pgs. 100 and 101...And we talk of Christ, we rejoice in Christ, we preach of Christ, we prophesy of Christ...

24 And, notwithstanding we believe in Christ, we ^akeep the law of Moses, and look forward with steadfastness unto Christ, until the law shall be fulfilled.

25 For, for this end was the ^alaw given; wherefore the law hath become ^bdead unto us, and we are made alive in Christ because of our faith; yet we keep the law because of the commandments.

26 And we ^atalk of Christ, we rejoice in Christ, we preach of Christ, we ^bprophesy of Christ, and we write according to our prophecies, that our ^cchildren may know to what source they may look for a ^dremission of their sins.

27 Wherefore, we speak concerning the law that our children may know the deadness of the law; and they, by knowing the deadness of the law, may look forward unto that life which is in Christ, and know for what end the law was given. And after the law is fulfilled in Christ, that they need not harden their hearts against him when the law ought to be done away.

28 And now behold, my people, ye are a ^astiffnecked people; wherefore, I have spoken plainly unto you, that ye cannot misunderstand. And the words which I have spoken shall stand as a ^btestimony against you; for they are sufficient to ^cteach any man the ^dright way; for the right way is to believe in Christ and deny him not; for by denying him ye also deny the prophets and the law.

29 And now behold, I say unto you that the right way is to believe in Christ, and deny him not; and Christ is the Holy One of Israel; wherefore ye must bow down before him, and ^aworship him with all your ^bmight, mind, and strength, and your whole soul; and if ye do this ye shall in nowise be cast out.

30 And, inasmuch as it shall be expedient, ye must keep the ^aperformances and ^bordinances of God until the law shall be fulfilled which was given unto Moses.

CHAPTER 26

Christ shall minister to the Nephites—Nephi foresees the destruction of his people—They shall speak from the dust—The gentiles shall build up false churches and secret combinations—The Lord forbids men to practice priestcrafts. Between 559 and 545 B.C.

1 And after Christ shall have ^arisen from the dead he shall ^bshow himself unto you, my children, and my beloved brethren; and the words which he shall speak unto you shall be the ^claw which ye shall do.

2 For behold, I say unto you that I have beheld that many generations shall pass away, and there shall be great wars and contentions among my people.

3 And after the Messiah shall come there shall be ^asigns given unto my people of his ^bbirth, and also of his ^cdeath and resurrection; and great and terrible shall that day be unto the wicked, for they shall perish; and they perish because they cast out the ^dprophets, and the saints, and stone them, and slay them; wherefore the cry of the ^eblood of the saints shall ascend up to God from the ground against them.

4 Wherefore, all those who are proud, and that do wickedly, the day that cometh shall ^aburn them up, saith the Lord of Hosts, for they shall be as stubble.

5 And they that kill the ^aprophets, and the saints, the depths of the earth shall ^bswallow them up, saith the Lord of Hosts; and ^cmountains shall cover them, and whirlwinds shall carry them away, and buildings shall fall upon them and crush them to pieces and grind them to powder.

6 And they shall be visited with thunderings, and lightnings, and earthquakes, and all manner of destructions, for the ^afire of the anger of the Lord shall be kindled against them, and they shall be as stubble, and the day that cometh shall consume them, saith the Lord of Hosts.

7 ^aO the pain, and the anguish of my soul for the loss of the slain of my people! For I, Nephi, have seen it, and it well nigh consumeth me before the presence of the Lord; but I must cry unto my God: Thy ways are ^bjust.

8 But behold, the righteous that hearken unto the words of the prophets, and destroy them not, but look forward unto Christ with ^asteadfastness for the signs which are given, notwithstanding all ^bpersecution—behold, they are they which shall ^cnot perish.

9 But the Son of righteousness shall ^aappear unto them; and he shall ^bheal them, and they shall have ^cpeace with him, until ^dthree generations shall have passed away, and many of the ^efourth generation shall have passed away in righteousness.

10 And when these things have passed away a speedy ^adestruction cometh unto my people; for, notwithstanding the pains of my soul, I have seen it; wherefore, I know that it shall come to pass; and they sell themselves for naught; for, for the reward of their pride and their ^bfoolishness they shall reap destruction; for because they yield unto the devil and ^cchoose works of ^ddarkness rather than light, therefore they must go down to ^ehell.

11 For the Spirit of the Lord will not always ^astrive with man. And when the Spirit ^bceaseth to strive with man then cometh speedy destruction, and this grieveth my soul.

12 And as I spake concerning the ^aconvincing of the ^bJews, that Jesus is the ^cvery Christ, it must needs be that the Gentiles be convinced also that Jesus is the Christ, the ^dEternal ^eGod;

13 And that he ^amanifesteth himself unto all those who believe in him, by the power of the ^bHoly Ghost; yea, unto every nation, kindred, tongue, and people, working mighty ^cmiracles, signs, and wonders, among the children of men according to their ^dfaith.

In verse 28 of chapter 25 Nephi refers to his people as "stiffnecked." This is the first time since the Nephites split away from the Lamanites that I have seen Nephi feel the need to chastise his people. This seems to be the beginning of some disbelief finding its way among the Nephite people. I think this is why he taught them the message of Isaiah that was written in previous chapters and why he is summarizing it for his people now. It seems like he feels the need to strengthen their faith in Jesus Christ and to help them understand His message. He also explains the law of Moses to them at the end of chapter 25 and then in chapter 26 he testifies that the Savior will come among the Nephites and then fulfill the law of Moses. It's amazing how the same message Nephi used to strengthen their faith or his people back then is effective in strengthening the faith of so many readers today.