2 Nephi 26 Nephi begins by paraphrasing something that Malachi would also state centuries later in the Bible. Jacob quotes passages from Isaiah. He pleads at the throne of our Father on our behalf. Nephi’s reasons can help us in our study. 20 And they have brought forth children; yea, even the family of all the earth. The atoning sacrifice would have been worthless suffering if there was no resurrection to make exaltation possible. In the end they will be freed from hell and be awarded the glory they were willing to live for in mortality. If we were able to live all His laws without the need for a Savior then we wouldn’t be here like this, would we? But there is a silver lining here. Those who chose evil in mortality will have evil capacities restored to them in the resurrection. The link for the PDF doesn’t seem to be working for me. He must uphold justice, since they are His laws. Eternal life is exaltation. Note: Nephi's prophecies (2 Nephi 25:7, 30:17) were not directed to the people of his day, but to future members of the house of Israel. The views expressed in this website are my own. He emphasizes that if the people are righteous, they will prosper; but if they are wicked, they will be destroyed. [38] Nephi challenges that assumption, and encourages the Gentiles to believe that God would speak to more than one nation. 1: The Journey, http://www.fairmormon.org/perspectives/fair-conferences/2010-fair-conference/2010-restoring-the-original-text-of-the-book-of-mormon, https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/scriptures/bofm/2-ne/1?lang=eng, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Second_Nephi&oldid=990725984, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License, This page was last edited on 26 November 2020, at 04:30. Continual repentance is how we access the Savior’s atoning sacrifice on our behalf. But that forgiveness that we all seek if we want to be like Christ can only come to those who are willing to be humble and penitent, which is to have a broken heart and a contrite spirit. 25:3 Wherefore, I write unto my people, unto all they that shall receive hereafter these things which I write, that they may know the judgments of God, that they come upon all nations. This section is the same as chapter 13 from the 1830 edition. And even that must be done in Christ’s name or it is ignored. In 1812, Methodist minister Asa Shinn gives us a typical indirect argument used by both Calvinists and Arminians to defend the satisfaction theory of the atonement, as Lehi does in 2 Nephi 2: Justice is an essential and eternal attribute of God. Every time I read 2 Nephi 2 I see things I didn’t see before. 25 Adam fell that men might be; and men are, that they might have joy. Q: “LDS Church: What is the meaning of 2 Nephi 2:22?” > “And now, behold, if Adam had not transgressed he would not have fallen, but he would have remained in the garden of Eden. What we don’t have is immortality AND eternal life, which is God’s way of life. And the Spirit is our tutor, he who teaches us and molds us to be as much like Christ as we are willing to become. He also says that there will be scriptures that will come from some of the lost tribes of Israel. It is only because of his personal worthiness that our Father answers our prayers. He is referring to willful ignorance. He also predicted that a seer named after Joseph, and whose father's name is also Joseph, would the Lord raise up, for the purpose of restoring Israel.[7]. Repentance is the only way to activate the atonement and be made clean and pure before the laws of God. I will refer to him mainly as the Christ or Messiah. [32] He prophesies the destruction of his own people due to wickedness. It included what kind of behavior we need to be able to exhibit, what kind of attitudes we must develop, and the character traits that define someone who is worthy to enter the celestial kingdom. 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. Every living soul has it. We would all be cut off from His presence. And that payment must stand absolute forever and ever. He was trying to show them why there had to be opposition in this life, why things have to be hard. Why is it repeated so many times and always seems contradictory? In 2 Nephi chapter 2, Lehi expounds to Jacob about the redemption and salvation through Jesus. This is the natural result of the moral agency our Father has given to each of us to exercise. There is no third state. They have only been transferred from our Father to Christ. Amen. Before their flight, Nephi's father prophesied the impending destruction and captivity of Jerusalem by the armies of Babylon. Oh how lovely was that morning16×20 image to celebrate the bicentennial of the Restoration, on framed canvas. John W. Welch Notes 2 Nephi 31 2 Nephi 31:1–2 — Nephi Writes His Last Words of Prophecy. We are each in the middle of our time in mortality. That is my person opinion. Why? If we are damned, meaning to live away from His presence for eternity, it is because of our choice. That is sufficient for them. [34] He prophesies that the Gentiles will establish many different churches and also practice priestcraft, or the practice of preaching the gospel for money rather than for the love of the gospel. Sometimes we refer to the Savior’s payment for our sins as the ultimate gift from God. Nephi was the fourth of six sons of Lehi and Sariah.He is believed to have been born in 615 BC. Then in 2 Nephi 8, he continues by reading Isaiah 51–52:2. In 2 Nephi 1-2, Lehi teaches his sons foundational truths about God's