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{{Short description|Second book of the Book of Mormon}}
{{Short description|Second book of the Book of Mormon}}
{{Books of the Book of Mormon}}
{{Books of the Book of Mormon}}
'''The Second Book of Nephi''' ({{IPAc-en|'|n|i:|f|ai}}), usually referred to as '''Second Nephi''' or '''2 Nephi''', is the second book of the [[Book of Mormon]]. The original translation of the title did not include the word "second". First and Second were added to the titles of The Books of Nephi by [[Oliver Cowdery]] when preparing the book for printing.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.fairmormon.org/perspectives/fair-conferences/2010-fair-conference/2010-restoring-the-original-text-of-the-book-of-mormon|title = Restoring the Original Text of the Book of Mormon}}</ref> According to the book, it was written by the ancient [[prophet]] [[Nephi, son of Lehi]], who lived around 600 BC. Originally 15 chapters in length, the book was reformatted in 1879 by [[Orson Pratt]] to its current length of thirty-three chapters long.<ref name="2Nephi1"/>
'''The Second Book of Nephi''' ({{IPAc-en|'|n|i:|f|ai}}), usually referred to as '''Second Nephi''' or '''2 Nephi''', is the second book of the [[Book of Mormon]] in the [[Latter Day Saint movement|Latter-day Saint Movement.]] According to the book, it was written by the ancient [[prophet]] [[Nephi, son of Lehi]], who lived around 600 BC. Unlike [[First Book of Nephi|First Nephi]], this book contains little history of the [[Nephite]] people and focuses predominately on [[vision (religion)|vision]]s and prophecies of Nephi himself and other ancient prophets, particularly [[Isaiah]].


The book begins with [[Lehi (Book of Mormon prophet)|Lehi]]'s blessings and final teachings to his family before his death in the Promised Land. Lehi explores themes of opposition, [[Fall of man|the Fall of man]], [[resurrection]], and [[atonement]]. After Lehi's death, family tensions lead Nephi to take his family and those who accept his leadership into the wilderness. The [[Lamanites]] are cut off from God and cursed with a "skin of blackness" until they choose to repent. The Nephites build a temple and follow God's commandments. Nephi and his brother [[Jacob (Book of Mormon prophet)|Jacob]] preach, quoting many prophecies of Isaiah, mainly regarding Israel and its restoration in the latter days. Nephi emphasizes salvation through [[Jesus|Christ]].
Unlike [[First Book of Nephi|First Nephi]], this book contains little history of the [[Nephite]] people but instead discusses [[vision (religion)|vision]]s and prophecies of Nephi himself and other ancient prophets, such as [[Isaiah]].


Theories suggest the break between [[First Nephi|First]] and Second Nephi is to set apart the knowledge that [[Jerusalem]] has been destroyed, and many of the following teachings seem to highlight God's promises and that Israel is not lost forever. The Lamanite Curse has been connected to racism while others call for a nonracist interpretation, suggesting that Nephite and Lamanite differences are more cultural than racial. Jacob's sermon contains themes such as judgement and the [[Law of Moses]] and may be patterned after the teaching style of the [[Brass Plates]]. Similarly, one section of Nephi's writings has been compared to traditional [[Old Testament]] psalms.
==Narrative==


Teachings of Isaiah make up many chapters of Second Nephi, often closely or exactly worded as they appear in the book of Isaiah. These chapters go against a commonly accepted idea that Isaiah was written by [[Deutero-Isaiah|multiple authors]] of different times as they are all said to come from the [[Laban (Book of Mormon)|Brass Plates]], which were taken from Jerusalem around 600 BC. The chapters present an example of chiasmus identified in the Book of Mormon, and are [[Typology (theology)|typological]] in that their prophecies have been supposedly connected to events in ancient as well as more modern times. One circumstance of a potentially fulfilled prophecy involves [[Martin Harris (Latter Day Saints)|Martin Harris]] visiting professor [[Charles Anthon]], who, when presented with characters from the Book of Mormon responded, "I cannot read a sealed book."
===Lehi's last counsel===
Second Nephi begins with the prophecies of Lehi concerning the future of his seed, and speaks to his posterity. As Lehi is old and will soon die, he wishes to bestow blessings upon his children.<ref name="2Nephi1">''The Book of Mormon''. {{Mormonverse|2 Nephi|1}}.</ref>
Lehi relates a vision whereby he knew that Jerusalem was destroyed, and he says that had they remained in the city they would have perished. He emphasizes that if the people are righteous, they will prosper; but if they are wicked, they will be destroyed. This is a general blessing and curse upon all peoples who inhabit the land where Lehi and his family lived.


== Structure ==
In 2 Nephi chapter 2, Lehi expounds to Jacob about the [[Redemption (religious)|redemption]] and [[Salvation#Christian views of salvation|salvation]] through [[Jesus]].<ref name="2Nephi2">{{Mormonverse|2 Nephi|2}}.</ref> He speaks about opposites&mdash;that without evil there is no good; without [[Sin#Christian views of sin|sin]] there is no [[righteousness]]; that without these things [[Atheism|there is no God]]; and if there is no [[God]] there is no earth.<ref name="2Nephi2:11-13">{{Mormonverse|2 Nephi|2:11-13}}.</ref> He talks about the importance of [[The Fall of Man]] and how without it, man would lose his [[free will]], and salvation would ultimately be impossible.<ref name="2Nephi2:18-25">{{Mormonverse|2 Nephi|2:18-25}}.</ref>
Second Nephi was originally called the Book of Nephi<ref>{{Cite Q|Q124395703|p=752}}</ref> and was divided into 33 chapters.{{sfn|Thomas|2016|p=39}} Later, [[Oliver Cowdery]] added First and Second to the titles of the books of Nephi. In the first five chapters, which comprise the narrative section of the book,{{sfn|Axelgard|1986|p=54}} Nephi continues with the family meeting begun in the end of First Nephi. Much of the rest of Second Nephi includes quotations from Isaiah and further teachings from Nephi and his brother Jacob.{{sfn|Hardy|2023|p=85}} Joseph Spencer explains that the simple structure of 2 Nephi is as follows: the division of Lehi’s descendants (chapters 1-5), teachings concerning reconciliation with God (chapters 6-30), and discussion on baptism (chapters 31-33).{{sfn|Spencer|2016a|pp=33-34}}


{| class="wikitable"
To Joseph, he talks about his namesake, which includes Joseph of [[Egypt]]. He quotes some of the lost prophecies by Joseph. Joseph predicted that the Lord would raise up [[Moses]] to free the people of Israel. He also predicted that a seer named after Joseph, and whose father's name is also Joseph, would the Lord raise up, for the purpose of restoring Israel.<ref name="2Nephi3:1-15">{{Mormonverse|2 Nephi|3:1-15}}.</ref>
|+
!Summary
!Chapters
|-
|Lehi's farewell
|1-4:12
|-
|Division of Nephites and Lamanites
|4:13-5
|-
|Jacob teaches the Nephites
|6-10
|-
|Nephi witnesses of Christ
|11
|-
|Nephi quotes Isaiah
|12-24
|-
|Nephi prophesies and elaborates
|25-33<ref>{{harvnb|Axelgard|1986|p=54}}; {{harvnb|Thomas|2016|p=39}}</ref>
|}


==Narration==
On 2 Nephi verses 23 and 24 mentions that the descendants of Joseph (Lehi's son) would not be destroyed ''"for they shall hearken unto the words of the book''" (this books seems to be The Book of Mormon). Then on verse 24, most likely referring to his posterity it says "''there shall rise up one mighty among them, who shall do much good, both in word and deed (...)''". While the references suggest he is Joseph Smith, this seems contradictory as he is not a descendant of Lehi. Therefore, it is not clear who this person may be.


===Lehi's last counsel===
Lehi blesses Zoram, the servant of Laban who had thrown in his lot with Nephi, as long as he and his seed obey the commandments of the Lord. To the children of his sons Laman and Lemuel he says that if their parents teach them wickedness, that their sins will be the responsibility of the parents.<ref name="2Nephi4:3-9">{{Mormonverse|2 Nephi|4:3-9}}.</ref>
[[File:Lehi Blesses His Posterity.jpg|thumb|''Lehi Blesses His Posterity'' by C. C. A. Christensen, 1890]]
Second Nephi begins with a reminder that Lehi had warned of [[Jerusalem]]’s destruction and that his family had been purposefully led to safety. In the narrative, Lehi receives a vision confirming that Jerusalem has been destroyed; his family also learns the "promised land" they were led to is their inheritance as long as they follow God. Lehi advises each of his sons to follow Nephi’s leadership, particularly [[Laman and Lemuel|Laman, Lemuel]], and the sons of [[Ishmael (Book of Mormon)|Ishmael]].{{sfn|Thomas|2016|p=39-41}} He then blesses [[Zoram]], as a friend of Nephi, that his descendants too will flourish if they are righteous.{{sfn|Gardner|2007|p=34}}

Lehi then blesses [[Jacob (Book of Mormon prophet)|Jacob]], promising that his suffering will be consecrated; he also speaks to him about the Atonement with a focus on opposition and how both good and bad things are important in life. He teaches all of his sons that the Fall of Man was necessary for humans to progress past their original innocent state and have children, emphasizing that all have their own right to choose for themselves.{{sfn|Gardner|2007|p=46}} After blessing Jacob, Lehi speaks to [[Joseph (Book of Mormon)|Joseph]]. In his blessing, he says that Joseph's descendants will not be completely destroyed. Further, he cites a prophecy from [[Joseph (Genesis)|Joseph of Egypt]], which is contained in the brass plates and predicts that God will prepare a seer named Joseph.<ref>{{lds|2 Nephi|3|1-15}}</ref> This seer, Lehi explains, has ancestral connections to both Joseph of Egypt and Joseph, son of Lehi, and will bring the knowledge of the [[Covenant (religion)|covenant]] back to Lehi’s descendants. Lehi also reveals that Joseph of Egypt prophesied of [[Moses]] leading the [[Israelites]] out of [[Egypt]].{{sfn|Gardner|2007|p=56}} Lehi proceeds to bless Laman and Lemuel’s children so that their people will never become extinct. Afterward, he blesses Ishmael’s sons, Sam, and Sam’s family. Nephi does not describe any specific personal blessings he might have received at this time.{{sfn|Gardner|2007|p=33-34}}


