Book of Mormon Gospel Doctrine Lesson 10: 2 Nephi 26-30

This was a very difficult lesson for me to prepare.  It covers 5 chapters of the teachings of Nephi, and I could probably very easily spend the whole time on any one of the chapters.  How could I do any of it justice?

While the lesson manual was filled with lots of good ideas, it seemed a little too random for my taste (the parts didn't flow together very well into one overall theme.)  If that wasn't enough, today was Ward Conference so the Stake Presidency would be attending the class (and since Sacrament Meeting went long, I only had 30 minutes for the lesson instead of the usual 40 minutes.)

While I was struggling to put something together I felt I just wasn't up to the task, so I humbly asked for the Spirit's assistance.  While I pondered about how to organize the lesson a thought came to me and I went with it.  In the end I think everything worked out wonderfully.

I say all of this not to boast or brag, but simply so you can understand that if you find anything here useful or insightful, I can't take any credit for it.  It was all the Lord's doing.   On the other hand, if you find anything rough or pedestrian, that's all me.

Introduction

     •  I'm sure all of us have witnessed some illusion or another, whether a magic show or a mirage

          •  When we're aware of the illusion, it can be fun trying to guess how it's done, but often illusions are made to intentionally deceive or mislead us

          •  Satan uses many illusions to lead us away from the path of life

     •  Likewise, sometimes it can be difficult to distinguish between a real article and a counterfeit

          •  Experts at detecting counterfeits say it's better to study the real thing than the counterfeits

          •  The better we know the real thing, the quicker we'll notice when something is amiss

     •  Nephi spend much of is time in these chapters describing who the Savior really is so we can better identify how Satan tries to lead us astray

Overview

     •  At the heart of these chapters, Nephi foretells what is going to happen to his people from his time on through to when the Savior reigns again on the Earth

          •  Wars and Contentions (2 Ne. 26:2)

          •  Signs at Christ's Birth and Death (2 Ne. 26:3)

          •  Wicked Destroyed and Righteous Spared (2 Ne. 26:3-8)

          •  Christ Appears to Righteous (2 Ne. 26:9)

          •  A Few Righteous Generations (2 Ne. 26:9)

          •  People Destroyed Due to Wickedness (2 Ne. 26:10)

          •  Gentile Nations Persecute Descendants (2 Ne. 26:15)

          •  Great Wickedness of Gentiles (2 Ne. 26:20-22; 28)

          •  Coming of the Book of Mormon (2 Ne. 26:16-17; 27)

          •  Restoration of Israel (2 Ne. 29:14; 30:3-8)

          •  Wicked Divided From Righteous (2 Ne. 30:10)

          •  Wicked Destroyed (2 Ne. 30:10)

          •  Peace on the Earth (2 Ne. 30:12-15)

          •  All Things Revealed (2 Ne. 30:16-18)

          •  Satan Bound (2 Ne. 30:18)

     •  Interspersed within this prophesy, Nephi makes extensive doctrinal comments

Christ's Way

     •  Manifests himself by the Holy Ghost (2 Ne. 26:13)

     •  Works mighty miracles, signs, and wonders according to faith (2 Ne. 26:13; 27:23)

     •  Never works in darkness (2 Ne. 26:23)

     •  Always works for the benefit of the world (2 Ne. 26:24)

     •  Sacrifices his own life (2 Ne. 26:24)

     •  Draws all to him (2 Ne. 26:24, 33)

     •  Never rejects those who come to him (2 Ne. 26:25)

     •  Gives freely without cost (2 Ne. 26:25)

     •  Persuades all to repent (2 Ne. 26:27)

     •  Forbids all priestcrafts [preaching for personal gain and glory] (2 Ne. 26:29)

     •  Commands charity (2 Ne. 26:30)

     •  Forbids all types of iniquity (2 Ne. 26:31)

     •  Works plainly (2 Ne. 26:33)

     •  Provides ample witnesses (2 Ne. 27:12-14)

     •  Same yesterday, today, and forever (2 Ne. 27:23; 29:9)

     •  Teaches gospel to all nations who are willing to hear (2 Ne. 29:7-9)

Satan's Way

     •  Magnifies pride (2 Ne. 26:10; 28:12-15)

     •  Stirs up anger against that which is good (2 Ne. 28:20)

     •  Lulls into carnal security, "All is well in Zion" (2 Ne. 28:21)

     •  Flatters, "There is no hell or devil" (2 Ne. 28:22)

     •  "Lord has done his work" (2 Ne. 28:5-6)

     •  "Eat, drink, be merry ... it shall be well" (2 Ne. 28:7)

     •  "God will justify a little sin" (2 Ne. 28:8)

     •  Leads carefully with a flaxen cord (2 Ne. 26:22; 28:21)

     •  Binds with strong cords and chains (2 Ne. 26:22; 28:22)

     •  Builds up many churches for gain (2 Ne. 26:20; 28:3)

     •  Puts down the miracles of God (2 Ne. 26:20; 28:6)

     •  Teaches own wisdom and learning (2 Ne. 26:20; 28:4)

     •  Causes envy, strife, and malice (2 Ne. 26:21; 28:4)

     •  Builds secret combinations (2 Ne. 26:22)

     •  Works in darkness (2 Ne. 26:22; 28:9)

     •  Denies power of the Holy Ghost and God (2 Ne. 28:4-5)

     •  Seeks to hide counsels from God (2 Ne. 28:9)

     •  Robs the poor (2 Ne. 28:13)

     •  Persecutes the meek (2 Ne. 28:13)

     •  Commits wickedness, abominations, and whoredoms (2 Ne. 28:14)

     •  "Wo, wo, wo" to those who follow after Satan's way (2 Ne. 28:15)

What We Need to Do

     •  Hearken to the words of the prophets [timely advise with General Conference approaching] (2 Ne. 26:8)

     •  Look forward to Christ with steadfastness (2 Ne. 26:8)

     •  Withstand all persecutions (2 Ne. 26:8)

     •  Persuade all to repent (2 Ne. 26:27)

     •  Labor for Zion, not for money (2 Ne. 26:31)

     •  Repent and believe in Christ (2 Ne. 30:2)

Conclusion

     •  Nephi plainly differentiates between the way of the Lord and the way of the adversary

     •  By understanding the strategies of Satan, we can protect ourselves from them

     •  The best way to protect ourselves from the wiles of the devil is to constantly be repenting and looking to the Lord with faith