Day 9; 2 Nephi 12-15

Day 9; 2 Nephi 12-15

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!

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How the Book of Mormon came about: http://youtu.be/FMQEb9A9L2g

Scripture Thought (What I Learned):

              

  Chapter 12: Nephi writes some of the words of Isaiah. Most of this chapter can be found also in the Bible (because Nephi loved the writings of Isaiah and wanted to share them with his people), compare 2 Nephi Chapter 12 to Isaiah Chapter 2.

                Isaiah talks about the last days when Israel will start to be gathered. Isaiah sees the latter day LDS temples, and mentions that they would be the House of the Lord and be built upon tops of mountains and that nations would flock unto it. (2 Nephi 12: 2 -OR- Isaiah 2:2 in the Bible) - This is very interesting because the State of Utah was supposed to be originally called "Deseret", but before the final name, they decided to name it Utah, after the "Utes" (who were Native Americans of the region), "Utes" translated, means exactly that... "Tops of Mountains". So one example, the Salt Lake Temple has thousands for all over the world, who "flock" unto it. Isaiah continues to proclaim that the Proud and Wicked shall be brought to a low at the Second Coming of Christ.

                Chapter 13: Both Judah and Jerusalem will be punished for their disobedience. But the Lord will be there to plead and judge his people (2 Nephi 13:13). Isaiah writes about the wicked who will be judged "The show of their countenance doth witness against them, and doth declare their sin to be even as Sodom, and they cannot hide it. Wo unto their souls, for they have rewarded evil unto themselves". (2 Nephi 13:9).

                Chapter 14: This chapter, along with Isaiah Chapter 4 in the Bible, have an interesting verse, verse 1: "And in that day, seven women shall take hold of one man, saying: We will eat our own bread, and wear our own apparel; only let us be called by thy name to take away our reproach (reproach: The expression of disapproval or disappointment.)" (2 Nephi 14:1 -OR- Isaiah 4:1)

                So this is often a topic of great discussion... Polygamy. No, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints DOES NOT PRACTICE POLYGAMY! The church abolished this in 1890... for the OFFICIAL church stance on Polygamy, please visit this website: http://mormon.org/faq/practice-of-polygamy?gclid=CKbizcvSrawCFegZQgod8inCjA

                From what I understand, the Polygamy that was practiced more than 100 years ago, was to help widows that had nowhere to go. During the last half of the 1800's members of the church faced major persecution, with members being raped, murdered, robbed and beaten. Members during this time were constantly on the run from people who sought to destroy the church, just because they did not believe in the same things. Members had their homes burnt to the ground and many of the women in the church had lost their husbands, and during the 1800's women did not have all the rights that men had. In order for them to live a fairly normal life they took upon themselves the names of men that lived nearby in the church, so they could receive that "status" of married, because a single woman in that time period really had very little rights.

Chapter 15: Isaiah goes on to say that the "Lord's Vineyard shall become desolate and his people shall be scattered" - Essentially people will start to forget God and do all manner of wickedness. "Wo unto them that call evil good, and good evil, that put darkness for light and light for darkness, that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!" (2 Nephi 15:20)

                This chapter (compared to Isaiah 5 in the Bible) talks about how Mankind should not drink "strong drink" - this confirms the LDS church doctrine of the "Word of Wisdom" - where members of the church do not consume: Alcohol, Tobacco, Tea, Illicit Drugs, and Coffee. Read more about this law here: http://mormon.org/faq/#Health|question=/faq/law-of-health/