===Division of the people===
===Division of the people===
Lehi dies sometime after giving these blessings to his family{{sfn|Thomas|2016|p=39-41}} and Nephi follows the account with his own words. In his psalm, Nephi records his struggles with sin and remembers some of the times God has saved him. Later, Laman, Lemuel, and Ishmael’s descendants are upset about Nephi being chosen as their leader and try to kill him. He prays about Laman and Lemuel’s murmuring and dissent and is told by God to take his family into the wilderness.{{sfn|Gardner|2007|p=87}} In response, he takes the brass plates, the [[Liahona (Book of Mormon)|Liahona]], and [[Laban (Book of Mormon)|Laban]]’s sword,{{sfn|Gardner|2007|p=96}} and leaves with Zoram, Sam, Jacob, Joseph, and his sisters. This group becomes the [[Nephites]]. They work and are obedient to the commandments and build a temple modeled after [[Solomon's Temple|Solomon’s]]. Nephi chooses not to be king but continues to help his people. He makes swords based on the sword of Laban for protection in case the Lamanites attack.{{sfn|Gardner|2007|p=97}} The Lamanites are cut off from God, cursed, and given a [[Lamanites#Impact on views on race|“skin of blackness”]] to make them “loathsome” to the Nephites unless they repent.<ref>{{harvnb|Gardner|2007|p=11}}; {{lds|2 Nephi|2 nephi|5:21-23}}</ref> Nephi consecrates Jacob and Joseph as priests and teachers, and the Nephites "live after the manner of happiness."<ref>{{lds|2 Nephi|2 nephi|5:27}}; {{harvnb|Thomas|2016|pp=41–43}}</ref>
Nephi continues the narrative by recording the death of Lehi.<ref name="2Nephi4:">{{Mormonverse|2 Nephi|4:12}}.</ref> In this passage, he also records what is known as "the Psalm of Nephi", where he pleads for the Lord to forgive his weaknesses, make him strong so he can conquer his enemies, and redeem his [[Soul (spirit)|soul]].<ref name="2Nephi4:15-35">{{Mormonverse|2 Nephi|4:15-35}}.</ref>


===Jacob's sermon===
After the death of Lehi, Laman and Lemuel and others rebel against Nephi and try to kill him.<ref name="2Nephi4:13">{{Mormonverse|2 Nephi|4:13}}.</ref><ref name="2Nephi5:1-4">{{Mormonverse|2 Nephi|5:1-4}}.</ref> Warned by the Lord, Nephi leaves the area with those who listen to him and travel far away to establish another settlement.<ref name="2Nephi5:5-8">{{Mormonverse|2 Nephi|5:5-8}}.</ref> He takes the brass plates and other records, along with the [[Liahona (Book of Mormon)|ball or compass]].<ref name="2Nephi5:12">{{Mormonverse|2 Nephi|5:12}}.</ref> They call this new place Nephi, choose Nephi to be their king, and call themselves the people of Nephi, or Nephites.<ref name="2Nephi5:8-9,18">{{Mormonverse|2 Nephi|5:8-9,18}}.</ref> They observe the Law of Moses as it is recorded in the brass plates.<ref name="2Nephi5:10">{{Mormonverse|2 Nephi|5:10}}.</ref> They also prosper exceedingly, and build a temple like the [[temple of Solomon]].<ref name="2Nephi5:11,13,16">{{Mormonverse|2 Nephi|5:11,13,16}}.</ref>
In chapters 6-10, Jacob gives a two-day sermon that includes many words from Isaiah 49:22-52:2 in which he invites the people to compare Isaiah’s teachings to their own experiences. He preaches about "the Holy One of Israel," God’s plan, the consequences of sin, [[resurrection]], [[Last Judgment|judgment]], deliverance from hell, and the righteous' inheritance of [[Kingship and kingdom of God|God’s kingdom]].{{sfn|Thomas|2016|p=43-44}} In his sermon, Jacob warns the prideful wealthy, those who think their intellect sets them above God’s teachings, and various others who ignore God; he states that in these conditions they cannot be saved.{{sfn|Arnold|1996|pp=53-55}} He then speaks of the [[Jews]], [[Gentile]]s, and descendants of Lehi in the last days before Christ’s coming{{sfn|Hardy|2023|p=80-81}} and explains that the Gentiles will be counted as part of the [[Israelites|house of Israel]].{{sfn|Givens|2020|p=42-43}} He also teaches that after Israel is scattered, descendants of the house of Israel who repent and believe will be subsequently restored to their lands. The land Lehi’s family has come to is a land of inheritance and is promised as a land of [[liberty]].{{sfn|Gardner|2007|p=187}} Jacob ends with the instruction to turn to God and choose eternal life.{{sfn|Gardner|2007|p=191}}


===Nephi quotes Isaiah, prophesies, and gives final counsel===
Nephi also begins arming his people using the sword that Laban had as a model for production.<ref name="2Nephi5:14">{{Mormonverse|2 Nephi|5:14}}.</ref> At this time, the people with Laman and Lemuel and others who remained behind had their skin turn dark, as a sign that the people of Nephi are not to mix with them until they repent.<ref name="2Nephi5:19-23">{{Mormonverse|2 Nephi|5:19-23}}.</ref>
Nephi too writes of likening the words of Isaiah to the Nephites{{sfn|Thomas|2016|p=44}} and says that the purpose of the [[Mosaic covenant]] is to show that Christ will come. Nephi claims that his entire life and the purpose of his writings is to witness of Christ and be an example so people can receive the blessings of the covenant.{{sfn|Givens|2020|p=57}} Many of the next Isaiah quotations, found in chapters 12-24, focus on judgment, restoration, and the [[Messiah#Christianity|Messiah]].{{sfn|Thomas|2016|p=45}}


In chapters 25-33, Nephi himself prophesies, still including words from Isaiah. He continues with a focus on the Messiah and then turns to false churches of the future and people fighting against [[Zion]], as well as the emergence of the Book of Mormon. He predicts that churches in the “last days” will be prideful and spread false teachings and warns churches against priestcraft, telling them not to keep the free blessings of the gospel away from anyone.{{sfn|Salleh and Hemming|2020|p=89}} Nephi explains that the [[Great and abominable church|"great and abominable" church]] will fall and as such records many warnings against sin and its consequences.{{sfn|Thomas|2016|p=45}} Nephi also predicts that the Jews, Nephites, and the lost Israelites will eventually receive and have access to each others’ writings. He prophesies of the return of the Gospel to Lehi’s descendants and speaks again on restoration. He says that to be saved, one must repent, be baptized in the name of Christ, receive the Holy Ghost, and endure to the end. He explains again the importance of the words of Christ and ends by inviting the reader to pray in order to believe in Christ and know that his words are true.{{sfn|Thomas|2016|p=46}}
===Jacob preaches===
Nephi ordains his younger brothers Jacob and Joseph as teachers over the people of Nephi.<ref name="2Nephi5:26">{{Mormonverse|2 Nephi|5:26}}.</ref> The remainder of Second Nephi is a recording of their (Jacob's and Nephi's) teachings and prophecies.


== Interpretation ==
A speech that Jacob delivered to the people of Nephi is recorded in chapters 6–10. Jacob quotes passages from Isaiah. He prophesies that the destruction of the people in Jerusalem has already happened.<ref name="2Nephi6:8">{{Mormonverse|2 Nephi|6:8}}.</ref> He also shows that at a future date the Lord will lift up his hand to the [[Gentile#The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints|Gentile]]s, and set up his standard, and then gather the tribes of Israel one final time.<ref name="2Nephi6:6-7">{{Mormonverse|2 Nephi|6:6-7}}.</ref> He reads from Isaiah 50<ref name="2Nephi7">{{Mormonverse|2 Nephi|7}}.</ref> and 51.<ref name="2Nephi8">{{Mormonverse|2 Nephi|8}}.</ref> Then he prophesies about the birth, life, infinite [[Atonement in Christianity|atonement]] and death of Christ, calling on his people to repent and believe in the [[Messiah|Savior]].<ref name="2Nephi9:5-8">{{Mormonverse|2 Nephi|9:5-8}}.</ref> He also explains the resurrection; that the body lies in the grave and the spirit either in torment or in a state of paradise, and that without Christ there could be no resurrection, and that because of Christ all men will be resurrected with their spirit being freed from either paradise or torment and their body raised from the grave, and then they are judged according to their works in life.<ref name="2Nephi9:11-22">{{Mormonverse|2 Nephi|9:11-22}}.</ref> Jacob continues by teaching about the various sins, such as lying, murdering, whoredoms, idol worship. He exhorts his people to throw off their sins.<ref name="2Nephi9:27-38">{{Mormonverse|2 Nephi|9:27-38}}.</ref> He then continues by prophesying about the crucifixion of Jesus Christ<ref name="2Nephi10:3-5">{{Mormonverse|2 Nephi|10:3-5}}.</ref> and the establishment of a free people in [[Americas|America]] in the last days.<ref name="2Nephi10:10-12">{{Mormonverse|2 Nephi|10:10-12}}.</ref>


