"Free to Choose Liberty and Eternal Life"
2 Nephi 1-2
2 Nephi 1 contains counsel that Lehi gave to his sons shortly before he died. As you study this chapter, look for specific things that Lehi counseled his sons to do and for the blessings that he promised they would receive if they obeyed his counsel.
Lehi exhorted his sons to repent, obey the Lord’s commandments, and put on the armor of righteousness
2 NEPHI 1:5 Lehi said that despite their afflictions, his people had "obtained a land of promise" by covenant.
2 NEPHI 1:6-7, 9-10
The covenant between the Lord and Lehi’s people required them to:
1) Serve the Lord according to the commandments
2) Be righteous (more than just obedient)
3) Keep the commandments.
If they did their part, the Lord would bless them with:
1) A consecrated land, liberty
2) A blessed land
3) Prosperity
4) protection
5) blessing
6} freedom from being molested by others
7) A land of inheritance
8) Safety forever.
2 NEPHI 1:10-12
If their Descendents Rejected the Savior the following would happen:
1) They would suffer God's just judgments
2) Suffer invasion from other lands
3) Loss of their land of inheritance
4) Scattering and oppression
5) Bloodshed would some upon their people
2 NEPHI 1:13; see also verses 2 NEPHI 1:14, 21, 23
13 O that ye would awake; awake from a deep sleep, yea, even from the
sleep of hell, and shake off the awful chains by which ye are bound,
which are the chains which bind the children of men, that they are
carried away captive down to the eternal gulf of misery and woe.
Lehi commands his sons to Shake off the chains of sin and awake from their sleep of sinfulness
Sinfulness is like being in a deep sleep because it connotes an unconscious state in which one is unaware. Sinfulness is like being bound by chains because one cannot escape that consequence without great effort or help from another.
2 NEPHI 1:15 Lehi spoke of the blessings received through his faithfulness. Note that while some of his sons were bound by the "awful chains" of sin (Laman and Lemuel), Lehi was "encircled about eternally in the arms of [the Savior’s] love." Like Lehi, as we humbly come unto Christ through repentance and obedience, we will be redeemed and "encircled about eternally in the arms of his love.
2 NEPHI 1:21
21 And now that my soul might have joy in you, and that my heart might
leave this world with gladness because of you, that I might not be
brought down with grief and sorrow to the grave, arise from the dust, my
sons, and be men, and be determined in one mind and in one heart,
united in all things, that ye may not come down into captivity;
What is Lehi calling them to be men, when they are already grown men. I believe that he is speaking spiritually. It is interesting that He calls them to arise from the Dust. This is probably a reference to Man being made from the dust mortally. In this verse he is calling his sons (Laman and Lemuel) to grow up spiritually and be better than their carnal minds would lead them to be.
2 NEPHI 1:21-27
Qualities of a Righteous Man
1) Determination (to choose the right)
2) Freedom from sin
3) Righteousness
4) Obedience to commandments
5) Willingness to serve God
6) Demonstrating leadership to others while following the Savior
7) Faithfulness during suffering
8) Humility
9) Seeking the glory of God and the welfare of others
10) Speaking plainly
11) Being filled with the power of God
12) Being truthful.
The world’s definition of manhood is not consistent with the gospel definition.
Think about how you can help young men choose righteousness over the world’s definition of manhood.
1) Encourage your young men to attend Mutual.
2) Read the Scriptures with your family to instil the importance of the scriptures and the gospel in your young men.
3) Encourage your young men ( and Women) to go to Seminary.
4) Work with them to make goals to prepare for a mission.
5) Encourage participation in the Duty to God and Faith in God programs.
As you study 2 Nephi 2, look for the words free, act, and choose. You may want to mark these words when you find them. Take time to ponder the importance of these words.
Free:
2 NEPHI 2:4
4 And thou hast beheld in thy youth his glory; wherefore, thou art blessed even as they unto whom he shall minister in the flesh; for the Spirit is the same, yesterday, today, and forever. And the way is prepared from the fall of man, and salvation is free.
