"For the fulness of mine intent is that I may persuade men to come unto the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, and be saved." (1 Nephi 6:4)
Here is a key to understanding Nephi that I overlooked for a long time. Not only is Nephi trying to persuade us to come unto God, but his writings are carefully selected to show us how.
Let's keep this in mind as we study his teachings.
I have been studying the Old Testament because I am a substitute seminary teacher out here in PV. This past week I taught Isaiah. Nephi's soul delighted in Isaiah. I'm not so sure mine does. It does give you a lot of insight into the depth of Nephi's understanding. He did as you say and carefully selected his writings some of which are copies right from the book of Isaiah. I never realized just how important it is to understand such a complicated book of scripture.
ReplyDeleteNephi, Isaiah, and John the Revelator all saw our day and the events leading up to the Second Coming. In Nephi's record of his vision once he reaches a certain point, he is told that John will record the remainder. Nephi doesn't tell us anything further of what he saw. However, it is interesting that he then begins quoting from Isaiah--the other prophet who saw these events. Is he trying to give us warning and help through Isaiah's words?
ReplyDeleteI'm sure he is! Isaiah prophesied about our day, and he is the only prophet that Christ specifically instructed us to study.
Delete