2 Nephi 2

< 2 Nephi 2 >

v. 2 ... and he shall consecrate thine afflictions for thy gain.

Romans 5:3-4
3: And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience;
4: And patience, experience; and experience, hope:
5: And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.
6: For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly.

2 Corinthians 4:17
17: For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory;

v. 4 And the way is prepared from the fall of man, and salvation is free.

Salvation is freeThe gift is free in being offered to all, but receiving it fully depends on our willingness to follow Christ.

Different Layers of Salvation
1) Universal resurrection and redemption from the Fall = truly free, unconditional, given to all.
2) Exaltation and eternal life in God’s presence = requires covenant faithfulness and discipleship.

v. 5 And men are instructed sufficiently that they know good from evil.

Who Instructs Us?
Lehi ties our ability to know good and evil to several sources working together:

Innate Light (Conscience): Every human is born with the Light of Christ (see Moroni 7:16–17; D&C 84:46). This is a universal influence that lets us sense good vs. evil — even before formal teaching.
Law of God (Revealed Commandments): God has given commandments, through prophets and scripture, to make moral boundaries clear. Lehi says, “the law is given unto men” → without law, there would be no accountability (2 Nephi 2:13).
The Spirit’s Witness: Beyond general conscience, the Holy Ghost gives deeper conviction and guidance. This makes our knowledge not just intellectual, but spiritual and binding.

So it’s not just innate being. It’s:

Innate conscience (Light of Christ) → gives all people a sense of right and wrong.
God’s revealed law → gives structure and specifics.
The Spirit → confirms and empowers us to follow that law.

Lehi’s point is that no one is left in total ignorance. Between the Light of Christ in every person, the commandments God has revealed, and the Spirit’s guidance, we are “instructed sufficiently” so we can be accountable for our choices.

📖 Book of Mormon

2 Nephi 2:5 — “And men are instructed sufficiently that they know good from evil. And the law is given unto men.”
Moroni 7:16–17 — Mormon explains that “the Spirit of Christ is given to every man, that he may know good from evil.” Anything that persuades to believe in Christ is of God; anything that persuades not is of the devil.

📖 Doctrine & Covenants

D&C 84:46 — “The Spirit giveth light to every man that cometh into the world; and the Spirit enlighteneth every man through the world, that hearkeneth to the voice of the Spirit.”
D&C 93:2 — Christ is described as “the true light that lighteth every man that cometh into the world.”

📖 Bible

John 1:9 — Speaking of Christ: “That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world.”
Romans 2:14–15 — Paul says Gentiles (who don’t have the Law of Moses) still “do by nature the things contained in the law,” because the law is “written in their hearts,” with their conscience bearing witness.
Hebrews 8:10 (quoting Jeremiah) — God promises to “put my laws into their mind, and write them in their hearts.”

v. 5 And the law is given unto men. And by the law no flesh is justified; or, by the law men are cut off.

The law cannot save:

The Law Defines Sin, Not Salvation:The law shows us what’s right and wrong. But once a person breaks the law (and all do), the law can only condemn. It has no power to forgive.
Paul’s Parallel: Paul says the same thing: “By the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin” (Romans 3:20). “The law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith” (Galatians 3:24).
Why the Law Can’t Save: The law is about justice → it demands payment for broken commandments. Humans can’t perfectly keep the law → so left alone, all would be condemned. Therefore, salvation must come outside of law-keeping → through Christ’s grace.
The Role of Christ Christ fulfills the demands of the law (justice), so mercy can be extended. We are “justified” (declared righteous) not by the law, but by Him.

