Mosiah 8

Mosiah 8

Mosiah 8: 1-11

rehearse...............................................................Ammon fills in the history of Zarahemla
last words of Benjamin.........................................Ammon explains the teachings of the king
dismissed...........................................................after the assemblage, the adjournment
plates brought........................................................hopes that Ammon can read
interpret..................................................................Ammon unable to read the record
party of 43......................................................sent to find Zarahemla
land of many waters.................................................unknown place
24 plates..................................................................found a record left by the dead people
other things.............................................................weapons of wars, rusted and decaying
cause of their destruction.............................................want to find out the problem with the people


A search party sent out from Limhi is unabe to locate Zarahemla, but they do find the ruins of a once great people.

Mosiah 8: 12-

gift from God.......................................................Ammon explains that Mosiah can translate
the king....................................................................holds the gift of God to translate
seer.......................................................................greater than a prophet


Mosiah 8: 13-17

lift up....................................................................tells people to pray and turn to God for help
abominations.............................................................why the people fell into bondage to others
overzealous..........................................................the ancestor was to proud to be successful
pay tribute..........................................................allowed them to be financiers of Lamanaties by force
grievous.................................................................very difficult requirements from Lamanites
bring weapons and shields........................................have prepared for the right moment to flee
plates...................................................................have the plates of Ether
King a seer...........................................................Mosiah is a translating prophet.
seer.......................................................................greater than a prophet.  A revelator
past present future......................................................great power of God

King Mosiah 8: 18-21

great benefit.....................................................those with such Godly power are great help to others
rejoiced.............................................................this makes Limhi especially happy
plates.................................................................they are important, but they cannot read them
not seek wisdom..............................................men are often too distracted to get help from God
wild flock..........................................................Lord's people are very hard to lead.
driven and devoured...........................................symbolically, flock of God are often lost and vulnerable to forces that separate them and cause their destruction

A search party locates a migrating group that has come under the severe leadership of a large group of Lamanites.  Their king wants to free his people from bondage.  The group is humble and fearsome of their predicament.  Ammon, a man of faith, directs their attention to King Mosiah, a prophet king, who translate a set of records they have found from a lost people.

Jacob 2

Jacob 2

Jacob 2: 1-6

magnify...................................................................exercising the priesthood and the assignment
rid garments of sin..................................................idiomatic, to absolve oneself of responsibility and accountability
weighed down..........................................................perplexed and disturbed
obedient...................................................................still within the parameters of divine protection
sin beginneth..............................................................although new and correctable
shrink with shame........................................................feels troubled lest he be held accountable

Jacob highly disturbed by a new trend that has begun among his people after the death of Nephi.  He sets the example that we must never seem to accept bad behavior through silence.  To magnify a calling, one must speak up.  Otherwise we will be held accountable for not exercising our priesthood and our calling.

Jacob 2: 7-11
exceedingly tender........................................................many are acutely troubled by changes
pleasing word of God................................................we all want to receive spiritual compliments
daggers to the soul.....................................................must address delicate matters, and will hurt some
strict commands........................................................he will disturb the balance and speak
go to temple...............................................................approach the saints themselves in the temple

The leader goes directly to the members of the Lord's church to address the oncoming societal sin.

Jacob 2: 12-19

digging for gold......................................................not good to become materialistic
blessed......................................................................the Lord did bring materialistic successes
pride of hearts.............................................................instead of benefitting, it is leading men away
justified?.......................................................................no.  pride does not save men
let not.............................................................................recognize the falling, change it
familiar...................................................................have generosity with those who lack
seek..........................................................................its not riches but spirituality that we should seek
will have...................................................................riches given freely when men live right

Reminder is given that we should not follow money, but rather we should dedicate ourselves to lifting and helping others.  We need to keep wealth in its proper place

Jacob 2: 20-22

persecute.................................................................there are those who misuse wealth to hurt
equality..................................................................God does not judge men by their wealth
grosser crime.............................................................materialism is bad.  Something is worse

Men start to think that wealth somehow shows a deeper commitment to God; however, this is simply false.  It can actually destroy people.  As bad as it is, their are worse things.

Jacob 2: 23-33

whoredoms.........................................................sins of a carnal nature much worse to men
wives and concubines.............................................men are marrying and prostituting
raise up...................................................................God's opinion concerning polygamy
not suffer..............................................................behavior is condemned.  Not of God.
one wife, no concubines...............................................the law of God.  Do not do these things.
chastity of women.................................................... the behavior is leading women to stray
curse land..............................................................the group will be severely chastened, if continued
only the Lord...........................................................polygamy only under direction.
sorrow and mourning...........................................destructive to women.  Makes men wicked
not suffer...............................................................He will overrule the polygamy
saith the Lord........................................................given the prophet's direct statement

Jacob approaches the whoredom associated with rise of polygamy among the Nephites.  he expressly tells them to stop it immediately under he penalty of severe curses from God

Jacob 2: 34-35

from father Lehi.................................................they have changed the rules, not Lehi who led them
greater iniquities................................................even the Lamanites are more righteous to families
sobbings.........................................................a result of women's prayers.  God has heard it.
deep wounds....................................................the Lord sees the hurt caused to the women.

These cultural developments did not come through the leadership.  It is condemned and it is not allowed.  any argument using David as the model will be thrown down.  God has spoken.

Jacob 2

This chapter demonstrates the way a prophet of God will stand up against the evils and errors of his times.  God will not allow his righteous followers to be hurt by members of His church.  He will warn them and will spell out the curse that is about to be poured out if his is ignored.  In this case, Jacob condemns materialism that leads away from God, but he forbids polygamy when it does not come directly from Him.

2 Nephi 17

2 Nephi 17;  Isaiah 6

2 Nephi 17:  1-7

Ephraim...........................................................the two nations are working counter to each other
Isaiah and son.....................................................use your own family to prophesy
smoking firebrands....................................................belligerents, Assyria and North kingdom
evil counsel.............................................................secret meetings and agreements
vex it.......................................................................intent to fight Judah
it shall not..............................................................overruled by the heavens

Political conspiracies at work.  The northern kingdom is entering secret negotiations with Assyria

2 Nephi 17:  8-16

65 years............................................................the number of years left for the Northern
believe.............................................................to receive divine help will require God's help
ask for a sign.....................................................interesting, why the north is adulterous
weary...............................................................God not amused when someone cites him
the sign.............................................................Christ, His advent and His mission to the earth
days to come.........................................................severe tests for both kingdoms

Despite the attitudes of invinciblity, both kingdoms are in severe trouble.  To prosper requires God's assistance

2 Nephi 17: 17-25

trials.......................................................hard trouble when the kingdoms split.  This is worse.
Lord will hiss.................................................the answer will be to use outside kingdoms
they will come..................................................invasions are about to take place
consume the beard..............................................idiomatic.  Beard is a sign of masculinity.
nourish young animals..........................................your sovreignty is limited
milk and honey.....................................................the righteous will prosper with God.
thousand.........................................................multiplication of blessings
briers.............................................................symbols of the troubles that come to those who attack the Lord's people

Isaiah remind people where real powers originate

2 Nephi 17

This chapter reminds the people of what happens with God's help, and what will happen if men fail to heed the Lord.  This is timely, because the Children of Lehi left Jerusalem in order to survive the terrible events in this chapter.