2 Nephi 3&4 Joseph Smith and Nephi's Psalm

I don't know why I never picked up on this before, but it's Joseph of Egypt's words in chapter 3. I always just thought it was Lehi telling the prophesies, but it's coming straight from Joseph. Why would Christ feel it necessary to tell Joseph of Egypt about Joseph Smith? I don't really have an answer, but it seems that Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ have never done anything without first prophesying about it and letting us know what's up. I love this about them. Chapter 3 captures Joseph Smith's mission so well. I wonder if Joseph of old stood in awe of Joseph Smith as we do today; truly a humble and mighty man all in one.

2 Nephi 4 reminds me of "You Matter to Him" by President Uchtdorf--especially 2 Nephi 4:16-17. Nephi is so frustrated with his human weaknesses when he remembers his nothingness in the scope of God's creations, but when he remembers God's love for him, he finds strength to be strong and to endure. This whole chapter would fit perfectly in Psalms.   

This is a paradox of man: compared to God, man is nothing; yet we are everything to God. While against the backdrop of infinite creation we may appear to be nothing, we have a spark of eternal fire burning within our breast. We have the incomprehensible promise of exaltation—worlds without end—within our grasp. And it is God’s great desire to help us reach it.

-President Uchtdorf 

2 Nephi 1&2 Captain of My Soul

And if ye shall say there is no law, ye shall also say there is no sin. If ye shall say there is no sin, ye shall also say there is no righteousness. And if there be no righteousness there be no happiness. And if there be no righteousness nor happiness there be no punishment nor misery. And if these things are not there is no God. And if there is no God we are not, neither the earth; for there could have been no creation of things, neither to act nor to be acted upon; wherefore, all things must have vanished away.

2 Nephi 2:13

Can I just say existentialism? Existentialism is the philosophical belief system that every action is ONLY a result of a cause and so there is no freedom or accountability. On the other side of the spectrum we have those who believe men are always free to choose. Sounds like the gospel right? This model would also say that we can chose where we end up in our next life because we are always free. This is not true. Really, we are a mixture of freedom and determinism. We have absolute agency over our choices, but the consequences are existentially determined by our choices. This is what Lehi teaches in 2 Nephi 2.  

And the Messiah cometh in the fulness of time, that he may redeem the children of men from the fall. And because that they are redeemed from the fall they have become free forever, knowing good from evil; to act for themselves and not to be acted upon, save it be by the punishment of the law at the great and last day, according to the commandments which God hath given. Wherefore, men are free according to the flesh; and all things are given them which are expedient unto man. And they are free to choose liberty and eternal life, through the great Mediator of all men, or to choose captivity and death, according to the captivity and power of the devil; for he seeketh that all men might be miserable like unto himself. 

2 Nephi 2:26-27

I love this principle. Though there are consequences for our actions, our outcome is our choice and it always has been.

Invictus

Out of the night that covers me, 

Black as the Pit from pole to pole,

I thank whatever gods may be

For my unconquerable soul.

In the fell clutch of circumstance

I have not winced nor cried aloud.

Under the bludgeonings of chance 

My head is bloody, but unbowed.

Beyond this place of wrath and tears

Looms but the Horror of the shade,

And yet the menace of the years

Finds, and shall find, me unafraid.

It matters not how strait the gate,

How charged with punishments the scroll. 

I am the master of my fate:

I am the captain of my soul.

-William Ernest Henley 

1 Nephi 21&22 Nursing Fathers and Mothers

1 Nephi 21 and 22 go hand in hand and should always be read together. I love 1 Nephi 22:1. "What meaneth these things which ye have read" is exactly what I asked after I read 1 Nephi 21. This is a good place to start gearing up for Isaiah, because 2 Nephi is just around the corner and worth the read. For the most part, chapter 21 is understandable, but Nephi's explanation of 1 Nephi 21:22-23 in 1 Nephi 22:6-8 is very helpful. Here's the original:

Thus saith the Lord God; Behold, I will lift up mind hand to the Gentiles, and set up my standard to the people; and they shall bring thy sons in their arms, and thy daughters shall be carried upon their shoulders. And kings shall be thy nursing fathers, and their queens thy nursing mothers; they shall bow down to thee with their face towards the earth, and lick up the dust of thy feet; and thou shalt know that I am the Lord; for they shall not be ashamed that wait for me.

1 Nephi 21:22-23

I've heard this scripture a thousand times and have only ever partially understood it until now. 1 Nephi 22:6-7 explains that Israel will be nursed by the Gentiles. The Gentiles will be made great and then scatter Israel (just open any history textbook to get this confirmed). The Lord will bring to pass a marvelous work (Isaiah 29:13-14) among the Gentiles that will be of great worth to the Israelites too. This is when Israel will start to be gathered again and recovenant with God. The Gentiles will carry the Israelites on their shoulders and become their nursing fathers and mothers. This is the latter-day missionary work going on right now! There are a couple of other verses I really like from chapter 21. 1 Nephi 21:13 is so beautiful. All of God's creations rejoice with Him. 

