After quoting Isaiah 50 and 51, which assure us that God is mindful of us and will deliver us from every bondage we suffer, Jacob goes into more detail on the two biggest enemies we face: death and hell. He testifies that God has overcome both enemies, but that we must do something to take full advantage of this gift.
Chapter Outline
- I read these things so you can understand God’s covenants and rejoice (v. 1-3).
- God has overcome death and hell (v. 4-27).
- But those who ignore God’s counsel will perish (v. 28-40).
- Turn away from your sins, and receive the joy that is freely available to you (v. 41-54).
My Takeaways
- God can help us escape every enemy we face.
- Wealth and education can make us proud. Don’t ignore God when you’re doing well.
- We will all be judged by God, and He cannot be deceived.
- God’s greatest blessings are priceless. Don’t get distracted by things that cost money.
Featured Blog Posts
❖ The Covenants of the Lord – 2 Nephi 9:1
That Ye Might Know Concerning the Covenants of the Lord – 2 Nephi 9:1-3
1 And now, my beloved brethren, I have read these things that ye might know concerning the covenants of the Lord that he has covenanted with all the house of Israel— 2 That he has spoken unto the Jews, by the mouth of his holy prophets, even from the beginning down, from generation to generation,…
❖ The Greatness of God – 2 Nephi 9:17, 19, 40, 53
Why Is Jesus Called “the Holy One of Israel?”
The holiness of Jesus makes Him the perfect judge, and it also empowers Him to purify us.
❖ The Atonement of Jesus Christ – 2 Nephi 9:6-26
Death and Hell – 2 Nephi 9:6-26
Because of our fallen state, we are subject to two kinds of death. The prophet Jacob refers to them in a number of different ways: Death Hell The death of the body The death of the spirit Temporal death Spiritual death The grave The lake of fire and brimstone The first death Endless death Physical…
He Suffereth the Pains of All Men – 2 Nephi 9:21-22
21 And he cometh into the world that he may save all men if they will hearken unto his voice; for behold, he suffereth the pains of all men, yea, the pains of every living creature, both men, women, and children, who belong to the family of Adam. 22 And he suffereth this that the…
❖ The Final Judgment – 2 nephi 9:16, 41
2 Nephi 9:41 He Employeth No Servant There
41 O then, my beloved brethren, come unto the Lord, the Holy One. Remember that his paths are righteous. Behold, the way for man is narrow, but it lieth in a straight course before him, and the keeper of the gate is the Holy One of Israel; and he employeth no servant there; and there…
2 Nephi 9:16 They Who Are Righteous Shall Be Righteous Still
16 And assuredly, as the Lord liveth, for the Lord God hath spoken it, and it is his eternal word, which cannot pass away, that they who are righteous shall be righteous still, and they who are filthy shall be filthy still… (2 Nephi 9:16) 14 And then cometh the judgment of the Holy One…
Spiritually Minded
Paul and Jacob both taught, “To be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life.” President Dallin H. Oaks explained that we view the world through a lens. We interpret our experiences very differently depending on the lens we choose.
❖ Learning and Riches – 2 Nephi 9:28-30
What Does the Book of Mormon Teach About Education?
This week marks the beginning of a new school year. As my children return to school, I’ve been thinking about what the Book of Mormon teaches about education. Here are a few key principles: Principle #1: Education begins at home. In the very first sentence of the Book of Mormon, Nephi praises his parents and…
❖ Allocating Our Resources Wisely – 2 Nephi 9:41-52
“Do Not Spend Money for That Which Is of No Worth” – 2 Nephi 9:51
We all have limited resources, and we have countless ways to spend our time, money, and energy. Ironically, some of the most valuable things in life are relatively inexpensive, while many things which consume our resources have an extremely low ROI. That is the message of Isaiah in a passage which Jacob paraphrases in a…
What Are Some Things That I Can’t Delegate?
