2 Nephi 28:19. The Book of Mormon fortifies us against the devil's evil designs.

President Ezra Taft Benson

“The Book of Mormon exposes the enemies of Christ. It confounds false doctrines. … It fortifies the humble followers of Christ against the evil designs, strategies, and doctrines of the devil in our day” (Ezra Taft Benson, “The Book of Mormon Is the Word of God,” Ensign, Jan. 1988, 3).

2 Nephi 27:19 Testimony of Emma Smith concerning the translation

Emma Smith

“Joseph Smith could neither write nor dictate a coherent and well-worded letter; let alone dictat[e] a book like the Book of Mormon. …

“My belief is that the Book of Mormon is of divine authenticity—I have not the slightest doubt of it. I am satisfied that no man could have dictated the writing of the manuscripts unless he was inspired; for, when acting as his scribe, [he] would dictate to me hour after hour; and when returning after meals, or after interruptions, he would at once begin where he had left off, without either seeing the manuscript or having any portion of it read to him. This was a usual thing for him to do. It would have been improbable that a learned man could do this; and, for one so ignorant and unlearned as he was, it was simply impossible” (“Last Testimony of Sister Emma,” The Saints’ Herald, vol. 26, no. 19 [Oct. 1, 1879], 290).

2 Nephi 27:1 We live in a wicked world

President Boyd K. Packer

“I know of nothing in the history of the Church or in the history of the world to compare with our present circumstances. Nothing happened in Sodom and Gomorrah which exceeds in wickedness and depravity that which surrounds us now.

“Words of profanity, vulgarity, and blasphemy are heard everywhere. Unspeakable wickedness and perversion were once hidden in dark places; now they are in the open, even accorded legal protection.

“At Sodom and Gomorrah these things were localized. Now they are spread across the world, and they are among us” (Boyd K. Packer, “The One Pure Defense” [evening with a General Authority, Feb. 6, 2004], 4).

2 Nephi 26:33. We welcome and love all of God's children no matter what.

President Dieter F. Uchtdorf

“I hope that we welcome and love all of God’s children, including those who might dress, look, speak, or just do things differently. It is not good to make others feel as though they are deficient. Let us lift those around us. Let us extend a welcoming hand. Let us bestow upon our brothers and sisters in the Church a special measure of humanity, compassion, and charity so that they feel, at long last, they have finally found home. …

“It seems only right and proper that we extend to others that which we so earnestly desire for ourselves.

“I am not suggesting that we accept sin or overlook evil, in our personal life or in the world. Nevertheless, in our zeal, we sometimes confuse sin with sinner, and we condemn too quickly and with too little compassion. …

“… Let our hearts and hands be stretched out in compassion toward others, for everyone is walking his or her own difficult path” (Dieter F. Uchtdorf, “You Are My Hands,” Ensign or Liahona, May 2010, 68–69).

His grace is sufficient by Brad Wilcox

https://speeches.byu.edu/talks/brad-wilcox_his-grace-is-sufficient/

2 Nephi 25:23. After all we can do, it is still grace that we are saved by.

“Many people feel discouraged because they constantly fall short. They know firsthand that ‘the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak’ [Matthew 26:41; They raise their voices with Nephi in proclaiming, ‘My soul grieveth because of mine iniquities’ [2 Nephi 4:17]” ….

“I wonder if sometimes we misinterpret the phrase ‘after all we can do.’ We must understand that ‘after’ does not equal ‘because.’

“We are not saved ‘because’ of all that we can do. Have any of us done all that we can do? Does God wait until we’ve expended every effort before He will intervene in our lives with His saving grace?” ….

If grace is a gift of God, why then is obedience to God’s commandments so important? Why bother with God’s commandments--or repentance, for that matter? Why not just admit we’re sinful and let God save us?

Or, to put the question in Paul’s words, “Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound?” Paul’s answer is simple and clear: “God forbid.”

Brothers and sisters, we obey the commandments of God--out of love for Him!

