CHAPTER 9
1 And all these things did my father see, and hear, and speak, as he dwelt in a tent, in the avalley of Lemuel, and also a great many more things, which cannot be written upon these plates. 2 And now, as I have spoken concerning these plates, behold they are not the plates upon which I make a full account of the history of my people; for the aplates upon which I make a full account of my people I have given the name of Nephi; wherefore, they are called the plates of Nephi, after mine own name; and these plates also are called the plates of Nephi. 3 Nevertheless, I have received a commandment of the Lord that I should make these plates, for the special apurpose that there should be an account engraven of the bministry of my people. 4 Upon the other plates should be engraven an account of the reign of the kings, and the wars and contentions of my people; wherefore these plates are for the more part of the ministry; and the aother plates are for the more part of the reign of the kings and the wars and contentions of my people. 5 Wherefore, the Lord hath commanded me to make these plates for a awise purpose in him, which purpose I know not. 6 But the Lord aknoweth all things from the beginning; wherefore, he prepareth a way to accomplish all his works among the children of men; for behold, he hath all bpower unto the fulfilling of all his words. And thus it is. Amen.
Even though Chapter 9 is only 6 verses long, there are a few points here I'd like to make before we move on. Apparently Nephi kept 2 sets of records, both of which he called, "The Plates of Nephi". In the larger plates he kept a secular record for more historical purposes. The smaller plates are the ones that would be passed down through the ages, then be compiled by Mormon and hidden from the Lamanites by Moroni.
Verses 5 & 6 is interesting to me. Nephi says that the Lord commanded him to keep both sets of records, but never told him what the purposes of the historical set would be... but Nephi kept them anyway. Nephi kept the commandment through nothing but faith. It doesn't matter why, it only matters that the Lord told him it was important.
How often have we learned something important (either spiritually or not), but because we don't know why it's important, we quit doing it? Do we have to know the "why" of everything we do, even if we do know that it's important? Shouldn't the fact that we know it's important be enough? Does it have to be important to us to be important to someone that it gets done?
Just something to think about.
CHAPTER 10
Lehi prophesies of the fall of Jerusalem to Babylon. That many Jews will be captured and enslaved or killed. However, he also talks of hope and faith, that the Jews will regain the promised land and thrive there once agian.
He also prophies of the birth and ministry of Jesus Christ, the redeemer of all mankind. He teaches of the fallen state of man and the need for Christ to pay the price for our sins so we can be made clean from our sins, if we rely on, and have faith in Him.
He also taught about the prophet sent to prepare the people for the coming Messiah. The very John the Baptist spoken of by the prophet Esaias (Isaiah) "The avoice of him that crieth in the wilderness, bPrepare ye the cway of the Lord, make straight in the desert a dhighway for our God." He prephesies that John the Baptist would be baptized in Bethabara, with water, as he would baptize Christ.
He foretold of Jesus's ministry, how He will teach the Jews the Gospel, and of the dwindling of the Jews in unbelief and after His death, He would show himself, by the power of the Holy Ghost, to the Gentiles. He spoke of the scattering of Israel, again offering hope because they would also be gathered again, after the Gentiles receved the Gospel. Then both Jew and Gentile will "be grafted together" with the knowledge of Christ, the "true Messiah, their Lord and their Redeemer".
14 And after the house of aIsrael should be scattered they should be bgathered together again; or, in fine, after the cGentiles had received the fulness of the dGospel, the natural branches of the eolive-tree, or the fremnants of the house of gIsrael, should be grafted in, or hcome to the knowledge of the true Messiah, their Lord and their Redeemer.
Then, once again, Nephi becomes the example of what we should all do when we hear or read words being claimed as the Word of God. He took his question to God, in the name of Jesus Christ, to learn for himself if what his father taught. By the power of the Holy Ghost he did learn the truthfullness of what Lehi was saying. Just as we can learn the same way. Our Heavenly Father is there for us, to help us learn truth from error. That we can know the "mysteries of God" if we just seek them out, and ask Him in faith.
Because we will all someday stand before the final judgement, but Our Heavenly Father wants us to return to Him, not be cast off because we are unclean and refused to accept Christ and repent of our sins.
Notice it never said to take the word of ParaTed2k, or even of Nephi. So I won't ask you to take my word for any of this either. Show faith in He who the only righteous faith can be shown. A good friend of mine told me that I was one of her "spiritual advisors", which I admit made me feel great! However, I reminded her that the advice I give her, and the things we talk about are nothing new, and don't come from me. I'm happy to be part of her spiritual development, but only as a tool in the hand of Christ. My only hope is that I can help anyone seeking the Gospel of Jesus Christ, but in the end, it won't be anything I did that brings anyone to Christ, it will be because they prayed to God for the truth, and through the Holy Ghost, the truth was made known to them.
17 And it came to pass after I, Nephi, having heard all the awords of my father, concerning the things which he saw in a bvision, and also the things which he spake by the power of the Holy Ghost, which power he received by faith on the Son of God—and the Son of God was the cMessiah who should come—I, Nephi, was ddesirous also that I might see, and hear, and know of these things, by the power of the eHoly Ghost, which is the fgift of God unto gall those who diligently seek him, as well in times of hold as in the time that he should manifest himself unto the children of men. 18 For he is the asame yesterday, to-day, and forever; and the way is prepared for all men from the foundation of the world, if it so be that they repent and come unto him. 19 For he that diligently aseeketh shall find; and the bmysteries of God shall be unfolded unto them, by the power of the cHoly Ghost, as well in these times as in times of old, and as well in times of old as in times to come; wherefore, the dcourse of the Lord is one eternal round. 20 Therefore remember, O man, for all thy doings thou shalt be brought into ajudgment. 21 Wherefore, if ye have sought to do awickedly in the days of your bprobation, then ye are found cunclean before the judgment-seat of God; and no unclean thing can dwell with God; wherefore, ye must be cast off forever. 22 And the Holy Ghost giveth aauthority that I should speak these things, and deny them not. 1 Nephi 10:17-22
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