< 2 Nephi 1 >
v. 4 For, behold, said he, I have seen a vision, in which I know that Jerusalem is destroyed; and had we remained in Jerusalem we should also have perished.
Timeline of Jerusalem’s Fall
- But the process began earlier: Lehi left shortly after the 597 BC siege, just before the ultimate fall in 586 BC.
Timeline of Jerusalem’s Fall
- First Babylonian siege – 605 BCNebuchadnezzar defeated Egypt and Judah at the Battle of Carchemish. Took some captives (including Daniel and companions).
- Second siege – 597 BC Babylon captured Jerusalem. King Jehoiachin (Jeconiah) and about 10,000 people were exiled. This is the likely timeframe when Lehi’s family left (1 Nephi 1 begins “in the first year of the reign of Zedekiah,” around 597 BC).
- Final destruction – 586 BCNebuchadnezzar returned, besieged Jerusalem again. The city walls, temple, and palaces were burned and destroyed. Most of the people were carried into Babylonian exile.
- But the process began earlier: Lehi left shortly after the 597 BC siege, just before the ultimate fall in 586 BC.
v. 20 And he hath said that: Inasmuch as ye shall keep my commandments ye shall prosper in the land; but inasmuch as ye will not keep my commandments ye shall be cut off from my presence.
Prosperity Gospel or not - this has always been a big pet peeve of mine...prosperity Gospel thinking.
How it sounds like prosperity gospel
“Prosper in the Land” References
1 Nephi
Patterns
Takeaway:
“Prosper in the land” in the Book of Mormon = shorthand for the covenant formula:
Obedience → Prosperity (peace, security, blessings)
Disobedience → Cut off (loss of land, scattering, destruction)
Wait, so how is that not prosperity Gospel? Well, just because you are rich or appear blessed, doesn't mean you are righteous. It also doesn't mean you somehow merited your success because you were obedient or kept the commandments. It just means that when you are trying to follow God, it's not uncommon to find success both temporary and spiritually. The Book of Mormon is pretty clear that when there is success, people pretty quickly tend to buy themselves a first class ticket to hell, so be careful when the blessings come that you don't fall off the path.
Prosperity Gospel or not - this has always been a big pet peeve of mine...prosperity Gospel thinking.
How it sounds like prosperity gospel
- The phrase “keep my commandments and prosper” sounds at first like a guarantee of wealth and success if you’re righteous.
- That’s similar to what’s often called the prosperity gospel: the belief that faith automatically results in material blessing (money, health, success). I think we all think this way to some degree, it seems very pervasive in our culture and especially in our religion. Hard not to think it when you see a lot of general authorities that are uber wealthy and it seems like every Mission President hit it big as a businessman.
- Prosperity in the Book of Mormon ≠ Wealth: The word “prosper” in Nephi’s and Lehi’s context usually means security, preservation, peace, and having enough — not necessarily luxury or riches. Sometimes it does include material blessings (harvests, protection from enemies), but it’s broader: it’s covenantal flourishing.
- Covenant Language: This isn’t a blanket promise to all people at all times. It’s tied to the covenant land promise: If Lehi’s descendants keep the commandments, they’ll remain in the land with God’s favor. Disobedience leads to being “cut off” (scattering, loss of God’s presence).
- Temporal vs. Spiritual Prosperity: The ultimate meaning is living under God’s presence and blessing. Even when the Nephites prospered materially, the text emphasizes it was because of their righteousness and God’s preservation, not their own efforts.
- Prosperity gospel = Entitlement: Prosperity gospel often implies “If I’m righteous, God owes me health and wealth.” Lehi’s covenant is conditional: obedience brings God’s favor and protection, but not as a transactional guarantee. (See Chistofferson's talk Our Relationship with God April 2022...God is not a cosmic vending machine).
“Prosper in the Land” References
1 Nephi
- 1 Nephi 2:20 — The Lord tells Nephi: “Inasmuch as ye shall keep my commandments, ye shall prosper, and shall be led to a land of promise.”
- 1 Nephi 4:14 — Nephi recalls the promise that they would “prosper in the land” if they kept commandments.
- 1 Nephi 17:3 — Nephi teaches that if they keep commandments, the Lord will “nourish them, strengthen them, and prosper them.”
- 2 Nephi 1:9, 20 — Lehi to his sons: “Keep my commandments, ye shall prosper… if not, ye shall be cut off.”
- 2 Nephi 4:4 — Nephi repeats the covenant to his children.
- Mosiah 1:7 — King Benjamin: “If ye keep the commandments of God, ye shall prosper in the land.”
- Mosiah 2:22 — Benjamin again emphasizes obedience → prosperity.
- Mosiah 2:31 — He ties prosperity to both temporal and spiritualblessings.
- Mosiah 23:18–20 — Alma’s people prosper when they keep commandments.
- Alma 9:13 — Alma warns the people of Ammonihah: obedience = prosper, disobedience = destroyed.
- Alma 36:1, 30 — Alma to Helaman: repeating the covenant promise.
- Alma 37:13 — Alma to Helaman: keep commandments, prosper in the land.
- Alma 38:1 — Alma to Shiblon: the same.
