Scripture Study Insights - week five
2 Nephi 7
The Lord doesn’t move away from us, we move away from him.
2 Nephi 8
The Lord’s law is our light. If we write it in our hearts we don’t have to be afraid of “the reproach of men.” God’s righteousness lasts forever. He wants to comfort us. Look for joy and gladness and thanksgiving and music. The strength of Zion is the priesthood (D&C 113:7-8).
2 Nephi 9
Rejoice! “O how great the plan of our God!” Delight in righteousness. The righteous will have joy forever. Remember to hearken, repent, be baptized, have faith, and love the truth. Be prepared for judgment day. Don’t waste your time on earth. Knock and the door will open. Don’t labor for things of no worth. Be productive – think eternally. We have a duty to teach these things to others.
2 Nephi 10
We have to choose a side – God’s or Satan’s. “We are either for the Church or we are against it. We either take its part or we take the consequences. We cannot survive spiritually with one foot in the Church and the other in the world. We must make the choice. It is either the Church or the world. There is no middle ground. And the Lord loves a courageous man who fights openly and boldly in his army.” (Bruce R. McConkie – see also Rev. 3:16-17)
“Cheer up your hearts” because you have the gift of agency, which is given us to “reconcile ourselves to the will of God.” “As we learn in these scriptures, the fundamental purposes for the gift of agency were to love one another and to choose God. Thus we become God’s chosen and invite His tender mercies as we use our agency to choose God.” (David A. Bednar – see also Moses 7:32-33)
2 Nephi 11
Scriptures are given to lift up our hearts, bring us joy. 2 Nephi 11:4 and Moses 6:64 both state that EVERYTHING in the world can be a type for Christ. One memorable seminary lesson I shared these verses and got a lot of disbelieving looks. So I had each student just pick something in their vicinity (pencil, Kleenex box, Gatorade bottle, paper, etc.) and share with the class how it could remind them of the Savior. It was gratifying to see the light bulb go off as they realized they COULD make a connection – and they were pretty good ones too. For example, when we make a mistake writing with a pencil, we can use the eraser to fix it. If we make a mistake in our lives, we can use Christ’s atonement to make it better. It happened to be a red-colored Gatorade which reminds us of the blood of Christ. We use Kleenex to help bring us comfort when we have a cold; Christ is always there to comfort us as we go through trials. We can use this principle as a way to keep our baptismal/sacrament covenants. As we go through the day, look at the objects around us and think of how they can remind us of the Savior.
2 Nephi 12
“Cease ye from man.” When we turn to outside sources - put our trust in man, ourselves, work for riches and honor, etc. - we become spiritually empty. The Lord promises that the proud will eventually be made humble. So, we should go to the temple as often as we can to learn of God’s ways and be strengthened spiritually.
Nephi 13 & 14
First Nephi/Isaiah reminds us of the effects of sin in our lives, then the blessings that come after repentance. “The stay and the staff” equals foundation and support. When we are unrighteous, we lose that – because we lose the Spirit’s guidance which is how we feel God’s support. I also liked the phrase “the show of their countenance doth witness against them.” Remember Elder Anderson’s talk? What does our countenance witness for us?
You don’t have to tell how you live each day;
You don’t have to tell if you work or play;
A tried and true barometer stands in its place—
You don’t have to tell, it will show in your face. …
If you live close to God and His infinite grace—
You won’t have to tell, it will show in your face.
(Anonymous – quoted by Elaine Dalton)
Finally, our homes can be “a place of refuge, and a covert from storm and from rain.” The world is a noisy, busy place. I love having a peaceful home!
The Lord doesn’t move away from us, we move away from him.
2 Nephi 8
The Lord’s law is our light. If we write it in our hearts we don’t have to be afraid of “the reproach of men.” God’s righteousness lasts forever. He wants to comfort us. Look for joy and gladness and thanksgiving and music. The strength of Zion is the priesthood (D&C 113:7-8).
2 Nephi 9
Rejoice! “O how great the plan of our God!” Delight in righteousness. The righteous will have joy forever. Remember to hearken, repent, be baptized, have faith, and love the truth. Be prepared for judgment day. Don’t waste your time on earth. Knock and the door will open. Don’t labor for things of no worth. Be productive – think eternally. We have a duty to teach these things to others.
2 Nephi 10
We have to choose a side – God’s or Satan’s. “We are either for the Church or we are against it. We either take its part or we take the consequences. We cannot survive spiritually with one foot in the Church and the other in the world. We must make the choice. It is either the Church or the world. There is no middle ground. And the Lord loves a courageous man who fights openly and boldly in his army.” (Bruce R. McConkie – see also Rev. 3:16-17)
“Cheer up your hearts” because you have the gift of agency, which is given us to “reconcile ourselves to the will of God.” “As we learn in these scriptures, the fundamental purposes for the gift of agency were to love one another and to choose God. Thus we become God’s chosen and invite His tender mercies as we use our agency to choose God.” (David A. Bednar – see also Moses 7:32-33)
2 Nephi 11
Scriptures are given to lift up our hearts, bring us joy. 2 Nephi 11:4 and Moses 6:64 both state that EVERYTHING in the world can be a type for Christ. One memorable seminary lesson I shared these verses and got a lot of disbelieving looks. So I had each student just pick something in their vicinity (pencil, Kleenex box, Gatorade bottle, paper, etc.) and share with the class how it could remind them of the Savior. It was gratifying to see the light bulb go off as they realized they COULD make a connection – and they were pretty good ones too. For example, when we make a mistake writing with a pencil, we can use the eraser to fix it. If we make a mistake in our lives, we can use Christ’s atonement to make it better. It happened to be a red-colored Gatorade which reminds us of the blood of Christ. We use Kleenex to help bring us comfort when we have a cold; Christ is always there to comfort us as we go through trials. We can use this principle as a way to keep our baptismal/sacrament covenants. As we go through the day, look at the objects around us and think of how they can remind us of the Savior.
2 Nephi 12
“Cease ye from man.” When we turn to outside sources - put our trust in man, ourselves, work for riches and honor, etc. - we become spiritually empty. The Lord promises that the proud will eventually be made humble. So, we should go to the temple as often as we can to learn of God’s ways and be strengthened spiritually.
Nephi 13 & 14
First Nephi/Isaiah reminds us of the effects of sin in our lives, then the blessings that come after repentance. “The stay and the staff” equals foundation and support. When we are unrighteous, we lose that – because we lose the Spirit’s guidance which is how we feel God’s support. I also liked the phrase “the show of their countenance doth witness against them.” Remember Elder Anderson’s talk? What does our countenance witness for us?
You don’t have to tell how you live each day;
You don’t have to tell if you work or play;
A tried and true barometer stands in its place—
You don’t have to tell, it will show in your face. …
If you live close to God and His infinite grace—
You won’t have to tell, it will show in your face.
(Anonymous – quoted by Elaine Dalton)
Finally, our homes can be “a place of refuge, and a covert from storm and from rain.” The world is a noisy, busy place. I love having a peaceful home!
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