Book of Mormon, 2 Nephi, Chapters 1-3

chapter 1 summary

Lehi speaks to his family, reminding of them of the serious sins they committed on the boat and the blessings they received from God when they repented. Their lives had been spared, they had been forgiven and inherited the Promised Land. Lehi has received from God the promise: "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" (1:20). Lehi knows he will soon die and so reminds his sons and family of this promise. He worries about them, especially Laman and Lemuel. He counsels all his sons and the sons of Ishmael and Zoram to follow Nephi and heed his teachings for he speaks for God.

stand-out scripture

1:21-23    21 And now that my soul might have joy in you, and that my heart might leave this world with gladness because of you, that I might not be brought down with grief and sorrow to the grave, arise from the dust, my sons, and be men, and be determined in one mind and in one heart, united in all things, that ye may not come down into captivity;  22 That ye may not be cursed with a sore cursing; and also, that ye may not incur the displeasure of a just God upon you, unto the destruction, yea, the eternal destruction of both soul and body.   23 Awake, my sons; put on the armor of righteousness. Shake off the chains with which ye are bound, and come forth out of obscurity, and arise from the dust.

This has always been a favorite passage of mine. When I was in high school I read a book called The Warrior Within. It was excellent. With the book came a round piece of leather with the words, "Arise from the dust, my sons, and be men" printed on it. I would rub that little piece of leather as I read and became a little token of comfort and remembrance to arise from the dust and stand for truth. I still have that little piece of leather and keep it in my black patent leather keepsake box that my grandma gave to me one Christmas. It will always be dear to me.

All of Lehi's children were dear to him. He loved each one of them no matter their dispositions or past wrongs. I can only imagine the fear and worry he had for them, knowing he would soon be gone. When I read this chapter, I imagined Lehi pleading with his sons to follow their brother Nephi and realize that he had been called by God to lead them. How Lehi must have feared for Nephi's safety.  How Lehi must have feared for the future of his posterity if they did not keep the commandments. And so he counseled them to arise from the dust, love and cherish one another, and be united and righteous in all things. They are the tender and sincere pleadings of a father and patriarch.

chapter 2 summary

Lehi counsels and blesses his son Jacob. He speaks of the Savior and how He has prepared they way for us to have eternal life.

stand-out scripture

2:4   And thou hast beheld in thy youth his glory; wherefore, thou art blessed even as they unto whom he shall minister in the flesh; for the Spirit is the same, yesterday, today, and forever. And the way is prepared from the fall of man, and salvation is free.

Jacob saw the Savior. What a wonderful gift! He must have been a person of great faith and righteousness. Jacob was the fifth son born to Lehi and Sariah. He was the first born in the wilderness and so suffered much trial, but Lehi promises him he will be blessed and safe with Nephi. I love that this whole chapter is basically a father's blessing/patriarchal blessing from Lehi to Jacob. So sweet and tender and filled with counsel.

2:13   And if ye shall say there is no law, ye shall also say there is no sin. If ye shall say there is no sin, ye shall also say there is no righteousness. And if there be no righteousness there be no happiness. And if there be no righteousness nor happiness there be no punishment nor misery. And if these things are not there is no God. And if there is no God we are not, neither the earth; for there could have been no creation of things, neither to act nor to be acted upon; wherefore, all things must have vanished away.

Agency. Choice. Freedom. Opposition. This was one of the main themes at General Conference this past weekend. We all have agency, to choose good or evil. But we are counseled that "wickedness never was happiness." That phrase was mentioned multiple times by many of the Apostles at General Conference. We live in a day where we are told that right is wrong and wrong is right. This is one of Satan's greatest tools to manipulate and trick us. Because if we are told that there is no right and wrong, then we can do whatever we want because there will be no consequences. Nothing could be farther from the truth. There are always consequences for actions. Here are a few things I learned from Conference, based on the Apostles' words, on this subject:

