Nephi's Isaiah

Nephi states straightforwardly why he uses the Isaiah material in his own prophecy. It is in Nephi's record, but the statement comes from his brother Jacob. Nephi records what is apparently his brother's first address.

The stage is set for the sermon in 2 Nephi Chapter 5. Here we learn of the construction of a temple by the Nephites. The temple dedication ceremonies are left out of the account. It is an interesting omission. By chapter 6 the temple is in service.

Jacob's sermon could very well have been both the event marking the commissioning of the temple, and the first sermon delivered to the people in the structure. Nephi put this into his account because he obviously approved of the sermon and wanted it preserved for all time.

Jacob states this:
"the words which I shall read are they which Isaiah spake concerning all the house of Israel; wherefore, they may be likened unto you, for ye are of the house of Israel. And there are many things which have been spoken by Isaiah which may be likened unto you, because ye are of the house of Israel." (2 Ne. 6: 5.)
-What does "likened unto you" mean?
-Is there a difference between something literal and being "likened?"
-Does that difference matter?
-What about the limitation Isaiah spoke about "all the house of Israel?"
-Does the Book of Mormon designation of the European bloodlines that would displace the Lamanites as "gentiles" disqualify the gentiles from "likening" the words to them?
-Does the Book of Mormon promise that the gentiles can be "numbered" with the house of Israel allow the same "likening" to apply to the converted gentiles? (2 Ne. 10: 18; 3 Ne. 16: 13; 3 Ne. 21: 6; 3 Ne. 30: 2.)

Assuming the words can be "likened" to you, then what does that mean? Are the words to be taken as an analogy to guide us or as a promise given to us?

Jacob explains the analogy he wants to draw to the Nephites beginning in 2 Nephi Chapter 9. It is instructive.

Nephi 'went to school' on his younger brother's example. He fills 2 Nephi with Isaiah's words. Then, in the closing chapters of his book, he provides his own commentary. He ends his record in this manner. With all he had seen, with all he knew, and with all he was told to withhold from us, he uses Isaiah as his basis to teach, preach, exhort and expound to us. Much of it is addressed directly to the "gentiles" of our day. He applies Isaiah to the gentiles.

A great key to understanding Nephi's prophecy is that he used Isaiah's words as a tool to deliver his (Nephi's) message. Using Isaiah's intent will not help you. It is irrelevant. You must use Nephi's interpretive keys in his closing chapters to understand Nephi's intent in "likening" the prophecy to his people and to the latter-day gentiles. This is why I wrote Nephi's Isaiah. You will be disappointed if you think it is an interpretation of Isaiah. It is not. The book is about Nephi's message, not the words he employed to "liken" unto us. If you accept this approach you don't need my book. You only need Nephi's words.

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As a postscript about the Perpetual Education Fund:

When President Hinckley announced it in the April 2001 General Conference he said the following:
"they will return that which they have borrowed together with a small amount of interest designed as an incentive to repay the loan."

This was the original intent.

I've received many emails explaining the way the original program was compromised and poorly administered. I acknowledge there may be problems with how it turned out. But that is the responsibility of the employees at the Church Office Building. Those problems do not reflect the purity of intent by the church members who donated. I think there are a lot of people in the bowels of the Church Office Building who have performed poorly for the church. Since these are funds given by faithful members, there is a responsibility which hasn't been kept by some of these employees.