“All Ye that walk in the Light of Your Fire and in the Sparks Which Ye Have Kindled”

Monte S. Nyman

10 Who is among you that feareth the Lord, that obeyeth the voice of his servant, that walketh in darkness and hath no light? [2 Nephi 7:10]10 Who is among you that feareth the LORD, that obeyeth the voice of his servant, that walketh indarkness, and hath no light? let him trust in the name of the LORD, and stay upon his God. [Isaiah 50:10]

The Book of Mormon reading does not contain the last line of verse 10. Without it, verse 11 becomes a warning in the context of Isaiah 50:2–3 as clarified by Doctrine and Covenants 133. Those who will not follow revelation or heed the voice of the Lord’s servant but walk in their own light of reason, will be cut off from Israel and will lie down in sorrow.

11 Behold all ye that kindle fire, that compass yourselves about with sparks, walk in the light of your fire and in the sparks which ye have kindled. This shall ye have of mine hand—ye shall lie down in sorrow. [2 Nephi 7:11]70 And this shall ye have of my hand—ye shall lie down in sorrow. [D&C 133:70]

There are no significant differences in the 2 Nephi and King James texts, therefore only the 2 Nephi text and the Doctrine and Covenants text are quoted. The Lord gives a further description of latter-day Israel’s fate in the verses that follow:

71 Behold, and lo, there are none to deliver you; for ye obeyed not my voice when I called to you out of the heavens; ye believed not my servants, and when they were sent unto you ye received them not.
72 Wherefore, they sealed up the testimony and bound up the law, and ye were delivered over unto darkness.
73 These shall go away into outer darkness, where there is weeping, and wailing, and gnashing of teeth.
74 Behold the Lord your God hath spoken it. Amen. [D&C 133:71–74]

Book of Mormon Commentary: I Nephi Wrote This Record

References