• "Eternity is at stake--use agency wisely."  -Robert D. Hales
• "Men must be free to choose for themselves."  -Boyd K. Packer
• "Our agency can never be taken away."  -Boyd K. Packer
• "You are free to disobey/ignore commandments--but wo unto you for there are consequences of your choices."  -Boyd K. Packer
• "Some say they are born with certain tendencies and cannot help the way they are--not so. Our Father in Heaven would never create us in contrast to His commandments. You choose your actions."  -Boyd K. Packer
• "Moral standards cannot be changed by battle or ballot."  -Boyd K. Packer
• "Youth--particularly young men--you live in a world where your associates have not been raised with traditional values and morals. Stand strong."  -L. Tom Perry
• "Media is all around you and often suggests impure things. Recognize that they are wrong."  -L. Tom Perry
• "Sin has many faces. Small choices can bring great consequences."  -Jairo Mazzagardi
• "Be alert not to let sin grow around you."  -Jairo Mazzagardi
• "Commandments are a protection to keep us safe and bless our lives."  -Mervyn B. Arnold
• "Lucifer is like a fly fisherman--he knows our hungers/weaknesses and will set up artificial traps to ensnare us."  -M. Russell Ballard
• "Lucifer uses his cunning intelligence to convince us that right is wrong and wrong is right. The battle over agency continues today."  -M. Russell Ballard
• "He uses addiction--in all forms--to steal away our agency."  -M. Russell Ballard

The talks were simply amazing and I can't wait to read them again. Though the battle over agency continues and if man may sin,our Savior has provided the way where we can repent and come unto Him. It is a long road filled with consequences. Our Father in Heaven and Jesus Christ love us. They give us commandments to protect us so we can avoid the pain of sin. I am so grateful for modern-day prophets and their counsel.

chapter 3 summary

Lehi counsels and blesses his son Joseph. He speaks of two other important and righteous men named Joseph: Joseph of Egypt and Joseph Smith Jr. who would restore the church to the earth.

stand-out scripture

3:15  And his name shall be called after me; and it shall be after the name of his father. And he shall be like unto me; for the thing, which the Lord shall bring forth by his hand, by the power of the Lord shall bring my people unto salvation.

Lehi is speaking of Joseph Smith Jr. the Prophet of the Restoration. I love the Prophet Joseph. What a marvelous man, called of God to establish His church on the earth once more. As Latter-day Saints we are deeply indebted to him for his work and sacrifices.

This scripture reveals that the ancients are indebted to him as well. Because he will restore the church once more, he will be the means of bringing the gospel to Lehi's seed and posterity in the last days. Wow. It only clarifies how great a man Joseph Smith was. How the ancients looked forward to his time on earth. How he was called and chosen for this sacred calling by God.

Doctrine and Covenants 135:3 states:

Joseph Smith, the Prophet and Seer of the Lord, has done more, save Jesus only, for the salvation of men in this world, than any other man that ever lived in it.

The Book of Mormon Student Manual:

“It was decreed in the counsels of eternity, long before the foundations of the earth were laid, that he, Joseph Smith, should be the man, in the last dispensation of this world, to bring forth the word of God to the people, and receive the fulness of the keys and power of the Priesthood of the Son of God. The Lord had his eyes upon him, and upon his father, and upon his father’s father, and upon their progenitors clear back to Abraham, and from Abraham to the flood, from the flood to Enoch, and from Enoch to Adam. He has watched that family and that blood as it has circulated from its fountain to the birth of that man. He was fore-ordained in eternity to preside over this last dispensation” (Young, Discourses of Brigham Young, p. 108).

What a wonderful reminder for Joseph, Lehi's son, to know for whom he was named. Joseph of Lehi was a descendant of Joseph of Egypt through Manasseh. Joseph Smith Jr would come through their line as well. Thus they were all related. Joseph, son of Lehi, was the sixth son of Lehi and Sariah and the second son born in the wilderness.

Lehi not only counseled his family collectively, but individually as well. A great example of a loving parent, courageous and sincere in counseling his children.