The Law

Theme	2 Nephi 2 (Lehi)	Romans / Galatians (Paul)
The Law is Given	“The law is given unto men” (v. 5)	“Wherefore the law is holy, and the commandment holy, and just, and good” (Romans 7:12)
The Law cannot justify	“By the law no flesh is justified; … by the law men are cut off” (v. 5)	“By the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight” (Romans 3:20)
Law reveals sin	Without Christ, men “perish from that which is good, and become miserable forever” (v. 5)	“For by the law is the knowledge of sin” (Romans 3:20)
Purpose of law	Law shows our need for a Redeemer, pointing to “the Messiah cometh in the fulness of time” (v. 6)	“The law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ” (Galatians 3:24)
Need for grace	“Redemption cometh in and through the Holy Messiah; for he is full of grace and truth” (v. 6)	“Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus” (Romans 3:24)
Result of law alone	“By the temporal law they were cut off; and also, by the spiritual law they perish” (v. 5)	“For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse” (Galatians 3:10)
Result of Christ	“No flesh … can dwell in the presence of God, save it be through … the merits, and mercy, and grace of the Holy Messiah” (v. 8)	“Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law” (Romans 3:28)

v.6 Wherefore, redemption cometh in and through the Holy Messiah; for he is full of grace and truth.

Sara's favorite scripture

Something about my mom that I have admired throughout my life is that she has an incredible faith. She truly has this amazing gift of faith which has honestly helped me see that God is a God of mercy and a God of grace. Not only has her strong testimony stood as an incredible witness of God’s love and patience for me, but also her actions as a mother. Throughout my life, she has met me where I am and helped me to figure out where I needed to go. She has been patient with me and given me grace, probably more than I deserved. I am grateful for that because it taught me that God does love me, that He does care about me, that He wants me to keep trying.

From Emma's Farewell Talk, 2025

v.7 Behold, he offereth himself a sacrifice for sin, to answer the ends of the law...

What Are “the Ends of the Law”?

Ends = the purpose, aim, or ultimate demand.

The law (whether Law of Moses or eternal law) has two great “ends”:Justice must be satisfied — sin requires consequence. Pointing to Christ — the law’s rituals and commandments foreshadowed Him (Galatians 3:24; Mosiah 13:27–28).

So the “ends of the law” = its final purpose (to point us to Christ) and its ultimate demand (justice for sin).

How Christ Answers Them

He Fulfills Justice: Law demands punishment for sin. Christ satisfies justice by offering Himself as the perfect sacrifice (Alma 34:16). Thus, mercy can be extended without breaking the law.
He Fulfills the Symbols: Every animal sacrifice, holy day, and ritual in the Law of Moses pointed to Him. By His atonement, He brought the law of Moses to completion — “fulfilled, not destroyed” (3 Nephi 15:4–5).
He Makes the Law Complete in Us: Without Christ, the law ends in condemnation. With Christ, the law’s purpose is fulfilled: to bring us to reconciliation with God.

v.7 ... unto all those who have a broken heart and a contrite spirit

💔 What “Broken Heart” and “Contrite Spirit” Mean

Broken heart = a heart humbled, softened, and surrendered to God; willing to let go of pride, rebellion, and self-sufficiency.
Contrite spirit = literally “crushed” or “ground down” in spirit (comes from Latin contritus - worn down, crushed, broken) — not in despair, but in genuine humility and repentance.

Together, they describe a person who admits their need for God, acknowledges their sins, and is willing to be changed.

Why This Unlocks Grace

It Removes Pride and Self-Justification: If we approach God insisting we can “save ourselves” (like Sherem did with the Law in Jacob 7), we block mercy. A broken heart recognizes: I can’t do this alone — I need Christ. That humility opens the door to His atonement.
It Creates Real Repentance: Repentance isn’t just behavior change; it’s a turning of the heart. A contrite spirit is sensitive to the Spirit’s promptings and willing to forsake sin. That allows Christ’s atonement to cleanse us (Mosiah 26:29–30).
It Aligns Our Will With His: God won’t force salvation on us. When our hearts are broken and contrite, we’re finally in harmony with His will — ready to accept mercy on His terms.
It Invites the Spirit: The Lord has said: “Offer for a sacrifice unto me a broken heart and a contrite spirit. And whoso cometh unto me with a broken heart and a contrite spirit, him will I baptize with fire and with the Holy Ghost” (3 Nephi 9:20). That gift of the Spirit is how Christ’s cleansing power is applied to our souls.

