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 19

2 Nephi 19;  Isaiah 9

2 Nephi 19: 1-5

darkness, light...............................................................the Lord will come to a blinded people
joy......................................................................the end effect, great hope for the people
broke the yoke.....................................................the great cause of the sadness removed
rod of oppressor......................................................the power of Satan eliminated

Christ will come to the earth when many ordinary people will be in a fallen state caused by spiritual depression and oppression

2 Nephi 19: 6-12

He shall be called...................................................Messianic mission of Christ
lighted on Israel..................................................Christ to appear among the Children of Israel
all the people...............................................although Christ comes to Palestine, will affect all
rebuild........................................................Christ's mission will repair the broken pieces of Israel
devour Israel.................................................the Lord will allow the dissolution of nationalism
stretched out still........................................although failing, a chance given for repentance

Christ will come at a time when Israel is destroyed as a political unit.  The work he does will establish the latter-day rebuilding of a political entity, but not until Israel understands the Lord's requirements.

2 Nephi 19: 13-21

do not turn to Christ...........................................Israel's biggest failure, not accepting the Messiah
head and tail.......................................................The Lord does not allow Israel to be a kingdom
cause err.............................................................the leadership of the country to blame
no joy............................................................the population does not prosper with faulty leadership
wickedness burneth.........................................the consequences of wickedness is burning
wrath of the Lord................................................the Lord removes himself from the wicked
eat the flesh of the arm.........................................the curse for evil doers, they destroy themselves
inside attack....................................................House of Judah v House of Joseph

A description of the force that are holding the children of Israel back.  They are not united, and they have rejected the mission of the Messiah

2 Nephi 19

This chapter underscores the importance of the people of Israel to seek for spiritual rather than political strength.  The seeking for power without submitting to the Lord will be overruled, for the covenant and promise of the Lord only occurs when the people do their work within the rules that the Lord himself has set.  When the people do this correctly, the Lord will exert his influence, and nothing can stop the country from prospering at that poi9nt.

2 Nephi 16

2 Nephi 16

2 Nephi 16: 1-8

seraphim......................................................................................angelic being
glory smoke............................................................................imagery of heaven
unclean lips.....................................................................unworthy mortal, impure
live coal..................................................................................heaven corrects the weakness
sin purged...............................................................power to forgive in heaven, mercy
whom send?...................................................................people sent for purposes, to the earth
send me..................................................................like the Lord, his servants agree to act

A small glimpse into the heavenly, depicting how man is out of step with the requirements for membership, but through the instrumentality of the heavens, man can qualify.  Also, we learn that the Lord assigns his servants to perform certain works.  The Lord did so, and the mission of Isaiah has parallels

2 Nephi 16: 9-13

Go and tell.....................................................the prophetic message for Isaiah to teach
tell them to make them responsible............................then the people will be judged
how long?......................................................the message is to long term (his writings continue to instruct)
removed..............................................................a great scattering due to lack of faith
a tenth...........................................................a small group will continue through time

Isaiah to teach his people about repentance to prepare them for the judgement.

2 Nephi 16

This chapter is instructive about the prophetic mission of Isaiah and can be likewise applied to others who serve the Lord.  They come as emissaries of the Lord.

2 Nephi 15

2 Nephi 15 ; Isaiah 5

2 Nephi 15:  1-7

my vineyard......................................................God as the vineyard owner, and his people
the tower ...........................................................He keeps special watch on the vineyard
sees the grapes, wild grapes..................................a careful look at the results of the work
men of Judah...................................................this is your people.  Pay attention
take away..................................................abandonment of a failing orchard
waste.............................................................Christ to step completely away from the people
looketh for judgement........................................Christ has expectations, but they are not happening
no rain.......................................................even the usual outside conditions are removed
a cry..............................................................the actual picture is a troubling.  People hurt

Christ keeps a careful watch on his people, but when the people sink to a position that nothing good is coming of the work, the work will cease, and the orchard will be abandoned.  Unlike a real vineyard, he will return when the fruits return.

2 Nephi 15: 8-16

wo, house to house............................................conditions where the people associate too much together (in sin)
desolate...........................................................such conditions overruled.  He will not allow.
follow strong drink..........................................example.  Party attitude.  People drink more than work
revelers..........................................................partiers have abandoned their duties.  Rejected.
multitudes thirst.........................................due to the malfeasance of leaders, the people languish
humbled.................................................both the leader and the followers need humbling
sanctified......................................................The Lord will chasten the people.  Shaped to the corrects ends.

