Introduction
In last week's lesson (2 Nephi 3-5), the prophet Lehi died. Within a few days, a large rift formed between his sons, Laman and Lemuel, as well as the sons of Ishmael and all those who followed them, and Nephi. This rift was so large that Laman decided to kill Nephi. Nephi, being warned, fled into the wilderness with those that followed him. Thus the two nations, the Nephites and the Lamanites, were formed.
Nephi had established an order to his people. His younger brothers, Jacob and Joseph, were set apart as teachers in the church. 2 Nephi 6-10 consist of the teachings of Jacob to the people.
The manual doesn't cover 2 Nephi 6-8 at all, focusing completely on 2 Nephi 9-10. These chapters are important, however, since 9-10 are Jacob's discussion on certain chapters of Isaiah, which he quoted in 6-8. In these chapters, Jacob tells the people that he has received a witness that Jerusalem had indeed been destroyed, and that its inhabitants were carried off as captives to the great Babylonian Empire. The chapters of Isaiah that he quotes (Isaiah 49-52) talk about the scattering and the eventual gathering of the House of Israel. In describing the Lord's role in the gathering as advocate to the people, Isaiah encourages Jerusalem (or, in other words, the House of Israel) to "Awake, awake, put on thy strength, O Zion; put on thy beautiful garments, O Jerusalem, the holy city; for henceforth there shall no more come into thee the uncircumcised and the unclean." (2 Nephi 8:24, Isaiah 52:1) In other words, be clean and don't take in worldly ideals.
However, to every temporal idea the Lord gives, there is a symbol. In explaining these chapters, Jacob doesn't talk immediately about the scattering or gathering of Israel. Instead, he talks about the Atonement and the Resurrection. The connection? "Wherefore, they that fight against Zion and the covenant people of the Lord shall lick up the dust of their feel; and the people of the Lord shall not be ashamed. For the people of the Lord are they who wait for him; for they still wait for the coming of the Messiah." (2 Nephi 6:13). Although the teachings of Isaiah are literally true, we're not talking strictly about the nation of Israel anymore. We are talking about all those who follow the teachings of the Gospel, and who trust in the Lord. We are talking about those who have come to mortality, and who await the time that the Savior will come and gather in those who have been faithful to Him in this life, to once more live in God's presence.
Further, there are descriptive references to the Savior in these chapters. For instance: The list may include the following words: deliver (2 Nephi 6:17; 7:2), redeem (2 Nephi 7:2), comfort, comforteth (2 Nephi 8:3, 12), light (2 Nephi 8:4), judgment, judge (2 Nephi 8:4–5), and salvation(2 Nephi 8:5–6)." (LDS Book of Mormon Teacher's Manual) Therefore, the gathering of Israel is a type and a shadow of the Atonement and the Resurrection, which serve as the bridge in the great plan of salvation rescuing us from death (spiritual and temporal).
The Atonement and the two Deaths
In the plan of salvation, we often show it as:
Post-Mortal Life
||Birth||
Mortality
||Death||
Spirit Paradise/Prison
||Resurrection||
||Judgement||
The Three Kingdoms (D&C 76)
It is also depicted at times as a bridge with three pillars: The Creation, The Fall, The Atonement (Bruce R. McConkie, Christ and the Creation, Liahona, Sep. 1983). However, these two views can also be viewed together:
"Premortal existence
Spiritual creation
Agency
War in heaven
Physical creation
The Fall and mortality
Principles and ordinances of the gospel of Jesus Christ (first principles: faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, repentance, baptism, …)
The Atonement
Life beyond the grave
Spirit world
Judgment
Resurrection" (Boyd K. Packer, Old Testament Teacher Resource Manual, The Great Plan of Happiness).
2 Nephi 9:6 - Adam's transgression -> the Fall -> death -> need for a resurrection. In this plan outlined above, we can make it to the Spirit World. We are helpless beyond that point. How is this resurrection brought about? Through an infinite atonement.
What would happen if there were no infinite atonement? 2 Nephi 9:7-9. We would remain corrupt, our bodies would rot forever, we would be subject to the devil (even like the devil), and we would be "shut out from the presence of our God."
