Scriptural Highlights

• Nephi prophesies of the Savior's ministry among the Nephites.
• Nephi testifies of the coming forth of the Book of Mormon.
• Nephi testifies that Satan will spread false doctrines in the last days.
• Nephi teaches about the importance of the Book of Mormon.

Introduction

1. These chapters by Nephi are heavily influenced by the writings of Isaiah.
2. Nephi has described two strong forces at work in the world:
• The work of God.
• The influence of the devil.
• There is an ongoing war on earth between these two forces.
3. Some of the thoughts in this lesson were developed from an essay by Robert J. Matthews, professor of ancient scripture at BYU (Two Ways In The World: The Warfare Between God and Satan, Studies in Scripture, 7:146-161).

1. HOW DO THOSE OUTSIDE OF THE RESTORED CHURCH EXPLAIN THIS BATTLE BETWEEN GOD (GOOD) AND SATAN (EVIL)?  WHY DO THEY SAY IT IS BEING WAGED?
2. WHERE DID THIS BATTLE BEGIN?
• We know from latter-day scripture that this battle began during our pre-eartly existence.
• See Abraham 3:22-28; Revelation 12:7-9; D&C 29:36-37; D&C 76:25-29; Moses 4:1-4.
3. WHAT ISSUES WERE INVOLVED IN THIS BATTLE?
• The principle of agency, which is always coupled with individual responsibility.
• It was recognized that if individuals were given their agency, then some would not be saved.
• The fact that Godhood (with ultimate perfection) can only be obtained through individual effort and excellence.
• Lucifer offered to save all people, but not by requiring individuals to consciously strive for excellence.
• Satan, by saving all would take all the glory.
• Jesus, defending the Father's plan, would honor the Father.
4. WHAT WAS THE NATURE AND SEVERITY OF THIS WAR?
• It was a battle that had eternal consequences.
• The agency of our spirits seems to have been insured from the beginning.
• As a result of personal agency, we could choose to follow Jesus or Lucifer.
• It was a battle to win eternal spirits to one side or the other.
5. HOW WAS THE BATTLE FOUGHT?
• Brother Matthews: "This was not a war just of words and debate and forensics.  It was a war of misdeeds, lies, hatred, pride jealousy, remorse, envy, cursing, blasphemy, deception, theft, cajoling, slander, anger, and sins of almost every kind that are also known in mortality.  The issues were so well defined that coexistence was not   possible.  Those who wholeheartedly supported Lucifer's rebellion became like him; and after having sinned beyond the possibility of reclamation, they were cast out of heaven and placed (as spirits) upon the earth, never to have the opportunity to be born with a body of flesh and bone." (Studies in Scripture, 7:147-148)
• As Brother Matthews indicates, these spirits committed such pernicious deeds that they were cast out from the presence of the Father and eternally damned.  This is severe stuff.
• These rebellious spirits are "the devil and his angels".
• "And it came to pass that Adam, being tempted of the devil--for, behold, the devil was before Adam, for he rebelled against me, saying, Give me thine honor, which is my power; and also a third part of the hosts of heaven turned he away from me because of their agency;  And they were thrust down, and thus came the devil and his angels" (D&C 29:36-37).
6. The war continues into mortality.
• We think of the War In Heaven as something that happened millennia or eons ago.  In fact, this was only the opening battle.  The war continues unabated and the battlefields have been expanded.  It is a war between the forces of good and evil that continues into our mortal existence.  It is a continuing war for the souls of men.  The war continues today.
• We are left with a disadvantage: the memory of our pre-mortal life was removed from our consciousness.
• Those that do not read or believe the revelations do not perceive the nature or purpose of their life or their responsibilities, or even that a war exists.
• WHY ARE SATAN AND HIS FOLLOWERS LEFT WITH THIS ADVANTAGE?
• D&C 29:39: "And it must needs be that the devil should tempt the children of men, or they could not be agents unto themselves; for if they never should have bitter they could not know the sweet--"
• Only in the gospel can we find the knowledge, the tools, and the power to combat the devil's program of defeat and enslavement.
7. There can be no neutral position.
• IN THIS ONGOING WAR, THERE IS NO NEUTRAL GROUND.  WHY?
• So called neutrality is an aid and advantage to the enemy.
• It renders comfort and assistance to the forces of the adversary.
• It helps the enemy in that they need not fight against the neutral.
• Such neutrality also creates a lack of help that could have been given had that individual chosen a side.
• Nephi warns us of the devil's work on earth and tells of the Lord's plan for salvation and defense for humanity.  Nephi makes it clear:
• The Lord works in plainness, in truth, and in goodness.
• The devil deals in deception and cunning.
• Particular detail is given about the devil's manner of operations and about how he carefully traps people.
• The Book of Mormon not only shows us what the gospel of Christ is, but it also shows us what it is not.

