After pointing out to Laman and Lemuel that they would be
cut off from the Lord if they did not repent, he told them he was warning them
so ”that these things might not come upon
you, but that ye might be a choice and a favored people of the Lord” (2
Nephi 1:19). Nevertheless, the Lord’s “will be done; for his ways are
righteousness forever” (2 Nephi 1:19).
When prophesying that Ephraim would return to the Lord, Hosea wrote, “Who is wise, and he shall understand these things? prudent, and he shall know them? for the ways of the LORD are right, and the
just shall walk in them: but the transgressors shall fall therein” (Hosea
14:9).
Richard Rust explains that Lehi’s words were also directed
to the descendants of Laman and Lemuel.
Challenging his oldest sons to
"Awake! and arise from the dust" (2 Nephi 1:14), Lehi directs his
words also to the descendants of Laman and Lemuel in the latter days. While he
fears that "a cursing should come upon you for the space of many
generations," he hopes that "these things might not come upon you,
but that ye might be a choice and a favored people of the Lord" (2 Nephi
1:18–19).[1]
Lehi emphasizes they key to the future prosperity and peace in
the Promised Land, “Inasmuch as ye shall
keep my commandments ye shall prosper in the land; but inasmuch as ye will not
keep my commandments ye shall be cut off from my presence” (1 Nephi 1:20).
The primary purpose and message of the Book of Mormon is “the convincing of the Jew and Gentile that
JESUS is the CHRIST, the ETERNAL GOD, manifesting himself unto all nations”
(Book of Mormon Title Page:2). Next
comes the promise and warning to all the people that inhabit this Land of
Promise that their peace and prosperity in this land is conditioned upon their
righteousness. Let’s look a series of
scriptures emphasizing this point.
·
Jarom writes:
“And thus being prepared to meet
the Lamanites, they did not prosper against us.
But the word of the Lord was verified, which he spake unto our fathers,
saying that: Inasmuch as ye will keep my commandments ye shall prosper in the
land”
·
(Jarom 1:9).
·
Amaron wrote:
“Behold, it came to pass that three
hundred and twenty years had passed away [279 B.C.], and the more wicked part
of the Nephites were destroyed. For the
Lord would not suffer, after he had led them out of the land of Jerusalem and
kept and preserved them from falling into the hands of their enemies, yea, he
would not suffer that the words should not be verified, which he spake unto our
fathers, saying that: Inasmuch as ye will not keep my commandments ye shall not
prosper in the land” (Omni 1:5-6).
·
King Benjamin told his sons: “I
would that ye should remember to search [the records of our forefathers]
diligently, that ye may profit thereby; and I would that ye should keep the
commandments of God, that ye may prosper in the land according to the promises
which the Lord made unto our fathers” (Mosiah 1:7).
·
Alma told the people of Ammonihah: “Behold,
do ye not remember the words which he spake unto Lehi, saying that: Inasmuch as
ye shall keep my commandments, ye shall prosper in the land? And again it is said that: Inasmuch as ye
will not keep my commandments ye shall be cut off from the presence of the
Lord. Now I would that ye should
remember, that inasmuch as the Lamanites have not kept the commandments of God,
they have been cut off from the presence of the Lord. Now we see that the word of the Lord has been
verified in this thing, and the Lamanites have been cut off from his presence,
from the beginning of their transgressions in the land” (Alma 9:13 - 14).
·
Alma told Helaman: “But
behold, my son, this is not all; for ye ought to know as I do know, that inasmuch
as ye shall keep the commandments of God ye shall prosper in the land; and ye
ought to know also, that inasmuch as ye will not keep the commandments of God
ye shall be cut off from his presence.
Now this is according to his word” (Alma 36:30); “O remember, remember, my son Helaman, how strict
are the commandments of God. And he
said: If ye will keep my commandments ye shall prosper in the land—but if ye
keep not his commandments ye shall be cut off from his presence” (Alma
37:13).
