It’s easy to think of scripture as something distant, something that describes God’s dealings with other people but maybe not with us. The scriptures themselves give that impression. They tell stories of people who are culturally different from us, using archaic language.
But Nephi wanted to break down those barriers. “I did liken all scriptures unto us,” he said, “that it might be for our profit and learning” (1 Nephi 19:23). So after he read Isaiah 48 and 49 to his brothers and they asked, “What meaneth these things which ye have read?” (1 Nephi 22:1), he was quick to bring them into the story. He spoke of Israel being scattered and then gathered again by the Gentiles. He said these things were in fulfillment of covenants God had made with their fathers. Then he said, “it meaneth us in the days to come, and also all our brethren who are of the house of Israel” (1 Nephi 22:6).
What did Nephi mean by “us”? He and his brothers would not personally participate in the gathering of Israel, but their descendants would be the beneficiaries of the promised blessings:
After our seed is scattered the Lord God will proceed to do a marvelous work among the Gentiles, which shall be of great worth unto our seed; wherefore, it is likened unto their being nourished by the Gentiles and being carried in their arms and upon their shoulders.
1 Nephi 22:8
Nephi identified with his posterity. After seeing in a vision the future destruction of his people, he said, “I was overcome because of my afflictions, for I considered that mine afflictions were great above all, because of the destruction of my people” (1 Nephi 15:5). A tragedy which would occur a thousand years in the future grieved him deeply because it concerned his descendants.
So Nephi is simultaneously teaching his brothers two things: how to place themselves inside of the scriptural narrative, and how to lengthen their perspective by identifying with their posterity.
Today I will liken the scriptures to myself and to my family. I will strive to see myself and my posterity in the prophecies of Isaiah, so that I can better understand my role in God’s plan for His children.
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