Christ’s Coming To The Nephites Foretold

1. In Chapter 26 Nephi looks forward to the coming of Christ.  He sees the results of this ongoing WAR in his own people.
• He writes about the great calamities that will befall the wicked (at the time of the death of Christ) who have been warned.
• Nephi seemed to believe that the Lord would initiate these calamities:
• V6: "...for the fire of the anger of the Lord shall be kindled against them..."
• V7: "O the pain, and the anguish of my soul for the loss of the slain of my people!  For I, Nephi, have seen it, and it well nigh consumeth me before the presence of the Lord; but I must cry unto my God: Thy ways are just."
• In verse 8 Nephi observed that the righteous who hearkened unto the words of the prophets would not be destroyed.
• Nephi seems to be teaching that behavior of human beings can affect and influence the so-called "natural" phenomena.  The language of the scriptures also suggest that God uses these "natural" occurrences to punish or at times to reward his children.
• IS THIS TRUE IN OUR DAY?

The Stumbling Block & Priestcraft

1. READ 2 NEPHI 26:20-22.  The Gentiles that have been lifted up in their pride have stumbled.
• We begin to see how Satan is fighting the war.
• WHAT IS THE "STUMBLING BLOCK"?
• In 1 Nephi 13:28-35 Nephi stated that the Gentiles would stumble because the Bible had been significantly altered and was thus lacking "many plain and precious parts".
• Their stumbling block in the last days would be the lack of knowledge and spiritual understanding because of the imperfect Bible - the only scriptural record they ever had.
• Thus we see how Satan has worked through the ages to deceive men.
• Thus we see the great necessity for a second witness of Christ, the Book of Mormon.
• ACCORDING TO NEPHI, WHAT WILL BE THE SPIRITUAL CONDITION OF THE GENTILES IN THE LAST DAYS?
• Lifted up in the pride of their eyes (20).
• Would stumble spiritually because of the "stumbling block" (20).
• Would preach for religious doctrine their own ideas gained through their own wisdom and learning (20).
• Preach for financial gain (20).
• Would deny the miracles and power of God (20).
• Would be filled with envy, malice, and strife (21).
• Would support secret combinations from the devil (22).
• This is the first real reference to secret combinations in the Book of Mormon.
• As you are aware, this becomes an important part of the Book of Mormon story.
2. READ 2 NEPHI 26:29-30. The Lord condemns priestcraft (which is all of the above things).
• We see the difference here between the workings of the Lord and Satan.
• Nephi indicates that one danger of priestcraft is that such professional religious leaders would be more concerned with teaching those things which were popular and acceptable unto the people than they would in preaching the word of God.
• WHAT EXAMPLES OF PRIESTCRAFT ARE EVIDENT IN THE WORLD TODAY?
• Elder Neal A. Maxwell:  "Even in the seemingly miscellaneous gospel gems there is plainness and preciousness. If, for instance, we assume there is only ancient relevance concerning the practice and purposes of priestcraft, we need to be braced by how germane that definition is for our time....  Do we not see such people working today (minus the label, of course) among the children of men? Alas, such match the criteria set forth not only as some lead out in the realm of religion but in the realm of irreligion." (Plain and Precious Things, pp86-87)
• Elder Bruce R. McConkie:  "Priesthood and priestcraft are two opposites; one is of God, the other of the devil. When ministers claim but do not possess the priesthood; when they set themselves up as lights to their congregations, but do not preach the pure and full gospel; when their interest is in gaining personal popularity and financial gain, rather than in caring for the poor and ministering to the wants and needs of their fellow men -- they are engaged, in a greater or lesser degree, in the practice of priestcrafts." (Mormon Doctrine, p593)
• HOW CAN WE COUNTERACT THESE CONDITIONS?
• "...the Lord God hath given a commandment that all men should have charity, which charity is love. And except they should have charity they were nothing. Wherefore, if they should have charity they would not suffer the laborer in Zion to perish.

