The Goodness of God - Jacob - an ordained minister - Teaches 2 nephi 9-10
Two of the Covenants of the Lord are Israel will not be forsaken - and all mankind will be ressurected!
Background Review:
Lehi and his family have crossed the "Many Waters" and have arrived in the promised land. Once they arrived in the promised land they planted their seeds and explored the country. Lehi, and Nephi Taught many things to Laman Lemuel and his family. As Lehi is beginning to get old he knows he won't be around much longer so he gathers his family together and pronounces
Blessings
upon them.Laman and Lemuel
- 2 Nephi 1:17-29 If you hearken unto Nephi - you shall prosper in the land and shall have my first blessing if you don't it will be taken away.Zoram
- 2 Nephi 1:30-32 True friend of Nephi forever - you shall be blessed with his seed and dwell in prosperty upon this landJacob
- 2 Nephi 2 Opposition in all things - you have seen your redeemer in your youth - Choose liberty and eternal life and not captivityJoseph -
2 Nephi 3 - Prohpecy of the 4 Joseph's - a marvelous work to come forth - Hearken unto NephiLaman and Lemuel's Children
2 Nephi 4:3-8,9 If you were taught you would be faithful - if you are cursed - take from you and place on parentsSon's of Ishmael and all his household
2 Nephi 4:10 (No details of this)Sam
2 Nephi 4:11 Blessed art thou and thy seed - shalt inherit land like unto thy brother Nephi - thy seed numbered with his seedDid you notice something is missing?
What is Lehi's first blessing spoken of in the blessings to his children?
Where is Nephi's blessing?
Where is Nephi's children's blessing? Where is Sariah's blessing?
Nephi almost certainly had a record of the blessing(s) his father gave him and his children; why did he omit them and instead write his soul-searching psalm?
Where he calls himself a wretched man, so easily tempted and aflicted by sin.. 2 Nephi 4:15-18 See Lesson #7 bottom - anger
We don't know but it is an interesting point how this man wrote concerning all the rest of his family and their blessings but not his own and his children.
Hints of Nephi's blessing?
2 Nephi 25:21-22 Nephi's blessing - His seed shall be on the earth as long as the earh shall stand?
Alma 3:14-17 Lamanites Cursed - seperated from his seed - The Lord will bless him and those called by his name-forever
After Lehi dies the family breaks apart.The reasons for this were that Laman and Lemuel and the sons of Ishmael were angry with Nephi because of the admonitions of the Lord (2 Nephi 4:13-14 ) Nephi also became angry with his brothers and because of the animosity among them Nephi flee's with those that will listen to him (2 Nephi 4:26-27, 2 Nephi 5:1-7). Nephi takes the director, the plates of brass, and the sword of Laban with him. The Lamanites are cursed with: cut off from the presence of the Lord, skin of blackness - like unto their hearts, loathsome unto Nephites, idle people, scourge unto the Nephites (2 Nephi 5:20-25) Nephi is made king of his people but somewhat unwillingly (2 Nephi 5:17-18)
The Sermon of Jacob - 2 Nephi 6-11
Introduction
2 Nephi 6:1-5 Jacob was ordained after the manner of his holy Order - consecrated by Nephi - he had spoken many things to them already
He desires the welfare of their soul - He has taught them the words of his father - concerning all things from the begining
Nephi and he desires to read unto them the words of isaiah - Liken them unto you - tell things which are to come - learn and glorify God (vs 4-5)
Jacob reads from Isaiah
2 Nephi 6-8 - Jacob quotes from Isaiah specifically about the Lamanites/Nephites and their descendants
The Return of the Jews to Jerusalem - the destruction of their enemies in the last battle
2 Nephi 6:6-7 I will life up mine hands to the Gentiles and set up my standard to the people - Kings shall be thy nursing fathers and queens thy nursing mothers.
Isaiah 49:22-26 The Gentiles shall set up my standard to the people - and their queens shall bow down to thee and lick up the dust of thy feet.