Trying to understand God’s gift of grace with all our heart and mind gives us all the more reasons to love and obey our Heavenly Father with meekness and gratitude. As we walk the path of discipleship, it refines us, it improves us, it helps us to become more like Him, and it leads us back to His presence. “The Spirit of the Lord [our God]” brings about such “a mighty change in us, … that we have no more disposition to do evil, but to do good continually.”

Therefore, our obedience to God’s commandments comes as a natural outgrowth of our endless love and gratitude for the goodness of God. This form of genuine love and gratitude will miraculously merge our works with God’s grace. Virtue will garnish our thoughts unceasingly, and our confidence will wax strong in the presence of God.

Dear brothers and sisters, living the gospel faithfully is not a burden. It is a joyful rehearsal--a preparation for inheriting the grand glory of the eternities. We seek to obey our Heavenly Father because our spirits will become more attuned to spiritual things. Vistas are opened that we never knew existed. Enlightenment and understanding come to us when we do the will of the Father.

Grace is a gift of God, and our desire to be obedient to each of God’s commandments is the reaching out of our mortal hand to receive this sacred gift from our Heavenly Father. (Dieter F. Uchtdorf, “The Gift of Grace,” 110).

2 Nephi 13:9 We cannot hide our sins.

2 Nephi 13:9 Elder Spencer V. Jones

“At times, consequences of sin may appear to be very subtle to the sinner. We may even convince ourselves … that no one will be able to detect our sins and that they are well concealed. But always to our Heavenly Father and often to spiritually sensitive leaders, parents, and friends, our sins are glaringly apparent.

“While attending a youth fireside with Elder Richard G. Scott, I noticed five youths scattered among the congregation whose countenances or body language almost screamed that something was spiritually amiss in their lives. After the meeting, when I mentioned the five youths to Elder Scott, he simply replied, ‘There were eight’” (Spencer V. Jones, “Overcoming the Stench of Sin,” Ensign or Liahona, May 2003, 88).

2 Ne 9:10 Chilean miners rescue

Part 1 - “On August 5, 2010, 33 Chilean miners were trapped by a massive cave-in after the rock inside the mine collapsed. They were restricted to a small safe area and to the mine shafts below the collapse, 2,300 feet (700 m) deep inside the earth.

“The situation looked bleak. They were separated from home and family by almost a half a mile of unmovable rock overhead, and they had only a small supply of food and water. Although they had tools and knowledge, because of the instability of the mine they could not save themselves. Their only chance was to be found and rescued”

Part 2 - “On the 17th day of their trial, hope was renewed for the miners when a small shaft was created by a drill bit that broke through the rock that held them captive. … Hope was restored. … Food, water, medicine, and notes from loved ones were sent down the shaft to the miners”.

Eventually, rescuers were able to create a larger shaft, through which they could lower a capsule that was large enough to rescue one man at a time.

“Each miner stepped into the capsule and gave his will over to the plan and the rescuers. …

“The rescue plan succeeded; not one man was lost. They were redeemed … 69 days after the mine collapse and 52 days after they had been found alive” (Connie Goulding, “Seeking Rescue,” Ensign, June 2015, 63).

2 Ne 9:7-9 If our separation from God were permanent....

2 Ne 9:7-9 Elder D. Todd Christofferson

“If our separation from God and our physical death were permanent, moral agency would mean nothing. Yes, we would be free to make choices, but what would be the point? The end result would always be the same no matter what our actions: death with no hope of resurrection and no hope of heaven. As good or as bad as we might choose to be, we would all end up ‘angels to a devil’ [2 Nephi 9:9]” (D. Todd Christofferson, “Moral Agency,” Ensign, June 2009, 50).

