Editing Second Nephi (section)

==Narration==

===Lehi's last counsel===
[[File:Lehi Blesses His Posterity.jpg|thumb|''Lehi Blesses His Posterity'' by C. C. A. Christensen, 1890]]
Second Nephi begins with a reminder that Lehi had warned of [[Jerusalem]]’s destruction and that his family had been purposefully{{Clarify|reason=As opposed to being "accidentally led" to safety? What is this trying to convey? How were they led? By what mechanism?|date=March 2024}} led to safety. In the narrative, Lehi receives a vision confirming{{Clarify|reason=How do visions "confirm" anything? This is not clear|date=March 2024}} that [[Siege of Jerusalem (587 BC)|Jerusalem has been destroyed]]; his family also learns the "promised land" they were led to is their inheritance as long as they follow God{{Clarify|reason=Obviously an homage to Exodus, but this is written too in-universe to understand the mechanisms by which this "promise" and "inheritance" are assured. If this can't be clarified, try to make it simpler, please without the flowery language.|date=March 2024}}.

Lehi advises each of his sons to follow Nephi’s leadership, particularly [[Laman and Lemuel|Laman, Lemuel]], and the sons of [[Ishmael (Book of Mormon)|Ishmael]].{{sfn|Thomas|2016|pp=39-41}} He then blesses Zoram, as a friend of Nephi, saying that his descendants will flourish if they are righteous.{{sfn|Gardner|2007|p=34}} Lehi then blesses [[Jacob (Book of Mormon prophet)|Jacob]], promising that his suffering will be consecrated{{Clarify|reason=What  does THAT mean?|date=March 2024}}; he also speaks to him about the Atonement{{Clarify|reason=What is "the Atonement" capitalized? Are we supposed to know what that is?|date=March 2024}} with a focus on opposition{{Clarify|reason=Is a focus on opposition saying that they will be looking at people who don't believe this nonsense? Entirely unclear what is meant by this.|date=March 2024}} and how both good and bad things are important{{Clarify|reason=Important in life? it what?|date=March 2024}} in life. He teaches all of his sons that the Fall of Man{{Clarify|reason=Another anachronism. How was this doctrine arrived at by them? Was it revealed somehow?|date=March 2024}} was necessary{{Clarify|reason=What kind of necessity? Nomological? Metaphysical? How am I supposed to understand this?|date=March 2024}} for humans to progress{{Clarify|reason=Progress in what way?|date=March 2024}} past their original innocent state{{Clarify|reason=What is the "original state" of humans? Embryo?|date=March 2024}} and have children{{Clarify|reason=what does children have to do with any of this?|date=March 2024}}, emphasizing that all have their own right to choose for themselves.{{sfn|Gardner|2007|p=46}} After blessing Jacob, Lehi speaks to [[Joseph (Book of Mormon)|Joseph]]. In his blessing, he says that Joseph's descendants will not be completely destroyed. Further, he cites a prophecy from [[Joseph (Genesis)|Joseph of Egypt]], which is contained in the brass plates and predicts that God will prepare a seer named Joseph.<ref>{{lds|2 Nephi|3|1–15}}</ref> This seer, Lehi explains, has ancestral connections to both Joseph of Egypt and Joseph, son of Lehi, and will bring the knowledge of the [[Covenant (religion)|covenant]] back to Lehi’s descendants. Lehi also reveals that Joseph of Egypt prophesied of [[Moses]] leading the [[Israelites]] out of [[Egypt]].{{sfn|Gardner|2007|p=56}} Lehi proceeds to bless Laman and Lemuel’s children so that their people will never become extinct. Afterward, he blesses Ishmael’s sons, Sam, and Sam’s family. Nephi does not describe any specific personal blessings he might have received at this time.{{sfn|Gardner|2007|pp=33–34}}