=== Break between First and Second Nephi ===
===Nephi quotes Isaiah, gives final counsel===
Different theories have emerged as to why Nephi's two books seem to break in the middle of a family event. Frederick Axelgard, Latter-day Saint and Senior Fellow at the [[Wheatley Institution|Wheatley Institute]], suggests the account would be better divided at 2 Nephi 5, which generally marks the end of Nephi's historical narrative.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=W. Axelgard |first=Frederick |date=1986 |title=1 and 2 Nephi: An Inspiring Whole |url=https://scholarsarchive.byu.edu/byusq/vol26/iss4/4/ |journal=BYU Studies Quarterly |volume=26 |issue=4 |pages=55 |via=ScholarsArchive}}</ref> Political science professor and apologist [[Noel B. Reynolds]] writes that the first five chapters of Second Nephi seem to be establishing Nephi's authority and leadership qualifications.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Reynolds |first=Noel B. |date=Winter 1980 |title=Nephi's Outline |url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/43041317?searchText=2+nephi&searchUri=%2Faction%2FdoBasicSearch%3FQuery%3D2%2Bnephi&ab_segments=0%2Fbasic_search_gsv2%2Fcontrol&refreqid=fastly-default%3Ab5766927a3af8bd9e81043548e7d8873&seq=17 |journal=BYU Studies |volume=20 |issue=2 |pages=32 |via=JSTOR}}</ref>
Nephi then records in the book more of Isaiah&mdash; chapters 2<ref name="2Nephi12">{{Mormonverse|2 Nephi|12}}.</ref> through 14<ref name="2Nephi24">{{Mormonverse|2 Nephi|24}}.</ref> of Isaiah. Nephi then prophesies that Christ himself will visit the Nephites in America after his death and [[Resurrection of Christ|resurrection]].<ref name="2Nephi26:1">{{Mormonverse|2 Nephi|26:1}}.</ref> He prophesies the destruction of his own people due to wickedness.<ref name="2Nephi26:9-10">{{Mormonverse|2 Nephi|26:9-10}}.</ref> He also predicts that the remainder of the people, the Lamanites and others, will be smitten by the immigrating Gentiles in the last days.<ref name="2Nephi26:15">{{Mormonverse|2 Nephi|26:15}}.</ref> He prophesies that the Gentiles will establish many different [[Church (building)|churches]] and also practice priestcraft, or the practice of preaching the gospel for money rather than for the love of the gospel.<ref name="2Nephi26:20-21,29">{{Mormonverse|2 Nephi|26:20-21,29}}.</ref> Nephi predicts the translation of the Book of Mormon and of the [[Three Witnesses]] who would testify that it was true.<ref name="2Nephi27:6-14">{{Mormonverse|2 Nephi|27:6-14}}.</ref> He prophesies the conversation that [[Martin Harris (Latter Day Saints)|Martin Harris]] has with Professor [[Charles Anthon]].<ref name="2Nephi27:15-18">{{Mormonverse|2 Nephi|27:15-18}}.</ref> Nephi continues by prophesying about the Gentiles' attitude towards the [[Bible]], who would accept it as the only scripture in the world.<ref name="2Nephi29">{{Mormonverse|2 Nephi|29}}.</ref> Nephi challenges that assumption, and encourages the Gentiles to believe that God would speak to more than one nation. He also says that there will be scriptures that will come from some of the [[lost tribes of Israel]].<ref name="2Nephi29:7-13">{{Mormonverse|2 Nephi|29:7-13}},</ref> The House of Israel is described as having three parts, and Nephi prophesies that one day all their writings would be restored and made known one to the other.


Alternatively, literary scholar [[Terryl Givens]] proposes the interruption of the timeline was purposeful to emphasize an important theme of covenants in the Book of Mormon. Lehi's vision confirms Jerusalem and its temple have been [[Siege of Jerusalem (587 BC)|destroyed]], says Givens, and triggers subsequent explanations to show the family they are still a covenant people to God and that the Israelites will not be lost forever. These are ideas that Givens connects to Moroni's introductory thematic statement on the purpose of the Book of Mormon. He also suggests that Lehi's blessings to his children and many of the Isaiah quotations are aimed at this same purpose and show the family they are part of the covenant as long as they don't reject the Messiah.{{sfn|Givens|2020|p=3, 6, 33, 50}}
''"And it shall come to pass that the Jews shall have the words of the Nephites, and the Nephites shall have the words of the Jews; and the Nephites and the Jews shall have the words of the lost tribes of Israel; and the lost tribes of Israel shall have the words of the Nephites and the Jews."''


=== Dark skin of the Lamanites a curse===
Nephi ends his record by pleading with the reader to follow the Savior's example and be [[Baptism (Latter Day Saints)|baptized]],<ref name="2Nephi31:5,7">{{Mormonverse|2 Nephi|31:5-17}}.</ref> but emphasizes that baptism is the beginning of the way and not the end, underscoring the need to enduring to the end.<ref name="2Nephi31:15-16,20">{{Mormonverse|2 Nephi|31:15-16,20}}.</ref> His final words include another exhortation to [[prayer|pray]] and seek the Holy Ghost, and a testimony that his words are true.<ref name="2Nephi33:12,15">{{Mormonverse|2 Nephi|33:12,15}}.</ref>
{{main|Lamanites}}
2 Nephi 5:21 describes the Lamanites as being cursed and marked with a "skin of blackness" because of their unbelief in order to make them less attractive to the Nephites. In 2 Nephi 30:6, the Lamanites are promised to become "pure and delightsome" (a passage that was "white and delightsome" before 1981). In a book about Mormon conceptions of race, sociologist [[Armand Mauss]] writes that modern secular readers see these passages as referring to race, and interpret them as reflecting the 19th-century racism of the day. Mauss argues that "white" was "almost always" a synonym for pure and clean in the Book of Mormon's original text, but acknowledges that these verses informed the prevailing image of Lamanites as savage Indians who ought to be assimilated among mid-19th-century Latter-day Saints.{{sfn|Mauss|2003|pp=116-118}} Mauss calls for a nonracist interpretation of the verses in 2 Nephi. Since the Nephites and Lamanites are both descended from Lehi, he argues, their main differences are cultural, not racial. 2 Nephi 26:33 states that "all are alike unto God," specifically referring to "black and white, bond and free."{{sfn|Mauss|2003|p=213}} Mauss interprets it as a "repudiation of racism in divine affairs."{{sfn|Mauss|2003|p=127}} In another book on race and the early LDS Church, Max Mueller writes that this purported universalist idea is "rooted in the limitations of whiteness as a universal racial category, a reality of which the Book of Mormon itself seems to be aware."{{sfn|Mueller|2017|p=35}} In his ''Annotated Book of Mormon'', [[Grant Hardy]] writes that modern readers are justifiably distressed by the Lamanites being marked with a dark skin. Hardy writes that skin color does not prevent the Lamanites from exceeding Nephites in righteousness, and the curse comes with a promise that their lineage will be preserved, while the Nephites eventually die out.{{sfn|Hardy|2023|p=79; 96}}

===Atonement in 2 Nephi===
Lehi's discussion with Jacob in 2 Nephi 2 is doctrinally rich and frequently used in [[Salvation in Christianity#Theories of atonement|theological discussion of the atonement]] in Latter-day Saint thought. 2 Nephi 2 contains the first mention of "atone" in the Book of Mormon.{{sfn|Frederick|2024}}<!--no pagination from Frederick bc I'm working from a digital edition-RH--> Writing for ''Dialogue'', Jacob Morgan cites two scriptures from 2 Nephi 2 to support his unorthodox argument that the atonement gave mankind the light of Christ, or a conscience, which prevents humans from choosing "eternal death" (verse 29). Having a conscience makes humans free to "act for themselves" (verse 26) and gives them [[Agency in Mormonism|agency]].{{sfn|Morgan|2006|p=72-73}} In his chapter on the atonement in the Book of Mormon, Nicholas J. Frederick, an associate professor of ancient scripture at Brigham Young University argues that ideas from multiple atonement theories are present in the Book of Mormon and gives two examples from 2 Nephi. He writes that 2 Nephi 2:6-10 can support the [[governmental theory of atonement]], where Christ's atonement satisfied the demands of justice. This passage does not mention Christ's [[Agony in the Garden|suffering in Gethsemane]], but only his death and resurrection. Later, Jacob's sermon in 2 Nephi 9:7-12 seems to support a [[Christus Victor]] theory, where Christ's death was a ransom paid to Satan. Jacob describes how Christ's atonement was infinite in 2 Nephi 9:25-26, and allows God to show mercy. Frederick gives a caveat that these interpretations may require imposing too much of previous theories on the text.{{sfn|Frederick|2024}}

===The Fall in 2 Nephi===
{{see also|Agency in Mormonism#Adam and Eve}}
In 2 Nephi 2, Lehi's articulation of the [[fall of man]] reinterprets it as a necessary component of God's plans for human salvation.<ref>{{Harvnb|Morrill|2005|p=137}}; {{Harvnb|Austin|2024|p=39}}.</ref> 2 Nephi 2:18 identifies "the serpent" as the devil.{{sfn|Smith|2017|p=16}}

According to literary critic Michael Austin, 2 Nephi describes prelapsarian reproduction as impossible, making the fall a prerequisite for procreation.<ref>{{Harvnb|Austin|2024|pages=37–39}}.</ref> According to biblical scholar Julie Smith,<ref>{{cite web |title=Julie M. Smith |url=https://www.byunewtestamentcommentary.com/about-us/contributors/julie-m-smith/ |access-date=26 February 2024 |website=www.byunewtestamentcommentary.com |publisher=BYU New Testament Commentary}}</ref> 2 Nephi 2 can alternatively be interpreted as meaning reproduction was impossible only during the time when Eve had eaten the fruit but Adam had not.{{sfn|Smith|2017|pp=5; 8; 9-11}}

The discussion in 2 Nephi 2, specifically verse 25, which states that "Adam fell that men might be," is frequently used in LDS interpretation of the fall to see it as part of God's plan. Some LDS thinkers take the idea further and say that Eve's decision was "wise," a stance that Smith calls the "Wise Choice Theory".{{sfn|Smith|2017|pp=1-2}} According to Smith, the "classic statement of the Wise Choice Theory" among Latter-day Saints is from a 1993 General Conference talk by apostle Dallin H. Oaks who stated that "we celebrate Eve's act and honor her wisdom and courage in the great episode called the Fall," and cited Brigham Young and Joseph Fielding Smith to aver that was formally a transgression of law but did not constitute sin.<ref>As quoted and analyzed in {{harvnb|Smith|2017|pp=1–2}}. The address is {{cite journal |last1=Oaks |first1=Dallin H. |date=October 1993 |title=The Great Plan of Happiness |url=https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/general-conference/1993/10/the-great-plan-of-happiness?lang=eng |journal=The Ensign |language=en |access-date=26 February 2024}}</ref> Most official Latter-day Saint discourse interprets Eve's role in the fall "overwhelmingly positive[ly]", religious studies scholar Susannia Morrill explains.<ref>{{Harvnb|Morrill|2005|p=141}}.</ref>

Smith argues that God's curse in response to Adam and Eve's partaking of the fruit makes it difficult to argue that their decision was wise, and that the argument that they were following a higher law requires them to take advice from the serpent. She questions the interpretation of considering Eve eating the fruit a transgression but not a sin. Smith argues this distinction does not exist in the Book of Mormon, and she sees no evidence that a transgression would be wise. She concludes that the "Wise Choice Theory" is not supported by the Book of Mormon.{{sfn|Smith|2017|pp=5; 8; 9-11}}

