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

Book of Mormon Commentary
1 Nephi Chapter 3
government and Constitution of this land "by the hands of wise men whom I raised up" (D. and C.
98:10h; see also 95:2a, b).
The prosperity of the North American people is not based on their piety, but upon their favorable
location, government, and personal industry and ingenuity. It is not God's purpose to bribe
individuals to serve him or "to be good" by giving material blessings. However, he assures us as a
nation and as individuals that good results will follow the application of right principles. When the
Nephites were keeping God's laws, they were fair and beautiful to look upon. As they departed
from God they became even worse than the Lamanites (Mn. 2:44; see also A. 1:104).
1 Ne 3:153 And I beheld that their mother Gentiles were gathered together upon the waters, and upon
the land also, to battle against them;
3:153 Most good things come at a price. England, France, Holland, Portugal, and Spain were not
to give up their claims in the new world without a struggle. The French and Indian War was
fought, and the states received a large territory south of the St. Lawrence Gulf and river in 1783.
Holland gave up New Amsterdam to the British in 1664. The war of 1775 to 1779 and 1812 with
the British gave the Colonies the land and independence. This is referred to as "redeemed the land
by the shedding of blood" (D. and C. 98:10 h). France sold a vast territory (828,000 square milesthe
Louisiana Purchase) for fifteen million dollars in 1803.
Florida was acquired from Spain in 1821 for $6,674,057.00. Russia ceded Alaska to the United
States in 1857 for $7,200,000.00.
THE BIBLE PRBDICTED, VER. 156-175
1 Ne 3:157 And I beheld a book, and it was carried forth among them.
3: 157 This part of the vision brings out the importance of the scriptures to those who love God
and wish to obey the law. Jeremiah was directed, "Take thee a roll of a book, and write therein all
the words that I have spoken" (36:2; see also Ezek. 2:9). This referred to a scroll or a rolled
manuscript.
1 Ne 3:160 And he said, Behold, it proceedeth out of the mouth of a Jew; and I, Nephi, beheld it;
3:160 Nephi saw the Old Testament. Jesus refers to its three divisions, "all things must be fulfilled
which were written in the law of Moses, and in the prophets, and in the Psalms, concerning me"
(Luke 24:43)
After Ezra, the priest, returned from the Babylonian captivity, the Jews gathered in the street and
asked him to read the Law of Moses or Torah (Neh. 8:1). He brought the book and read "from the
morning until mid-day." This continued for seven days.
"So they read in the book in the law of God distinctly, and gave the sense, and caused them to
understand the reading" (Neh. 8:8). Scripture reading continued in the synagogues (Luke 4:16) in
Jesus' time. The understanding literally proceeded from the mouth of the Jew, being accompanied
by comments which brought out the meaning.