My question today was inspired by the following passage, which I also quoted in yesterday’s post: The keeper of the gate is the Holy One of Israel; and he employeth no servant there; and there is none other way save it be by the gate; for he cannot be deceived, for the Lord God is…
Come Buy and Eat – 2 Nephi 9:50-51
50 Come, my brethren, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters; and he that hath no money, come buy and eat; yea, come buy wine and milk without money and without price. 51 Wherefore, do not spend money for that which is of no worth, nor your labor for that which cannot satisfy.…
Old Testament Foundations
Belonging
One of the purposes of the Book of Mormon is to assure us that we belong, that because of “the covenants of the Lord,” we “are not cast off forever.” Jesus taught that we belong to the covenants God made with our ancestors, and that He will not forget us.
Without Money
The gift of eternal salvation is priceless. It can’t be bought. No amount of time, effort, or money would match its value. Perhaps that’s why Isaiah emphasizes twice that money is not required to receive it: Thus saith the Lord, Ye have sold yourselves for nought; and ye shall be redeemed without money. Isaiah 52:3 Ho, every one that thirsteth,…
The Rock of Our Salvation
Based on: Psalm 89 Core message: When we focus more fully on Jesus Christ, we build on a secure foundation. Related Book of Mormon passages: 2 Nephi 4:30, 2 Nephi 9:45
Neither to the Right Hand nor to the Left
As Moses prepared his people to enter the promised land, he warned them multiple times not to turn “to the right hand or the left,” but to stay focused on keeping God’s commandments (Deuteronomy 5:32, 17:11, 20, 28:14). After Moses’ departure, the Lord reiterated this charge to Joshua, who extended it again to the Israelites…
“Holiness to the Lord”
The clothing Aaron wore in the ancient tabernacle had profound significance. God instructed Moses, “Thou shalt make holy garments for Aaron thy brother for glory and for beauty” (Exodus 28:2). This clothing reminded everyone, including Aaron himself, of his role in bringing the children of Israel closer to God. The articles of clothing included: A blue robe, with…
Why Is It Important to Lift Up Our Heads?
As he looked forward to the temple which his son would build, King David wrote a psalm about the joy of welcoming God’s presence into that holy house. “Lift up your heads, O ye gates” he wrote; “and be ye lift up, ye everlasting doors; and the King of glory shall come in” (Psalm 24:7,…
New Testament Parallels
Righteous Still
John, Jacob, and Moroni all testified that the Final Judgment represents an acknowledgment of what we have become. Therefore, we need to ensure that the decisions we are making today are making us more righteous, more holy, and more happy.
Busybodies and Busyness
A busybody is someone who gets involved in things that don’t concern them. They are high-energy, but their energy is largely wasted. We need to eliminate distractions, and dedicate time to our highest priorities.
Wisdom and Foolishness
Our perception of wisdom is not very reliable. We may overestimate other people’s understanding and our own. The key is humility. Jacob and Paul counseled us to become fools before God. We need to recognize what we lack and be willing to learn from Him.
They Know Not
Acknowledging the boundaries of human knowledge can help us forgive. Jesus prayed, “Father, forgive them for they know not what they do.” We can also extend grace to others by assuming they will do better when they know better.
Rich Toward God
The Parable of the Rich Fool teaches us the importance of investing time and energy in eternal things, like our relationship with God and our relationships with our families, instead of being obsessed with accumulating worldly wealth.
