2 Nephi 6 - Jacob's first teachings

Nephi does an interesting thing with 2 Nephi. He teaches a lot about the Savior and his role in the world and his role with individuals. He does so by drawing upon the words of his dad, Jacob, and Isaiah, then he concludes with his own thoughts. It's definitely a well thought-out approach to testifying of the Savior.

Here's a few key words from the first chapter of Jacob's teachings in Jacob 6

2 Behold, my beloved brethren, I, Jacob, having been called of God, and ordained after the manner of his holy ^aorder, and having been consecrated by my brother Nephi, unto whom ye look as a^bking or a protector, and on whom ye depend for safety, behold ye know that I have spoken unto you exceedingly many things.

The role of leader is to be a protector and provide safety. That's what Nephi tried to do for his people. Our church leaders do the same for us now.

7 And ^akings shall be thy nursing fathers, and their queens thy nursing mothers; they shall bow down to thee with their faces towards the earth, and lick up the dust of thy feet; and thou shalt know that ^bI am the Lord; for they shall not be ashamed that ^cwaitfor me.

God will take care of those who follow him. At the end of time, his followers will be blessed and happy.

12 And blessed are the ^aGentiles, they of whom the prophet has written; for behold, if it so be that they shall repent and fight not against Zion, and do not unite themselves to that great and^babominable church, they shall be saved; for the Lord God will fulfil his ^ccovenants which he has made unto his children; and for this cause the prophet has written these things.

Gentiles can receive all the blessings promised to the house of Israel on a few conditions: repent, not fight against Zion, not unite to the great and abominable church. Worth understanding what exactly Zion and the great and abominable church are - I'll have to think about that a little more: certainly the pure in heart is my favorite definition of Zion, and the great and abominable church is defined in 1 Nephi as a group that desires after bad things and focuses on itself.

13 Wherefore, they that fight against Zion and the covenant people of the Lord shall lick up the dust of their feet; and the people of the Lord shall not be ^aashamed. For the people of the Lord are they who ^bwait for him; for they still wait for the coming of the Messiah.

17 But thus saith the Lord: Even the captives of the mighty shall be taken away, and the prey of the terrible shall be delivered; ^aforthe ^bMighty God shall ^cdeliver his covenant people. For thus saith the Lord: I will contend with them that contendeth with thee—

Repeats - those who wait for and follow the Lord will not be ashamed. He will take care of them.