2 Nephi 4

2 Nephi 4

2 Nephi 4: 1-6

prophecies about Joseph.............................................Lehi's prophetic emphasis on House of Joseph
concerning his seed.............................................makes predictions about those who come through him
Laman...............................................................Lehi calls his oldest son's family
prosperity..............................................................contingent on following commandments
blessing.................................................................loves them.  Still contingent
curse?...................................................................head of your parents

Predictions and both blessings and curses come upon the House of Joseph.  Great blessings come from following the Lord.  Severe penalties accompany the departures.

2 Nephi 4:  7-17

merciful............................................................promise that the group will not disappear
Lemuel...............................................................Second son.  similar issues
same blessing.......................................................both sons have contingencies
Ishmael................................................................blessing parallels with Nephi's
waxed old..........................................................He reaches senescence and dies
angry................................................................with Lehi gone, the brothers rebel again
Nephi's delight..................................................following the commandments, doing what is right
heart sorrow...................................................grave concerns about his brothers

Same blessings of prosperity for all those associated with Lehi.  Some are more likely to receive them.  Without the cornerstone of the family, a huge schism occurs

2 Nephi 4: 18-27

temptations......................................................Nephi recognizes his shortcomings and temptations
trust in God.....................................................Nephi understands the mercy of God
heard my cry...................................................Nephi's safety has always been a result of prayer
high mountains....................................................the spiritual is a blessing of God to man
why................................................................how does this come to be?  such lows?
yielding.........................................................sometimes it is hard to understand our motivations

Psalm of Nephi.  He studies his heart and he dislikes what he sees.  However, he has learned to trust God in temporal terms, and he intends to follow the same path in spiritual situations.

2 Nephi 4: 28-35

Nephi commands himself to follow his own advice.  Do it!
gates of hell..................................................asks God to help him avoid spiritual failure
asks for an easing...........................................severe trials cause him to falter.  He prays for easing
trust................................................................the ultimate strengthening.  He knows his God
not amiss........................................................if we are in tune, we will receive the help of God

Nephi applies contigentcy rules to his predicament.  He pursues the problems with foresight, recognizing his shortcomings and his fear in proceeding through the trials.  The situation that causes the greatest trouble for him is his difficult relationship with his brothers, who are insanely jealous of him.  He also has just listened to his dying father bless his brothers, but the cautions given them also apply to him.  He is definitely questioning his own behaviors, determined to do what is right.  Sometimes that just means that we follow the Lord's path, in trust.