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 8

2 Nephi 8;  Isaiah 51 and 52

2 Nephi 8: 1-6

rock....................................................................people are built from the "rock"
Abraham and Sarah...............................................blessings of prosperity from God.
blessed him...................................................promises to Abraham offered to the faithful
comfort Zion...............................................in trials we have the power of God to sustain
Joy................................................................the everlasting promise is given to the faithful
law from me..................................................God offers a sure path for men to have joy
righteousness is near..............................................idiomatic that the offering is now, immediate, universal
temporal and eternal............................................regardless of earthly conditions, God prevails above

The Lord reminds us continually that he maintains the promise perpetually with men.  If a man meets the conditions he is saved, regardless of the world's attempts to interfere.

2 Nephi 8: 7-10

reproach and revilings.......................................some men are very hateful.  Trust God, and endure it
the moth.................................................idiomatic of the futility of human's bad behavior.  Overruled
cut Rahab, slay dragon.......................................God had already defeated the work of Satan.
dried the sea................................................his power overcomes the most devastating worldly powers

The Lord has overcome any and all attacks that can come upon man.  Accept him and rely on him

2 Nephi 8: 11-21

redeemed.................................................God promises complete separation from the ills of life
I am he.......................................................The Lord tells us that he has done it all.  Why fear men?
Lord of Hosts.............................................The Avenger, the Creator, the Comforter
my people..............................................He will certainly stand with his people, despite the world
awake.................................................Israel too often fails to have the proper faith in God
guide...................................................if asked, he will guide us throught the pitfalls of life.
the sons.................................................parable.  As sons we will be helped by the good Father
hear this.............................................the Atonement supercedes all the troubles of this world.

Trust the Lord, the Messiah.  He has won the battle, and all his followers are under his care.  He will help us if he is asked, and his work overrules all the ills of this world.  Trust him.

2 Nephi 8: 22-25

pleadeth the case.....................................Savior intercedes for the faithful.  His promised mercy.
as dry ground..........................................the faithful will escape the punishment of the evil
shake yourself.......................................the man must do some things for himself.  Each man must choose either to follow God, or not do it.

Men must choose whom they follow.  Follow the sure.  Follow Christ.  The Savior possesses the power to have mercy, that will be accepted at the final judgement by the Father.

2 Nephi 8

Men are reminded why they must follow Christ.  He is the only means for receiving forgiveness.  There is complete freedom to choose.