Book of Mormon, 2 Nephi, Chapter 7-8

chapter 7 summary

Jacob quotes Isaiah 50. He uses Isaiah's words to testify of Jesus Christ.

stand-out scriptures

7:1   Yea, for thus saith the Lord: Have I put thee away, or have I cast thee off forever? For thus saith the Lord: Where is the bill of your mother’s divorcement? To whom have I put thee away, or to which of my creditors have I sold you? Yea, to whom have I sold you? Behold, for your iniquities have ye sold yourselves, and for your transgressions is your mother put away. 

When I read this verse I was reminded of the story in the New Testament in the book of Mark that is portrayed by the above picture. The sea raged while the Savior slept, and the apostles in their fear cried out in 4:38, "Master, carest thou not that we perish?" The Savior awoke, calmed the seas and the winds and replied to the apostles in verse 40,"Why are ye so fearful? how is it that ye have no faith" 

The Savior's answer in both these instances is the same: Of course I care. The Savior used the analogy of a bill of divorcement, which was the legal document used in the Law of Moses to divorce a husband and wife, to represent His relationship with the House of Israel. In essence, the Savior asks the House of Israel, "Have I divorced you?" It is clear He has not. He loves His people and will never give up on them.

Like with His apostles during the storm, the Savior would never leave them or forsake them. But He does require their faith. Our faith. Faith that our Savior loves us. That we will blessed according to our faith. What cause we have to rejoice that the Lord is on our side.

7:11   Behold all ye that kindle fire, that compass yourselves about with sparks, walk in the light of your fire and in the sparks which ye have kindled. This shall ye have of mine hand—ye shall lie down in sorrow.

Walking in our own light will only bring sorrow. By walking in the Savior's light we will have joy. The prophets have always counseled that if riches and education lead us to pride and self-reliance we will walk in sorrow. We must not rely in the arm of our flesh. Faith and trust in the Lord must be what we rely on. For example, the apostles relied on their strength and wisdom to battle the storm on the sea. They toiled in fear and pain to lead themselves to safety. If only they had relied on the Savior sooner and asked for His guidance and blessings, they could have avoided much personal anguish. We need only to ask, to turn to our Heavenly Father and Savior, to rely on them and recognize our weaknesses, to receive their blessings and walk in their light.

chapter 8 summary

Jacob quotes Isaiah 51 and Isaiah 52:1-2. The Lord promises great blessings to the House of Israel in the last days.

stand-out scripture

8:3   For the Lord shall comfort Zion, he will comfort all her waste places; and he will make her wilderness like Eden, and her desert like the garden of the Lord. Joy and gladness shall be found therein, thanksgiving and the voice of melody. 

A very sweet promise: "At the second coming of our Lord, 'the earth will be renewed and receive its paradisaical glory' (Articles of Faith 1:10). In other words, the earth will return to the beautiful and pure conditions that existed in the Garden of Eden, and there will be peace and righteousness" (see Bruce R. McConkie, Mormon Doctrine, 303).

Joy and gladness! Thanksgiving and melody! What a comforting, precious promise. I think that may be my new theme for my home. A home full of joy and gladness, thanksgiving and melody. Peace and righteousness will once again reign in Israel.