Jacob 3

Jacob 3

Jacob 3:1-5

pure in heart...................................................pleasing word of God recipients
console.......................................................receive the comfort of the Lord
firm minds.......................................................determined to remain true and faithful in all things
wo................................................................promised punishment when not pure in heart
scourge.........................................................a constant continuing curse laid out
lead away righteous........................................the good constantly seek holy places
filthiness.........................................................refusal to become clean, a curse leading to skin
skin....................................................................an obvious marker that is visual
commandment.......................................................only one wife and no concubines

Jacob has a 2 sided message, one of promise to the faithfulness, and one of warning for those who have hardened their hearts.  He also explains that the appearance of the Lamanites has occurred because of the Lamanite refusal to follow the Spirit of God.  The same curse could come to the disobedient Nephite.

Jacob 3: 6-11

observance........................................................Lamanites have only one wife,  to be spared
love.................................................................Lamanites are true to their families
unbelief..............................................................not attributed to them, but their fathers
comparative.....................................................with the gospel, more is expected
revile..............................................................no reason to gloat over Lamanites.  They are under God's care
remember own filthiness...............................concentrate on personal wickedness, not others'
children...........................................................duty to build up the next generation faithfully

Too often people make an assumption that with the acceptance of the gospel somehow a person is better than his neighbors; however, this is not true.  The advantage is for knowing and keeping the commandments, not for an advantage over others who are lost.  The Lord will take care of those who are not of the covenant in His own time and way, but those who have the gospel should concentrate on personal righteousness and the righteous rearing of their children.

Jacob 3: 12-14

fornication, lasciviousness....................................sins of the Nephites.  Lead to destruction
larger plates.....................................................more of a secular history.  Much larger in volume
hand of Nephi...................................................Nephi made the actual plates that Jacob uses

Restatement of the gross iniquities.

Jacob 3

Jacob warns the impure of the tenuous position that they incur on themselves and their children.  he warns that the righteous will not remain with the evil, and that their might come another migration caused by their disobedience and wicked behavior.  This is also a comfort to the righteous who must suffer because of this disobedience.

2 Nephi 2

2 Nephi 2

2 Nephi 2: 1-6

rudeness of brothers........................................................Jacob underwent some kind of mockery or nastiness from his older brothers
consecrate afflictions.................................................The Lord knows when righteous people and innocent people suffer by the hands of others.
redeemed....................................................the Lord has chosen Jacob.  He is protected
blessed........................................................he lives under the observance of a just God
justification....................................................God is a righteous God.  He metes out righteous judgment
temporal and spirtitual.................................Divine laws work on both levels
Holy Messiah...............................................the Lord is consistent and the consequences are eternal

This section illustrates that the Lord knows all his children, and he explains how His favor will sustain and elevate his righteous children.  Jacob is assured of this from his father Lehi

2 Nephi 2: 7-10

broken heart and contrite spirit.............................attributes of the repentent.  We must have remorse and we must fight to do things right, even when it hurts
make known.................................................these principles are universal, must be taught
merits and mercy............................................to earn entry to the kingdom one must do something and one must give and receive mercy
Holy Messiah............................................he did both of these prerequisites
intercession..........................................The Father will only honor the salvation of the qualified
punishment affixed...............................Divine rule.  No one is save who is not qualified.  For us this means we must earn the mercy of Christ.
judge....................................................Christ himself will judge all men.  Each will need to stand before him

The passage instructs us about the operating principles of justice and mercy.  The ground rules of both are explained and the overruling power of mercy is explained.  If we seek salvation and eternal life, it will be by Christ's mercy.  We must become His.  There is no other way.

1 Nephi  2: 11-24

Opposition in all things...............................we grow by understanding the spiritual polarities.  We make good choices by them
without opposition, no purpose.............................if we exist with no learning, there is no point.
forbidden fruit..........................................choosing the wrong polarity.  It teaches us, but it alienates us as well and requires repentence
driven out.............................................Adam and Eve broke this rule.  They were punished
children.................................................this state actually made it possible to have families.
probation...............................................allows all of us to live under probation.  It teaches us
state............................................................Adam and Eve started in a spiritual situation but moved to a mortal one.  This enables them to make real choices
joy .............................................................a result of making correct choices
wisdom......................................................the Lord knows the value of doing things this way

A spirtual philosophical introspection would teach us all to accept the polarities of life.  We were meant to learn from them, but to choose the right course.  We benefit both here and in the eternities by choosing the correct course.

2 Nephi 2: 25

men are that they might have joy

2 Nephi 2: 26-30

Messiah................................................................the one who makes all the life experiences work
free.................................................................free agency given to choose the right course
look to Messiah................................................follow the Christ.  He gives the principles
can choose evil.....................................................given to us, but encouraged to go the other way
choose eternal life................................................make the commitment.  It will save you.
Last words..........................................................the dying wish of Lehi to his good son.
souls............................................................This applies to you, but also to others.

Men are given the free agency to make eternal choices.  Life is meant to try and test us all so that we can experience the great joy that comes as we do right.  The promise extends to all.

2 Nephi 2

This chapter of the Book of Mormon is extremely important to anyone who wants to earn the blessings promised by Christ to the faithful.  It promises to help us both in mortality and beyond.