This week’s “Come, Follow Me” study guide covers 2 Nephi 3–5, which incorporates Nephi’s writings about delighting within the scriptures and his lament about his weaknesses.
Following are just a few quotes from past and present Church leaders about these chapters.
2 Nephi 3
“Early within the Restoration, by translation and revelation, quite a few plain and precious truths appeared in fairly rapid succession. This occurred through Joseph Smith, the ‘alternative seer.’ (2 Nephi 3:6). As when dinner guests arrive nearly all of sudden, Joseph, as host, received, welcomed and duly noted each truth. Only later was there time and matured perceptivity to see their relationships and the antiquity of their credentials.”
— Elder Neal A. Maxwell, October 1985 general conference, “Premortality, a Glorious Reality”
“We read within the Book of Mormon that when Lehi was within the desert, he told his son Joseph that the Lord had promised Joseph who was sold into Egypt that within the latter days He would raise up a prophet from his loins like unto Moses. (See 2 Nephi 3:6–9.) … He said his name ought to be Joseph, and his father’s name ought to be Joseph; and he said: ‘Unto him will I give power to bring forth my word’ (2 Nephi 3:11, 15). …
“And the Lord said: ‘And to not the bringing forth my word only, … but to the convincing them of my word, which shall have already gone forth amongst them’ (2 Nephi 3:11). What did he mean by that? That within the midst of those a whole lot of churches of men … that the Lord would give to this recent prophet the power to understand the scriptures that had already been sent forth amongst them. …
“Then He adds, ‘And I’ll make him great in mine eyes’ (2 Nephi 3:8). Whatever the world might imagine of the Prophet Joseph Smith, there may be the statement of the Lord that he can be great in His eyes.”
— Elder LeGrand Richards, April 1981 general conference, “Call of the Prophets”
2 Nephi 4
“It seems to me that Nephi was a student dedicated to the scriptures. We read that Nephi delighted within the scriptures, pondered them in his heart, and wrote them for the educational and profit of his children (see 2 Nephi 4:15–16). …
“Delighting within the scriptures is greater than hungering and thirsting for knowledge. Nephi experienced great joy during his life. However, he also faced difficulties and sadness (see 2 Nephi 4:12–13). ‘Nevertheless,’ he said, ‘I do know in whom I even have trusted’ (2 Nephi 4:19). As we study the scriptures, we are going to higher understand God’s plan of salvation and exaltation, and we are going to trust in the guarantees that He has made to us within the scriptures, in addition to in the guarantees and blessings of contemporary prophets.”
— Elder Arnulfo Valenzuela, October 2021 general conference, “Deepening Our Conversion to Jesus Christ”
“In the Book of Mormon, Nephi speaks often of pleasure. He delights ‘within the things of the Lord,’ ‘within the scriptures,’ and ‘in the good and everlasting plan’ of our Father in Heaven (see 2 Nephi 4:15–16; 11:2–8). Notably, Nephi often remembers his sources of pleasure within the midst of affliction, serving to lift and focus his spirit on everlasting blessings.
“We too should enjoyment of the things of the Lord for it would ‘lift’ our hearts and provides us cause to ‘rejoice’ (2 Nephi 11:8). …
“‘My soul delighteth within the things of the Lord’ (2 Nephi 4:16) — His law, His life, His love. To enjoyment of Him is to acknowledge His hand in our lives. Our gospel duty is to do what is true and to like and enjoyment of what is true. When we delight to serve Him, our Father in Heaven delights to bless us.”
— Sister Susan W. Tanner, then the recently released Young Women general president, April 2008 general conference, “My Soul Delighteth within the Things of the Lord”
“[2 Nephi 4:15] teaches us learn how to read the Book of Mormon. It mentions three necessary ideas.
“First, ‘My soul delighteth.’ … Joy fills my heart as I receive encouragement, direction, comfort, strength and answers to my needs. Life looks brighter, and the way in which opens before me. …
“Second, ‘My heart pondereth them.’ … The spirit of what I even have read rests there to bring me peace and luxury. The knowledge I even have gained gives me guidance and direction. I even have the arrogance born out of obedience. …
“[Third], my heart ‘writeth them for the educational and the profit of my children.’
“I, after all, don’t write scriptures as did Nephi, but after I read the scriptures and live the principles learned, those scriptures change into written in my life. They govern my actions and are written there for my children to see and follow. I can construct a legacy, a convention of righteous living, based on the principles I learn within the scriptures.”
— Sister Cheryl C. Lant, then the Primary general president, October 2005 general conference, “My Soul Delighteth within the Scriptures”
“There is not any neutral area between good and evil. If you’re on the devil’s turf, get off it as fast as you possibly can. As strong as Nephi was, I can’t forget his humble prayer: ‘O Lord, wilt thou … make me that I’ll shake at the looks of sin?’ (2 Nephi 4:31).”
— Elder W. Eugene Hansen, April 1996 general conference, “Spiritual Shepherds”
“Being mortal, and despite our resolve and efforts, we are going to proceed to fall in need of perfection. However, with Nephi of old, conscious of our weaknesses, temptations and past mistakes, we may say, ‘Nevertheless, I do know in whom I even have trusted’ (2 Nephi 4:19). There follows a natural resolve to renew our efforts.”
— Elder Ronald E. Poelman, October 1993 general conference, “Divine Forgiveness”
“How can we feel in regards to the scriptures? Do now we have the identical love for the scriptures that was expressed by Nephi when he said: ‘For my soul delighteth within the scriptures, and my heart pondereth them. …
“‘Behold, my soul delighteth within the things of the Lord; and my heart pondereth continually upon the things which I even have seen and heard’ (2 Nephi 4:15–16).
