2 Nephi 26

2 Nephi 26

2 Nephi 26: 1-6

Christ to show.............................................................Christ will appear in the Americas
wars and contentions.................................................great unrest in the Nephite lands
signs.....................................................................accompanying signs to mark Christ's life
persecute prophets and saints.......................................crime of the people that leads to destruction
shall burn.............................................................those who do wickedly destroyed by God
buried in water, crushed by buildings...............................great upheaval in America
as stubble...................................................................terrible destruction among the wicked

Prophecy of the coming of Christs and the great destruction that will precede His appearance to the Nephites.

2 Nephi 26: 7-13

ways just.............................................................the people will deserve the consummation
not perish................................................................those who look forward to Christ's coming
3 generations............................................................a Zion community to prosper
hell..........................................................starting in the 4th generation, a great apostasy
Spirit of God....................................................necessary for a country to prosper.
convinced.........................................................Jews need to have this thrust on them to believe
signs follow the believers.....................................The Lord lets his servants be the signs of Christ

The great separation between the good and wicked will lead to the preservation of the righteous and the destruction of the wicked.

2 Nephi 26: 14-24

last days.........................................................a jump to the latter-day times
dwindle in unbelief........................................very weak spirituality among the remnants
speak out of the ground..................................the promises of the ancients to come to them
record..........................................................concealed for a time in order to preserve the record
chaff..........................................................many who will die during the long period of apostasy
Gentiles.......................................................when the Gentiles come, many more die
put down..........................................................Gentiles will commit serious crimes and sins
devil..........................................................both the Lamanites and the Europeans have devilish connections.
flaxen cord.............................................. a pretty fettering
salvation...........................................................to work a mighty work to save the righteous

The time from the apostasy to the coming of the Gentiles to be marked with terrible wickedness.

2 Nephi 26: 25-

come unto me.....................................Christ's gospel is an invitation, not a rejection notice
free to men...............................................Christ only asks for men to believe, and to follow Him
no priestcrafts................................................He does not accept phony priesthoods
charity......................................................what men are commanded to practice
Zion............................................................to labor and serve, but not for money
invite............................................................His eternal offering of salvation to mankind

Christ is about saving people, not the destruction and rejection of people.  His gospel is prosperity, and allows men great development temporally and spiritually.

2 Nephi 26

The Lord reveals to Nephi how the Nephites and Lamanites would become adversarial and destroy much of what was good.  The people would fall into apostasy.  Eventually another troubled people, the Gentiles, would come and severely harm those left in America.  Then will come the gospel of the Lord to show mercy and invite men to come to him and to get away from the evil.

2 Nephi 11

2 Nephi 11

2 Nephi 11: 1-3

sufficeth...............................................................Jacob only records what he feels he should
words of Isaiah.........................................................he feels that the words are very important
saw redeemer...................................................some prophets record seeing Christ, Isaiah, Jacob
words are true...................................................expression of testimony
words of three........................................................Law of witnesses

Jacob gives his writing purpose, and establishes it firmly on his testimony of Christ's divinity.  He also bears witness to having seen Christ himself, and adds his name to his brother Nephi, Isaiah, and others.

2 Nephi 11: 4-7

law of Moses........................................................Jacob predicates belief on following divine law
grace...................................................................Jacob applauds the Lord's mercy
Christ.......................................................................no one saved, except through Christ
if.......................................................................Jacob's spiritual logic.  Things go together.
Isaiah.................................................................a preface of testimony for Isaiah's message

Isaiah and others teach us of the divinity of Christ's message.  They indicated that we really need to study and to gain testimonies of their words.

2 Nephi 11

This chapter serves as a preface to the recorded words of Isaiah

2 Nephi 5

2 Nephi 5

2 Nephi 5: 1-7

anger....................................................the anger of the brothers grows to a killing level
afflicted by words.......................................Offended?  Afflicted?  distorted thinking
flee.......................................................commanded to separate and to take adherents with him
leaves................................................takes Zoram, Joseph, Jacob, Sam
many days..............................................they make the distance quite considerable

Due to the anger of the older brothers, it becomes necessary for Nephi and those who follow him to leave.  They pack up quickly and move several days away.

