Book of Mormon, 2 Nephi, Chapter 5

chapter 5 summary

Laman and Lemuel and others continue to rebel against Nephi and the righteous part of the family, so much so, that they seek to kill their brother Nephi. The Lord warns Nephi and tells him to flee into the wilderness with all who would go. They do: Nephi and his family, Zoram and his family, Sam and his family, Jacob and Joseph, Nephi's sisters, and all others who would go. They journey into the wilderness until they find their new home. The people of Nephi are now called Nephites, and the people of Laman and Lemuel, Lamanites. The Nephites are blessed because they keep the commandments and build a temple. The Lamanites are cursed with dark skin to literally be a symbol that they have rebelled against their God. Nephi continues to keep record on the plates. It has now been 30 years since the time they left Jerusalem.

stand-out scriptures

5:16  And I, Nephi, did build a temple; and I did construct it after the manner of the temple of Solomon save it were not built of so many precious things; for they were not to be found upon the land, wherefore, it could not be built like unto Solomon’s temple. But the manner of the construction was like unto the temple of Solomon; and the workmanship thereof was exceedingly fine.

The above picture is an illustration of Solomon's temple in Jerusalem. It was standing when Lehi and his family had left. Now they knew through revelation of the Lord that it had been destroyed by the Babylonians. And so Nephi builds a temple for the Lord. I think it's interesting that in this verse, Nephi doesn't say the Lord commanded him to build a temple. He just knew that a temple was of vital importance and so he built it quickly but exactly.

This instance is another testimony to me of the importance of the brass plates. The Lord wanted them to have them to refer to, to remember their ancestors and lineage, to remember the prophets and their words, to remember the promises of God, and to use as a template in their new life on the American continent. Even, to help them build a temple and know the measurements and manner in which to do so (1 Kings 6). I can only imagine how greatly treasured those brass plates were.

I don't know if there are any references in the Book of Mormon of giving sacrifice to the Lord at the temple. But they surely did, since at the coming of Christ in 3 Nephi, He commands them to stop sacrifice by the shedding of blood. Thus, another testimony of the brass plates: they were needed to remember and follow the Mosaic Law.

Tomorrow is Ward Temple Day and I am so excited. The temple is the house of God and the spirit there sings to your soul and speaks peace to your heart. How grateful I am to have the Orlando Temple so close that I may receive light and wisdom by the spirit. How the Nephites must have rejoiced to have a temple in their midst after 30 years! Like the early Latter-day saint women who crushed their precious china into the mortar for the Salt Lake temple so it would shine, the Nephites too must have labored with love to erect a beautiful temple of exceedingly fine workmanship. Such faith.

5:20-23   Wherefore, the word of the Lord was fulfilled which he spake unto me, saying that: Inasmuch as they [the Lamanites] will not hearken unto thy words they shall be cut off from the presence of the Lord. And behold, they were cut off from his presence.   21 And he had caused the cursing to come upon them, yea, even a sore cursing, because of their iniquity. For behold, they had hardened their hearts against him, that they had become like unto a flint; wherefore, as they were white, and exceedingly fair and delightsome, that they might not be enticing unto my people the Lord God did cause a skin of blackness to come upon them.   22 And thus saith the Lord God: I will cause that they shall be loathsome unto thy people, save they shall repent of their iniquities.   23 And cursed shall be the seed of him that mixeth with their seed; for they shall be cursed even with the same cursing. And the Lord spake it, and it was done.

Everything in the gospel was very literal before the death of Christ. They followed the Mosaic Law, which was painstakingly literal, like being allowed only a certain number of steps on the Sabbath. But it was neccesary to prepare the people, to teach them literally so then they could receive the Higher Law which was more symbolic. Instead of animal sacrifice, for example, the Higher Law taught to practice a broken heart and a contrite spirit. It is no surprise that the same literal law is applied here.

Because the Lamanites rebelled they were cursed with a literal curse: cut off from the presence of God. The skin of blackness was that tangible and physical reminder to the Nephites that God fulfills his promises. The Lamanites were cut off from the presence of the Lord, literally, when Nephi, the prophet, left because of their wickedness. It is all very literal.

But the dark skin did not make them any less Heavenly Father's children. It did not make them unequal to the Nephites. Lehi in the chapter just before this one promised Laman and Lemuel's children, "Wherefore, if ye are cursed, behold, I leave my blessing upon you, that the cursing may be taken from you and be answered upon the heads of your parents" (2 Nephi 4:6). In 2 Nephi 26:33 Nephi writes, "[For the Lord] doeth nothing save it be plain unto the children of men; and he inviteth them all to come unto him and partake of his goodness; and he denieth none that come unto him, black and white, bond and free, male and female; and he remembereth the heathen; and all are alike unto God, both Jew and Gentile."

Today, if we too are disobedient and do not keep the commandments, we are cut off from the presence of the Lord. But there are no physical representations of it (most of the time.) We live a higher law and are held more accountable, and so it is our spirits and minds and hearts that are hardened when we choose not to follow Christ.

5:27   And it came to pass that we lived after the manner of happiness.

So sweet and simple. If we keep the commandments and are industrious in building the kingdom of God we are happy. Heavenly Father wants us to be happy. He loves us. Though trials persist, if we are living righteously we are happy!