Lesson Highlights

• Lehi teaches that his descendants will be blessed through the Prophet Joseph Smith and the Book of Mormon.
• Nephi laments his sinfulness but glories in the goodness of God.
• The anger of Laman and Lemuel increases against Nephi, and the Lord commands the followers of Nephi to separate from the followers of Laman.

A study of this lesson will help us strengthen our testimonies of the Prophet Joseph Smith and encourage us to find happiness through trusting in the Lord and keeping His commandments.

Scripture references for study:  2 Nephi 3–5
    Note: Underlined scripture references have been hyperlinked to the LDS Scriptures at LDS.org and will open in a new window.

Lesson 7 Handout (PDF format)

2 Nephi 3

1. Background:
• After arriving on the American continent, Nephi taught his "brethren" the things of the Lord and read to them from the plates of brass, particularly prophecies from Isaiah (see 1 Nephi 19:22).
• After Nephi concluded his teaching, Lehi then prophesied and taught his children. In the third chapter of 2nd Nephi, Lehi goes on to speak to his son Joseph.
2. "For behold, thou art the fruit of my loins; and I am a descendant of Joseph who was carried captive into Egypt. And great were the covenants of the Lord which he made unto Joseph.
"Wherefore, Joseph truly saw our day. And he obtained a promise of the Lord, that out of the fruit of his loins the Lord God would raise up a righteous branch unto the house of Israel; not the Messiah, but a branch which was to be broken off, nevertheless, to be remembered in the covenants of the Lord that the Messiah should be made manifest unto them in the latter days, in the spirit of power, unto the bringing of them out of darkness unto light--yea, out of hidden darkness and out of captivity unto freedom." (2 Nephi 3:4-5)
• Joseph, son of Jacob (Israel), saw the events surrounding Lehi's time.
• Joseph was promised by the Lord that a righteous branch, or lineage, of the house of Israel would be raised up through his loins. This branch would be broken off from the rest of Israel.
• WHO IS THIS BRANCH?
• This could be a dual prophecy.
• It could easily apply to the Lehi branch of Joseph. The conditions of the prophecy were fulfilled.
• It seems to more fully apply to our time, the last days and the membership of the modern church.
3. "For Joseph truly testified, saying: A seer shall the Lord my God raise up, who shall be a choice seer unto the fruit of my loins."
(2 Nephi 3:6)
• WHAT ARE THE QUALIFICATIONS OF THIS CHOICE SEER?
• He will be of the lineage of Joseph (v7).
• He will be highly esteemed by the descendants of Joseph (v7).
• He will do a work of "great worth" for the descendants of Joseph (v7).
• He will do no other work than that which the Lord commands him (v8).
• He will be great "like unto Moses" (v9).
• He will bring forth the word of the Lord unto Joseph's descendants (v11).
• "Out of weakness he shall be made strong" (v13).
• "His name shall be called after me; and it shall be after the name of his father" (v15).
• He will be like the ancient Joseph, through the power of the Lord he will bring his people to salvation (v15).
• He will write the writing of the fruit of Joseph's loins (v18).
• WHO IS THIS CHOICE SEER?
• "Joseph Smith, the Prophet and Seer of the Lord, has done more, save Jesus only, for the salvation of men in this world, than any other man that ever lived in it. In the short space of twenty years, he has brought forth the Book of Mormon, which he translated by the gift and power of God, and has been the means of publishing it on two continents; has sent the fulness of the everlasting gospel, which it contained, to the four quarters of the earth; has brought forth the revelations and commandments which compose this book of Doctrine and Covenants, and many other wise documents and instructions for the benefit of the children of men; gathered many thousands of the Latter-day Saints, founded a great city, and left a fame and name that cannot be slain. He lived great, and he died great in the eyes of God and his people; and like most of the Lord's anointed in ancient time, has sealed his mission and his works with his own blood" (D&C 135:3).
• Elder LeGrand Richards: "The Prophet Joseph Smith brought us the Book of Mormon, the Doctrine and Covenants, the Pearl of Great Price, and many other writings. As far as the records show, he has given us more revealed truth than any prophet who has ever lived upon the face of the earth." (Ensign, May 1981, p33)
4. READ 2 NEPHI 3:11-12. The words of Joseph and Judah to grow together.
• WHAT IS THE LORD TEACHING JOSEPH?
• Two records containing the word of the Lord would be written.
• One record to be written by the descendants of Judah.
• The other record to be written by the descendants of Joseph.
• The "choice seer" would be given power to bring forth the word of the Lord unto the descendants of Joseph.
• The record of Joseph would be joined with the record of Judah to confound "false doctrines" and lay "down contentions." It would establish "peace" among the descendants of Joseph and bring "them to the knowledge of their fathers in the latter days" and also to the knowledge of the Lord's covenants.
• HOW HAS THIS BEEN FULFILLED?
• How do the Book of Mormon and Bible together confound false doctrines?
• President Ezra Taft Benson:  "We invite all men everywhere to read the Book of Mormon, another testament of Jesus Christ. The Bible sits on the pulpit of hundreds of different religious sects. The Book of Mormon, the record of Joseph, verifies and clarifies the Bible. It removes stumbling blocks, it restores many plain and precious things. We testify that when used together, the Bible and the Book of Mormon confound false doctrines, lay down contentions, and establish peace (see 2 Nephi 3:12)." (Teachings of Ezra Taft Benson, p63)
• Elder Neal A. Maxwell:  "Just as was foreseen, the scriptures of the Restoration, fusing and growing together with the Bible, have resulted in a 'confounding of false doctrines' (2 Nephi 3:12) and 'the taking away of. . . stumbling blocks' (1 Nephi 14:1). The Restoration scriptures, among other blessings, answer the questions that have tormented ecclesiastical councils and synods in centuries past." (Not My Will, But Thine, p36)
• How do these books establish peace among the descendants of Joseph?
5. WHY DO YOU SUPPOSE LEHI PASSED THESE PROPHECIES ON TO HIS SON JOSEPH?

