Sunday, January 13, 2013

The Righteous Need Not Fear

First Nephi 22

Discussing the second coming and the events leading up to it can sound dreadful at times.  Nephi makes repeated statements that offer some comfort:

 16: For the time soon cometh that the fulness of the wrath of God shall be poured out upon all the children of men; for he will not suffer that the wicked shall destroy the righteous.

 17: Wherefore, he will preserve the righteous by his power, even if it so be that the fulness of his wrath must come, and the righteous be preserved, even unto the destruction of their enemies by fire.  Wherefore the righteous need not fear; for thus saith the prophet, they shall be saved, even if it so be as by fire.
... 19: For behold, the righteous shall not perish; for the time surely must come that all they who fight against Zion shall be cut off.
...
 22-23: And the righteous need not fear, for they are those who shall not be confounded.  But it is the kingdom of the devil, which shall be built up among the children of men, which kingdom is established among them which are in the flesh...all those who belong to the kingdom of the devil are they who need fear, and tremble, and quake; they are those who must be brought low in the dust; they are those who must be consumed as stubble; and this is according to the words of the prophet.


 24 And the time cometh speedily that the righteous must be led up as calves of the stall, and the Holy One of Israel must reign in dominion, and might, and power, and great glory.
 ...
 26 And because of the righteousness of his people, Satan has no power; wherefore, he cannot be loosed for the space of many years; for he hath no power over the hearts of the people, for they dwell in righteousness, and the Holy One of Israel reigneth.

 27 And now behold, I, Nephi, say unto you that all these things must come according to the flesh.

 28 But, behold, all nations, kindreds, tongues, and people shall dwell safely in the Holy One of Israel if it so be that they will repent.

This last verse, 28, encapsulates the overall message of these thoughts, not just for the latter days, but for all time.  Perilous times are ahead of us, and we don't know how far ahead.  If we want to "dwell safely", the condition is repentance.

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