Scripture Chapter Themes

In the Book of Mormon, the topic of baptism of little children is condemned in Moroni chapter 8. No condemnation comes upon little children because they are righteousness and pure already, needing no law.

3 Nephi 17:
21 And when he had said these words, he wept, and the multitude bare record of it, and he took their little children, one by one, and blessed them, and prayed unto the Father for them. 22 And when he had done this he wept again; 23 And he spake unto the multitude, and said unto them: Behold your little ones.  

Little children have received completely the Lord's mercy and love. Could it perhaps be a lesson, of a way people may mock the plan of Christ- of his complete immersion of his mercy, and true knowledge of his law.  Can we approach this knowledge, of his atonement in living mockery or even condemn it by our lack of understanding and application of this divine principle in our lives if we are not children.

Fruit Was Good

  75 And it came to pass that when the ^aLord of the vineyard saw that his fruit was good, and that his vineyard was no more corrupt, he called up his servants, and said unto them: Behold, for this last time have we nourished my vineyard; and thou beholdest that I have done according to my will; and I have preserved the natural fruit, that it is good, even like as it was in the beginning. And ^bblessed art thou; for because ye have been diligent in laboring with me in my vineyard, and have kept my commandments, and have brought unto me again the ^cnatural fruit, that my vineyard is no more corrupted, and the bad is cast away, behold ye shall have ^djoy with me because of the fruit of my vineyard.
Jacob 5:

The promise of being diligent in my vineyard meant "with me"  to "enter into my joy."
Matthew 25:21

Jesus Christ, Topical Guide

Earlier posts of scripture man used the topical guide as an excellent study resource. In fact, one could become a better scriptureman by reviewing all the references of the Savior,  "I've become a different man",  said Russell M. Nelson doing it.

President Boyd K. Packer cited, "Before handing the scriptures to the chaplain, I opened the Topical Guide and showed him one subject: 18 pages, very fine print, single-spaced, listing references to the subject of “Jesus Christ.” It is one of the most comprehensive compilations of scriptural references on the subject of the Savior that has ever been assembled in the history of the world--a testimony from the Old and New Testaments, the Book of Mormon, the Doctrine and Covenants, and the Pearl of Great Price."

List

"Since President Monson’s challenge six months ago, I have tried to follow his counsel. Among other things, I’ve made lists of what the Book of Mormon is, what it affirms, what it refutes, what it fulfills, what it clarifies, and what it reveals. Looking at the Book of Mormon through these lenses has been an insightful and inspiring exercise! I recommend it to each of you."
Russell M. Nelson

Write It

2 Nephi chapter 29:

12 For behold, I shall speak unto the Jews and they shall write it; and I shall also speak unto the Nephites and they shall write it; and I shall also speak unto the other tribes of the house of Israel, which I have led away, and they shall write it; and I shall also speak unto all nations of the earth and they shall write it.

Nephi was very familiar with the writings of the Old Testament, especially regarding to messianic messages.  He cites "write it" four times in verse 29. Of which many were I believe found in the Brass Plates. Nephi was taught by such records.  In fact, Nephi wrote and taught according to biblical verses as referenced in...

Ezekiel 43:11...and write it in their sight, that they may keep the whole form thereof, and all the ordinances thereof, and do them.

Jeremiah 31: But this shall be the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel; After those days, saith the Lord, I will put my law in their inward parts and write it in their hearts; and will be their God, and they shall be my people.

Isaiah 30: Now go, write it before them in a table, and note it in a book, that it may be for the time to come for ever and ever.

Nehemiah 9:38 And because of all this we make a sure covenant, and write it; and our princes, Levites, and priests, seal unto it.

Nephi's authenticity and teaching prove appropriate to messianic messages of the covenants from his word's written in the Book of Mormon.

WordPlay OF Themes

With the writings of Isaiah wordplay of themes can be an exciting exercise.  Nephi used his writings prophetically (compare with the book of Isaiah).  I tried it with these temple theme verses:

2 And it shall come to pass in the last days, when the mountain of the Lord’s house shall be established in the top of the mountains, and shall be exalted above the hills, and all nations shall flow unto it.

3 And many people shall go as like a train which fills it (the temple), and singing "come ye, and let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the house of the God of Jacob; and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths"; then praying within her walls they say, "Holy, Holy, Holy is the Lord of Hosts; the whole earth is full of his glory". Here we are, send us forth, and "thou wilt go for me", he saith.

2 Nephi 12:2-3

2 Nephi 16:1-3, 8

Wordplay

"The Book of Mormon contains several quotations from the Hebrew Bible that have been juxtaposed on the basis of shared words or phrases, this for the purpose of interpreting the cited scriptural passages in light of one another. This exegetical technique — one that Jesus himself used — came to be known in later rabbinic times as Gezera Shawa (“equal statute”). In several additional instances, the use of Gezera Shawa converges with onomastic wordplay. Nephi uses a Gezera Shawa involving Isaiah 11:11 and Isaiah 29:14 twice on the basis of the yāsap verb forms yôsîp/yôsīp (2 Nephi 25:17 and quoting the Lord in 2 Nephi 29:1) to create a stunning wordplay on the name “Joseph.” In another instance, King Benjamin uses Gezera Shawa involving Psalm 2:7, 2 Samuel 7:14, and Deuteronomy 14:1 (1–2) on the basis of the Hebrew noun bēn (“son”; plural bānîm, bānôt, “sons” and “daughters”) on which to build a rhetorical wordplay on his own name. This second wordplay, which further alludes to Psalm 110:1 on account of the noun yāmin (“right hand”), was ready-made for his temple audience who, on the occasion of Mosiah’s coronation, were receiving their own “endowment” to become “sons” and “daughters” at God’s “right hand.” The use of Gezera Shawawas often christological — e.g., Jacob’s Gezera Shawa on (“stone”) in Jacob 4:15–17 and Alma’s Gezera Shawa on Zenos’s and Zenock’s phrase “because of thy Son” in Alma 33:11–16 (see Alma 33:4 17). Taken together, these examples suggest that we should pay more attention to scripture’s use of scripture and, in particular, the use of this exegetical practice. In doing so, we will better discern the messages intended by ancient prophets whose words the Book of Mormon preserves."

Matthew L. Bowen

This wordplay can be used in our personal scripture study.  Let's try it.  

I experimented with phrases from two recent conference talks, Elder Gong 2016 and Elder Holland 2017. 

"He embraces us still by carrying the marks of his pure love...these nail-scarred hands, extending, holding on to us and encouraging us;"