BOM #7
McGuire 1
2 Nephi 3
See JST Genesis 50:24-38
Joseph who was sold into Egypt received great visions of the future.
1. Lehi and his descendants v.5
2. Joseph Smith
v. 5-7, 11-15, 24
3. Moses and the deliverance from Egypt v. 9-10
2 Nephi 4:1-2; written on Plates of Brass
4. Book of Mormon and the Bible
v.12, 19-20
5. Jesus Christ v. 5
v. 3, 23 promises to Joseph (my last-born)
v. 4
Lehi is a descendent of Joseph. Therefore he and his posterity share the
covenants and promises of Joseph.
v. 5
Promise to Joseph
"a branch to be broken off"
Messiah to be manifest to Lehi's descendants in the latter days
Read Isaiah 49:9
1 Nephi 21:4
brought out of darkness and captivity into light and freedom (more than
spirit prison)
Joseph Smith to be the seer/instrument to bring the Gospel to the House of Israel in the last days.
See 1 Nephi 21:8 and 2 Nephi 3:11
v. 6
Joseph Smith is the instrument for bringing light out of darkness
v. 6-15 the "choice seer" is defined as the prophet Joseph Smith.
See/experience this prophesy from Joseph of Egypt's point of view, and then from Lehi's point of
view.
For us, most of this prophecy is about events in the past. For Joseph, this prophecy is about future
events. For Lehi, this prophecy is about past and future. For us, some of this prophecy remains in
the future; our thought about future events is still speculative.
Joseph of Egypt would probably have seen all prophecy in terms of the redemption of Israel while
Israel was still in Egypt. God is speaking to Joseph in Egypt. Israel was in Egypt because
Abraham separated from Lot, and eventually Abraham's posterity (grandson Jacob) went to
Egypt. The prophecies regarding "a Moses" referred to the people being led out of Egypt and
back to their "promised land." Future prophecies referred to future exiles.
The history of Israel is the history of exile, and the determination to return to the land of promise:
 Egypt
 Babylon – the diaspora
 AD 136 (Romans) – the diaspora
 The "broken off branch" (Book of Mormon)
 What is our exile?
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McGuire 2
In these verses, Joseph Smith is a savior to a lost Israel, but the language (esp. v. 11) can also
apply to Jesus Christ. Similar language could also apply – and does – to Lehi, Nephi, Jacob,
Jeremiah, Moses:
Deut. 18:15-19 (esp. v. 18) (Moses)
Jeremiah 1:7-9 (esp. v. 9, where Jeremiah implies he is a prophet like Moses)
Acts 3:22 (Jesus Christ)
Jacob 2:10-11 (Jacob)
D&C 85:7 (who does this refer to? Jesus Christ?)
Remember from last week, all scripture basically tells the same story:
Jehovah enters a covenant with a people, delivers them out of bondage, and
gives them life in a promised land: a way of life that manifests
God's character, and represents God's rest.
v. 15
v. 13
v. 24
v. 7
Joseph/Joseph: his work (Joseph's) brings my people to salvation
He shall be made strong in that day when the Lord's work begins among all his
people.
Mighty in word and deed, instrument in the hands of God to bring about much
restoration to the House of Israel.
Works mighty wonders.
Work of great worth -> knowledge of covenants
1 Nephi 22:8 scattering, then a marvelous work of great worth among the Gentiles
1 Nephi 14:7 great and marvelous work to
life eternal
or
captivity and destruction
1 Nephi 15:13-14 scattering -> THAT DAY -> Israel will know they are a
covenant people - > true points of doctrine - > saved
That Day
1 Nephi 14:17
1 Nephi 15:13-18
1 Nephi 19:13-17
wrath on mother of harlots
God commences go fulfill covenants to Israel
Time when Gospel goes from the Lamanites to the
Gentiles
Jews no more turn away from Christ
True Points of Doctrine: Book of Mormon
v. 12
Judah writes and Joseph writes
-> grow together to confound false doctrine
-> brings Israel to a knowledge of my covenants
v. 19-20
like a voice from the dust, crying repentance
v. 16
promise of Moses? Joseph of Egypt is sure that Moses will come.
2 Nephi 4
v. 1-2
belong to the end of Chapter 3?
BOM #7
McGuire 3
Nephi refers again to the brass plates. Why is this important?
