Journey, Adversity and Transition - First Book of Nephi, Chapter Sixteen (1 Nephi 16)

After Lehi’s family has spent some time in an area still fairly close to Jerusalem that has allowed them to retrieve items and people as the Lord deemed needful, and to receive important preparatory guidance and revelation, they are now ready to begin the next steps of their journey. No turning back at this point. They are really severing the ties with their ancestral home.

And it begins with the formation of new families. Nephi, his three brothers, and Zoram (Laban’s servant who joined them in the wilderness) all marry various daughters of Lehi’s acquaintance Ishmael. Not long before, we are told that at Nephi’s urgings, his brothers had “humbled themselves before the Lord.” The humbling process and their marriages seem to place them in a favorable situation to meet the challenges that are sure to come their way as they continue on their journey.

There’s also a sense that as these new families form, with each son (and Zoram) taking responsibility as husbands and fathers, the days where Lehi is the clear leader over this group are numbered. This generational pattern of leadership transition in families is a familiar one down to our day. And, as in all times, it raises questions about whether the next generation is ready to take charge.

For the time being, though, Lehi still leads the expedition. He receives word from the Lord that the group is to leave their camp and journey on, and the next morning he finds something at the entrance to his tent. Nephi describes it as a “round brass ball of curious workmanship.” Later in the Book of Mormon (Alma 37:38), we learn that the people call this device “Liahona” (which, in their language, means “compass”). It has two spindles. One of these spindles apparently points them in the direction they are supposed to go. How? Nephi tells us that somehow the Liahona works not by magnetism or some other law of the physical world, but rather according to the family’s faith and diligence.

Early on, it seems like everything works pretty well. The family travels in a south-southeast direction, apparently going along the Arabian coast near the eastern shore of the Red Sea, with the Liahona leading them to the more fertile areas in that desert region where they can hunt for food with bow-and-arrow and sling-and-stone.

But when Nephi’s metal bow breaks, everything changes. Apparently, he is the champion hunter of the group. Around the same time his bow breaks, the others’ wooden bows begin to give out. Once you lose access to food, it doesn’t take much for life in the desert to get pretty dismal, and after that it’s not easy to break the cycle of discouragement that ensues.

This is where we see a significant transition. Previously, Lehi has been the “rock,” or core source of strength, for his family. Now here they are, tired, out of food, and much farther away from civilization (Jerusalem) than before. As Laman and Lemuel start complaining again, joined by Ishmael’s sons, for the first time we really see Lehi’s own human frailty. I expect that his own “murmuring” may be explained partly by his concern that he is responsible for leading everyone into this predicament (or at least most everyone else thinks he is responsible).

Out of the whole group, Nephi is the one who keeps a cool head. First of all, he knows that it is the Lord, and not Lehi, who is in charge of the situation. Second, regardless of what has already taken place, he is focusing on what to do about the present, not lamenting past choices or speculating about the traveling party’s long odds of future survival.

But instead of completely taking over leadership and saying, “Now I’m in charge,” Nephi looks to find a way to reestablish and reinforce his father’s authority and faithfulness. He makes a new bow and arrow from wood and asks Lehi to inquire of the Lord where to go find food. This is wise for two reasons. First, because it’s the right thing to do. The Ten Commandments tell us to honor thy mother and father, and Jesus showed us how to do this perfectly by doing His Father’s will. The scriptures teach this same pattern with Isaac and Abraham and many others. Even if Lehi is not perfect, it is Nephi’s duty to lift Lehi up in his time of difficulty. The second reason for the wisdom of Nephi deferring to his dad is that Lehi is the only figure whose leadership the others will accept. It’s already been made clear that Laman and Lemuel have a very hard time with the idea of their younger brother leading them.

We then see the sincerity of Lehi’s repentance. It is interesting to read that the Liahona also can convey written messages from the Lord. We find out that some words appeared on the device that really scare everyone (except Nephi, it seems). Is it a warning about what might happen if they (especially Lehi) complain about their circumstances again?

In any event, order is restored. Lehi is directed to tell Nephi where to hunt, and once the food comes in, everyone feels more joyful and a little humbler. The journey continues.

Then Ishmael dies. And this is where we really see a transition. The single family unit we had is now splitting into several different family groups because of the recent marriages. This makes unity more challenging. Especially when it’s the wives (the daughters of Ishmael) who are complaining about their circumstances: “We’re hungry, thirsty, tired, and otherwise afflicted without any clear hope of a good end to our journey, and on top of that, now our father is gone and we’re left with this other old man and his crazy son leading us. We want to go home!”

It’s not absolutely clear, but unlike in 1 Nephi 7 where at least one of Ishmael’s daughters pleads with her brothers and with Laman and Lemuel to show mercy to Nephi, here there’s no mention that any of the daughters (not even the one Nephi married) show confidence in Lehi and Nephi. That doesn’t make them responsible for Laman trying to hatch a plot with Lemuel and Ishmael’s sons to kill and usurp authority from Lehi and Nephi, but it helps explain the situation a little better. Laman’s plot is quickly put down by the “chastening voice of the Lord,” which makes itself known to the plotters and leads them to repentance.

