Studying Your Blessing Gives Insight to Scripture Study

 Nephi's teaching in 2 Nephi 25 lets us know how to approach the Old Testament prophets' writings.

SCRIPTURE: "Wherefore, hearken, O my people, which are of the house of Israel, and give ear unto my words; for because the words of Isaiah are not plain unto you, nevertheless they are plain unto all those that are filled with the spirit of prophecy." 

But then he says he really delights in plainness will give unto his people, but mainly to us in the latter days,  a prophecy in "according to my plainness; in the which I know that no man can err;"

He then goes on to say in verse 5:

          "Yea, and my soul delighteth in the words of Isaiah, for I came out from Jerusalem, and mine eyes hath beheld the things (words) of the Jews, and I know that the Jews do understand the things (words) of the prophets, and there is none other people that understand the things (words) which were spoken unto the Jews like unto them, save it that they are taught after the manner of the things (words) of the Jews."

          But Nephi continues and states that "I, Nephi, have NOT taught my children after the manner of the Jews;" And one must ask, "Why not?"  He says that he himself lived at Jerusalem and knows concerning the regions round about so his is familiar with their workings and through revelation, knows the judgements of God that "hath come to pass among the Jews," And, these he did tell his children but says, "I do not write them." 

         It is clear that he knows what his people of that day needed to know for their salvation and what he should record for us in the latter days.

 We are Accountable for Understanding Isaiah and other Old Testament Prophets

          In verse 7 he gives his plain prophesy: "In the days that the prophecies of Isaiah shall be fulfilled men shall know of a surety, at the times when they shall come to pass.

          "Wherefore, they are of worth unto the children of men, and he that supposeth that they are not, unto them will I speak particularly, and confine the words unto mine own people; for I know that they shall be of great worth unto them in the last days; for in that day shall they understand them; wherefore, for their good have I written them." 

          If we find ourselves in the position of thinking that Isaiah or any other old prophet's words are not important, we will suffer just as the Jews of old did, (v 9) "never hath any of them been destroyed save it were foretold them by the prophets of the Lord." I guess we'd best study our scriptures AND our personal scriptures, our patriarchal blessings, in order that we might know the will of the Lord and understand the warnings that he gives to us. Therefore,

MY SUGGESTION:   Read a scripture before each session with your patriarchal blessing this month; in fact, have the scriptures right beside you. You will find certain words or phrases that will bring to mind a remembered scripture. Look it up and ponder it. Decide if this "language of the Lord" holds a warning, a blessing, a prophecy or an insight into your life. Personalize the scriptures much as you would personalize the Lord's words to you in your patriarchal blessing.

This is the Value of Your Patriarchal Blessing

It allows you to have practice in reading scripture as if the Lord was talking directly to you. You are "likening the scriptures unto yourself."

The Lord will talk to his Covenant People

 The question is will we focus our spiritual attention, and HEAR HIM?

QUOTE: The following is a remarkably scholarly talk. (Read all of the footnotes in your copy of the Ensign). I have only excerpted a few sentences here in relation to your patriarchal blessing.

From the November 2011 Ensign

“Covenants” by Elder Russell M. Nelson pages 86-89

            “One of the most important concepts of revealed religion is that of a sacred covenant. In legal language, a covenant generally denotes an agreement between two or more parties. But in a religious context, a covenant is much more significant. It is a sacred promise with God. He fixes the terms. Each person may choose to accept those terms. If one accepts the terms of the covenant and obeys God’s law, he or she receives the blessings associated with the covenant. We know that “when we obtain any blessing from God, it is by obedience to that law upon which it is predicated.”—Doctrine and Covenants 130:21

            “The covenant God made with Abraham (See Genesis 17:1-10, 19; Leviticus 26:42; Acts 3:25; Bible Dictionary, “Abraham, Covenant of”) and later reaffirmed with Isaac (Genesis 26:1-5, 24) and Jacob (Genesis 28:1-4, 10-14; 35:9-13; 48:3-4) is of transcendent significance. It contained several promises, including:

    •    Jesus the Christ would be born through Abraham’s lineage.

    •    Abraham’s posterity would be numerous, entitled to an eternal increase, and also entitled to bear the priesthood.

    •    Abraham would become a father of many nations.

    •    Certain lands would be inherited by his posterity.

    •    All nations of the earth would be blessed by his seed.16

    •    And that covenant would be everlasting—even through “a thousand generations.”

            “Some of these promises have been fulfilled; others are still pending. I quote from an early Book of Mormon prophecy: “Our father [Lehi] hath not spoken of our seed alone, but also of all the house of Israel, pointing to the covenant which should be fulfilled in the latter days; which covenant the Lord made to our father Abraham.”—1 Nephi 15:18 emphasis added. Isn’t that amazing? Some 600 years before Jesus was born in Bethlehem, prophets knew that the Abrahamic covenant would be finally fulfilled only in the latter days.

            “Some of us are the literal seed of Abraham; others are gathered into his family by adoption. The Lord makes no distinction. Together we receive these promised blessings—if we seek the Lord and obey His commandments. But if we don’t, we lose the blessings of the covenant. To assist us, His Church provides patriarchal blessings to give each recipient a vision for his or her future as well as a connection with the past, even a declaration of lineage back to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.

“Brethren of the covenant have the right to qualify for the oath and covenant of the priesthood. If you are “faithful unto the obtaining these two priesthoods … and the magnifying [of your] calling, [you] are sanctified by the Spirit unto the renewing of [your] bodies.” That is not all. Men who worthily receive the priesthood receive the Lord Jesus Christ, and those who receive the Lord receive God the Father. And those who receive the Father receive all that He has. Incredible blessings flow from this oath and covenant to worthy men, women, and children in all the world.”

          I pray that all Latter-day Saints will have a desire to understand the scriptures, even the difficult ones  like Isaiah. I have a particular love for Isaiah and will share my thoughts in future blog sessions.