The heavenly beings in Ezekiel's first vision "turned not," but went "straight forward." This reminds me of Helaman's army, which would not "turn to the right nor to the left." There is safety in pursuing a righteous goal without distractions or unnecessary changes of course.
Nephi’s Guide to Studying Ezekiel
Nephi didn't have Ezekiel's words, but he did model how to engage with symbolic visions. He taught us to (1) be curious, (2) believe that God can help us, (3) ponder, (4) build on what we already know, and (5) apply the scriptures to our lives.
Lehi and Ezekiel: Visionary Readers
God gave books to both Lehi and Ezekiel during visions in which they heard His voice. Why would He invite them to read when they had direct access to Him? To emphasize that we can hear His voice and feel His Spirit as we read His words.
One in Thine Hand
Ezekiel prophesied of the gathering of Israel using two sticks as an object lesson, one labeled "For Judah" and the other labeled "For Joseph." Book of Mormon prophets associated the gathering of people with the unification of scripture and foretold the uniting of their words with the Bible and with scripture from other nations.
A New Spirit Will I Put within You
Ezekiel saw dry bones coming to life again, echoing the Book of Mormon's promise of universal literal resurrection. He also saw God replacing stony hearts with hearts of flesh, echoing the Book of Mormon accounts of hearts changed by God. Foundational Book of Mormon doctrines also appear in the visions of Ezekiel.
Zedekiah and His Children
reveals that one of those sons escaped and migrated to the Americas. His descendants, the people of Zarahemla, lost their faith because they had no records. They regained their faith when they united with the Nephites.
Whose Words Shall Stand?
Two groups of people, centuries apart, faced precarious circumstances and pledged to follow God's guidance sought by a prophet. The remnant of Judah rebelled against the guidance from Jeremiah. The Anti-Nephi-Lehies followed the guidance given by Ammon. In both cases, they learned by experience that God's words will stand.
They Shall All Know Me
Jeremiah described a future time when the children of Israel would have a strong covenant relationship with God. That covenant would be characterized by internalized law, belonging, firsthand knowledge, and forgiveness. King Benjamin's people entered this kind of relationship with God, and so can we.
The Rechabites and the Traditions of the Fathers
Jeremiah highlighted the faithfulness of the Rechabites to the practices established by their ancestor Jonadab. In contrast, the converted Lamanites had to set aside the traditions of their fathers when they accepted the gospel of Jesus Christ. We can cherish the best of our inherited culture while participating fully in the culture of Christ.
I Will Turn Away Your Captivity
Moses prophesied that Israel would be scattered, but he assured them that when they returned to God, He would turn their captivity and gather them. Jeremiah repeated this promise multiple times, even as his people were being scattered. We all experience forms of captivity. God can liberate us from the things that bind us.