It appears from modern archeology that we have some idea of how far the group has traveled at this point. The chapter says that the place Ishmael died is called Nahom (meaning “consolation” in Hebrew). In February 2001, the Church magazine Ensign reported that some Latter-day Saint researchers located a stone altar dating to around 700 B.C. near the southwest corner of the Arabian peninsula (in present-day Yemen). According to this article and a later source, this altar and two others at the same site contain an inscription corresponding to the sound “NHM” in Sabean (a language related to Hebrew), appearing to confirm that Nahom is an actual place on what was known during that time as the Frankincense Trail (a very profitable route for traders in frankincense, which is found almost exclusively in that part of the world at that time).

There seems to be some speculation about whether Lehi’s family has followed the trail, and if they have, whether they have stayed on the well-traveled path or perhaps intentionally have stayed away from it and the various types of people it attracts.,

From this source and this source, there are some interesting maps. The first shows one possible version of the route Lehi’s family takes (with the site of the “Nahom” altars as place #5). Nahom is about 1,900 miles from Jerusalem, so the group is now many weeks’ (if not months’) distance from their starting point.

The next map is one of the Frankincense Trail and other trade routes with various historical places denoted (including some approximations for Book of Mormon places). The site Marib is where the Nahom altars are located, and is now an area near the crossroads of warring Sunnis and Shiites in modern-day Yemen.  

Which leads to our guest post. My good friend Todd Watkins sent me this perspective in response to the posting for "Nephi Catches the Vision," (1 Nephi 11) with particular emphasis on the meaning of the “great and spacious building.” I think his perspective offers a very interesting view into the possibilities that Lehi's vision may have had some very specific meanings for him and his family as they trekked through the Middle Eastern landscape of circa 600 B.C., especially when considering the other information above.

Here's what Todd said (and check out the picture he included too):

I wanted to share with you just one perspective as a long-time Middle East hand [Todd has spent many years living, studying, and working in the Middle East] that allows me to explain this dream and journey to myself in real world terms. 

In my opinion, Lehi's vision served two purposes.  The more spiritual one that you described in your post and a pragmatic/realistic one.

The building that Lehi describes appears to me to be similar to traditional Yemeni buildings that one would see in the old-walled city of Sana (see below).

In pre-Islamic times the buildings probably would not have had the Mashrabiya covers.

Lehi was probably aware of the cities in Yemen and as travelers in the desert, it would have been very tempting to go to the city for rest and supplies.

However, I think the dream communicated that if the group stopped there, Laman and Lemuel would not follow to the New World.

As such, I believe it was a very real warning to avoid the cities of Yemen and continue across the inhospitable desert to probably Salalah/Dhofar in Oman, where the annual Indian monsoon would have allowed for the growth of numerous and large trees to construct a boat.

Just food for thought.

In fact, identifying Salalah, Oman as the ultimate end to the journey on land and the departure point via sea (we’ll get to this in 1 Nephi 18) appears to track very closely with the theories in the maps above about Lehi’s route and the general trade routes of the time.

You can read the chapter at the following link: https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/scriptures/bofm/1-ne/16?lang=eng

Have Ye Inquired of the Lord? - First Book of Nephi, Chapter Fifteen (1 Nephi 15)

Remembering how much God loves all his children, this chapter has a special poignancy. Once again, we find Nephi in dialogue with his brothers Laman and Lemuel (possibly Sam as well, because the generic word “brethren” is used). Once again the familiar pattern emerges. Nephi is perceptive and self-reliant in his knowledge of key aspects of the Lord’s plan, while his brothers find themselves behind the learning curve.

As time goes on, we’re seeing a gradual distancing between Nephi and his brothers. The things that Nephi has seen and heard because of his own willingness to go directly to the Lord and ask, and his further willingness to do those things that he realizes are necessary actions as a result of what he learns, are changing him into a more capable person. Someone who no longer depends on his parents for sustenance or his father for his spiritual well-being.

Sadly, we can’t say the same for Laman and Lemuel. The poignancy of the chapter comes from the fact that we and Nephi both see that there is still a part of them that really does want to know about God’s plan and their place in it. Despite their past mistakes, and the concerns forecast for them in the future, there is plenty of good in them.

And even now, if they were to act on those desires to know more, it is clear that they are in a place where they could be of great service as the Lord’s disciples. This strikes me as very similar to observing groups of young men and women from the ages of about 18 to 25. They often start out with much the same in terms of talents and opportunities, but as time wears on, you start to see the different trajectories of those who are committed to accomplishing important objectives (Nephi), and those who are struggling to find the animating purpose in their lives (Laman and Lemuel).

Ultimately, we are witnesses to the many chances Laman and Lemuel have to turn things around. Their father and now their brother are literally begging them to take some initiative and go straight to God for the knowledge that He is anxious to give them. Throughout the chapter, having been engaged in disputes about the meaning of their father’s different visions, the brothers ask Nephi about different aspects of the visions of the olive tree (the scattering and regathering of different “branches” of the house of Israel) and the tree of life.  

The following passage (verses 8-11) leaves Nephi dumbfounded at the opportunities he can sense Laman and Lemuel are throwing away:

8 And I said unto them: Have ye inquired of the Lord?

9 And they said unto me: We have not; for the Lord maketh no such thing known unto us.

10 Behold, I said unto them: How is it that ye do not keep the commandments of the Lord? How is it that ye will perish, because of the hardness of your hearts?

11 Do ye not remember the things which the Lord hath said?—If ye will not harden your hearts, and ask me in faith, believing that ye shall receive, with diligence in keeping my commandments, surely these things shall be made known unto you.

