Book of Mormon Commentary - 2 Nephi 33

by Don R. Hender

Scriptural Text [& Editorial]
Commentary & Explanation
Footnotes ~ References ~ JST
             CHAPTER 33

Nephi's words are true—They testify of Christ—Those who believe in Christ will believe Nephi's words—They shall stand as a witness before the judgement bar. [Between 559 and 545 B.C.]

Nephi life is a great example of righteous priesthood administration— He speaks by power of the Holy Ghost thus his words are not only true but are taken to the heart—Nephi testifies of Christ and the gospel—Those who believe in Christ will believe Nephi's words—Nephi's prophetic words shall stand as a witness before God as they are sealed by God's word and the power which Nephi has been given. [Between 559 and 545 B.C.]
1 AND now I, Nephi, cannot write all the things which were taught among my people; neither am I amighty in writing, like unto speaking; for when a man bspeaketh by the power of the Holy Ghosta the power of the Holy Ghost carrieth it unto the heartsb of the children of men.
2 But behold, there are many that aharden their bhearts against the Holy cSpirit, that it hath no place in them; wherefore, they cast many things away which are written and esteem them as things of naught.

 1a speaketh by the power of the Holy Ghost The Holy Ghost is not the Priesthood. But the Holy Ghost is that guiding enfluence by which priesthood operation is to occur and the Holy Ghost is the confirming force which seals (see 2 Nephi 33:15) the action the the priesthood upon the receipiants of the Priesthood operation.
 1b power of the Holy Ghost carrieth it unto the hearts What is spoken by the power of the Holy Ghost has the power to not only be heard by the ears but to be heard and felt by the very inner being of the soul and spirit of a man which Nephi states as being the 'hearts' of men. This is the power of speach beyond the what writing can convey. As speach can be accompanied by the power of the Holy Ghost which can be conveyed from the person who speaks by that power which is lacking and entirely dependant upon the reader of the written word. Not that the reader cannot receive of that same enfluence of the Holy Ghost conveying the message, but that the power of the deliverer of written word is solely dependant upon the reader and reader being in tune with the spirit.

 1a Ether 12:23 (23-27)
   b Rom. 10:17 (13-17);
      D&C 100:8 (7-8);
      TG Holy Ghost, Gifts of
 2a Num. 15:31 (30-31);
      1 Ne. 19:7; Jacob 4:14;
      D&C 3:7 (4-13);
      TG Hardheartedness
   b TG Spiritual Blindness
   c TG Holy Ghost, Loss of
3 But I, Nephi, have written what I have written, and I esteem it as of great aworth, and especially unto my people. For I bpray continually for them by daya, and mine ceyes water my pillow by nightb, because of them; and I cry unto my God in faith, and I know that he will hear my cry.
4 And I know that the Lord God will consecrate my prayers for the gain of my people. And the words which I have written in weakness will be made strong unto them; for it apersuadeth them to do gooda; it maketh known unto them of their fathers; and it speaketh of Jesus, and persuadeth them to believe in himb, and to endure to the end, which is life beternalc.

My Work and Glory 
The end and central purpose of the whole of God's work and his glory is to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man (Moses 1:39). 		 3a I pray continually for them by day This automatically states that Nephi was in the habit of continual daily prayer unto God. And it further gives direction as to what it is that a good priesthood administrator should be praying for. He should be praying for the eternal welfare of those whom he is called to minister unto. In terms of the presiding priesthood authority of the family, it means that he should be praying daily, continually for the welfare and benefit of those who are members of his family.
 3b mine eyes water by pillow by night
 4a persuadeth them to do good
 4b persuadeth them to believe in him [Jesus]
 4c to endure to the end, which is life eternal

 3a TG Scripture, Value of
   b Gen. 20:7; Num. 21:7;
      1 Sam. 7:5; Jer. 42:4;
      Enos 1:9 (9-12); W of M 1:8;
      Moro. 9:22
   c Jer. 13:17; Ps. 6:6; Acts 20:19
 4a Ether 8:26; Moro. 7:13 (12-17);
      TG Motivations
   b TG Eternal Life
5 And it speaketh aharshly against sin, according to the bplainness of the truth; wherefore, no man will be angry at the words which I have written save he shall be of the spirit of the devila.
6 I aglory in bplainness; I glory in truth; I glory in my Jesus, for he hath credeemed my soul from hell.