Lehi was profoundly influenced by the brass plates.
v. 4
See 1 Nephi 2:20, 4:14, 2 Nephi 1:9
also Deut. 30: 15-20
v. 6
See D&C 68:25
16-35
Psalm of Nephi interweaves temporal and spiritual
The label "Psalm of Nephi" was made popular by Sidney Sperry
v. 17-18
Heart sorroweth because of the flesh; encompassed by temptation and sin
What were Nephi's iniquities? see v. 13-14 – anger/rivalry with his
brothers. Why is anger with our brother – any brother or sister – an
iniquity? How does v. 18 build on this?
v. 18
How are we encompassed about because of temptations and sins?
v. 19
What does it mean for a heart to groan? (a low, mournful sound uttered in
pain or grief, to be overburdened or overloaded, to suffer greatly; relates
etymologically to "murmur")
See Ex. 2:24, 6:5; Ps. 6:6, 38:9, 102:19-20; John 11:33, 38; Romans
8:23,26; 2 Cor. 5:2, 4; 3 Nephi 17:14; Moses 7:56
See also 2 Cor. 7:10, 2 Nephi 33:3
v. 20
Led through afflictions in wilderness. Preserved me upon the waters of
the deep
Psalm 69: esp. 1-2, 14-15
v. 21
filled with love -> consuming of flesh
see D&C 84:33
What is Nephi describing? Baptism of fire? A transfiguration?
See Exodus 34:30
Filled with transforming joy and love under the influence of the Holy
Ghost? See Helaman 5:44-45. Should we pray for this experience? See
Moroni 7:48.
See also 1 Nephi 17:48
v. 22
"confounded my enemies" Who? His brothers, with whom Nephi is
involved in a rivalrous relationship
see v. 27
v. 23-24
Nephi describes his prayers . . .
v. 26
Having seen/experienced what he has experienced, why should "my heart
weep . . . "
v. 25
. . . his mountain top experience
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McGuire 4
v. 27-28
Why should I be angry (involved in rivalry?)
The sin: angry because of mine enemy.
Yield to sin because of the flesh -> evil one has place in the heart
Who is the real enemy?
1. our own character flaws, which are
2. exploited by Satan
Laman and Lemuel as enemies: 2 Nephi 4:13, 2 Nephi 5:1-5
v. 31
Redeem soul is parallel to delivered out of hands of his enemies
"make me . . . shake at the appearance of sin."
see 1 Nephi 17:48, 54; 2 Nephi 2:14
v. 32
Gates of Hell (death) – shut
Gates of Righteousness (life) – not shut
Path of the low valley – Arabic (Bedouin), a valley where the water runs
during the rainy season.
v. 33
"encircle me in the robe" – Desert custom required a host to place the edge
of his robe over the back of anyone seeking his protection.
v. 34
Trust in the arm of God, not in the arm of flesh
Jeremiah argued against trusting in the "arm of flesh" – i.e., Egypt or
Assyria.
v. 35
The rock
See Exodus 17:6, Numbers 20:8, 10-11; Deut. 32:4, 18, 30-31 and many
others.
2 Nephi 5
v. 1-4 Nephi's brothers become more angry and focused in their anger.
v. 5-9 The Nephites separate themselves, like Abraham did from Lot, like Joseph did
when he went to Egypt (though not voluntarily), and like Moses did when he took
Israel out of Egypt.
Why is voluntary separation a good thing? See D&C 133:5, 7, 14
v. 10 – 18 Nephi and those who believe in revelations of God flee into the wilderness, out
of the "promised land":
 Land of Nephi
 Took brass plates, Liahona, Sword of Laban
 Built a temple
 V. 10: kept all commandments of Law of Moses
v. 18-19
Nephi a ruler, teacher
Is this a parallelism, making ruler and teacher synonymous? Or are these two
BOM #7
McGuire 5
different roles?
Lamanite Curse: v. 20-25
v. 20 real curse = cut off from his presence
v. 21 mark of curse = skin of blackness (so they would not be enticing)
Alma 3:6-9; 3 Nephi 2:12-15, Jacob 3:3-7, 2 Nephi 26:33,
Loathsome and idle
A scourge to people of Nephi
Problematic, racial language. However, nowhere in the BOM does there seem to
be "racial" hatred or prejudice. Nephite writers constantly referred to Lamanite as
their brethren.
Historically, religions considered themselves a "race."
Commandment to make small plates: 2 Nephi 5:28-32
v. 32 If you are pleased with the things of God, you will be pleased with the small
plates.
When were these plates made? After Lehi died and the separation occurred.
v. 34
Forty years
Deuteronomy: In form it is a set of three sermons delivered by Moses reviewing the
previous forty years of wandering in the wilderness; its central element is a detailed lawcode by which the Children of Israel are to live in the Promised Land.