2 Nephi 9:52-54

Note:  As with the previous post, I am using the same layout for this set of scriptures found in The Book of Mormon, A Reader's Edition (pgs. 88-89) by Grant Hardy.

52  Behold, my beloved brethren, 

         remember the words of your God; 

      pray unto him continually by day, 

         and give thanks unto his holy name by night.  

     Let your hearts rejoice.
         53  And behold how great the covenants of the Lord, 

         and how great his condescensions unto the children of men; 

and because of his greatness, and his grace and mercy, he has promised unto us that our seed shall not utterly be destroyed, according to the flesh, but that he would preserve them; and in future generations they shall become a righteous branch unto the house of Israel.
54  And now, my brethren, I would speak unto you more; but on the morrow I will declare unto you the remainder of my words.  Amen.

2 Nephi 9:52-54 (Emphasis mine)

In closing, Jacob reminds his congregation to constantly pray to God and rejoice.  He has given the people some hard truths about their spiritual state.  He has warned them of the consequences of their sin; yet, now he tells them to rejoice in His words.

The people now have no excuse for ignoring the word of God.  Nephi and Jacob have preached it to them.  Jacob has given them a sermon pointing our the harsh realities in the eternities if they continue on the paths they are taking.

4  Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name.
5  For the LORD is good; his mercy is everlasting; and his truth endureth to all generations.

Psalms 100:4-5 (Emphasis mine)

6  Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.

Philippians 4:6 (Emphasis mine)

In the April 2010 General Conference, President Monson said:

My brothers and sisters, do we remember to give thanks for the blessings we receive? Sincerely giving thanks not only helps us recognize our blessings, but it also unlocks the doors of heaven and helps us feel God’s love.  My beloved friend President Gordon B. Hinckley said, 'When you walk with gratitude, you do not walk with arrogance and conceit and egotism, you walk with a spirit of thanksgiving that is becoming to you and will bless your lives.' ' " (Emphasis mine)

Jacob reminds them that the condescension of God is great.  I remember when I first started reading the Book of Mormon, I was confused by the word condescension.  I had always heard it used in a negative way - That guy is so condescending.  What did the scriptures mean when the talked about the condescension of Christ?  First, I want to look at the etymology of the word.

condescend  

 

mid-14c., "to yield deferentially," from O.Fr. condescendere (14 century) "to agree, consent, give in, yield," from Late Latin condescendere "to let oneself down," from Classical Latin com- "together" (see com-) + descendere "descend" (see descend). Sense of "to sink willingly to equal terms with inferiors" is from mid-15 century. (Online Etymology Dictionary, condescend, accessed May 15, 2011) 

 

When we discuss the condescension of God, we mean that God is willing to deal with us.  It is obvious just how great He is.  Yet, in spite of His greatness, He willingly deals with us in our world and our sinful condition.  This is a sign of His great and powerful love for us, His children.  Once I understood what was being said, I came to realize just how great this is for us.  

 

1  PRAISE ye the LORD.  Praise, O ye servants of the LORD, praise the name of the LORD.

2  Blessed be the name of the LORD from this time forth and for evermore.
3  From the rising of the sun unto the going down of the same the LORD's name is to be praised.
4  The LORD is high above all nations, and his glory above the heavens.
5  Who is like unto the LORD our God, who dwelleth on high,
6  Who humbleth himself to behold the things that are in heaven, and in the earth!

Psalms 113:1-6 (Emphasis mine)

 9  But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honour; that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man.

Hebrews 2:9 (Emphasis mine)

What were the key ideas in 2 Nephi 9?  Here are the key gospel points.

• Death comes about because of the Fall.
• God has prepared a way for us to overcome death.
• The resurrection came about because of death and the Fall.
• There must be an atonement.
• The atonement meets the demands of justice.
• We will have a perfect knowledge of our sins and our righteousness.
• The rich and the wise turn away from God.
• It is good to be wise (learned) if we follow the counsel of God.
• The words of truth are hard on the wicked.
• We must prepare our souls for the day of judgement.
• We must be taught about the consequences of our sins.

Jacob has given us many powerful and great truths we must know and understand.

As Nephi(1) put together his small plates (Nevertheless, I have received a commandment of the Lord that I should make these plates, for the special purpose that there should be an account engraven of the ministry of my people. 1 Nephi 9:3), he chose to include this sermon.  Why?  Of course, we will never know exactly why he did.  Even so, I think we can consider a possible explanation.

Much of Nephi(1)'s preaching consisted of warning his brothers about the consequences of their sins and disobedience.  This sermon wonderfully falls into the category of warning.  In many ways, as I read 2 Nephi 9, it's almost like Jacob could be reading a sermon written by Nephi(1).  That doesn't surprise me.  Jacob is the spiritual successor of Nephi(1).  I can see Nephi(1) and Jacob becoming close as Jacob grew up.  Jacob accepted Nephi(1)'s teachings.  As they family fell apart and both spiritually and physically divided, I can see Jacob becoming more important to Nephi(1).  He is the one he would turn to to discuss his teachings.  Nephi(1) probably used him as a sounding board as he prepared his sermons and gospel teachings.  

Jacob became his partner in the preaching of the word of God.  I an convinced this is why Jacob's sermon was included in the sacred portion of Nephi(1)'s record.  I can easily see Nephi(1) shaking his head as Jacob speaks, thinking, "That's right.  I like the way he said that.  I'm glad he brought that up."  In short, I would not be surprised if, after the sermon was done, Nephi(1) went up to Jacob and said, "I couldn't have put that any better myself."  This sermon was important to Nephi, and he realized that today's readers would find spiritual truth that would help them in their lives.  

This is why I think this sermon was included.

I am grateful to Jacob for giving this powerful sermon, to Nephi(1) for including it in his record, and the Lord for inspiring these great men to teach, not only the Nephites, but us great and eternal truths we need to know as we face the challenges of today.