2 Nephi 11:1 - 11:8

2 Nephi 11:1 And now, Jacob spake many more things to my people at that time; nevertheless only these things have I caused to be written, for the things which I have written sufficeth me.

Jacob brought many issues to his people during this general conference, but Nephi chose to only record the above. He thought them to be the most important for his purposes. (I’m sure that they were recorded for our benefit in our day as well.)

2 Nephi 11:2 And now I, Nephi, write more of the words of Isaiah, for my soul delighteth in his words. For I will liken his words unto my people, and I will send them forth unto all my children, for he verily saw my Redeemer, even as I have seen him.

Nephi wants to copy more of Isaiah into his record. What he will record will be for the benefit of his people in his day and for us in our day. Isaiah’s prophecies are applicable to many dispensations and Nephi wants us to know that. (I think Jehovah fears that we will ignore Isaiah if he is not given the attention that Nephi or Christ gives him because he is Old Testament and we have a tendency to think the Old Testament does not apply to us.) Nephi and Isaiah have in common that they have both seen and talked with Jehovah. Therefore Nephi is recording for us what Isaiah inspired in him. (The language is beautiful and designed to elevate the feelings of the reader for the Savior.)

2 Nephi 11:3 And my brother, Jacob, also has seen him as I have seen him; wherefore, I will send their words forth unto my children to prove unto them that my words are true. Wherefore, by the words of three, God hath said, I will establish my word. Nevertheless, God sendeth more witnesses, and he proveth all his words.

Nephi tells us that his brother Jacob has also seen Jehovah as he has. Nephi therefore wants to give us what Isaiah has written about Him. In addition, Nephi wants to establish the truthfulness of his words by copying Isaiah’s words so we can compare the two together to show that what Nephi has written is true also. Nephi tells us that the Lord will promote His words by three witnesses. In this case they are Isaiah, Nephi and Jacob. These three will witness for the Lord and what His purposes are.

2 Nephi 11:4 Behold, my soul delighteth in proving unto my people the truth of the coming of Christ; for, for this end hath the law of Moses been given; and all things which have been given of God from the beginning of the world, unto man, are the typifying of him.

Nephi feels such great joy by witnessing for the coming of the Messiah. His loves the Lord for being willing to sacrifice for us and wants to witness to all the joy that is available by our taking advantage of the atonement.

The Law of Moses was given to promote this fact. In fact all things which God has given us point to the Messiah. This has been done since the world was created and man placed on it.

2 Nephi 11:5 And also my soul delighteth in the covenants of the Lord which he hath made to our fathers; yea, my soul delighteth in his grace, and in his justice, and power, and mercy in the great and eternal plan of deliverance from death.

Nephi is impressed with the fact that the Lord knew from the beginning that His children would be wicked and rebellious and made known to them what they could do to overcome these tendencies. Nephi in awe that the Lord loved us enough to let us know that He loves us and has made all sorts of ways known to us on how we can gain His favor and blessing in spite of our weaknesses.

2 Nephi 11:6 And my soul delighteth in proving unto my people that save Christ should come all men must perish.

Nephi also likes showing everyone that Christ is the means by which all men can get through mortality and become perfected by keeping His commandments.

2 Nephi 11:7 For if there be no Christ there be no God; and if there be no God we are not, for there could have been no creation. But there is a God, and he is Christ, and he cometh in the fulness of his own time.

Nephi knows that if there were no Christ then man would be lost. There just would be no way man could overcome his fallen state and return to God.

2 Nephi 11:8 And now I write some of the words of Isaiah, that whoso of my people shall see these words may lift up their hearts and rejoice for all men. Now these are the words, and ye may liken them unto you and unto all men.

Nephi now will quote some more from Isaiah. Isaiah’s words, Nephi feels, will give a source to which his people can refer to know about these covenants the Lord has made with them through their ancestors. These words also apply to all men everywhere and in all times of history.