“We should show great respect and reverence for these sacred revelations. We must have feelings of gratitude for many who recorded and preserved these revelations for our research.”
— Elder L. Lionel Kendrick, April 1993 general conference, “Search the Scriptures”
“A pattern of private righteousness which incorporates prayer, scripture study and repair is the reply to avoiding the hazards spoken of within the Book of Mormon. Nephi knew this when he asked the Lord, ‘O Lord, wilt thou encircle me around within the robe of thy righteousness!’ (2 Nephi 4:33).”
— Sister Janette C. Hales, then the second counselor within the Young Women general presidency, April 1991 general conference, “A Pattern of Righteousness”
“Trust the Lord. As Nephi of old said:
“‘O Lord, I even have trusted in thee, and I’ll trust in thee without end. I is not going to put my trust within the arm of flesh; for I do know that cursed is he that putteth his trust within the arm of flesh. Yea, cursed is he that putteth his trust in man or maketh flesh his arm.
“‘Yea, I do know that God will give liberally to him that asketh’ (2 Nephi 4:34–35).
“To turn to the Lord and to trust Him is to learn from His revelations. Spiritual security comes from revelation that unveils the true nature of Deity. The sort of God in whom we consider generally determines the sort of people we’re and can change into.”
— Elder Charles Didier, April 1987 general conference, “Spiritual Security”
“Perhaps essentially the most personal and inspiring expression of all, to me, comes from Nephi, sincere servant of God, who, bearing his witness of gratitude and enjoyment of the Lord, is honest enough to say: ‘Nevertheless, notwithstanding the good goodness of the Lord, in showing me his great and marvelous works, my heart exclaimeth: O wretched man that I’m! Yea, my heart sorroweth due to my flesh; my soul grieveth due to mine iniquities.
“‘I’m encompassed about, due to temptations and the sins which accomplish that easily beset me.
“‘And after I desire to rejoice, my heart groaneth due to my sins’ (2 Nephi 4:17–19).
“And then he cried out to the Lord for help:
“‘Wilt thou make me that I’ll shake at the looks of sin?
“‘O Lord, I even have trusted in thee, and I’ll trust in thee without end. I is not going to put my trust within the arm of flesh’ (2 Nephi 4:31, 34).
“And Nephi gave his life to the Lord.”
— Elder Marion D. Hanks, April 1972 general conference, “Joy through Christ”
2 Nephi 5
“After [Nephi and his family] arrived within the promised land, great conflicts continued to arise between the individuals who centered their lives in Christ and the nonbelievers, who followed the examples of Laman and Lemuel. Ultimately, the chance of violence between the 2 groups was so great that Nephi and people who followed the teachings of the Lord separated themselves and fled into the wilderness for safety. At this time limit, some 30 years after Lehi and his family left Jerusalem, Nephi makes a well-documented and somewhat surprising statement, especially after recording within the scriptures the numerous afflictions and tribulations that they had faced for therefore long. These are his words: ‘And it got here to pass that we [did live] after the style of happiness’ (2 Nephi 5:27). Despite their hardships, they were capable of live after the style of happiness because they were centered in Christ and His gospel.”
— Elder Richard J. Maynes, October 2015 general conference, “The Joy of Living a Christ-Centered Life”
“A temple marriage for time and all eternity is worthy of your biggest efforts and highest priority. It was only after Nephi had accomplished the temple within the wilderness that he stated, ‘And … we lived after the style of happiness’ (2 Nephi 5:27). The ‘manner of happiness’ is present in the temple. It is covenant keeping. Don’t let any influence come into your life or your own home that will cause you to compromise your covenants or your commitment to your … family.”
— Sister Elaine S. Dalton, then the Young Women general president, October 2011 general conference, “Love Her Mother”
“The more we all know of Jesus, the more we are going to love Him. The more we all know of Jesus, the more we are going to trust Him. The more we all know of Jesus, the more we are going to wish to be like Him and to be with Him by becoming the style of men and ladies that He wishes us to be, while living now ‘after the style of happiness’ (2 Nephi 5:27).”
— Elder Neal A. Maxwell, April 2001 general conference, “‘Plow in Hope’”
“Increases in technology, scientific inventions, and medical miracles have been marvelous and incredible. But we must use them properly to bring us joy, and that requires spiritual and moral leadership. Civilization has been around for a very long time. While computers are an amazing convenience and splendidly helpful in reducing drudgery, we’re reminded that the Nephites ‘lived after the style of happiness’ (2 Nephi 5:27) even without computers.”
— President James E. Faust, April 1999 general conference, “This Is Our Day”
“When the people of Lehi arrived within the Americas from the old world, they felt an amazing dependence upon the Lord as they established their homes and worked to offer for themselves. Nephi makes this entry in his record:
“‘And we did observe to maintain the judgments, and the statutes, and the commandments of the Lord in all things. …
“‘And the Lord was with us; and we did prosper exceedingly; for we did sow seed, and we did reap again in abundance. And we began to lift flocks, and herds, and animals of all types.
“‘And it got here to pass that we began to prosper exceedingly, and to multiply within the land’ (2 Nephi 5:10–11, 13).
“This sort of material prosperity has all the time been a fragile thing. It has proved to be one in every of the best tests with which a people might be confronted. …
“Perhaps the best tragedies of all time have occurred when people have received the promised blessings of the Lord after which have forgotten the source of their good life.”
— Elder Dean L. Larsen, October 1992 general conference, “The Lord Will Prosper the Righteous”