They Who Have Endured the Crosses of the World – 2 Nephi 9:18
18 But, behold, the righteous, the saints of the Holy One of Israel, they who have believed in the Holy One of Israel, they who have endured the crosses of the world, and despised the shame of it, they shall inherit the kingdom of God, which was prepared for them from the foundation of the…
Church History Connections
Knowledge
Education is very important. Nephi opens the Book of Mormon by expressing gratitude that he had been “taught somewhat in all the learning of [his] father” (1 Nephi 1:1). Jacob tells us that it is good to be learned, as long as we remain humble and follow the commandments of God (2 Nephi 9:29). Alma…
Rich and Poor
How much wealth we accumulate doesn’t matter very much in the end, but our attitude toward wealth and the resulting actions matter very much. The prophet Jacob gave the following warning: Wo unto the rich, who are rich as to the things of the world. For because they are rich they despise the poor, and they persecute the meek, and…
Family Financial Management and Section 48
As I studied section 48 of the Doctrine and Covenants today, I noticed that the Lord instructed members of the church to do three things in relation to their assets: give generously, save aggressively, and buy carefully. Joseph Smith received this revelation after asking the Lord what to do about the influx of members of…
Endless
Book of Mormon authors use the phrase “endless torment” to describe the suffering from which God has delivered us. The Lord encouraged Martin Harris to think of this suffering as enormous, not unending. With this context, “endless punishment” means God’s punishment, or in other words, the punishment God willingly suffered on our behalf.
All Posts Referencing 2 Nephi 9
- “Let Your Hearts Rejoice” (11/7/2025)
- My Education Plan (8/14/2025)
- Beautiful Garments (7/26/2025)
- Creatures, Living Things, and Beasts (7/16/2025)
- Biblical References in Doctrine and Covenants 76 (7/8/2025)
- Savoring the Feast (6/4/2025)
- The Empty Tomb (4/20/2025)
- “Lift Up Your Heart” (4/6/2025)
- Devoted to Study (3/21/2025)
- Grace and Agency in Doctrine and Covenants 20 (3/15/2025)
- Endless (3/8/2025)
- Preface to Four Revelations, April-May 1829 (2/19/2025)
- A Job Description for Servants of God (1/31/2025)
- Moroni’s Collaborative Conclusion (12/18/2024)
- What Do You Delight In? (11/3/2024)
- Prepare to Be Judged (10/31/2024)
- Anti-Christ, Anti-Repentance (7/16/2024)
- The Plan of Salvation (4/18/2024)
- The Joy of the Saints (4/16/2024)
- Jesus’s Ministry to Captive Spirits (3/30/2024)
- Mercy (3/26/2024)
- “Wise in Their Own Eyes” (2/29/2024)
- Beautiful Garments (2/25/2024)
- Lehi and Jacob (2/24/2024)
- Joy and Gladness (2/22/2024)
- Spiritually Minded (2/20/2024)
- Belonging (1/6/2024)
- The Title Page and Nephi (1/4/2024)
- Righteous Still (12/29/2023)
- Perfected Through Suffering (11/4/2023)
- Busybodies and Busyness (10/21/2023)
- Learning from General Conference (9/26/2023)
- Out of Much Affliction (9/16/2023)
- Wisdom and Foolishness (8/22/2023)
- Atonement and Reconciliation (8/13/2023)
- They Know Not (6/21/2023)
- Rich Toward God (5/5/2023)
- Veritas Liberabit Vos (4/29/2023)
- From Their Sins (1/6/2023)
- Repentance and Resolutions (1/1/2023)
- Sacrifice and Thanksgiving (11/24/2022)
- Without Money (10/2/2022)
- “In the High and Holy Place” (9/30/2022)
- O Be Joyful (8/26/2022)