Why did Nephi see this episode in his family’s history as especially important to share with us? I’m pretty sure it has less to do with setting the record straight between him and his brothers than it has to do with us. Nephi is trying to tell us that even if Laman and Lemuel missed their opportunities, we don’t have to miss ours. It’s a classic prophetic warning and invitation, radiating God’s love all around it. In essence, Nephi is saying:

“My friends, please, please heed this cautionary tale. Don’t become like my brothers. Ask and ye shall receive. Knock and it shall be opened unto you. Seek and ye shall find. You might think, like they did, ‘Oh, we’re not spiritual like Nephi. That’s just not us. Plus, it’s too late for us.’ Nothing could be further from the truth. Everyone may have different spiritual gifts and starting points, but the Lord teaches that he is always seeking to communicate directly with us and can give us what we need to grow and face the challenges of our lives. It is a universal promise. Best to act now, but it’s never too late.”

At the end of the chapter, we find that Nephi’s visions have given him a pretty detailed understanding of how God’s justice works. He shares with Laman and Lemuel that because actions have consequences, one has to be clean (from sin) to dwell with God. Nephi also reveals that one can feel the pain of separation from God (often referred to as hell) both in this life and in the next. The idea of how our choices in this life affect our eternal destiny is central to religious belief. There are other scriptures where this is explained more fully, but for our purposes here, the important takeaway is that we need not be intimidated by what Nephi shares. A just and merciful God will make sure that nothing will rob us of the ability to repent and enjoy a happy existence if we act on the truth revealed to us.          

You can read the chapter at this link: https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/scriptures/bofm/1-ne/15?lang=eng

The Vision Culminates - First Book of Nephi, Chapter Fourteen (1 Nephi 14)

This is the fourth and final chapter containing Nephi’s great vision, which he received via an angel after asking the Lord if he could see and hear and know of things that had been revealed to his father Lehi.

• The first chapter (1 Nephi 11) helped us understand how the tree of life is a symbol of the love of our Savior.

• The second chapter (1 Nephi 12) tells in miniature the story of the Book of Mormon, with specific emphasis on the moral choices made by the members of Lehi’s family through the generations. Tragically, we learn that, eventually (over the period of 1,000 years) those who choose wickedness will far outnumber those who are righteous, and ultimately overpower them.

• The third chapter (1 Nephi 13) reveals the plan God has to bring light into a darkened world. After the apostasy (or general falling away from the truth) has taken place in both the Old and New Worlds, the Lord uses the records of past prophets in both the Bible and Book of Mormon to bring to pass the miracle of reestablishing the truth about our relationship with Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ. America becomes a central part of this “restoration” as a haven for freedom of conscience.

• The fourth chapter (this one) ties everything together. It tells us that ultimately, “a great and marvelous work” (verse 7) will give all people the opportunity to decide whether we are with or against the Lord. I think it’s important for us to know at some level it will be a simple, binary choice so that we don’t deceive ourselves into thinking we can have it both ways. True happiness comes from following the Lord, and although it may seem intimidating to some degree (following the commandments of God can feel challenging at times) there are two very comforting things to remember:

1.       We are in charge of what we choose. There are a lot of things that we can’t control, or at least not fully. Events that affect us and take place around us, the choices and ultimate fate of other people. But we are the captains of what we think, say, do, and ultimately, become in our personal qualities and attitudes.

2.       There’s a way to change teams. Even though we might find ourselves right now on one of two sides (Church of Jesus Christ or church of the devil), the greatest gift we have available to us in our mortal lives is that once we realize how important our choice of team is, the opportunity is open for us to leave the wrong side (and losing side, I might add) behind and join the right (and winning) side. There’s no penalty for “jumping on the bandwagon” in the fourth quarter, down by 50 points, if we truly commit to Christ’s team (though intentionally delaying this commitment will increase its difficulty for us). Much of it has to do with having the courage to see the world as it is, and examining ourselves and our most important desires with honesty and clarity. Christ’s grace (through his atoning sacrifice) is always sufficient, opening up the miracle of repentance and forgiveness to us. The “covenant people of the Lord” are known as the “house of Israel,” but it is our choices, not our blood lineage, which determine this identity, or this relationship we can have with God.

Two additional key points. First, note the absolute futility of those in the “great and abominable” church. They dig a pit to ensnare others, because they don’t want to be alone in their unhappiness and misery. All it gets them is deeper and deeper into their own pit. Second, there will be great, climactic conflict in the world as the time draws near for the “end of the world,” but at the same time we are reassured that the “covenant people of the Lord” will be in place throughout the earth as a light to others in a darkening world (verse 12), even if their numbers may be relatively small.

What is the “end of the world”? Well, we have heard about it before from Jesus himself (in Matthew’s Gospel) in the parable of the wheat and the tares. In the parable, the end of the world does not appear to be the literal destruction of the earth. Instead, it represents the time of harvest where “angels shall come forth, and sever the wicked from among the just” (Matt. 13:49).

This brings to mind the Book of Revelation. In this chapter, Nephi tells us that in his vision, the angel shows Nephi the apostle John (Revelation’s author) and the same things John would see in his vision more than 600 years later. But Nephi is commanded to leave to John the task of recording these specifics. We learn also that the Lord has shown similar visions to others as well, and that their writings will come forth at some future date to reinforce what we know from Nephi and John.