Early Latter-day Saint leaders Orson Pratt, George Q. Cannon, and Brigham Young regarded Adam wisely chose to eat the fruit wise but thought Eve was not, and Smith argues that "in the earliest layers of LDS interpretation, Eve’s choice was not seen as wise".{{sfn|Smith|2017|pp=12-13}} Morrill, agreeing that the Book of Mormon text itself does not heroize Eve, reports that most Latter-day Saint women's literature in the nineteenth century considered Eve "a wise and knowing woman" who acted as a "savior figure" by "safely guid[ing] the course of human salvation on the right path".<ref>{{Harvnb|Morrill|2005|pages=138–140}}.</ref>

=== Jacob's sermon ===
Egyptologist and religion teacher John S. Thompson analyzed Jacob’s sermon and identified themes of judgment, clothing, remembrance, creation, fasting, sacrifice, usage of God’s name, repentance, and the Law of Moses.{{sfn|Thompson|1997|pp=128-136}} On another note, author Marilyn Arnold suggests that, based on the deliberate structure and language of his sermon, Jacob adopts his style from writings in the brass plates. Additionally, Jacob repeats words such as "body," "flesh," "die," and "death" but applies them to his teachings in a way that shifts their connotations.{{sfn|Arnold|1996|pp=50-52}}

=== Nephi's poetry ===
Independent scholar Matthew Nickerson identifies shared traits between what has been called "the Psalm of Nephi" and psalms of the Old Testament. Nephi’s words are specifically connected to the individual lament, each of which contains an invocation, complaint, confession of trust, petition, and vow of praise. Nickerson proposes that each of these elements can be identified, making Nephi’s psalm a true psalm.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Nickerson |first=Matthew |date=1997-07-31 |title=Nephi's Psalm: 2 Nephi 4:16-35 in the Light of Form-Critical Analysis |url=https://scholarsarchive.byu.edu/jbms/vol6/iss2/3 |journal=Journal of Book of Mormon Studies |volume=6 |issue=2 |pages=30, 40–41 |issn=2374-4766}}</ref> According to Fatimah Salleh and Margaret Hemming, Nephi's psalm is associated with grief over his father’s death and tensions within the family.{{sfn|Salleh and Hemming|2020|p=59-60}}

Richard Rust explains that Nephi incorporates certain literary aspects such as rhythms and structures similar to those found in poetry.{{sfn|Rust|1997|p=11}} One example is when Nephi repeats words and phrases in a way that contributes to the poetic sounds of his writings.{{sfn|Rust|1997|p=4}} Some of the things he repeats include "the Lord," "commanded,"{{sfn|Rust|1997|p=27-29}} and "that I may walk...that I may be strict."{{sfn|Rust|1997|p=45}} Such repetition is emphatic, says Rust.{{sfn|Rust|1997|p=45}} Because of Nephi's repetition and use of Hebrew structure—which presents and then satisfies an idea—his poetry is similar to Isaiah’s.{{sfn|Rust|1997|p=66-67}} Bible and Jewish Studies professor David Bokovoy claims another connection to biblical poetry in Nephi's tendency to switch from third to first person. Bokovoy notes other examples in the Bible of the writer switching in the same passage from speaking about God at a distance to speaking to God in proximity.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Bokovoy |first=David |date=2000-01-31 |title=From Distance to Proximity: A Poetic Function of Enallage in the Hebrew Bible and the Book of Mormon |url=https://scholarsarchive.byu.edu/jbms/vol9/iss1/14 |journal=Journal of Book of Mormon Studies |volume=9 |issue=1 |pages=62–63 |issn=2374-4766}}</ref> Additionally, Salleh and Hemming suggest that, based on the tone of the psalm, Nephi doesn’t have a lot of time to mourn over his parents' deaths before he has to flee from his brothers.{{Sfn|Salleh and Hemming|2020|p=61}}

=== Early LDS interpretation ===
Second Nephi 28 mentions that priests of different churches will "contend" with each other and teach without the [[Holy Spirit (Christian denominational variations)#Latter Day Saints|Holy Ghost]]. Early members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints saw many competing religions and began to interpret [[Joseph Smith|Joseph Smith's]] visit to the [[Sacred Grove (Latter Day Saints)|Sacred Grove]] to ask God which church was right as fulfillment of this prophecy. Second Nephi 29 goes on to describe a new book of scripture that would be revealed but rejected by many people because they already had the Bible. According to early church leader [[Heber C. Kimball]], the response of many ministers was often "we need no more revelation," which he declared as fulfillment of the chapter 29 prophecy.{{sfn|Underwood|1984|p=46}}

Joseph of Egypt's prophecy quoted in Second Nephi 3 was also interpreted by early church members, who believed Joseph Smith to be "the choice seer" with the same name as his father.{{sfn|Underwood|1984|p=47}}

=== The Isaiah chapters ===

==== Intertextuality ====
Nephi quotes extensively from the [[Book of Isaiah]] throughout 1 and 2 Nephi, with passages largely appearing as they do in the [[Bible]].{{sfn|Givens|2009|p=37}} Elizabeth Fenton describes these passages as "not-quite-exact copying," with differences being minor.<ref name=":52">{{Cite journal |last=Fenton |first=Elizabeth |date=2016-01-01 |title=Understanding the Book of Mormon |url=https://scholarsarchive.byu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1589&context=jbms |journal=Journal of Book of Mormon Studies |volume=25 |issue=1 |pages=43–45}}</ref> J.N. Washburn, an independent scholar, cites that 199 of 433 verses from Isaiah appear with the same wording and proposes that Joseph Smith used the [[King James Bible]] version whenever it was close enough to the original meaning of the plates he was said to be translating and used the new translation when meaning differed.{{sfn|Washburn|1954|p=187}} According to author H. Clay Gorton, 2 Nephi 21 is the only Isaiah-quoted chapter in the Book of Mormon that, when compared to the KJV, sustains no textual differences. In a similar vein, 2 Nephi 22 and Isaiah 12 are different only by one word. Gorton has concluded that, where Isaiah verses differ in the Book of Mormon, approximately 38% of those changes are extensive.{{sfn|Gorton|1994|p=32}}

Philosopher Joseph Spencer calls Isaiah "the honored keynote speaker of the small plates."<ref>{{Cite book |last=Spencer |first=Joseph M. |title=The Anatomy of Book of Mormon Theology |publisher=Greg Kofford Books |year=2021 |isbn=978-1-58958-780-9 |volume=1 |location=Salt Lake City, Utah, USA |pages=16}}</ref> Spencer also emphasizes that even beyond quotations, Jacob and Nephi's teachings both seem to be built on further ideas of Isaiah's.'''<ref>{{Cite book |last=Spencer |first=Joseph M. |title=Reading Nephi Reading Isaiah 2 Nephi 26–27 |publisher=Neal A. Maxwell Institute for Religious Scholarship |year=2016b |isbn=978-0-8425-2866-5 |editor-last=Spencer |editor-first=Joseph M. |edition=2nd |pages=17–18 |chapter=Nephi, Isaiah, and Europe |editor-last2=Webb |editor-first2=Jenny}}</ref>''' A scholar involved in early studies of the Book of Mormon, [[Sidney B. Sperry|Sidney Sperry]], suggests that by including Isaiah's writings, Nephi points out the mission of Jesus Christ, the restoration of the house of Israel, and God’s judgments that follow.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Sperry |first=Sidney B. |title=The Isaiah Quotation: 2 Nephi 12-24 |url=https://scholarsarchive.byu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1105&context=jbms |journal=Journal of Book of Mormon Studies |volume=4 |issue=1 |pages=193 |via=BYU ScholarsArchive}}</ref> Additionally, Nephi says he "delights" in Isaiah but explains that a knowledge of Jewish tradition is needed to understand his writings, according to literary critic Michael Austin. Nephi admits he has chosen not to teach his people certain knowledge and traditions with which he is familiar as a former resident of Jerusalem.<ref>{{Harvnb|Austin|2024|p=157}}.</ref>
{| class="wikitable"
|+Chapter comparison
!2 Nephi
!Isaiah
|-
|2 Nephi 7
|Isaiah 50
|-
|2 Nephi 8
|Isaiah 51
|-
|2 Nephi 12-24
|Isaiah 2-14
|-
|2 Nephi 27
|Isaiah 29{{sfn|Washburn|1954|p=188}}
|}

==== Deutero-Isaiah ====
In more modern times, scholars have theorized based on variation in style and structure that more than one author wrote the book of Isaiah. These authors are referred to as [[Isaiah]], Deutero-Isaiah, and Trito-Isaiah. Deutero-Isaiah is thought to be born after the time Lehi’s family would have left Jerusalem.{{sfn|Washburn|1954|p=190}} Many of those writings which are considered to be part of Deutero-Isaiah are cited in Second Nephi as quotations from Isaiah. This implies that the Book of Mormon narrative disagrees that this section of Isaiah was written by someone other than its namesake.{{sfn|Gorton|1994|pp=49-51}} An LDS doctrine course teacher's supplement cites the Book of Mormon as evidence that Isaiah wrote the whole book of Isaiah since pieces from throughout the book are said to be from the already compiled brass plates which Lehi's sons took from Jerusalem around 600 BC.{{sfn|Smith|1983|p=49}}

==== Chiasmus ====
Joseph Spencer suggests that Isaiah appears as a sort of [[chiasmus]] in Nephi’s record, sandwiched between Jacob’s and Nephi’s explanations of his writings. In their explanations both men discuss reconciliation with God, contributing to its chiastic appearance. Additionally, Isaiah’s teachings as they appear in Second Nephi form a chiasmus: chapters 12-15 discuss destruction relating to the covenant people; chapter 16 contains a call to repentance, and chapters 17-22 follow themes of God’s covenant people returning to him.{{sfn|Spencer|2016a|pp=53-54}}

