2 Nephi 32

I have never really understood 2 Nephi 32. After you enter in by the way (2 Nephi 31), the Holy Ghost will tell you all things that ye should do. Nephi says nothing about any commandments or laws to be obeyed. The Holy Ghost will show you what you are to do.




Since Christ answers the ends of the law by offering himself a sacrifice for sin, unto all those who have a broken heart and contrite spirit, this would mean that after you have entered in by the way, justice has no claim on you. Instead of following a prescribed set of rules, it appears that you are supposed to be listening to the Holy Ghost to know what to do next. These would be your personal commandments.




So, I am relying wholly on Christ's merits who is might to save. I have decided to follow my savior. I am walking meekly with all lowliness of heart on this earth. This is all in 2 Nephi 31.




Now what? Nephi says to follow the Holy Ghost until Christ manifests himself to you in the flesh.




I have been reading 2 Nephi 31 and 32. I read it or listen to it over and over. This, Nephi says, is the doctrine of Christ. Reading this leads to more questions. What is it that they needed to repent of? What exactly does it mean to do what Christ would do? When exactly are we in the strait and narrow path? After you have been baptized by fire and the Holy Ghost? How does this kind of baptism happen over time?



The answers are: We are repenting of being ornery, unkind and not very nice. From being proud. There might also be repentance of any of the ten commandments. What we do to follow Christ is to suffer all manner of unkind things people say. We learn how to be meek and lowly of heart. We continue the cycle of repentance, working on changing the inward man. We know we are in the strait and narrow path when we finally turn our lives over to God and God accepts our offering. You know your offering is accepted by the feelings you have. You feel joy and love and gratitude when you take the sacrament or when praying or whenever. You want to follow the Savior. You are now the path. You have been and continue to rely completely on Christ who is the author and finisher of your salvation. You may even receive a voice telling you that your sins have been remitted. But, the feeling of joy, gratitude and peace are enough to know. Are you done (Chapter 31)? No. The commandments ( promptings) you receive from the Holy Ghost must be followed. The Holy Ghost will tell you all things that you are to do. Jesus, in his own due time, will come and appear unto you in the flesh and you will do all things that He tell you to do.



This is what I remember from what I read. What is interesting to me is that there isn’t any Law involved in the Doctrine of Christ. The Christian is under grace, not under the law. But, he does keep the commandments (the standard set by the Church) as he asks for the Holy Ghost to tell him specifically what he should be working on next - perhaps a higher principle (gospel law). Perhaps to server another. I would love to be able to speak with the tongue of angels when teaching a class, talking with my children, home teaching or any conversation that I am having. Wouldn’t that be wonderful?



Nephi says that he has been as clear as he can get. If you don’t get it, than you haven’t asked and you choose to remain in darkness.

2 Nephi 31:16, Follow the Example of Jesus

I found an interesting verse in my scripture study today: 2 Nephi 31:16

“ And now, my beloved brethren, I know by this that unless a man shall endure to the end, in following the example of the Son of the living God, he cannot be saved.”

So, I have to ask myself, what it the example of the Savior?  This reminds me of another scripture in 1 Nephi 19:9 which says,

“And the world, because of their iniquity, shall judge him to be a thing of naught; wherefore they scourge him, and he suffereth it; and they smite him, and he suffereth it. Yea, they spit upon him, and he suffereth it, because of his loving kindness and his long-suffering towards the children of men.”

So, all I can do is strive to be more like the Savior.  It make life easy.  Did you know that?  Life becomes easy.  I am reminded of another scripture, Alma 37:46,

“O my son, do not let us be slothful because of the easiness of the way”.

Why is living the gospel and following the Son easy?  Well, I suppose it isn’t easy for the natural man that is full of wicked traditions.  But, why is the way easy?  This reminds me of the words of Hymn, page 125, last verse,

“I’ll drop my burden at his feet And bear a song away.”

And,

“Come, cast your burdens on the Lord And trust his constant care” (first verse)

The whole hymn speaks for life being easy in the Lord.

As I learn to do this, I my faith becomes strong.

Scott

2 Nephi 26:20 - Striking the Rock

I found 2 Nephi 26:20 interesting today.  It says: 

And now, my brethren, I have spoken plainly that ye cannot err. And as the Lord God liveth that brought Israel up out of the land of Egypt, and gave unto Moses power that he should heal the nations after they had been bitten by the poisonous serpents, if they would cast their eyes unto the serpent which he did raise up before them, and also gave him power that he should smite the rock and the water should come forth; yea, behold I say unto you, that as these things are true, and as the Lord God liveth, there is none other name given under heaven save it be this Jesus Christ, of which I have spoken, whereby man can be saved.

I was surprised that Nephi uses two metaphors that don't seem to relate to each other: raising up the serpent on the stick and smiting the rock.  I then realized that they both involve healing. One involves looking to Christ and other. the waters of life flowing from Christ, The Rock.  Nephi then says, that there is none other name given under heaven save it be this Jesus Christ...whereby man can be saved.
I then looked around on the internet and found this:

Christ is the main subject in the Old Testament "concealed". God speaks of Him in types and shadows. At Rephidim (Exodus 17:4) God told Moses to strike the Rock.The Rock is Christ (1st Corinthians 10:4), Moses represents the Law. Jesus was struck by Israel for presuming to violate the Law, for claiming to be God, which He is! When He was struck "crucified", living water (John 4:10) for all humanity who would "believe" was poured out. Moses was told to speak to the Rock at Meribah (Numbers 20:8). As a prerequisite for Jesus to return, to save Israel during the Great Tribulation they must ask Him, (Luke 13:35). So by striking the Rock, Moses messed up God's model or type which would have modeled the 1st and 2nd comings of Christ.
So to counter this mistake by Moses, He was not allowed to take Israel into the Promised Land which is a type of Heaven, Moses represents the Law, only God's Grace gets you in Heaven "the Promised land, so Joshua took them in! Joshua is Hebrew for Jesus! The Law is the 1st five books of the Old Testament, called the Torah by the Jews, The very next book is "Joshua" Found in. 

https://christianity.stackexchange.com/questions/6998/why-was-god-so-upset-with-moses-for-striking-the-rock-the-second-time-in-the-des

The Lord was trying to teach Israel that Moses, or the Law will not save them!  Only Christ and his merits, mercy and grace can save mankind!

I like this response as well:

The section you quote contains the answer: because Moses did not believe. He was told to "tell the rock... to yield its water" but instead he struck the rock twice, apparently believing God's command to be insufficient. He expected God to act in exactly the same way as He had before*, but God apparently wanted to reveal His power to Moses in a new way.
As the leader, Moses was being watched. When Moses did not believe, this could easily lead to lack of belief amongst the Israelites, which had been a problem before.
Finally, God had previously to deal with men not trusting His promise but taking matters into their own hands.

 Believing Christ is the answer.  It always has been the answer. Relying wholly upon His merits who is might to save isn't as hard or scary as it sounds.  Surrender to His will and trust that he loves you. You don't have to do it all yourself.  You don't have to take matters into your own hands.  Life becomes peaceful and full of purpose.