Come Follow Me Book of Mormon with Sam 2 Nephi 26-30, the prophecies of Nephi
Welcome to Come Follow Me with Sam!
We get a really unique experience where Nephi walks through Isaiah and teaches us the most important lessons! Check out some of those below.
I have commented before that Nephi and Isaiah saw many of the same things. Nephi saw them happen to his own generations and his own children, all the way to their redemption in the last days. in verse 7 he gives a small glimpse into his anguish. it is no small surprise that Nephi would want to talk about Isaiah so much. He knows continually that what Isaiah is talking about is going to happen to his own people, and so he does his best to warn them and us.
He also has a deep understanding of justice. He speaks of the gulf in lehi's dream, of the flame that ascendant forever and ever, and at the end of vs 7, he comments 'Thy (God's) ways are just'.
He also says that 'the Son of Righteousness shall appear unto htem; and he shall heal them." Healing is something that Isaiah talks about a lot as well.
There is a lot of confusion about phrases like this. Abinadai says that God Himself shall come down to the children of men, being both the Father and the Son. When Zeezrom questions Alma and Amulek, they say that Jesus is the very eternal father. I speak a lot on this in the recordings for this week (week 9, labeled for this topic). While I haven't heard of anyone apostatizing because of this, I know that it has caused a lot of unnecessary cognitive dissonance and confusion.
To understand, you need to place yourself in the shoes of someone who lives before the Saviour has ever come. The Nephite prophets are explaining that this Messiah who is coming down will be God Himself, the Jehovah of the old testament, and He will walk among men. I belabor this point in the recordings so the only other thing I will say is read D&C 93:4.
Nephi takes some time to, simply put, lay into people of the last days. We rob the poor because of our sanctuaries. We rob the poor because of our fine clothing. And we persecute the meek and the poor in heart because we are puffed up.
I heard of a guy who got a $3000 toilet. I believe the Utah Food Bank regularly feeds people for less than a dollar. That guy could have fed someone for years. Instead, he has a toilet.
I chose that example because it is easy to bash on. Now look at your wardrobe. How many clothes do you have? How much do you spend on clothes each year? Can anyone deny that Nephi is right when he says we rob the poor?
Looking nice obviously isn't bad. And looking nice is something I could certainly improve upon. We also have basically clothed the world by the ghastly excess of our worldly textile industry. So that is good.
And yet, despite all these things, there are still children who are hungry and we could have done something and instead we bought jeans with holes in them. I can't imagine God taking our excuses seriously when he hears His little childrens' stomachs growling every night.
Hugh Nibley said we will still weep for Zion. - it was a discourse he gave. I think Nephi would agree
Nephi says you aren't in Zion yet. Then he says you don't don't understand the bible yet. He speaks Messianically in this part which I think lends weight to his sayings.
To be truthful, he probably said this all with more charity than I am expressing here. But if there is charity it is backed up by judgement as hard as a rock. All of Chapter 29 is a reminder that God writes scripture and we receive it. We don't get to decide which of his words have the most value, he does, and he gives it to all people in His time and His way, and their faith.
This is an important reminder for those who wish the church would follow some agenda or other as well. Remember who is at the steering wheel. Looking forward to change from our current state is wonderful, but it can turn hellish in an instant if we decide we know what that change should look like and we are going to take it all into our own hands. Maybe practice satyagraha first. if you don't, it does not end pretty.
This is a beautiful transition from some really tough challenges that Nephi says we will have to deliverance by God. Nephi is saying that despite all our blindness and our stubbornness, and our stiff-neckedness, and despite our inability to see, God will still do a marvelous work and a wonder among us. The fact that God cares about us like this humbles me everyday. We in turn decide how much we participate. If we are truly sincere, and really listen, God can help us get past our stumbling blocks. He really can do that. So let's choose in. Let's get His help and be part of the the wonder.
We get a really unique experience where Nephi walks through Isaiah and teaches us the most important lessons! Check out some of those below.
