Sunday, March 06, 2011
This week, I finished 2 Nephi fairly early on, and so we also get a few of my thoughts on Jacob. (For my own reference, my notes are now going to be numbered in accordance with the way they are numbered in my kindle, just so that it makes it easier for me to find where I've left off from the week before. I will still include the scripture reference.)
#9. 2 Nephi 30:5 "And the gospel of Jesus Christ shall be declared among them; wherefore, they shall be restored unto the knowledge of their fathers, and also to the knowledge of Jesus Christ, which was had among their fathers." I think part of the restoration of all things is also restoring the descendants of Lehi as well as the Jews to the knowledge which their forefathers previously had.
#10. 2 Nephi 31:16 "...unless a man shall endure to the end, in following the example of the Son of the living God, he cannot be saved." I am pretty sure that this is a no-brainer, but unless we actually follow the Savior's example, we are not really enduring to the end.
#11 2 Nephi 31:20 "Wherefore, ye must press forward with a steadfastness in Christ, having a perfect brightness of hope..." What do you think it means to have a perfect brightness of hope? I suppose that part of enduring to the end is to have this kind of hope. I also think that, for hope to be perfect, it cannot be false or misplaced.
#12 Jacob 2:13 talks about riches and pride. Pride comes when we have more, have done more, or perceive ourselves as being more than another individual. The sin didn't come from getting riches; the sin came from seeking riches because of pride and a desire for being more than someone else.
#13. Jacob 2:19 "seek [riches] for the intent to do good" It is OK to seek riches as long as you first seek the Kingdom of God and as long as your intent is to better the lives of others and to do good, not for the benefit of yourself (your pride) only.
#14 Jacob 3:1 "Look unto God with firmness" The dictionary defines this as being solid and unyielding. If we are looking to God with firmness, then there is nothing that can distract us from him.
#15 Jacob 4:5 This verse discusses the account of Abraham and his sacrifice in the wilderness. Sacrifice brings us closer to God by giving us some sort of understanding of God's love. While we do not offer up animal sacrifices anymore, we are still commanded to sacrifice our time and all that we have to the Lord to bring us closer to Christ.
#16 Jacob 4:10 "seek not to counsel the Lord, but to take counsel from his hand." I think it is OK to tell the Lord what we hope for, but it is more important that we inquire after His will.
#17 Jacob 4:14 "blindness came by looking beyond the mark..." What do you think this means and how does it apply to us? How does a person look beyond the mark?
Labels: Book of Mormon, Religion, Svithe