Jacob then explains this section of Isaiah as a prophecy of what is going to occur in the last days.
After Jesus has been crucified by the Jews - they will be smitten and afflicted
They will be driven to and fro and shall be afflicted in the flesh
They shall be gathered together to the land of their inheritance again
The Messiah will set himself again a second time to recover them - and destroy their enemies by fire and tempest (See Chronolgy of Signs of Times)
They will be driven to and fro and shall be afflicted in the flesh
They shall be gathered together to the land of their inheritance again
The Messiah will set himself again a second time to recover them - and destroy their enemies by fire and tempest (See Chronolgy of Signs of Times)
The House of Israel is afflicted not because the Lord has forgotten them - but rather they abandoned him!
Where is the bill of your mother's divorcement
To whom have I put the away
To whom have I sold you?
For your iniquities ye have sold yourselves
for your transgressions is your mother put away
I came there was no man
When I called there was none to answer
Is my hand shortened that I cannot redeem?
Have I no power to deliver?
At my rebuke I dry up the sea
I make the rivers a wildernessm, their fish to stink
because the waters are dried up
They die because of thirst
I clothe the heavens with blackness
I make sackcloth their covering
The Lord hath given me the tongue of the Learned
I know how to speak a word in season unto thee House of Israel
When ye are weary he waketh morning by morning
He Waketh mine ear to hear as the learned
The lord opened mine ear and
I was not rebelious, neither turned away back
I gave my back to the smiter
and my cheeks to them that plucked off the hair
I hid not my face from shame
And spitting
I shall not be confounded
I have set my face like flint
I know that I shall not be ashamed
The Lord is Near
He Justifieth me
Who will contend with me
Let us stand together
Who is my adversary
Let him come near unto me
I will smith him with the strength of my mouth
The Lord wil Help me
They who condem me shall
wax old as a garment
the moth shall eat them up
Who among you feareth the lord
That obeyeth the voice of his servant
That walketh in darkness and hath no light
Behold all ye that kindle fire
that compass yourselves with sparks
walk in the light of your fire
and in the sprks that ye have kindled
Ye shall lie down in sorrow
Jacob explains why he has read from Isaiah - The Covenant of God to Israel - All will be ressurected are return to their bodies!
2 Nephi 9:1-3 That they might know the covenants of the Lord - and their fulfillment
2 Nephi 9:3-4 One of the Covenants of the Father - All mankind will be ressurected and receive immortality
The Doctrine of the Ressurection! See Talk on Ressurection
2 Nephi 9:4 I know that you know that we will die but in our bodies we shall see God
2 Nephi 9:5 Jesus Christ shall show himself unto those in Jerusalem - die for all men that all men might become subject unto him
2 Nephi 9:6 Death has passed upon all men - to fulfill god's plan - there must needs be a resurrection - because of the fall
Why was death necessary to fulfill the plan of God? Both kinds - spiritual and temporal...
Spiritual death/seperation from God was required for mankind's growth
Mankind required a probationary state a state in which they were seperated from God and a time to prepare to return to him (2 Nephi 2:21) This seperation from God is the state known as spiritual death and was required for the development of mankind. This training could have been obtained in no other way. We had to learn through the experiences of a telestial world how to become a celestial being.
“We are in the mortal life to get an experience, a training, that we couldn’t get any other way. And in order to become gods, it is necessary for us to know something about pain, about sickness, and about the other things that we partake of in this school of mortality." President Joseph Fielding Smith - Oct 1967
Physical death/seperation required as a consequence of transgression
If adam had not partaken of the fruit he would have nad no children and would have remained in that state forever mankind would not have entered into this condition as well and the purposes of God would have been frustrated.(2 Nephi 2:15-16) Evidently the Telestial mortal condition is a requirement for having physical children. (2 Nephi 2:22-23) Adam fell that men might be and men are that they might have Joy.