2 NEPHI 2:26
26 And the Messiah cometh in the fulness of time, that he may redeem the children of men from the fall. And because that they are redeemed from the fall they have become free forever, knowing good from evil; to act for themselves and not to be acted upon, save it be by the punishment of the law at the great and last day, according to the commandments which God hath given.
2 NEPHI 2:27
27 Wherefore, men are free according to the flesh; and all things are given them which are expedient unto man. And they are free to choose liberty and eternal life, through the great Mediator of all men, or to choose captivity and death, according to the captivity and power of the devil; for he seeketh that all men might be miserable like unto himself.
Act:
2 NEPHI 2:13
13 And if ye shall say there is no law, ye shall also say there is no sin. If ye shall say there is no sin, ye shall also say there is no righteousness. And if there be no righteousness there be no happiness. And if there be no righteousness nor happiness there be no punishment nor misery. And if these things are not there is no God. And if there is no God we are not, neither the earth; for there could have been no creation of things, neither to act nor to be acted upon; wherefore, all things must have vanished away.
2 NEPHI 2:14
14 And now, my sons, I speak unto you these things for your profit and learning; for there is a God, and he hath created all things, both the heavens and the earth, and all things that in them are, both things to act and things to be acted upon.
2 NEPHI 2:16
16 Wherefore, the Lord God gave unto man that he should act for himself. Wherefore, man could not act for himself save it should be that he was enticed by the one or the other.
26 And the Messiah cometh in the fulness of time, that he may redeem the children of men from the fall. And because that they are redeemed from the fall they have become free forever, knowing good from evil; to act for themselves and not to be acted upon, save it be by the punishment of the law at the great and last day, according to the commandments which God hath given.
Choose:
2 NEPHI 2:27
27 Wherefore, men are free according to the flesh; and all things are given them which are expedient unto man. And they are free to choose liberty and eternal life, through the great Mediator of all men, or to choose captivity and death, according to the captivity and power of the devil; for he seeketh that all men might be miserable like unto himself.
2 NEPHI 2:28
28 And now, my sons, I would that ye should look to the great Mediator, and hearken unto his great commandments; and be faithful unto his words, and choose eternal life, according to the will of his Holy Spirit;
2 NEPHI 2:29
29 And not choose eternal death, according to the will of the flesh and the evil which is therein, which giveth the spirit of the devil power to captivate, to bring you down to hell, that he may reign over you in his own kingdom.
Read 2 NEPHI 2:6-8. How can you "make these things known"?
2 NEPHI 2:6-8
6 Wherefore, redemption cometh in and through the Holy Messiah; for he is full of grace and truth.
7 Behold, he offereth himself a sacrifice for sin, to answer the ends of the law, unto all those who have a broken heart and a contrite spirit; and unto none else can the ends of the law be answered.
8 Wherefore, how great the importance to make these things known unto the inhabitants of the earth, that they may know that there is no flesh that can dwell in the presence of God, save it be through the merits, and mercy, and grace of the Holy Messiah, who layeth down his life according to the flesh, and taketh it again by the power of the Spirit, that he may bring to pass the resurrection of the dead, being the first that should rise.
1) Missionary Work
2) Being an example of Jesus Christ
3) Living in a way in which you will carry the Spirit of God with you at all times
How does your making these things known show gratitude to the Savior for His Atonement?
1) By being an example of Jesus Christ you not only have the opportunity to bring others closer to Christ. you also show your Father in Heaven and your Savior that the sacrifice he made for you is important to you.
2) The more you share the gospel the stronger your testimony will grow and the closer you will grow to God and Christ.
Read 2 Nephi 2:15-25 and look for (1) conditions that existed for Adam and Eve before they partook of the forbidden fruit and (2) the opposition they experienced after they partook of the fruit. What blessings can you receive because the Fall of Adam and Eve brought opposition into the world? (See 2 Nephi 2:23-27; Moses 5:10-12.
Here Are Some Additional Questions to Think About.
1. What do you mean when you say that Jesus is the Savior? (See 2 Nephi 2:5-10.)
2. Why does God allow both good and evil in the world? (See 2 Nephi 2:11-13.)
3. I don't want a lot of commandments. Won't my freedom be limited if I follow Jesus' teachings? (See 2 Nephi 2:26-29.)
