Br. Martins' Lecture Notes for Book of Mormon

2 Nephi 1-3

Questions for Review:

1. How did Father Lehi find out that Jerusalem had been destroyed? (2 Nephi 1:4)

2. Christ offers himself as "a sacrifice for sin" on behalf of the following people: (2 Nephi 2:7)

3. We are free to act for ourselves and not be acted upon. This freedom is a direct result of ... (2 Nephi 2:26)

4. "A choice seer will I raise out of the fruit of thy loins ..." Who would this seer be? (2 Nephi 3:7,15; Student Manual, p.24)

2 Nephi 1
More of Lehi's Prophecies and Teachings

Lehi sees the actual destruction of Jerusalem in a vision (4)

. So far, the people had to believe in the prophets' word that Jerusalem had been destroyed. Only after more than 300 years the Nephite people heard eyewitness accounts of the destruction (see 6:8; Omni 1:5,14-15)

Prophecies regarding the American continent (6-11)

. Note: the term"american continent" indicates the area extending from the region we know today as Alaska to the place known as Cabo de Hornos, or Cape Horn
. Other nations: Portugal, France, Great Britain, and Spain
. Here is an idea some people may have a problem with: the more The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints grows, the greater the freedom and prosperity enjoyed by the people in the countries the Church is established
. One more thing: today there is more than one way to interpret the notion of "captivity". Some people may enjoy political freedom and not enjoy economic freedom, being burdened with debt. Others may enjoy both political and economic freedom, but not physical freedom-addicted to harmful drugs, prescription medicines, excessive quantities of food, gambling, etc.

An indication that Lehi received a confirmation of his calling and election (15; see D&C 131:5-6)

2 Nephi 2
Lehi Teaches Jacob about the Atonement

The extent of young Jacob's knowledge of Jesus Christ (4; see also 11:2-3)

"Men are instructed sufficiently that they know good from evil" (5; see also Alma 29:8; D&C 84:34-39)

. All responsible humans (i.e. persons mentally capable of making sound judgments on their own), can distinguish good from evil, regardless of culture, language, and other external factors

No one in the world is justified by the law; because of their fallen nature, all mortals would be miserable forever (5)

. Despite our righteous desires, inevitably we sin or transgress laws. The nature of this fallen state together with our mortal imperfections make it impossible for us to be saved on our own merits

Christ offered himself as a sacrifice to answer the ends of the law for a certain category of individuals (7-8)

. The atonement compensates for the mortal lack of perfection. Those with broken hearts and contrite spirits will be brought back into the presence of God, or in other words, will be reconciled and made "one" (at-one-ment) with God

. Since the expression "broken heart and contrite spirit" is used so often in the Church, it becomes convenient to understand what these words mean:

. Broken - made submissive; trained for use; subdued; crushed; reduced in rank

. Heart - emotional constitution, basic disposition, or character; one's prevailing mood or current inclination

. Contrite - broken down in spirit with grief and penitence for sin or shortcoming; humbly and thoroughly penitent

. Penitent - one sorrowful for one's transgressions and resolved to amend one's life

. By dictionary definition, contrition arises out of one's love for God, whereas remorse doesn't; in addition, remorse doesn't imply humility, hope of forgiveness, nor a determination to change one's life. However, be aware that some of these terms have been used interchangeably; in other words, some authors will use the term "remorse" when they mean "contrition" and vice-versa

. Spirit - temper or disposition of mind; a mental disposition characterized by firmness or assertiveness; mood; an individual person considered with reference to characteristics of mind or temper; soul

Once the ends of the law have been answered, we are no longer miserable forever, and can be judged for our actions-either to be rewarded or to be punished for them (10)

Opposition in all things is an important feature in life (11-16)
. Without opposition there would have been no creation

. There are things meant to act and things meant to be acted upon (14)

. Humans were created to act, but would not be able to do it if not enticed by opposite alternatives (16)

. And here we can see how harmful it is to become "entangled in sin" (D&C 88:86): one loses the ability to act, and starts to be acted upon by addictions and other sinful habits. Such individuals live in a state contrary to the nature of their humanity, and if they do not repent they will be ultimately acted upon by the demands of the eternal law

Conditions before the Fall of Adam (22-23)

There were no changes, therefore there could be no progress
Adam and Eve couldn't have children, therefore the plan of salvation could not proceed-spirits would have stayed in their pre-mortal state forever, and the creation of the earth would have lost its purpose
They had no joy, and could do no good

"All things have been done in the wisdom of him who knoweth all things" (24-27)

. The Fall of Adam was not an accident, or an unexpected turn of events in the plan of salvation

. The Fall created the conditions in which we can overcome evil and gain honor and glory

. The Atonement overcame the external effects of the Fall, thus making us accountable only by our individual sins

2 Nephi 3
Lehi Teaches Joseph about
Joseph of Egypt's Prophecy of a Latter-day Seer

A very important promise made to Joseph Ben Lehi (3,23)

Joseph of Egypt's prophecy of a latter-day seer (6-8,15,24)

The two records--Judah's and Joseph's-and their purposes (12)