2 Nephi 9:1-5

Back in the dark ages when I was attending the University of Utah, I took a Book of Mormon class at the Institute of Religion.  The instructor (Bro. Gonzales, as I recall) spent a lot of time talking about 2 Nephi 9.  He said he loved this chapter because it contained so many gospel truths.  That's why I decided to look at this set of scriptures next.

A little background.  Jacob, Nephi's brother, is the speaker.  This sermon occurs about three decades after Laman, Lemuel, and their "followers" have split from Nephi's group.  The heading to chapter 6 gives us an overview of Jacob's sermon.

"Jacob recounts Jewish history: Their Babylonian captivity and return; the ministry and crucifixion of the Holy One of Israel; the help received from the gentiles; and their Latter-day restoration when they believe in the Messiah."

The next two chapters are readings from Isaiah (chapters 50, 51, 52:1-2).  These chapters have messianic prophesies of Isaiah and a discussion of the gathering of Israel.

Jacob picks up his sermon in Chapter 9.

Jews shall be gathered in all their lands of promise—Atonement ransoms man from the fall—The bodies of the dead shall come forth from the grave, and their spirits from hell and from paradise—They shall be judged—Atonement saves from death, hell, the devil, and endless torment—The righteous to be saved in the kingdom of God—Penalties for sins set forth—The Holy One of Israel is the keeper of the gate.

2 Nephi 9:Heading

(Note - I recently purchased A Reader's Edition to the Book of Mormon by Grant Hardy.  In this book, he breaks up each chapter into paragraphs to help the narrative flow more easily.  I'm going to break up this chapter using the paragraph breaks found in Hardy's book (see pgs. 83-89).

1  AND now, my beloved brethren, I have read these things that ye might know concerning the covenants of the Lord that he has covenanted with all the house of Israel—
2  That he has spoken unto the Jews, by the mouth of his holy prophets, even from the beginning down, from generation to generation, until the time comes that they shall be restored to the true church and fold of God; when they shall be gathered home to the lands of their inheritance, and shall be established in all their lands of promise.
3  Behold, my beloved brethren, I speak unto you these things that ye may rejoice, and lift up your heads forever, because of the blessings which the Lord God shall bestow upon your children.

2 Nephi 9:1 - 3 (Emphasis mine)

The gathering of Israel is very important to Nephi.  He frequently discusses it in his writings, so it's not surprising to see Jacob discussing that very topic as a part of his sermon.  Here Jacob reiterates the word of the Lord as found in Isaiah. 

3  That then the LORD thy God will turn thy captivity, and have compassion upon thee, and will return and gather thee from all the nations, whither the LORD thy God hath scattered thee.

Deuteronomy 30:3

14  And I will be found of you, saith the LORD: and I will turn away your captivity, and I will gather you from all the nations, and from all the places whither I have driven you, saith the LORD; and I will bring you again into the place whence I caused you to be carried away captive.

Jeremiah 29:14

37  Behold, I will gather them out of all countries, whither I have driven them in mine anger, and in my fury, and in great wrath; and I will bring them again unto this place, and I will cause them to dwell safely:
38  And they shall be my people, and I will be their God:
39  And I will give them one heart, and one way, that they may fear me for ever, for the good of them, and of their children after them:

Jeremiah 32:37 - 39 (Emphasis mine)

2  Let the redeemed of the LORD say so, whom he hath redeemed from the hand of the enemy;
3  And gathered them out of the lands, from the east, and from the west, from the north, and from the south.
4  They wandered in the wilderness in a solitary way; they found no city to dwell in.
5  Hungry and thirsty, their soul fainted in them.
6  Then they cried unto the LORD in their trouble, and he delivered them out of their distresses.
7  And he led them forth by the right way, that they might go to a city of habitation.

Psalms 107:2 - 7 (Emphasis mine)

4  For I know that ye have searched much, many of you, to know of things to come; wherefore I know that ye know that our flesh must waste away and die; nevertheless, in our bodies we shall see God.
5  Yea, I know that ye know that in the body he shall show himself unto those at Jerusalem, from whence we came; for it is expedient that it should be among them; for it behooveth the great Creator that he suffereth himself to become subject unto man in the flesh, and die for all men, that all men might become subject unto him.

2 Nephi 9:4 - 5 (Emphasis mine)

Jacob touches upon the atonement in these scriptures.  He teaches that we will someday stand before God in our bodies.  He will come to Earth at Jerusalem, and he will die and, if we choose, we will become subject unto him.

Job's words are a marvelous proclamation of the truth Jacob teaches in these two scriptures (and a great way to end this post!).

25  For I know that my Redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth:
26  And though after my skin worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God:

Job 19:25 - 26 (Emphasis mine)