What does infinite atonement mean? 2 Nephi 9:11-12. The grave must give up its dead (resurrection) (vs. 11), and hell must give up its dead (vs. 12). Then, our bodies and our spirits "will be restored one to the other; and it is by the power of the resurrection of the Holy One of Israel." (vs. 12). In addition, His atonement was meant to cover all sins, and to resurrect all of the children, as well as suffer for all sicknesses and infirmities (Alma 7:10-13). This is why it is infinite.
Certain attitudes are needed for us to receive the blessings of the Atonement
a. Believe in Jesus Christ, the Holy One of Israel, and come unto Him (2 Nephi 9:18, 23–24, 41). Why is faith in Jesus Christ essential in order to receive all the blessings of His Atonement?
b. Endure the crosses of the world and despise the shame of the world (2 Nephi 9:18). What does it mean to endure the crosses of the world? (See Matthew 16:24d, footnote 24d; 3 Nephi 12:29–30.) What does it mean to despise the shame of the world? (See 2 Nephi 9:49.)
c. Hearken to the voice of the Lord (2 Nephi 9:21). How can we hear the voice of the Lord? (See D&C 1:38; 18:33–36; 88:66.)
d. Repent, be baptized, and endure to the end (2 Nephi 9:23–24).
e. Be spiritually minded (2 Nephi 9:39; see also Romans 8:5–8). What does it mean to you to be spiritually minded? How does being spiritually minded lead to “life eternal”? What does it mean to be carnally minded? How does being carnally minded lead to spiritual death? What can we do to become more spiritually minded?
f. “Feast upon that which perisheth not” (2 Nephi 9:50–51). What are some things that never perish? How can we “feast” on these things?
g. Remember the words of God (2 Nephi 9:52). How does remembering God’s words help us receive all the blessings of the Atonement? (See 3 Nephi 15:1.)
h. Pray continually and give thanks (2 Nephi 9:52). How has praying and expressing gratitude to our Heavenly Father helped you draw nearer to Him and His Son?
Certain attitudes prevent us from receiving all the blessings of the Atonement
a. Transgressing the commandments and wasting the days of our probation (2 Nephi 9:27). In the Book of Mormon, prophets often refer to our life on earth as a “state of probation,” or a time to be tested (2 Nephi 2:21; see also 2 Nephi 2:30; Mormon 9:28). How might some people waste the days of their probation? (See 2 Nephi 9:38; Alma 34:31–33; Helaman 13:38.)
b. Placing learning, money, and other idols above God (2 Nephi 9:28–30, 37). How can the pursuit of knowledge and riches keep us from receiving all the blessings of the Atonement? (See 2 Nephi 9:28, 30, 42.) In what situations are learning and riches good? (See 2 Nephi 9:29; Jacob 2:18–19.)
c. Being spiritually deaf and blind (2 Nephi 9:31–32). What does it mean to be spiritually deaf and blind? How can we open our ears and eyes to the truths of the gospel?
d. Being “uncircumcised of heart” (2 Nephi 9:33). In ancient Israel, a man who was uncircumcised was breaking a covenant with God (Genesis 17:11, 14). With this understanding, what does it mean to be “uncircumcised of heart”?
e. Lying and committing murders and whoredoms (2 Nephi 9:34–36).
The power of the Atonement is available to all who follow the above attitudes. It is so easy to believe that, if we have made a mistake and either failed to follow some positive attribute or do something that from this second list, we no longer qualify for the blessings of Atonement. However, this is not true.
Literal and Figurative Gathering of Israel
In 2 Nephi 10, Jacob returns to the concept of the scattering and gathering of Israel. The House of Israel will literally (in fact, has been and is literally) be gathered from the four corners of the earth. In our day, we, as members of the House of Israel (that is, as those "who wait for him and those that"still wait for the coming of the Messiah" (2 Nephi 6:13)) have a particular responsibility in helping this gathering.
President Ezra Taft Benson taught: “The responsibility of the seed of Abraham, which we are, is to be missionaries to ‘bear this ministry and Priesthood unto all nations’ (Abraham 2:9). Moses bestowed upon Joseph Smith in the Kirtland Temple the keys to gather Israel (see D&C 110:11).
