Anyone understand 2 Nephi?

[pooter1]

I have always always skipped 2 Nephi when reading the BOM.I don't understand a word of it.I am struggling and pushing forward to read it this time around and I might as well be reading a different language.How do converts read this and feel the spirit and have an understanding? If I were a convert I would stop reading the BOM when I got to 2 Nephi

[pam]

You aren't the only one that has difficulty with 2 Nephi. I will admit it's a difficult for me as well.

[skippy740]

2nd Nephi — Stopping the Bullet - LDS - Families.com

“During the Vietnam War, a group of soldiers were ambushed. Fire was exchanged and during it all, a young LDS soldier was hit in the chest. The others had no choice but to retreat, leaving their friend’s body in the tall grass. Later that night, back at the camp, they saw a figure moving towards them. One of the soldiers yelled out, “Who goes there?” Out of the shadows stumbled the LDS soldier. The group stood in disbelief, wanting to know how he survived. The LDS soldier reached into his jacket and pulled out a pocket version Book of Mormon with a bullet lodged in it. Holding it high in the air he exclaimed, “Nothing, and I mean nothing, gets through Second Nephi!” Contributed by PRONGI

[Guest]

I don't remember 2 Nephi being particularly more difficult than the rest of the book when I was still an investigator.

I read the BOM with some other lesson book (I believe it was the manual used in Institute but I can't be certain). 2 Nephi 2 is one of my most favorite chapters of the BOM.

[skippy740]

2 Nephi 4 - the Psalm of Nephi

[rameumptom]

I suggest studying it with some outside guidance. A few helps are available at feastupontheword.org , where they have the Sunday School lessons covered and articles on almost every verse or chapter of the Book of Mormon.

You can also read my Sunday School lessons on 2 Nephi that are at my blog joelsmonastery.blogspot.com or also found in the scriptures forum here.

[mnn727]

I ended up skipping over it the first couple times I read the BOM. Then someone gave me the book "Understanding Isaiah" and I read it with that in hand (it explains it verse by verse).

[Anddenex]

I am assuming you are actually meaning the chapters in reference to Isaiah's words, and if so, then there are more people who are still trying to understand these words Nephi quoted.

The other words in 2 Nephi, the more you read them the more you begin to understand them. Read them more.

[pooter1]

Skippy,That was funny! Thanks everyone.The Isaiah part Im guessing has to do with the second coming but it just doesn't make sense to me. Im going to go visit feast up the word see if that will help.

[OldPort]

Repetition has helped me. I like to read a few chapters, then listen to the audio of those chapters. This seems to make it flow smoother for me.

[mordorbund]

Just read the chapter headings your first go-round. They'll tell you which parts are the actual Isaiah and which parts are Nephi's commentary. Then read Nephi's commentary. Now when you read the Isaiah portions you'll have a better understanding of why Nephi included those chapters. Then you can resume reading in order.

When you read Nephi's commentary, you'll recognize a few themes that he loves. In fact, back in 1 Nephi he explained his purpose behind the Isaiah chapters (just before citing Isaiah 48):

But that I might more fully persuade them to believe in the Lord their Redeemer I did read unto them that which was written by the prophet Isaiah; for I did liken all scriptures unto us, that it might be for our profit and learning.

So you can expect

• Messianic themes about the coming Redeemer
• Themes relevant to the Lehites - specifically the scattering and gathering of Israel (Nephi really associates with the "isles of the seas")

[skalenfehl]

Second Nephi is a "how-to" manual on coming unto Christ. It takes a lot of patience and especially prayer. We cannot come unto Christ without the guidance of the Holy Spirit. Pray constantly for the Holy Spirit to whisper to you as you read. The more often you read the Book of Mormon this way, the more the many puzzle pieces begin to come together.

Nephi's sole purpose in writing his books is to teach the reader about his mortal experience (exodus from Jerusalem with his family, traveling in the wilderness, obedience to the Lord, etc, etc,) with partaking of the "Heavenly Gift," which Moroni expounds upon in Ether 12. We can then begin to see the pattern in our own lives when we make that spiritual exodus of our own from Babylon as we embark upon our own journey through a spiritual wilderness. Keep in mind that the gift of the Holy Ghost is one heavenly gift--the first comforter. The Holy Spirit becomes your guide in your journey that brings you to the end of your journey through strict obedience and holding fast to the iron rod until you fall to your knees at the tree of life as travelers did in the vision. The Second Comforter is the other Heavenly Gift. Pray! (2 Nephi 32).

The heavenly gift is referred to twice in the Book of Mormon. They are wonderful clues!

[Vort]

Nephi wrote about things that were important to him. I am not convinced that the extensive Isaiah quotations are exactly what we need. On the other hand, when Jesus came to the Nephites, he told them, "Great are the words of Isaiah," so maybe Nephi was inspired to include those extensive quotations.

