I am tackling the Book of Mormon in 60 days. My plan is to have the Book of Mormon studied by the end of 2011. During my challenge, I will post a daily blog of my reading, in this blog I will share with you... my thoughts, feelings, opinions and knowledge about the Book of Mormon. Do you have questions? Comments? Please... lets start a discussion. I would be more than happy to answer your questions, comments or concerns!
Request a FREE copy of the Book of Mormon: http://mormon.org/free-book-of
How the Book of Mormon came about: http://youtu.be/FMQEb9A9L2g
Scripture Thought (What I Learned):
Summary of 2 Nephi 28-31: These 4 chapters essentially talk about the coming forth of The Book of Mormon, the rejection that it will see and the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
Chapter 28:
Apostasy: When individuals or groups of people turn away from the principles of the gospel, they are in a state of apostasy
Many false churches shall be built up in the last days, these false churches will teach vain and foolish doctrines. This Apostasy that will cover the world, will be the cause of false teachers that will try and lead the people away from the truth. The devil will play a role in this by dwelling in the hearts of men, and hearing this false doctrine.
Many will say in the last days: "...Eat, drink and be merry; nevertheless, fear God- he will justify in committing a little sin; yea lie a little... dig a pit for thy neighbor; there is no harm in this... for tomorrow we die; and if it so be that we are guilty. God will beat us with a few stripes, and at last we shall be saved in the kingdom of God." (2 Nephi 28:8) Unfortunately we cannot sin, and think that God will accept it, because he cannot tolerate sin... unless we repent.
Men will also say that (referring to God's word) "... We have received, and we need no more!" (2 Nephi 28:27), they will say that the Bible is sufficient. But we must understand the importance of constant Revelation... "...I will give unto the children of men line upon line, precept upon precept, here a little and there a little... 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." (2 Nephi 28:30) - see also Isaiah 28:10.
The Bible is the word of God, but it is not the only word of God. The Book of Mormon is also His word, and we can benefit from it greatly.
Chapter 29: "...A Bible! A Bible! We have a Bible, and there cannot be any more Bible." (2 Nephi 29:4) "Thou fool, that shall say: A Bible, we have got a Bible, and we need no more Bible. Have y obtained a Bible save it were by the Jews? Know yet not that there are more nations then one? Know ye not that I, the Lord your God, have created all men, and that I remember those who are upon the isles of the sea; and that I rule in the heavens above and the earth beneath; and I bring forth my word unto the children of men, yea, even upon all the nations of the earth? Wherefore murmur ye, because that ye shall receive more of my word? Know ye not that the testimony of two nations is a witness unto you that I am God, that I remember one nation like unto another?... And I do this that I may prove unto many that I am the same yesterday, today and forever... And because I have spoken one word ye need not suppose that I cannot speak another; for my work is not yet finished; neither shall it be until the end of man, neither from that time henceforth and forever. Wherefore, because that ye have a Bible ye need not suppose that it contains all of my words; neither need ye suppose that I have not caused more to be written." (2 Nephi 29:3-10)
The Book of Mormon is additional scripture that accompanies the Bible. God has an endless work, and his words and works cannot be contained to only one book. Because of this he has made it possible to his children to have more of his word. The Bible was written mostly in Jerusalem, or what we know as the "Old World" or most of the Middle East. Whereas the Book of Mormon was written in the Americas, in Central, South and North America. God has given us two testimonies of him.
I quote "... of making many books there is no end." (Ecclesiastes 12:12). Jesus performed many miracles and "...if they should be written every one, I supposed that even the world itself could not contain the books..." (John 21:25). But we read that the Book of Mormon would come forth in the last day. Ezekiel prophesies of this day: "The word of the Lord game again unto me, saying, Moreover, thou son of man, take thee one stick (stick= scroll, roll or book), and write upon it, For Judah (The Bible), and for the children of Israel his companions, and write upon it, For Joseph, the stick of Ephraim (The Book of Mormon), and for all the house of Israel his companions: And join them together one to another into one stick; and they shall become one in thine hand." (Ezekiel 37:15-17) - see also John 10:16; Isaiah 29:4;11-18.
Isn't that amazing, that God loved us so much, that he has given a second witness of his Son, Jesus Christ? I think so.
Chapter 30: In the last days the Book of Mormon shall return to the ancestors of those who wrote the Book, and it will be of great worth unto them... that they shall know that they came from Jerusalem and that they will be restored to a knowledge of their fathers and a knowledge of Jesus Christ (2 Nephi 30:3-5)
Chapter 31: Nephi starts to end his sayings... by explaining the simpleness of God. He teaches them in their own understanding and language. He tells us why Christ was baptized and why we must follow him and be baptized as well. Nephi lays out what the Doctrine of Christ is.
"And now, if the Lamb of God, he being holy, should have need to be baptized by water, to fulfill all righteousness, O then, how much more need have we, being unholy, to be baptized yea, even by water! And now my brethren, wherein the Lamb of God did fulfill all righteousness in being baptized by water? 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 the commandments" (2 Nephi 31:5-7)
Jesus Christ was perfect, but he received a baptism to set an example for all of us, and to humble himself in the flesh unto his Father. So if he got baptized, how much more in need are we to be baptized? A LOT! WE NEED TO BE BAPTIZED!
We must complete these steps, if we want to have eternal life and live with God.
1. Have faith in Jesus Christ
2. Repent of our sins
3. Be baptized in the name of the Father, The Son (Jesus Chris) and the Holy Ghost.
4. Receive the gift of the Holy Ghost
5. Endure to the end.
No comments:
Post a Comment