From these examples, we see the Lord made it clear that if
we want to prosper in the Promised Land, we must be a righteous people. If not, we will suffer the consequences of
our wickedness.
Sidney Sperry observes:
The historical interpretation found in the Book of Mormon
reminds one somewhat of the type found in Chronicles. The chronicler definitely
attempts to show that blessings follow those who keep the law of the Lord, and
that punishment befalls the sinner. In the Book of Mormon the historians
constantly emphasize and attempt to drive home the idea that if the people keep
the commandments of the Lord they will prosper in the land; otherwise they will
be cut off from his presence. Second Nephi 1 is almost entirely devoted to this
doctrine…[2]
In many of these scriptures, the words of Lehi are either
quoted or paraphrased. Alan Goff
explains:
The Nephites are constantly
referring to earlier passages from their scripture for insight on how they
should live (for example, Amulek in Alma 10:19 refers to King Mosiah's
discussion of leaders and citizens from Mosiah 29:27; likewise, Alma 9:13 is
one of many instances in which the Nephites refer back to 2 Nephi 1:20); not
only were the Nephites the "original audience," their use of the text
shows how quickly the records became canonical for them.[3]
Should we fall away, but repent, the Lord will forgive us
and we will resume peace and prosperity.
Be
glad then, ye children of Zion, and rejoice in the LORD your God: for he hath
given you the former rain moderately, and he will cause to come down for you
the brain, the former rain, and the clatter rain in the
first month.
And
the floors shall be full of wheat, and the fats [OR vats] shall overflow with
wine and oil.
And
I will restore to you the years that the locust hath eaten, the cankerworm, and
the caterpiller, and the palmerworm, my great army which I sent among you.
And
ye shall eat in plenty, and be satisfied, and praise the name of the LORD your
God, that hath dealt wondrously with you: and my people shall never be ashamed.
Joel 2:23 - 26
The Lord told Alma1, “Yea,
and as often as my people repent will I forgive them their trespasses against
me” (Mosiah 26:30). King Solomon
wrote: “Let the people praise thee, O God; let all the people praise thee. Then shall the earth yield her increase; and
God, even our own God, shall bless us. God
shall bless us; and all the ends of the earth shall fear him” (Psalms 67:5
- 7).
King Benjamin told his people:
I
say unto you that if ye should serve him who has created you from the
beginning, and is preserving you from day to day, by lending you breath, that
ye may live and move and do according to your own will, and even supporting you
from one moment to another—I say, if ye should serve him with all your whole
souls yet ye would be unprofitable servants.
And
behold, all that he requires of you is to keep his commandments; and he has promised
you that if ye would keep his commandments ye should prosper in the land; and
he never doth vary from that which he hath said; therefore, if ye do keep his commandments
he doth bless you and prosper you.
And
now, in the first place, he hath created you, and granted unto you your lives,
for which ye are indebted unto him.
And
secondly, he doth require that ye should do as he hath commanded you; for which
if ye do, he doth immediately bless you; and therefore he hath paid you. And ye are still indebted unto him, and are,
and will be, forever and ever; therefore, of what have ye to boast?
And
now I ask, can ye say aught of yourselves?
I answer you, Nay. Ye cannot say
that ye are even as much as the dust of the earth; yet ye were created of the dust
of the earth; but behold, it belongeth to him who created you.
Mosiah 2:21 – 25
[1] "Great Things the Lord Hath Done" -
Epic Elements, Richard
Dilworth Rust, Provo, Utah: Maxwell Institute, accessed May 25,
2013.
[2] Types of Literature in the Book of Mormon:
Historical Narrative, Memoir, Prophetic Discourse, Oratory, Sidney B. Sperry, Provo,
Utah: Maxwell Institute, accessed May 25, 2013.
[3] Scratching the Surface of Book of Mormon
Narratives, Alan Goff, Provo,
Utah: Maxwell Institute, accessed May 25, 2013.
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