Nephi took pride in plain speaking. He does so in order for his people to
understand his words. Writing about the
Exodus, Nephi reminds his people of the incident with the poisonous serpents. The serpent raised up by Moses, which would
heal the people, represents Christ. Speaking
to Nicodemus, the Savior told him, “And
as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man
be lifted up” (John 3:14).
Before leaving for the Promised Land, Nephi had told Laman
and Lemuel, “And he did straiten them in
the wilderness with his rod; for they hardened their hearts, even as ye have;
and the Lord straitened them because of their iniquity. He sent fiery flying serpents among them; and
after they were bitten he prepared a way that they might be healed; and the
labor which they had to perform was to look; and because of the simpleness of
the way, or the easiness of it, there were many who perished” (1 Nephi 17:41)
Alma2 made clear that it was the Savior who “was spoken of by Moses; yea, and behold a type
was raised up in the wilderness, that whosoever would look upon it might live. And many did look and live” (Alma 33:19).
Nephi3 told the crowd, “Yea, did he not bear record that the Son of God should come? And as he lifted up the brazen serpent in the
wilderness, even so shall he be lifted up who should come. And as many as
should look upon that serpent should live, even so as many as should look upon
the Son of God with faith, having a contrite spirit, might live, even unto that
life which is eternal” (Helaman 8:14 - 15).
Nephi testified to his people (and the readers of the Book
of Mormon today), “that as these things are true, and as the Lord God liveth,
there is none other name given under heaven save it be this Jesus Christ, of
which I have spoken, whereby man can be saved” (2 Nephi 25:20).
When Peter testified to “Annas
the high priest, and Caiaphas, and John, and Alexander, and as many as were of
the kindred of the high priest” (Acts 4:6), he told them, “Neither is there salvation in any other:
for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved”
(Acts 4:12).
Nephi again reminds us that he received a promise from the
Lord his record will be preserved, “from
generation to generation” (2 Nephi 25:21).
The promise made to Joseph that his seed will not perish “as long as the earth should stand” (2
Nephi 25:21).
Amos wrote about the promise made to Joseph by the Lord. “Hate
the evil, and love the good, and establish judgment in the gate: it may be that
the LORD God of hosts will be gracious unto the remnant of Joseph” (Amos 5:15).
When General Moroni1 recruited Nephites for his
army, carrying the Title of Liberty, the Nephite descent from Joseph play are
part of his call.
Yea, let us preserve our liberty as
a remnant of Joseph; yea, let us remember the words of Jacob, before his death,
for behold, he saw that a part of the remnant of the coat of Joseph was preserved
and had not decayed. And he said—Even as
this remnant of garment of my son hath been preserved, so shall a remnant of
the seed of my son be preserved by the hand of God, and be taken unto himself,
while the remainder of the seed of Joseph shall perish, even as the remnant of his
garment.
Now behold, this giveth my soul
sorrow; nevertheless, my soul hath joy in my son, because of that part of his
seed which shall be taken unto God.
Now behold, this was the language
of Jacob.
And now who knoweth but what the
remnant of the seed of Joseph, which shall perish as his garment, are those who
have dissented from us? Yea, and even it
shall be ourselves if we do not stand fast in the faith of Christ.
Alma 46:24-27
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