2 Nephi 30

Believe and Carry

In verse 3, Nephi prophesies that after the Book of Mormon would come forth, the many would believe the words and "carry them forth unto the remnant of our seed." I believe I am proof that this prophesy has been and is being fulfilled. I believe the words of the Book of Mormon and I had the wonderful opportunity of preaching the teachings of the Book of Mormon to the people of Guatemala for two years.

A Great Division

In chapter 30, Nephi talks about the 2nd Coming. One significant verse in this chapter that has always stood out in my mind is verse 10. Nephi tells of a great division among the people. It will be a division of the righteous and the wicked and that once divided, the wicked will be destroyed by fire. This division will happen in the future. A similar division has happened before, in the Book of Mormon. Just before the coming of Jesus to the Nephites, the government was destroyed and the people were divided into tribes of families (3 Nephi 7:2-3). Some were wicked and some were righteous. But the main point was that there was a division of the righteous and the wicked. Once the division was in place, the earthquakes, volcanoes, thunder, lightening and tempests began (3 Nephi 8). All the wicked were destroyed and the righteous were left, or at least those who were righteous as well as those who were willing to repent.

Our day is no different than in the Book of Mormon times. Every day, we divide ourselves by making choices. When we sin or fall to temptation and we do not repent, we move closer to Satan. But if we repent and do those small and simple things (Alma 37:6), our footing becomes more sure on the Lord's side.

2 Nephi 27

Drunken with Iniquity

To me, this image of drunken with iniquity evokes a scene of people not able to control their desires. I think of a person who takes a drink of alcohol and then another and another and he has no control and he cannot stop. The world will be similar to this drunken man. The world will delve further and further into iniquity that people will not have any control over their actions.

Is there any question that the world is becoming drunk with iniquity today? All that we have to do to gauge this is to turn on the TV or read the daily headlines in the news. Sadly, in this Information Age, every act of sin gets broadcast over the Internet and unlike the daily newspaper that used to be trashed and sometimes forgotten, today's barrage of news is ever available and can be easily summoned by any search engine. Thus today's outrageous acts of sin are multiplied by tomorrow's media shocks.

Paul sums up today's list of sins:
This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come.
For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,
Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good,
Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God;
Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.
For of this sort are they which creep into houses, and lead captive silly women laden with sins, led away with divers lusts,
Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.
Now as Jannes and Jambres withstood Moses, so do these also resist the truth: men of corrupt minds, reprobate concerning the faith.
But they shall proceed no further: for their folly shall be manifest unto all men, as theirs also was. (2 Timothy 3:1-9)

His Soul is Empty

I really like the analogy that Nephi borrows from Isaiah in verse 3. He is referring to the enemies of Zion in that all those who fight against Zion will think that they are victorious, but when reality hits them, they will realize that it was all a dream to them.

I think this analogy can also be applied to the world being drunk with iniquity. When we sin, we think we are seeking what will make us happy, but in reality when we "wake up," we realize that we are not truly happy and we find our "soul is empty."

It is very frustrating to see people seek happiness in sin. It is equally frustrating when people attack Christianity claiming that religion seeks to force people to live a certain way. In reality, all that Christianity seeks is true, lasting happiness for everyone. The Father of Lies is the one who deceives us into thinking we can find joy in sin. But instead of finding joy, we find nothing but emptiness when we sin.

The Sealed Book

Verses 9 and 10 concern the prophecy of Moroni giving the Book of Mormon to Joseph Smith. Some parts of the gold plates were sealed. What we have today is the unsealed portion of the Book of Mormon. Some day the sealed portion of the Book of Mormon will be revealed and "shall be read upon the house tops and they shall be read by the power of Christ" (v. 11).

The sealed portion of the book contains "all things from the foundation of the world unto the end thereof" (v. 10). We know that Nephi saw things in his vision that he was not permitted to write about. We also know that the brother of Jared saw the same vision and was commanded to write it and seal it up (Ether 3:25-27).

Show Them unto the Learned

In verse 15 we read, "Take these words which are not sealed and deliver them to another, that he ma show them unto the learned." This is in reference to Martin Harris taking a copy of some of the characters of the gold plates and showing them to Charles Anthon.

“I went to the city of New York, and presented the characters which had been translated, with the translation thereof, to Professor Charles Anthon, a gentleman celebrated for his literary attainments. Professor Anthon stated that the translation was correct, more so than any he had before seen translated from the Egyptian. I then showed him those which were not yet translated, and he said that they were Egyptian, Chaldaic, Assyric, and Arabic; and he said they were true characters. He gave me a certificate, certifying to the people of Palmyra that they were true characters, and that the translation of such of them as had been translated was also correct. I took the certificate and put it into my pocket, and was just leaving the house, when Mr. Anthon called me back, and asked me how the young man found out that there were gold plates in the place where he found them. I answered that an angel of God had revealed it unto him.

