Jacob's Testimony of the Plan of Salvation

I have often wondered how it is that the Jews at the time of Christ seemingly had no understanding of His mission and of the Plan of Salvation. Lehi, Nephi, Jacob, Alma, Abinadi, and others had the same scriptures as the Jewish scribes and Pharisees but understood who the Messiah would be and were watching for Him. Jacob tells is that "no other nation on earth would crucify their God". What was it that corrupted their faith? Priestcraft. Understanding this helps you understand why the Nephities took the rise of Priestcraft among their own people so seriously. Made it a capitol offense. It would destroy the people's ability to recognize and follow Christ.
Jacob bears a clear and beautiful testimony of the great Plan of Salvation and the central role of the Savior's Atonement. He witnesses in 2 Nephi 11:4 that "Behold, my soul delighteth in proving unto my people the truth of the coming of Christ; for, for this end hath the law of Moses been given; and all things which have been given of God from the beginning of the world, unto man, are the typifying of him." What a powerful thought. Everything God has revealed to man is to point us to Christ and teach us of His Atonement. Every revelation, commandment, covenant, insight, test, trial and gift is to remind us and turn us to Christ. In each of these circumstances we need to ask, "What am I to learn of Christ and His Atonement?" "How can this point me to Christ?" As we do this we will find that we are closer to our Savior and are enduring trails with greater strength, purpose, patience and faith.

Great are the words of Isaiah

When the resurrected Lord appeared to the Nephites he commanded them to search the words of Isaiah. "And now, behold, I say unto you, that ye ought to search these things. Yea, a commandment I give unto you that ye search these things diligently; for great are the words of Isaiah."

This has proven a difficult commandment for many today even though Nephi proclaims that we should understand them better than anyone except maybe the Jews he taught in person! "...for I know that they shall be of great worth unto them in the last days; for in that day shall they understand them; wherefore, for their good have I written them." (2 Nephi 25:8) If you are struggling your way through the Isaiah chapters of the Book of Mormon may I suggest you try to look for what Nephi said they would do for you?

“…now I write some of the words of Isaiah, that whoso of my people shall see these words may lift up their hearts and rejoice for all men. And now I, Nephi, write more of the words of Isaiah, for my soul delighteth in his words. For I will liken his words unto my people, and I will send them forth unto all my children, for he verily saw my Redeemer, even as I have seen him. And I, Nephi, have written these things unto my people, that perhaps I might persuade them that they would remember the Lord their Redeemer.”

The Savior added; “For surely he spake as touching all things concerning my people which are of the house of Israel; therefore it must needs be that he must speak also to the Gentiles.”

As I have read the Isaiah chapters in 1 Nephi this time I have asked the following question: What does this teaching, prophecy or experience of Isaiah teach me about the Savior? So far I have seen the following: 

1. He knows our tendency to take credit for things. He emphasizes the eternal nature of truth and reminds us of the source for real truth...His word given through prophets.
2. He knows our hearts and intentions
3. He knows our tendency to take credit for things. He emphasizes the eternal nature of truth and reminds us of the source for real truth...His word given through prophets.
4. The Lord prepares us for His service when we are willing.
5. Christ knew us before we were born, He knows us better than we know us because the veil has taken our early memories away for a time.
6. He will prepare the way for us and care for our needs when we obey.
7. He loves His prophets and will fulfill all He commands them to reveal.
8. He is the creator and was with the Father in the beginning. All things obey His voice.
9. God will not give His glory to man. He will refine man through trial and affliction that they may learn and come to Him again.

 As Nephi finishes sharing Isaiah's words he teaches his brothers about what he has shared and repeats over and over that the righteous will be safe, have no need to fear, will be preserved and that a way will be prepared for them. He repeatedly mentions that because a prophet said it, it will happen. We need to have that same faith and trust in the words of the prophets, ancient and modern.

