“The Righteous Led Up and the Holy One of Israel Reigns”

Monte S. Nyman

The righteous led up as calves of the stall (v. 24) once more reminds us of Malachi, but once more we must be reminded that Nephi and Malachi were quoting from an earlier prophet. The important things to learn from Nephi’s admonitions are that Christ will reign, his children (Israel) will be gathered and protected as calves in a stall, and Satan will be bound.

The binding of Satan was also foretold by John the Revelator:

1 And I saw an angel come down from heaven, having the key of the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand.
2 And he laid hold on the dragon, that old serpent, which is the Devil, and Satan, and bound him a thousand years,
3 And cast him into the bottomless pit, and shut him up, and set a seal upon him, that he should deceive the nations no more, till the thousand years should be fulfilled: and after that he must be loosed a little season. [Revelation 20:1–3]

It is also confirmed in the Doctrine and Covenants:

30 For the great Millennium, of which I have spoken by the mouth of my servants, shall come.
31 For Satan shall be bound, and when he is loosed again he shall only reign for a little season, and then cometh the end of the earth. [D&C 43:30–31]

Nephi’s contribution to our understanding is that Satan’s power is lost because of the righteousness of the people (1 Nephi 22:26). Whether his power is restricted by Christ because of the people’s righteousness, or whether it is solely dependent upon the people is not stated, but his power is gone. The Book of Revelation suggests that Satan’s power will be restricted by the setting “of a seal upon him” (Revelation 20:3). The Prophet Joseph taught, as quoted earlier: “Satan has no power over us only as we allow him, and the moment we break a commandment, the devil has power over us” (TPJS, 181). This teaching is that the power over Satan comes because of righteousness. Earlier Nephi had seen the saints of God “armed with righteousness and with the power of God in great glory” (1 Nephi 14:14). It is probably a combination of both righteousness and God’s power. The important point is that “they dwell in righteousness, and the Holy One of Israel reigneth” (1 Nephi 22:26).

Book of Mormon Commentary: I Nephi Wrote This Record

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