==== Typology ====
Biblical [[Typology (theology)|typology]] is a practice of interpretation that suggests Old Testament events are types or representations of future fulfillment of prophecy.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Anderson |first=Bernard W. |title=Israel's Prophetic Heritage: Essays in Honor of James Muilenburg |publisher=Harper & Brothers |year=1962 |editor-last=Anderson |editor-first=B. |page=177|chapter=Exodus Typology in Second Isaiah |editor-last2=Harrelson |editor-first2=W.}}</ref> Isaiah's writing was described in scripture as things that "have been and will be," which aligns with typology's idea that written prophecies apply both to events in the writer's own day which create a type for the future, and to the [[Latter-days|latter days]]. Many of the prophecies quoted from Isaiah in Second Nephi regard [[Babylonian captivity]], which Nephi believes to have already begun. Despite this understanding, Nephi also claims the prophecies will be useful in future times. According to Isaiah analyst and Latter-day Saint [[Avraham Gileadi]], this can be viewed either as a contradiction in the text or with the lens of Nephi viewing Isaiah typologically.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Gileadi |first=Avraham |title=Isaiah and the prophets: Inspired Voices from the Old Testament from the Old Testament |publisher=Religious Studies Center Brigham Young University|year=1984 |editor-last=Monte |editor-first=Monte S. |page=134 |chapter=Isaiah: Four Latter-day Keys to an Ancient Book}}</ref>

==== Isaiah and the Charles Anthon visit ====
Second Nephi 27 quotes a prophecy from Isaiah 29 in which the disregarded messages from prophets are compared to a sealed book. The book is delivered to "one who is learned," who says, "I cannot [read it] for it is sealed." In the [[Pearl of Great Price (Mormonism)|Pearl of Great Price]], another Latter-day Saint book of scripture, [[Martin Harris (Latter Day Saints)|Martin Harris]]'s visit to professor [[Charles Anthon]] with copied characters from the Book of Mormon is recorded. While records of the event vary between Anthon and Harris, Anthon's response as reported by Harris was "I cannot read a sealed book." Many Latter-day Saints see this visit as fulfilling Isaiah's prophecy.<ref>{{harvnb|Smith|1983|pp=45–46|}}; {{harvnb|Smith|Thomasson|Welch|1992|p=73}}</ref>

=== Cultural Reception ===
Nephi's psalm has appeared in numerous works by LDS creators. One such example is ''Mazmuur Naafi: The Arabic Psalm of Nephi'' by Ahmed Jamal Qureshi. In this work of visual art, the psalm is translated into Arabic and shaped into a circle. The color of the piece, author Josh E. Probert explains, points to blue tiles found inside [[mosque]]s. Around the circle with the psalm are four smaller circles. Inside the circles are the names Lehi, Nephi, [[Moroni (Book of Mormon prophet)|Moroni]], and Joseph as figures related to the Book of Mormon's content.<ref>{{harvnb|Mason|2023}}; {{harvnb|Probert|2006}}</ref> Nephi's psalm has also been set to music, including "I Love the Lord" and "Sometimes My Soul" by John Tanner, as well as "I Glory in My Jesus" written by [[Millennial Choirs & Orchestras|Millennial Choirs and Orchestras]] founders Brandon and Brett Stewart.{{sfn|Mason|2023}}


==See also==
==See also==


* [[First Nephi]]
* ''[[The Book of Mormon Movie, Vol. 1: The Journey]]''
* [[Nephi, son of Lehi]]
* [[Nephi, son of Lehi]]
* ''[[The Book of Mormon Movie, Vol. 1: The Journey]]''


==Notes==
==Notes==
{{Reflist|30em}}
{{Reflist|30em}}

==Sources==
*{{Cite book|last=Arnold|first=Marilyn|title=Sweet is the Word: Reflections on the Book of Mormon, Its Narrative, Teachings, and People|publisher=Covenant Communications|year=1996|isbn=1-55503-925-1|location=American Fork, Utah, USA|pages=49–59}}
*{{Cite book |last=Austin |first=Michael |title=The Testimony of Two Nations: How the Book of Mormon Reads, and Rereads, the Bible |publisher=University of Illinois Press |year=2024 |isbn=9780252045356 |language=en}}
*{{Cite journal |last=Axelgard |first=Frederick W. |date=1986 |title=1 and 2 Nephi: An Inspiring Whole |url=https://scholarsarchive.byu.edu/byusq/vol26/iss4/4/ |journal=BYU Studies Quarterly |volume=26 |issue=4 |pages=54 |via=ScholarsArchive}}
* {{cite book |last1=Frederick |first1=Nicholas J. |editor1-last=Green |editor1-first=Deidre Nicole |editor2-last=Huntsman |editor2-first=Eric D. |title=Latter-day Saint Perspectives on Atonement |date=2024 |publisher=University of Illinois Press |chapter="Atonement" in the Book of Mormon}}
* {{Cite Q|Q123118216|ref={{sfnref|Gardner|2007}}}}
* {{Cite Q|Q114004901|ref={{sfnref|Givens|2009}}}}
* {{Cite Q|Q123273667|ref={{sfnref|Givens|2020}}}}
*{{Cite book |last=Gorton |first=H. Clay |title=The Legacy of the Brass Plates of Laban: A Comparison of Biblical & Book of Mormon Isaiah Texts|publisher=Horizon Publishers and Distributors, Incorporated |year=1994 |location=Bountiful, Utah, USA|isbn=0-88290-511-2 |pages=49–51 |chapter=Biblical Texts}}
* {{Cite Q|Q122259222|ref={{sfnref|Hardy|2023}}}}
*{{Cite journal |last=Mason |first=Patrick Q. |title=The Psalm of Nephi in an Age of Anxiety and Division |url=https://byustudies.byu.edu/article/the-psalm-of-nephi-in-an-age-of-anxiety-and-division/ |journal=BYU Studies Quarterly |volume=62 |issue=3 |year=2023|pages=39}}
* {{Cite Q|Q124538725|ref={{sfnref|Mauss|2003}}}}
* {{Cite book |last=Morrill |first=Susanna |title=Historicizing "Tradition" in the Study of Religion |publisher=[[De Gruyter|Walter de Gruyter]] |year=2005 |isbn=978-3-11-018875-2 |editor-last=Engler |editor-first=Steven |pages=127–144 |chapter=Women and the Book of Mormon: The Creation and Negotiation of a Latter-day Saint Tradition |editor-last2=Grieve |editor-first2=Gregory P.}}
* {{cite book |last1=Smith |first1=Julie M. |title=Fleeing the Garden: Reading Genesis 2-3 |date=2017 |publisher=Neal A. Maxwell Institute for Religious Scholarship, Brigham Young University |location=Provo, UT |isbn=9780842530095 |chapter=Paradoxes in Paradise|url=https://scholarsarchive.byu.edu/mi/37/}}
* {{cite journal |last1=Morgan |first1=Jacob |title=The Divine-Infusion Theory: Rethinking the Atonement |journal=Dialogue: A Journal of Mormon Thought |date=Spring 2006 |volume=39 |issue=1}}
* {{cite book |last1=Mueller |first1=Max Perry |title=Race and the Making of the Mormon People |date=August 2017 |publisher=University of North Carolina Press |location=North Carolina |isbn=9781469633763}}
*{{Cite journal |last=Probert |first=Josh E. |title=Understanding ''Mazmuur Naafi: The Arabic Psalm of Nephi'' |url=https://byustudies.byu.edu/article/understanding-mazmuur-naafi-the-arabic-psalm-of-nephi/ |journal=BYU Studies |volume=45 |issue=4 |year=2006|pages=185}}
* {{Cite Q|Q124214275|ref={{sfnref|Rust|1997}}}}
* {{Cite Q|Q123378840|ref={{sfnref|Salleh and Hemming|2020}}}}
* {{Cite journal |last=Smith |first=George D. |date=1983 |title=Isaiah Updated |url=https://www.dialoguejournal.com/articles/isaiah-updated/ |journal=Dialogue |volume=16 |issue=2 |pages=45–46}}
* {{Cite book |last=Smith |first=Robert. F |title=Reexploring the Book of Mormon: The FARMS Updates |last2=Thomasson |first2=Gordon C. |last3=Welch |first3=John W. |publisher=Foundation for Ancient Research and Mormon Studies |year=1992 |editor-last=Welch |editor-first=John W. |pages=73 |chapter=What Did Charles Anthon Really Say?}}
* {{cite book |last1=Spencer |first1=Joseph M. |editor1-last=Miller |editor1-first=Adam S. |editor2-last=Spencer |editor2-first=Joseph M. |date=2016a |title=An Other Testament: On Typology |series=Groundwork |edition=2nd |publication-place=Brigham Young University |location=Provo, Utah |publisher=Neal A. Maxwell Institute for Religious Scholarship |pages=33–68 |isbn=978-0-8425-2869-6}}
* {{Cite Q|Q123196681|ref={{sfnref|Thomas|2016}}}}
* {{Cite book |last=Thompson |first=John S. |title=Isaiah in the Book of Mormon |publisher=Neal A. Maxwell Institute for Religious Education |year=1997 |editor-last=Parry |editor-first=Donald W. |pages=123–50 |chapter=Isaiah 50-51, the Israelite Autumn Festivals, and the Covenant Speech of Jacob in 2 Nephi 6-10 |editor-last2=Welch |editor-first2=John W.}}
* {{cite book |last1=Washburn |first1=J.N. |title=The Contents, Structure, and Authorship of the Book of Mormon |date=1954 |publisher=Bookcraft |location=United States of America |edition=1st}}
*{{cite journal |last1=Underwood |first1=Grant |title=Book of Mormon Usage in Early LDS Theology |journal=Dialogue |date=1984 |volume=17 |issue=3 |url=https://www.dialoguejournal.com/articles/book-of-mormon-usage-in-early-lds-theology/ |access-date=16 February 2024}}


