2 Nephi 28 & 29

7 Yea, and there shall be many which shall say: Eat, drink, and be merry, for tomorrow we die; and it shall be well with us.
8 And there shall also be many which shall say: Eat, drink, and be merry; nevertheless, fear God—he will justify in committing a little sin; yea, lie a little, take the advantage of one because of his words, dig a pit for thy neighbor; there is no harm in this; and do all these things, for tomorrow we die; and if it so be that we are guilty, God will beat us with a few stripes, and at last we shall be saved in the kingdom of God.
9 Yea, and there shall be many which shall teach after this manner, false and vain and foolish doctrines, and shall be puffed up in their hearts, and shall seek deep to hide their counsels from the Lord; and their works shall be in the dark.
(Book of Mormon | 2 Nephi 28:7 - 9)

Of course, there has to be a little eat, drink & be merry allowed--right? I mean, we as Mormons make it a point to have refreshments at every outing. And, I'm pretty sure that if I planned the Christmas Relief Society social without food, no one would come... Why is that? Seems we can't feed the spirit without at least feeding our tongues (and I will not say that it is to fill tummies, because if it were all lentils & no cheesecake, there wouldn't be a turnout either!)

13 They rob the poor because of their fine sanctuaries; they rob the poor because of their fine clothing; and they persecute the meek and the poor in heart, because in their pride they are puffed up.
(Book of Mormon | 2 Nephi 28:13)

I think about this scripture often. And I find conflicting arguments. First, I see here that we should live scarcely, giving any extra to help the poor. But then, the business-person in me says, "Wait! If I hire a gardener & a maid, I'm creating jobs--then these people are working for their $$, and not feeling bad about living off a hand out." The orator in me says, "You can't inspire others if you aren't living an inspirational life, and being poor, sick & sad never inspired anyone." My brain is always left spinning after this inner argument. Any ideas?

21 And others will he pacify, and lull them away into carnal security, that they will say: All is well in Zion; yea, Zion prospereth, all is well—and thus the devil cheateth their souls, and leadeth them away carefully down to hell.
(Book of Mormon | 2 Nephi 28:21)

My only consolation here is that it is still evident to me that all is not well in Zion.

24 Therefore, wo be unto him that is at ease in Zion!
(Book of Mormon | 2 Nephi 28:24)

Maybe this is the answer to my prayers. This line. You'd have to know that I'm rarely at ease when considering living in certain western states. My dilemma is that I want to be by family, but I want to raise my children in a place where they will not take the gospel for granted. So, how is this an answer? Well, if wo be unto those at ease there (by this, I'm assuming the physical place of a gathering of many saints being Zion), then I should go there, and be ill-at ease. Yes? No?

3 And because my words shall hiss forth—many of the Gentiles shall say: A Bible! A Bible! We have got a Bible, and there cannot be any more Bible.
(Book of Mormon | 2 Nephi 29:3)
Yes, we hear this a lot, do we not? I do, and yet, to use a scripture in the Book of Mormon to prove the Book of Mormon--well, that just doesn't quite work, now does it?

And what thank they the Jews for the Bible which they receive from them? Yea, what do the Gentiles mean? Do they remember the travails, and the labors, and the pains of the Jews, and their diligence unto me, in bringing forth salvation unto the Gentiles?
(Book of Mormon | 2 Nephi 29:4)

Sadly, no. People don't thank the Jews for this...they instead think of the crucifixion, and blame them as wicked people--but that was essential to the plan!

7 Know ye not that there are more nations than one? Know ye not that I, the Lord your God, have created all men, and that I remember those who are upon the isles of the sea; and that I rule in the heavens above and in the earth beneath; and I bring forth my word unto the children of men, yea, even upon all the nations of the earth?
(Book of Mormon | 2 Nephi 29:7)

I love this verse. I often wonder when people will start to realize that the main differences in a lot of religions are merely the names used (names of God, names of ceremonies, names of rites...etc). Yes, there are some beliefs that differ, but, if you study the words of the founders of most religions, you'd see that they all begin similarly, and the differences come about as mankind interprets the words the founder writes/says.

13 And it shall come to pass that the Jews shall have the words of the Nephites, and the Nephites shall have the words of the Jews; and the Nephites and the Jews shall have the words of the lost tribes of Israel; and the lost tribes of Israel shall have the words of the Nephites and the Jews.
(Book of Mormon | 2 Nephi 29:13)

Interesting, isn't it? It's like a big puzzle, and we've got to take all of the pieces, all of the revelations, and put them together. No one religion is right by itself, if would seem. Someone, or something, needs to bring them all together, to find the common ground. I suppose that's why it's so easy to feel right about any religion--they are, but they are not complete. I'm not convinced we're complete either...we, as a people, seem to be falling into the same traps. I'll have to ponder this a bit more.