In my journey to know the Lord, one thing that has been consistent is being reminded over and over again how the Lord is in all things and even in the details. He is so aware of each person and aware of any and all groups of people. He is the great covenant keeper. He is no respecter of persons and is extending His hand to anyone that will repent and come unto Him. I have come to personally know that anything less is a manifestation of unbelief.
Sharing Another Witness
This post is part of a series and personal assignment titled, “Unveiling the Covenant Path in the Book of Mormon.” Through this we have revealed the Book of Mormon for what it really is. It started with featuring the Savior’s own witness of the doctrine of Christ in the Book of Mormon. Then starting from the beginning, we have demonstrated how other Book of Mormon prophets have taught and shared their own personal witness of the true covenant path (“the Doctrine of Christ”).
Today, I will share yet another witness of the Doctrine of Christ from Nephi in 2 Nephi chapter 29-30. I will always invite you to first read the assignment (2 Nephi chapter 29-30) on your own first and use the spirit of the Lord to help you see the doctrine of Christ with new eyes. Then feel free to supplement your own reading with mine if you would like. There is so much to comment on in each chapter, but I will try to limit my comments to only those things that are relevant to the doctrine of Christ and this specific project. I invite you to seek the spirit to teach you their meaning. If you have the proper context of the doctrine of Christ, it should be easier. Use the spirit to discern any of my personal messages. My comments are only there to help clarify the simplicity and beauty of Christ’s true saving doctrine.
The Witness of Nephi
2 Nephi 29
1 But behold, there shall be many—at that day [last days] when I shall proceed to do a marvelous work among them, that I may remember my covenants which I have made unto the children of men [covenants to redeem (recover) those that choose to come unto Him], that I may set my hand again the second time to recover my people, which are of the house of Israel; [The Lord will awaken and redeem those in their time and place.]
2 And also, that I may remember the promises which I have made unto thee, Nephi [the Lord calls all who have a personal relationship with Him by name, and is completely aware of their desires], and also unto thy father, that I would remember your seed; and that the words of your seed should proceed forth out of my mouth unto your seed; and my words shall hiss forth [indication that it will cause no small stir–will upset the status quo] unto the ends of the earth, for a standard unto my people, which are of the house of Israel [Who is this?];
3 And because my words shall hiss forth—many of the Gentiles shall say: A Bible! A Bible! We have got a Bible, and there cannot be any more Bible.
4 But thus saith the Lord God: O fools, they shall have a Bible; and it shall proceed forth from the Jews, mine ancient covenant people. And what thank they the Jews for the Bible which they receive from them? Yea, what do the Gentiles [that’s us] mean? Do they remember the travails, and the labors, and the pains of the Jews [symbolic comparison to childbirth], and their diligence unto me, in bringing forth salvation unto the Gentiles? [Restating His purpose.]
5 O ye Gentiles, have ye remembered the Jews, mine ancient covenant people? Nay; but ye have cursed them, and have hated them, and have not sought to recover them. [How do you treat those of other faiths around you? How do you treat others of your own faith that you don’t agree with?] But behold, I will return all these things upon your own heads; for I the Lord have not forgotten my people.
6 Thou fool, that shall say: A Bible, we have got a Bible, and we need no more Bible. Have ye obtained a Bible save it were by the Jews?
7 Know ye not that there are more nations than one? Know ye not that I, the Lord your God, have created all men, and that I remember those who are upon the isles of the sea; and that I rule in the heavens above and in the earth beneath; and I bring forth my word unto the children of men, yea, even upon all the nations of the earth? [All reasons to have hope in God. He is revealing some of His divine nature.]
8 Wherefore murmur ye, because that ye shall receive more of my word? Know ye not that the testimony of two nations is a witness unto you that I am God, that I remember one nation like unto another? Wherefore, I speak the same words unto one nation like unto another. And when the two nations shall run together the testimony of the two nations shall run together also.