    "But the laborer in Zion shall labor for Zion; for if they labor for money they shall perish" (2 Nephi 26:30-31)

The Lord Is Able To Do His Own Work

1. In Chapter 27 Nephi begins by writing of universal apostasy from the things of God in the last days.
• Consider his words in verses 3 and 4: "And all the nations that fight against Zion [or the kingdom of God], and that distress her, shall be as a dream of a night vision; yea, it shall be unto them, even as unto a hungry man which dreameth, and behold he eateth but he awaketh and his soul is empty; or like unto a thirsty man which dreameth, and behold he drinketh but he awaketh and behold he is faint, and his soul hath appetite; yea, even so shall the multitude of all the nations be that fight against Mount Zion.

    "For behold, all ye that doeth iniquity, stay yourselves and wonder, for ye shall cry out, and cry; yea, ye shall be drunken but not with wine, ye shall stagger but not with strong drink."
• As a consequence of the spiritual condition of the world the Lord will bring forth the Book of Mormon.
• READ 2 NEPHI 27:6-7,26,29-30,35.
• 2 Nephi 27 tells us that the Book of Mormon is one of the Lord's most effective tools enabling us to:
• Fight against the work and influence of the devil.
• Aiding us in more readily detecting the false doctrines of the world.
• Recall the words of President Benson: "It is not just that the Book of Mormon teaches us truth, though it indeed does that.  It is not just that the Book of Mormon bears testimony of Christ, though it indeed does that, too.  But there is something more.  There is a power in the book that will begin to flow into your life the moment you begin a serious study of the book.  You will find greater power to resist temptation.  You will find the power to avoid deception.  You will find the power to stay on the strait and narrow path."  (Conference Report, Oct 1986)
• HOW HAVE YOU SEEN THE BOOK OF MORMON COUNTERACT THE CONDITIONS NEPHI DESCRIBES IN VERSES 3 AND 4, EITHER IN YOUR LIFE OR THE LIVES OF OTHERS?

The Devil's Manner of Operation

1. Chapter 28 explains how the devil operates and how well he will succeed in the last days.
2. READ 2 NEPHI 28:3-4.  They shall teach with their learning.
• WHAT IS THEIR LEARNING?
• If it is not the things of the Lord, then it must be the things of Satan which carefully lead them away from the Lord.
3. READ 2 NEPHI 28:7-9.  Many will justify themselves and say it is acceptable to sin.
• DO WE HEAR THIS IN THE WORLD TODAY?
• Do we hear: "He will justify in committing a little sin"?
• WHY ARE SATAN'S LIES SO ENTICING TO MANY PEOPLE?
• WHAT SUBTLE LIES AND FLATTERIES MIGHT SATAN BE TELLING CHURCH MEMBERS TODAY?
• WHY DO MANY PEOPLE FOLLOW THE WAYS OF SATAN RATHER THAN THE WAYS OF GOD, EVEN THOUGH THEY KNOW SATAN'S WAYS ARE WRONG?
• I think these verses answer the question.  We think we can repent later or that repentance is not necessary at all.
4. HOW EXTENSIVE WILL WICKEDNESS BECOME?
• 2 Nephi 28:14:  "They wear stiff necks and high heads; yea, and because of pride, and wickedness, and abominations, and whoredoms, they have all gone astray save it be a few, who are the humble followers of Christ; nevertheless, they are led, that in many instances they do err because they are taught by the precepts of men."
• All have gone astray, save it be a few humble followers of Christ.
• Even many of these few will err "because they are taught by the precepts of men".
• President Ezra Taft Benson: "Not only are there apostates within our midst, but there are also apostate doctrines that are sometimes taught in our classes and from our pulpits and that appear in our publications.  And these apostate precepts of men cause our people to stumble...

