All posts in category 2 Nephi

The Doctrine of Christ

Click here for today’s assignment.

First of all, I have to say – I love the doctrine of Christ. I find it super exciting. This is where things really start to come together. We have studied our pre-mortal existence, the fall, and mortality. We have studied the need for the atonement, and the atonement. With the Doctrine of Christ, we learn how to apply the power of atonement to our lives. This is where everything comes together.

The Example

At the meridian of time, Christ came to the earth, and gave us an example. When he began his mortal ministry, he went to John the Baptist, and was baptized.

Nephi points out that Christ was holy, yet was baptized. He then asks:

“And now, if the Lamb of God, he being holy, should have need to be baptized by water, to fulfil all righteousness, O then, how much more need have we, being unholy, to be baptized, yea, even by water!” – 2 Nephi 31:5

Christ was holy, yet was baptized to fulfill all righteousness. Of course we need to do the same.

Christ, himself, taught Nicodemus:

“Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.” – John 3:5

Jesus taught us, through His example, that baptism is necessary in order to enter into the kingdom of God.

Baptism – an essential part of the Doctrine of Christ. (click picture for source)

The Doctrine

Foundation

  • We have to understand that we are fallen people. Christ wasn’t fallen, so He could covenant with God directly. We covenant with God in Christ’s name, and he enables us to overcome with fall.
  • If we want to be able to dwell with God again, then we need to be purified and Holy. Following the steps in the doctrine of Christ will help us, through Christ’s atonement, to be made pure and Holy.

The Steps

“Wherefore, my beloved brethren, I know that if ye shall follow the Son, with full purpose of heart, acting no hypocrisy and no deception before God, but with real intent, repenting of your sins, witnessing unto the Father that ye are willing to take upon you the name of Christ, by baptism—yea, by following your Lord and your Savior down into the water, according to his word, behold, then shall ye receive the Holy Ghost; yea, then cometh the baptism of fire and of the Holy Ghost; and then can ye speak with the tongue of angels, and shout praises unto the Holy One of Israel.” – 2 Nephi 31:13

  1. Have Faith in Christ – follow Him, genuinely. In following Christ, we recognize that he knows where he’s going, and we want to go there, too. When we follow Christ, we believe Him. Another aspect of following Christ is doing what He has taught us to do – keep the commandments and covenant with God.
  2. Repent – Repentance seems to be a natural result of genuine faith in Christ. When we exercise our faith in Christ, when we keep His commandments, and experience His love, we are also made aware of our imperfections. It isn’t because God is some kind of guilt-tripper. It is because as we increase in our faith in Christ, we realize that we can be even closer to Him and feel more of His love when we repent and change our lives.
  3. Take upon the name of Christ – through baptism – I love this! We are able to become united with Christ when we are baptized. Can you really understand the scope of this blessing?

    I was talking with my sister today – about worthiness, the temple, prayer, etc. And I realized, none of us are worthy. None of us are worthy to go to the temple, take the sacrament, or even pray – ON OUR OWN. We pray – in the name of Christ. We bless and partake of the sacrament in the name of Christ. When we take on His name, then everything we do – as we approach the Lord – can be with the intercessory power that the Savior offers. So – am I worthy to go to the temple? When it comes to Catania, I’d have to say no. But, I’m faithful, I’m repentant, I have taken on Christ’s name, and I know that His grace makes up for my lack of worthiness. We aren’t in this alone. We can have Christ as a partner when we take on His name and live worthy of His atoning power in our lives.

  4. Receive the Holy Ghost – When we are baptized, we are purified. Then, when we receive the gift of the Holy Ghost, we are sanctified. This is how the doctrine of Christ makes us Holy.

    I’m totally flabbergasted by the gift of the Holy Ghost. That hasn’t always been the case. When I was a little kid, I remember that we would learn about the Gift of the Holy Ghost in primary. Often, the teacher would bring in a little present – wrapped up and empty. How I longed to open that present – and find a toy or candy. Yet it was always empty: symbolizing the gift of the Holy Ghost. I understand the object lesson, but I always kind of wished it had a toy in there instead. I didn’t understand the Gift that was being offered.

    Yet, as I have gotten older, and have felt the power and blessing it is to have the Gift of the Holy Ghost in my life, I am so grateful that God chose this way to bless us (rather than toys or candy bars!).

    Think of the love God has for us. 1) We are His children, and are blessed with a divine nature. (See Romans 8:16). 2. We can take on the name of Christ – and be connected to the Godhead in this way. 3. We are literally blessed with the gift of the Holy Ghost – who is a constant companion to those who live worthy of the blessing. Heavenly Father doesn’t intend for us to be alone on our mortal journey. Even though we are cut off from Heavenly father, the atonement and doctrine of Christ enables us to endure our mortal probation with divine help.

  5. Endure to the End – Nephi teaches:
    “And now, my beloved brethren, after ye have gotten into this strait and narrow path, I would ask if all is done? Behold, I say unto you, Nay; for ye have not come thus far save it were by the word of Christ with unshaken faith in him, relying wholly upon the merits of him who is mighty to save.

    Wherefore, ye must press forward with a steadfastness in Christ, having a perfect brightness of hope, and a love of God and of all men. Wherefore, if ye shall press forward, feasting upon the word of Christ, and endure to the end, behold, thus saith the Father: Ye shall have eternal life.” – 2 Nephi 31:19-20

    After we have completed the previous four steps, we don’t have it made. We still have to endure the tests of this life. The key is given here in 2 Nephi 31:20 –

    • Faith – steadfastness in Christ
    • Hope – perfect brightness of hope
    • Charity – love of God and of all men

    Through these efforts, we will be able to make it back to our Heavenly Father. His purposes (See Moses 1:39.) will be fulfilled, and we will rejoice forever with God.

The plan of salvation is pretty awesome.

What did you learn as you studied the Doctrine of Christ? What do you find particularly comforting about this doctrine?

Click here for tomorrow’s assignment.