2 Nephi 5:27 There is no happiness in sin

President Gordon B. Hinckley

“Happiness comes of righteousness. ‘Wickedness never was happiness.’ (Alma 41:10.) Sin never was happiness. Selfishness never was happiness. Greed never was happiness. Happiness lies in living the principles of the gospel of Jesus Christ” (Gordon B. Hinckley, in “Fast-Paced Schedule for the Prophet: Meets with Young Adults, Youth in Three Meetings in Colorado,” Church News, Apr. 20, 1996, 3).

2 Nephi 3:11. Do things that will strengthen your testimony of the prophet Joseph Smith

 “A testimony of the Prophet Joseph Smith can come differently to each of us. It may come as you kneel in prayer, asking God to confirm that he was a true prophet. It may come as you read the Prophet’s account of the First Vision. A testimony may distill upon your soul as you read the Book of Mormon again and again. It may come as you bear your own testimony of the Prophet or as you stand in the temple and realize that through Joseph Smith the holy sealing power was restored to the earth. With faith and real intent, your testimony of the Prophet Joseph Smith will strengthen” (Neil L. Andersen, “Joseph Smith,” Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2014, 30).

2 Nephi 3:12. Truths from the Book of Mormon and the Prophet Joseph

“Permit me to name a few of many doctrines and practices which distinguish us from all other churches, and all of which have come of revelation to the youthful Prophet Joseph Smith…

“The Knowledge of Deity….

“The Book of Mormon….

“….The restored priesthood….

“….The plan of eternal life of the family….

“The innocence of little children….

“….The great doctrine of salvation for the dead….

“The eternal nature of man….

“….The principle of modern revelation….

“….During the brief 38 and one-half years of his life, there came through him an incomparable outpouring of knowledge, gifts, and doctrine” (Gordon B Hinckley; The Great Things Which God Has Revealed, “Ensign May 2005, p80-83)

Joseph Smith History 1:33. Negative commentary about Joseph Smith will increase as the Second Coming gets closer.

JSH 1:33 Elder Neil L. Andersen

“The negative commentary about the Prophet Joseph Smith will increase as we move toward the Second Coming of the Savior. The half-truths and subtle deceptions will not diminish. There will be family members and friends who will need your help. …

“To the youth … , I give a specific challenge: Gain a personal witness of the Prophet Joseph Smith” (Neil L. Andersen, “Joseph Smith,” Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2014, 30).

2 Nephi 2:6-10. 2 brothers scale a cliff in southern Utah without safety ropes

Elder Holland used this true story as a metaphor to help us understand and appreciate our desperate need to be rescued by the Savior.

While rock climbing without any safety gear in southern Utah, two brothers encountered a protruding ledge that kept them from reaching the top of a canyon wall. They could not get over it, nor could they safely climb back down. The older brother was able to boost the younger brother up and over the ledge to safety, but he knew he could not reach the ledge himself without jumping. He also knew he faced the risk of falling to his death if he tried to jump. Since he did not want his younger brother to see him fall and die, he told his brother to go look for a tree branch. The older brother then leapt as high as he could and grabbed the ledge, but, unable to hold onto it, he started slipping toward his death.

“Because we were then born into that fallen world [that resulted from Adam and Eve’s transgression] and because we too would transgress the laws of God, we also were sentenced to the same penalties that Adam and Eve faced.

“What a plight! The entire human race in free fall—every man, woman, and child in it physically tumbling toward permanent death, spiritually plunging toward eternal anguish. Is that what life was meant to be?”

“‘But then suddenly, like a lightning strike in a summer storm, two hands shot out from somewhere above the edge of the cliff, grabbing my wrists with a strength and determination that belied their size. My faithful little brother had not gone looking for any fictitious tree branch. Guessing exactly what I was planning to do, he had never moved an inch. He had simply waited—silently, almost breathlessly—knowing full well I would be foolish enough to try to make that jump. When I did, he grabbed me, held me, and refused to let me fall. Those strong brotherly arms saved my life that day as I dangled helplessly above what would surely have been certain death’” (Jeffrey R. Holland, “Where Justice, Love, and Mercy Meet,” 104–5).