Book of Mormon Commentary CofC - Odessa, Missouri Community ...

RELIGIOUS RIVALRY, VER. 1-18
Book of Mormon Commentary
2 Nephi Chapter 12
2 Ne 12:2 And the things which shall be written out of the book shall be of great worth unto the
children of men, and especially unto our seed, which is a remnant of the house of Israel.
12:2 The Lord had promised Nephi to “bring forth the words of a book, and they shall be the
words of them which have slumbered" (11:125). This is the Book of Mormon. It was to be
valuable to all men but especially to Lehi's descendants. Its full purpose has not yet been realized,
as neither the Jews nor Lamanites have had the “scales of darkness" (12: 84) taken from their eyes
nor has the curse placed upon them been removed. As already noted, the time seems near at hand
(comments on II N. 6:2). The remnants of the Lamanites who are among the American Indians and
Latin Americans are beginning to respond to the call of Christ.
2 Ne 12:3 For it shall come to pass in that day, that the churches which are built up, and not unto the
Lord, when the one shall say unto the other, Behold, I, I am the Lord's; and the other shall say, I, I am
the Lord's.
12:3 Nephi was shown a condition which should arise when false priests would stir up contention
and strive for followers. Their teaching would be from their learning, while denying the power of
the Holy Spirit to give them utterance. "Hearken unto us, and hear ye our precept" (12:6). "The
Redeemer hath done his work, and he hath given his power unto men" (7). "This day he is not a
God of miracles; he hath done his work" (8). Thus men alienate themselves from a trust in God
and build up their own ego. The next step is an easygoing religion which has no redemptive value.
2 Ne 12:10 And there shall also be many which shall say, Eat, drink, and be merry; nevertheless, fear
God, he will justify in committing a little sin: yea, lie a little, take the advantage of one because of his
words, dig a pit for thy neighbor; there is no harm in this.
12:10 Here is the kind of sophistry which will be given to those who "will not endure sound
doctrine; but after their own lusts shall heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears” (11 Tim.
4:3). It is a popular religion because it has respectability without demanding any sacrifices. It
condones a self-indulgent way of living. Thoughtless people excuse small sins with a flippant, "If I
never do anything worse than that, I think Saint Peter will let me by the gate," But God has said, "I
the Lord can not look upon sin with the least degree of allowance" (D. and C. 1:5 f; A, 21:18).
2 Ne 12:11 And do all these things, for to-morrow we die; and if it so be that we are guilty, God will
beat us with a few stripes, and at last we shall be saved in the kingdom of God.
12:11 Death does not change character. If we die self-centered, careless sinners, we shall be
resurrected with those same characteristics. The parable of dividing the sheep from the goats
(Matt.25:33-47) has been misinterpreted. Many have concluded that an arbitrary line will be
drawn, and only those who have been gross sinners will lose celestial glory, that God will justify a
little sinning. The New Testament teaches that each person shall be judged and rewarded
according to his works, or the deeds done in the flesh (Rev, 20:12; Phil. 2:12; Jas. 2:14-18)