6 Comments
by chococatania on September 21, 2012  •  Permalink
Posted in 2 Nephi, Insights, Plan of Salvation Scripture STudy Series
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Posted by chococatania on September 21, 2012

http://thatgoodpart.wordpress.com/2012/09/21/the-doctrine-of-christ/

The Need for an Atonement – Scripture Chain

Click here for today’s assignment.

Yesterday, we learned about what happened at the Fall of Adam and Eve. Today we will look at a scripture chain that is an extension of the theme of the Fall – especially how it resulted in our need for an atonement.

Romans 5:12

“Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:” – Romans 5:12

  • By Adam, sin entered into the world. It is important to note that this doesn’t mean that he committed a sin we must all pay for. “We believe that men will be punished for his own sins, and not for Adam’s transgression,” (See Articles of Faith 1:2). Instead, Paul teaches us that because of Adam, we are born into mortality – and are people who are capable of sinning. When Adam was in the garden, he was innocent. Now, we aren’t. This is how, by one man sin entered into the world.
  • Sin results in spiritual death.

Alma 42:9-10

“Therefore, as the soul could never die, and the fall had brought upon all mankind a spiritual death as well as a temporal, that is, they were cut off from the presence of the Lord, it was expedient that mankind should be reclaimed from this spiritual death.

Therefore, as they had become carnal, sensual, and devilish, by nature,…” – Alma 42:9-10

  • The soul is eternal. (See Doctrine and Covenants 93:29, 33.)
  • Even though the soul can never die, we keep hearing about how the fall brought on death. Alma clarifies that spiritual death means that we are cut off from the presence of the Lord.
  • Temporal death, physical death, is also a result of the fall.
  • Our natures became carnal, sensual, and devilish. In the scriptures, fallen man is often referred to as “natural man.”

Alma 41:11

“And now, my son, all men that are in a state of nature, or I would say, in a carnal state, are in the gall of bitterness and in the bonds of iniquity; they are without God in the world, and they have gone contrary to the nature of God; therefore, they are in a state contrary to the nature of happiness. – Alma 41:11

  • I love this scripture!
  • When we are in our “natural” (fallen) state, we cannot be truly happy. This may not seem/sound true. In some ways, I think that our notion of happiness (or at least the world’s notion of happiness) may often be too connected with pleasure or chasing the appetite of the natural man. Of course, seeking to satiate our sensual appetites seems to be impossible. Often, this kind of unchecked passion leads us to bitterness and captivity (ie: addiction, disease, etc.)
  • The nature of God = the nature of Happiness.
  • As we learned earlier, the natural man is cut off from God. If we persist in our natural/fallen tendencies, then we cannot be happy because we are cut off from the nature of happiness.

2 Nephi 9:8-10

“O the wisdom of God, his mercy and grace! For behold, if the flesh should rise no more our spirits must become subject to that angel who fell from before the presence of the Eternal God, and became the devil, to rise no more.

And our spirits must have become like unto him, and we become devils, angels to a devil, to be shut out from the presence of our God, and to remain with the father of lies, in misery, like unto himself; yea, to that being who beguiled our first parents, who transformeth himself nigh unto an angel of light, and stirreth up the children of men unto secret combinations of murder and all manner of secret works of darkness.

O how great the goodness of our God, who prepareth a way for our escape from the grasp of this awful monster; yea, that monster, death and hell, which I call the death of the body, and also the death of the spirit.” – 2 Nephi 9:8-10

  • We can praise God: His mercy and grace. He prepared a way for us to overcome the effects of the fall. Remember: “For behold, this is my work and my glory—to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man,” (Moses 1:39). God’s purpose – His work – His glory is our immortality and eternal life. A way needed to be prepared for us to escape from the effects of the Fall.
  • If our bodies couldn’t rise again, then our Spirits would have been subject to Satan. – This would frustrate God’s purposes.
  • If our Spirits became subject to Satan, we would have become like Satan – remaining forever in misery. – Again, this foils God’s plan.
  • Heavenly Father, understanding the calamitous effects of the fall, yet the necessity for us to experience mortality and a spiritual separation from him (in order for our progression), made a way possible for us to overcome spiritual and physical death: the atonement.
  • When we consider the terror and bitterness of death, the concept of the atonement becomes a source of hope.

***
I am a woman who has been affected by the Fall. First of all, my body is imperfect, and I don’t just say that because I don’t have flat abs. I’m sitting here, on my couch, and I have been for 3 1/2 weeks straight – healing from a hysterectomy. I needed to have the hysterectomy because of problems caused by endometriosis. My body gets sick. I’m getting older, and I feel it in my bones. It isn’t something I like to think about: but I know that one day, my body will be laid to rest…I will die.

Additionally, I sin. I’m not as charitable as I should be. I make rash judgments. I get short-tempered with my kids. I think bad thoughts, say things I shouldn’t say, and then even do things that I regret. Obviously, I sin, and these sins, one by one, push me further away from God. I don’t really like thinking about this, either.

The thing is: we have hope in the atonement of Christ. God knew we would need it, and, to perform His purpose, he has provided a Savior that we so desperately need.

***
As you studied these scriptures, what were some of the things you noticed in a need for an atonement?

Click here for tomorrow’s assignment.

4 Comments
by chococatania on September 18, 2012  •  Permalink
Posted in 2 Nephi, Alma, Book of Mormon, Insights, New Testament, Plan of Salvation Scripture STudy Series, Romans
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Posted by chococatania on September 18, 2012

http://thatgoodpart.wordpress.com/2012/09/18/the-need-for-an-atonement-scripture-chain/

For All the Saints

So – today is “All Saint’s Day.” Traditionally, it is a Catholic holiday – not celebrated by Mormons, but I like thinking about it – and what it represents. – All Saint’s day commemorates those who have seen God…

St Stephen

Image Source – Olga’s Gallery

We, in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints have a different definition of what a saint is.

King Benjamin teaches that a saint is what we become when we put off the natural man.