    "Christ taught that we should be in the world but not of it.  Yet there are some in our midst who are not so much concerned about taking the gospel into the world as they are about bringing worldliness into the gospel.  They want us to be popular with the worldly even though a prophet has said that it is impossible, for all hell would then want to join us.
    "Through their own reasoning and a few misapplied scriptures, they try to sell us the precepts and philosophies of men.  They do not feel the Church is progressive enough." (Conference Report, Apr 1969)
5. READ 2 NEPHI 28:17-20.  The kingdom of the devil must shake.
• WHAT WILL BE THE FORCE THAT "SHAKES" THE KINGDOM OF THE DEVIL AND "STIR" MEN TO REPENTANCE?
• That “marvelous work and wonder” spoken of in 2 Nephi 27 and Isaiah 29.
• The Book of Mormon is the catalyst for righteousness.
• It opened the kingdom of God in the Last Days and is the key to open the kingdom of God to each individual.
• It is the great, secret "weapon" of God and the forces of righteousness in this ongoing battle against the devil and his legions.
6. 2 NEPHI 28:21:  "And others will he pacify, and lull them away into carnal security, that they will say: All is well in Zion; yea, Zion prospereth, all is well--and thus the devil cheateth their souls, and leadeth them away carefully down to hell."
• HOW IS THIS HAPPENING IN THE CHURCH AND WHAT CAN WE DO TO DEFEND AGAINST IT?
• How is it happening:
• The Church is growing rapidly and it is easy to say that all is well and not do all that we should.
• We as members of the Church may prosper and say that we are doing all that we can to build the kingdom.
• Many might think they are serving the Lord, when in reality they are too passive.
• Joseph Smith: "...nothing is a greater injury to the children of men than to be under the influence of a false spirit when they think they have the Spirit of God." (TPJS, p205)
• President James E. Faust:  "Thomas R. Rowan...said: 'Author and commentator Malcom Muggeridge once told a story about some frogs who were killed without resistance by being boiled alive in [a] cauldron of water.  Why didn't they resist?  Because when they were put in the cauldron, the water was tepid.  Then the temperature was raised ever so slightly,...then a bit warmer still, and on and on and on.  The change was so gradual, almost imperceptible, that the frogs accommodated themselves to their new environment--until it was too late.  The point that Mr. Muggeridge was making was not about frogs but about us and how we tend to accept evil as long as it is not a shock that is thrust on us abruptly.  We are inclined to accept something morally wrong if it is only a shade more wrong that something we are already accepting'." (Ensign, May 1989, p32)
• How do we defend ourselves against this attitude:
• Immerse ourselves in the living waters of the Book of Mormon - it is the iron rod.
7. Some warnings and wo's.
• READ 2 NEPHI 28:24-29,31.
• Solemn warnings for us in our time.
8. 7. HOW DOES THE LORD DISPENSE HIS TRUTHS TO MEN?
• 2 Nephi 28:30:  "For behold, thus saith the Lord God: I will give unto the children of men line upon line, precept upon precept, here a little and there a little; and blessed are those who hearken unto my precepts, and lend an ear unto my counsel, for they shall learn wisdom; for unto him that receiveth I will give more; and from them that shall say, We have enough, from them shall be taken away even that which they have."
• Line upon line, as men accept what they are given.
• We read in 2 Nephi 27:7 that the book to come forth contains a revelation from God, "from the beginning of the world to the ending thereof."
• Obviously we don't have this part of the Book of Mormon (must be part of the sealed portion).
• HOW DO WE OBTAIN THAT REVELATION?
• Line upon line - we must first accept and understand what we have.  There is a reason it hasn't been given to us yet.  We must learn the first line before we receive the second.  Isn't this the normal process of learning.  Why should we think that spiritual learning and comprehension is any different.

Three Great Scriptural Witnesses for the Lord

1. WHEN THE LORD LAUNCHES THE BOOK OF MORMON INTO THE BATTLE, WHAT THOUGHT MIGHT SATAN PLANT IN THE HEARTS OF MEN?.
• 2 Nephi 29:3:  "And because my words shall hiss forth--many of the Gentiles shall say: A Bible! A Bible! We have got a Bible, and there cannot be any more Bible."
2. The Lord to present three major written testimonies of Christ to mankind.
• READ 29:13-14.  My word also shall be gathered in one.
• We have the Bible, though it remains incomplete.
• We have the Book of Mormon, though we only have one-third of the record.
• We have yet to receive the record of the lost tribes.