You can read the chapter at this link: https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/scriptures/bofm/1-ne/14?lang=eng

The Vast Vision Comes to America - First Book of Nephi, Chapter Thirteen (1 Nephi 13)

Nephi’s expansive vision does not end with the events documented in the Book of Mormon. After he learns of the tragic fate of his descendants (killed or made to depart from their true beliefs by the “Lamanites”—the descendants of his brothers) in the previous chapter, the vision becomes even grander. Nephi still has the angel with him to help explain the meaning of what he sees.

Before launching into a description of what follows, I think it’s important to take a moment to say that Nephi is not being shown this vision just to satisfy idle curiosity. There are specific purposes for what he sees. I don’t claim to know all of these purposes, but I perceive two key purposes that jump out at me and I’d like to share:

1. Importance of the Record (Book of Mormon). Making clear to Nephi that the writings that he and his descendants will leave behind will contain plain and precious teachings about Jesus Christ and His plan of salvation that will come forth to the Gentiles (European settlers in America and their descendants) at a critical moment in history when the Gentiles, along with the “remnant” of Nephi’s “seed” and the Lamanites (who make up at least some of the Native Americans) desperately need access to a greater degree of truth and spiritual guidance. As Nephi learns how directly the fate of civilizations depend on him, it must be a powerful motivator to keep him on the right path and concentrate his mind on the important tasks at hand.
2. A Second Witness to His Family. Many times in the scriptures the Lord speaks of the importance of having at least two or three witnesses to establish the truth (for example, Deut. 19:15 and 2 Cor. 13:1). Lehi has functioned as the family leader to this point, and based on what he has seen, has tried to communicate the importance of life decisions to the family, especially Laman and Lemuel. We get even more detail from Nephi’s vision than from Lehi’s previous ones. Even though prophecy indicates that Laman and Lemuel will fall away, and lead their descendants into spiritual blindness, it is important for Lehi and Nephi to present them with a clear choice between good and evil so that the choices they make are with full knowledge of the consequences. Perhaps just as important is for Lehi to recognize that he does not shoulder the burden alone—that Nephi is backing him up. And of course, Nephi then continues to grow into the role of becoming the family leader as Lehi's youth and strength fade.

As for the actual events the angel guides Nephi through in the vision, let’s hit some of the highlights:

• They see the many nations and kingdoms of the Gentiles after the initial spread of Christ’s church in the area of the Roman Empire.

• At the same time, a “great and abominable” church is established. To my understanding, this does not specifically refer to any one earthly organization, but represents anything that pulls people away from the precious truths Jesus taught. Something of great significance this abominable church does is to take away these precious truths from the Biblical records of the Jewish prophets and early Christian apostles. We don’t necessarily know exactly how this happened (mistranslation, intentional changing of manuscripts, etc.). The important thing to note is that the Bible is left in such a state that it becomes necessary for the Book of Mormon to come forth so that the Bible and uncorrupted Book of Mormon can reinforce and clarify the truth that each holds.

• The story of the discovery of America through Columbus and the American Revolution is unfolded before Nephi’s eyes (remember, this is around 600 B.C., about 2,100 years before Columbus). It also enriches our appreciation of these events and those who took part in them not as accidents of history, but as inspired parts of a loving God’s plan to establish a haven of freedom on Earth.

• It took the climate of religious freedom that America afforded for Joseph Smith to translate this record (including this very chapter) and for the message of the Book of Mormon to go forward. In the discussion above, key purpose #1 gets into the “why” of this point. Nephi refers to the Book of Mormon in verse 39 when he speaks of “other books” coming forth from the Gentiles to the Lamanites. Because of the use of the plural “books,” one wonders if there might be records in addition to the Book of Mormon that might be found someday to reinforce the truths it and the Bible present.
  
  
• Finally, Nephi learns of a great truth that Jesus himself will later share (in Luke 13:30) about how God works through different groups of his children to give everyone an opportunity to know of his truth and its saving power. The last (the Gentiles) shall be first, and the first (the Jews) shall be last. It doesn’t mean that either is naturally superior or inferior to the other, but that each will have its turn at coming up with profound messages from God that are valuable to the other. And, maybe most importantly, the relationship between the two groups is necessary for the ultimate salvation of both. Bottom line: We are all God’s children, and we need one another.

There's a lot going on here! Please let me know if you have any questions.

You can read the chapter here: https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/scriptures/bofm/1-ne/13?lang=eng

The Vision Gets Personal - First Book of Nephi, Chapter Twelve (1 Nephi 12)

To this point, Nephi’s vision of the tree of life and the coming of Jesus Christ has included elements that have a pretty general applicability to all people—the basic symbolism of the tree, the rod of iron, the large and spacious building, and the story of Jesus’ birth and sacrificial death.

Now it gets much more sensitive for Nephi, because he sees how the story of his family will play out, with great tragedy on display. Lehi’s earlier account foreshadows what Nephi sees, because of Laman’s and Lemuel’s unwillingness to join the rest of the family in coming to the tree of life and partaking of its fruit.

SPOILER ALERT: What Nephi sees in the rest of this chapter is a Cliffs Notes version of what is to come in the Book of Mormon.

Nephi is shown the land of promise—the very place he and his family hope to get to in their present circumstances. And yet, instead of an encouraging scene, as Nephi beholds the multitude of people, what does he see? Multitudes arrayed against each other in battle. Natural disasters and darkness plaguing the land—clear signs that over generations, much of Lehi’s family would not live up to the standards the Lord expects of those for whom he makes special provision.