” 19 For the natural man is an enemy to God, and has been from the fall of Adam, and will be, forever and ever, unless he yields to the enticings of the Holy Spirit, and putteth off the natural man and becometh a saint through the atonement of Christ the Lord, and becometh as a child, submissive, meek, humble, patient, full of love, willing to submit to all things which the Lord seeth fit to inflict upon him, even as a child doth submit to his father.” – Mosiah 3:19

We learn that we can become a Saint through Christ’s atonement.

Nephi explains how to follow Christ

” 13 Wherefore, my beloved brethren, I know that if ye shall follow the Son, with full purpose of heart, acting no hypocrisy and no deception before God, but with real intent, repenting of your sins, witnessing unto the Father that ye are willing to take upon you the name of Christ, by baptism—yea, by following your Lord and your Savior down into the water, according to his word, behold, then shall ye receive the Holy Ghost; yea, then cometh the baptism of fire and of the Holy Ghost; and then can ye speak with the tongue of angels, and shout praises unto the Holy One of Israel.” – 2 Nephi 31:13

– So, we follow the Savior by following Him into the waters of baptism…There, we are cleansed and take upon His name.

Through the baptismal covenant, we, as King Benjamin taught:

  • Become like a child
  • show submission to God’s will and Christ’s power
  • Show meekness by readily admitting we are natural men and need Christ to cleanse us.
  • Show humility by doing as the Lord has instructed and putting off natural instincts.

The baptismal covenant also blesses us with the Holy Ghost, and it is the Holy Ghost that purifies us. We are then able to continue our refinement and ability to become saints and finish obtaining the qualities outlined by King Benjamin:

  • Patience – I know that it is the Gift of the Holy Ghost that has comforted me in times of trial and has helped me to be patient. Whether I need to be patient with afflictions, circumstances, my kids, or even myself – I know that I cannot be patient without the help of the Spirit.
  • Full of Love (or Charity) – It is my opinion that we cannot be charitable without first feeling God’s love for ourselves. We feel God’s love when we covenant with Him and keep His commandments. I don’t know how to describe it, but I have felt God’s love in my life. His love builds my confidence and gives me support. As I feel His love, I’m prompted to share that love with others. I know that Heavenly Father Loves me, and I know that He loves all of His Children.
  • Willing to Submit to all things – It is interesting that submission is listed twice. I think that submission happens over and over again – true discipleship, or becoming a saint, is all about putting our wills on the altar of the Lord – daily. That is hard to do.

I love that we can all be saints. It is a lot to live up to. When I think of the examples of the righteous people I have known; when I think of the prophets of old, I wonder if I am up to the task – to be a saint. Yet, I’m also filled with confidence – If the Lord thinks that I can be a saint, then I know I can. Above all, I know that cannot do anything alone. I know that I can only become a saint through Christ. But I feel pretty excited – knowing that Heavenly Father sees my potential, believes in me, and blesses me so that I can one day be what He sees in me. I just have to follow the pattern taught in the scriptures.

Anyone Can Do It...Even Me!

So…All Saint’s day – a really cool time to remember the saints who have gone before us and how we can become saints through the atonement of Christ.

2 Comments
by chococatania on November 1, 2011  •  Permalink
Posted in 2 Nephi, Book of Mormon, Insights, Mosiah, Reflections, Testimonies
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Posted by chococatania on November 1, 2011

http://thatgoodpart.wordpress.com/2011/11/01/for-all-the-saints/

We Talk of Christ: Your Spiritual Personal History

One common misconception about the Book of Mormon is that it was written by Joseph Smith. Joseph Smith translated the Book of Mormon. The Book of Mormon is actually a collection of testimonies and histories written by ancient prophets. Nephi, one of the ancient prophets who helped author the Book of Mormon, explains:

” 26 And we talk of Christ, we rejoice in Christ, we preach of Christ, we prophesy of Christ, and we write according to our prophecies, that our children may know to what source they may look for a remission of their sins.” – 2 Nephi 25:26

The prophets recorded their testimonies and experiences so that their children would know where to find remission for their sins.

I have to admit, I’ve always loved this scripture. In the past, I’ve always loved it because of the first half – where it says “we talk of Christ, we rejoice in Christ, we preach of Christ, we prophesy of Christ.” Recently, however, I’ve started to notice the latter portion of the verse: “And we write according to our prophecies, that our children may know…” I have four children, and am in the thick of motherhood. I have a testimony, and one of my greatest concerns is the development of the testimonies of my children. I want them to know Christ and how they can receive a remission of their sins.

Of course, in helping my children to develop their own testimonies, I can point them to the scriptures, and I do. This is accomplished through Family Home Evening, Family Scripture Study, Family Prayer, and church attendance. I love these moments that we spend together, but I’ve been feeling like I want to do something to really share my testimony with them.

So – in the spirit of Family History – and keeping a personal history, I have decided to begin keeping my spiritual personal history.

A quick digression (even though this post seems like it has been a complete digression). I have done a bit of family history work, and while I’ve felt a connection to the ancestors that I’ve done work for, I don’t really know any of them. I don’t have journals or stories. Well, let me take that back. I have one short personal history – of my great-grandmother. In her history, she doesn’t tell much about her testimony or life. She relates a few things – where she was born, the names of her siblings, the name of the store her father owned. Then, she spends a long time telling about the time she had a tapeworm! GROSS! I have always thought that this personal history is kind of funny. Of all the things that she wanted her posterity to know – she related the tapeworm story?!

My tape-wormy great-grandma, (post tape-worm) and her husband (my great-grandpa)

Now, I have to wonder – what kind of legacy am I leaving? What will my children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren know about me? (I haven’t had tape-worms, so that’s out…)

I do keep journals. And they are embarrassing. I have at least 4 journals from my teenage years. Every entry mentions a different boy. Or two. (I thought I wasn’t boy-crazy!) As I’ve gotten older, my journals are marginally better, but they are still more about the troubles I have faced.

On another note, when I read Nephi’s words, I feel close to him. I feel like the selections he has included in the scriptures help me to understand a part of his Spiritual Development. I can see why he says that his soul delights in the scriptures – throughout his experiences prior, he has used his knowledge of the scriptures as a source of courage. Nephi’s courage was based on Moses’ courage. We see this development through the record he has kept.

