II Nephi 14-18

II Nephi 14: Zion’s refuge and peace established. The Lord’s presence will be visible by day and by night. Verse 1 states that seven women will wed one man---I don’t know if this means that the ratio or righteous women to men will be 7 to 1 or if the men will have been killed by war or ?.

Application: Am I living righteously to survive and be able to be part of Zion? Do I look to the Lord daily even if he isn’t physically visible?




II Nephi 15: Israel has betrayed the Lord, so the Lord “betrays” Israel. We enjoy the harvest and fail to acknowledging the Lord’s hand in it. “Woe unto them that draw iniquity with cords of Vanity and sin, as it were, with a cart rope. Wo unto him that calls evil good and good evil, wo unto those who justify the “means by the ends” V 24—their root shall be rottenness and their blossoms shall go up as dust. (The eternal family, ancestral line and all their posterity, shall be severed from them). Despite the rejection by us and then His just anger and condemnation, He still stretches forth his arms to us. And He promises He will set up His kingdom here on earth for all men to come unto.

Application: To be alone without parents, grandparents, brothers, sisters, children, grandchildren etc.-- the punishment for disobedience and sin (to cast away the law); for not reading, pondering and honoring the scriptures which God has provided to guide us (despised the word) or by not accepting Christ (despised the WORD) would be an unbearable sorrow.





II Nephi 16: Isaiah sees the Lord sitting upon his throne in His temple. Isaiah is immediately filled with anguish at his uncleaness and unworthiness to be in the Lords presence. He is then cleansed of his iniquity and sins. The Lord then issues a call to go forth into the world to testify. He asks who will go or whom shall I send. Isaiah accepts the call. The Lord prophecies of the rejection of His teachings but states that a remnant shall return.

Application: Even though Isaiah had lived so that he WAS worthy to be brought before the Lord, he still felt unworthy and unclean. We must always strive to focus on Christ and not on our own failings, we are not qualified to judge, Only he can judge and he can declare us clean. I was impressed again that the Lord does not force us to accept any calling. It is always our choice. In verse 4 it states Holy, Holy, Holy is the Lord God Almighty. The whole earth is full of His glory! Do I SEE the beauty and glory of the Lord in the earth? Do I see how all things testify of him?



II Nephi 17: A chapter of prophesy by Isaiah about the destruction of Judah to come, and Isaiah and Nephi prophesy of Christ’s birth by a Virgin.

Application: This chapter requires more study and pondering. I need to study the history of the all the tribes and peoples who participate in the war and destruction. But, again this chapter of prophesy testifies to me that the Lord does know the beginning from the end and is aware of each of us and what we need to succeed in this life.



II Nephi 18: Don’t align yourselves with the ways of the world or get caught up in all the speculation and fear of the day. Don’t seek out mediums or other “familiar” spirits but let the Lord be your companion and guide and he will be your Sanctuary.

Application: Although TV now has brought several psychics much attention and the psychic “hot lines” or internet sites are extensively advertised We must shun such things and take our questions and concerns to the Lord in prayer.