9 And I do this that I may prove unto many that I am the same yesterday, today, and forever [a very important characteristic of the Lord’s divine nature]; and that I speak forth my words according to mine own pleasure. And because that I have spoken one word ye need not suppose that I cannot speak another; for my work is not yet finished; neither shall it be until the end of man, neither from that time henceforth and forever. [Think about this in terms of other witnesses besides the two the Lord has mentioned, and not just hidden plates or records. What about other witnesses from history, or even now, or from other countries? Witnesses from other Christian denominations? Witnesses from those you know of your own faith?]
10 Wherefore, because that ye have a Bible ye need not suppose that it contains all my words; neither need ye suppose that I have not caused more to be written.
11 For I command all men [and women], both in the east and in the west, and in the north, and in the south, and in the islands of the sea, that they shall write the words which I speak unto them; for out of the books which shall be written I will judge the world, every man [and woman] according to their works [your personal relationship with the Lord], according to that which is written. [Why would it be important to write down what the Lord speaks to his people? Ponder how this might apply to you. Or does it?]
12 For behold, I shall speak unto the Jews and they shall write it; and I shall also speak unto the Nephites and they shall write it; and I shall also speak unto the other tribes of the house of Israel, which I have led away, and they shall write it; and I shall also speak unto all nations of the earth and they shall write it. [The personal relationships and interactions between the Lord and ALL people of the earth are recorded. Their records will come forward in the future and will be a testament to the truth of the doctrine of Christ (personal ascension)—the Lord being the same yesterday, today, and forever.]
13 And it shall come to pass that the Jews shall have the words of the Nephites, and the Nephites shall have the words of the Jews; and the Nephites and the Jews shall have the words of the lost tribes of Israel; and the lost tribes of Israel shall have the words of the Nephites and the Jews. [How do you suppose this will happen?]
14 And it shall come to pass that my people, which are of the house of Israel, shall be gathered home unto the lands of their possessions; and my word also shall be gathered in one. And I will show unto them that fight against my word and against my people, who are of the house of Israel, that I am God [has yet to be fulfilled], and that I covenanted with Abraham that I would remember his seed forever.
2 Nephi 30
1 And now behold, my beloved brethren, I would speak unto you [Who is this?—Who is he addressing his remarks to? It is important to know this in the coming verses.]; for I, Nephi, would not suffer that ye should suppose that ye are more righteous than the Gentiles [that’s us] shall be. For behold, except ye shall keep the commandments of God ye shall all likewise perish [This is both general and personal. It is general because there is a general commandment to “come unto Christ” for redemption. It is personal because each person must seek for personal revelation/commands and keep the Lord’s commands in order to be saved (not perish.)]; and because of the words which have been spoken ye need not suppose that the Gentiles are utterly destroyed.
2 For behold, I say unto you that as many of the Gentiles [that’s us] as will repent are the covenant people of the Lord; and as many of the Jews as will not repent shall be cast off; for the Lord covenanteth with none save it be with them that repent and believe in his Son, who is the Holy One of Israel. [Do you see how plain this is? The Lord is no respecter of persons—Jew, Gentile alike. Even the Jews who thought that their elite membership status as Jews was a guarantee for salvation. Anyone that will repent (broken heart and contrite spirit; D&C 10:66-68), He will covenant with you to guide you with His commands (personal revelation) to the point to where He will save you by way of a baptism of fire and Holy Ghost experience. Ponder this.]
3 And now, I would prophesy somewhat more concerning the Jews and the Gentiles. For after the book of which I have spoken shall come forth, and be written unto the Gentiles, and sealed up again unto the Lord, there shall be many which shall believe the words which are written; and they shall carry them forth unto the remnant of our seed.
4 And then shall the remnant of our seed know concerning us, how that we came out from Jerusalem, and that they are descendants of the Jews.
5 And the gospel of Jesus Christ [The good news of personal redemption and the means by which a person can receive it (The doctrine of Christ.)] shall be declared among them; wherefore, they shall be restored unto the knowledge of their fathers, and also to the knowledge of Jesus Christ, which was had among their fathers. [Is there any greater knowledge than the gospel and the doctrine of Christ?]