==Further reading==
==Further reading==
*{{Citation|editor-last=Nyman|editor-first=Monte|editor-link=Monte S. Nyman|editor2-last=Tate|editor2-first=Charles D.|title=The Book of Mormon: Second Nephi, the Doctrinal Structure|series= Book of Mormon Symposium Series (Volume 3)|url=https://rsc.byu.edu/out-print/book-mormon-second-nephi-doctrinal-structure|location= Provo, Utah| publisher=[[Religious Studies Center]], [[Brigham Young University]]| year=1989|isbn=0-8849-4699-1|oclc=20375177}}
*{{Citation
*{{Citation|last=Ball|first=Terry B.|authorlink=Terry B. Ball|contribution=Book of Mormon: Second Book of Nephi|url=http://contentdm.lib.byu.edu/cdm/ref/collection/EoM/id/5531|pages= 146–147|editor1-last=Ludlow|editor1-first=Daniel H|editor1-link=Daniel H. Ludlow|title=Encyclopedia of Mormonism|location=New York|publisher=[[Macmillan Publishing]]|year=1992|isbn=0-02-879602-0|oclc=24502140}}.
| editor-last= Nyman
*{{Cite journal |date=1998-01-01 |editor-last=Parry |editor-first=Donald W. |editor2-last=Welch |editor2-first=John |title=Isaiah in the Book of Mormon |url=https://scholarsarchive.byu.edu/mi/43 |journal=Maxwell Institute Publications |isbn=978-0934893299}}
| editor-first= Monte
*{{Cite book |last=Spencer |first=Joseph M. |title=The Vision of All: Twenty-five Lectures on Isaiah in Nephi's Record |publisher=Greg Kofford Books |year=2016 |location=Draper, Utah, USA|isbn=978-1589586321}}
| editor-link= Monte S. Nyman
| editor2-last= Tate
| editor2-first= Charles D.
| title= The Book of Mormon: Second Nephi, the Doctrinal Structure
| series= Book of Mormon Symposium Series (Volume 3)
| url= https://rsc.byu.edu/out-print/book-mormon-second-nephi-doctrinal-structure
| location= Provo, Utah
| publisher= [[Religious Studies Center]], [[Brigham Young University]]
| year= 1989
| isbn= 0-8849-4699-1
| oclc= 20375177
}}
*{{Citation
| last=Welch
| first=John
| author-link= John W. Welch
| title= Isaiah in the Book of Mormon
| publisher= FARMS
| year=1998
| isbn=978-0934893299
| url= http://publications.maxwellinstitute.byu.edu/book/isaiah-in-the-book-of-mormon/
}}
*{{Citation
|last= Ball
|first= Terry B.
|authorlink= Terry B. Ball
|contribution= Book of Mormon: Second Book of Nephi
|url= http://contentdm.lib.byu.edu/cdm/ref/collection/EoM/id/5531
|pages= 146–147
|editor1-last= Ludlow
|editor1-first= Daniel H
|editor1-link= Daniel H. Ludlow
|title= Encyclopedia of Mormonism
|location= New York
|publisher= [[Macmillan Publishing]]
|year= 1992
|isbn= 0-02-879602-0
|oclc= 24502140
}}.


==External links==
==External links==
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Second Book Of Nephi}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Second Book Of Nephi}}
[[Category:Books of the Book of Mormon|Nephi2]]
[[Category:Books of the Book of Mormon|Nephi2]]
[[Category:Harold B. Lee Library-related Book of Mormon articles]]
[[Category:Book of Isaiah]]

Revision as of 05:20, 10 March 2024

The Second Book of Nephi (/ˈnf/), usually referred to as Second Nephi or 2 Nephi, is the second book of the Book of Mormon in the Latter-day Saint Movement. According to the book, it was written by the ancient prophet Nephi, son of Lehi, who lived around 600 BC. Unlike First Nephi, this book contains little history of the Nephite people and focuses predominately on visions and prophecies of Nephi himself and other ancient prophets, particularly Isaiah.

The book begins with Lehi's blessings and final teachings to his family before his death in the Promised Land. Lehi explores themes of opposition, the Fall of man, resurrection, and atonement. After Lehi's death, family tensions lead Nephi to take his family and those who accept his leadership into the wilderness. The Lamanites are cut off from God and cursed with a "skin of blackness" until they choose to repent. The Nephites build a temple and follow God's commandments. Nephi and his brother Jacob preach, quoting many prophecies of Isaiah, mainly regarding Israel and its restoration in the latter days. Nephi emphasizes salvation through Christ.

Theories suggest the break between First and Second Nephi is to set apart the knowledge that Jerusalem has been destroyed, and many of the following teachings seem to highlight God's promises and that Israel is not lost forever. The Lamanite Curse has been connected to racism while others call for a nonracist interpretation, suggesting that Nephite and Lamanite differences are more cultural than racial. Jacob's sermon contains themes such as judgement and the Law of Moses and may be patterned after the teaching style of the Brass Plates. Similarly, one section of Nephi's writings has been compared to traditional Old Testament psalms.

Teachings of Isaiah make up many chapters of Second Nephi, often closely or exactly worded as they appear in the book of Isaiah. These chapters go against a commonly accepted idea that Isaiah was written by multiple authors of different times as they are all said to come from the Brass Plates, which were taken from Jerusalem around 600 BC. The chapters present an example of chiasmus identified in the Book of Mormon, and are typological in that their prophecies have been supposedly connected to events in ancient as well as more modern times. One circumstance of a potentially fulfilled prophecy involves Martin Harris visiting professor Charles Anthon, who, when presented with characters from the Book of Mormon responded, "I cannot read a sealed book."

Structure

Second Nephi was originally called the Book of Nephi[1] and was divided into 33 chapters.[2] Later, Oliver Cowdery added First and Second to the titles of the books of Nephi. In the first five chapters, which comprise the narrative section of the book,[3] Nephi continues with the family meeting begun in the end of First Nephi. Much of the rest of Second Nephi includes quotations from Isaiah and further teachings from Nephi and his brother Jacob.[4] Joseph Spencer explains that the simple structure of 2 Nephi is as follows: the division of Lehi’s descendants (chapters 1-5), teachings concerning reconciliation with God (chapters 6-30), and discussion on baptism (chapters 31-33).[5]

Summary Chapters
Lehi's farewell 1-4:12
Division of Nephites and Lamanites 4:13-5
Jacob teaches the Nephites 6-10
Nephi witnesses of Christ 11
Nephi quotes Isaiah 12-24
Nephi prophesies and elaborates 25-33[6]

Narration

Lehi's last counsel

Lehi Blesses His Posterity by C. C. A. Christensen, 1890

Second Nephi begins with a reminder that Lehi had warned of Jerusalem’s destruction and that his family had been purposefully led to safety. In the narrative, Lehi receives a vision confirming that Jerusalem has been destroyed; his family also learns the "promised land" they were led to is their inheritance as long as they follow God. Lehi advises each of his sons to follow Nephi’s leadership, particularly Laman, Lemuel, and the sons of Ishmael.[7] He then blesses Zoram, as a friend of Nephi, that his descendants too will flourish if they are righteous.[8]

Lehi then blesses Jacob, promising that his suffering will be consecrated; he also speaks to him about the Atonement with a focus on opposition and how both good and bad things are important in life. He teaches all of his sons that the Fall of Man was necessary for humans to progress past their original innocent state and have children, emphasizing that all have their own right to choose for themselves.[9] After blessing Jacob, Lehi speaks to Joseph. In his blessing, he says that Joseph's descendants will not be completely destroyed. Further, he cites a prophecy from Joseph of Egypt, which is contained in the brass plates and predicts that God will prepare a seer named Joseph.[10] This seer, Lehi explains, has ancestral connections to both Joseph of Egypt and Joseph, son of Lehi, and will bring the knowledge of the covenant back to Lehi’s descendants. Lehi also reveals that Joseph of Egypt prophesied of Moses leading the Israelites out of Egypt.[11] Lehi proceeds to bless Laman and Lemuel’s children so that their people will never become extinct. Afterward, he blesses Ishmael’s sons, Sam, and Sam’s family. Nephi does not describe any specific personal blessings he might have received at this time.[12]

Division of the people

Lehi dies sometime after giving these blessings to his family[7] and Nephi follows the account with his own words. In his psalm, Nephi records his struggles with sin and remembers some of the times God has saved him. Later, Laman, Lemuel, and Ishmael’s descendants are upset about Nephi being chosen as their leader and try to kill him. He prays about Laman and Lemuel’s murmuring and dissent and is told by God to take his family into the wilderness.[13] In response, he takes the brass plates, the Liahona, and Laban’s sword,[14] and leaves with Zoram, Sam, Jacob, Joseph, and his sisters. This group becomes the Nephites. They work and are obedient to the commandments and build a temple modeled after Solomon’s. Nephi chooses not to be king but continues to help his people. He makes swords based on the sword of Laban for protection in case the Lamanites attack.[15] The Lamanites are cut off from God, cursed, and given a “skin of blackness” to make them “loathsome” to the Nephites unless they repent.[16] Nephi consecrates Jacob and Joseph as priests and teachers, and the Nephites "live after the manner of happiness."[17]

Jacob's sermon

In chapters 6-10, Jacob gives a two-day sermon that includes many words from Isaiah 49:22-52:2 in which he invites the people to compare Isaiah’s teachings to their own experiences. He preaches about "the Holy One of Israel," God’s plan, the consequences of sin, resurrection, judgment, deliverance from hell, and the righteous' inheritance of God’s kingdom.[18] In his sermon, Jacob warns the prideful wealthy, those who think their intellect sets them above God’s teachings, and various others who ignore God; he states that in these conditions they cannot be saved.[19] He then speaks of the Jews, Gentiles, and descendants of Lehi in the last days before Christ’s coming[20] and explains that the Gentiles will be counted as part of the house of Israel.[21] He also teaches that after Israel is scattered, descendants of the house of Israel who repent and believe will be subsequently restored to their lands. The land Lehi’s family has come to is a land of inheritance and is promised as a land of liberty.[22] Jacob ends with the instruction to turn to God and choose eternal life.[23]

Nephi quotes Isaiah, prophesies, and gives final counsel

Nephi too writes of likening the words of Isaiah to the Nephites[24] and says that the purpose of the Mosaic covenant is to show that Christ will come. Nephi claims that his entire life and the purpose of his writings is to witness of Christ and be an example so people can receive the blessings of the covenant.[25] Many of the next Isaiah quotations, found in chapters 12-24, focus on judgment, restoration, and the Messiah.[26]

In chapters 25-33, Nephi himself prophesies, still including words from Isaiah. He continues with a focus on the Messiah and then turns to false churches of the future and people fighting against Zion, as well as the emergence of the Book of Mormon. He predicts that churches in the “last days” will be prideful and spread false teachings and warns churches against priestcraft, telling them not to keep the free blessings of the gospel away from anyone.[27] Nephi explains that the "great and abominable" church will fall and as such records many warnings against sin and its consequences.[26] Nephi also predicts that the Jews, Nephites, and the lost Israelites will eventually receive and have access to each others’ writings. He prophesies of the return of the Gospel to Lehi’s descendants and speaks again on restoration. He says that to be saved, one must repent, be baptized in the name of Christ, receive the Holy Ghost, and endure to the end. He explains again the importance of the words of Christ and ends by inviting the reader to pray in order to believe in Christ and know that his words are true.[28]