While I don’t claim to be a scripture writer, I have thought that it would be a good idea to keep a Spiritual Personal History. I am making one copy for each of my children. I do not plan on giving these to my children until they are older. (I’m thinking that when they go to the temple they will get it).

So here’s what to do:

  • Determine how you would like to record your spiritual personal history.
    • By hand – I have decided to write my history by hand. I like handwriting. It is just a crazy thing. Although, I admit there are times I wish I was typing it. Typing would be faster.
    • Word Processing – this is a simple and quick (not to mention neat) way to record your personal spiritual history. Plus, there are many websites where you can import your word document and have it printed as a book. If you have a lot of kids this may be the way to go!
  • Begin reading through old journals. – This is where you will start getting your content. I got my first journal when I was eight. I’m looking for entries where I record my testimony or any spiritual experience. Unfortunately, I didn’t record many of these.
  • As you read through your journal, think of how your testimony began to develop at that time. – For example: as a fifteen year-old, my testimony came from spiritual experiences like girls’ camp. Even though I wasn’t a sober-minded 15 year old girl, I did love the way that the Spirit felt. In my spiritual personal history, I explain this – by giving specific examples on how I felt my testimony growing during that period.
    • As you go through this, it is really great to see how our testimonies truly come line upon line.
  • Consider including actual journal entries -in the words that you used at that time in your life. – This will help to show how your testimony developed over time.
  • Consider including your Patriarchal Blessing – and also the events that surrounded your receiving it.
  • This personal history is not meant to be every single spiritual experience you’ve had. Instead, like the Book of Mormon, it is an abridgment of your testimony – how it developed over the years.
  • As you consider what to include, remember Nephi’s words: “And we talk of Christ, we rejoice in Christ, we preach of Christ, we prophesy of Christ, and we write according to our prophecies, that our children may know to what source they may look for a remission of their sins.” This is what you are doing – writing your testimony so that your children will know what source they out to look to for a remission of their sins. They will read your words and know that you knew.

So, I encourage you to begin your own spiritual personal history! And if you’ve already done so, comment here with a few hints/tips!

***
For more blog posts about the Book of Mormon, head over to the Book of Mormon Forum.

7 Comments
by chococatania on October 12, 2011  •  Permalink
Posted in 2 Nephi, Book of Mormon, Book of Mormon Forum, Children, Family, General tips for home, Insights, Motherhood
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Posted by chococatania on October 12, 2011

http://thatgoodpart.wordpress.com/2011/10/12/recording-your-spiritual-personal-history/

Increasing Understanding of Christ through the Book of Mormon (Part 4)

This is the final part in a series of blog posts about how the Book of Mormon helps to increase our understanding of our Savior and Redeemer, Jesus Christ.

In the first part we discussed the need for a savior – which is plainly explained in the Book of Mormon. In the second part we learned more of the nature of Christ through the testimonies of the prophets in the Book of Mormon. In the third part we learned the doctrine of Christ – which is very plainly taught in the Book of Mormon. Now, we will talk about – how the Book of Mormon brings us increased hope in Christ – which helps us to endure.

We are taught:

” 16 And now, my beloved brethren, I know by this that unless a man shall endure to the end, in following the example of the Son of the living God, he cannot be saved.” – 2 Nephi 31:16

Even after we have covenanted with God – through Christ. Even after we have accepted the gospel, we are not finished! We must endure. We must remain faithful.

This kind of sounds hard, and sometimes even depressing. I mean, I’m no idiot. I know – life is hard. Even Christ taught, “These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation:” But he doesn’t end there. He continues, ,”but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world,” (John 16:33). We can find strength to endure in Christ. We can endure cheerfully. And the Book of Mormon sheds a lot of light on how to do this.

Nephi teaches:

” 20 Wherefore, ye must press forward with a steadfastness in Christ, having a perfect brightness of hope, and a love of God and of all men. Wherefore, if ye shall press forward, feasting upon the word of Christ, and endure to the end, behold, thus saith the Father: Ye shall have eternal life.” – 2 Nephi 31:20

This scripture teaches us that we need to endure faithfully, with hope, and charity. Then it gives us a huge hint: feasting upon the word of Christ.

I love this charge. First of all: I love eating – feasting, especially. Being a spiritual fattie is a super-duper good thing! Second of all, I’ve been blessed by feasting upon the word of Christ. The scriptures will give us the information and examples we need to be able to endure. The scriptures, which is Christ’s word, will help to strengthen our faith in Christ and increase our hope.

The Book of Mormon can help us to remain faithful in Christ – even as we struggle through trials. The stories of the Book of Mormon – the lives of those who authored it – are examples, or object lessons that teach us more about Christ. We can apply these lessons to our own lives which will help us to have a “perfect brightness of hope.” Here are a two examples of stories or prophets from the Book of Mormon that help to increase our hope in the Savior.

Nephi
In 2 Nephi, Nephi states:

” 34 O Lord, I have trusted in thee, and I will trust in thee forever. I will not put my trust in the arm of flesh; for I know that cursed is he that putteth his trust in the arm of flesh. Yea, cursed is he that putteth his trust in man or maketh flesh his arm.” – 2 Nephi 4:34

This testimony comes from Nephi a little later in his life, and I can see how he is able to give it genuinely. Nephi had trusted in the Lord, and had been delivered every time. Nephi had obtained the brass plates, suffered with hunger in the Wilderness, built a ship and made safe passage to the Promised Land. Even though it took eight years, and there were many difficulties in the way, Nephi trusted the Lord completely, and always was delivered. Often, his deliverance did not come until the final moment – just before destruction – but he was always delivered.

Nephi’s life is one object lesson after another. We learn that trusting in the Lord will help us to endure, and that, eventually we will be delivered.