2 Nephi 5: 8-13

place Nephi..............................................named after the leader
observe.........................................................practiced the tenets of their religion
prosper............................................................the group works together well and prospers
brought with................................................sacred objects.  The record and the Liahona

The people of Nephi approach the separation very seriously and they do very well.

2 Nephi 5: 14-20

sword of Laban.......................................used as a master template for the making of other swords
metals......................................................the people were quite up to date for weaponry and building
temple.....................................................the temple is built for worship purposes
industrious................................................a productive people.  Good economy
king.......................................................Nephi against having a king.  But he leads.
ruler and teacher.........................................the prophecy of the angel had been fulfilled

Nephi makes the group strong by initiating a strong work ethic and for worship and self defense.

2 Nephi 5: 21-25

curse.................................................the followers of Laman and Lemuel were cursed with skin
curse......................................................all who joined them would have the same mark
mischief.............................................traits of these people not so good.  Legacy of idleness
loathsome..............................................so different that the Nephites would abhor them
scourge.................................................Lord would use them to cleanse the Nephites

After the separation some kind of genetic mutation occurred, making the Lamanites different than the Nephites.  The new ethnic group falls.

2 Nephi 5: 26-34

consecrate...........................................the younger brothers are made into spiritual leaders
happiness.............................................the separation brings a great increase to the Nephites
30 years............................................Nephi probably reaching his 60s
records................................................Nephi writes in the journals that he has started
other records.............................................Nephi keeps two sets of records, one spiritual, one secular
please God............................................He takes care to keep the record in tune with Lord.
contentions.............................................In the next 10 years, wars have begun between the groups.

Time moves.  Nephi ages.  The group prospers, but eventually comes into contact with the Lamanites, and skirmishes begin

This chapter sees the division of Lehi's family into two groups.  The Lamanites become a loathsome people, while the Nephites prosper.

2 Nephi 1

2 Nephi 1

2 Nephi 1: 1-5

rehearsed....................................................Lehi repeats many of his sermons to his sons
concerning rebellions......................................Lehi disturbed about the rebellions.  He tries to stop the behavior
merciful with warnings.................................The Lord had told them before what he would do to Jerusalem
seen a vision..........................................the Spirit manifested to Lehi that Jerusalem had been sacked
afflictions..........................................the migrating party had been through serious challenges
choice land..........................................Lehi declares their new home a great new home
covenant................................................The Lord promises that America will be home forever to his children


Lehi recounts the scriptures to his children.  He teaches them the lessons in repetition to have them remember.  he also warns them about their bad behaviors.  He also shares with the family the destruction of Jerusalem, and he promises prosperity in America if the family follows the commandments.

2 Nephi 1: 6-12

only those who are brought by the hand of God.................America is reserved for favored peoples
overrun.........................................................America so great that it would be invaded
shall prosper..............................................those who keep the commandments will thrive here
dwindlers.................................................if people are lax, they lose the promise, may be removed
reject the Messiah......................................a curse on the land if the people reject Christ
bring new people...........................................if a group rejects Christ, new people will come
visitations...................................................if no faith, the people will be driven here and there

People who live in America will need to worship Christ.  If they fail to do so, they will be replaced with those who do.

2 Nephi 1: 13-20

shake off...................................................a call for fallen people to repent and turn to Christ
awake.....................................................come to a full realization of the promises,  they are divine
about to lay down.................................Lehi is much advanced in age and sickly.  Will die
encircled..................................................Lehi has an assurance that he has succeeded with God
his anxiety............................................he fears and is saddened by the the reluctance of his sons
fullness of wrath...................................Lehi fears his sons have offended God
curse....................................................generations that will be in constant violence and misery
favored people........................................Christ will uphold those who come to him
curse/blessing..........................................based on the faith the people have in Christ

Lehi shares his divine promise and covenant that he and his people have with the Lord.  If they study and keep the commandments, showing faith in God, they will prosper.   However, if they fail to do this they could live in long stretches of cursings.

