1 AND now, Jacob spake many more things to my people at that time; [ Nephi instructs us that there was more that Jacob taught. ] nevertheless only these things have I [ Nephi suggests that this should be sufficient summary of what has been taught. ] caused to be written, for the things which I have written sufficeth me.

2 And now I, Nephi, write more of the words of Isaiah, [ Elder Bednar suggested that, we can either skip it, we can skim it, we can read it, or we can search it? Jesus instructed us to search Isaiah. ] for my soul delighteth in his words. [ Isaiah formed the foundation for the way Nephi understood things. He understood Isaiah because Isaiah saw the same things in dreams that Nephi saw, so they were familiar to him, so they were easy to understand for him, and they presented things that he was not allowed to write. ] For I will liken his words unto my people, [ So Nephi is suggesting here that in order to understand what he is going to begin quoting - the Words of Isaiah - that you will begin to understand them if you will like them to yourself. see also 1 Ne 19:23-24; 2 Ne 11:8. So if we are to liken the scriptures we must ask how does it apply to my life. ] and I will send them forth unto all my children, for he [ Isaiah. Where do we have that record? [ So here again Joseph Smith just plain got it wrong. Or did he? Well there was a forgotten Latin manuscript that was translated in 1832 and brought to America in 1912 it was called the "Ascension of Isaiah". It talks about the ascension of Isaiah up through the 7 heavens to the presence of God himself. ] verily saw my Redeemer, [ So we have the testimony here of Nephi that he knows that Isaiah(750 BC) saw the Savior, because he(Nephi 600 BC) has the original record of the text of the ascension of Isaiah or something like unto it. ] even as I have seen him. [ Nephi bears witness that he has personally seen the Savior. ]

3 And my brother, Jacob, also has seen him [ Jacob - Nephi's brother; the same one who just gave this beautiful doctrinal discoarse on the atonement has also seen the Savior. We can suppose that they are pretty qualified to speak on the subjects that have chosen given that they have seen the Savior and been taught by him personally. ] as I have seen him; [ Nephi has seen the Savior as well. ] wherefore, I will send their words [ Jacob and Isaiah's words. ] forth unto my children to prove unto them that my words are true. Wherefore, by the words of three, [ In this case Isaiah, Nephi and Jacob. ] God hath said, I will establish my word. Nevertheless, God sendeth more witnesses, [ We know that Ezekiel saw the same things as well. This is a comfort to Nephi that he is not the only one who has seen such marvelous events that will take place. Remember that what Ezekiel saw was beyond this world kind of events. Hard to believe almost, and yet Nephi knows that Isaiah, Ezekiel, Lehi and now Jacob have seen the same things. ] and he proveth all his words.

4 Behold, my soul delighteth [1] in proving unto my people the truth of the coming of Christ; [ Why does his soul delight in these words? What does he see in these chapters that we should be looking for? This phrase is used 3 times in this chapter as Nephi provides his reason for the coming Isaiah chapters. First to prove the truth of the coming Christ. and second (see verse 5) the covenants that the Lord has made with his fathers. Third that without Christ all men would perish (v 6). So as we read the Isaiah chapters we should try to discover those three principals therein. ] for, for this end hath the law of Moses been given; and all things which have been given of God from the beginning of the world, unto man, are the typifying of him.

5 And also my soul delighteth [2] in the covenants of the Lord which he hath made to our fathers; [ Why are the covenants so important? Jacob has just taught that about the plan of happiness. That there is a purpose for death, repentance and the need to make covenants in order to return to our Father in Heaven. ] ; yea, my [ Nephi is referencing how he too is grateful for the blessings of the plan of happiness, just as Jacob did in 2 Ne. 9:8, 10, 13. ] soul [ That portion of us that is not mortal(spirit or character) but eternal. ] delighteth in his grace, [ That there is a death, a way to return back to our Father in Heaven. That once we sin we are not judged at that moment and banished. ] , and in his justice, [ That he is consistent in the employment of the law(ETERNAL LAW - mercy cannot rob justice). We must understand that this is the purpose for the law. That we might know how and by what means we will be judged. ] , and power, [ That he has the capability to pull this all off. ] , and mercy [ That he would care enough for each of us to prepare a plan for us. That while it was not easy for him in so many ways. To loose 1/3 of his children at the beginning, to see his beloved son sacrificed and suffer so. None the less he provided a way for us to return even though we are not nor can we be worthy of such effort so that we can overcome. ] in the great and eternal plan of deliverance from death. [ Through the resurrection the gift to all mankind that everyone will be resurrected; Those who accept Jesus Christ and repent may be redeemed from spiritual death as well through the atonement. ]

6 And my soul delighteth [3] in proving unto my people that save Christ should come all men must perish.

7 For if there be no Christ there be no God; and if there be no God we are not, for there could have been no creation. But there is a God, and he is Christ, and he cometh in the fulness of his own time.

8 And now I write some of the words of Isaiah, that whoso of my people shall see [ This is a key to being able to understand the words of Isaiah. To see the symbols that Isaiah uses in his writings. So how to understand symbols is to "see" them open your eyes and look. Look for the symbol. See in a spiritual sense, or more proper that they may understand. ] these words may lift up their hearts and rejoice for all men. Now these are the words, [ In the following chapters Nephi quotes Isaiah 2-14. ] and ye may liken them unto you and unto all men.