Alma the Younger
Alma the younger was the son of a prophet, and, at first, he was a bit of a rebel. However, the Lord in His mercy humbles Alma. This experience causes Alma to repent. But Alma doesn’t stop at saying I’m sorry. He lives the rest of his life serving the Lord diligently. He leads his people in battle, serves in the government,preaches the gospel to those who believe, teaches those that are wicked, suffers mocking and reviling, experienced success, Witnessed the martyrdom of recent converts, is put in prison, and is delivered – by God – from prison. He deals with an anti-Christ, and continues preaching the gospel. Throughout his life, he is motivated by a vision -

” 22 Yea, methought I saw, even as our father Lehi saw, God sitting upon his throne, surrounded with numberless concourses of angels, in the attitude of singing and praising their God; yea, and my soul did long to be there.” – Alma 36:22

Even after being a vile sinner, Alma experiences true forgiveness and turns his life over to the Lord. Alma’s life is an example to us – of the power of Christ’s atonement and on how we find our lives when we lose them in the Lord.

When we read these examples, we are filled with hope in our Savior – which fuels our ability to endure. What are some of the stories from the Book of Mormon that help you to endure your life’s struggles?

***
I want to bear my testimony that I know that the Book of Mormon is a true book. It was written by true prophets. It is a book that will bring us closer to Christ. Through the Book of Mormon, we can understand our need for a Savior, we learn the nature of Christ, we are taught the doctrine of Christ, and we are taught how to endure with steadfastness in Christ. I encourage you, if you haven’t, to read the Book of Mormon. You can find it online here or you can order a free copy here. Additionally, check out some other great blog posts – from every-day people – over at the Book of Mormon Forum.

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by chococatania on October 11, 2011  •  Permalink
Posted in 1 Nephi, 2 Nephi, Alma, Book of Mormon, Book of Mormon Forum, Insights
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Posted by chococatania on October 11, 2011

http://thatgoodpart.wordpress.com/2011/10/11/increasing-understanding-of-christ-through-the-book-of-mormon-part-4/

Increasing Understanding of Christ through the Book of Mormon (Part 3)

First of all…check out the Testimonies of the Book of Mormon Blog Hop!

So – I love how things work out sometimes. I’ve been working on the Book of Mormon Forum throughout the month of October. I love sharing my testimony of the Book of Mormon – as I have a testimony of the Book of Mormon. It has brought me closer to Christ, and continually strengthens my faith in Him and inspires me to be a better disciple. A lot has been going on in the world around us (here in the U.S.) with the various Republican candidates for president. Mitt Romney is a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, so much is being said about the Mormons. One thing that is being said is that we are not Christian. I actually find this kind of hilarious.

I have a testimony that Jesus Christ is my personal Savior. I have felt His love. I understand my need for a Savior. I have come to know about Him – and His nature – through The Book of Mormon and words of the prophets. This knowledge has motivated me to follow Him.

What the Book of Mormon teaches us about discipleship – through covenant making – is what today’s post is all about.

I love this quote by Elder Anderson:

” Faith in Jesus Christ, when solidly anchored in our souls, brings true conversion, and in its wake come repentance, honest discipleship, miracles, spiritual gifts, and enduring righteousness. This is an important part of the divine mission of the Book of Mormon.” – Neil L. Anderson, member of the quorum of the twelve apostles

In parts one and two of this (Increasing Understanding of Christ through the Book of Mormon) series, we have learned about Christ – and our need to have faith in Him.

Faith is more than mere believing it is an action word. When we have faith in Christ, we are moved. As Elder Anderson teaches, next comes repentance and honest discipleship. What exactly is honest discipleship? It can be a lot of things, but one way that we become disciples of Christ is through following Him. This is the doctrine of Christ.

We learn in the New Testament that we need to come unto Christ and be baptized. Christ teaches:

“He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.” – Mark 16:16

He taught Nicodemus:

” 5 Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.” – John 3:5

We know that we need to be baptized. But why? Christ pleads with us:

” 28 ¶Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.

29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.

30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” – Matthew 11:28-30

As much as I love the references and truths taught in the New Testament, none of them are as direct as what we learn in the Book of Mormon.

As we read in the Book of Mormon, we understand our need for a Savior. Our faith grows, and a natural result is that we desire to come unto Christ because we know that He is our salvation. We learn how through Christ, we can covenant with Heavenly Father, and overcome the plight of mortality: physical and spiritual death.

Nephi teaches the doctrine of Christ in 2 Nephi 31. I encourage you to read it yourself. But for now, here are a few highlights.

  • In order to fulfill all righteousness, Christ, himself was baptized. Christ was holy, yet he needed to covenant with Heavenly Father in order to fulfill all righteousness. Because Christ was holy, he was able to covenant with Heavenly Father directly – he didn’t need a mediator. Nephi also explains:
    ” 7 Know ye not that he was holy? But notwithstanding he being holy, he showeth unto the children of men that, according to the flesh he humbleth himself before the Father, and witnesseth unto the Father that he would be obedient unto him in keeping his commandments.

    8 Wherefore, after he was baptized with water the Holy Ghost descended upon him in the form of a dove.” – 2 Nephi 31:7-8

    Christ was humble and kept every single commandment of God with exactness.

  • The gate into the Kingdom of God is strait and narrow. Remember strait is another word for narrow (think Bering Strait or Strait of Gibraltar). Strait not straight. Because the gate into God’s Kingdom is strait and narrow, this connotes that exactness is required. There are not many ways into God’s kingdom. There is only one way, and it is quite precise. Christ’s own baptism illustrates this precision.
  • Christ commanded us to follow him. – How can we possible follow Him if we refuse to follow Him into the waters of baptism? We must follow Him into the waters of Baptism. We must be willing to covenant with the father.
  • We are commanded to repent and be baptized – in Christ’s name. – So, it is required of us to repent and then be baptized. Interestingly enough, we must be baptized in Christ’s name. It was essential for Him to be baptized – so we can be baptized. Because we are unholy, we cannot covenant directly with Heavenly Father. We need Jesus Christ to be our Mediator. Jesus Christ saves us! Jesus Christ enables us to covenant with Heavenly Father and enter into that strait and narrow gate.
  • When we covenant with God, through Jesus Christ, then Heavenly Father will bless us with the Gift of the Holy Ghost. – Recall Christ’s experience – He was baptized, then the Spirit fell on Him like a dove. We can receive this blessing of the gift of the Holy Ghost as well.
  • The Gift of the Holy Ghost will sanctify us. – While baptism cleans us, it is the gift of the Holy Ghost that makes us pure and holy. Then, we are changed beings, and we can speak with “the tongue of angels,” (2 Nephi 31:13). Another example of this is taught to us by Isaiah.
  • We must endure to the end. Nephi teaches:
    ” 14 But, behold, my beloved brethren, thus came the voice of the Son unto me, saying: After ye have repented of your sins, and witnessed unto the Father that ye are willing to keep my commandments, by the baptism of water, and have received the baptism of fire and of the Holy Ghost, and can speak with a new tongue, yea, even with the tongue of angels, and after this should deny me, it would have been better for you that ye had not known me.

