“This Is the Way”

All Posts Archived Lessons New Testament Old Testament Book of Mormon Doctrine & Covenants Search “This Is the Way” CFMCorner Mar 16, 2024 19 min read Updated: Mar 18, 2024 CFM: March 18–24 2 Nephi 31–33 Videos, Podcasts, & Weekly Lesson Material Media ​Lesson Extension ​Additional Materials Scripture Central 2 Nephi 31-33 Scripture Study Insights Book of Mormon Insights with Taylor and Tyler: Revisited 2 Nephi 31-33. Scripture Insights Study Guide Follow Him 2 Nephi 31-33 Part 1 • Dr. Kerry Muhlestein Part 2 Transcripts Line Upon Line 2 Nephi 31-33 THE HERO'S JOURNEY Teaching with Power 2 Nephi 31-33 ​ Teaching Bundle for Book of Mormon, available on Etsy. Don't Miss This 2 Nephi 31-33 None other Name ​ Book of Mormon Matters with John W Welch and Lynne Hilton Wilson 2 Nephi 31-33 John W. Welch Notes ​Unshaken 2 Nephi 31-33 (part 1): “This Is the Way” (part 2): Nephi's Final Farewell ​ ​The Interpreter Foundation 2 Nephi 31-33 ​Commentary by John Claybaugh ​Teaching Helps with John Hilton 2 Nephi 31-33 The Book of Mormon, A Master Class ​ ​Scripture Gems 2 Nephi 31-33 S01E12 ​ Come Follow Up 2 Nephi 31-33 | BYUtv Latter Day Kids 2 Nephi 31-33 ( not yet posted ) Scripture Explorers 2 Nephi 31-33 ​Talking Scripture Ep 259 | 2 Nephi 31-33 Show Notes Book of Mormon Minute, Brant A. Gardner Vol. 1 2 Nephi 31 2 Nephi 32 2 Nephi 33 Saving Talents: Devotionals & FHE for Children 2 Nephi 31-33 ​Hurricane Utah Adult Religion Class , Book of Mormon Nephi's Prophecies of The Book of Mormon; The Doctrine of Christ Video: Lesson Lesson 6: Notes , Slides arbm09_presentation .pdf Download PDF • 1.51MB Resources and Insights for this Week's Lesson The Book of Mormon and the Old Testament: A Cultural and Religious Dialogue Review: Passover and Holy Week information: https://www.cfmcorner.com/post/be-not-afraid Passover Seder Script by Lynda Cherry Days of Awe: Jewish Holy Days, Symbols and Prophecies for Latter-day Saints by Gayle Boyd Greater Love Hath No Man: A Latter-day Saint Guide To Celebrating the Easter by Eric Huntsman and Trevan Hatch In line with our discussions last week about cultivating relationships with our Jewish friends and community, the following videos were released yesterday by Scripture Central and they fit in beautifully with what we have been discussing. These are worth watching: 5 Hebrew Evidences in the Book of Mormon (Part 1) A Rabbi's Take on the Book of Mormon | Joe Charnes New Materials: “Feasting upon the Words of Christ and the Tradition of the Ta'amim Hamikra” In Jewish traditions, the concept of “feasting upon the words of God (Christ in Christian tradition)” and the practice of Ta'amim Hamikra (the cantillation marks or musical notations used in Hebrew Biblical readings) are inherently related. Understanding a little bit about this Jewish tradition, its history, and its connection to Nephi's writing can provide some valuable insight and intriguing perspective to the chapters we have been studying the last few weeks. First: What are the Ta'amim Hamikra? This is a phrase that is probably new to a lot of members of the church, so if you have no idea what this is, don't be alarmed. In Hebrew, Ta'amim Hamikra can be literally translated to “the flavor of the readings (or the scriptures).” In other words, how do the words of God taste in one's mouth? There is a lot of symbolic context to unpack with this concept, but first we need to understand some historic perspective. One must remember that In ancient times, access to written scriptures was very limited. The invention of the printing press was still millennia away, and handwritten scrolls were both rare and costly. Typically these were only available to royalty and high ranking priests. We should remember that Lehi had never even seen the written accounts until Nephi acquired the brass plates, and we should also remember that Laman and Lemuel's descendants held deep and long standing animosity towards Nephi and his descendants because, in their minds, the Nephites were thieves because they had taken the brass plates when they fled following the death of Lehi. We also observe a huge transformation in the Lamanite community when they were finally able to receive the written texts from Alma the Younger and sons of Mosiah who made great sacrifices to deliver them to the people. Thus we can observe the tremendous value that these written records represented, for a multitude of reasons. For most people, learning about the scriptures primarily took place through oral recitation, typically within the communal settings of the synagogue or the temple during significant religious gatherings and Holy Feast Days. During these events, priests or rabbis would recite scripture passages, providing explanations and context to aid the community's understanding of the teachings. Various writings in the Talmud clarify that since at least the time of Ezra, whenever a priest would