2 Nephi 1: 21-27

be of one mind........................................the cooperation between family members
just God............................................The Lord will mete out justice.  Live right.
out of obscurity...................................don't hid the spiritual gifts
rebel not.................................................the older sons have fought Nephi, unjustly
Nephi's intent...............................................glory of God.  Not rulership
murmured.....................................................you have fought, complained, mocked, etc
power of God................................................Lehi testifies that Nephi is a prophet to heed

Lehi is disturbed by the behavior of his older sons.  He exhorts them to act righteously and to make amends.  He tells them to respect their brother and to stop misinterpreting his acts

2 Nephi 1: 28-32

Ishmael............................................................Lehi includes the sons of Ishmael with Laman
take away........................................................He gives the same promises and curses to them
Zoram..........................................................true to Nephi.  Included with him.
promise to Zoram...............................................same as to Nephi

Lehi gives both blessings and warnings to all his sons.  He especially warns his two oldest sons.  he includes the others with his sons and treats and honors them the same way.  Zoram is included with Nephi

2 Nephi 1


Lehi begins his last fatherly blessings to his sons and the others that have gone with the family.  He stressed the importance of accepting Christ and in keeping the faith in the family in the future.  He warns of future times when various children will stray

1 Nephi 18

1 Nephi 18

1 Nephi 18: 4

timbers of curious workmanship............................................the ship is made in a strange but competent way
not after man's manner.................................................Nephi follows inspiration, making ship as God led him
went and prayed oft...........................................Nephi spends considerable time praying for guidance
they did humble themselves..................................even the brothers are astounded by the ship

Nephi uses prayer and revelation to start and to complete the building of the ship.

1 Nephi 18: 5-8

voice of the Lord...........................................the Lord sends his message to leave to Lehi
provisions...........................................................the group prepares the provisions that they had amassed
what we brought...........................................not only necessary things, but personal items are loaded
Jacob and Joseph.........................................Lehi has two more sons during the desert passage
put forth......................................................Once the party has loaded the ship, they get on board

The message comes from God to leave the Old World.  The party loads the ship and cast off

1 Nephi 18: 9-19

many days...................................................they are on the ocean for a long time
make merry............................................negative sense.  They are partying boisterously
much rudeness.................................................the partying is offensive and inappropriate
fear exceedingly........................................because of the depravity, Nephi fears offending God
we will not that........................................a firm decision not to follow Nephi's leadership
bind with cords.............................................Nephi is bound and restrained and mocked
compass did stop working..............................the Liahona fails the group as a result of the bad behavior
terrible tempest...........................................the ship goes off course.  terrible hurricaneor typhoon
driven back.........................................the ship so much off course, that it is being blown back
judgements of God....................................the group deserves the testing they are receiving
praise God...................................................Nephi keeps his faith, and he prays
threatenings................................................the brothers are angry with Nephi, blaming him for the mess
parents stricken........................................Lehi and his wife are sick with the terrible confrontation
watery grave............................................the parents are almost to the verge of death
soften the heart..........................................the brothers are so bombarded with the other's supplications that they relent
loosed....................................................the brothers let Nephi go

The brothers forget that they are expected to cross the ocean with faith and with determination to obey the Lord.  As they sink into debauchery they become very hostile to Nephi, binding him.  As this is done, the Lord strikes the ship with terrible fury.  After a long battle, the brothers eventually relent and allow the journey to proceed as it was supposed to go.

1 Nephi 18: 20-25

Only repent when about to be swallowed.............................these are very hard characters, but they have a breaking point.
Nephi takes compass.....................................................Nephi seeks guidance immediately
prayer.............................................................................Nephi immediately prays
many days..................................................................still a long voyage.
arrive.....................................................................the land of promise reached
blessed.........................................................................once landed, they plant seeds and they prosper
many animals...........................................................cows and horses mentioned.  Often mocked by anti-Mormons.
all manner of ore.....................................................the party finds a lot of metal

Upon arrival, the group worships God and begins to prosper in abundance in the new promised land.

1 Nephi 18

This chapter summarizes the actual ocean voyage.  Few details are given as to anything the group saw or experienced except a very nasty confrontation between the older brothers and the rest of the group. Some thinkers believe that the group named native animals with old world names, because they were outside their experience.