God has a purpose for his people.  He does not want an evil group attitude that pursues the meaningless side of life, for example drunkards.  He will curse such behaviors because it leads both the leaders and the followers to destruction.  The people lose sight of their life purpose, and must undergo a changing humility, or they will not meet the expectations that the Lord has for his people.

2 Nephi 15: 17-25

cart rope...............................................pretty chains are still chains.  Men are to be free.
wisdom of Lord......................................men should seek God's will, not man's
twisting good and evil......................................men should not spin reality to meet their carnal desires
wise in own sight.............................................wisdom does not work that way.  Truth is truth,
remove righteousness from the righteous...................dwindling faith, caused by falsehoods
chaff.....................................................a destruction of the wicked.  This is not fruit.
kindle................................................................God will destroy the wicked.  Such behavior not allowed
Hand outstretched.................................................He will allow repentance, but man must act

The hope is with man.  When he discovers his wickedness, he ready for destruction, but the Lord allows man the opportunity to repent and to return to the fold.

2 Nephi 15: 26-30

ensign from afar.............................................Latter-day kingdom to be set up far away
none weary.......................................................these servants will do His will and succeed
none sleep.....................................................will be worthy workers in his kingdom
sharp arrows................................................the spiritual army is ready to redeem His kingdom.
roar like lions...................................................the youth of the group will make them invincible
look into the land.............................................these people will work and labor in a very dismal and wicked world

Christ will set up His kingdom in the last days.  The servants will do things the way he wants them act, and they will be very successful, negating the bad behavior of many years.  They will work tirelessly to build up the kingdom in a very wicked world.

2 Nephi 15

This chapter describes the very sad results of what happens to the Kingdom that he has set up, but He will remember the covenants as the people repent.  Then he sets up his Kingdom and sends his righteous servants to cry repentance and convert the evil and wicked world.  He indicates that they will be successful because they are diligent.

2 Nephi 10

2 Nephi 10

2 Nephi 10: 1-6

righteous branch.............................................a righteous break off group
perish from unbelief..........................................many people do not find the faith in life
children restored.......................................the Lord's atonement will cover many of the lost
Jesus to the Jews..........................................prophecy of where Jesus would live
crucify him....................................................long before he was born, his type of death foretold
if:  would repent..............................................a particularly difficult people to work with
priestcrafts.................................................not called of God, rather self appointed
scattered.....................................................after the crucifixion, the fallen people forced to move

Jacob teaches his people about the first coming of Christ, how he would be born in the ancestral home for the people of Israel.  His crucifixion will lead to a scattering of the people who rejected him, because of their many sins.

2 Nephi 10: 7-16

day of belief...............................................the people gathered when they turn to Christ
gathered in the far reaches................................the Gentiles will be the place where the movement resumes
kings and queens......................................the movement will be protected and fostered by the leaders of the gentiles
this land.................................................America itself will be a center for the movement
liberty, no kings......................................America will reject monarchies, and they will be strong
fortify................................................divine strengthening of the American nation
Zion....................................................another name for the region.  Under divine protection
I will be their king.....................................America forms a kind of theocratic government
secret works.........................................to preserve America, the secret group must be destroyed
whore of the earth....................................the greatest danger for the future is the secret group

Before the second coming, America will become a great center for the establishment of Christ's church.  The country will be very strong, and will enjoy the protections of heaven.  This will continue as long as the people live in the Lord's way.  If secret works arise, Christ will overrule it.

2 Nephi 10: 17-21

promises................................................Can have faith in this.  Christ promised it.
afflict my people................................at first the Gentiles will be devastating to the children of Lehi
father to them...................................A change.  The Gentiles will strengthen the natives
consecrated......................................Land blessed forever to those of the House of Israel.
merciful God....................................Accept the Lord.  He has given the great promise.
plural, isles........................................God works with many peoples.  Never assume one is alone.

We must never lose sight of the fact that God will bless all those who join with the House of Israel. This goes to Jew, Gentile, American, native, male, female, and etc.

2 Nephi 10: 22-25

Lord remembereth..................................God knows where he leads his people, and he gathers them
free to act...........................................Learn the purpose and the plan.  But act and choose correctly
reconcile............................................our expectation in the atonement covenant
may he raise you.....................................the bottom line.  Each individual must earn his own place.

