In a rare editorial note, 2 Kings emphasizes that before Israel was conquered, God sent prophets to warn them. Prophets have no way to enforce their words, nor do they try. They can feel lonely, persecuted, and ineffective, but God continues to send them because He loves His children.
The Musician King
King David expressed his love for God through music. Book of Mormon prophets also emphasized worship through music. Alma associated conversion with "[singing] redeeming love." Singing requires us to overcome our self-consciousness and prioritize our love for God over our concern for what others maythink.
Unimaginable
Trusting God includes believing that our setbacks and disappointments are part of His plan for us and are actually propelling us forward. Joseph was a slave and a prisoner for thirteen years, but those difficult experiences refined him and prepared him for an extraordinary opportunity.
Abraham, Tent-Dweller
Abraham lived in a tent, even though he was in the promised land. The author of Hebrews explained that he lived in a tent because he was looking forward to a permanent home that only God could provide. The tent indicated that he was rooted in God's promises, not in his current circumstances.
Merciful Messengers
Noah, Lehi, and the Jaredite prophets all delivered messages which their people rejected. We sometimes say, "Don't shoot the messenger." We should probably add, "Don't ignore the messenger." Human nature leads us to resist change, but God mercifully sends prophets to prompt action that invites His saving power into our lives.
Numberless
Awe inspires humility. It can also build faith. God showed Abraham, Moses, Lehi, and Nephi the vastness of His creations and emphasized to Abraham and Nephi the enormity of their own posterity. This awareness can empower us to trust Him and do our work with greater confidence.
Contents of the Brass Plates
Eight of the 39 books in the Old Testament were definitely in the brass plates, and another 16 may have been included. For Book of Mormon prophets, the brass plates were an essential part of their identity: connecting them to intergenerational covenants, testifying of the Savior, and bringing them closer to God.
Josiah and Lehi: The Power of Sacred Texts
During Lehi's lifetime, the city of Jerusalem experienced a profound spiritual reawakening when their king read the words of scripture and urged his people to follow God's instructions. This experience formed an important part of Lehi's spiritual heritage. Like Josiah, he viewed scripture as a tool to lead him and his family closer to God.
They Without Us
The author of Hebrews taught that our ancestors can't be made perfect without us, and Joseph Smith added that we can't be made perfect without them. Jesus told the people at Bountiful that His joy was full as He saw their faith. Perfect joy is relational.
To Have the Heavens Opened
The Melchizedek Priesthood enables us to have the heavens opened to us. Numerous visions in the scriptures are described as the heavens being opened, but it can also happen in more quiet, personal ways, enabling us to receive knowledge, commune with God, and participate in His miraculous work.