Busy week? Me too. LDS Living is here to catch you up and get you ready for discussions on Sunday. Here’s a nugget of wisdom from this week’s Come, Follow Me study of 2 Nephi 3–5.
The very first story of the Book of Mormon is about the importance of the scriptures. Nephi and his brothers are tasked to retrieve the brass plates so that they “may preserve unto [their children] the words which have been spoken by the mouth of all the holy prophets” (see 1 Nephi 3:20).
We learn from this week’s chapters how familiar the scriptures were to Nephi and his family. And we can also make connections from the words of the prophets to our lives.
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Joseph, Joseph, and Joseph
In Lehi’s parting words to his son Joseph, he calls on the examples of two ancient prophets and foretells a prophet for our era. It’s fair to get confused while reading, since Lehi references three (and kind of four) different Josephs in 2 Nephi 3: Joseph of Egypt (an ancestor to Lehi), Joseph the son of Lehi, and Joseph Smith, whom Joseph of Egypt prophesied would be a “choice seer unto the fruit of [his] loins” (see 2 Nephi 3:6). He also says that this seer will be called “after the name of his father” (see 2 Nephi 3:15), alluding to Joseph Smith Sr.
Lehi taught using the scriptures, something we all could benefit from, and preached using the lessons of Joseph of Egypt and Moses. While Lehi was making connections to the past and prophets his family recognized, he also prophesied of the future. We can see ourselves and our day in these words too, where in the latter days, we will be brought to a “knowledge of their fathers … and also to the knowledge of [God's] covenants” (see 2 Nephi 3:12).
There was a powerful moment on the Sunday on Monday podcast this week where one of our guests pointed out another time when someone could likely see themselves in the scriptures.
The beginning of 2 Nephi 4:35 says, “Yea, I know that God will give liberally to him that asketh.” Imagine Joseph Smith translating those words. Seeing Nephi lean on the same principle of prayer that prompted him to ask God in a grove of trees which church was true must have strengthened Joseph's testimony.
Moses, Joseph of Egypt, Nephi, and Joseph Smith are all just names on the page for us today. But their struggles and faith were real. And we can learn from their lessons as we value their words. Generations of prophets have been looking to the scriptures for counsel, and our prophet today is a great example of that, too. President Russell M. Nelson has said:
“My dear brothers and sisters, I promise that as you prayerfully study the Book of Mormon every day, you will make better decisions—every day. I promise that as you ponder what you study, the windows of heaven will open, and you will receive answers to your own questions and direction for your own life.”
In order to be familiar with the words of scriptures, we have to read them. Every day. And we have a prophetic promise of the blessings we can expect when we do—from our prophet today and many other prophets through the years.
Sunday on Monday is a Come, Follow Me podcast hosted by Tammy Uzelac Hall that is released every Monday to guide you through the scripture readings for the week. This week covers 2 Nephi 3–5 and our podcast guests were Sharmaine Howell and Kalo Latu. You can listen to full episodes on Deseret Bookshelf+ and find out more at ldsliving.com/sundayonmonday.
