The Book of Mormon IS another testament of Jesus Christ

My bishop, Bishop Smith, challenged the member of my ward to read the Book of Mormon together over the next 4 months. I had just started in 2nd Nephi, so I am just a bit ahead of the reading schedule for the moment. The Isaiah chapters of 2nd Nephi are always a bit difficult for me, and just when you think you are through them, Nephi tells you he delights in the words of Isaiah and in his plainness, and this of course makes you feel a bit guilty for just rushing through. I need to fix that!

One thing is for certain, the Book of Mormon is truly another testament of Jesus Christ, just like it says on the title page. Even though I haven't dove into the symbolism of Isaiah, I know that he writes of a loving Savior avaliable to all men. He warns, he teaches, he offers every chance to change, then he is just to the righteous and wicked, and merciful when he can be. Jesus Christ is found in every chapter. That is the overall theme coming through to me in 2nd Nephi.

I actually got in an online discussion with a friend about "religion" this week. I got pretty frustrated, not with her, but with the fact that I have this incredible gift and I feel like I fall short of sharing it right. I don't know why I feel the need to back up my beliefs with the Bible. I believe that the Bible is also the word of God, but ALSO is the key word there. There is more, and it all comes together perfectly for me.

2 Nephi 28:30 says-

"For behold, thus saith the Lord God: I will give unto the children of men line upon line, precept upon precept, here a little and there a little; and blessed are those who hearken unto my precepts, and lend an ear unto my counsel, for they shall learn wisdom; for unto him that receiveth I will give more; and from them that shall say, We have enough, from them shall be taken away even that which they have."

I love it that God is saying He won't limit the amount of knowledge that He will give us.

In chapter 29 of 2nd Nephi, the Lord warns that there will be people saying "A Bible, a Bible, we have a Bible, and there cannot be any more Bible". The Lords answer is basically yes you have a Bible, the record of the Jews, but I have a lot more nations scattered around the earth that also receive my word. Verse 8- "Wherefore murmur ye, because that ye shall receive more of my word?" Like- are you really going to be mad because I have more to say to you?

I am grateful for the chance to study the Book of Mormon again. We shall see what I learn in Jacob next...