BOOK OF MORMON STUDY GUIDES: 1 Nephi 13-15

Monday, March 5, 2007

1 Nephi 13-15

1 Nephi – Lesson 4: 1 Nephi 13-15

Note: Nephi’s vision is retold in chapters 11-14 of First Nephi. Chapters 11-12 contain Nephi’s prophecy regarding the Savior’s mortal ministry. Chapters 13-14 contain Nephi’s prophecy about the future of the promised land (the Americas) and the formation of two “churches.” The “great and abominable church” described in these chapters might more properly be called an abominable “kingdom” or “organization.” No specific church or denomination is implied.

Day 1: Read 1 Nephi 13:1-18
1. As your read 1 Nephi 1:1-9, list what Nephi said are the desires of those under the influence of Satan.

2. Read the article under “Gentile” in the Bible Dictionary. What are the two meanings of the word “gentile” as used in scripture? Which meaning do you think Nephi intended in these verses? How were they in captivity?

3. Give possible meanings for “many waters” (v.10); “a man among the Gentiles” (v. 12); “other Gentiles” (v.13); “mother Gentiles” (v.17)’ and “battle” (v.18 – in other words, which battle or war?).

Day 2: Read 1 Nephi 13:19-33
4. What do you think is represented by the book Nephi describes as being carried by the Gentiles, which “proceedeth out of the mouth of a Jew”?

5. What did Nephi see would happen to this book that would cause the Gentiles to stumble?

6. What were the promises to Nephi regarding his seed in vv. 30-33?

Day 3: Read 1 Nephi 13:34-42
7. How will we be blessed if we seek to bring forth Zion and endure to the end?

8. List some possible explanations or interpretations of the records Nephi saw which would come forth to restore plain and precious truths.

9. How will the first be last and the last first?

Day 4: Read 1 Nephi 14:1-14
10. 1 Nephi 14:1-3 contains multiple IF/THEN statements. What are the two “IF” parts of the promise? Now, list two “THEN” promises in verse one and three from vv. 2-3.

11. Using the Topical Guide heading in footnote 7a, what is the “marvelous work” foreseen by Nephi? How does this work sift people?

12. Substitute the word “organizations” or “kingdoms” for the word “churches” in v.10. How do our covenants protect us against wickedness?

Day 5: Read 1 Nephi 14:15-30; Revelation 17 and Revelation 18:2
13. What additional insight(s) regarding “the mother of harlots’ do you get from John the Revelator?

14. Why was Nephi forbidden to write further regarding his vision?

15 (BONUS) How was Nephi’s vision of the future of the Americas and the two churches instructive in interpreting Lehi’s vision of the tree of life?

Day 6: Read 1 Nephi 15:1-18
16. Why was Nephi so burdened with grief?

17. Outline Nephi’s IF/THEN pattern for receiving revelation in v.11.

18. How is Israel like an Olive tree?

Day 7: Read 1 Nephi 15:19-36
19. How is the word of God like an Iron Rod?

20. Read John 1:1-5, 14. What is another meaning for the Word of God?

21. What is “the greatest of all the gifts of God” (v.36)?

22. Do you notice a difference in Nephi’s preaching to his brethren after he has seen the future of their sed in vision? If so, how is it different?

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HISTORICAL NOTES AND HELPS FOR 2 NEPHI

NEO-ASSYRIAN TIMELINE – year listed after each king designates beginning of his reign; dates approximate

Tiglath-pileser (Pul – Assyrian general who took power) 746
Conquered Arpad, Hamath 740
Ahaz of Judah allied with Assyria 738
Destroyed Damascus (Rezin) 732
Died 727

Shalmaneser took power 727
Invaded Syria and Samaria 3 years
Hosea allied with Egypt 725
Died 722

Sargon II seized throne 722
Wiped out Samariah 721
Conquered Carchemish 717
Died in battle 705

Sennacherib ascended to throne 705
Received tribute from Jerusalem
Babylon sacked 703
Hezekiah allied with Egypt 701
Lachish conquered
Assyria marched toward Jerusalem, destroying 46 villages in its path
185,000 Assyrians died in one night – survivors returned to Nineveh
See Isaiah 7
In conflict with Babylon opened canals and flooded outside of city
until it became a swamp, inhabitants scattered 689
Murdered by his sons 681

Esarhaddon (his name means “Ashur has given a brother to me”) succeeded his father 681
Ruled and rebuilt Babylon (including “Tower of Babel”) 681
Sacked Sidon 677
Captured Manasseh (King of Judah)
Sacked Egypt 671
Died 669

Assurbanipal (or Asnappar, Osnapper, Ezra 4:10) 669
First king of Assyria who could read and write
Established a library at Nineveh
Supported culture and art, student of mathematics
Died around 631

Ashur-etil-ilani succeeded father around 631
Reigned maybe 3-4 years
Assyria weakened by attacks from neighboring countries
Sin-shumu-lishir reigned about a year
Sinsharishkun 627-612
Ashur-uballit 612-609
Nineveh destroyed 612
Assyria ceased to exist by 609.