“Now, what is the instrument that God has designed for this gathering? It is the same instrument that is designed to convince the world that Jesus is the Christ, that Joseph Smith is His prophet, and that The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is true. It is that scripture which is the keystone of our religion” (in Conference Report, Apr. 1987, 107–8; or Ensign, May 1987, 85).
a. Believe in Jesus Christ, the Holy One of Israel, and come unto Him (2 Nephi 9:18, 23–24, 41). Why is faith in Jesus Christ essential in order to receive all the blessings of His Atonement?
b. Endure the crosses of the world and despise the shame of the world (2 Nephi 9:18). What does it mean to endure the crosses of the world? (See Matthew 16:24d, footnote 24d; 3 Nephi 12:29–30.) What does it mean to despise the shame of the world? (See 2 Nephi 9:49.)
c. Hearken to the voice of the Lord (2 Nephi 9:21). How can we hear the voice of the Lord? (See D&C 1:38; 18:33–36; 88:66.)
d. Repent, be baptized, and endure to the end (2 Nephi 9:23–24).
e. Be spiritually minded (2 Nephi 9:39; see also Romans 8:5–8). What does it mean to you to be spiritually minded? How does being spiritually minded lead to “life eternal”? What does it mean to be carnally minded? How does being carnally minded lead to spiritual death? What can we do to become more spiritually minded?
f. “Feast upon that which perisheth not” (2 Nephi 9:50–51). What are some things that never perish? How can we “feast” on these things?
g. Remember the words of God (2 Nephi 9:52). How does remembering God’s words help us receive all the blessings of the Atonement? (See 3 Nephi 15:1.)
h. Pray continually and give thanks (2 Nephi 9:52). How has praying and expressing gratitude to our Heavenly Father helped you draw nearer to Him and His Son?
Certain attitudes prevent us from receiving all the blessings of the Atonement
a. Transgressing the commandments and wasting the days of our probation (2 Nephi 9:27). In the Book of Mormon, prophets often refer to our life on earth as a “state of probation,” or a time to be tested (2 Nephi 2:21; see also 2 Nephi 2:30; Mormon 9:28). How might some people waste the days of their probation? (See 2 Nephi 9:38; Alma 34:31–33; Helaman 13:38.)
b. Placing learning, money, and other idols above God (2 Nephi 9:28–30, 37). How can the pursuit of knowledge and riches keep us from receiving all the blessings of the Atonement? (See 2 Nephi 9:28, 30, 42.) In what situations are learning and riches good? (See 2 Nephi 9:29; Jacob 2:18–19.)
c. Being spiritually deaf and blind (2 Nephi 9:31–32). What does it mean to be spiritually deaf and blind? How can we open our ears and eyes to the truths of the gospel?
d. Being “uncircumcised of heart” (2 Nephi 9:33). In ancient Israel, a man who was uncircumcised was breaking a covenant with God (Genesis 17:11, 14). With this understanding, what does it mean to be “uncircumcised of heart”?
e. Lying and committing murders and whoredoms (2 Nephi 9:34–36).
The power of the Atonement is available to all who follow the above attitudes. It is so easy to believe that, if we have made a mistake and either failed to follow some positive attribute or do something that from this second list, we no longer qualify for the blessings of Atonement. However, this is not true.
Elder
Boyd K. Packer taught: “The discouraging idea that a mistake (or even a series
of them) makes it everlastingly too late, does not come from the Lord. He has
said that if we will repent, not only will He forgive us our transgressions,
but He will forget them and remember our sins no more (see Isaiah 43:25;
Hebrews 8:12; 10:17; Alma 36:19; D&C 58:42)” (in Conference Report, Apr.
1989, 72; or Ensign, May 1989, 59).
Literal and Figurative Gathering of Israel
In 2 Nephi 10, Jacob returns to the concept of the scattering and gathering of Israel. The House of Israel will literally (in fact, has been and is literally) be gathered from the four corners of the earth. In our day, we, as members of the House of Israel (that is, as those "who wait for him and those that"still wait for the coming of the Messiah" (2 Nephi 6:13)) have a particular responsibility in helping this gathering.
President Ezra Taft Benson taught: “The responsibility of the seed of Abraham, which we are, is to be missionaries to ‘bear this ministry and Priesthood unto all nations’ (Abraham 2:9). Moses bestowed upon Joseph Smith in the Kirtland Temple the keys to gather Israel (see D&C 110:11).
“Now, what is the instrument that God has designed for this gathering? It is the same instrument that is designed to convince the world that Jesus is the Christ, that Joseph Smith is His prophet, and that The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is true. It is that scripture which is the keystone of our religion” (in Conference Report, Apr. 1987, 107–8; or Ensign, May 1987, 85).
