“Arise from the
dust, my sons, and be men”
In
the next 3 chapters, Lehi imparts final words of counsel to his children and
grandchildren before he dies. In Chapter 1, Lehi speaks with his adult children
about how blessed they have been to be led out of Jerusalem (which he has seen
in vision has been destroyed) and guided to this new land (the
American continent). He prophesies that his posterity and anyone else who is led by God to this land will be blessed with freedom if they choose to follow God. (see verses 3-11)
The Lord wants to bless us. But if we choose to reject Him, He can no longer bless us, and must remove his support and protection from us. This is a re-occurring theme of the Book of Mormon.
7 Wherefore, this land is consecrated unto him whom he shall bring. And if it so be that they shall serve him according to the commandments which he hath given, it shall be a land of liberty unto them; wherefore, they shall never be brought down into captivity; if so, it shall be because of iniquity; for if iniquity shall abound cursed shall be the land for their sakes, but unto the righteous it shall be blessed forever.
20 And he hath said that: Inasmuch as ye shall keep my commandments ye shall prosper in the land; but inasmuch as ye will not keep my commandments ye shall be cut off from my presence.
2 Nephi 2 - (In my opinion one of the most important chapters in the Book of Mormon!)
“Thou knowest the
greatness of God;
and he shall consecrate thine afflictions for thy gain.”
and he shall consecrate thine afflictions for thy gain.”
In
this chapter, Lehi teaches his son Jacob about the purpose of life,
particularly the purpose of opposition and afflictions—and the critical role
that Jesus Christ plays in the salvation of mankind.
Starting at the beginning with Adam and Eve, God gave his children the chance
to grow and prove themselves by choosing between conflicting options.
11 For it must needs be, that there is an opposition in all things. If not so, my first-born in the wilderness, righteousness could not be brought to pass, neither wickedness, neither holiness nor misery, neither good nor bad. Wherefore, all things must needs be a compound in one; wherefore, if it should be one body it must needs remain as dead, having no life neither death, nor corruption nor incorruption, happiness nor misery, neither sense nor insensibility.
12 Wherefore, it must needs have been created for a thing of naught; wherefore there would have been no purpose in the end of its creation. Wherefore, this thing must needs destroy the wisdom of God and his eternal purposes, and also the power, and the mercy, and the justice of God.
16 Wherefore, the Lord God gave unto man that he should act for himself. Wherefore, man could not act for himself save it should be that he was enticed by the one or the other.
I
find myself wanting to quote every verse in this whole powerful chapter. The
principles are HUGE and I wish I could share them with the whole world. I have
learned that God will often allow bad or hard things to happen to me because I am
here to learn and to be tested. If
everything is always pleasant, simple, or just as I ask, then there is nothing to learn and no way to grow. God loves me enough
to allow me to grow, so He won't always sweep in and remove every obstacle in my path. He knows my existence would be pointless if that were
the case. I am learning to better trust that there is a reason or purpose in everything.
24 But behold, all things have been done in the wisdom of him who knoweth all things.
25 Adam fell that men might be; and men are, that they might have joy.
But
really, life's challenges are too difficult for any of us to navigate successfully
on our own. That is why we need a Savior to put the pieces back together. His sacrifice is available for anyone who chooses to accept him; but it must be your choice. God won’t force anyone… because that would defy
the whole point of the test and the opportunity to learn.
6 Wherefore, redemption cometh in and through the Holy Messiah; for he is full of grace and truth.
7 Behold, he offereth himself a sacrifice for sin, to answer the ends of the law, unto all those who have a broken heart and a contrite spirit; and unto none else can the ends of the law be answered.
8 Wherefore, how great the importance to make these things known unto the inhabitants of the earth, that they may know that there is no flesh that can dwell in the presence of God, save it be through the merits, and mercy, and grace of the Holy Messiah, who layeth down his life according to the flesh, and taketh it again by the power of the Spirit, that he may bring to pass the resurrection of the dead, being the first that should rise.
9 Wherefore, he is the firstfruits unto God, inasmuch as he shall make intercession for all the children of men; and they that believe in him shall be saved.
26 And the Messiah cometh in the fulness of time, that he may redeem the children of men from the fall. And because that they are redeemed from the fall they have become free forever, knowing good from evil; to act for themselves and not to be acted upon, save it be by the punishment of the law at the great and last day, according to the commandments which God hath given.
27 Wherefore, men are free according to the flesh; and all things are given them which are expedient unto man. And they are free to choose liberty and eternal life, through the great Mediator of all men, or to choose captivity and death, according to the captivity and power of the devil; for he seeketh that all men might be miserable like unto himself.
I am so grateful I have the option to rely on a Savior. I know that His way leads to liberty and eternal life.
Lehi talks about 4 different Josephs in this chapter. The first is Lehi’s youngest son, Joseph, to whom he is giving his final fatherly counsel. The second is Joseph from the Old Testament—Jacob’s favorite son (the one with the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat J), also known as Joseph of Egypt. Lehi is a descendant of Joseph of Egypt, and he quotes prophecies from Joseph about a great prophet that the Lord will raise up in the future whose name is also Joseph, and whose father’s name is Joseph (see vs. 15). He is referring to Joseph Smith, the founder of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (whose name is actually Joseph Smith, Jr. because his father is Joseph Smith, Sr.). I think this is a very cool chapter. The more you learn about Joseph Smith’s life and teachings, the more you see how it fits this prophecy. It would take much too long to elaborate on that in a blog post, but you can read Joseph Smith’s personal account here: https://www.lds.org/scriptures/pgp/js-h/1?lang=eng
I agree that 2 Nephi chapter 2 is a very important one. It teaches very clearly that as human beings we have the ability to act and not just be acted upon. We each have a choice of what we will do and how we will act. It seems that humans are also born with an innate sense of right and wrong. I have found that by making the sometimes difficult choices to do those things that I innately know to be right brings me joy and satisfaction in life. That is ultimately what true religion is all about: making the choice to do the right thing.
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