Our stake just had stake conference and the theme of appreciating and listening to our prophets and apostles was repeated several times. They are asking us to do some simple things: Fast and pay a generous fast offering (Elder Eyring Oct 2015), Delight in the Sabbath (Elder Nelson April 2015), stand up for the Lord's values by being examples of Christ (President Monson Oct 2015), Stay in the boat and within the safeguards of the commandments (Elder Ballard, President Monson, Elder Keetch, Sister Stephens, and many more). As we harken and obey we will be blessed in the ways Nephi promised. We will be safe with no need to fear. We will be preserved and a way will be provided for us.

Experience the cost of Wisdom

The most profound knowledge is gained through personal experience. Have you ever known a mom or dad or grandparent who seems to know everything? I would wager that if you got to know them very well you would discover that much of what they know they learned at a high price. Years of personal and probably painful experience has been their tutor. I sometimes think that I want to save my kids from my mistakes but know that working through their own mistakes will give them wisdom and if they have to face some of the same hard lessons I did then at least I will know how to support them through the bounce back.

Because I am in 1 Nephi many of my thoughts will be about Nephi and his brothers for a while. I think of Nephi and all that he experienced, the wonderful and the horrible. Here are a few things I have learned from him this time through 1 Nephi.

1. Make the time and put in the effort to know. When Lehi told his sons about his visions Laman and Lemuel just assumed he was a crazy old man. Nephi on the other hand considered his words, compared them to the scripture he knew to be true and then went to the Lord to know for himself. As a result Nephi ended up with remarkable wisdom. He was able to see what Lehi saw and perhaps even more as suggested by his interpretation of the vision of the Tree of Life.

2. Don't take things personally and forgive quickly and completely. When his brothers beat him with a rod, plotted and attempted to kill him (more than once!), bound him to the mast of a ship, and constantly doubted and mocked him he was always was quick to forgive and made sure he use every teaching moment possible to remind them that he was not anything special, they could have the experiences he had if they would turn to God and obey His commandments. He knew that their anger was a result of their own disobedience and guilt and not anything he was responsible for.

3. Follow your living prophet and trust in the prophecies of old. Nephi shares Isaiah's writings from the Brass Plates with us and with his brothers. In chapter 19 he says, "And I, Nephi, have written these things unto my people, that perhaps I might persuade them that they would remember the Lord their Redeemer. For behold, I have workings in the spirit, which doth weary me even that all my joints are weak, for those who are at Jerusalem; for had not the Lord been merciful, to show unto me concerning them, even as he had prophets of old, I should have perished also. And he surely did show unto the prophets of old all things concerning them; and also he did show unto many concerning us; wherefore, it must needs be that we know concerning them for they are written upon the plates of brass. Now it came to pass that I, Nephi, did teach my brethren these things; and it came to pass that I did read many things to them, which were engraven upon the plates of brass, that they might know concerning the doings of the Lord in other lands, among people of old. And I did read many things unto them which were written in the books of Moses; but that I might more fully persuade them to believe in the Lord their Redeemer I did read unto them that which was written by the prophet Isaiah; for I did liken all scriptures unto us, that it might be for our profit and learning. Wherefore I spake unto them, saying: Hear ye the words of the prophet, ye who are a remnant of the house of Israel, a branch who have been broken off; hear ye the words of the prophet, which were written unto all the house of Israel, and liken them unto yourselves, that ye may have hope as well as your brethren from whom ye have been broken off; for after this manner has the prophet written." In 1 Nephi 22 is gives his summation of what he hopes we will learn from the teachings of Isaiah he shares. "Wherefore, my brethren, I would that ye should consider that the things which have been written upon the plates of brass are true; and they testify that a man must be obedient to the commandments of God. Wherefore, ye need not suppose that I and my father are the only ones that have testified, and also taught them. Wherefore, if ye shall be obedient to the commandments, and endure to the end, ye shall be saved at the last day. And thus it is. Amen." And thus it is,,,if we obey the counsel of the living prophets and trust in their promises as if they cam from the Lord Himself, because they do, then we can enjoy the same blessings Nephi enjoyed: Strength to do hard things, comfort during trial, wisdom, understanding of the scriptures, gifts of the Spirit and so much more.