There is a silver lining. After the vapor of darkness Nephi initially sees subsides, there are a number of people who have survived the “great and terrible judgments of the Lord.” More importantly, he sees the resurrected Jesus appear among these survivors and designate twelve men as spiritual leaders, leading to more than three generations of righteousness among Nephi’s family in the promised land.

Unfortunately, it doesn’t end there. Similar to the vision from the previous chapter that occurs in parallel with imagery from the tree of life and its surroundings, Nephi communicates the ominous fate of his people in tandem with things of particular importance from that baseline vision.

As Nephi’s descendants contend with the descendants of Laman and Lemuel, he communicates his understanding of many of the dangerous and undesirable elements around the tree of life—a fountain of filthy water representing the depths of hell, mists of darkness representing devilish temptations, and the large and spacious building as the embodiment of “vain imaginations and pride.”

The great tragedy Nephi discerns is how those in the building are divided from those who have successfully made their way to the tree by a “great and terrible gulf.” The most tragic part of this circumstance is that the people in the building (clearly being equated to the warring multitudes among his family in future generations) have brought about their own miserable fate through the choices they have made. 

There is no way simply to jump over a narrow crevice from the large and spacious building to the tree. It seems as though the only possible chance of salvation is the hard road back to where the pathway begins (i.e. through repentance), and doing the work necessary to grab hold of God’s word and make one’s way to the tree.

It doesn’t seem as though many among this later generation are willing to do what it takes to get themselves right with the Lord. Instead, we find that Laman’s and Lemuel’s descendants overcome Nephi’s in armed struggle, and spread themselves throughout the land of promise, dwindling in unbelief and becoming a dark and “loathsome” people, full of idleness and abomination. Thus, the chapter ends on a pretty grim note, with we as readers saying to ourselves, “Gee, I really hope there’s a ray of light on the way.”

Since we know that Jesus heralds the great gospel of redemption and second chances, thankfully there is some better news to come. This larger vision of the future will also help Nephi feel as though all the challenges he is about to face to bring his family to the promised land will not be in vain. Otherwise, it would seem pretty pointless.

You can read the chapter here: https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/scriptures/bofm/1-ne/12?lang=eng

Nephi Catches the Vision - First Book of Nephi, Chapter Eleven (1 Nephi 11)

As explained in the previous chapter, Nephi responds to Lehi’s account of the vision of the tree of life by going to the Lord in pondering and prayer to find out if he can see the things his father did.

Nephi writes of being “caught away in the Spirit of the Lord,” into an “exceedingly high” mountain, and right away we realize that Nephi’s experience will be somewhat different from his father’s. It starts with a different vantage point. If you remember, Lehi was met by an angel in a field. He saw things from ground level. By contrast, Nephi is going to probably have a much more panoramic view.

Another striking difference is that the Spirit tells Nephi what he is going to see even before he sees it. After an initial conversation verifying Nephi’s faith in Lehi’s words, the Spirit says that after Nephi sees the tree of life, he will see a vision of the Son of God (Jesus) descending out of heaven. Clearly, the Spirit is intimating that the significance of the tree and of Jesus are closely related—something we’ll get greater confirmation of later. It’s also interesting to hear Nephi talk about the Spirit (the Holy Ghost). Nephi says that the Spirit takes the form of a man, and they basically are having a face-to-face conversation. 

What Nephi desires more than anything is to understand the meaning of the vision his father saw and that he is now seeing. But instead of just communicating the meaning of the beautiful white tree through words, the Spirit and an angel (the same one who appeared to Lehi?) show Nephi a parallel vision of the Virgin Mary—first in Nazareth, then being carried away by the Spirit (conceiving Jesus), and finally bearing a child (the infant Christ) in her arms.

It is by means of this parallel vision and an explanation from the angel that Nephi connects the tree with the “love of God,” which is “most desirable above all things.”

The parallel vision continues, as Nephi sees Jesus go among men—teaching them, ministering to them in “power and great glory,” having many fall at His feet in worship. Remember, this is about 600 years before Christ’s life, but Nephi is seeing it happen. He also sees the coming of John the Baptist as the preparer of the way, and beholds the scene of Jesus’ baptism.

All appears to be on display here—the great miracles Jesus performed, the disciples who followed Him, the others who rejected Him. Nephi notes that while Jesus was among the people, angels (presumably unseen to most mortal eyes) were also joining Jesus in his ministry.

Finally, the vision shows the world’s judgment and execution of its own Redeemer, and the outnumbering of Jesus’ apostles by the multitudes arrayed against them.

As this parallel vision comes before Nephi, he recognizes that the rod of iron that leads to the tree of life and the fountain of water nearby symbolizes the “word of God.” So, essentially, he now knows that the vision is telling him that seeking, holding fast to, and following the word of God leads in a straight a line as possible to the love of God.

 

I’ve always thought that the love of God has two angles. First, there’s God’s love for us, which is infinite and perfect. We get to feel this love the more we open ourselves up to it. Second, there’s our love for God, which is a work in progress, and grows stronger and more apparent as we seek to know and to carry out the Lord’s will in our lives. If you are familiar with the first chapter of the Gospel of John, you will recognize that the “word of God” is in fact Jesus Himself. 