Sing, O heavens; and be joyful, O earth; for the feet of those who are in the east shall be established; and break forth into singing, O mountains; for they shall be smitten no more; for the Lord hath comforted his people, and will have mercy upon his afflicted.

1 Nephi 21:13

I testify of the promise in 1 Nephi 21:15. Christ will not forget us. Though we fall short time and time again, we are His family and He will not give up on us.

For can a woman forget her sucking child, that she should not have compassion on the son of her womb/ Yea, they may forget, yet will I not forget thee, O house of Israel.

1 Nephi 21:15

I know that 1 Nephi 22:15&26 is a prophesy about the Millennium, but we can do this now on a smaller scale. By staying righteous and following Christ, we can bind Satan in our homes and in our dealings with others.

For behold, saith the prophet, the time cometh speedily that Satan shall have no more power over the hearts of the children of men; for the day soon cometh that all the proud and they who do wickedly shall be as stubble; and the day cometh that they must be burned . . . . And because of the righteousness of his people, Satan has no power; wherefore, he cannot be loosed for the space of many years; for he hath no power over the hearts of the people. for they dwell in righteousness, and the Holy One of Israel reigneth.

1 Nephi 22:15&26

I could go on, but really you need to read these chapters for yourself. Isaiah's prophesies are beautiful and relatable because we see them being fulfilled today. If ever there was a more important time to read Isaiah, it is now. And honestly, it's not so hard to understand. :) 

1 Nephi 19&20 OBEY

And the world, because of their iniquity, shall judge him to be a thing of naught; wherefore they scourge him, and he suffereth it; and they smite him, and he suffereth it. Yea, they spit upon him, and he suffereth it, because of his loving kindness and his long-suffering towards the children of men.

1 Nephi 19:9

I don't really know what to say. This verse makes me shrink and also feel so much gratitude for our Savior. He did these things for US because of His loving kindness. A part of me wants to be angry with those who crucified Him. On Palm Sunday, His followers were laying palm branches at his feet and saying, "Hosanna: Blessed is the King of Israel that cometh in the name of the Lord" (John 12:13). Days later the same people cried, "Crucify him, crucify him" (Luke 23:21). However, in God's great mercy, He arranged for our redemption through the blood of His Lamb. We couldn't prevent Christ's crucifixion and sufferings, but we can prevent His sufferings now by obeying His word and loving our fellow men. We can do so by showing the same kindness he showed us in "his long-suffering towards the children of men." We DO NOT have to be like the people described in 1 Nephi 19:7.   

For the things which some men esteem
to be of great worth, both to the body and soul,
others set at naught and trample under their feet.
Yea, even the very God of Israel do men trample
under their feet; I say, trample under their feet
but I would speak in other words—they set him
at naught, and hearken not to the voice of his counsels. 

1 Nephi 19:7

1 Nephi 20 reminds us of many promises we have when we obey. If we hearken we will have peace like a river, righteousness as the waves of the sea, and seed numerous as the sand (1 Nephi 20:18-19). The Lord points out many times in this chapter that these things are not a secret. Since the beginning of time, He has let us know what is expected of us. We have no excuse to disobey!

Come ye near unto me; I have not spoken 
in secret; from the beginning, from the
time that it was declared have I spoken;
and the Lord God, and his Spirit, hath sent me. 

1 Nephi 20:16

A quick note back to 1 Nephi 19. It's easy to become discouraged when you're trying to invite others to Christ, but remember, our success is ALWAYS in the invitation alone.

Now it came to pass that I, Nephi, did teach my brethren these things; and it came to pass that I did read many things to them, which were engraven upon the plates of brass, that they might know concerning the doings of the Lord in other lands, among people of old. And I did read many things unto them which were written in the books of Moses; but that I might more fully persuade them to believe in the Lord their Redeemer I did read unto them that which was written by the prophet Isaiah; for I did liken all scriptures unto us, that it might be for our profit and learning.

1 Nephi 19:22-23 

1 Nephi 17&18 Scripture Study

The reasoning Nephi uses in 1 Nephi 17 is classic to the scriptures. So many prophets cite the Lord's miracles He has preformed in the past. Don't believe me? Check out Hebrews 11 and Ether 12. Hebrews 11 and Ether 12 are examples of teaching the principle of faith through stories from the past.

By faith Noah, being warned of God of things

not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared

an ark to the saving of his house; by the whcih

he condemned the world, and became heir

of the righeousness which is by faith.

Hebrews 11:5

For is was by faith that Christ showed himself

unto our athers. after he had risen from the dead;

and he showed not himself unto them until after

they had faith in him; wherefore, it must needs

be that some had faith in him, for he

showed himself not unto the world.

Ether 12:7

1 Nephi 17 is a little bit different though from Hebrews 11 and Ether 12. This time, Nephi uses stories from the past to warn his brothers about the ramifications of turning from God. Nothing like instilling a little fear to get people moving. It worked for at least a little while (1 Nephi 17:55).

And notwithstanding they being led, the Lord 

their God, their Redeemer, going before them, 

leading them by day and giving light unto 

them by night, and doing all things for them which 

were expedient for man to receive, they hardened 

their hearts and blinded their minds, and reviled
against Moses and against the true and living God. 

