Nephi

I just finished reading 2 Nephi in the Book of Mormon.  I love Nephi.  He is one of my heroes in the scriptures.  Maybe it's because I have read and reread Nephi many times in my attempts to read the Book of Mormon from cover to cover, so I am very familiar with his writings, but I feel like I know Nephi and I certainly have come to love and admire him.  This morning I read the last chapter in his writings.  I was so touched by his parting testimony, so I wanted to share some of it.

I love Nephi's humility and his faith.  He acknowledges that he is not mighty in writing, but has faith that these words are of great worth and will be made strong unto those who read them.  "...And the words which I have written in weakness will be made strong unto them; for it persuadeth them to do good; it maketh known unto them of their fathers; and it speaketh of Jesus, and persuadeth them to believe in him, and to endure to the end, which is life eternal."  (2 Nephi 33:4)

I love these words:  "I glory in plainness; I glory in truth; I glory in my Jesus, for he hath redeemed my soul from hell.  I have charity for my people and great faith in Christ that I shall meet many souls spotless at his judgement-seat." (v. 6-7)

Then he says he has charity for both Jew and Gentile.  "...But behold, for none of these can I hope except they shall be reconciled unto Christ, and enter into the narrow gate, and walk in the strait path which leads to life, and continue in the path until the end of the day of probation.  And now, my beloved brethren, and also Jew, and all ye ends of the earth, hearken unto these words and believe in Christ; and if ye believe not in these words believe in Christ.  And if ye shall believe in Christ ye will believe in these words, for they are the words of Christ, and he hath given them unto me; and they teach all men that they should do good.  And if they are not the words of Christ, judge ye--for Christ will show unto you, with power and great glory, that they are his words, at the last day; and you and I shall stand face to face before his bar; and ye shall know that I have been commanded of him to write these things, notwithstanding my weakness.  And I pray the Father in the name of Christ that many of us, if not all, may be saved in his kingdom at that great and last day."  (v. 9-12)

I know these are the words of Christ.  I am so grateful for the scriptures.  I'm so grateful for men like Nephi, who sacrificed and gave all, to write these words and to do the will of the Father for our benefit.  I'm so grateful to my Heavenly Father to have this precious book and the beautiful doctrines taught within.  I'm so grateful for the Bible and the way the Book of Mormon and the Bible testify of each other, reveal God's plan for us, and clarify doctrine.  What a beautiful gospel!  What hope and happiness come from knowing it and living it!  This is why I share my feelings here as well, "that many of us, if not all, may be saved in his kingdom at that great and last day."

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