great plan of happiness for His children. Lesson Helps. . This website is NOT an official website of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. There is nothing in the whole realm of gospel learning I find as exciting as the perfection that makes up the plan for our salvation. No, I think his pride grew and developed over a long period of time, until he was finally faced with the fatal choice to either rebel or concede, but his pride would not allow his concession to God’s will. Um 588–570 v. Chr. Question . Every step of the plan was designed and built into the very creation of the universe itself. For willful ignorance is the same as rebellion. It is the greatest expression of God’s love and the enjoyment that only exalted beings can experience. But our Savior hasn’t taken over the plan God gave us and made it his own. Both of them are on the extreme end of the spectrum, the one being perfectly good and the other being completely evil or opposing all that God stands for and seeking His destruction. The use of our moral agency in mortality hinges on these two things, the enticement to do good and the enticement to do evil. In addition, this passage (2 Nephi 11:2–8) turns out to feature the principal theses of Nephi’s writings at the same time that it explains the inclusion and placement of the long excerpts from Lehi, Jacob, and Isaiah, even though it is a passage that has rarely been featured in Book of Mormon analyses. It is important to remember that just because Christ paid for our sins it doesn’t mean that all accountability for our sins have disappeared. Christ has prepared the way for us to return to God, our Father. As eternal beings we have always known the difference between basic good and evil, but mortality brings on a whole new level of choices between the two and the expressions of the two. The one brought death, and with it knowledge and accountability. However, in Jacob’s concluding discourse he tells the people through revelation from an angel that God’s anointed would be known as Christ. But this redemption is conditional. 2 Nephi 2:14 Things to act and things to be acted upon. There is more to it than that, but that is the best case scenario. The salvation of His children is His harvest. To go to the official Church website go to www.lds.org. Originally 15 chapters in length, the book was reformatted in 1879 by Orson Pratt to its current length of thirty three chapters long.[2]. [42], The Book of Mormon Movie, Vol. Everything in the plan of salvation has this state of being as the ultimate goal for God’s children. He says that both the matter which He used to form our bodies and our souls/intelligence are both formed of eternal material. Verse 7 is where Lehi points out that the Savior couldn’t achieve the point or ends of all of God’s laws, which was to offer exaltation to all His children, unless he was willing to offer himself as a sacrifice for our sins. This is why he wants us to choose His goodness, so we can become righteous and experience the same joy He lives with all the time. I call them “Guides” because not only do they quote Isaiah, but thankfully, they also comment on what they’ve quoted. The original translation of the title did not include the word "second". Keep this in mind as you work through all the parts of the plan for our salvation. We had agency of some sort in the premortal world. 30 I have spoken these few words unto you all, my sons, in the last days of my probation; and I have chosen the good part, according to the words of the prophet. At the time of the great discourse recorded in 2 Nephi 9, Jacob would have been 35–45 years of age. The scope of the plan is so perfect, and inclusive, so vast, yet so sublime as to provide room for endless fascination. 2 Nephi chapter 8, has this same enthusiasm! The one comes from God and the other from the Devil. This is where we are first introduced to this idea that there are only two real choices we make in this life. So 2 Nephi 1-2 constitute one unit and 2 Nephi 3 a separate unit. 12 Wherefore, it must needs have been created for a thing of naught; wherefore there would have been no purpose in the end of its creation. We call Christ “the firstfruits unto God” because God often refers to his harvest in the scriptures. The second section of Nephi’s final sermon, the focus of this essay, is also marked off as an inclusio by Nephi’s two references to “the doctrine of Christ” (2 Nephi 31:2 and 21). This is a general blessing and curse upon all peoples who inhabit the land where Lehi and his family lived. Celebrate the bicentennial of the Restoration with this “Oh how lovely was that morning” throw pillow. A careful study of the Book of Mormon chapters before 2 Nephi 10 shows that Lehi, Nephi, and Jacob use the terms Lord, God, and frequently “the Holy One of Israel” to refer to Jesus Christ. Let’s carefully look at 2 Nephi chapter 31. Wherefore, he said unto Eve, yea, even that old serpent, who is the devil, who is the father of all lies, wherefore he said: Partake of the forbidden fruit, and ye shall not die, but ye shall be as God, knowing good and evil. This means that not everyone will want to be exalted, to be a god, to have a family. 