Christ and covenants - Part 2

I wrote a post with the same name a while back, not knowing there would be a part 2. But this theme keeps popping up. To recap: The purpose of the Book of Mormon is stated on the title page, and can be summed up in two words: Christ and covenants. For me, this is the core message of Isaiah too and the reason, I believe, he is quoted so much in the Book of Mormon. After I had these thoughts, I read a post on Reddit, analyzing 2 Nephi 11. This short chapter contains repetetive resumption (marked with yellow) and several "my soul delighteth in..." in between.

2 And now I, Nephi, write more of the words of Isaiah, for my soul delighteth in his words. For I will liken his words unto my people, and I will send them forth unto all my children, for he verily saw my Redeemer, even as I have seen him.

3 And my brother, Jacob, also has seen him as I have seen him; wherefore, I will send their words forth unto my children to prove unto them that my words are true. Wherefore, by the words of three, God hath said, I will establish my word. Nevertheless, God sendeth more witnesses, and he proveth all his words.

4 Behold, my soul delighteth in proving unto my people the truth of the coming of Christ; for, for this end hath the law of Moses been given; and all things which have been given of God from the beginning of the world, unto man, are the typifying of him.

5 And also my soul delighteth in the covenants of the Lord which he hath made to our fathers; yea, my soul delighteth in his grace, and in his justice, and power, and mercy in the great and eternal plan of deliverance from death.

6 And my soul delighteth in proving unto my people that save Christ should come all men must perish.

7 For if there be no Christ there be no God; and if there be no God we are not, for there could have been no creation. But there is a God, and he is Christ, and he cometh in the fulness of his own time.

8 And now I write some of the words of Isaiah, that whoso of my people shall see these words may lift up their hearts and rejoice for all men. Now these are the words, and ye may liken them unto you and unto all men.

So basically, Nephi delighteth in Isaiah's words and the meesage they contain, which is all about Christ and covenants.

Lord Wilmore wrote a post yesterday about the meaning of the names of Isaiah's sons. Their names reflect the scattering and gathering of Israel, that is mentioned on the title page too and that I would sum up in this one word; covenants. Add to that, Isaiah's own name: It means "Jehovah saves" or "Jehovah is salvation". Although Isaiah doesn't use the name "Christ", which is only a Greek version of the Hebrew, "Messiah", the salvation that comes through Jehovah/The Holy one of Israel/The Lord of Hosts is a central theme in the Book of Isaiah.

Again, through the names of Isaiah and his sons we get the same theme: Christ and covenants.

After Nephi has made this introduction to Isaiah in 2 Nephi 11, he goes on to quote 13 chapters. When he is done, he comments on it in 2 Nephi 25:

my soul delighteth in the words of Isaiah (v.5)

And the Lord will set his hand again the second time to restore his people from their lost and fallen state. Wherefore, he will proceed to do a marvelous work and a wonder among the children of men. (v.17)

And we talk of Christ, we rejoice in Christ, we preach of Christ, we prophesy of Christ, and we write according to our prophecies, that our children may know to what source they may look for a remission of their sins. (v.26)

To get a little personal: Last Sunday taking the sacrament, I reflected again on these two words and realized that they sum up the sacrament too. We remember Christ and renew our covenants with him. These two are inseparably connected and the whole basis of our salvation. I believe that covenants is the only way given to us that binds us to Christ in such a way that we can receive the full effects of the atonement.