The Book of Mormon: 2 Nephi 6

Today’s scripture will be 2 Nephi 6.

I found this one particularly interesting.  I know how lots of us like to read the conference talks and some of us probably even quote them into our journals.  Here, Nephi has quoted the entire talk of his younger brother, Jacob, into his Small Plates journal. 

According to Jacob, the subject he’s been asked to speak on is “the words of Isaiah (v4),” specifically Isaiah 49:22-26.  I love Jacob’s interpretation of this scripture.  The Lord has, of course, revealed the destruction of Jerusalem to Jacob, as well as the captivity and deaths of many of its inhabitants.  However, he has also been shown that, later, they will be allowed to return and rebuild the city.  Then, once they have become proud and haughty, the Lord will judge them and they will be “smitten and afflicted (v10)” and “driven to and fro (v11).”  However, even considering all their afflictions, the Lord won’t allow them to be destroyed “because of the prayers of the faithful (v11)” and eventually they will “come to a knowledge of their Redeemer,” and be “gathered again to the lands of their inheritance (v11).”

The Gentiles will be blessed if they “fight not against Zion.” The guide to the scriptures defines “Zion” as the pure in heart.  Those, says Isaiah, who don’t fight against them are blessed because the Lord will fulfill his prophesies by them.  Those who choose to fight against them will end up licking the dust of their feet (I assume this means the feet of those who are pure in heart and those who are of the chosen people).

The rest of this passage deals with the return of Christ to this world.  Christ will gather his people to him, showing himself to them in all his power and glory.  Their enemies will be destroyed by this display.  Those who refused to believe will be destroyed in a series of horrible calamities.  Isaiah’s imagery on this one is fairly horrible.  He says the Lord will feed them their own flesh and make them drunk on their own blood.  Then they, too, will know that Jesus Christ is the Mighty One of Israel.