The Book of Mormon was written by God's ancient prophets and brought forth by His latter-day prophet, Joseph Smith, to help us prepare for the Second Coming of Jesus Christ. (2 Nephi 27:6)
Nephi knew his writings would be rejected in the latter days by those who deny the spirit of revelation in the name of loyalty to the Bible. "There are many that harden their hearts against the Holy Spirit...wherefore they cast many things away which are written and esteem them as things of naught." (2 Nephi 33:2)
Nephi begs:"All ye ends of the earth...hearken unto these words and believe in Christ; and if ye believe not in these words...believe in Christ. And if ye shall believe in Christ, ye will believe in these words, for they are the words of Christ, and he hath given them unto me; and they teach all men that they should do good. And if they are not the words of Christ, judge ye—for Christ will show you with great power and glory, that they ARE his words, at the last day; and you and I shall stand face to face before His bar; and ye shall know that I have been commanded of Him to write these things, notwithstanding my weakness." (2 Nephi 33:10-11)
The prophet Moroni tells us how to find out if the Book of Mormon is true before we get to the judgement bar in Moroni 10:3-5.
The Holy Ghost testifies of the truthfulness of this incredible book! Freely share it with friends and family and ask them to pray to know if it is true. I have witnessed this beautiful process take fruition in the lives of many who are pure in heart and truly want to know. They always get their answer eventually and it always changes their lives in wonderful ways.
This sweet expression is SO Nephi: "I glory in plainness; I glory in truth; I glory in my Jesus, for he hath redeemed my soul from hell." (2 Nephi 33:6) MY Jesus. What a familiar and affectionate way to identify our Savior. He is OUR Jesus too.
Nephi recorded his final chapters in today's reading and left us with, "What I seal on earth shall be brought against you at the judgment bar..." then passed the plates on to his younger brother. Jacob "labored diligently" to persuade his people to "come unto Christ and partake of the goodness of God that they might enter into his rest," just as he knew his amazing and righteous brother Nephi did.
Jacob's sermon in chapter 2 is heart wrenching and included in the Book of Mormon to be a much needed wake-up call to the men of the latter-days.
Lots to process today - powerful, thought provoking and so important. Enjoy your study session!
- Open study session with prayer
- Scripture Study: 2 Nephi 32-33: Jacob 1-2 (listen)
- Study Guide: (here)
- Video: Discussions on the Book of Mormon 2 Nephi 31-33
- Video: Discussions on the Book of Mormon Jacob 1-3, 7
"Angels speak by the power of the Holy Ghost; wherefore, they speak the words of Christ. Wherefore, I said unto you, feast upon the words of Christ; for behold, the words of Christ will tell you all things that ye should do." 2 Nephi 32:3
"But before ye seek for riches, seek ye for the kingdom of God. And after ye have obtained a hope in Christ ye shall obtain riches, if ye seek them; and ye will seek them for the intent to do good—to clothe the naked, and to feed the hungry, and to liberate the captive, and administer relief to the sick and the afflicted." Jacob 2:18-19
“No early authority can separate us from direct access to our Creator, There can never be a mechanical or electronic failure when we pray. There is no limit on the number of times or how long we can pray each day. There is no quota of how many needs we wish to pray for in each prayer. We do not need to go through secretaries or make an appointment to reach the throne of grace. He is reachable at any time and any place.” --Elder James E. Faust
One of the most heart wrenching dissertations in the Book of Mormon is Jacob pleading with the wicked men of his people to repent. He hated to "...enlarge the wounds of those already wounded, instead of consoling and healing their wounds...instead of feasting upon the pleasing word of God have daggers placed to pierce their souls and wound their delicate minds." But God had "strictly" commanded him to do so..."Jacob, get thou up into the temple on the morrow, and declare the word which I shall give thee unto this people." (Jacob 2:11)
Jacob unleashed a bit when he said, "O that he would show you that he can pierce you, and with one glance of his eye he can smite you to the dust!"
This scenario is so very sad, and we see it with friends and family today: "Behold, ye have done greater iniquities than the Lamanites, our brethren. Ye have broken the hearts of your tender wives, and lost the confidence of your children, because of your bad examples before them; and the sobbings of their hearts ascend up to God against you. And because of the strictness of the word of God, which cometh down against you, many hearts died, pierced with deep wounds."
Tomorrow we read Jacob's words in Chapter 3 to the "pure in heart." :)
- Record thoughts and impressions in your journal.
- Close with prayer and have a beautiful day!!
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