Furthermore, we read that if it had been possible for Adam to partake of the tree of life - thus eliminating death it would have frustrated the plans of God as well as made God a Liar and making Adam and Eve miserable having no preparatory state! (Alma 12:23,26)
2 Nephi 9:7 It must needs be an infinite atonement - save we could not put on incorruption
Why did it need to be an infinte atonement?
The Atonement was a selfless act of infinite, eternal consequence, arduously earned alone, by the Son of God. Through it the Savior broke the bonds of death. It justifies our finally being judged by the Redeemer. It can prevent an eternity under the dominion of Satan. It opens the gates to exaltation for all who qualify for forgiveness through repentance and obedience. Richard G. Scott - Oct 2006
What does an infinite atonment mean?
Alma 34:10,12 Not a human sacrifice but an infinite and eternal sacrifice, requireth the life of comitter - must be infinite
It is infinite in that it overcomes the consequences of all sins providing the ressurection as a free gift to all.
It is infinite in that it overcomes the penalty of death - seperation from God for all sins commited in past and future to all of God's children.
It was infinite in that it required infinite suffering - it occurs only once in time for all. Heb 9:26-28
Several scriptures describe the essence of that glorious and rescuing Atonement, including a breathtaking, autobiographical verse confiding how Jesus “would that I might not drink the bitter cup, and shrink” (D&C 19:18). Since the “infinite atonement” required infinite suffering, the risk of recoil was there! (2 Ne. 9:7; Alma 34:12). All humanity hung on the hinge of Christ’s character! Mercifully, He did not shrink but “finished [His] preparations unto the children of men” (D&C 19:19).
Neal A Maxwell - April 2001
2 Nephi 9:8 If the flesh should rise no more our spirits must become subject to the devil
2 Nephi 9:9 Our spirits must have become like unto him - we become devils - he teacheth evil to all man
Why would we have become like the devil?
The devil has no body - he has no possibility of progression he is damned. Without the atonment of Jesus Christ that is the state that we would all be in. All of us have sinned, and are unclean. It is only through him that we can be saved!
2 Nephi 9:10 O how great the goodness of our God - to save us from death, hell
2 Nephi 9:11 temporal death - shall deliver up its dead, which is the grave
2 Nephi 9:12 spiritual death - hell - delivers up its dead - bodies and spirits of men will be restored - through resurrection of the Holy One
Notice the praise of Jacob - because of the grace of God!
2 Nephi 9:13 O how great the plan of our God - Paradise - must deliver rigteous up - restored to immortal body - perfect knowledge like us but perfect
2 Nephi 9:14 Perfect knowledge of all of our Guilt, uncleanness, nakedness - as well as righteousness and goodness
The ressurection is a two edged sword! We will have a perfect recollection of all of our actions!
Then comes the judgment - and the restoration of who we are to who we will be.
2 Nephi 9:15 After all have become immortal - they must appear before judgment seat of Holy one to be judged
2 Nephi 9:16 It is a restoration - righteous shall be righteous - filthy shall be filthy
2 Nephi 9:17-18 O the greatness and justice of our God - he executeth all his words - saints shall inherit kingdom of God
2 Nephi 9:19 He delivereth his saints from death, hell
2 Nephi 9:20 He knoweth all things he may save all men who obey him
2 Nephi 9:21-22 He suffereth the pains of all men - to bring to pass the resurrection of the dead
2 Nephi 9:23-24 All men must repent and be baptized - having faith if not they cannot be saved
2 Nephi 9:25-26 A law has been given - no law no punishment - atonement satisfieth the demands of justice
Jesus Christ in some way unknown to us was able to perform this infinite atonement.
