2 Nephi 1, 2, and part of 3

I'm starting in 2 Nephi (this is in the Book of Mormon, for those not familiar) for a number of reasons. First, Stephen and I are reading the Old Testament together, and I don't want to read the same thing twice in the same day (or week). Second, I've read 1 Nephi so many times, I could quote it, and I feel like if I could just get past it, I could really get some momentum. So, I'm jumping past it, and I'll read it at the end. Maybe it'll be even better after having read the whole book...kind of like watching "The Sixth Sense" twice. Then again, maybe not. We'll see.

Now, as for what I read today, let me quote a bit, and then I'll add my comments.
1 AND now it came to pass that after I, Nephi, had made an end of teaching my brethren, our father, Lehi, also spake many things unto them, and rehearsed unto them, how great things the Lord had done for them in bringing them out of the land of Jerusalem.
2 And he spake unto them concerning their rebellions upon the waters, and the mercies of God in sparing their lives, that they were not swallowed up in the sea.

(Book of Mormon | 2 Nephi 1:1 - 2)

See that red highlighting there? Those words caught my attention. I always read while thinking of my children, and it occured to me that I have not been pointing out our blessings to the children. There have been so many times that good has come from a family prayer, or from a fast, and Stephen and I will talk about it later, but after the kids are in bed. We rarely take the time to say, "Look, we prayed about this, and this is how that prayer was answered, or at least it seems that way to us." It's time to follow through. It's time to point out when God has stuck his hand right in front of us and yanked us to high ground. These kids need to know. And we can't wait to tell them when they are in their teens. It'll be too late. No, I have to start today. That will be goal #1 (see running list of goals at the side). Amazing, one verse into this and I have my first goal. See, this is why I don't study the scriptures, it gives me too much to work on! (Kidding...but only slightly).

15 But behold, the Lord hath redeemed my soul from hell; I have beheld his glory, and I am encircled about eternally in the arms of his love.
16 And I desire that ye should remember to observe the statutes and the judgments of the Lord; behold, this hath been the anxiety of my soul from the beginning.

(Book of Mormon | 2 Nephi 1:15 - 16)

Yikes! He took the words out of my mouth. Reading this verse takes me back to the days that each of my children were born. I can remember holding them in my arms those very first moments and thinking, "How on earth am I going to teach you everything you need to know?" I think anxiety is putting it lightly. Try outright panic.

19 O my sons, that these things might not come upon you, but that ye might be a choice and a favored people of the Lord. But behold, his will be done; for his ways are righteousness forever.
20 And he hath said that: Inasmuch as ye shall keep my commandments ye shall prosper in the land; but inasmuch as ye will not keep my commandments ye shall be cut off from my presence.
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;

(Book of Mormon | 2 Nephi 1:19 - 21)

Honestly, I'm not seeing how prospering in the land is the natural opposite of being cut off from God's presence. Do we have to be IN his presence to prosper in the land? What does this really mean?

1 AND now, Jacob, I speak unto you: Thou art my first–born in the days of my tribulation in the wilderness. And behold, in thy childhood thou hast suffered afflictions and much sorrow, because of the rudeness of thy brethren.

(Book of Mormon | 2 Nephi 2:1)

I have to admit, I found this line funny...if we get to start each section of our lives with our firstborns in the____, we'd have our first-born in Idaho, our first-born in Utah, and our first-born in Indiana. So, C, sweetie, you aren't the second child! No! You are the first-born in Utah. I'm nervous that we'd have three first-borns, however...do you ever read those birth order things? About personality characteristics? OK, I'm digressing, but it is something to think about.

OK, so I really just enjoy this whole section whenever I read it, because it makes life make sense to me. I highlighted the item I commented on though.

11 For it must needs be, that there is an opposition in all things. If not so, my first–born in the wilderness, righteousness could not be brought to pass, neither wickedness, neither holiness nor misery, neither good nor bad. Wherefore, all things must needs be a compound in one; wherefore, if it should be one body it must needs remain as dead, having no life neither death, nor corruption nor incorruption, happiness nor misery, neither sense nor insensibility.
12 Wherefore, it must needs have been created for a thing of naught; wherefore there would have been no purpose in the end of its creation. Wherefore, this thing must needs destroy the wisdom of God and his eternal purposes, and also the power, and the mercy, and the justice of God.
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.
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.
15 And to bring about his eternal purposes in the end of man, after he had created our first parents, and the beasts of the field and the fowls of the air, and in fine, all things which are created, it must needs be that there was an opposition; even the forbidden fruit in opposition to the tree of life; the one being sweet and the other bitter.
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.
17 And I, Lehi, according to the things which I have read, must needs suppose that an angel of God, according to that which is written, had fallen from heaven; wherefore, he became a devil, having sought that which was evil before God.
18 And because he had fallen from heaven, and had become miserable forever, he sought also the misery of all mankind. Wherefore, he said unto Eve, yea, even that old serpent, who is the devil, who is the father of all lies, wherefore he said: Partake of the forbidden fruit, and ye shall not die, but ye shall be as God, knowing good and evil.
19 And after Adam and Eve had partaken of the forbidden fruit they were driven out of the garden of Eden, to till the earth.
20 And they have brought forth children; yea, even the family of all the earth.
21 And the days of the children of men were prolonged, according to the will of God, that they might repent while in the flesh; wherefore, their state became a state of probation, and their time was lengthened, according to the commandments which the Lord God gave unto the children of men. For he gave commandment that all men must repent; for he showed unto all men that they were lost, because of the transgression of their parents.

Is this why people lived longer? Is this what this is saying?

22 And now, behold, if Adam had not transgressed he would not have fallen, but he would have remained in the garden of Eden. And all things which were created must have remained in the same state in which they were after they were created; and they must have remained forever, and had no end.
23 And they would have had no children; wherefore they would have remained in a state of innocence, having no joy, for they knew no misery; doing no good, for they knew no sin.
24 But behold, all things have been done in the wisdom of him who knoweth all things.
25 Adam fell that men might be; and men are, that they might have joy.
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.
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.

(Book of Mormon | 2 Nephi 2:11 - 27)

1 AND now I speak unto you, Joseph, my last–born. Thou wast born in the wilderness of mine afflictions; yea, in the days of my greatest sorrow did thy mother bear thee.

(Book of Mormon | 2 Nephi 3:1)

All I could think when I read this was that if Lehi's sorrows were great, then Sariah's were mighty hefty. Can you imagine the emotional turmoil of pregnancy while traveling in the wilderness? It's bad enough traveling in the city. For some reason, I just really felt for her, and it made me feel a little better. Like I'd kind of been a wimp, but that I could move on.