February 12-25 Nephi 3-10 “Behold the Way for Man is Narrow"

3:1-23

These words from Joseph tell us much about the nature of the brass plates. They were a familial record for the descendants of Joseph of Egypt. It still contained the words of Moses and the laws of Moses, but the stories in them are somewhat different than those in the bible. Hence, the Book of Mormon is brought forth by God to replace the things from the bible that were lost over time.

4:1-9

Children inherit the traditions of their fathers and it is much harder to break tradition and convert a people back to God, than it is to preserve them in God.

4:10-35

Nephi’s psalm shows us a grown up Nephi that is struggling with the adversities of life he has faced, and the lifetime of strain from struggling against his brothers. How does experience in life change our outlook and relationship with God? How does Nephi maintain his faith in God, despite the hardships he’s faced?

5:1-34

It doesn’t matter if the curse on the Lamanites is a literal skin change or something else. What does matter is the curse that the Lamanites put on themselves. When we separate ourselves from God we curse our children with that same separation. We draw generations of people away from God because of our choices. This curse sends them all down paths of wickedness that could have been avoided and withholds from them blessings that they otherwise could have had. Always, however, the curse is lifted when the children turn to God and seek Him and his blessings.

6:1-18

Christ will came to the jewish people, but they rejected him and killed him. So, Christ then went to the rest of the world and they accepted him. Anyone who accepts Christ, is a part of His people. There is no genetic restriction on who is and isn’t accepted by God.

7:1-3

God is not the author of our misery. We do that to ourselves when we turn away from him. Despite our failures, he will still save us.

7:4-11

Even though we will suffer for the name of Christ (suffering for Christ is not misery, misery is the hope that is lost when we abandon God and separate ourselves from Him), God will not let us suffer in vain. He will not forget us and those who cause suffering will be punished for their misdeeds.

8:1-16

Do you know the stories of your ancestors? What great things have your fathers done? Remember those sacrifices they made so that you could be blessed by God. Then, do the same for your posterity.

8:17-25

Though we all sin and face God’s fury, he will take his fury off those who repent and put it on those who reject Him.

9:1-16

Resurrection is for all men, regardless of righteousness. We are raised as we die, either righteous or unrighteous. What do we do now that ensures we are raise with an eye toward God?

9:17-38

Compare these woes to the beatitudes given by Christ in 3 Nephi 12. These woes are like the anti-beatitudes. The beatitudes give us behavior that will bring us to Christ. These woes give us behavior that will bring us away from Christ.

9:39-54

There is none that keeps the gates of heaven except Jesus Christ himself. There is no other way, nor means, nor person that can get you through the gate. Only Christ.

10:1-9

As Jacob points out, what other people would have reason to condemn Christ? They would see his miracles and know he is divine. Those in Jerusalem had reason to believe he was a heretic and of the devil. They were wrong, but they had more reason than any other people.

10:10-25

Again, Christ will reveal himself to all people, and those who he reveals, and has revealed, himself to are to be counted among the House of Israel and will all be gathered at the last day from all parts of the Earth. If a people reject Him, Christ will go to the next and the next and the next until all are brought to the knowledge of Christ and have had an opportunity to accept him or not.