 5a no man will be angry at the words which I have written save he shall be of the spirit of the devil Perhaps a true but a harsh test in reality is this which Nephi speaks. For any who have read his words with understanding, will not be angry at the words least they do expose themselves to be of the spirit of the devil. Thus when he who reads them does so preach against them, they are of the devil. Some do preach ignorantly against them, to them is the challenge to read them rather than to so ignorantly speak. And to them who have read them and do still persist in their anger agaisnt them, that stand exposed that they are not of the Lord, that their purpose and intent is unto themselves, workers in hand with the devil, workingthe works of falseness and even that of priestcrafts against the kingdom of God unto their own benefit and praise before those of the corrupt and wicked world and kingdom of Babylon, even that of the Devil.  5a 1 Ne. 16:2 (1-3); 2 Ne. 9:40;
      2 Ne. 28:28; Enos 1:23;
      W of M 1:17
   b 2 Ne. 25:4; Jacob 2:11;
      Jacob 4:13
 6a Ps 44:8 (4-8); D&C 76:61
   b 2 Ne. 31:3
   c Enos 1:27
7 I have acharity for my people, and great faith in Christ that I shall meet many souls spotless at his judgment-seat.
8 I have charity for the aJew—I say Jew, because I mean them from whence I came.
9 I also have charity for the Gentiles. But behold, for none of athese can I ahopea except they shall be breconciled unto Christ, and enter into the cnarrow dgate, and ewalk in the fstrait path which leads to life, and continue in the path until the end of the day of gprobationb.

 9a can I hope
 9b reconciled unto Christ, and enter into the narrow gate, and walk in the strait path which leads to life, and continue in the path until the end of the day of probation

 7a TG Charity
 8a BD Judah, Kingdom of;
      TG Israel, Judah, People of
 9a Eph. 3:6 (1-7); 2 Ne. 10:18;
      3 Ne. 21:14
   a Ehter 12:4 ~ Commentary
   b TG Reconciliation
   c 2 Ne. 9:41; Hel. 3:29-30
   d Matt. 7:14
   e TG Walking with God
   f D&C 132:22
   g TG Probation
10 And now, my beloved brethren, and also aJew, and all ye ends of the earth, hearken unto these words and bbelieve in Christ; and if ye believe not in these words believe in Christ. And if ye shall cbelieve in Christ ye will believe in these dwords, for they are the ewords of Christ, and he hath given them unto me; and they fteach all men that they should do good.
11 And if they are not the words of Christ, judge ye—for Christ will show unto you, with apower and great bglory, that they are his words, at the last day; and you and I shall stand face to face before his bar; and ye shall know that I have been commanded of him to write these things, notwithstanding my weakness.
12 And I pray the Father in the name of Christ that many of us, if not all, may be saved in his akingdom at that great and last day.

Nephi's Charity Is Unto All 
It is notable that Nephi is dealing with 'family' in all of his administration of being the prophet of God. Thus Nephi's ministry is not much different from that of a priesthood head of household as that household expands and extends to the extended family group of all relatives and inlaws. Then Nephi continues to extend his love beyond family to include all people, both those the house of Israel and those who are not of the house of Israel, who are considered to be gentiles. Yet in the extended family consideration, who is not considered to be a part of the family of God? 		10a TG Israel, Judah, People of
    b TG Believe
    c John 8:47
    d TG Book of Mormon
    e Isa. 51:16; Moro. 10:27 (27-29);
       D&C 1:24
    f 1 Kings 8:36; 2 Ne. 25:28
11a Ether 5:4-6; Moro. 7:35;
    b TG Jesus Christ, Glory of
12a TG Kingdom of God, in Heaven
       TG Kingdom of God, on Earth
13 And now, my beloved brethren, all those who are of the house of Israel, and all ye ends of the earth, I speak unto you as the voice of one acrying from the dusta: Farewell until that great day shall come.
14 And you that will not partake of the goodness of God, and respect the words of the aJews, and also my bwords, and the words which shall proceed forth out of the mouth of the Lamb of God, behold, I bid you an everlasting farewell, for these words shall ccondemn you at the last day.
15 For what I seal on eartha, shall be brought against you at the ajudgment bar; for thus hath the Lord commanded me, and I must bobey. Amen.

 13a crying from the dust
 15a For what I seal on earth 		13a Isa. 29:4; 2 Ne. 27:13;
       Morm. 8:26
14a TG Bible
    b TG Book of Mormon
    c 2 Ne. 29:11; W of M 1:11
15a 2 Ne. 25:22;
       3 Ne. 27:25 (23-27);
       Ether 4:10 (8-10)
    f TG Obedience
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