Book Of Mormon Central

Come Follow Me Q&A for 2 Nephi 31-33 with Neal Rappleye by Book of Mormon Central

In 2 Nephi 31–32, Nephi used imagery from the high priestly ascent into the holy of holies to teach the Doctrine of Christ. This is a wonderful resource for this week's Come, Follow Me study. Read at bit.ly/knowhy552

Come Follow Me Q&A for 2 Nephi 26-30 with Neal Rappleye by Book of Mormon Central

Nephi compares Satan’s tactics to “flaxen cords” which eventually become “strong cords” that bind down sinners “forever” (2 Nephi 26:22). Understanding the process of turning flax fibers first into threads or strands and then into strong cords or rope—a process that goes back into ancient times and alluded to in biblical imagery—can help us better understand the subtle craftiness that is implied in Nephi's metaphor. Read at bit.ly/knowhy551

Come Follow Me Q&A for 2 Nephi 11-25 with Neal Rappleye by Book of Mormon Central

The daughter of Zion is a motif from the Old Testament that finds new, powerful meaning in the Book of Mormon's Isaiah chapters. With the destruction of the Nephites at the forefront of Nephi's mind, he prophecies of a day when the words of the Book of Mormon will bring salvation and redemption to the remnant of his seed, as embodied by the daughter of Zion. Endowed with beautiful garments of power and glory, the daughter of Zion is the divine, feminine manifestation of the righteous passing through the veil of mortality, and entering into the joy, rest, and holiness of the Lord. Read at bit.ly/knowhy550

Come Follow Me Q&A for 2 Nephi 6-10 with Neal Rappleye by Book of Mormon Central

Speaking at the newly built Nephite temple, near the time Nephi was crowned king, during one of the Israelite autumn festivals, Jacob provided a list of ten “woes” similar to the Ten Commandments. Jacob does not simply repeat the exact same ten commandments, however. He makes changes and adaptations based on the circumstances of his people. For example, he modified the law again homicide in a way to ensure Nephi’s slaying of Laban could not be misunderstood as a violation of the law. Jacob’s adaptation of the original Ten Commandments illustrates the ancient scriptural precedent for continued clarifications of the Lord’s standards, such as with the recent adjustments to the temple recommend interview questions. Read at bit.ly/knowhy549

Neal Rappleye answers questions from our Come, Follow Me group

Neal Rappleye answers questions from our Come, Follow Me group

"Understanding that Nephi’s bow was likely not fully made of steel or bronze, but rather a composite bow with steel or bronze sheeting is significant for understanding how Nephi’s bow could break in the Arabian wilderness." Read at bit.ly/knowhy548

Book of Mormon Central researcher Neal Rappleye had the chance to sit down and answer questions from members in our Come Follow Me Facebook Group.

It is important to acknowledge that not everything Columbus did was inspired by God. Nephi only says the Spirit would inspire him to cross the many waters. He says nothing that endorses Columbus’s actions after he arrives in the promised land. Indeed, as Nephi prophesied, the arrival of this “man among the Gentiles” led to the tragic scattering and smiting of the Lamanites throughout the New World (1 Nephi 13:14). Some historians have all argued persuasively that Columbus was driven by a religious worldview in which he saw himself playing a crucial role as God’s instrument in the unfolding events of the end times. Read at http://bit.ly/knowhy547

The great and spacious building in Lehi's dream was identified by the angel as representing "the pride and vain imaginations of the children of men" (1 Nephi 12:18). Lehi's contemporary Jeremiah speaks of the pride of Jerusalem and her people. The Hebrew word used by Jeremiah means "to be/become high." The word imaginations may be based upon a Hebrew word also found in Jeremiah which denotes a kind of defiant stubbornness in opposition to God which leads to calamity. Vanity (as in vain) is likely based on a Hebrew word meaning "vapor" and often signifies something that is fleeting, worthless, and does not last. Each of these words shed light on the nature of the great and specious building. Read at bit.ly/knowhy546

Book of Mormon Central researcher Neal Rappleye had the chance to sit down and answer questions from members in our Come Follow Me Facebook Group.

On three occasions Nephi says that his father offered sacrifice during their wilderness sojourn. When he first arrives in the valley of Lemuel he makes and offering and gives thanks to God, but following the two missions of his sons to the land of Jerusalem he offers "sacrifice and burnt offerings". Why would he offer burnt offerings these times? Read more at bit.ly/know545

In his dream of the Tree of Life Lehi found himself in a dark and dreary wilderness. While others have noted that the desert imagery makes sense in light of Lehi's own travels in the desert, the prophecies of Jeremiah shed additional light on Lehi's vision. Both Lehi and Jeremiah were contemporaries, prophesied about the destruction of Jerusalem, and shared similar concerns. Significantly, each of us can also see ourselves in Lehi's dream when we experience our own challenges. Read at bit.ly/know544

Rather than stating Mary’s name directly in his account, it appears that Nephi instead drew attention to the meanings (“love” and “desire”) of an ancient Egyptian root word from which her name was most likely derived. Read at bit.ly/knowhy543

This KnoWhy will look at the probability that the translation process was more one of “tight control” over the words in English Joseph Smith dictated to his scribes. Evidence suggests that Joseph Smith was not responsible for the language of the translation, which was revealed to him word for word. Under this account, it is possible that whatever divine process was responsible for producing the English translation was also responsible for purposefully integrating relevant and appropriate New Testament phrasing into the text. Read at bit.ly/knowhy542

What might all this mean for the seven seals mentioned in the Book of Revelation? A high-level Roman practice may offer some eye-opening clues. Read at bit.ly/knowhy541