Nephi can't write more than a few verses without breaking out in praise, often beginning with "O". Looking at 2 Nephi 9, we see it over and over. Here is a list:
O the wisdom of God, his mercy and grace! (vs. 8)
O how great the goodness of our God who prepareth a way for our escape . . . (vs. 10)
O how great the plan of our God! (vs. 13)
O the greatness and the justice of our God! (vs. 17)
O the greatness and the mercy of our God, the Holy One of Israel! (vs. 19)
O how great the holiness of our God! For he knoweth all things, and there is not anything save he knows it. (vs. 20)
Chapter 9 is likely a beautiful poem in the language in which it was written and follows a pattern of praising God and his plan, expressing sorrow for those who sin, and inviting us to repent. Maybe the way in which he refers to God is done so out of tradition. But I think it is also a mark that his constant praising of the Lord has become a part of his language.
My family went on a trip this past week and went church with my aunt. The sister who was teaching Relief Society was moving after being in the area for a long time. Her testimony of the Savior was palpable as she shared the many ways in which he had helped her through her trials. At the very end of the lesson, she gave us a pencil and asked us to write down what we would say to Christ if He were to be there in front of us. That exercise in faith was quite difficult. What would I say to Him if He were here? What would my attitude be toward him? Would I be so overcome with embarrassment that I hadn't gotten closer to him or that I had acted so often according to my own will and wisdom? After I had finished apologizing to Him, I think it would be natural to praise Him and his role in the plan that makes it okay that I am not perfect today.
This teacher then shared a story about a dream her sister had in which a large room was full of people where Christ sat at the head. In the room there were no words, only the air was thick with a feeling of compassion, sorrow, and love for Christ and his sacrifice. Then, she was led to another room where there were only two people. Christ sat on the same throne and there was a child in front of him. Yet the room was filled with the same palpable feeling of compassion, sorrow, and love. This time, the emotion was from Christ toward the child.
Nephi very likely knew that in a conversation with his Lord and Savior, the Holy one of Israel, mercy and compassion can change our apologetic repentance into praise. Personal experience probably led Nephi to write his psalm in 2 Nephi 4 that turns "O wretched man that I am" into "Rejoice, O my heart, and cry unto the Lord, and say: O Lord, I will praise thee forever; yea, my soul will rejoice in thee, my God, and the rock of my salvation."
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