Lies and Confusion in the Book of Mormon
“5 Yea, and my soul delighteth in the words of Isaiah, for I came out from Jerusalem, and mine eyes hath beheld the things of the Jews, and I know that the Jews do understand the things of the prophets, and there is none other people that understand the things which were spoken unto the Jews like unto them, save it be that they are taught after the manner of the things of the Jews.”
Specifically, which words would those be?
What did your eyes behold?
What things of the prophets do the Jews understand?
What things spoken unto the Jews do the Jews understand?
Taught after the manner of the things of the Jews… What exactly does this mean?
“6 But behold, I, Nephi, have not taught my children after the manner of the Jews; but behold, I, of myself, have dwelt at Jerusalem, wherefore I know concerning the regions round about; and I have made mention unto my children concerning the judgments of God, which hath come to pass among the Jews, unto my children, according to all that which Isaiah hath spoken, and I do not write them.”
If you’re a Jew why haven’t you taught your children the “manner of the Jews”?
Specifically what did he teach his children about the judgments of God?
It’s shocking Nephi wouldn’t teach his Jewish children the same thing other Jewish people have been taught for centuries. God commanded the Israelites to keep the Law and this includes the feasts, sacrifices, festivals, worship, clothing, food, treatment of neighbors and criminals, etc. There are 613 rules to obey and Nephi didn’t teach them any of these?
“7 But behold, I proceed with mine own prophecy, according to my plainness; in the which I know that no man can err; nevertheless, 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.”
When did God make men infallible? If this is Nephi’s own prophecy does this mean it’s not God’s prophecy or is Nephi trying to one up Isaiah?
How will the Nephites know when the prophecies of Isaiah will come to pass if they’re not in Jerusalem?
“8 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 “they”, meaning your perfect prophecies, are of great worth why aren’t Isaiah’s prophecies perfect and written down as well??
The prophecies of Isaiah can be categorized into a handful of different subjects so it’s important to understand if it’s an oracle, a pronouncement, a critique of foreign affairs, etc. and how that applies to the people reading it at that time.
Is this a past prophecy fulfilled?
Is it a future prophecy that provides hope?
Is it consolation for the people today?
The text here in the Book of Mormon gives little to no understanding of what Isaiah’s ministry was about or that God intended for His people to know He was the One in charge even when the countries were playing a high stakes game of Monopoly – Isaiah 13:1-23:18.
The following verses in this section from Nephi told of his own prophecy that a remnant of Judah would return, the Only Begotten would be crucified and resurrected and then Jerusalem would be totally destroyed at a later date.
And Nephi then proved he isn’t a true prophet by citing the name of Jesus would be Jesus Christ (v 19). If Nephi’s not able to “err” because of his plainness then why would he state such a thing?
Jesus’ name is and was not Jesus Christ. Christ is a title, not a name. Jesus’ name is just that – Jesus.
Where is there hope in this passage for my mother or any Mormon for that matter? Can she read this at night and be comforted when the world seems too evil?