    15 And I heard a voice from the Father, saying: Yea, the words of my Beloved are true and faithful. He that endureth to the end, the same shall be saved.

    16 And now, my beloved brethren, I know by this that unless a man shall endure to the end, in following the example of the Son of the living God, he cannot be saved.” – 2 Nephi 31:14-16

    Endurance is crucial in our progression. After entering into the gates of God’s Kingdom through baptism, we are not done! Instead, we need to, “press forward with a steadfastness in Christ, having a perfect brightness of hope, and a love of God and of all men. Wherefore, if ye shall press forward, feasting upon the word of Christ, and endure to the end, behold, thus saith the Father: Ye shall have eternal life,” (2 Nephi 31:20).

  • If we do all of this, then we will receive eternal life.

This is the way it is the only way – the true doctrine of Christ.

We must believe in Him and be His disciples by following Him. Christ also teaches His doctrine, personally, in the Book of Mormon.

I’m so grateful that I understand the need for my Savior. I’m grateful to have an understanding of his nature and attributes. I’m especially grateful that I have had the opportunity to covenant with Heavenly Father through Jesus Christ. I know that He is my advocate with Heavenly Father. I know that He pleads my cause. This brings me so much humility and gratitude. I know that on my own, I am nothing, but because of Christ, I am made whole.

I encourage you, if you haven’t read the Book of Mormon, give it a try! Read it. You can find it online here. You can also order a free copy here. If you would like to read other testimonies of the Book of Mormon, check out the Book of Mormon Forum.

8 Comments
by chococatania on October 10, 2011  •  Permalink
Posted in 2 Nephi, Book of Mormon, Book of Mormon Forum, Insights, Testimonies
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Posted by chococatania on October 10, 2011

http://thatgoodpart.wordpress.com/2011/10/10/increasing-understanding-of-christ-through-the-book-of-mormon-part-3/

Increasing Understanding of Christ through the Book of Mormon (Part Two)

Read Part 1/4 of this series here.

I have mentioned before, and will mention again that I love the Book of Mormon because it teaches me about and brings me closer to the Savior. Because of the Book of Mormon, I have come to know that Jesus Christ is my personal Savior and Redeemer. I have been blessed because of His love. I have experienced miracles and blessings that I attribute to His power. It is because of the Book of Mormon that I have come to know Christ and have been inspired to approach Him in faith.

There are many ways that the Book of Mormon increases our understanding of the Savior. One way that I’d like to bring up today is not as obvious at first. The Book of Mormon increases our understanding of the Savior through quoted scripture – especially Isaiah.

Anyone who has read the Book of Mormon has probably faced the “Isaiah Chapters” (in 2 Nephi.) A lot of people who come to these chapters get a little worried, they feel overwhelmed, and either stop reading altogether or skim through them. I used to be in this boat. As much as I tried to understand these chapters in the Book of Mormon, I felt inadequate and tended to struggle through them.

Nephi, one of the early prophets in the Book of Mormon, quotes extensively from Isaiah, he explains:

” 23 And I did read many things unto them which were written in the books of Moses; 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.” – 1 Nephi 19:23

Later on, Nephi explains again:

” 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.

3 And my brother, Jacob, also has seen him as I have seen him; wherefore, I will send their words forth unto my children to prove unto them that my words are true. Wherefore, by the words of three, God hath said, I will establish my word. Nevertheless, God sendeth more witnesses, and he proveth all his words.” – 2 Nephi 11:2-3

In both of these references, Nephi explains that He quotes Isaiah in order to prove Christ persuade his brethren to believe in Christ.

When reading the Book of Mormon, especially quoted scripture, we should keep this purpose in mind.

Here are a few examples of how Isaiah, quoted in the scriptures, teaches us more about Christ:

” 14 Therefore, the Lord himself shall give you a sign—Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and shall bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.

15 Butter and honey shall he eat, that he may know to refuse the evil and to choose the good.

16 For before the child shall know to refuse the evil and choose the good, the land that thou abhorrest shall be forsaken of both her kings.” – 2 Nephi 17:14-16

This scripture teaches us of Christ’s life and coming to the earth – He would be born of a virgin, and will live a simple life.

” 14 And he shall be for a sanctuary; but for a stone of stumbling, and for a rock of offense to both the houses of Israel, for a gin and a snare to the inhabitants of Jerusalem.” – 2 Nephi 18:14

Christ is not only the Savior, He is not only the rock upon which we should build, but He is also a “stone of stumbling” and “a rock of offense” – if we are not righteous. Because of the Book of Mormon, we can understand Christ’s nature. He is loving and kind, but this does not mean that He can tolerate Sin. He is the standard – the consequence we receive is based on our actions – not His.

” 4 But with righteousness shall he 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.

5 And righteousness shall be the girdle of his loins, and faithfulness the girdle of his reins.” – 2 Nephi 21:4-5

This scripture helps us to understand that Christ is a righteous judge. It teaches us who will be spared and who will be slain. This scripture teaches us that Christ will only be close to the righteous and faithful. So – again, it is up to us. It isn’t that Christ loves some people more than others. He loves all of us, but he is a righteous Judge and can only reward those who come unto Him – and seek to obtain the qualities that He also has. He loves everyone who will choose to be meek and righteous.

