2 Nephi 2 - Lehi's Doctrinal Discourse to Jacob

This Chapter is probably one of the most jam-packed chapter in all of scripture. So full of doctrine that is mind-expanding and soul-saving. Many doctrines are difficult to explain when only using the Bible (like the fall and the atonement). This chapter is the perfect "rosetta stone" to understand these. It has other nuggets of truth as well. I won't cover everything now. But I want to dive into a few verses of doctrine.

V. 11 For it must needs be, that there is an opposition in all things. If not so, my first born in the wilderness, righteousness could not be brought to pass, neither wickedness, neither holiness nor misery, neither good nor bad. Wherefore, all things must needs be a compound in one; wherefore, if it should be one body it must needs remain as dead, having no life neither death, nor corruption nor incorruption, happiness nor misery, neither sense nor insensibility.

Holiness-----------------------Misery

Good-------------------------------Bad

Life------------------------------Death

Incorruption--------------Corruption

Happiness---------------------Misery

Sense---------------------Insensibility 

I only put these here because they are all placed as polar opposites to each other. It is especially interesting that Lehi places Holiness and Misery as opposites just as he places happiness and misery as opposites. 

Opposition is so important. Dr. Slife was one of my favorite professors in university. He spoke so much about the fact that we can't truly understand something until we have at least considered its opposite. This is very true. He would use the example of writing your own eulogy and considering your death. Considering the opposite to understand more deeply. I really like that. It seriously helps. It is a great teaching tool for almost anything. To understand its value, it really helps to make things make sense. Light and dark. Day and night. Anger and forgiveness. Confusion and Clarity. 

Verses to talk about later:

V. 21 The days of the children of men were prolonged according to the will of God, that they might repent while in the flesh; wherefore, their state became a state of probation, and their time was lengthened... 

V. 25