“He then said to me, ‘Let me see that certificate.’ I accordingly took it out of my pocket and gave it to him, when he took it and tore it to pieces, saying, that there was no such thing now as ministering of angels, and that if I would bring the plates to him, he would translate them. I informed him that part of the plates were sealed, and that I was forbidden to bring them. He replied, ‘I cannot read a sealed book.’ I left him and went to Dr. Mitchell, who sanctioned what Professor Anthon had said respecting both the characters and the translation.” (History of the Church, vol. 1, p. 20)

Removed Their Hearts Far From Me

In verse 25, the Lord says, “this people draw near unto me with their mouth, and with their lips do honor me, but have removed their hearts far from me, and their fear towards me is taught by the precepts of men.” We need to be weary of paying lip service to God and not serving him. In other words, the Lord is saying to not be hypocritical. We sometimes get caught up in repeating the Sunday school answers at church, but fail to truly understand what we are saying. If we understood what we were saying or paid attention to what we were saying, we would act the part of a good Christian rather than just paying lip service. As Elder Maxwell put in one time, "So it is that discipleship requires all of us to translate doctrines, covenants, ordinances, and teachings into improved personal behavior. Otherwise we may be doctrinally rich but end up developmentally poor" ("Becoming a Disciple," Ensign, June 1996, 12).

A good example of this principle is the Zoramites in Alma 31. Alma and his brethren witnessed the Zoramites praying in their synagogues only once a week. And when they went to their synagogues to pray, they stood on the Rameumptom and prayed out loud so everyone could hear. The Zoramites were paying lip service to God, but their hearts were far from Him. They did not truly pray to God; they did not serve others or have charity and neither did they keep the statutes and commandments of God. They were wicked, self-righteous, and hypocritical.

We need to be careful that we do not inherit a treasure trove of rich Gospel doctrine but then fail to use what we have learned. The most important lessons we will learn will be the relevant experiences as we live our lives. However, we must always read the scriptures. I am not saying that life’s experiences replace studying the scriptures. What we need to do is study the doctrine and the prophets, pray and then do. The scriptures are our textbooks for life’s class. The prophets are our teachers. Life’s experiences are our tests. We learn from the textbooks and teachers and then we are tested to see if we truly learn the lessons.

2 Nephi 8

The New Jerusalem and Old Jerusalem

I learned from another Book of Mormon commentator that this chapter is divided into two parts. The first part (verses 1-16) pertains to Zion or the New Jerusalem. The second part (verses 17-23) pertains to the Old Jerusalem.

The Earth Shall Wax Like an Old Garment

Verse 6 talks about the Earth dying. The following quote by Joseph Fielding Smith provides more detail on this subject.

This earth is filling the measure of its creation. (D&C 88:18-26.) Today
it is passing through its mortal state. The time will come when it shall die and
pass away as do all things upon it. Isaiah says: ‘The earth mourneth and fadeth away, the world languisheth and fadeth away, the haughty people of the earth do languish.’(Isaiah
24:4)

“’The earth is utterly broken down, the earth is clean dissolved, the earth is moved exceedingly. The earth shall reel to and fro like a drunkard, and shall be removed like a cottage; and the transgression thereof shall be heavy upon it; and it shall fall, and not rise again.’ (Isaiah 24: 19-20) Again he declares: ‘Lift up your eyes to the heavens and look upon the earth beneath; for the heavens (i.e. the heavens surrounding the earth) shall vanish away like smoke, and the earth shall wax old like a garment, and they that dwell, therein shall die in like manner.’ (Isaiah 51:6.) Here we have predictions that the earth shall pass away, die, and all its inhabitants shall also die in like manner. This truth was not generally and correctly understood until the Lord made known in revelations to Joseph Smith that this should be the case. When Isaiah said the earth should ‘fall and not rise again,’ the interpretation is that it should not be restored to the same mortal or temporal condition. When the earth passes away and is dissolved it will pass through a similar condition which the human body does in death….The ‘new heavens and new earth’ referred to in this scripture [Isaiah 65:17], and also in D&C 101:23-31, had reference to the change which shall come to the earth and all upon it, at the beginning of the Millennial reign, as we declare in the tenth article of the Articles of Faith. This is the renewed earth when it shall receive its paradisiacal glory, or be restored as it was before the fall of man. (See Compendium, art, "Millennial Reign," p. 202.) ‘The new heaven and new earth’ we are discussing in D&C 29, is the final change, or resurrection, of the earth, after the ‘little season’ which shall follow the Millennium.” (Church History and Modern Revelation, vol. 1, p. 132)

To summarize, the Earth is in a telestial state right now. Soon it will transform into a terestial state (a renewed earth in its paradisiacal glory). Finally the Earth will change to its final state which will be celestial.

