Temples

I have often wondered how a people like the Nephites and Lamenites could have had such a knowledge of what was to come of them if they did not keep the commandments as prophesied in this chapter, yet they did not carefully attend to the instructions given about how to avoid these prophesies? In 2 Nephi 2:2, Lehi tells his son Joseph that that the land was consecrated for his seed, but only if they keep the commandments of the Lord. If they reject the Holy One of Israel, he will take away from them their lands. This did come to pass, and their words did go forth as prophesied, by a man whom is mentioned in this very chapter ( 2 Nephi 3:7 ). This causes me to wonder how many prophesies about us in these latter days, that I am not paying as much attention too as I should? This prophesy about the land being promised as a land of liberty pertains to anyone on this land, but only as they keep His commandments and have the Messiah to be their God. ( 2 Nephi 1:7 ) Similarly, we already know the outcome as prophesied in this same book, that the constitution will hang by a thread, and lastly I consider our place of dwelling in Zion to already being fulfilled, as mentioned in 2 Nephi 14:5-6, when it says that " Upon mount Zion and all of her assemblies a cloud of smoke by day and the shining of a flaming fire by night; for upon all the glory of Zion shall be a defense, and there shall be a tabernacle for shadow in the daytime from the heat and for a place of refuge , and covert from the storm and rain." This prophesy given by Isaiah was literally fulfilled for the children of Israel as they crossed the wilderness, but for us in the latter days the prophesy can be symbolic as the smoke by day represents our Father and Heaven's presence in our temples and among our stakes. The fire by night, is our light in the darkness that we have through the scriptures and Priesthood authority. As well we are protected from the storms of life with all that our restored gospel presents, as it is also directed by God through a prophet who holds the Priesthood keys that direct and lead His work on the earth, thus creating His kingdom on earth through us as His members.