” 3 And it shall come to pass in that day that the Lord shall give thee rest, from thy sorrow, and from thy fear, and from the hard bondage wherein thou wast made to serve.” – 2 Nephi 24:3

Christ will bring us rest. He will heal us. He will liberate us.

And now, for my favorite Isaiah scripture…In fact, this is one of my favorite prophecies of Christ:

“2 For he shall grow up before him as a tender plant, and as a root out of dry ground; he hath no form nor comeliness; and when we shall see him there is no beauty that we should desire him.

3 He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief; and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not.

4 Surely he has borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows; yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted.

5 But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities; the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.” = Mosiah 14:2-5

There is more to learn from the “Isaiah chapters” in the Book of Mormon (for more information, see here), but for now, I just want to emphasize that these chapters are not meant to intimidate or bore us. They help us to understand Christ. The prophets who authored the Book of Mormon also had scriptures – which inspired them to believe in Christ, and they quote these scriptures often – many of which were written originally by Isaiah.

***
Isaiah is not the only prophet quoted in the Book of Mormon. You can also find Malachi quoted by Christ. There are also various references to books of scripture that we no longer have.

I will finish this post with one of my favorite scriptures of Christ. This is written by Nephi and is a combination of the words of various prophets.

” 10 And the God of our fathers, who were led out of Egypt, out of bondage, and also were preserved in the wilderness by him, yea, the God of Abraham, and of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, yieldeth himself, according to the words of the angel, as a man, into the hands of wicked men, to be lifted up, according to the words of Zenock, and to be crucified, according to the words of Neum, and to be buried in a sepulchre, according to the words of Zenos, which he spake concerning the three days of darkness, which should be a sign given of his death unto those who should inhabit the isles of the sea, more especially given unto those who are of the house of Israel.

11 For thus spake the prophet: The Lord God surely shall visit all the house of Israel at that day, some with his voice, because of their righteousness, unto their great joy and salvation, and others with the thunderings and the lightnings of his power, by tempest, by fire, and by smoke, and vapor of darkness, and by the opening of the earth, and by mountains which shall be carried up.” – 1 Nephi 19:10-11

The Book of Mormon helps us to understand more about the Savior – especially through the quoted scripture. In this way, we can see that the Bible and Book of Mormon work together to witness of Christ. These scriptures are so important that we can find most of them in more than one place. They teach us more about the Savior – His mission, nature, and life. In learning about the Savior in these ways, we can come closer to Him and better partake of His infinite atonement.

***
For more blog posts about the Book of Mormon, check out the Book of Mormon Forum.

3 Comments
by chococatania on October 9, 2011  •  Permalink
Posted in 1 Nephi, 2 Nephi, Book of Mormon, Book of Mormon Forum, Insights
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Posted by chococatania on October 9, 2011

http://thatgoodpart.wordpress.com/2011/10/09/increasing-understanding-of-christ-through-the-book-of-mormon-part-two/

Why There Were Only Three Witnesses of the Book of Mormon – 2 Nephi 27

I’ve never thought much about why there were only three witnesses to the Book of Mormon. I’ve been blessed with an early measure of faith in the Book of Mormon. I was blessed to have this book all of my life, and I’ve felt the spirit that are in the words of these prophets who lived so long ago.

I didn’t really need to have other witnesses.

However, I’m not blind to the fact that there are many who criticize the Book of Mormon because we don’t have the golden plates sitting around for all to see.

I think that many Mormons have faced this challenge from others – or perhaps even internally, and we might answer, “If we could see and touch the golden plates, then we wouldn’t need to have faith…That’s why we don’t have the physical plates these days…” Maybe there is value to that reasoning. I don’t know. However, I read the following today which really shed a little light on the scenario:

“13 And there is none other which shall view it, save it be a few according to the will of God, to bear testimony of his word unto the children of men; for the Lord God hath said that the words of the faithful should speak as if it were from the dead.” – 2 Nephi 27:13

The thing is, we aren’t supposed to rely on the testimonies of those who saw and handled the plates. We shouldn’t be fixated on the plates at all. Instead, the witness that we need are the words of the faithful [speaking] as if it were from the dead.

This is why there aren’t more witnesses. Other witnesses, or a stack of golden plates in the Church History building would probably cloud the clear testimonies of Nephi, Alma, Moroni, Mormon, Helaman, etc. Instead of the words of the prophets – speaking from the dust to us, we’d have this artifact – which would be cool, but not necessarily convincing of the fact that Jesus IS the Christ – the eternal God.

I think that, as people, we are sometimes a lot like raccoons – distracted by shiny things. If we had those plates right now, would we really concentrate so much on what they said? Would it feel like people speaking to us from the dead?

Because we don’t have the plates available to us, we are able to focus on the true message of the Book of Mormon – which has been given to us from ancient prophets – It truly is like they are speaking from the dust.

1 Comment
by chococatania on December 3, 2010  •  Permalink
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Posted by chococatania on December 3, 2010

http://thatgoodpart.wordpress.com/2010/12/03/why-there-were-only-three-witnesses-of-the-book-of-mormon-2-nephi-27/

Nephi: A Type of Christ – 2 Nephi 1:24

For my Book of Mormon eXtreme Challenge, I’m reading – searching specifically for Christ. Today, I ran across the following scripture:

“24 Rebel no more against your brother, whose views have been glorious, and who hath kept the commandments from the time that we left Jerusalem; and who hath been an instrument in the hands of God, in bringing us forth into the land of promise; for were it not for him, we must have perished with hunger in the wilderness; nevertheless, ye sought to take away his life; yea, and he hath suffered much sorrow because of you.” – 2 Nephi 1:24

So…this scripture is actually about Nephi. Lehi is pleading with Laman and Lemuel that they will listen to their righteous, younger brother.

As I was reading it, I couldn’t help but see the parallels to Christ.