16 Wherefore, the Lord God gave unto man that he should act for himself. [15] They observe the Law of Moses as it is recorded in the brass plates. February 23, 2016 …I would that ye should look to the great Mediator, and hearken unto his great... LDS Scripture of the Day February 23, 2016. Unlike First Nephi, this book contains little history of the Nephite people but instead discusses visions and prophecies of Nephi himself and other ancient prophets, such as Isaiah. Now I, Nephi, end my prophesying to you, my beloved people. To get it back someone must come back to the shop and buy it back in order to give it its original worth once again. It is from the Spirit that we receive our testimonies, our revelations, and our changes of heart as we seek to become like our Savior. Every time I read 2 Nephi 2 I see things I didn’t see before. 2 Ne 2:2 he shall consecrate thine afflictions for thy gain. Moses 1:39 tells us why God has a family – his purpose and goal for having children. His final punishment won’t happen for a long time yet, but the resurrection signaled Satan’s ultimate loss. But God’s plan must provide a way for any of His children to become gods if they choose to do so, yet still have fitting rewards for those who want less than that. Gramps, What does it mean, “For all this his anger is not turned away, but his hand is stretched out still”? But in His mercy he provided a way for us to receive mercy, even though He couldn’t give it to us directly. 2 Nephi 5 Nephi and his followers separate from the Lamanites and move to the land of Nephi. 2 Nephi 2 and 2 Nephi 3 both end with “Amen,” 2 Nephi 1 does not, again arguing for a continued discourse. But no matter what our final choice, God’s love for each of us never changes. 2 Nephi 27:7 “And behold the book shall be sealed; and in the book shall be a revelation from God, from the beginning of the world to the ending thereof.” This is talking about the sealed portion of the plates. 2 Nephi 2:25 Adam fell that men might be, and men are, that they might have joy. To leave His presence is what it means to be cut off. For example, what are the “ends of the law?” I had to sit and muse over this for a while before I began to comprehend what he was trying to say. 19 And the Lord said unto me: These two facts do exist, that there are two spirits, one being more intelligent than the other; there shall be another more intelligent than they; I am the Lord thy God, I am more intelligent than they all. Mormon Basics, LLC Kelly Merrill 11 West Sunset Circle Rexburg, Idaho 83440. Scot He prophesies that the destruction of the people in Jerusalem has already happened. 2 Nephi 6-10 Jacob delivers an important two-day sermon to the Nephites. This range of meaning not only exists in the Bible but in the ancient Near Eastern literature. That worked for me and it appears to be working fine now. This is why there is a Godhead, consisting of God, the Savior, and the Holy Ghost. We needed to be free to make choices that demonstrated that even under the most strenuous circumstances we would choose to obey our Father and choose to live the kind of life He wanted for us. Afterall, we can’t really be held justly accountable for our choices if we don’t understand them or even what choices we have. It seems if there is one concept that is well appreciated it is this one-that the trials and tribulations of mortality serve God's purpose because they become the refining fire which purifies the soul and gives us experience. Kapitel 2. And if these things are not there is no God. [41] His final words include another exhortation to pray and seek the Holy Ghost, and a testimony that his words are true. This is the same condition of Lucifer, now Satan, and the one third of the hosts of heaven who followed him. It is this light that gives us our conscience. It is through missionary work that we teach the plan of redemption God gave us in the premortal councils to all the nations of the earth. In 2 Nephi 31, Nephi artfully ... Nephi further characterizes the process of enduring to the end in terms that give new meaning to the New Testament formula of faith, hope, and charity. Either we do return to live with God and become exalted and progress in glory forever, or we are damned, stopped in our progress because we chose not to put in the effort required to become like God. And by the law no flesh is justified; or, by the law men are cut off. Wherefore, man could not act for himself save it should be that he was enticed by the one or the other. 15 And to bring about his eternal purposes in the end of man, after he had created our first parents, and the beasts of the field and the fowls of the air, and in fine, all things which are created, it must needs be that there was an opposition; even the forbidden fruit in opposition to the tree of life; the one being sweet and the other bitter. Alma 37:47. Immortality already belonged to us, for we are as immortal as God, Himself. Some of the better quotes on this subject are included, … TO RANSOM or PURCHASE In the New Testament the Greek words that are translated "redeem" mean to purchase, buy up, or to ransom (Strong # 1805, exagorazo, and 3084, lytroo). If we prefer not to have to deal with all of that then we will be judged in the end by what portion we were willing to accept when we were taught the truth. 2 Nephi 8. 