Triumph Over Evil1 Nephi 14

Lesson 15

If… A ChoiceIf The

nIf I follow the Lord, then …

If I refuse to follow the Lord, then …

Depending on what we choose, we experience different outcomes.

Nephi saw future generations and noted that if they would be righteous, they would be blessed; or if they would choose wickedness, they would be cursed.

Choice and BlessingsIf they hearken unto the

Lamb of GodAnd do not harden their hearts

Then they shall:Be numbered of the house of IsraelBe a blessed people foreverNot be brought down into captivity

1 Nephi 14:1-2

“stumbling blocks” often refers to obstacles that keep people from following the Lord.

“numbered among the house of Israel” means to be counted among the Lord’s covenant people

CovenantsWhy is it important to be among the Lord’s covenant people?

(To receive the blessings of the Abrahamic covenant [see D&C 132:30–31].)

What does it mean to “hearken unto the Lamb of God”?

To hear the words of God

1 Nephi 14:1-2

“…Hearken, O ye nations of the earth, and hear the words of that God who made you.” (D&C 43:23)

If… A Choice

IfRepentHardened Heart

1 Nephi 14:5-7

Blessings come to those who repent

Negative consequences come to those who harden their hearts.

If… A Choice

1 Nephi 14:5-7

If the people repent… Then they shall…“it shall be well with them”They shall receive “Peace and life eternal”

If the people harden their hearts…

Then they shall…Perish and “be brought down into captivity” and “destruction”

A Great and Marvelous Work

1 Nephi 14:7

A Restoration of the priesthood, the gospel, and the Lord’s Church in the latter days.

How is The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints “great and marvelous” to you?

How does it bring you peace?

How does it bring you hope for eternal life?

Repenting of our sins leads to great blessings. Hardening our hearts against the Lord and His Church leads to spiritual captivity and destruction.

Apostasy comes to a close

1 Nephi 14:7

“Therefore, I will proceed to do a marvelous work among this people yea, a marvelous work and a wonder, for the wisdom of their wise and learned shall perish, and the understanding of their prudent shall be hid.” 2 Nephi 27:25-26Isaiah 29:13-14

The beginning of times of restitution (Acts 3:21)…an age initiated by the call of Joseph Smith

Everlasting work

1 Nephi 14:7

“A new and everlasting covenant is the fulness of the gospel, the aggregate of all covenants and obligations which lead to salvation.” (D&C 1:22; 39:11; 45:9; 49:9; 66:2; 133:57)

“The angel instructed Nephi that one accepts or rejects the message of the Restoration at the peril of his own salvation.”--Joseph Fielding McConkie and Robert L. Millet

The Battle—Two Churches

1 Nephi 14:8-17

Takes place in the Latter Days

The Lamb of God

Accepting of the Lord’s commandmentsHarkens to the word of GodMembers are few

Great and Abominable Church

Founder—DevilMother of abominationWhore of the earth

Those who are not of the Church of the Lamb belong to that Great and Abominable Church

...“All churches may be false, but only one can be true, simply because religion comes from God, and God is not the author of confusion.”--Joseph SmithDoctrinal New Testament Commentary 2:506-7

“The Lord is not condemning all who are not members of the church. Nor is he, for that matter, ensuring an exaltation to all those who have received the fulness of the gospel. The lord has said that he is pleased with the Church collectively and not necessarily individually (D&C 1:30), we are neither baptized nor judged as congregations.”--Joseph Fielding McConkie and Robert L. Millet

“There is only light and darkness; there is no dusky twilight zone (in regard to the fulness of salvation). Either men walk in the light or they cannot be saved.”--Bruce R. McConkie

Armed with Righteousness

1 Nephi 14:14

Baptismal

Covenants

Taking upon you the name of Jesus

ChristServing Jesus

Christ by serving others

Taking upon the name of Jesus

Christ

Keeping all the commandments

Stand as witnesses of God

Sustain truth and righteouness

Build up the Kingdom of God

Armed with Righteousness

1 Nephi 14:14

If we live righteously and keep our covenants,

the power of God will help us triumph over

evil.

1 Nephi 14:14

“We [members of the Church] are a tiny fraction when compared to the billions of people on earth. But we are who we are, and we know what we know, and we are to go forth and preach the gospel.

“The Book of Mormon makes it clear that we never will dominate by numbers. But we have the power of the priesthood …

“We can and in due time certainly will influence all of humanity. It will be known who we are and why we are. It might seem hopeless; it is monumentally difficult; but it is not only possible but certain that we will win the battle against Satan” --Boyd K. Packer

John the Revelator

1 Nephi 14:18-27

The major theme in John’s writing is in the Book of Revelation. This then includes that God will triumph over the forces of the devil.

Nephi also saw a vision of the end of the world, but he was commanded not to record it because John had been given the responsibility to do so.

“The Book of Revelation is one of the plainest books God ever caused to be written.”--Joseph Smith

What Have We Learned?Who is narrating this account?

Who is speaking?

Who is receiving the message?

What is happening in this account?

What has happened before this event?

What is the message of this story?

What did the writer intend for us to learn from this story? (Doctrine or Principle)

Sources:

Joseph Fielding McConkie and Robert L. Millet “Doctrinal Commentary on the Book of Mormon” pg. 108 and pg. 110

Bruce R. McConkie “The Millennial Messiah” pg. 54

Boyd K. Packer “The Power of the Priesthood,” Ensign or Liahona, May 2010, 7.

Joseph Smith (Teachings p 290)