1 Ne 13:36-42

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The Book of Mormon > First Nephi > Chapter 13

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Contents 1 Questions 1.1 Verse 36 1.2 Verse 37 1.3 Verse 38 1.4 Verse 39 1.5 Verse 40 1.6 Verse 41 1.7 Verse 42 2 Lexical notes 3 Exegesis 4 Related links

Questions

Verse 36

• The writings of the Book of Mormon contain “the gospel [. . .] and my rock and my salvation” (v. 36). Why does the Lord describe the gospel as “my rock"? In what other ways does he use “rock” and how might it be related to his use here? (Compare, for example, Matt 16:18.) Why does he describe the gospel as “my salvation” rather than just “salvation"?

Verse 37

• What does it mean to bring forth Zion? Is the last part of the verse ("and whoso shall publish peace . . .") parallel to the first part, making “bring forth Zion” and “publish peace” parallel? What does it mean to publish peace?

Verse 38

• Why did Nephi think that all his direct descendants were exterminated by the Lamanites?

Verse 39

• How conscious was Nephi of the fact that he was helping to produce these "other books"?

Verse 40

• Are the last records referred to here those of the Book of Mormon, or are they all of the scriptural revelations of the latter-days? How do the last records restore the plain and precious things that have been removed? Can we use the later records to figure out what things were removed from the earlier ones? The verse says that the records “shall make known the plain and precious things” and that they “shall make known [. . .] that the Lamb of God is the Son of the Eternal Father.” Are these two things intended to be parallel in meaning?

• What does it mean to be "saved" in this context?

Verse 41

• Was this a recognition or subversion of the law of witnesses?

Verse 42

• Which nations have not yet received this manifestation?

Lexical notes

• v. 37: Isa 9:6 refers to the Messiah as "The Prince of Peace." The word for peace in Hebrew used here is shalowm whose root is shalam which has the dual meaning to make whole or complete; to be repaid or recompensed. When Christ speaks of being perfect in Matt 5:48 and Matt 9:21, the Greek word for perfect here (teleios) also has a dual meaning of complete. Thus, when Nephi (quoting Isaiah) says how beautiful upon the mountains shall they who "publish peace, yea, tidings of great joy" be, "publishing peace" can be lexicographically linked to proclaiming the gospel of the Atonement which allows us sinners to be complete.

Exegesis

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Related links

• v. 37: "publish peace" is a phrase first used in Isa 52:7. Other verses using this phrase can be thought of as also quoting Isaiah (Nahum 1:15, Mosiah 12:21, Mosiah 15:14-17, Mosiah 27:37, and 3 Ne 20:40).

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