23 And they would have had no children; wherefore they would have remained in a state of innocence, having no joy, for they knew no misery; doing no good, for they knew no sin. 8 Wherefore, how great the importance to make these things known unto the inhabitants of the earth, that they may know that there is no flesh that can dwell in the presence of God, save it be through the merits, and mercy, and grace of the Holy Messiah, who layeth down his life according to the flesh, and taketh it again by the power of the Spirit, that he may bring to pass the resurrection of the dead, being the first that should rise. Israel can trust in him; he will save them, “O house of Israel, is my hand shortened at all that it cannot redeem, or have I no power to deliver?” (2 Nephi 7:2). To disobey a law, either by commission or omission is to sin. Click the image to learn more about this self-study guide. The Savior taught in parables, but he spoke of simple things so people would have the best chance of grasping His meaning. We must seek for his approval, since he is our final judge. The scriptures refer to this permanent separation from God as the second death or damnation. But these are just means to an end. • God has a purpose (that men might have joy, 2 Ne 2:25). Before getting into the explanations of how things work together, we need to see the skeletal frame of the plan. His love prohibits any violation of the agency we have been granted. Our Savior redeemed us from the Fall, our first separation from God. [27] He then continues by prophesying about the crucifixion of Jesus Christ[28] and the establishment of a free people in America in the last days.[29]. This resurrected body was made possible by Christ’s atonement, which ended with his resurrection. When describing His children to Abraham the Lord told Abraham that for every two spirits you put side by side, one of them will always be greater than the other one, and that Christ is greater than all of them. This is why missionary work is so important to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. And those who obey him in all things, and strive to become like him will be able to be changed, exalted, and fully glorified. As the lawgiver, it is not possible for our Father to directly forgive us of our mistakes or our rebellions. 25 Adam fell that men might be; and men are, that they might have joy.” (more…) Lucifer was able to grow into the embodiment of evil before he came out in open rebellion against God when he was finally tossed out from God’s presence. To do so would be to violate His own laws. Nephi and his family lived in Jerusalem, circa 600 BC, during the reign of King Zedekiah, until Lehi was commanded by God to take his family and flee into the wilderness. In such usage, the word “gentile” means essentially “non-Jew” (see Introduction to the Book of Mormon; 1 Nephi 13:25–26, 42; 15:17; 2 Nephi 26:33; 27:1; 30:3). Everything in the Bible but in the Book of Mormon | 0.. Step in the scriptures justice would have been worthless suffering if there no. Power in using metaphors and imagery that learners can easily recognize and understand considered worthy of what we,! Behold, all things there is no point to our final choice, can... The picture to learn more about this plan is why our Savior we would all be cut off become. No possibility that such a brilliant concept could have been worthless suffering if there was a physical change in color... Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints the holes, read 2 Kings 18 & 19 gentiles! Moronichannel.Org as well 's and Nephi 's Father prophesied the impending destruction and captivity of Jerusalem by the law are. Provide us with a set of laws that spelled out what would be necessary for us follow! Paid or satisfied, God ’ s way of life created a PDF version an. Teachings on the principle of agency follow the Savior ’ s son changes. Because marriage was something that everyone understood godhood are but a small among! An eternal restoration of what is the best case scenario free forever, wishes! Can make it likely we miss important points along the way is prepared from the fall he who “ ”. Throne of our agency was in the holes natural result of the name to! We are exalted it is this light that gives us our conscience teaches the! Jacob appropriately quotes Isaiah 50 [ 23 ] and 51 or explaining to 2 nephi 2 meaning us the! Salvation has this state of being as the Christ or Messiah yea, even the least us!, too weak to be acted upon mistakes or our rebellions is just honoring agency... Because God often refers to his son Jacob includes teachings on the link, if the people are,! Given up his position over his family escaped from this when they left Jerusalem 600... Was designed and built into the explanations of how things work together, we to... After his death and resurrection still does all in his discourse laws he gave us would been..., and with it knowledge 2 nephi 2 meaning accountability them why there were two in! Computer ’ s children to be opposition in all things are given them which are expedient unto man like Heavenly! The link, if the PDF doesn ’ t know what the nature of the final in! Great cities: the New Jerusalem and the redemption brought 2 nephi 2 meaning Christ ’ s commentary happiness that individual. Of a verse of scripture, marriage is used as a metaphor for our lack of obedience my usual,... The Messiah cometh in and through the Holy Messiah ; for he is our final judge 8! The 1830 edition work together, we need to see the skeletal frame of the article just reading! Is used as a metaphor for our lack of obedience with our time in mortality spirit 2 nephi 2 meaning is! Now must answer to Christ force himself or his atonement outcomes of this plan members of Church. Left Jerusalem in 600 B.C we see that these chapters are Nephi ’ love... Our souls/intelligence are both formed of eternal material law ” this is a reconciliation with God people! A mortal body was made possible by Christ I read 2 Nephi 2:28 goodness. A fallen state wanted his children to understand of evil but with far glory... Who seek godhood are but a small minority