And it came to pass that according to his word 

he did destroy them; and according to his word 

he did lead them; and according to his word he 

did do all things for them; and there was 

not any thing done save it were by his word.

1 Nephi 17:30-31

This chapter reminds me of the importance of preserving God's word and stories of saints throughout all ages. If God sent Nephi and company all the way back for the brass plates, if He had Joseph Smith risk his life to bring forth the Book of Mormon, and if our prophets exhort us to read the scriptures and keep our own records, then they must be important! Nephi set a great example of "[likening] all scriptures unto us, that it might be for our profit and learning" (1Nephi 19:23). However, first we need to know what's in those scriptures. So, pull out your sticks (Ezekiel 37), get to readin', and then consciously apply what you learn!

1 Nephi 15&16 Steps to Success

What I love most about this story (Nephi breaks the last bow) is that it's so relatable. We've all been in those situations when things are a little rocky in family dynamics and the world is crashing down because no one is getting along. Nephi breaks the cycle though with his usual can do attitude and gives us a lovely pattern to follow. When there is a problem (family related or otherwise) these must be:
1) Recognition
2) Action
3) Humility
4) Prayer/Counsel God
5) Repentance
6) Gratitude
I've been testing Nephi's model with some various hypothetical situations, and in some degree all of these points need to be employed for success. Whether it is the offender or the offended that needs to follow the steps, they are all used.

Recognition

Now it came to pass that I, Nephi, having been
afflicted with my brethren because of the loss
of my bow, and their bows having lost their springs,
it began to be exceedingly difficult, yea,
insomuch that we could obtain no food.

1 Nephi 16:21

Action

And it came to pass that I, Nephi, did make out of
wood a bow, and out of a straight stick, and arrow;
wherefore, I did arm myself with a bow and
an arrow, which a sling and with stones.

1 Nephi 16:23

Humility

And I said unto my father:
Whither shall I go to obtain food?

1 Nephi 16:23

Prayer/Counsel God

And it came to pass that he did inquire of the Lord, . . .

1 Nephi 16:24

Repentance

And it came to pass that the voice of the Lord came
unto my father; and he was truly chastened because
of his murmuring against the Lord, insomuch that
he was brought down into the depths of sorrow.

1 Nephi 16:25

Gratitude

. . . and now when they beheld that I had obtained
food, how great was their joy! And it came to
pass that they did humble themselves before
the Lord, and did give thanks unto him. 

1 Nephi 16:32 

All the steps mush together, but you get the idea. You should read the chapter though, because these few excerpts don't do it justice. It's interesting to me how many times humility is mentioned. There is really no room for pride when it comes to families.  

1 Nephi 13&14 Nephi Talks About Today!

This is probably one of my favorite chapters in 1 Nephi. Who doesn't love a good Revolutionary War reference? It's American history right in the Book of Mormon!

And I beheld that their mother Gentiles were gathered

together upon the waters, and upon the land also,

to battle against them. And I beheld that the power of

God was with them, and also that the wrath of God

was upon them, and also that the wrath of God was

upon all those that were gathered together against

them to battle. And I, Nephi, beheld that the Gentiles

that had gone out of captivity were delivered by

the power of God out of the hands of all other nations. 

And it came to pass that I, Nephi, beheld that they

did prosper in the land; and I beheld a book,

and it was carried forth among them.

1 Nephi 13:17-20

1 Nephi 13 can be summed up in four main categories. It just helps to organize these long chapters.

1) The Great and Abominable Church

2) The Discovery of America

3) The Apostasy

4) Carrying Forth of the Book of Mormon/The Restoration

When I read this chapter this go around it felt like a TON of prophesies, but the end of the chapter 13 really ties in the spiritual theme of the chapter. Chapter 13 does a great job of showing God's mercy and plan for His children on this world. The Apostasy was unfortunate, but He had a plan to redeem us and bring the gospel back to us. So many things were corrupted, but the gospel was restored and we have it available to reap the benefits! If you want a good summary of the purpose of the Book of Mormon, just read 1 Nephi 13:40.

And the angel spake unto me, saying: These last records which thou hast seen among the Gentiles, shall establish the truth of the first, which are of the twelve apostles of the Lamb, and shall make known the plain and precious things which have been taken away from them; and shall make know to all kindreds, tongues, and people, that the Lamb of God is the Son of the Eternal Father, and the Savior of the world; and that all men must come unto him, or they cannot be saved.

1 Nephi 13:40

As far as 1 Nephi 14 goes, verse 14 is my favorite. I love reading about the "saints of the church of the Lamb" in the Book of Mormon. That's us now! We may be small in number, but we are growing and we are armed in righteousness! 

 And it came to pass that I, Nephi, beheld the power

of the Lamb of God, that is descended upon the saints

of the church of the Lamb, and upon the covenant
people of the Lord, who were scattered upon all
the face of the earth; and they were armed with
righteousness and with the power of God in great glory.

1 Nephi 14:14