- Helaman 3:20 — As they humble themselves and obey, they prosper.
- Helaman 12:1–2 — Mormon comments that people prosper, but then often forget God.
- Ether 2:7–12 — The Lord tells the Jaredites: “This is a choice land… whatsoever nation shall possess it shall serve God or be swept off… they shall prosper upon the face of this land.”
Patterns
- The phrase occurs dozens of times, almost always tied to: Covenant obedience (keep commandments).Communal prosperity (peace, preservation, protection, abundance).Warning: if disobedient, they will be “cut off” (scattered, destroyed).
Takeaway:
“Prosper in the land” in the Book of Mormon = shorthand for the covenant formula:
Obedience → Prosperity (peace, security, blessings)
Disobedience → Cut off (loss of land, scattering, destruction)
Wait, so how is that not prosperity Gospel? Well, just because you are rich or appear blessed, doesn't mean you are righteous. It also doesn't mean you somehow merited your success because you were obedient or kept the commandments. It just means that when you are trying to follow God, it's not uncommon to find success both temporary and spiritually. The Book of Mormon is pretty clear that when there is success, people pretty quickly tend to buy themselves a first class ticket to hell, so be careful when the blessings come that you don't fall off the path.
v. 21 ... arise from the dust, my sons, and be men, and be determined in one mind and in one heart, united in all things, that ye may not come down into captivity.
What does “be men” mean here?
1. A Call to Courage & Responsibility
In 1 Kings 2:2, David charges Solomon:
“I go the way of all the earth: be thou strong therefore, and shew thyself a man.”
The Hebrew phrase here is:
Meaning in Hebrew Idiom
How This Carries into 2 Nephi 1:21
When Lehi says “arise from the dust, my sons, and be men”, he’s echoing this ancient Near Eastern idiom:
What does “be men” mean here?
1. A Call to Courage & Responsibility
- In Hebrew idiom, “be a man” often meant “act with courage, strength, and maturity.”
- Compare 1 Kings 2:2 — David to Solomon: “Be thou strong therefore, and shew thyself a man.”
- It’s not about gender roles so much as a charge to grow up spiritually and morally.
- The phrase before it is symbolic: “arise from the dust.”
- Dust = captivity, sin, death, laziness, humiliation.
- To “be men” = stand up, claim your divine identity, reject sloth and sin.
- Right after “be men,” Lehi says: “be determined in one mind and in one heart, united in all things.”
- So “be men” = don’t bicker like Laman & Lemuel; instead, step into covenant maturity, act with unity.
- Lehi is old and near death. He’s urging his children not to drift into bondage.
- To “be men” = actively choose righteousness, protect freedom, and lead families in the covenant path.
In 1 Kings 2:2, David charges Solomon:
“I go the way of all the earth: be thou strong therefore, and shew thyself a man.”
The Hebrew phrase here is:
- וְחָזַקְתָּ וְהָיִיתָ לְאִישׁ (veḥāzaqta, vehāyita le’ish)
- Literally: “Be strong, and be a man.”
Meaning in Hebrew Idiom
- “Be a man” (הָיִיתָ לְאִישׁ / hayita le’ish):Not about masculinity, but about maturity, courage, and responsibility.
- Paired with חָזַק (ḥazaq) = be strong, courageous.
- So idiomatically: “Show yourself courageous.” “Take responsibility as an adult leader.” “Stand firm and act with strength.”
How This Carries into 2 Nephi 1:21
When Lehi says “arise from the dust, my sons, and be men”, he’s echoing this ancient Near Eastern idiom:
- Stop acting childish or rebellious.
- Step into covenant responsibility with strength and courage.
- Show yourselves as true covenant heirs
v. 26 Ye say that he hath used sharpness; ye say that he hath been angry with you; but behold, his sharpness was the sharpness of the power of the word of God, which was in him; and that which ye call anger was the truth, according to that which is in God, which he could not restrain...
The wicked don't like the truth1 Nephi 16:2
Nephi to his brothers:
“The guilty taketh the truth to be hard, for it cutteth them to the very center.”
Abinadi before King Noah’s priests:
“It came to pass that I was constrained according to the commandment which I had received, and I did stretch forth my hand and said… for my words fill you with wonder and amazement, and with anger, for ye say that I have spoken hard things against you; but behold, ye know that these things are true, and because I have spoken the word of God ye are angry with me.”
Acts 2:37
After Peter’s sermon at Pentecost:
“Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart…”
Hebrews 4:12
“For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit… a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.”
The wicked don't like the truth1 Nephi 16:2
Nephi to his brothers:
“The guilty taketh the truth to be hard, for it cutteth them to the very center.”
- Classic example: Laman and Lemuel feel pierced because truth exposes their guilt.
Abinadi before King Noah’s priests:
“It came to pass that I was constrained according to the commandment which I had received, and I did stretch forth my hand and said… for my words fill you with wonder and amazement, and with anger, for ye say that I have spoken hard things against you; but behold, ye know that these things are true, and because I have spoken the word of God ye are angry with me.”
Acts 2:37
After Peter’s sermon at Pentecost:
“Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart…”
Hebrews 4:12
“For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit… a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.”