1
Ne 2:20-21 And inasmuch as ye shall keep my
commandments¡¦ ye shall prosper¡¦.
The
promise contained in verses 20 and 21 came to Nephi because of his faith,
diligence and humility (verse 19). It represents a motto, a promise, and a
charge to the Nephites. It becomes the
great law by which Nephite nations are prospered or destroyed. This law is so
important that it is repeated at least 10 times in the Book of Mormon. (1 Ne
2:20, 2 Ne 1:20, 2 Ne 4:4, Jarom 1:9, Mosiah 2:31, Alma 9:13, 36:1, 36:30,
37:13, 38:1) This promise is still in force in our day.
Spencer W. Kimball
¡°This America is no ordinary country.
It is a choice land, ¡®choice above all other lands¡¯
(1 Ne. 2:20). It has a tragic and bloody past, but a glorious and peaceful
future if its inhabitants really learn to serve their God. It was consecrated
as a land of promise to the people of the Americas, to whom God gave these
great promises:
¡®It will be a land of
liberty to its people¡¯
(2 Ne 1:7).
¡®They shall never be
brought down into captivity¡¯
(2 Ne 1:7).
¡®And there shall be none
to molest them¡¯
(2 Ne 1:9).
¡®It is a land of promise¡¯ (1 Ne 2:20).
¡®It shall be free from
all nations under heaven.¡¯
¡®There shall be no
enemies come into this land.¡¯
¡®It shall be free from
bondage¡¯
(Ether 2:12).
¡®There shall be no kings
upon the land¡¯
(2 Ne 10:11).
¡®I will fortify this land
against all other nations¡¯
(2 Ne 10:11).
¡®He that fighteth against
Zion shall perish¡¯ (2
Ne 10:13).
¡°But these promises, glorious though
they be, desirable as they are, can come only ¡®¡¦if
they will but serve the God of this land who is Jesus Christ¡¦¡¯ (Ether
2:12). There is only one way. That infallible cure is simply righteousness,
obedience, Godliness, honor, and integrity. There is no other cure. Mountains
of arms and ammunitions will not guarantee safety, for enemies can also build
fortifications and missiles and bomb shelters. If we would but believe the
prophets! For they have warned that if the ¡®inhabitants
of this land are ever brought down into captivity and enslaved, it shall be
because of iniquity; for if iniquity shall abound cursed shall be the land¡¯
(See 2 Ne 1:7).¡± (Conference Report, Oct.
1961, pp. 30-31 as taken from Latter-day
Commentary on the Book of Mormon compiled by K. Douglas Bassett)