So, if it is true that the word of God leads to the love of God, by equating Jesus with the word of God we learn that coming to know Jesus and staying as close to Him as possible helps us both enjoy and actively participate in God’s love. And, ultimately, there is no higher way of experiencing the love of God than becoming more like His Son. He sacrificed everything for us as a perfect manifestation of love, and we are learning to become more like Him by how we love Him and His children (everyone else).

Nephi also learns that the multitudes he sees persecuting Christ’s apostles are the people from the “great and spacious building” of Lehi’s vision. They represent the “pride of the world.” And Nephi’s experience leaves him in no doubt of the fate of those with pride--to paraphrase Proverbs 16:18, “pride goeth before a fall.” The fall of the prideful who reject Christ and His followers is the tragic other side of the coin to the inevitable victory of Christ and His Father’s plan for all who seek the happiness They offer.

You can read the chapter here: https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/scriptures/bofm/1-ne/11?lang=eng 

The Scattering and the Gathering - First Book of Nephi, Chapter Ten (1 Nephi 10)

Nephi picks up from where Lehi left off after relating Lehi’s vision of the tree of life. If the tree of life told an allegorical (symbolic) story about the spiritual consequences of Lehi’s family, among a much larger human family, now we’re about to hear some very specific prophecies of the future. Whether this knowledge had been revealed to Lehi at the time he was warned to leave Jerusalem as the book begins, or it came later as he asked the Lord for greater understanding of the experiences he and his family were having, we don’t know. What Nephi does tell us is that Lehi seems to direct his account with particular emphasis to Laman and Lemuel, apparently in an attempt to highlight the potential impact their choices can have on the destiny of the house of Israel.

Lehi starts by telling them that some time after the Jews’ exile to Babylon, the Jews would return from captivity to once again possess Jerusalem and its vicinity. But, he goes on, the story really is only beginning at that point. For then Lehi relates that the great prophet known as the Messiah will come among the Jews of Jerusalem six hundred years from Lehi’s time. Lehi describes the Messiah as the Savior and Redeemer of all mankind from their sins, points to many other prophets who had foreseen his coming, and also tells of the prophet who would come before Him and baptize Him (John the Baptist).

In essence, Lehi tells his sons, “If you think the exile to Babylon will be bad, you ain’t seen nothin’ yet.” After the leaders of the Jews in Jerusalem reject the Messiah and His gospel for their people, and approve of His death, He will rise again. Only, now, He will make Himself known among the non-Jews (known as the Gentiles) of the world by the power of the Holy Ghost. This signifies a period in history where the whole house of Israel (which includes, but is not limited to, the Jews) will endure the hardship of being scattered throughout the world. Lehi explains that his own family’s journey to their “land of promise” is an early fulfillment of this scattering of Israel.

If this were the end of the story, it would be quite a downer. But Lehi saves the most interesting twist for the end. He tells his sons that scattered Israel will be gathered again, like branches from a tree that are grafted back in, after the Gentiles are given what Lehi calls “the fullness of the Gospel” (which we interpret as the Lord’s Restoration of his Church and authority through Joseph Smith in the early 19th Century).

It strikes me as significant that right after Lehi tells this very personal story of the tree of life, which has great spiritual importance for him and his family, he reinforces the importance of that story by revealing how his family’s destiny will unfold in the greater context of human history. That they will be a part of these two great phenomena—first, a scattering; second, a gathering. In my opinion, he’s trying to give his sons (especially the wavering Laman and Lemuel) reassurance that despite the challenges and difficulties of the transition they are experiencing, it’s all part of a basic plan for their happiness that involves both a spiritual end-goal (the fruit of the tree of life) and a tangible one (the land of promise they seek).

And then we see a familiar pattern emerge. Just as Nephi—unlike Laman and Lemuel—had gone directly to the Lord after Lehi led his family out of Jerusalem and into the wilderness, to gain a confirmation that it was the right thing to do, he goes to the Lord after Lehi shares his prophecies. This time, Nephi wants to know if what his father is saying is correct. As the chapter ends, Nephi tells us that he learned Lehi was right, but we realize that what Nephi received was not a simple confirmation, but a revelation of his own that in some ways is even more profound than Lehi’s. This teaches us a very important principle: that we should never underestimate how much God wants to share with us directly, if we only think to ask Him for guidance.  

You can read the chapter here: https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/scriptures/bofm/1-ne/10?lang=eng.

The Lord's Ways Are Not Our Ways - First Book of Nephi, Chapter 9 (1 Nephi 9)

Most of us have had situations where we agonize over why God would allow something to happen a certain way. Usually the feeling is most acute when something hurtful or traumatic has taken place (a life-changing condition or circumstance, or the loss of a loved one). These are not trivial matters, but go to the heart of questions about existence, about divine justice, and ultimately about love.

We learn in this chapter that not even those whom we see as “closest to God,” such as a prophet like Nephi, knows exactly how God’s plan works. But this chapter is part of a story that played out 2,400 years after Nephi wrote it to give us the benefit of hindsight about the fruits of trusting in God’s plan and His ultimate knowledge. This type of faith is one of the hardest to achieve in life, but it is so worth the effort to acquire bit by bit. The Apostle Paul, in his famous message to the Corinthians about faith, hope and charity, described it by saying, “For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face.” (1 Cor. 13:12). 

In my own life, I often get a strong feeling that I should do something, but find it challenging to follow through on because the outcome seems so uncertain. That glass Paul talked about seems to me to be very dark indeed. But I have learned over time to trust those gut feelings and take the next step, largely because the best things in my life have happened that way, and I wouldn’t have grown otherwise.