[classylady]

Plus, I have to think that when Mormon abridged the plates that he left the words of Isaiah in for a reason.

[skalenfehl]

Nephi wrote about things that were important to him. I am not convinced that the extensive Isaiah quotations are exactly what we need. On the other hand, when Jesus came to the Nephites, he told them, "Great are the words of Isaiah," so maybe Nephi was inspired to include those extensive quotations.

Yes. And they were important to him especially because he labored so much to teach his people to come unto Christ. He says this over and over again in 2 Nephi, especially when it came to quoting Isaiah.

2 Nephi 11:2 And now I, Nephi, write more of the words of Isaiah, for my soul delighteth in his words. For I will liken his words unto my people, and I will send them forth unto all my children, for he verily saw my Redeemer, even as I have seen him.

2 Nephi 6:4 And now, behold, I would speak unto you concerning things which are, and which are to come; wherefore, I will read you the words of Isaiah. And they are the words which my brother has desired that I should speak unto you. And I speak unto you for your sakes, that ye may learn and glorify the name of your God.

2 Nephi 25:4 Wherefore, hearken, O my people, which are of the house of Israel, and give ear unto my words; for because the words of Isaiah are not plain unto you, nevertheless they are plain unto all those that are filled with the spirit of prophecy. But I give unto you a prophecy, according to the spirit which is in me; wherefore I shall prophesy according to the plainness which hath been with me from the time that I came out from Jerusalem with my father; for behold, my soul delighteth in plainness unto my people, that they may learn.

Just to name a few. But he also speaks to his posterity and the posterity of his brothers, the Lamanites, which is why Jacob painstakingly copied the allegory of the tame and wild olive trees onto the plates. It is very relevant to the Lamanites in the latter days. But also to the Jews and Gentiles. The most important advice he gives, he gives toward the end of his writings:

4 Wherefore, now after I have spoken these words, if ye cannot understand them it will be because ye ask not, neither do ye knock; wherefore, ye are not brought into the light, but must perish in the dark.

5 For behold, again I say unto you that if ye will enter in by the way, and receive the Holy Ghost, it will show unto you all things what ye should do.

6 Behold, this is the doctrine of Christ, and there will be no more doctrine given until after he shall manifest himself unto you in the flesh. And when he shall manifest himself unto you in the flesh, the things which he shall say unto you shall ye observe to do.

7 And now I, Nephi, cannot say more; the Spirit stoppeth mine utterance, and I am left to mourn because of the unbelief, and the wickedness, and the ignorance, and the stiffneckedness of men; for they will not search knowledge, nor understand great knowledge, when it is given unto them in plainness, even as plain as word can be.

And this is why he tells us how important it is to pray in the subsequent verses of the chapter. Or as Joseph Smith so often emphasized:

"Then I would exhort you to go on and continue to call upon God until you make your calling and election sure for yourselves; by obtaining this more sure word of prophecy, and wait patiently for the promise until you obtain it." –Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, p. 299

[skalenfehl]

One more. Chapter 25 is key.

21 Wherefore, for this cause hath the Lord God promised unto me that these things which I write shall be kept and preserved, and handed down unto my seed, from generation to generation, that the promise may be fulfilled unto Joseph, that his seed should never perish as long as the earth should stand.

22 Wherefore, these things shall go from generation to generation as long as the earth shall stand; and they shall go according to the will and pleasure of God; and the nations who shall possess them shall be judged of them according to the words which are written.

23 For we labor diligently to write, to persuade our children, and also our brethren, to believe in Christ, and to be reconciled to God; for we know that it is by grace that we are saved, after all we can do.

[skippy740]

2 Nephi 9:39

39 O, my beloved brethren, remember the awfulness in transgressing against that Holy God, and also the awfulness of yielding to the enticings of that cunning one. Remember, to be carnally-minded is death, and to be Spiritually-Minded Is Life Eternal.

S.M.I.L.E. :)

2 Nephi 6:5 - A way to study the scriptures:

5 And now, the words which I shall read are they which Isaiah spake concerning all the house of Israel; wherefore, they may be likened unto you, for ye are of the house of Israel. And there are many things which have been spoken by Isaiah which may be likened unto you, because ye are of the house of Israel.

When we read and liken the scriptures unto ourselves, they become more real and personal for us.

[tubaloth]

Have you tried using the Institute Manual?

Courses and Manuals - LDS Institute

Not only does it help understand other parts of the Book of Mormon, but also helps make the Isaiah chapters in the Book of Mormon understandable, not only for us, but also why Nephi put them in there.

A bigger book to consider is Christ and the New Covenant by Elder Holland.

DeseretBook.com - Christ and the New Covenant: The Messianic Message of the Book of Mormon Paperback by Jeffrey R. Holland

(I would try to get a hard bound copy) its a big book but also very insightful how he organizes the different witnesses to Christ. One of those being Isaiah.

[pooter1]

Thanks for the link tubaloff.I will try those.