  • “Rebel no more against your brother…
    • Christ is our brother. We shouldn’t rebel against Him, either.
  • …whose views have been glorious…
    • Aren’t Christ’s view more glorious than any others? He is full of glory, and this is a really good reason not to rebel against Him.
  • …and who hath kept the commandments from the time that we left Jerusalem…
    • Okay, so here, we have to do a little substitution, but not much. Christ has always kept the commandments. And perhaps, you could say, since the time we left His presence – the pre-mortal world. Before we embarked on our own “journeys in the wilderness.” Any way you look at it, Christ has always kept the commandments perfectly. We can trust him as a leader.
  • …and who hath been an instrument in the hands of God, in bringing us forth into the land of promise…
    • So – isn’t that the same with Christ? We can’t get into the ultimate promised land without Him. We need His intercession. We need His guidance. We need His grace. Not only that, he has truly been an instrument in God’s hand – Christ has never sought the will of his own, but has only done as the father has commanded him.
  • …for were it not for him, we must have perished with hunger in the wilderness…

    • I like this idea because 1) we are in the wilderness of our lives. 2) Christ offers Himself as the “bread of life.” → we don’t have to perish with hunger in our wildernesses. We can go to Christ, feast on His word, and live abundantly.
  • …nevertheless, ye sought to take away his life;…
    • Isn’t it interesting to think – people want to destroy Christ in so many ways. Christ was crucified – at the hands of wicked men. I guess that the thing I find so interesting about this is that the One who offers us life is the One that so many are trying to kill. I suppose that this is because Christ will not suffer us to give into our natural desires. We, foolishly, think that if we can kill him – out of our thoughts, etc, then we will be happy in our sins. So – don’t seek to take away Christ’s life by abandoning Him in a life of sin.
  • …yea, and he hath suffered much sorrow because of you.”
    • This makes me think of the scripture in Isaiah: “3 He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not.
      4 ¶ Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted.
      5 But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed,” – (Isaiah 53:3-5.)       – Christ really has suffered much sorrow because of us.

I love what we can learn from the scriptures. I love that the Book of Mormon testifies of Christ. I’m grateful to have a testimony of my Savior – especially at this time of year. I have felt the blessings of His atonement in my life. I’ve felt His mercy, His peace, His providence, and His love.

I hope that I will not treat Christ the way that Laman and Lemuel treated their righteous brother, but that, instead, I will follow Him, recognize His perfect example, be grateful for His willingness to be an instrument in God’s hand, and feast on His word forever. I hope I will not cause Him more sorrow, but that I will glorify Him by being righteous.

thanks for reading!

1 Comment
by chococatania on December 1, 2010  •  Permalink
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Posted by chococatania on December 1, 2010

http://thatgoodpart.wordpress.com/2010/12/01/nephi-a-type-of-christ-2-nephi-124/

Understanding the “Isaiah” Chapters in the Book of Mormon

Often, one of the hardest parts of the Book of Mormon for many people to read is 2 Nephi. I can’t say that I haven’t had problems with this portion of the Book of Mormon. For most people, what makes 2 Nephi most intimidating is the collection of “Isaiah Chapters”.

I used to read these chapters as fast as possible. I put a little bit of thought into them, but I’m not well versed in Jewish history. So I read them quickly. I have to admit, this is not a technique that is particularly helpful.

When I was in college, I took an institute class all about understanding Isaiah by this teacher named Brother Chadwick. It was a good class, but I wish I was a little bit more spiritually mature. I remember learning a few things in there, though. Mostly, I was completely overwhelmed by how little I understood about Jewish culture, and, I realized that this was probably hampering a bit of my ability to understand Isaiah.

After I took the course (I actually took parts one and two), I felt a little bit more confident about the Isaiah chapters, but I still wasn’t in any way proficient. The worst part was that I didn’t know how they applied specifically to me.

I tried making it work. I knew the scripture in 1 Nephi 19:23

“23 And I did read many things unto them which were written in the books of Moses; 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.” – 1 Nephi 19:23

Knowing this, however, wasn’t really helping that much. I still didn’t know how to liken Isaiah’s words to me.

A few years ago, I was reading the Book of Mormon. The Isaiah chapters were approaching, and I was becoming filled with trepidation. I prayed to have more understanding. Incidentally, while I was reading the Book of Mormon, I was looking – specifically – for the prophecies of Christ.

While reading 2 Nephi 11, I figured out the key to understanding Isaiah. There are actually four of them. In 2 Nephi 11:4-6, Nephi tells us a few of His favorite things. They include:

  • Proving unto his people the truth of the coming of Christ. (2 Nephi 11:4).
    • Note: another little clue: all things, including the Law of Moses, were given to us for the typifying of Christ.
  • The covenants of the Lord – especially the ones made to “our fathers”. (2 Nephi 11:5)
  • The grace, justice, power, and mercy of God. (2 Nephi 11:5)
  • Proving that unless Christ should (did) come, all men must die (Spiritually and Physically). (2 Nephi 11:6)

These four things that Nephi lists are the framework in his inclusion of the Isaiah Chapters. If we look for these things while reading Isaiah, we will begin to understand why Nephi loves Isaiah so much.

As we read Isaiah, we will

  • Find countless examples of the coming of Christ.
  • Learn more about the covenants made between the Lord and our “Fathers” (as in Father Abraham, Isaac, Jacob…)
  • Learn of the grace, justice, power, and mercy of God. We get to know Christ and His attributes.
  • Be taught that Christ is our Redeemer. This is always the central message of every scripture!

After approaching the Isaiah chapters with these four points in mind, I have learned so much. I would still love to understand more about the history and geography of Israel. I’m sure that this would give an added richness to the “Isaiah” chapters. But, for now, being able to study the “Isaiah” chapters with these four points in mind will enable you to really apply what Isaiah is teaching.

You will grow closer to Heavenly Father and Christ, and maybe even begin to love Isaiah more, too.

3 Comments
by chococatania on August 26, 2010  •  Permalink
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Posted by chococatania on August 26, 2010

http://thatgoodpart.wordpress.com/2010/08/26/understanding-the-isaiah-chapters-in-the-book-of-mormon/

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