2 Nephi 4

1. After concluding the prophecies of Joseph, Lehi called the children of Laman and Lemuel together and blessed them.
• "But behold, my sons and my daughters, I cannot go down to my grave save I should leave a blessing upon you; for behold, I know that if ye are brought up in the way ye should go ye will not depart from it.
Wherefore, if ye are cursed, behold, I leave my blessing upon you, that the cursing may be taken from you and be answered upon the heads of your parents. Wherefore, because of my blessing the Lord God will not suffer that ye shall perish; wherefore, he will be merciful unto you and unto your seed forever." (2 Nephi 4:5-7)
• We see in this blessing a prophetic recognition of the rebellious nature of the descendants of Laman and Lemuel. Lehi gives them a great blessing: This lineage will not perish but will continue and the Lord will be merciful unto their seed. The cursing will be answered upon the head of their rebellious parents.
2. Lehi concludes his blessings and prophecies by speaking to the sons of Ishmael and then to his son Sam.
• "And it came to pass after my father, Lehi, had spoken unto all his household, according to the feelings of his heart and the Spirit of the Lord which was in him, he waxed old. And it came to pass that he died, and was buried." (2 Nephi 4:12)
3. 2 Nephi 4:15-35 is often referred to as the Psalm of Nephi.
• "The psalms of ancient Israel were hymns....   These psalms served to express the religious feeling of ancient Israel at its greatest depth and highest intensity. Nephi would be familiar with the psalm form as well as with many of the psalms in the Old Testament. It would be natural for him to 'write the things of [his soul]' and the expressions of his joy and his sorrow in this highly beautiful, poetic form." (Book of Mormon Student Manual, p25)
• As we review these verses, we come to learn more of the heat and soul of this great man.
4. "And upon these I write the things of my soul, and many of the scriptures which are engraven upon the plates of brass. For my soul delighteth in the scriptures, and my heart pondereth them, and writeth them for the learning and the profit of my children.
Behold, my soul delighteth in the things of the Lord; and my heart pondereth continually upon the things which I have seen and heard." (2 Nephi 4:15-16)
• As we "liken" the scriptures unto us, there are some important questions to ask ourselves as we review Nephi's words:
• DO WE DELIGHT IN THE SCRIPTURES?  WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO DELIGHT IN THE SCRIPTURES?
• Dictionary definition of "delight":  "1. a high degree of pleasure or enjoyment; joy; rapture. 2. something that gives great pleasure. 3. to give delight to. 4. to have or take great pleasure." (Random House Webster's College Dictionary 1996, p358)
• Do we have this kind of feeling about the scriptures? What do we find delight in? How can we bring ourselves to have this feeling that Nephi expresses so powerfully?
• DO WE PONDER THE SCRIPTURES IN OUR HEARTS?
• We find here one of the keys to finding "delight" in the scriptures. As we ponder the scriptures, the Holy Spirit can touch our hearts and open our spiritual eyes to the vast treasure house of knowledge and wisdom contain therein.