HISTORICAL NOTES ON 2 NEPHI 17
The Syro-Ephraimite War of 734 B.C. was one of the great crises in Isaiah’s early ministry. (For historical background, see 2 Kings 16:1-20.) It appears that Pekah, king of the Northern Kingdom of Israel, and Rezin of Damascus, king of Aram (Syria), desired Ahaz, king of Judah, to ally himself with them in order to resist the encroachments of Assyria. The story of what happened is told in 2 Nephi 17:1-9. Ahaz saw only the politics of the situation and preferred to maintain the friendship of Assyria rather than to enter into an alliance with Rezin and Pekah. The text of Isaiah paints a vivid picture of the dismay caused in Jerusalem by the attempt to force Ahaz into the defensive alliance. He determined to resist, and the two confederates planned to overthrow him and to place a certain Syrian, the son of Tabeal, on his throne (17:6). Apparently Jerusalem was to be invaded, and the water supply of the city seems to have caused Ahaz some concern. When the attack threatened, Ahaz determined to ask the help of Tiglath-pileser, king of Assyria (2 Kings 16:7). At this juncture the Lord bade Isaiah to take his son Shear-jashub to meet Ahaz at the conduit of the upper pool, where Ahaz seems to have been inspecting his water supply (17:3). There the prophet apparently counseled Ahaz against calling in Assyria’s help and assured him that the two insignificant kingdoms of Syria and Israel would shortly be overthrown. The great prophet urged him to have faith in God’s word or he would not succeed (17:9).
It appears Isaiah found Ahaz had little faith in God’s power to save. So the prophet, at the Lord’s behest, offered Ahaz a sign calculated to build up his faith. He could ask for a sign from the depths of Sheol (the realm of departed spirits) or from the heights above, and the Lord would give it to him. The miracle would establish the divine authority of Isaiah, whether he spoke as directed by God or spoke his own thoughts. But Ahaz rejected Isaiah’s offer, doubtless because he did not want to be bound in his actions and because he dreaded the truth (17:10-12). Isaiah, now out of patience with Ahaz, decided to leave him to his fate. So the prophet addressed Ahaz as the representative of the whole royal court. He asked whether it was too little for them to weary or exhaust men’s patience – must they also try the patience of God? (17:13)
Isaiah then told Ahaz the Lord would give him a sign, a sign to be given in spite of his obduracy. The sign is mentioned in 2 Nephi 17:14, with further comment in verses 15 and 16. Elder Jeffrey R. Holland has suggested there are plural or parallel elements to this prophecy, as with so much of Isaiah’s writing. He writes, “The most immediate meaning was probably focused on Isaiah’s wife (the “prophetess” in 18:3), a pure and good woman who brought forth a son about this time, the child becoming a type and shadow of the greater, later fulfillment of the prophecy that would be realized in the birth of Jesus Christ” (Christ and the New Covenant, p.79). In 2 Nephi 18 we read that Isaiah’s wife had a baby and the Lord said to name him Maher-shalal-hash-baz, which means “To speed to the spoil, he hasteneth the prey,” or in other words, destruction is about to occur. Ahaz rejected Isaiah’s counsel and instead of God being with them, they experienced destruction at the hands of the Assyrians. Although Jerusalem was spared the fate of Israel, 120,000 men were killed in a day and 200,000 taken captive (see 2 Chronicles 28:6-15). The city of Jerusalem was preserved another 100 years, providing a way for the Jews to return to Jerusalem eventually (a remnant will return) and for Jesus to be born of the Jews in the land prophesied in scripture, thus giving greater fulfillment to the prophecy given to Ahaz by Isaiah.
Isaiah proceeds to make clear that the Lord, the great judge, will bring down his judgments upon the dynasty of David and upon his recreant people. In verses 17 and 19, the prophet describes the disaster that Ahaz brings about as comparable only to that brought about in Jeroboam’s day when the Ten Tribes revolted from the united kingdom (1 Kings 12). The king of Assyria will come (17:17). Indeed, the present text (17:18) in metaphors involving the fly and the bee, indicates that both Egypt and Assyria will be involved in Judah’s difficulties. Like flies and bees the Assyrians and Egyptians will settle down wherever the unfortunate people try to escape from invaders.
Changing his metaphor, Isaiah then compares Assyria to a hired razor (see 2 Kings 16:7-9) by which the land is shaved bare, pillaged, decimated and degraded. Cutting of the beard would be a sign of degradation to the Hebrews (2 Samuel 10:4-5). Also, slaves were shaved for humiliation, sanitation and identification. With the land heavily depopulated, Isaiah sees primitive conditions return; agriculture practically ceases, and the few people who are left eke out a precarious existence with a few animals and the wild honey they manage to find (17:21). The prophet now describes the desolate state of the land itself. Neglected vineyards and untilled land turning to wilderness; where there used to be a large vineyard containing a thousand valuable vines, there will emerge a brier and thorn patch infested with wild beasts. Once-rich hills will only be fit for the pasturage of goats and sheep. These signs also have multiple fulfillments physical and spiritual - whenever the people reject their God.
-Material taken from Book of Mormon Compendium by Sidney B. Sperry and from the Seminary Student Study Guide.

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Monday, March 5, 2007

1 Nephi 13-15

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HISTORICAL NOTES AND HELPS FOR 2 NEPHI

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