The Eventual Restoration of All the House of Israel

1. In chapter 30 Nephi prophecies of the eventual gathering and restoration of Israel.
2. READ 2 NEPHI 30:1-2.  Except ye shall keep the commandments of God ye shall all likewise perish.
• WHAT IS NEPHI TEACHING US HERE ABOUT THE COVENANT PEOPLE?
• Those that repent (Gentiles) are the covenant people of the Lord.
• Those that refuse (Jews) are cast off and no longer the Lord's people.
• The Lord only covenants with those who repent and follow the Savior.
• The Israelites should not think they are more righteous than the Gentiles on the basis of lineage.
• THE QUESTION WE NEED TO ASK OF OURSELVES: ARE WE REPENTANT GENTILES OR PROUD JEWS?
• Consider these humble comments on repentance by the beloved General Authority, J. Golden Kimball:
• Quote sources:  J. Golden Kimball by Claude Richards; The Golden Legacy by Thomas E. Cheney.
• "I acknowledge that I am imperfect, and no one is more sorry than I am.  I have made mistakes, but I have faith in God, and I know God will forgive a man who repents."
• "Now I am speaking of myself; I am not criticizing others; I am talking about principles.  I stand before you a transgressor, but I am trying to be saved, and that is all God asks me to do."
• "I am a man of weakness; I am a man full of faults; but God knows I have given him the best effort there was in me."
• "My brethren and sisters, I want you to be good to me and help save me.  If  I can be saved it is an encouragement to every man, woman, and child in Israel to make the effort."
• The Salt Lake Tribune reported on Elder Kimball's 1910 conference address: "He said he loved the Lord for many things, not the least among which was His patience in creating the world and His patience with Elder Kimball.  Elder Kimball thanked the Lord that he had the spirit of repentance.  It kept him pretty busy repenting, he said, but if he did not have the spirit of repentance he would be woefully discouraged."
• "I have not committed any crimes, but there are some things in my history that I regret.  Environment has a great deal to do with a man, and men who have colonized the outlying districts do not look upon some habits as seriously as men who have never indulged in them; if they did, it would be an injustice to themselves.  You never saw a man in your life do a wrong thing who was happy over it.  You never saw men violate a commandment of God and feel jubilant over it, but if they have the Spirit of the Lord they feel miserable."
3. READ 2 NEPHI 30:3-6.  Many shall believe the words of the book.
• ACCORDING TO NEPHI'S PROPHECY, HOW WILL THE BOOK OF MORMON BLESS THOSE WHO READ IT?
• These prophecies apply specifically to the descendants of Lehi, but in reality apply to all who read the book.
• A knowledge of the lineage of Lehi's seed to be known.
• Gain a knowledge of their fathers and consequently those things which blessed and cursed their society.
• Gain a knowledge of Jesus Christ and learn that their fathers also had that knowledge.
• The scales of darkness will fall from the eyes of those who accept the book.  They will be led into the light of truth.
• They shall become a pure and delightsome people.
• WHAT IS OUR RESPONSIBILITY FOR HELPING FULFILL THIS PROPHECY?
• To carry the message of the Book of Mormon to the world, especially the remnant of the seed of Lehi, "there shall be many which shall believe the words which are written; and they shall carry them forth unto the remnant of our seed."
• President Benson: "We hardly fathom the power of the Book of Mormon, nor the divine role it must play, nor the extent to which it must be moved....

    "[God] has revealed to me the absolute need for us to move the Book of Mormon forward now in a marvelous manner.  You must help with this burden and with this blessing which He has placed on the whole Church."
4. Restoration & Gathering.
• 2 Nephi 30:7-8: "And it shall come to pass that the Jews which are scattered also shall begin to believe in Christ; and they shall begin to gather in upon the face of the land; and as many as shall believe in Christ shall also become a delightsome people.

    "And it shall come to pass that the Lord God shall commence his work among all nations, kindreds, tongues, and people, to bring about the restoration of his people upon the earth."
• WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN GATHERING AND RESTORATION IN THESE VERSES?
• Gathering = the physical gathering of the remnants of Israel.
• The early gathering of the Saints to America (Missouri, Illinois, Mountain West).
• The gathering of the Jews to the promised land.
• The return of the lost tribes first to America and then to the Holy Land.
• The eventual gathering to the city of Zion.
• Restoration = The restoration of the gospel to the remnants of Israel.
• This includes gathering to the stakes of Zion.
5. Nephi concludes chapter 30 with information about the Millennium.
• READ 2 NEPHI 30:15-18.  All things shall be revealed.
• In that day, we shall receive great knowledge.
• "...the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the Lord as the waters cover the sea" (30:15).
• "...all things shall be made known unto the children of men" (30:16).
• "...there is nothing which is sealed upon the earth save it shall be loosed" (30:17).
• "...all things which have been revealed unto the children of men shall at that day be revealed" (30:18).

Next Week

Lesson 11: 2 Nephi 31-33