The People in whose Heart I Have Written My Law

Verse 7 refers to having the Lord's law written on our hearts. Obviously this is symbolic. So what does it mean? To me, having the Lord's law written on our hearts means that we no longer have to think about obeying the commandments. Instead, we simply live it … it is a part of our lives. Sometimes we have to force ourselves to obey a commandment. If we are not in the habit of praying every morning and night, then we have to remind ourselves to pray morning and night. Soon our prayers become habit and we automatically say our prayers when it is time to pray. I also tend to think that when we memorize scripture and thoroughly study it, we have the Lord's law written on our hearts.

Thy Sons Have Fainted

Verses 18 and 19 refer to the two prophets who preach in Jerusalem for three and a half years and then are killed and their bodies lay in the streets for three days. Revelation 11:2-12 expands on this prophecy.

2 But the court which is without the temple leave out, and measure it not; for it is given unto the Gentiles: and the holy city shall they tread under foot forty and two months.
3 And I will give power unto my two witnesses, and they shall prophesy a thousand two hundred and threescore days, clothed in sackcloth.
4 These are the two olive trees, and the two candlesticks standing before the God of the earth.
5 And if any man will hurt them, fire proceedeth out of their mouth, and devoureth their enemies: and if any man will hurt them, he must in this manner be killed.
6 These have power to shut heaven, that it rain not in the days of their prophecy: and have power over waters to turn them to blood, and to smite the earth with all plagues, as often as they will.
7 And when they shall have finished their testimony, the beast that ascendeth out of the bottomless pit shall make war against them, and shall overcome them, and kill them.
8 And their dead bodies shall lie in the street of the great city, which spiritually is called Sodom and Egypt, where also our Lord was crucified.
9 And they of the people and kindreds and tongues and nations shall see their dead bodies three days and an half, and shall not suffer their dead bodies to be put in graves.
10 And they that dwell upon the earth shall rejoice over them, and make merry, and shall send gifts one to another; because these two prophets tormented them that dwelt on the earth.
11 And after three days and an half the Spirit of life from God entered into them, and they stood upon their feet; and great fear fell upon them which saw them.
12 And they heard a great voice from heaven saying unto them, Come up hither. And they ascended up to heaven in a cloud; and their enemies beheld them.

1 Nephi 21 & 22

On Tuesday September 11th, two passenger jets were flown into the two towers of the World Trade Center. Another plane was crashed into the Pentagon. A forth plane was headed for the White House or some other significant target, but it did not succeed. It crashed in western Pennsylvania. As the events unfolded, many Americans, including me, were shocked, scared and in unbelief. How could this happen in America? All Tuesday and for the next few days, everyone was in fear of another attack. Jill told me that she thought this was it – that the last day was here. That might be the case, but what I told her was that if it is the last day or not, that does not matter. What matters is if it is your last day on Earth or not. The last day will come whether we are ready or not. We will die someday, ready or not. The bottom line is that we are prepared. If we are prepared, then there is no reason to fear. If we die in righteousness, then we will be saved. But if our death is imminent and we have not done righteousness all our days, then we will fear.

Just as Nephi pointed out – the righteous need not fear. The righteous will not perish and will not be confounded. However, the wicked have much to fear for they will face their Judge and will be sentenced to spiritual death.

I think Nephi sums it all up in the final verse of 1 Nephi. “Wherefore, if ye shall be obedient to the commandments, and endure to the end, ye shall be saved at the last day.”

One of the speakers in a recent Sacrament meeting told an interesting story. In his talk he mentioned that members used to write letters to President Kimball and he would respond to many of them. One letter asked President Kimball if the fire in the scripture in Malachi regarding tithing was a "real" fire or if it was symbolic. President Kimball responded that the only fire he knew of was the one that burns! I can't find the source on that quote … but it is interesting if not funny! To relate this back to chapter 22, verse 22 talks about fire.

To summarize my insights from reading chapter 22:

First, it seems to me that many of the things discussed in these chapters are signs. We are given these signs so that we know that God indeed is in charge and knows what He is doing. These signs assure us and strengthen our faith. These signs also show the love of God towards all his children … especially those who love him.

Second, to reiterate again … "the righteous need not fear" (v. 17, 22).

Third, Nephi describes the work and glory of Satan. In verse 23 he tells us that Satan seeks to "get power over the flesh" meaning he desires control over our bodies. Satan and his followers seek the popularity of the World or in another word vanity. Satan and those who belong to his church "seek the lusts of the flesh and the things of the world, and to do all manner of iniquity."

In conclusion, we need to know that there are signs that indicate Christ's 2nd coming and we need to look for them. And not only should we look for those signs, but we should align our lives with the Savior's. If we do, then we need not worry about cataclysmic events that will surly take place.

January 5, 2012 update

Most of this original post discussed my commentary on 1 Nephi 22.  There's not much said on 1 Nephi 21 (Isaiah 49).  For more insight into 1 Nephi 21 (Isaiah 49), see this post on my Isaiah blog.