We can count on the promises of God.  He shows us an outline of what will occur, but each of us must decide independently what we will do.

2 Nephi 10

After all the outlines, and prophecies, each man must choose for himself how he will stand in the rolling out of history.  In the future, God will keep all his promises, including the one that he will cleanse the American continent of the secret combination that will lead to much of the corruptions and abominations that will arise.

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 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.

1 Nephi 12

1 Nephi 12

1 Nephi 12:  1-5

brethern, land of promise................................Nephi sees the destiny of his brothers
wars and rumors of wars.............................a future strife to be continual between the groups
many generations.....................................Nephi receives an overview of the future in the land
mist of darkness.......................................a day of calamity..........the time of Christ
terrible judgments......................................in the vision, Nephi sees tremendous damage

Nephi tells of a terrible time in the America that coincides with the life of Christ

1 Nephi 12: 6-13

Lamb of God....................................the Messiah will appear to the inhabitants of America
12 others, ordained and chosen...........................the Lord will give power to a select group
will judge...................................................the Lord will make them spiritual leaders to the people
another 12...........................................the Lord will have his apostles ultimately above them
three generations..........................................after Christ's appearance, 3 times would pass in righteousness
multitudes gather......................................tremendous population growth

Christ will make an appearance.  His Church will be established to the government of heaven.  The result will be a short time of peace and tremendous growth.

1 Nephi 12:  14-15

thy seed, brothers' see......................................after time, Nephi again sees a tribal division of his people
gathered against.....................................the groups would go to war against each other

Nephi sees the great strife that would come after the advent of Christ and the peaceful period

1 Nephi 12:  16- 23

filthy water...............................there would be a strong current of evil, and people would die in it
mists of darkness.............................without the light of the Gospel, people would perish
great and spacious building.........................the arrogance of an misled society,  would act on imagintions
contentions.........................................the time of strife would come,  great destruction let loose
the filth and darkness would catch up........................the children of Nephi largely destroyed
wars................................................after destroying the children of Nephi, the remainder would war for many years
dwindle........................................the people would degenerate, losing much of the prior growth and prosperity
unbelief....................................because of their rejection of the gospel, and long curse would fall on the people

The people would continue to fall until the entire Nephite group would cease.  What is left of the other group would go many years without much progress of any kind

1 Nephi 12

This 12th chapter gives Nephi a glimpse into the destiny of his father's family.  It is a very short future history that will span 1000 years of time

1 Nephi 5

1 Nephi 5

1 Nephi 5: 1-8

mother exceedingly glad.............................idiomatic, unusually happy
accuses of being visionary.........................sounds mocking here, described as Laman and Lemuel do
manner of language..............................she is upset and uses the same types of arguments used all ready
I know...........................................Lehi admits his "visionary" pattern, but bears witness it is of God
he does not sound worried.
comforts his wife..................................his words are full of faith, and he manages to calm her
the return........................................the mother is even more comforted.  She offers up declarations of faith and of joy

This short narrative illustrates the misapprehensions of a distraught wife and mother. Her faith is shaken, but is restored.

1 Nephi 5: 9-17

offer thanks and sacrifice........................Lehi's first reaction
Lehi took the records.............................Lehi takes the occasion to read from the record
contents......................................books of Moses, Adam and Eve, histories down to that current time
Jeremiah................................a contemporary to Lehi
genealogy..................................Lehi's family is recorded.  He belongs to the tribe of Joseph
freedom from slavery.............................the story of the Exodus
Laban..........................................a relative, also of the same family
filled with prophecy.............................from the record, and from his own experiences, Lehi prophecies beyond even the book, concerning his descendants and the promised land.

Lehi studies the book.  He comes to a knowledge of his people and his family.  The record strengthens him and opens himself to be taught by the Spirit

1 Nephi 5: 18-22

record to be published to many times and places..................Lehi sees the future dissemination of the record
I had kept commandments..........................Nephi at peace with himself, in harmony with the Lord
desirable records...........................Nephi begins to see the great significance of the brass records
wisdom of the Lord.......................the family begins to understand how important the record will be in the future

Nephi and his family have a sublime time of joy.  The mission is accomplished and the family is full of spiritual manifestations of the future value of the record.