The first prophet of the Book of Mormon, Nephi, gave us many teachings in the first book of the Book of Mormon (1 Nephi) about obedience, faith, and coming closer to our Savior Jesus Christ. Later in the second book of the Book of Mormon (2 Nephi) the prophet, Nephi, quotes many scriptures from Isaiah, which he found on the plates of brass that he and his brothers brought with them from Jerusalem (see 1 Nephi 3:3). It is little wonder to me that Nephi chose to include scriptures from Isaiah in the Book of Mormon. His reasons for including them in the Book of Mormon are so “that I [he] might more fully persuade them [his brothers and family] to believe in the Lord their Redeemer I [he] did read unto them that which was written by the prophet Isaiah; for I [he] did liken all scriptures unto us [them], that it might be for our profit and our learning” (1 Nephi 19:23).
As members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (sometimes mistakenly called the “Mormon Church”), we know that Jesus Christ is our Lord and Redeemer. He suffered tremendous pain, descending below all things, so that we may be free from the pains of our sins and be able through the atonement—the greatest gift of love ever given to us—to progressively become more like our loving Heavenly Father. Nephi quotes Isaiah because Isaiah writes about the Savior; he writes about his infinite atonement for all mankind, the complete salvation he gives us if we will truly repent, and his love and mercy for us—“his hand is stretched out still” (see 2 Nephi 19:12, 17, 21; 2 Nephi 20:4). That is why this scripture in 2 Nephi of the Book of Mormon is one of my favorites: “For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder and his name shall be called, Wonderful, Counselor, The Mighty God, The Everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace” (2 Nephi 19:6).
I know my Savior by all of those names. He is truly Wonderful, Mighty, a Counselor, Everlasting, and the epitome of Peace. I have come to know my Him in this way, the best way that I can, by striving with all my heart to emulate Him, and praying often for His direction, peace, and inspiration. I am so grateful for the wonderful sacrifice that my Lord made for me so that I do not have to suffer the awful pain and sorrow of my sins. He already did that for me. And it amazes me that for such a great sacrifice and great gift of love that He has given to us, our Savior merely requires that we come to Him with a broken heart and a contrite spirit (2 Nephi 2:7). I love Jesus Christ with all of my heart! And that love grows each time I study the Book of Mormon, and the special, powerful messages about my Savior that are written therein. I know that if a man will commit to studying this book that he will come to know his Savior better. I am so grateful for the Book of Mormon in my life.
This article was written by Karina H., a student at Brigham Young University and a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
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