[On page 54 of The Doctrine of Christ Study Guide is more complete explanation of what knowledge was actually restored to the prophet Joseph Smith. It was actually a knowledge of the Everlasting Covenant that the “fathers” had “from the beginning.”]
6 And then shall they rejoice; for they shall know that it is a blessing unto them from the hand of God [it’s personal]; and their scales of darkness shall begin to fall from their eyes [they will awaken and be filled with light]; and many generations shall not pass away among them, save they shall be a pure and a delightsome people.
7 And it shall come to pass that the Jews which are scattered also shall begin to believe in Christ; and they shall begin to gather in upon the face of the land; and as many as shall believe in Christ shall also become a delightsome people.
8 And it shall come to pass that the Lord God shall commence his work among all nations, kindreds, tongues, and people, to bring about the restoration of his people upon the earth.
9 And with righteousness shall the Lord God judge the poor, and reprove with equity for the meek of the earth. And he shall smite the earth with the rod of his mouth; and with the breath of his lips shall he slay the wicked.
10 For the time speedily cometh that the Lord God shall cause a great division among the people, and the wicked will he destroy; and he will spare his people, yea, even if it so be that he must destroy the wicked by fire [For lack of repentance—they that will not choose the Everlasting Covenant and seek not to come unto the Lord through the doctrine of Christ.]
11 And righteousness shall be the girdle of his loins, and faithfulness the girdle of his reins.
12 And then shall the wolf dwell with the lamb; and the leopard shall lie down with the kid, and the calf, and the young lion, and the fatling, together; and a little child shall lead them.
13 And the cow and the bear shall feed; their young ones shall lie down together; and the lion shall eat straw like the ox.
14 And the sucking child shall play on the hole of the asp, and the weaned child shall put his hand on the cockatrice’s den.
15 They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain; for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the Lord as the waters cover the sea.
16 Wherefore, the things of all nations shall be made known; yea, all things shall be made known unto the children of men.
17 There is nothing which is secret save it shall be revealed; there is no work of darkness save it shall be made manifest in the light; and there is nothing which is sealed upon the earth save it shall be loosed.
18 Wherefore, all things which have been revealed unto the children of men shall at that day be revealed; and Satan shall have power over the hearts of the children of men no more, for a long time. And now, my beloved brethren, I make an end of my sayings.
Your Turn
This is one more evidence of the doctrine of Christ being discussed and taught throughout the Book of Mormon. I invite you to ponder more on how the witness of Nephi and the Book of Mormon continually points a person to the Everlasting Covenant—avoiding spiritual death, perishing, or destruction and instead, seek to receive personal salvation. In your own journey, might there be something the Lord wants you to write down or share? I invite you to prepare questions to take to the Lord and have the Lord teach you more.
Links to the complete list of witnesses in this assignment series (“Unveiling the Covenant Path in the Book of Mormon”) can be found here: ASSIGNMENT SERIES: The Covenant Path Unveiled in the Book of Mormon
For more understanding of this covenant path and its milestones taught throughout the scriptures, you are welcome to begin your personal study and your own journey in and through the doctrine of Christ through The Doctrine of Christ Study Guide. Also, to help you increase your confidence in personal revelation and develop your own gift of discernment, I invite you to study The 3 Voices of Personal Revelation Study Guide.
JourneyDoctrineOfChrist.org is based on free, online study guides to help you learn, believe, live and teach the Doctrine of Christ. The Study Guides invite any and all to see and know this truth for themselves that the Savior, Jesus Christ, has, in fact, introduced His doctrine and He personally invites all to receive personal redemption and to even literally receive Him while in the flesh (mortality).
Blog posts are only intended to supplement the Study Guides. Per all blog posts, seek the understanding and confirmations from the Lord in your own personal revelation. Study guides are intended to point you to both the Lord’s written word and His voice (personal revelation). These study guides will help you uncover what the Doctrine of Christ is and other essential topics that will help you in your journey to literally “come unto Christ” while in mortality. All study guides are available at JourneyDoctrineOfChrist.org.
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