Best suggestion as to how it works is in the following scriptures:
D&C 19:2-4,16-20 I have accomplished and finished the will of God in subduing all things unto myself
Retaining all power even to the destroying of Satan and his works judging every man acording to his works and deeds
I suffered these things for all that they might not suffer - if they would repent
If they don't repent they must suffer even as I - which caused me to tremble and bleed from every poor
Which suffering in the smallest degree you have tasted when I withdrew my spirit
D&C 88:12-13 Spirit giveth life to all things - and is the law by which they are governed - even the Power of God
I’m grateful that Heavenly Father didn’t stop it. If he had stopped it and left us without rendering the service he rendered, we would never have had a body again. Our body would have gone to the grave never to rise. Our spirit would have been subject to Lucifer. No matter what we did, we would have been subject to him forever. I am so grateful for the strength of this great Being who is the Son of God. In godly dignity he gave up his life. They did not take it from him. After all this intense suffering, which was sufficient to cause him to cry out, “My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?” (Matthew 27:46), he reported his accomplishment: “Father, it is finished. Into thy hands I commend my spirit” (see Luke 23:46, JST Matt. 27:54). Rex C. Sr. Reve Byu Speaches - Aug 8 1982
All kingdoms are sanctified by one law or another - even if it is that they are a law unto themselves!
D&C 88:19-25 They who are not sanctified by the law of Christ must inherit another kingdom - each kingdom has its own law by which sanctification occurs
D&C 88:27-40 We are raised to the glory that we are currently quickened - all things governed by law, if you abide not in the law you become a law unto yourself
All kingdoms have a law given - and every law has conditions and bounds -
if you abide not those conditions you receive not the reward
The Law of Christ is the only law by which sanctification and exhaltation is available all other kingdoms have lesser laws where the individual in them
must pay the penalty of their sins themselves
.All degrees of Glory are heirs of Salvation save the sons of perdition -
all will be saved but not all will be exalted
D&C 76:69-70,85-882 Nephi 9:27 Wo unto him that has the law given that transgresseth them - and wasteth the days of probation
2 Nephi 9:28 O the cunning plan of the devil - when they think they are wise - and hearken not to counsel - they are foolish
2 Nephi 9:29 But to be learneed is good if they hearken unto God
2 Nephi 9:30 Wo unto the rich as to the things of the world - but they persecute the meek - their hearts are upon their treasure
2 Nephi 9:31 Wo unto the deaf that will not hear - they shall perish
2 Nephi 9:32 Wo unto the blind - they shall perish
2 Nephi 9:33 Wo unto the uncircumcised of heart - smite them at the last day
2 Nephi 9:34 Wo unto the liar - thrust down to hell
2 Nephi 9:35 Wo unto the murderer who killeth - he shall die
2 Nephi 9:36 Wo unto them who commit whoredoms - thrust down to hell
2 Nephi 9:37 Wo unto idol worshiper - devil delighteth in them
2 Nephi 9:38 Wo unto those who die in their sins - they shall remain in their sins
2 Nephi 9:39 O remember the awfulness in transgressing - carnally minded is death - spiritually minded is life
2 Nephi 9:40 O give heed to my words - revile not against the truth words of truth hard against wicked
2 Nephi 9:41 O remember come unto the Lord - his paths are righteous - the way is narrow
2 Nephi 9:42 Whoso knocketh - to him he will open learned - shall cast these things away and consider themselves fools
2 Nephi 9:43 Things of the wise and prudent shall be hid from the wicked forever
2 Nephi 9:44 O remember my words - I shake my garments before you - I am rid of your sins and your blood
2 Nephi 9:45 O my brothers - turn away from your sins and shake off the chains of the devil
2 Nephi 9:46 Prepare your souls for that glorious day - when justice shall be administered
2 Nephi 9:47 Awake you to an awful reality of these things - if you were pure?
2 Nephi 9:48-49 If ye were holy I would speak to you of holiness - I abhore sin - I delight in righteousness
2 Nephi 9:50-51 Come everyone that thirsteth - come to the waters without money - do not waste your money for things that have no value
2 Nephi 9:52-53 Remember the words of your God - pray to him continually - how great the covenants of the Lord