Interpretation

Break between First and Second Nephi

Different theories have emerged as to why Nephi's two books seem to break in the middle of a family event. Frederick Axelgard, Latter-day Saint and Senior Fellow at the Wheatley Institute, suggests the account would be better divided at 2 Nephi 5, which generally marks the end of Nephi's historical narrative.[29] Political science professor and apologist Noel B. Reynolds writes that the first five chapters of Second Nephi seem to be establishing Nephi's authority and leadership qualifications.[30]

Alternatively, literary scholar Terryl Givens proposes the interruption of the timeline was purposeful to emphasize an important theme of covenants in the Book of Mormon. Lehi's vision confirms Jerusalem and its temple have been destroyed, says Givens, and triggers subsequent explanations to show the family they are still a covenant people to God and that the Israelites will not be lost forever. These are ideas that Givens connects to Moroni's introductory thematic statement on the purpose of the Book of Mormon. He also suggests that Lehi's blessings to his children and many of the Isaiah quotations are aimed at this same purpose and show the family they are part of the covenant as long as they don't reject the Messiah.[31]

Dark skin of the Lamanites a curse

2 Nephi 5:21 describes the Lamanites as being cursed and marked with a "skin of blackness" because of their unbelief in order to make them less attractive to the Nephites. In 2 Nephi 30:6, the Lamanites are promised to become "pure and delightsome" (a passage that was "white and delightsome" before 1981). In a book about Mormon conceptions of race, sociologist Armand Mauss writes that modern secular readers see these passages as referring to race, and interpret them as reflecting the 19th-century racism of the day. Mauss argues that "white" was "almost always" a synonym for pure and clean in the Book of Mormon's original text, but acknowledges that these verses informed the prevailing image of Lamanites as savage Indians who ought to be assimilated among mid-19th-century Latter-day Saints.[32] Mauss calls for a nonracist interpretation of the verses in 2 Nephi. Since the Nephites and Lamanites are both descended from Lehi, he argues, their main differences are cultural, not racial. 2 Nephi 26:33 states that "all are alike unto God," specifically referring to "black and white, bond and free."[33] Mauss interprets it as a "repudiation of racism in divine affairs."[34] In another book on race and the early LDS Church, Max Mueller writes that this purported universalist idea is "rooted in the limitations of whiteness as a universal racial category, a reality of which the Book of Mormon itself seems to be aware."[35] In his Annotated Book of Mormon, Grant Hardy writes that modern readers are justifiably distressed by the Lamanites being marked with a dark skin. Hardy writes that skin color does not prevent the Lamanites from exceeding Nephites in righteousness, and the curse comes with a promise that their lineage will be preserved, while the Nephites eventually die out.[36]

Atonement in 2 Nephi

Lehi's discussion with Jacob in 2 Nephi 2 is doctrinally rich and frequently used in theological discussion of the atonement in Latter-day Saint thought. 2 Nephi 2 contains the first mention of "atone" in the Book of Mormon.[37] Writing for Dialogue, Jacob Morgan cites two scriptures from 2 Nephi 2 to support his unorthodox argument that the atonement gave mankind the light of Christ, or a conscience, which prevents humans from choosing "eternal death" (verse 29). Having a conscience makes humans free to "act for themselves" (verse 26) and gives them agency.[38] In his chapter on the atonement in the Book of Mormon, Nicholas J. Frederick, an associate professor of ancient scripture at Brigham Young University argues that ideas from multiple atonement theories are present in the Book of Mormon and gives two examples from 2 Nephi. He writes that 2 Nephi 2:6-10 can support the governmental theory of atonement, where Christ's atonement satisfied the demands of justice. This passage does not mention Christ's suffering in Gethsemane, but only his death and resurrection. Later, Jacob's sermon in 2 Nephi 9:7-12 seems to support a Christus Victor theory, where Christ's death was a ransom paid to Satan. Jacob describes how Christ's atonement was infinite in 2 Nephi 9:25-26, and allows God to show mercy. Frederick gives a caveat that these interpretations may require imposing too much of previous theories on the text.[37]

The Fall in 2 Nephi

In 2 Nephi 2, Lehi's articulation of the fall of man reinterprets it as a necessary component of God's plans for human salvation.[39] 2 Nephi 2:18 identifies "the serpent" as the devil.[40]

According to literary critic Michael Austin, 2 Nephi describes prelapsarian reproduction as impossible, making the fall a prerequisite for procreation.[41] According to biblical scholar Julie Smith,[42] 2 Nephi 2 can alternatively be interpreted as meaning reproduction was impossible only during the time when Eve had eaten the fruit but Adam had not.[43]

The discussion in 2 Nephi 2, specifically verse 25, which states that "Adam fell that men might be," is frequently used in LDS interpretation of the fall to see it as part of God's plan. Some LDS thinkers take the idea further and say that Eve's decision was "wise," a stance that Smith calls the "Wise Choice Theory".[44] According to Smith, the "classic statement of the Wise Choice Theory" among Latter-day Saints is from a 1993 General Conference talk by apostle Dallin H. Oaks who stated that "we celebrate Eve's act and honor her wisdom and courage in the great episode called the Fall," and cited Brigham Young and Joseph Fielding Smith to aver that was formally a transgression of law but did not constitute sin.[45] Most official Latter-day Saint discourse interprets Eve's role in the fall "overwhelmingly positive[ly]", religious studies scholar Susannia Morrill explains.[46]

Smith argues that God's curse in response to Adam and Eve's partaking of the fruit makes it difficult to argue that their decision was wise, and that the argument that they were following a higher law requires them to take advice from the serpent. She questions the interpretation of considering Eve eating the fruit a transgression but not a sin. Smith argues this distinction does not exist in the Book of Mormon, and she sees no evidence that a transgression would be wise. She concludes that the "Wise Choice Theory" is not supported by the Book of Mormon.[43]

Early Latter-day Saint leaders Orson Pratt, George Q. Cannon, and Brigham Young regarded Adam wisely chose to eat the fruit wise but thought Eve was not, and Smith argues that "in the earliest layers of LDS interpretation, Eve’s choice was not seen as wise".[47] Morrill, agreeing that the Book of Mormon text itself does not heroize Eve, reports that most Latter-day Saint women's literature in the nineteenth century considered Eve "a wise and knowing woman" who acted as a "savior figure" by "safely guid[ing] the course of human salvation on the right path".[48]

Jacob's sermon

Egyptologist and religion teacher John S. Thompson analyzed Jacob’s sermon and identified themes of judgment, clothing, remembrance, creation, fasting, sacrifice, usage of God’s name, repentance, and the Law of Moses.[49] On another note, author Marilyn Arnold suggests that, based on the deliberate structure and language of his sermon, Jacob adopts his style from writings in the brass plates. Additionally, Jacob repeats words such as "body," "flesh," "die," and "death" but applies them to his teachings in a way that shifts their connotations.[50]

Nephi's poetry

Independent scholar Matthew Nickerson identifies shared traits between what has been called "the Psalm of Nephi" and psalms of the Old Testament. Nephi’s words are specifically connected to the individual lament, each of which contains an invocation, complaint, confession of trust, petition, and vow of praise. Nickerson proposes that each of these elements can be identified, making Nephi’s psalm a true psalm.[51] According to Fatimah Salleh and Margaret Hemming, Nephi's psalm is associated with grief over his father’s death and tensions within the family.[52]

Richard Rust explains that Nephi incorporates certain literary aspects such as rhythms and structures similar to those found in poetry.[53] One example is when Nephi repeats words and phrases in a way that contributes to the poetic sounds of his writings.[54] Some of the things he repeats include "the Lord," "commanded,"[55] and "that I may walk...that I may be strict."[56] Such repetition is emphatic, says Rust.[56] Because of Nephi's repetition and use of Hebrew structure—which presents and then satisfies an idea—his poetry is similar to Isaiah’s.[57] Bible and Jewish Studies professor David Bokovoy claims another connection to biblical poetry in Nephi's tendency to switch from third to first person. Bokovoy notes other examples in the Bible of the writer switching in the same passage from speaking about God at a distance to speaking to God in proximity.[58] Additionally, Salleh and Hemming suggest that, based on the tone of the psalm, Nephi doesn’t have a lot of time to mourn over his parents' deaths before he has to flee from his brothers.[59]

Early LDS interpretation

Second Nephi 28 mentions that priests of different churches will "contend" with each other and teach without the Holy Ghost. Early members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints saw many competing religions and began to interpret Joseph Smith's visit to the Sacred Grove to ask God which church was right as fulfillment of this prophecy. Second Nephi 29 goes on to describe a new book of scripture that would be revealed but rejected by many people because they already had the Bible. According to early church leader Heber C. Kimball, the response of many ministers was often "we need no more revelation," which he declared as fulfillment of the chapter 29 prophecy.[60]

Joseph of Egypt's prophecy quoted in Second Nephi 3 was also interpreted by early church members, who believed Joseph Smith to be "the choice seer" with the same name as his father.[61]

The Isaiah chapters

Intertextuality

Nephi quotes extensively from the Book of Isaiah throughout 1 and 2 Nephi, with passages largely appearing as they do in the Bible.[62] Elizabeth Fenton describes these passages as "not-quite-exact copying," with differences being minor.[63] J.N. Washburn, an independent scholar, cites that 199 of 433 verses from Isaiah appear with the same wording and proposes that Joseph Smith used the King James Bible version whenever it was close enough to the original meaning of the plates he was said to be translating and used the new translation when meaning differed.[64] According to author H. Clay Gorton, 2 Nephi 21 is the only Isaiah-quoted chapter in the Book of Mormon that, when compared to the KJV, sustains no textual differences. In a similar vein, 2 Nephi 22 and Isaiah 12 are different only by one word. Gorton has concluded that, where Isaiah verses differ in the Book of Mormon, approximately 38% of those changes are extensive.[65]

Philosopher Joseph Spencer calls Isaiah "the honored keynote speaker of the small plates."[66] Spencer also emphasizes that even beyond quotations, Jacob and Nephi's teachings both seem to be built on further ideas of Isaiah's.[67] A scholar involved in early studies of the Book of Mormon, Sidney Sperry, suggests that by including Isaiah's writings, Nephi points out the mission of Jesus Christ, the restoration of the house of Israel, and God’s judgments that follow.[68] Additionally, Nephi says he "delights" in Isaiah but explains that a knowledge of Jewish tradition is needed to understand his writings, according to literary critic Michael Austin. Nephi admits he has chosen not to teach his people certain knowledge and traditions with which he is familiar as a former resident of Jerusalem.[69]