===Division of the people===
Lehi dies sometime after giving these blessings to his family{{sfn|Thomas|2016|pp=39–41}} and Nephi follows the account with his own words. In his psalm, Nephi records his struggles with sin and remembers some of the times God has saved him. Later, Laman, Lemuel, and Ishmael’s descendants are upset about Nephi being chosen as their leader and try to kill him. He prays about Laman and Lemuel’s murmuring and dissent and is told by God to take his family into the wilderness.{{sfn|Gardner|2007|p=87}} In response, he takes the brass plates, the [[Liahona (Book of Mormon)|Liahona]], and [[Laban (Book of Mormon)|Laban]]’s sword,{{sfn|Gardner|2007|p=96}} and leaves with Zoram, Sam, Jacob, Joseph, and his sisters. This group becomes the [[Nephites]]. They work and are obedient to the commandments and build a temple modeled after [[Solomon's Temple|Solomon’s]]. Nephi chooses not to be king but continues to help his people. He makes swords based on the sword of Laban for protection in case the Lamanites attack.{{sfn|Gardner|2007|p=97}} The Lamanites are cut off from God, cursed, and given a [[Lamanites#Impact on views on race|“skin of blackness”]] to make them “loathsome” to the Nephites unless they repent.<ref>{{harvnb|Gardner|2007|p=11}}; {{lds|2 Nephi|2 nephi|5:21–23}}</ref> Nephi consecrates Jacob and Joseph as priests and teachers, and the Nephites "live after the manner of happiness."<ref>{{lds|2 Nephi|2 nephi|5:27}}; {{harvnb|Thomas|2016|pp=41–43}}</ref>

===Jacob's sermon===
In chapters 6–10, Jacob gives a two-day sermon that includes many words from Isaiah 49:22–52:2 in which he invites the people to compare Isaiah’s teachings to their own experiences. He preaches about "the Holy One of Israel," God’s plan, the consequences of sin, [[resurrection]], [[Last Judgment|judgment]], deliverance from hell, and the righteous' inheritance of [[Kingship and kingdom of God|God’s kingdom]].{{sfn|Thomas|2016|pp=43–44}} In his sermon, Jacob warns the prideful wealthy, those who think their intellect sets them above God’s teachings, and various others who ignore God; he states that in these conditions they cannot be saved.{{sfn|Arnold|1996|pp=53–55}} He then speaks of the [[Jews]], [[Gentile]]s, and descendants of Lehi in the last days before Christ’s coming{{sfn|Hardy|2023|pp=80–81}} and explains that the Gentiles will be counted as part of the [[Israelites|house of Israel]].{{sfn|Givens|2020|pp=42–43}} He also teaches that after Israel is scattered, descendants of the house of Israel who repent and believe will be subsequently restored to their lands. The land Lehi’s family has come to is a land of inheritance and is promised as a land of [[liberty]].{{sfn|Gardner|2007|p=187}} Jacob ends with the instruction to turn to God and choose eternal life.{{sfn|Gardner|2007|p=191}}

===Nephi quotes Isaiah, prophesies, and gives final counsel===
Nephi too writes of likening the words of Isaiah to the Nephites{{sfn|Thomas|2016|p=44}} and says that the purpose of the [[Mosaic covenant]] is to show that Christ will come. Nephi claims that his entire life and the purpose of his writings is to witness of Christ and be an example so people can receive the blessings of the covenant.{{sfn|Givens|2020|p=57}} Many of the next Isaiah quotations, found in chapters 12–24, focus on judgment, restoration, and the [[Messiah#Christianity|Messiah]].{{sfn|Thomas|2016|p=45}}

In chapters 25–33, Nephi himself prophesies, still including words from Isaiah. He continues with a focus on the Messiah and then turns to false churches of the future and people fighting against [[Zion]], as well as the emergence of the Book of Mormon. He predicts that churches in the “last days” will be prideful and spread false teachings and warns churches against priestcraft, telling them not to keep the free blessings of the gospel away from anyone.{{sfn|Salleh and Hemming|2020|p=89}} Nephi explains that the [[Great and abominable church|"great and abominable" church]] will fall and as such records many warnings against sin and its consequences.{{sfn|Thomas|2016|p=45}} Nephi also predicts that the Jews, Nephites, and the lost Israelites will eventually receive and have access to each others’ writings. He prophesies of the return of the Gospel to Lehi’s descendants and speaks again on restoration. He says that to be saved, one must repent, be baptized in the name of Christ, receive the Holy Ghost, and endure to the end. He explains again the importance of the words of Christ and ends by inviting the reader to pray in order to believe in Christ and know that his words are true.{{sfn|Thomas|2016|p=46}}