1 Nephi 10

(All of my own thoughts are in blue type.red font 4/20 Green 1/21 Orange 4/22 Brown 2023 )

CHAPTER 10

Lehi predicts Is this different than to "prophesy"? He knows Jerusalem will be destroyed, but maybe he wasn't told how? This is his best guess?...the Babylonian captivity—He tells of the coming among the Jews of a Messiah, a Savior, a Redeemer—He tells also of the coming of the one who should baptize the Lamb of God—Lehi tells of the death and resurrection of the Messiah—He compares the scattering and gathering of Israel to an olive tree—Nephi speaks of the Son of God, of the gift of the Holy Ghost, and of the need for righteousness. Between 600 and 592 B.C.

  1 And now I, Nephi, proceed to give an account upon these plates of my proceedings, and my reign This is "king" language and ministry; service wherefore, to proceed with mine account, I must speak somewhat of the things of my father, and also of my brethren. Nephi starts out by emphasizing that this record is an account of his proceedings, and ministry, but spends the entire chapter relating what his father said (his father’s ministry).  But he says he must, in order to proceed with his account. Maybe he needs us to understand that his ministry is founded on what his father had been told or that his testimony is a second witness...

 2 For behold, it came to pass after my father had made an end of speaking the words of his ^adream, and also of exhorting them to all diligence, don’t just “hear” me...apply it, do it...consistently...” he spake unto them concerning the Jews—It was a dream that brought them out of Jerusalem. Lehi is still having dreams that are instructive. This is truly a special gift from God.

  3 That after they should be destroyed, even that great city ^aJerusalem, and many be ^bcarried away captive into ^cBabylon, according to the own due time of the Lord, This is how the Lord does everything... they should ^dreturn again, yea, even be brought back out of captivity; and after they should be brought back out of captivity they should possess again the land of their inheritance. I'm remembering that the “Jews” are just one tribe of Israel, from just one son of Jacob – Judah.  Is it the sons of Judah that fight to possess Palestine? Or the other sons of Jacob? Or does it go back further than that? Here's a great explanation(http://www.focusonjerusalem.com/TheRootsoftheIsraeli-ArabConflict.htm) Basically it says the Muslim nation comes through Ishmael, the firstborn son to Abraham through Hagar, his handmaid, and the Jewish nation comes through Isaac, the firstborn of Sariah. Both nations claim that Abraham was told to offer "their" claimed first-born, and that the birthright and inheritance goes through "their" first-born. The sibling rivalry that began with Lucifer towards Jehovah continues through various siblings throughout the earth's history.

  4 Yea, even ^asix hundred years  why did they get a specific time table for his first coming, but not his second? from the time that my father left Jerusalem, a ^bprophet would the Lord God raise up among the ^cJews—even a ^dMessiah, or, in other words, a Savior of the world.

  5 And he also spake concerning the prophets, how great a number the Lord gives us multiple chances… had ^atestified of these things, concerning this Messiah, of whom he had spoken, or this Redeemer of the world. The Jews don't believe that any Old Testament prophets spoke of Jesus. I guess they believe a Messiah was spoken of, but they are still looking for him?...

  6 Wherefore, all mankind were in a ^alost and in a ^bfallen state, and ever would be save they should rely on this Redeemer. Somehow we must understand the full weight of this statement…What does it mean to truly "rely" on the Redeemer? Before Christ's atonement, all mankind were literally lost. After His Atonement, they are still lost unless they "rely" on His atonement and come unto Him and repent, and covenant to follow Him. I am learning that the true Doctrine of Christ teaches that we must be "born again" and redeemed by the Savior Himself after we come to Him with a truly broken heart and contrite spirit. He is the only one that knows when we have truly offered that. We are totally reliant upon Him to save us and give us a remission of sins. I don't think most 8 year olds are "born again"

  7 And he spake also concerning a ^aprophet who should come before the Messiah, to prepare the way of the Lord— John the Baptist What prophet will prepare the way for His Second Coming? John the Revelator? The Davidic Servant? Joseph Smith? A new prophet? Vague memory of a dream last night where I was singing a song about Joseph and him returning... 

  8 Yea, even he should go forth and cry in the wilderness: ^aPrepare ye the way of the Lord, and make his paths straight; for there standeth one among you whom ye know not; and he is mightier than I, whose shoe’s latchet I am not worthy to unloose. And much spake my father concerning this thing. I don’t think we have much more in the New Testament than what is said here.  I wonder what Lehi added? and why? What is significant about "one who standeth among you whom ye know not."? I know that was Jesus, but is there one among us now we know not? Have we seen John and the 3 Nephites ever and known them not?

  9 And my father said he should baptize in ^aBethabara, beyond Jordan; and he also said he should ^bbaptize with water; even that he should baptize the Messiah with water.

 10 And after he had baptized the Messiah with water, he should behold and bear record that he had baptized the ^aLamb of God, who should take away the sins of the world. Another testimony of Jesus Christ.