- The Rock of Our Salvation (8/20/2022)
- Neither to the Right Hand nor to the Left (7/13/2022)
- “Holiness to the Lord” (5/7/2022)
- In Paradise (4/16/2022)
- Milk and Honey (3/25/2022)
- The Creator (12/21/2021)
- Mother Eve (12/4/2021)
- Knowledge (11/11/2021)
- Let Your Hearts Rejoice (11/7/2021)
- The Ancient of Days (10/13/2021)
- Brimstone (6/10/2021)
- Endure in Faith (6/8/2021)
- Rich and Poor (5/23/2021)
- Family Financial Management and Section 48 (5/9/2021)
- Paradise (4/3/2021)
- Promises to Covenant Israel (3/18/2021)
- “That Ye May Not Shrink” – 2 Nephi 9:46 (2/27/2021)
- Wisdom and Knowledge – Moroni 10:9-10 (12/17/2020)
- “He Hath Lied Unto Us” – Alma 10:28, Alma 12:3 (6/12/2020)
- “I Have Spoken Unto You Plainly” – Alma 5:43 (6/3/2020)
- “That I Might Rid My Garments of Your Blood” – Mosiah 2:27-28 (4/17/2020)
- Active, Aware, and Joyful (2/16/2020)
- “According to the Flesh” – 2 Nephi 10:2 (2/15/2020)
- Death and Hell – 2 Nephi 9:6-26 (2/14/2020)
- “Do Not Spend Money for That Which Is of No Worth” – 2 Nephi 9:51 (2/12/2020)
- What Does the Book of Mormon Clarify? (12/31/2019)
- What Does the Book of Mormon Refute? (12/29/2019)
- What Does the Book of Mormon Affirm? (12/28/2019)
- What Is Meekness? (12/22/2019)
- What Is Wisdom? (12/13/2019)
- When Should I Express Gratitude? (11/29/2019)
- What Does It Mean to “Cast Out Devils?” (10/24/2019)
- How Much Power Does the Devil Have? (10/22/2019)
- What Are Some Things That I Can’t Delegate? (10/10/2019)
- Will We Be Judged by the Apostles? (10/9/2019)
- What Does the Book of Mormon Add to Our Understanding of the Resurrection? (10/4/2019)
- Why Are We Blessed When We Are Reviled? (9/9/2019)
- Why Is It Important to Lift Up Our Heads? (9/7/2019)
- What Does It Mean to Be “Puffed Up?” (9/6/2019)
- What Does the Book of Mormon Teach About Education? (8/29/2019)
- How Can I Manage Time More Effectively? (8/21/2019)
- What Is the Gathering of Israel? (8/13/2019)
- What Should I Do When I Feel Guilty? (6/24/2019)
- What Is the Plan of Redemption? (6/16/2019)
- How Does Isaiah Point Us Toward Christ? (6/1/2019)
- What Does the Book of Mormon Teach About Happiness? (5/6/2019)
- What Does the Book of Mormon Teach About the Resurrection? (4/21/2019)
- What Does the Book of Mormon Teach About Finances? (4/2/2019)
- Why Is Jesus Called “the Holy One of Israel?” (3/8/2019)
- What Is a “Probationary State?” (2/8/2019)
- How Is the Word “Atonement” Used in the Book of Mormon? (1/30/2019)
- What Does the Book of Mormon Teach About Grace? (1/28/2019)
- They Who Have Endured the Crosses of the World – 2 Nephi 9:18 (6/9/2018)
- That Ye Might Know Concerning the Covenants of the Lord – 2 Nephi 9:1-3 (6/8/2018)
- Come Buy and Eat – 2 Nephi 9:50-51 (8/25/2017)
- That Which Cannot Satisfy – 2 Nephi 9:51 (9/2/2016)
- The Way for Man Is Narrow, but It Lieth in a Straight Course – 2 Nephi 9:41 (2/27/2016)
- They Who Are Righteous Shall Be Righteous Still – 2 Nephi 9:15-16 (2/24/2016)
- He Suffereth the Pains of All Men – 2 Nephi 9:21-22 (1/13/2016)
- He Executeth All His Words – 2 Nephi 9:17 (1/10/2016)
- 2 Nephi 9:54 On the Morrow (2/18/2015)
- 2 Nephi 9:42-43 The Wise, and the Learned, and They That Are Rich (2/16/2015)
- 2 Nephi 9:25 Where There Is No Law Given, There Is No Punishment (2/16/2015)
- 2 Nephi 9:41 He Employeth No Servant There (2/15/2015)
- 2 Nephi 9:16 They Who Are Righteous Shall Be Righteous Still (2/14/2015)