slaves, and often they would place bands around their necks. Symbolically, sin is like a band around our necks. So, get up....stop your mourning. We should find joy and hope in the promises that the Lord has made. We have knowledge of who we are and where we can go. This chapter teaches us that the Lord has not lost His power....we need to have faith that He knows what is best for each one of us.
Chapter 7 tells us that the Lord has not abandoned covenant Israel in spite of their transgressions. In likening the scriptures unto ourselves we learn that the Lord will not abandon us....ever. We may abandon Him, but He will never abandon us. How can we abandon Christ? We learn from verses 10 and 11 that God is the source of light and truth. If we walk in our own light we will only have sparks, which last only an instant and give off little light. It was compared to fireworks....not very bright and can be a distraction.
Chapter 8 wants us to wake up and remember all the things the Lord has done for us. In verse 25 we are told to arise from the dust and sit down. Sounds like a contradiction at first but when we learn that dust was a symbol of mourning it makes more sense. We are to arise from our mourning and sit down in a place of dignity and loose thyself from the bands of thy neck (huh?). Invaders often took conquered inhabitants of the land as slaves, and often they would place bands around their necks. Symbolically, sin is like a band around our necks. So, get up....stop your mourning. We should find joy and hope in the promises that the Lord has made. We have knowledge of who we are and where we can go. This chapter teaches us that the Lord has not lost His power....we need to have faith that He knows what is best for each one of us.
Friday, September 18, 2009
Thursday, September 17, 2009
NEPHI 4 & 5
Chapter 4 is sometimes called the Psalm of Nephi. We discovered that the psalm has four parts. We paraphrased the following verses: 15 - 16: I (Nephi) delight in the Lord's words; 17 - 19: Nevertheless....my sins bring me sorrow; 20-25: Nevertheless....I know God has blessed me, guided me, and filled me with His love; 26-27: O then, why...why do I continue to sin? We then read verses 29-35 to discover how Nephi found the strength to face his difficulties.
In verse 17 Nephi talks about his iniquities? We wondered what iniquities Nephi was talking about (OK, I wondered). In verse 13 we learn that Laman and Lemuel are again angry with Nephi. In verses 27 & 28 Nephi is asking why he is angry because of his enemy and he asks God to help him not be angry again because of his enemies. I believe this is the iniquity Nephi is referring to.
We tried to compare chapter 5 to ourselves. In verse 5 the Lord warned Nephi -- the Lord warns us of danger. Nephi was to flee into the wilderness -- we have been warned to flee wickedness. Nephi took all who would go with him -- we have been counseled to associate with good friends who believe as we do. Verse 6 tells us the people who went with Nephi believed in the warnings and revelations of God -- we have been counseled to hearken to the words of our parents, our leaders and our prophet. Verse 7 says that they journeyed many days until they found a new place to live -- for us it sometimes takes significant effort for us to do what we have been prompted to do.
What challenges do we face that the above verses help us with: friends, parties, free time work, school, TV, movies, the Internet, music, books, magazines, etc.? How can the principle of fleeing wickedness apply to these challenges?
Oh, and by the way, tomorrow is FRIDAY!!!
In verse 17 Nephi talks about his iniquities? We wondered what iniquities Nephi was talking about (OK, I wondered). In verse 13 we learn that Laman and Lemuel are again angry with Nephi. In verses 27 & 28 Nephi is asking why he is angry because of his enemy and he asks God to help him not be angry again because of his enemies. I believe this is the iniquity Nephi is referring to.
We tried to compare chapter 5 to ourselves. In verse 5 the Lord warned Nephi -- the Lord warns us of danger. Nephi was to flee into the wilderness -- we have been warned to flee wickedness. Nephi took all who would go with him -- we have been counseled to associate with good friends who believe as we do. Verse 6 tells us the people who went with Nephi believed in the warnings and revelations of God -- we have been counseled to hearken to the words of our parents, our leaders and our prophet. Verse 7 says that they journeyed many days until they found a new place to live -- for us it sometimes takes significant effort for us to do what we have been prompted to do.
What challenges do we face that the above verses help us with: friends, parties, free time work, school, TV, movies, the Internet, music, books, magazines, etc.? How can the principle of fleeing wickedness apply to these challenges?
Oh, and by the way, tomorrow is FRIDAY!!!
Wednesday, September 16, 2009
JOSEPH AND JOSEPH AND JOSEPH AND JOSEPH AND JOSEPH
Lehi is talking to his son Joseph and tells him about Joseph of Egypt who has a vision about the Nephites and also Joseph Smith. Interesting enough this great prophecy is not included in the Old Testament. It is a great chapter but my favorite verse is, "And his name shall be called after me; and it shall be after the name of his father. And he shall be like unto me; for the thing, which the Lord shall bring forth by his hand by the power of the Lord shall bring my people unto salvation." (2 Nephi 3:15)
Imagine being Joseph Smith as you are translating the plates that will become The Book of Mormon. He is sitting there with his scribe saying the words from the plates and he says, "his name shall be called after me". Do you think he may have thought, "Oh, Joseph is his name." Then he translates that, "it shall be after the name of his father." "Wow! My father's name is Joseph. My name is Joseph." I don't know if that was Joseph Smith's thoughts...but I can only imagine at that moment the great awakening in our Prophet Joseph Smith as he read his name in print from some ancient plates. That is pretty COOL!
Why so many Joseph's in the title? We had Joseph, Lehi's son, Joseph of Egypt, Joseph Smith, Senior, Joseph Smith, Jr., and Joseph Wise who was sitting in class learning all about many important Josephs.
Imagine being Joseph Smith as you are translating the plates that will become The Book of Mormon. He is sitting there with his scribe saying the words from the plates and he says, "his name shall be called after me". Do you think he may have thought, "Oh, Joseph is his name." Then he translates that, "it shall be after the name of his father." "Wow! My father's name is Joseph. My name is Joseph." I don't know if that was Joseph Smith's thoughts...but I can only imagine at that moment the great awakening in our Prophet Joseph Smith as he read his name in print from some ancient plates. That is pretty COOL!
Why so many Joseph's in the title? We had Joseph, Lehi's son, Joseph of Egypt, Joseph Smith, Senior, Joseph Smith, Jr., and Joseph Wise who was sitting in class learning all about many important Josephs.
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