OK, now to this 2,400-year story. A little after 600 B.C., Nephi is sharing with us, the reader, that he has been instructed by the Lord to create two different sets of record-keeping plates. We discussed this three chapters ago (1 Nephi 6) as well. One set Nephi calls “these plates” because it is from them that we eventually get this chapter (and the rest of this first part of the Book of Mormon that runs until the section known as The Words of Mormon). “These plates,” also known as the small plates of Nephi, hold those things that are most important for understanding how the Lord directly dealt with Lehi’s family and descendants and established a spiritual ministry involving priests and a church. The “other plates,” also known as the large plates of Nephi, contain much more of a comprehensive history and genealogy of the people.

Why do we have the account from the small plates, not the large ones? Well, that’s the point of the story. Nephi doesn’t fully understand why he found himself writing down a lot of the same things on both sets of plates, but he contents himself with the thought that the Lord knows why, and that’s all that matters.

In the months after Joseph Smith acquired the gold plates from the angel Moroni in 1827, Joseph translated an abridged version of Lehi’s and Nephi’s account from the large plates. The work was time-consuming, and Joseph and his new wife would have had great difficulty devoting their time to it without the financial and moral support of others. One of these helpers, an older and more well-to-do man named Martin Harris, wanted to be able to show his wife the evidence of Joseph’s work so she would have more confidence in her husband’s efforts to help Joseph. The Lord warned Joseph (in answer to Joseph’s prayers) not to share the 116-page translated transcript with Martin, but eventually told Joseph (after Joseph kept asking) that He wouldn’t stop him. It didn’t take long for Joseph to find out the reason for the Lord’s warning. Martin or his wife shared the transcript with other people, and it became lost or was stolen.

Joseph was devastated, and lost the privilege of translating for some months. Eventually the Lord allowed him to resume, but under the condition that—when it came time to cover the events of Lehi’s and Nephi’s lives—he had to switch from the abridged version of the large plates to the small plates (which, through the efforts of Nephi and those who followed him, contained many of the same key events and teachings contained in the account from the large plates). The idea was that if Joseph tried to replicate his translation from the abridged version of the large plates, those who had taken the 116 pages would be able to alter them and thus publicly challenge the authenticity of Joseph’s work. But if Joseph started translating from an entirely new source, that danger was gone.

It’s interesting to think about what went through Joseph’s mind as he translated the words of this chapter from the small plates. Did he recognize that the purpose Nephi had wondered about was being fulfilled in that very moment through his own actions?

You can read the chapter here: https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/scriptures/bofm/1-ne/9?lang=eng.

Lehi's Vision of the Tree - First Book of Nephi, Chapter Eight (1 Nephi 8)

Not long after Lehi’s family was reunited in the wilderness, Lehi calls them together to share something. First, he tells them he had a dream, then he adds that he considers the dream to be a vision. Although the difference might seem subtle to us, I think it’s quite significant. Dreams can come in many kinds—some with great meaning, others perhaps just escapes of the imagination. When Lehi specifies that his dream was a vision, he is providing an important example for us. We need to ponder those experiences of the mind and soul, whether in our conscious or unconscious state, and when we have a conviction that the experience goes beyond a mere flight of fancy, we need to have the faith to be able to say so, and even more importantly, heed the teaching of what the experience tells us through our actions.

In this case, the experience is a very rich one. No wonder Lehi was convinced that it was a vision. There are so many specific details he can remember, and they all seem to fit together in some way. I don’t know about you, but I can count on one hand the number of dreams I can remember in great detail, and none are as vivid and internally consistent as Lehi’s. Most of mine leave strong emotional impressions with maybe one or two images that really stay with me, and are usually fairly disjointed in how they move from one scene to the next.

This is a chapter you need to read yourself to get a full sense of what Lehi is unfolding to his family and, through his son Nephi's inscriptions on the plates translated by Joseph Smith, to us. The symbolism and themes the chapter introduces will stay with us throughout the Book of Mormon, and again center on the theme of family.

In fact, before relating any details from his vision, Lehi first tells his sons what he has learned regarding what lies ahead for them. He is not telling the future as though it is set in stone. Instead, he is trying to motivate them to use his experience for their benefit—hoping to influence the choices they make. You may not be surprised that Lehi expresses hope regarding Nephi and Sam based on what he has seen of them and the generations following them, and he expresses alarm regarding Laman and Lemuel.

Now to the vision. I’ll just briefly sketch it out here. We’ll have an opportunity to discuss the symbolism in future chapters.

·         Lehi finds himself in a “dark and dreary” wilderness

·         A man in a white robe appears to him and leads him onward

·         Lehi prays to the Lord for mercy after traveling in darkness for many hours

·         After his prayer, he sees a large and spacious field, with a tree whose fruit seems very desirable

·         Lehi eats the fruit, describes the happiness he feels from doing so, and immediately looks around in hopes of sharing the fruit with his family.

·         He calls to his wife Sariah and to Nephi and Sam, and they come and eat of the fruit as well

·         He sees Laman and Lemuel at the head of a river in the distance, but they will not come to eat the fruit

·         Where Laman and Lemuel are, Lehi sees a narrow path alongside the river. The path and a rod of iron both lead to the tree.

