Book of Mormon Haiku - 2 Nephi 2

Safety in service

Opposition: law and grace

Choose eternal life

2 Nephi 2 - Redemption cometh through the Holy Messiah—Freedom of choice (agency) is essential to existence and progression—Adam fell that men might be—Men are free to choose liberty and eternal life. About 588–570 B.C.

We must be free to remain unclean and separate from God, or to offer the sacrifice of our will, our broken heart, and our contrite spirit to be made clean forever.  This sacrifice will entail sacred service that brings growth, wisdom, and joy. Lehi was wise, indeed.

PS read the comment.

Book of Mormon Haiku - 2 Nephi 1

Land of liberty

His great and marvelous works

Arise from the dust

2 Nephi 1 - Lehi prophesies of a land of liberty; His seed shall be scattered and smitten if they reject the Holy One of Israel; He exhorts his sons to put on the armor of righteousness.

We live now in the great land of liberty promised to those who remember their covenants and put on the whole armor of God.  But how often do we find ourselves covered in the dust of the cares of Babylon.  Awake and arise from the dust, ye noble ones!

Book of Mormon Haiku - 1st Nephi 22

Covenants reveal'd

Wrath: blood, fire, vapor of smoke

Righteous need not fear

1 Nephi 22 - Israel shall be scattered upon all the face of the earth; The gentiles shall nurse and nourish Israel with the gospel in the last days; Israel shall be gathered and saved, and the wicked shall burn as stubble; The kingdom of the devil shall be destroyed, and Satan shall be bound.

As Nephi explains the prophecies of Isaiah to his brothers, and speaks of the foundation of a mighty nation upon the lands of the children of Lehi, followed by the teaching of the gospel to the scattered tribes of Israel throughout the earth, followed by the testimony of blood and fire and vapor of smoke, he four times states that the righteous will be saved and need not fear.

Book of Mormon Haiku - 1st Nephi 21

Graven on my palms

I will lift up my standard

Children shall be saved

1 Nephi 21 - Messiah shall be a light to the Gentiles and shall free the prisoners; Israel shall be gathered with power in the last days; Kings shall be their nursing fathers - Compare Isaiah 49

Great are the promises to the faithful parents of Zion! Although earthly eyes see distress and destruction, yet shall the Mighty One of Jacob redeem the sons and the daughters.

Book of Mormon Haiku - 1st Nephi 20

Called from the water

Stay upon the Lord of Hosts

The first and the last

1 Nephi 20 - The Lord reveals his purposes to Israel; They have been chosen in the furnace of affliction and are to go forth from Babylon - Compare Isaiah 48.

That we have been called does not secure our inheritance; we must press forward, feasting and serving with a heart full of charity, taking the Holy One of Israel as our Guide and Stay.

1 Plus 1

So, after Grandma's funeral, I was thinking about her and Grandpa being together again. And I wrote this song about my thoughts. Stephanie did the awesome backup vocals that complete it. She, however, would not do the video for me. So, if anyonne *Stacy, cough, cough* would like to re-do some pictures for the video, I'll send you the MP3.

You can listen on youtube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rbg9SST0gVI

Book of Mormon Haiku -1st Nephi 19

For a wise purpose

Until further commandments

One eternal Round

1 Nephi 19 - Nephi makes plates of ore and records the history of his people; The God of Israel will come six hundred years from the time Lehi left Jerusalem; Nephi tells of His sufferings and crucifixion; The Jews shall be despised and scattered until the latter days, when they shall return unto the Lord.

It may seem strange to select the first few verses of this chapter of testimony of the Messiah for the Haiku, seemingly focusing on the command to make two sets of plates. But it is precisely because of the preeminence of Nephi's testimony of our Savior that the making of the second set of plates was so vital to each of our lives.

Book of Mormon Haiku -1st Nephi 18

Great was the soreness

Praises to God, four days long

There was a great calm

1 Nephi 18 - The ship is finished; The births of Jacob and Joseph are mentioned; The company embarks for the promised land; The sons of Ishmael and their wives join in revelry and rebellion; Nephi is bound, and the ship is driven back by a terrible tempest; Nephi is freed, and by his prayer the storm ceases; They arrive in the promised land.

Being teachable, being humble, knowing your place in God's eternal perspective, sensing the unspeakable greatness of the Almighty--this is the beginning of patience, obedience, faith, hope, and charity.

Book of Mormon Haiku - 1st Nephi 17

The way is simple
 

Behold the serpent of brass
 

Look to God and live

1 Nephi 17 - Nephi is commanded to build a ship; His brethren oppose him; He exhorts them by recounting the history of God's dealings with Israel; He is filled with the power of God; His brethren are forbidden to touch him, lest they wither as a dried reed.

Moses divided the waters of the Red Sea; Nephi built a ship; All things are possible with God; Whom the Lord calls, the Lord qualifies; Press forward, relying wholly on Him who is mighty to save!

Book of Mormon Haiku: 1st Nephi 16

The Liahona

 

The daughters of Ishmael

 

Bless'd exceedingly

1 Nephi 16 - The wicked take the truth to be hard; Lehi's sons marry the daughters of Ishmael; The Liahona guides their course in the wilderness; Messages from the Lord are written on the Liahona from time to time; Ishmael dies, his family murmur because of afflictions.

Nephi uses the phrase "blessed of the Lord exceedingly" only once--in connection with his marriage to one of the daughters of Ishmael. Verily, verily, it is not good for man to be alone.

Book of Mormon Haiku : 1st Nephi 15

Rod - the word of God
 

Flaming, dividing justice
 

Tree - the love of God

1 Nephi 15 - Lehi's seed are to receive the gospel from the Gentiles in the latter days; The gatherng of Israel is likened unto an olive tree whose natural branches shall be grafted in again; Nephi interprets the vision of the tree of life and speaks of the justice of God in dividing the wicked from the righteous.

The Rod and the Tree are the Good News of the gospel of Jesus Christ! Through the atonement of Christ, all mankind may be saved. Amazing Grace!