stand to recite from the Torah, the text was always chanted or sung; not doing so was considered ignorant and disrespectful. In the earliest versions of the complete Tanakh, every single word of the Old Testament is marked with a cantillation mark ( Comparing Ancient Biblical Manuscripts ). While the specific cantillation marks used today and found in early manuscripts of the Tanakh were not formalized until the 6th century AD, earlier versions can be traced back to the Babylonian era, with conceptual roots potentially linked to Egyptian traditions. Role of Ta'amim Hamikra in Jewish Tradition In these oral tradition, the cantillation practices played a crucial role. These Ta'amim Hamikra, also known as “tropes,” a Greek word, τρόπος trópos , that literally means " the way ," provided a musical framework for chanting the Hebrew Bible. The Ta'amim served several vital functions: 1. Acoustic Amplification : Chanting, with its melodic rises and falls, allowed the words to carry further, an essential feature in crowded or open spaces, ensuring that the sacred texts could be heard by all present. 2. Memorization Aid : Similar to how modern children learn through songs, the melodic patterns of the Ta'amim facilitated memorization of the scriptures. This oral tradition enabled the faithful to internalize the words, making the divine teachings a part of their daily lives and consciousness. 3. Musical Notation : Ta'amim are essentially a system of musical notation used to chant the Hebrew scriptures. Each symbol corresponds to a specific hand gesture (Chironomia), and musical phrase that dictates the melody and intonation of the text being recited. This musical recitation helps to convey the emotions, nuances, and various inflections of the biblical passages. (click here to hear the traditional trope melodies with their associated cantillation markings) 4. Punctuation and Syntax : Beyond their musical aspect, the Ta'amim also serve as a form of punctuation and grammatical guidance. In Hebrew texts, where traditional punctuation (such as commas, periods, question marks, vowels, and even spaces between words) is absent, these marks provide cues for pausing, stopping, pronunciation, or changing the tone within sentences, which is crucial for understanding the structure and meaning of the text. 5. Textual Integrity and Interpretation : Without modern punctuation, the Ta'amim helped preserve the correct phrasing, meaning, and context of the scriptural message. The musical notations indicated intended pauses, stops, emotional and spiritual undertones, guiding readers and listeners in understanding and internalizing the context, nuances, and flavor of the sacred words. 6. Textual Emphasis and Interpretation : The Ta'amim contribute to the interpretation of scripture by highlighting particular words or phrases, indicating questions, exclamations, or shifts in narrative voice. They guide the reader (or listener) through the emotional and rhetorical landscape of the biblical narrative, particularly with poetic and intellectual wordplays and alliterations, thereby enhancing the depth of study and engagement with the text. 4. Spiritual and Emotional Resonance : The musical aspect of the Ta'amim invited the Spirit and set the tone for various passages, enhancing the emotional and spiritual engagement of the community with the text. This practice helped transform the scripture reading into a deeply moving, spiritual experience, bridging the gap between the earthly and the divine. Relevance to Nephi’s Teachings and Practices Nephi, a prophet deeply rooted in the traditions of his Jewish heritage, would have been intimately familiar with the ancient practice of scripture cantillation. His urging to “feast upon the words of Christ” aligns with the Jewish tradition of engaging deeply and internalizing the words of the Torah through Ta'amim Hamikra. Nephi's writings, rich in poetic and prophetic expressions, demonstrate a profound reverence for God's word, reflecting his ancestors' practices. Throughout his texts, he repeatedly highlights the value of Jewish learning, underscoring the significance of reconciliation and reunification between Judah and Joseph. Nephi consistently advises learning from our Jewish brothers and sisters, offering much insight into the shared spiritual heritage. In his songs of praise and teachings, Nephi employed similar principles to those found in the Ta'amim Hamikra, including chiasmus, parallelism, repetition, and possibly even melody (though not recorded) to emphasize the importance of the oral traditions in scripture. His reference to speaking “with the tongue of angels” could be interpreted as an allusion to this elevated, chant-like manner of recitation, which transcends ordinary speech and approaches the divine. We observe similar references with later Prophets as well, such as Alma, who refers to the Song of Redeeming Love, asking us if we