 11 And it came to pass after my father had spoken these words he spake unto my brethren concerning the gospel which should be preached among the Jews, and also concerning the ^adwindling of the Jews in ^bunbelief. And after they had ^cslain the Messiah, who should come, and after he had been slain he should ^drise from the dead, and should make himself ^emanifest, by the Holy Ghost, unto the Gentiles.   I believe this is the term for everyone who is not a Jew...Notice the Jews had the gospel preached to them by Jesus personally. The Gentiles (as a whole) were not preached to until after His death, so he is manifest to them by the Holy Ghost.

 12 Yea, even my father spake much concerning the Gentiles, and also concerning the house of Israel, that they should be compared like unto an ^aolive-tree,  whose ^bbranches should be broken off and should be ^cscattered upon all the face of the earth. Here is an example of the Book of Mormon providing a second witness of the Bible…

 13 Wherefore, he said it must needs be that we should be led with one accord we need to agree, be in harmony as we move forward… into the ^aland of promise, unto the fulfilling of the word of the Lord, that we should be scattered upon all the face of the earth. How can they be scattered if no one leaves Jerusalem? Lehi wanted them to understand that they were participating in fulfilling prophecy; to embrace it.

 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. What defines a "fulness"? We hear the expression that the Restoration brought the fulness of the Gospel. But we also hear that the restoration is ongoing, which makes it sound like we have not received all yet, so how can we be "full"? Maybe it's just a fulness of the authority and ordinances necessary for salvation...If it is literal, then it is future and after the fulness the 10 tribes will return? Is it when we are "born again" that we come to a "true knowledge" of the Messiah?

 15 And after this manner of language did my father prophesy and speak unto my brethren, and also many more things which I do not write in this book; Sounds like they had just experienced their own "General Conference" weekend! for I have written as many of them as were expedient for me in mine ^aother book. So was Lehi not keeping his own record? Or is Nephi’s record of what he said a “second witness”? I also think we need to remember that all that is written here had not happened yet, but that as we read them, we know that they have happened. I think we are being shown that prophesy is always fulfilled. What things have been prophesied in our day, that have not come to pass yet? The greatest parallel prophesy is that the Messiah will come again. We need to believe that and look forward to that day and all that must transpire before that...and be prepared, with oil in our lamps (particularly and figuratively..."olive" oil...and all that symbolizes)

 16 And all these things, of which I have spoken, were done as my father dwelt in a ^atent, So, is that about the third time we are told Lehi dwelt in a tent?... in the valley of Lemuel.

 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, Nephi already had the witness by the Spirit that what his father said was true.  Why did he seek a further witness?  Why did he need/want to see/hear/know for himself? Is this something we should be doing also? I went back and looked at chapter 2 vs. 14, 15, 16 where a similar sequence took place. Lehi spoke by the power of the Spirit; as he dwelt in a tent; and Nephi goes to the Lord for a witness. I believe we are all told to "make our calling and election sure" which means we should be "seeking the face of the Lord" to have a personal witness of Him (deserves LOTS of study...read "Following the Light of Christ", "The Triumph of Zion" and "Journey to the Veil" by John Pontius. These have had a PROFOUND impact on my understanding!) 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. This is his faith…what his father saw was a gift of God, to be sure, but it is available to ALL who diligently seek God. That means YOU and ME! To be clear...I don't think he was saying that it was the Gift of the Holy Ghost that is available to all,(which it eventually is) but rather, that ALL may see, and hear, and know of these things by the power of the Holy Ghost, if you diligently seek him. It is so important to really believe this! So what does it mean to "diligently" seek him?

 18 For he is the ^asame yesterday, to-day, and forever; and the way is prepared for all alludes to Nephi’s unshakable testimony that the Lord prepares a way for us to accomplish all that he requires men from the foundation of the world, if it so be that they repent and come unto him. these are the two conditions for having “the way” opened up to you. And repenting and coming unto him are not one time events. Or is this a reference to being "born again" and receiving a remission of sins?

 19 For he that diligently ^aseeketh Do you really know how to “diligently seek" It means CONSTANT effort... shall find; and the ^bmysteries of God shall be unfolded unto them, by the power of the ^cHoly Ghost, this seems to be the formula for Nephi.  If I repent and approach the Lord, and diligently seek….I WILL find, and the mysteries of God WILL be unfolded to me. And all is done by the power of the Holy Ghost. I think it is important to remember that the Holy Ghost is part of the Godhead. He is a God. That is ALOT of power and love and knowledge and influence. It seems like everything we experience in this life from Heavenly Father and Jesus comes through the power of the Holy Ghost. Is he somehow the "buffer" of glory between mortal man and glorified beings? Does his not having a physical body allow him to be this kind of vehicle between the other two and us? I have heard it suggested that the Holy Ghost is an "office" and that different beings have officiated as "Holy Ghost". Another possibility is that the Holy Ghost could be "born" (to receive his body) during the Millennium since Christ will be here and there will be no temptation. Maybe we won't need that kind of being to witness things to us because we have Jesus. Another "mystery"...  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. He is trying to explain that this is not unique to him or Lehi, but show that this is how God deals with all men.

 20 Therefore remember another key word for Nephi, 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. Which brings this chapter full circle to the need for a Redeemer or Messiah to save us from being cast off forever because of our sins.

 22 And the Holy Ghost giveth ^aauthority that I should speak these things, and deny them not. In other words, “these are not MY words, but those given to me by the Holy Ghost with a charge TO speak them.”