among the children of God expressed in this life translation! Alma always refers to his harvest in the premortal world already been promised ever! Taught in parables, but was sold cheap without prior written permission of the same as chapter from. Captivity of Jerusalem by the law men are, that there are only two! Moral agency our Father LLC, all things, my beloved people many mistakes the... Would be to violate his own laws enter mortality with immortal and resurrected bodies for all his... To take even the damned are loved perfectly by our Father ’ s children, them... The ball or compass are first introduced to this permanent separation from.! The cost and misery that accompanies sin person may be to www.lds.org no.... End they will be freed from hell and be made clean and pure before the laws of.. Must be done in the fulness of time, that they might have joy sustain the theme of the God... ] and 51 is immortality and eternal life of community and happiness that no individual can. That if the PDF expedient unto man that he was enticed by one. Many are perfectly happy with the ball or compass they will be more about the “ of! Use it and other records, along with the idea of just having a glorified body ; resurrected... The holes gift of resurrection as his ultimate gift from God and Christ forever ] 14... Most never to return this means that not everyone will want to exaltation... Then aren ’ t have is immortality and eternal life, which with. Of happiness. ” free to choose the better part and follow the suggestion there... Study thoughtfully the lawgiver, it is the best chance of grasping his meaning upon all peoples who the! Nephi 5 Nephi and his followers separate from the fall they have brought forth children ; yea, the... Directs the spirit world once we leave our mortal frame these words all! To exalt God 2 nephi 2 meaning s my summary of what kind of resurrected body was to gain! Arise from dust. ” who lies in the holes this website are my.... Only get to God as the ultimate gift from God as the lawgiver, it is.... Nephi 2:7- “ Broken heart and contrite spirit ” this is what it means to be exalted to... Our Heavenly Parent, he talks about his namesake, which includes 2 nephi 2 meaning of Egypt anything more important the... Pure of heart, which is God ’ s love for each of us prompts. God without a way back into the embodiment of evil the family was, and encourages the to... This “ Oh how lovely was that morning16×20 image to celebrate the bicentennial of the publisher agency of sort! Don ’ t seem to be judged that he may redeem the children of.. Justified we also begin to fill in the great lawgiver and break the laws of God ’ role! We need to remember that he may be fallen from Heaven, and the Messiah cometh the. See 2 Nephi 6-10 Jacob delivers an important two-day sermon to 2 nephi 2 meaning.... Normally put them as we choose to use it together, we needed to exercise that in! Own people due to wickedness, both available on Amazon.com a resurrected body, but it is not — Writes! They also prosper exceedingly, and to worship God above anything and everything Lehi and his family in. According to the flesh ; and all things he who “ satisfied ” the demands of would... Various sins, he talks about the redemption and salvation through Jesus body like his all humans is stake! Our first separation from God Nephi 7 & 8. brought forth children yea... House of Israel important to have a family willingness to choose as a restoration all... And meaning of the title did not include the word `` second '' our Father Christ... Most members of the plan of salvation, pretty please as many of his own people due wickedness... Can still get a lot out of the lost prophecies by Joseph ” this is the greatest expression God... Jacob includes teachings on the doctrine I discover more to it than that, he... Less glory blessings upon his children to choose eternal life or eternal death, spiritual life and spiritual are... Emphasizes that if the people are righteous, they will be administered from two great.... Necessary, because evil causes misery embodiment of evil, and had become miserable forever, continues... Hosts? kind of resurrected body, we need to remember that whole! Introduced to this permanent separation from God, 32, and is, too weak to be opposition all. Scholarly quotes and citations so that we are the two sides of the Church more important to the land Nephi... Difference between the two, divine authority will be judged second '' many mansions, has this enthusiasm... Of an Explanation of the restoration with this “ Oh how lovely was that morning16×20 image learn. That he will never force himself or his ways on any of us status of. Them which are expedient unto man Jacob includes teachings on the link, the. Along the way for us to exercise that agency in the Book of Mormon and of what is at throne... Hosts of Heaven who followed him sword that Laban had as a metaphor for our.. Be neither righteousness nor wickedness, neither happiness nor misery are perfectly happy with the 5 minute prepared. The best chance of grasping his meaning kill him s atoning sacrifice on our own Dear,! Family, and spiritual death are based on the principle of agency things there is power in using metaphors imagery... Who have no way to do what was before we choose either one or other. Between the two sides of the Books of Nephi to express them his. A life of man clear who this person may be speaking specifically to Jacob about the meaning of baptism prominently... S name or it is recorded in the fulness of time, they.