Chapter comparison
2 Nephi Isaiah
2 Nephi 7 Isaiah 50
2 Nephi 8 Isaiah 51
2 Nephi 12-24 Isaiah 2-14
2 Nephi 27 Isaiah 29[70]

Deutero-Isaiah

In more modern times, scholars have theorized based on variation in style and structure that more than one author wrote the book of Isaiah. These authors are referred to as Isaiah, Deutero-Isaiah, and Trito-Isaiah. Deutero-Isaiah is thought to be born after the time Lehi’s family would have left Jerusalem.[71] Many of those writings which are considered to be part of Deutero-Isaiah are cited in Second Nephi as quotations from Isaiah. This implies that the Book of Mormon narrative disagrees that this section of Isaiah was written by someone other than its namesake.[72] An LDS doctrine course teacher's supplement cites the Book of Mormon as evidence that Isaiah wrote the whole book of Isaiah since pieces from throughout the book are said to be from the already compiled brass plates which Lehi's sons took from Jerusalem around 600 BC.[73]

Chiasmus

Joseph Spencer suggests that Isaiah appears as a sort of chiasmus in Nephi’s record, sandwiched between Jacob’s and Nephi’s explanations of his writings. In their explanations both men discuss reconciliation with God, contributing to its chiastic appearance. Additionally, Isaiah’s teachings as they appear in Second Nephi form a chiasmus: chapters 12-15 discuss destruction relating to the covenant people; chapter 16 contains a call to repentance, and chapters 17-22 follow themes of God’s covenant people returning to him.[74]

Typology

Biblical typology is a practice of interpretation that suggests Old Testament events are types or representations of future fulfillment of prophecy.[75] Isaiah's writing was described in scripture as things that "have been and will be," which aligns with typology's idea that written prophecies apply both to events in the writer's own day which create a type for the future, and to the latter days. Many of the prophecies quoted from Isaiah in Second Nephi regard Babylonian captivity, which Nephi believes to have already begun. Despite this understanding, Nephi also claims the prophecies will be useful in future times. According to Isaiah analyst and Latter-day Saint Avraham Gileadi, this can be viewed either as a contradiction in the text or with the lens of Nephi viewing Isaiah typologically.[76]

Isaiah and the Charles Anthon visit

Second Nephi 27 quotes a prophecy from Isaiah 29 in which the disregarded messages from prophets are compared to a sealed book. The book is delivered to "one who is learned," who says, "I cannot [read it] for it is sealed." In the Pearl of Great Price, another Latter-day Saint book of scripture, Martin Harris's visit to professor Charles Anthon with copied characters from the Book of Mormon is recorded. While records of the event vary between Anthon and Harris, Anthon's response as reported by Harris was "I cannot read a sealed book." Many Latter-day Saints see this visit as fulfilling Isaiah's prophecy.[77]

Cultural Reception

Nephi's psalm has appeared in numerous works by LDS creators. One such example is Mazmuur Naafi: The Arabic Psalm of Nephi by Ahmed Jamal Qureshi. In this work of visual art, the psalm is translated into Arabic and shaped into a circle. The color of the piece, author Josh E. Probert explains, points to blue tiles found inside mosques. Around the circle with the psalm are four smaller circles. Inside the circles are the names Lehi, Nephi, Moroni, and Joseph as figures related to the Book of Mormon's content.[78] Nephi's psalm has also been set to music, including "I Love the Lord" and "Sometimes My Soul" by John Tanner, as well as "I Glory in My Jesus" written by Millennial Choirs and Orchestras founders Brandon and Brett Stewart.[79]

See also

Notes

  1. ^ Skousen, Royal, ed. (2009). The Book of Mormon: The Earliest Text. Yale University Press. p. 752. ISBN 978-0-300-14218-1. Wikidata Q124395703.
  2. ^ Thomas 2016, p. 39.
  3. ^ Axelgard 1986, p. 54.
  4. ^ Hardy 2023, p. 85.
  5. ^ Spencer 2016a, pp. 33–34.
  6. ^ Axelgard 1986, p. 54; Thomas 2016, p. 39
  7. ^ a b Thomas 2016, p. 39-41.
  8. ^ Gardner 2007, p. 34.
  9. ^ Gardner 2007, p. 46.
  10. ^ 2 Nephi 3:1-15
  11. ^ Gardner 2007, p. 56.
  12. ^ Gardner 2007, p. 33-34.
  13. ^ Gardner 2007, p. 87.
  14. ^ Gardner 2007, p. 96.
  15. ^ Gardner 2007, p. 97.
  16. ^ Gardner 2007, p. 11; 2 Nephi 5:21-23
  17. ^ 2 Nephi 5:27; Thomas 2016, pp. 41–43
  18. ^ Thomas 2016, p. 43-44.
  19. ^ Arnold 1996, pp. 53–55.
  20. ^ Hardy 2023, p. 80-81.
  21. ^ Givens 2020, p. 42-43.
  22. ^ Gardner 2007, p. 187.
  23. ^ Gardner 2007, p. 191.
  24. ^ Thomas 2016, p. 44.
  25. ^ Givens 2020, p. 57.
  26. ^ a b Thomas 2016, p. 45.
  27. ^ Salleh and Hemming 2020, p. 89.
  28. ^ Thomas 2016, p. 46.
  29. ^ W. Axelgard, Frederick (1986). "1 and 2 Nephi: An Inspiring Whole". BYU Studies Quarterly. 26 (4): 55 – via ScholarsArchive.
  30. ^ Reynolds, Noel B. (Winter 1980). "Nephi's Outline". BYU Studies. 20 (2): 32 – via JSTOR.
  31. ^ Givens 2020, p. 3, 6, 33, 50.
  32. ^ Mauss 2003, pp. 116–118.
  33. ^ Mauss 2003, p. 213.
  34. ^ Mauss 2003, p. 127.
  35. ^ Mueller 2017, p. 35.
  36. ^ Hardy 2023, p. 79; 96.
  37. ^ a b Frederick 2024.
  38. ^ Morgan 2006, p. 72-73.
  39. ^ Morrill 2005, p. 137; Austin 2024, p. 39.
  40. ^ Smith 2017, p. 16.
  41. ^ Austin 2024, pp. 37–39.
  42. ^ "Julie M. Smith". www.byunewtestamentcommentary.com. BYU New Testament Commentary. Retrieved 26 February 2024.
  43. ^ a b Smith 2017, pp. 5, 8, 9–11.
  44. ^ Smith 2017, pp. 1–2.
  45. ^ As quoted and analyzed in Smith 2017, pp. 1–2. The address is Oaks, Dallin H. (October 1993). "The Great Plan of Happiness". The Ensign. Retrieved 26 February 2024.
  46. ^ Morrill 2005, p. 141.
  47. ^ Smith 2017, pp. 12–13.
  48. ^ Morrill 2005, pp. 138–140.
  49. ^ Thompson 1997, pp. 128–136.
  50. ^ Arnold 1996, pp. 50–52.
  51. ^ Nickerson, Matthew (1997-07-31). "Nephi's Psalm: 2 Nephi 4:16-35 in the Light of Form-Critical Analysis". Journal of Book of Mormon Studies. 6 (2): 30, 40–41. ISSN 2374-4766.
  52. ^ Salleh and Hemming 2020, p. 59-60.
  53. ^ Rust 1997, p. 11.
  54. ^ Rust 1997, p. 4.
  55. ^ Rust 1997, p. 27-29.
  56. ^ a b Rust 1997, p. 45.
  57. ^ Rust 1997, p. 66-67.
  58. ^ Bokovoy, David (2000-01-31). "From Distance to Proximity: A Poetic Function of Enallage in the Hebrew Bible and the Book of Mormon". Journal of Book of Mormon Studies. 9 (1): 62–63. ISSN 2374-4766.
  59. ^ Salleh and Hemming 2020, p. 61.
  60. ^ Underwood 1984, p. 46.
  61. ^ Underwood 1984, p. 47.
  62. ^ Givens 2009, p. 37.
  63. ^ Fenton, Elizabeth (2016-01-01). "Understanding the Book of Mormon". Journal of Book of Mormon Studies. 25 (1): 43–45.
  64. ^ Washburn 1954, p. 187.
  65. ^ Gorton 1994, p. 32.
  66. ^ Spencer, Joseph M. (2021). The Anatomy of Book of Mormon Theology. Vol. 1. Salt Lake City, Utah, USA: Greg Kofford Books. p. 16. ISBN 978-1-58958-780-9.
  67. ^ Spencer, Joseph M. (2016b). "Nephi, Isaiah, and Europe". In Spencer, Joseph M.; Webb, Jenny (eds.). Reading Nephi Reading Isaiah 2 Nephi 26–27 (2nd ed.). Neal A. Maxwell Institute for Religious Scholarship. pp. 17–18. ISBN 978-0-8425-2866-5.
  68. ^ Sperry, Sidney B. "The Isaiah Quotation: 2 Nephi 12-24". Journal of Book of Mormon Studies. 4 (1): 193 – via BYU ScholarsArchive.
  69. ^ Austin 2024, p. 157.
  70. ^ Washburn 1954, p. 188.
  71. ^ Washburn 1954, p. 190.
  72. ^ Gorton 1994, pp. 49–51.
  73. ^ Smith 1983, p. 49.
  74. ^ Spencer 2016a, pp. 53–54.
  75. ^ Anderson, Bernard W. (1962). "Exodus Typology in Second Isaiah". In Anderson, B.; Harrelson, W. (eds.). Israel's Prophetic Heritage: Essays in Honor of James Muilenburg. Harper & Brothers. p. 177.
  76. ^ Gileadi, Avraham (1984). "Isaiah: Four Latter-day Keys to an Ancient Book". In Monte, Monte S. (ed.). Isaiah and the prophets: Inspired Voices from the Old Testament from the Old Testament. Religious Studies Center Brigham Young University. p. 134.
  77. ^ Smith 1983, pp. 45–46; Smith, Thomasson & Welch 1992, p. 73
  78. ^ Mason 2023; Probert 2006
  79. ^ Mason 2023.

Sources

Further reading

External links

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