2 Nephi 31

2 Nephi 31

2 Nephi 31: 1-10

cannot write.............................................................insufficient room to write his thoughts?
doctrine of Christ.....................................................most important subject of all--Christ
according to their language.........................................Spirit finds us where we are developmentally
Lamb of God.....................................................................Christ
baptized by water........................................................law of the Kingdom, honored by Christ
righteousness............................................................needful for even Christ to fulfill the ordinance
Holy Ghost..................................................................the baptism of fire
showeth men...................................................................we are to follow His example

Since Christ followed the rules and ordinance of the Gospel, so should we follow His example.

2 Nephi 31: 11-17

repent............................................................................the law of the Father
do the things....................................................................follow Christ's example
name of Christ.................................................................fulfilled by baptism, followed by obedience
deny me..........................................................................do not turn your back on Christ
endureth........................................................................Salvation to those who remain faithful
the gate....................................................................the entry into the Kingdom

We are to follow Christ's example, and by so doing we become his children in the Kingdom of God.

2 Nephi 31: 18-21

the gift...............................................................the gift of the Holy Ghost given to the faithful
brightness of hope................................................motivation to succeed
none other...........................................................a single method of entry.  No alternatives.
Amen.................................................................Nephi's seal of this testimony

How to survive the temptations and distractions that would deter a man from succeeding in life.

Nephi recounts that the entry into the Kingdom of God commences with baptism, first by fire, and then by the baptism of fire when the Holy Ghost becomes his gift to guide him.  Then a man need only endure to the end.  Then salvation and eternal life are bestowed upon him.

2 Nephi 27

2 Nephi 27

2 Nephi 27: 1-5

day of the Gentiles.......................................................a people drunken with abominations
in that day..................................................................great storms to test the Gentiles
dream of the night.........................................................anyone who challenges Zion destroyed fast
drunken....................................................................a state of the peoples, unable to reason at all
spirit of sleep............................................................the people are out of touch with reality. To fail

If one tries to find logic in the behaviors of nations of the Gentiles, one will be hard pressed.  The wickedness and evil that underlies the nations' acts will seem totally absurd, like a drunken man.  Those things that are against the righteous desires of the Lord will be destroyed, even if it means the loss of whole nations.

2 Nephi 27: 6-20

book...................................................................book.  Emergence of the Book of Mormon
protected...................................................................the book is not a possession of the wicked
sealed..........................................................................the decree that it comes through the Lord
divine means..........................................................the Lord will allow no tampering of His word
a few...................................................................some called to witness of its beginnings
establish his word.......................................................the Lord wants no wicked ones to promote its beginnings
give a control test....................................................a portion given to a scholar outside the faith
I cannot read it.........................................................a sarcastic pronouncement of inability
learned.......................................................................Lord:  outside the ability of the world

The Book of Mormon will counteract the work of the wicked and evil.  It will emerge through divine means, having been protected by God away from the wicked. It will be translated and published with divine help outside the conventional worldly ways.

2 Nephi 27: 21-35

sealed part..................................................................only part to be published, rest too holy
I see fit........................................................................Lord will allow rest published in His time
God same......................................................................His methods do not change. Consistent.
lips v hearts...................................................................speaking is not enough.. The heart needed
marvelous work.....................................................the Lord's way will protect spirituality
woe, hiding..............................................................the Lord does not work by conspiracies
a little while.............................................................the Lord is acting quite fast, even if man doesn't see it.
deaf and blind........................................................books purpose:  remove blindness and dull
meek increase.............................................................effect:  to promote faithful behavior
cut off........................................................................those who reject the premise are not holy
snare.......................................................................those who counter act are devious and evil
not ashamed...........................................................the Lord promises to help the faithful
understanding................................................................the Spirit will elevated the simple believer
doctrine..................................................................the complaints of the humble will be vindicated and replaced with eternal hope

Reasons why the Lord will bring the Book of Mormon in such a "mystical" manner.

2 Nephi 26

Due to the over-reliance of men to ideas in the European cultures, the Lord intends to establish the Book of Mormon, and His gospel, in a much more spiritual manner.  Those who would tamper with His methods will be exposed as aiding to establish and promote evil and wicked systems; whereas, His methods will be divine and remain protected for the purpose of publishing to the world, and more importantly, to save people.

2 Nephi 7

2 Nephi 7  Isaiah 50

2 Nephi 7: 1-5

divorcement..........................................................had good completely disowned Israel?
yourselves...............................................any separation comes from the human perspective
have I no.................................................a phrase to remind men that God is divine.  His power is greater than anything of the world
blackness, sack clothe.............................symbols of sorrow.  God is saddened by man's separation
tongue of the learned..................................idiomatic of Isaiah's intellectual gift
he waketh...............................................Isaiah views his gifts as divinely bestowed
turn away back.............................................idiomatic.  God does not abandon men

2 Nephi 7: 6-8

gave my back.................................Isaiah allows himself to suffer in his service to God
not confounded....................................such attacks will not defeat Isaiah
he justifies..............................................the Lord will strengthen his faithful servant
set like flint................................................this allows men to remain faithful in trials
strength of mouth...................................ability to chastise correctly and righteously

Isaiah recounts the gifts that the Lord has endowed upon him.  He knows that faithfulness increases the power of the gifts.

2 Nephi 7: 9-11

eat them up................................................the curse on those who reject and work against God
feareth the Lord.................................................true followers and servants of God
voice.............................................................what the servant speaks is the errand from God
walk in light/darkness..........................................the governing path chosen by the person
sparks..............................................................many assume the power of God wrongly.  It is not us, rather than God that gives life.  Sparks start fires that destroy, while God's light leads men.
lie down in sorrow.........................................end result.  Those who reject God are condemned

The purpose of life is joy, but those who reject God and still desire enlightenment cannot find that joy.  The servant of God imparts God's will.   Those who reject the message, reject the Lord

2 Nephi 7

This chapter instructs the servant of God to be fearless in doing his work, regardless of the reaction from the audience.  Those who accept God's word, especially his servants who work faithfully, are blessed by God's righteous oversight.  Those who reject or counter God's word are fooling themselves.  They delude themselves in their wisdom, because it has no divine stamp of approval and will ultimately lead to sorrow.