Christ's 2nd Coming and The Atonement
1 Nephi 22- 2 Nephi 9
I'm glad that I waited to blog on this section until after we had our RS lessons on the 2nd Coming of Christ. This tied in perfectly with the lessons and added new insight to me.
1 Nephi 22: This chapter talks about how Nephi was prophesying about how Israel would be scattered and eventually re-gathered. We now know that has happened. The 12 tribes of Israel were scattered over all the earth. Today most of the tribes have been accounted for in individual patriarchial blessings but that scattering divided and spread the Israelites among the Gentiles. Nephi also saw the day when the Israelites would be regathered. We know that that has happened now both literally (in 1947 when Israel became it's own country and was partitioned off from Palestine, many jews reconvened together there) and figuratively (with the baptism of a gentile, that person is adopted into the house of Israel making our Wards and Stakes places of spiritual gathering). Nephi goes on to describe the actual 2nd coming where Christ will appear in that "Great and Dreadful Day" and institute His government and take his rightful place as the leader of the Earth. The wicked will be removed from the Earth (burned as stubble) and only the righteous will remain. Satan will be bound because the world will only have righteous people living in it and they will not succumb to Satan's temptations and Satan will therefore have no more power over the people.
Many people fear that day but in verse 22 it states, "the righteous need not fear for they are those that shall not be confounded". We have heard from many of our Prophets the same message that "If ye are prepared, ye shall not fear". President Hinckley quoted that over and over especially in regards to food storage and spiritual emergency preparedness. If we do what we should be doing now, we have no reason to think that we will not be saved with the righteous when Christ comes again.
2 Nephi 1-9 These passages are beautiful and speak about how God set up The United States of America as a choice land where its inhabitants could have agency and learn how to choose right from wrong for themselves and how that was crucial in preparing the way for Joseph Smith to restore the Gospel of Jesus Christ into a land that allowed freedom of religion and that men and women could choose for themsleves what they believe.
Nephi also talks about the 3 different men named Joseph (Lehi's son, Joseph of Egypt and Joseph Smith and how they each were seen in visions by the others and how they wereinstrumental in furthering God's work. He also describes in Chapt 5 how the Lamanites descented from the Nephites and they were smitten with a curse and their skin was darkened.
In Chapt 8-9 the Atonement is the focus and how God's grace and mercy are required for us if we are ever to live with Him again because we can never make it on our own. The Atonement was the single greatest gift ever given to the world and Christ as our brother, loved us enough to die for us so that we may utilize the Atonement so that after all our own efforts, the Lord's grace will make up the difference.
The whole chapter 9 is a beautiful testiment of how perfect a plan our Father in Heaven has created for us. I know this was long but there were a lof of really important parts in this reading. I want you each to know that I know that this Gospel is true and that we are each important to our Heavenly Father. He loves us and wants us to be happy. He has given us church leaders, scriptures, media and even this blog so that we can share our convictions with others. I love that I can be a part of trying to serve and further his work. I'm humbled by the opportunity to serve in my calling and know that each of us will be blessed each time we try to better our lives or the lives of those around us.
No comments:
Post a Comment