Nephi 'lived' Isaiah's prophecies
I have commented before that Nephi and Isaiah saw many of the same things. Nephi saw them happen to his own generations and his own children, all the way to their redemption in the last days. in verse 7 he gives a small glimpse into his anguish. it is no small surprise that Nephi would want to talk about Isaiah so much. He knows continually that what Isaiah is talking about is going to happen to his own people, and so he does his best to warn them and us.
He also has a deep understanding of justice. He speaks of the gulf in lehi's dream, of the flame that ascendant forever and ever, and at the end of vs 7, he comments 'Thy (God's) ways are just'.
He also says that 'the Son of Righteousness shall appear unto htem; and he shall heal them." Healing is something that Isaiah talks about a lot as well.
Jesus is the Christ, the Eternal God
There is a lot of confusion about phrases like this. Abinadai says that God Himself shall come down to the children of men, being both the Father and the Son. When Zeezrom questions Alma and Amulek, they say that Jesus is the very eternal father. I speak a lot on this in the recordings for this week (week 9, labeled for this topic). While I haven't heard of anyone apostatizing because of this, I know that it has caused a lot of unnecessary cognitive dissonance and confusion.
To understand, you need to place yourself in the shoes of someone who lives before the Saviour has ever come. The Nephite prophets are explaining that this Messiah who is coming down will be God Himself, the Jehovah of the old testament, and He will walk among men. I belabor this point in the recordings so the only other thing I will say is read D&C 93:4.
They rob the poor
Nephi takes some time to, simply put, lay into people of the last days. We rob the poor because of our sanctuaries. We rob the poor because of our fine clothing. And we persecute the meek and the poor in heart because we are puffed up.
I heard of a guy who got a $3000 toilet. I believe the Utah Food Bank regularly feeds people for less than a dollar. That guy could have fed someone for years. Instead, he has a toilet.
I chose that example because it is easy to bash on. Now look at your wardrobe. How many clothes do you have? How much do you spend on clothes each year? Can anyone deny that Nephi is right when he says we rob the poor?
Looking nice obviously isn't bad. And looking nice is something I could certainly improve upon. We also have basically clothed the world by the ghastly excess of our worldly textile industry. So that is good.
And yet, despite all these things, there are still children who are hungry and we could have done something and instead we bought jeans with holes in them. I can't imagine God taking our excuses seriously when he hears His little childrens' stomachs growling every night.
We will still weep for Zion.
Hugh Nibley said we will still weep for Zion. - it was a discourse he gave. I think Nephi would agree
Nephi is sick and tired of you thinking you know what you are talking about.
Nephi says you aren't in Zion yet. Then he says you don't don't understand the bible yet. He speaks Messianically in this part which I think lends weight to his sayings.
To be truthful, he probably said this all with more charity than I am expressing here. But if there is charity it is backed up by judgement as hard as a rock. All of Chapter 29 is a reminder that God writes scripture and we receive it. We don't get to decide which of his words have the most value, he does, and he gives it to all people in His time and His way, and their faith.
This is an important reminder for those who wish the church would follow some agenda or other as well. Remember who is at the steering wheel. Looking forward to change from our current state is wonderful, but it can turn hellish in an instant if we decide we know what that change should look like and we are going to take it all into our own hands. Maybe practice satyagraha first. if you don't, it does not end pretty.
The Scales of darkness shall begin to fall from their eyes
This is a beautiful transition from some really tough challenges that Nephi says we will have to deliverance by God. Nephi is saying that despite all our blindness and our stubbornness, and our stiff-neckedness, and despite our inability to see, God will still do a marvelous work and a wonder among us. The fact that God cares about us like this humbles me everyday. We in turn decide how much we participate. If we are truly sincere, and really listen, God can help us get past our stumbling blocks. He really can do that. So let's choose in. Let's get His help and be part of the the wonder.
Can I get your podcast link? I would like to listen them when driving to work.
ReplyDeleteHello xu. I had some difficulties with the comment section so apologies for getting this late one year to the day almost.
DeleteIf you are still interested I can send you some old podcasts up until about covid and some twitch streams we did after