Day 9 - 2 Nephi 4-6

Spiritual Thought:

“It is the right and privilege of every man, every woman, and every child who has reached the years of accountability, to enjoy the spirit of revelation, and to be possessed of the spirit of inspiration in the discharge of their duties as members of the Church.”  (Joseph F. Smith)

Daily Focus Scriptures to mark and ponder:
2 Nephi 4:31 - "...Wilt thou make me that I may shake at the appearance of sin?"
In 2 Nephi 5 it talks about a curse and a mark.  Please note the difference that the dark skin was not a curse, but a mark to help them not inner marry.

Vs. 21 – Curse came upon Lamanites – Loss of the spirit

               Mark – skin of blackness 

Daily Questions:

Do I have the same desire as Nephi, that I may shake at the appearance of sin?
Did the Nephites have the Aaronic priesthood? NO!

Food for Thought:  Melchizedek Priesthood
The Nephites were descendants of Joseph.  Lehi discovered this when reading the brass plates…Therefore there were no Levites (handled the Levitcal or Aaronic priesthood) who accompanied Lehi to the Western Hemisphere.  Under these conditions the Nephites officiated by virtue of the Melchizedek Priesthood from the days of Lehi to the days of the appearance of the Savior among them.  It is true that Nephi ‘consecrated Jacob and Joseph’ that they should be priests and teachers over the land of the Nephites, but the fact that pleural terms priests and teachers were used indicates that this was not a reference to the definite office in the priesthood in either case, but it was a general assignment to teach, direct, and admonish the people…”  (Joseph Fielding Smith, Answers to Gospel questions 1:124-126)

“Did they have the fullness of the everlasting gospel at all times?  Yes.  There was not a period of ten minutes from the days of Adam to the appearing of the Lord Jesus in the land Bountiful when the gospel – as we have it, in its eternal fullness – was not on earth.  “Do not let the fact that the performances of the Mosaic law were administered by the Aaronic Priesthood, confuse you on this matter.  Where the Melchizedek Priesthood is, there is the fullness of the gospel, and all the prophets held the Melchizedek Priesthood.”         (Elder Bruce R. McConkie – BYU Symposium Aug. 17 1984).

For Kids:

Click here to listen and watch, "If I listen with my Heart"

BOMBING PICTURE:  An unamed baby listening to the Book of Mormon with his Heart!