In Practice

Broken heart: confessing weakness honestly in prayer, being willing to let go of sin, acknowledging dependence on God.
Contrite spirit: showing meekness, patience, and openness to correction, even when it hurts.

These qualities create the spiritual soil where grace can take root and grow.

v.7 ... unto all those who have a broken heart and a contrite spirit; and unto none else can the ends of the law be answered.

Everyday Signs of a Contrite Spirit

Admits mistakes quickly→ Example: Instead of making excuses when you snap at your spouse, you say, “I was wrong to speak that way. Please forgive me.”
Open to correction→ At work, if a colleague points out an error, you don’t get defensive — you listen and thank them, even if it stings.
Sorrow that leads to change→ After gossiping, you feel genuine regret, not just embarrassment at being caught. You pray for forgiveness andcommit to speak more kindly.
Dependence on God→ In prayer, you admit your weakness and ask, “Lord, I can’t do this alone. Please strengthen me.”
Softness toward others→ Instead of judging a struggling neighbor, you remember your own flaws and show compassion.

Opposite of a Contrite Spirit

Hardening the heart → “I didn’t do anything wrong; it’s their fault.”
Excusing sin → “Everybody does it, so it’s not that bad.”
Prideful resistance → Bristling when corrected, refusing to admit need.
Surface-level regret → Sorry about the consequences, but not about the choice itself.

A contrite spirit is like being teachable, humble, and tenderhearted before God.
It’s not self-hatred; it’s an openness that says: “Lord, I need Thee. Shape me, change me, forgive me.”

Jesus was the perfect model of a contrite spirit

In Gethsemane (Luke 22:41–42)
“Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done.”

Christ, though perfect, yielded His willfully to the Father.
That act of submission is the purest form of what it means to have a contrite spirit — surrendering pride, control, and self-will.

At His Baptism (Matthew 3:13–15)

Jesus insisted on being baptized, even though He was sinless.
John the Baptist protested, but Jesus said it was “to fulfil all righteousness.”
Here He shows humble obedience, aligning with the Father’s plan, not claiming exemption.

In His Ministry (John 5:19, 30)
“The Son can do nothing of himself, but what he seeth the Father do… I seek not mine own will, but the will of the Father which hath sent me.”

He acknowledged total dependence on the Father, even in His divine mission.
That is the spirit of contrition: not self-sufficient, but God-reliant.

At the Cross (Philippians 2:8)
“And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.”

Paul describes Christ’s death as the ultimate act of humility and obedience.
Even in suffering, He didn’t resist but submitted perfectly to God’s will.

Christ didn’t need to repent, but He modeled contrition: absolute humility, total dependence on the Father, and a will completely yielded to God.
When we have a broken heart and contrite spirit, we’re walking in His footsteps — learning to say: “Not my will, but Thine be done.”

v. 8 Wherefore, how great the importance to make these things known until the inhabitants of the earth, that they may know that there is no flesh that can dwell in the presence of God, save it be through the merits, and mercy, and grace of the Holy Messiah...

The Great CommissionMain Passages

Matthew 28:18–20“All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world.”
Mark 16:15–16“Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.”
Luke 24:46–49: Christ explains that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in His name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.
John 20:21–23“As my Father hath sent me, even so send I you.” Then He breathes on them and says, “Receive ye the Holy Ghost.”
Acts 1:8“Ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.”

v. 8 Wherefore, how great the importance to make these things known until the inhabitants of the earth, that they may know that there is no flesh that can dwell in the presence of God, save it be through the merits, and mercy, and grace of the Holy Messiah...

