This week’s Come, Follow Me chapters included 2 Nephi 1. As I read, I focused on individual words that stood out to see if I was reading what the words really said. I read to find meaning I’d glossed over before.
While reading 2 Nephi 1:7, “this land is consecrated unto him whom he shall bring” stood out to me.
Wherefore, this is consecrated unto him whom he shall bring. And if it so be that they shall serve him according to the commandments which he hath given, it shall be a land of unto them; wherefore, they shall never be brought down into captivity; if so, it shall be because of iniquity; for if iniquity shall abound shall be the land for their sakes, but unto the righteous it shall be blessed forever.
To me, consecrate meant to set apart or be made sacred. I’d previously noted that the land was made sacred by the Lord.
But during this reading, I paused to note that the land was “consecrated unto him whom he shall bring.” So the land is consecrated unto whomever the Lord gives it to. This stood out to me because frequently, verses talk about things being consecrated unto the Lord by people.
A verse in Doctrine and Covenants 52 also refers to land being consecrated by the Lord to people.
“I, the Lord, will make known unto you what I will that ye shall do from this time until the next conference, which shall be held in Missouri, upon the which I will unto my people, which are a of Jacob, and those who are heirs according to the
Meanings of Consecrate and Consecrated
I love looking up word definitions in the 1828 Webster’s Dictionary because I get an idea of a word’s meaning at the time Joseph Smith translated the Book of Mormon.
1828 Webster’s Dictionary definition of “consecrated.”
CONSECRATED, participle passive Made sacred by ceremonies or solemn rites; separated from a common to a sacred use; devoted or dedicated to the service and worship of God; made venerable.
Nothing extraordinary there. I subscribe to the same definition. I decided to look up “consecrate.”
1828 Webster’s Dictionary definition of “consecrate.”
CONSECRATE, verb transitive [Latin , to consecrate sacred. See Sacred.]
1. To make or declare to be sacred, by certain ceremonies or rites; to appropriate to sacred uses; to set apart, dedicate, or devote, to the service and worship of God; as, to consecrate a church.
Thou shalt consecrate Aaron and his sons. Exodus 29:9.
All the silver, and gold, and vessels of brass and iron, are consecrated to the Lord. Joshua 6:19.
2. To canonize; to exalt to the rank of a saint; to enroll among the gods, as a Roman emperor.
3. To set apart and bless the elements in the eucharist.
4. To render venerable; to make respected; as, rules or principles consecrated by time.
CONSECRATE, adjective Sacred; consecrated; devoted; dedicated.
They were assembled in that consecrate place.
Definition 2 particularly sparked my interest.
My mind jumped immediately to Article of Faith 10.
We believe in the literal of Israel and in the restoration of the ; that (the New Jerusalem) will be built upon the American continent; that Christ will personally upon the earth; and, that the earth will be and receive its .
Earth’s destiny, according to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, is to become a celestialized planet, a planet where gods dwell, a planet where saints become joint-heirs with Jesus Christ.
“Wherefore, this is consecrated unto him whom he shall bring.”
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