    In some ways, pondering is like a great treasure hunt. In a treasure hunt we might use a map, but we are actively involved in looking all around for signs of the treasure. We look for signs of the treasure. We might look under rocks, around trees, climb over mountains, and wade through streams all in an effort to find a buried treasure.
    As we ponder the scriptures, we find ourselves on a spiritual treasure hunt. We ask questions about the meaning of a verse? We might look elsewhere in the scriptures for answers? We call upon the Lord for clues. As we give effort to pondering, great treasurers of knowledge can be found.
• Joseph Smith: "The things of God are of deep import; and...careful and ponderous and solemn thoughts can only find them." (TPJS, p. 137)
• President David O. McKay:  "Meditation is one of the most secret, most sacred doors through which we pass into the presence of the Lord." (Conference Report, April 1946)
• Consider Joseph Smith's actions leading up to the First Vision:  "I reflected on it again and again,

knowing that if any person needed wisdom from God, I did; for how to act I did not know, and unless I could get more wisdom than I then had, I would never know.... At length I came to the conclusion that I must either remain in darkness and confusion, or else I must do as James directs, that is, ask of God." (Joseph Smith - History 1:12-13)
• Consider Joseph F. Smith's experience: "On the third of October, in the year nineteen hundred and eighteen, I sat in my room pondering over the scriptures;
As I pondered over these things which are written, the eyes of my understanding were opened, and the Spirit of the Lord rested upon me, and I saw the hosts of the dead, both small and great." (D&C 138:1&11)
• DO WE WRITE OR TEACH OF THE SCRIPTURES FOR THE PROFIT AND LEARNING OF OUR CHILDREN?
• Again, this is another key to finding "delight" in the scriptures. As we share the teachings of the scriptures with our children, and others, we are strengthened through the process. As I prepare for and teach the Gospel Doctrine class, I am the one that gains the most. The process of preparation, pondering, reading, and studying makes me the greatest benefactor. As a result, I come to "delight" in the scriptures and desire to live a more righteous life.
5. "Nevertheless, notwithstanding the great goodness of the Lord, in showing me his great and marvelous works, my heart exclaimeth: O wretched man that I am! Yea, my heart sorroweth because of my flesh; my soul grieveth because of mine iniquities.
I am encompassed about, because of the temptations and the sins which do so easily beset me. And when I desire to rejoice, my heart groaneth because of my sins;" (2 Nephi 4:17-19)
• I love these words from Nephi. In Nephi's story up to this point, we see a man who is willing to serve and obey the Lord. We see a man who is absolutely obedient. And now we see into the soul of this great, yet humble man. He is offended by every sin and temptation. Our view of Nephi is enlarged when we consider these words from the Prophet Joseph Smith:  "The nearer man approaches perfection , the clearer are his views, and the greater his enjoyments, till he has overcome the evils of his life and lost every desire for sin; and like the ancients, arrives at that point of faith where he is wrapped in the power and glory of his Maker and is caught to dwell with Him" (TPJS, p51). Nephi's words are the words of a righteous man on the road to perfection. The wicked care not about their sins and are not offended by them.
• HOW DID NEPHI FIND HOPE TO OFFSET HIS WRETCHED FEELING?
• READ 2 NEPHI 4:19-25. The Lord was Nephi's support.
6. In his pondering, Nephi asks himself some important questions:
• "O then, if I have seen so great things, if the Lord in his condescension unto the children of men hath visited men in so much mercy, why should my heart weep and my soul linger in the valley of sorrow, and my flesh waste away, and my strength slacken, because of mine afflictions?
And why should I yield to sin, because of my flesh? Yea, why should I give way to temptations, that the evil one have place in my heart to destroy my peace and afflict my soul? Why am I angry because of mine enemy?" (2 Nephi 4:26-27)
• WHY DO WE SOMETIMES STRUGGLE WITH SORROW AND TEMPTATION DESPITE OUR KNOWLEDGE OF THE GOSPEL?
• Like Nephi, we all suffer the temptations of mortality. There are many things that attempt to draw us away from perfection. It may be something as simple as a headache, which we use as an excuse to offend a family member through our neglect or anger. It may be the lures of wealth, pleasure, or ease. All of this is part of mortal existence.
• WHAT DID NEPHI TEACH US ABOUT OVERCOMING SORROW AND TEMPTATION?
• READ 2 NEPHI 4:28-30. Rejoice in the Lord.
• "O Lord, I have trusted in thee, and I will trust in thee forever. I will not put my trust in the arm of flesh; for I know that cursed is he that putteth his trust in the arm of flesh. Yea, cursed is he that putteth his trust in man or maketh flesh his arm." (2 Nephi 4:34)
• Recall these great words of Helaman to his sons: "And now, my sons, remember, remember that it is upon the rock of our Redeemer, who is Christ, the Son of God, that ye must build your foundation; that when the devil shall send forth his mighty winds, yea, his shafts in the whirlwind, yea, when all his hail and his mighty storm shall beat upon you, it shall have no power over you to drag you down to the gulf of misery and endless wo, because of the rock upon which ye are built, which is a sure foundation, a foundation whereon if men build they cannot fall."  (Helaman 5:12)