Mercy:

Definition: Compassion or forgiveness shown when judgment or punishment is deserved.
Key idea: Not getting what we do deserve.
Example in scripture: “The Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and plenteous in mercy” (Psalm 103:8). In Alma 34:15, Amulek explains that Christ’s atonement allows mercy to satisfy the demands of justice.
Example: A guilty prisoner being pardoned instead of executed.

Grace:

Definition: Unmerited favor, divine help, strength, and enabling power given by God.
Key idea: Getting what we do not deserve.
Example in scripture: “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God”(Ephesians 2:8). 2 Nephi 25:23: “It is by grace that we are saved, after all we can do.”
Example: The same pardoned prisoner not only set free but also given a place at the king’s table and adopted into the royal family.

In Les Mis, Jean Valjean's story is a powerful example of mercy and grace: when he gets caught by the police and is brought back to the bishop's home, he is not punished for his crime (mercy), and he is given the candlesticks to start a new life (grace). The rest of the story is him learning how to live as a redeemed man. In the end, mercy and grace can do what law and punishment never could.

Mercy = deliverance from punishment.
Grace = gift of power and blessing beyond deliverance.

Easy Analogy
Imagine that Brooks is driving too fast (Loudon county parkway, 5:30 PM M-TH):

The officer stops Brooks and decides not to give him the ticket → that’s mercy.
Then he pays for his driving course to help him improve → that’s grace.

v. 10 And because of the intercession for all, all men come unto God; wherefore, they stand in the presence of him, to be judged of him according to the truth and holiness which is in him.

IntercessionRomans 8:34 - It is Christ that died...who also maketh intercession for us.

Intercession = advocacy. Someone who pleads your case before a judge.
Christ intercedes not to change God’s mind, but to apply His own atonement so mercy can be extended justly.
It’s a role of mediator, advocate, and protector.

v. 27 Wherefore, men are free according to the flesh; and all things are given them which are expedient unto man. And they are free to choose liberty and eternal life, through the great Mediator of all men, or to choose captivity and death; according to the captivity and power of the devil; for he seekers that all men might be miserable like unto himself.

Law, Grace, and Works

Theme	Lehi (2 Nephi 2)	Paul (Romans / Galatians)	James (Epistle of James)
Law cannot save	By the law no flesh is justified… by the law men are cut off (2 Nephi 2:5)	By the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified (Romans 3:20)	*James doesn’t dispute this; he shifts focus to what faith looks like* in action. (James 1:22-25) Be ye doers of the word...**
Christ’s grace redeems	“Redemption cometh in and through the Holy Messiah” (2 Nephi 2:6)	“Being justified freely by his grace through… Christ Jesus” (Romans 3:24)	James assumes Christ is Savior; his emphasis is what a living response to grace looks like.
Faith is essential	“Men are free to choose liberty and eternal life… through the great Mediator” (2 Nephi 2:27)	“Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law” (Romans 3:28) - In Romans 6 he notes that true faith leads to transformed living	“Faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone” (James 2:17)
Role of works	Obedience is part of choosing liberty (2 Nephi 2:27)	Works of the Law (rituals, circumcision, etc.) cannot justify (Romans 3:20)	Works = natural outflow of real faith: “I will shew thee my faith by my works” (James 2:18)
Final vision	Only through “the merits, and mercy, and grace of the Holy Messiah” can man dwell with God (2 Nephi 2:8)	“A man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law” (Romans 3:28)	“Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only” (James 2:24)

How They Fit Together

Lehi: The law can’t save — only the Messiah can.
Paul: Justification isn’t by law, but by faith in Christ’s grace.
James: True faith is never barren; it produces good works as evidence of being alive in Christ.

So in harmony:

We are saved by grace (Lehi + Paul).
That grace, when truly received, transforms us into doers (James).

The law shows our need, grace saves us, and works prove our faith is real.

Book of mormon

< 2 Nephi 2 >