2 Nephi 5

1. After Nephi's psalm, we return to the story of Lehi's family.
• With father Lehi's passing, his influence over his rebellious sons seems to have passed also.
• "Behold, it came to pass that I, Nephi, did cry much unto the Lord my God, because of the anger of my brethren.
But behold, their anger did increase against me, insomuch that they did seek to take away my life." (2 Nephi 5:1-2)
• "And it came to pass that the Lord did warn me, that I, Nephi, should depart from them and flee into the wilderness, and all those who would go with me." (2 Nephi 5:5)
• Nephi took his family, and the families of Zoram, Sam, Jacob, Joseph, his sisters, and any others that would go with him and journeyed into the wilderness many days. The place where they stopped, they called Nephi.
• Nephi says, "And we did observe to keep the judgments, and the statutes, and the commandments of the Lord in all things, according to the law of Moses. And the Lord was with us; and we did prosper exceedingly" (2 Nephi 5:10-11).
• Nephi goes on in the next few verse to describe their efforts in building a new community (see v13-17).
• Nephi continues by saying, "And it came to pass that we lived after the manner of happiness" (v27).
• WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO LIVE "AFTER THE MANNER OF HAPPINESS"?
• After the people of Nephi had passed through so much misery, had traveled such a long journey, and now had fled from the influences of their wicked brethren, and were now prospering and keeping the commandments, thus truly must have been a time of great happiness.
• HOW CAN WE LIVE AFTER THE MANNER OF HAPPINESS?
2. WHAT HAPPENED TO LAMAN AND HIS BRETHREN AND FAMILIES WHEN THE TEMPERING INFLUENCE OF THE RIGHTEOUS WERE GONE?
• See 2 Nephi 5:20-24.
• They had hardened their hearts against the Lord.
• They became a loathsome people.
• They became idle.
• They were full of mischief and subtlety.
• As a consequence they were cut off from the Lord and became a cursed people.
• HOW ARE THE RIGHTEOUS MAKING A DIFFERENCE IN TODAY'S WORLD? OR ARE THEY?

Gospel Doctrine Notebook

1. Record your thoughts on the chapters discussed in this lesson. What are your thoughts on the psalm of Nephi? Consider writing your own psalm.

Resources Used In This Lesson

• Book of Mormon Student Manual.
• Conference Reports (CR).
• Ensign.
• Not My Will, But Thine By Neal A. Maxwell.
• Teachings of Ezra Taft Benson.
• Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith (TPJS).

Next Lesson

Lesson 7:  2 Nephi 6–10