·         Many people begin on the path, but a mist of darkness arises and some are lost, while others grab hold of the iron rod to guide themselves to the tree

·         Lehi sees a “great and spacious” building suspended in the air on the other side of the river

·         The people in the building point and mock at those who eat of the fruit from the tree, leading some of those who eat to feel ashamed and wander away from the path they had previously traveled

·         Others (including Lehi, Sariah, Nephi and Sam) do not heed the mocking voices from the great and spacious building

What strikes me about the people in the great and spacious building is the hollowness of an existence that seems to be based mainly on tearing down other people, with little reference to building anyone up (including themselves).

Once Lehi finishes his account, he pleads with Laman and Lemuel to hearken to his words and the Lord’s commandments so that they might find happiness and communion with the Lord. There’s this emotional mix of anxiety and hope that Lehi feels for his children, which most fathers and mothers can appreciate through their own experiences in watching their kids make the decisions that will ultimately determine how their lives take shape.

You can read the chapter here: https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/scriptures/bofm/1-ne/8?lang=eng

There's Nothing Like Family - First Book of Nephi, Chapter Seven (1 Nephi 7)

The theme of family permeates everything in these chapters. The whole story is centered around the ups and down of Lehi and his family. The Lord had Lehi send his sons to Jerusalem to get records so that future generations would learn inspired lessons from the past and preserve their language. And now, in this chapter, the Lord tells Lehi that his sons should go back to Jerusalem one more time in order to make sure that they could start families of their own. As we shall see, the return trip will dearly test their family's unity,

The direction from the Lord through Lehi is very specific. His sons are instructed to bring Ishmael and Ishmael's family into the wilderness. Who is Ishmael? We don't know. But there seems to be a decent chance that Ishmael, Lehi, and their families had some prior acquaintance. It only takes two verses (4-5) for Lehi's sons to arrive at Ishmael's house, "gain favor" with him, and share the Lord's words (presumably about the errand they had been sent on, and the grim future for those who don't abandon Jerusalem) in such a way that the Lord softens the hearts of Ishmael and his family, and they join Lehi's sons for the return trip. There's a joke among Latter-day Saints that--unlike the first trip to get the plates--none of the sons murmured when sent to go get wives. There are also questions left unanswered. Why two separate trips? Why the plates first and the wives second? Perhaps it had to do with not complicating the already dangerous nature of the first mission, or with the sons having to prove themselves in procuring the generational heirlooms that the records represent before being blessed with families of their own. In any event, that was what the Lord required.

Then the plot thickens. We already have a sense of the shakiness of Laman and Lemuel. After going back to Jerusalem for the second time, and now having future wives in tow, after they begin journeying in the unforgiving wilderness, I imagine (but can't be sure) that they were tempted by the idea of returning to the comforts of the city and settling down, rather than struggling for their existence in an unpredictable way. The rebellion splits the family of Ishmael, with Ishmael and his wife on the side of Nephi and some of the others who are focused on joining Lehi's camp.

Again, Nephi proves himself unusually wise for a younger brother. He is direct with Laman and Lemuel but does not respond to their confrontational approach in kind. Instead of fighting back, he reminds them of something they already know, a promise of a new, bright future that--even with their rebellion--remains open to them, but only if they have enough good judgment to leave Jerusalem behind once and for all. To us, this seems like an inspired attempt by Nephi to resolve conflict constructively. But as things play out, we see a sad pattern recurring, where even though Nephi only has his brothers' well-being at heart, they (through willfullness, cluelessness, or a little of both) insist he is being an annoying, arrogant brat who doesn't know his place and is intentionally infuriating them with his holier-than-thou lectures.

Probably the biggest lesson for us is found in verses 10-12. Nephi asks three different times how it is that his brothers have forgotten the things the Lord has already shown them. If there's danger in forgetting, it's clear Nephi is communicating to us how crucial it is to remember those things that we receive from God.

And then there's this remarkable sequence. Laman and Lemuel escalate their response to such a degree that they tie Nephi up and are willing to leave him for dead in the desert. This is not just a brotherly scuffle, there are now serious consequences on the line. But Nephi has such great faith that the Lord literally bursts his bands. After initially getting even madder at their inability to get anything over on their little brother, Laman and Lemuel are calmed down by the others in their traveling party, and then realize that they've gotten carried away. And as irrefutable proof of Nephi's selfless charity, he immediately extends his forgiveness when they ask for it. The chapter then appropriately ends with everyone reunited at Lehi's camp displaying gratitude for their blessings and deliverance--with the theme of family again at the very center of things.

You can read the chapter here: https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/scriptures/bofm/1-ne/7?lang=eng.

Emphasizing What Is Most Precious - First Book of Nephi, Chapter Six (1 Nephi 6)

At this point in our narrative, Nephi pauses and explains something to us. Whenever our narrator (Nephi in the first part of the book, and Mormon later) does this, it's clear he wants us to focus on something specific.

In this case, Nephi is drawing a distinction between two types of records. There's the full history, where you get a lot of detail about what happened and there's plenty of space devoted to long recitations of genealogical descent (Lehi was the son of so-and-so, who was the son of...). This is necessary because it preserves a large amount of information for future generations.

The second type of record is more selective, and Nephi tells us that what he is writing is more along the lines of this type of record. He is being very careful to include those things which will "persuade men to come unto the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, and be saved." Whatever from Nephi's history is most instructive in helping us recognize how the Lord operates and how this can benefit us ("things which are pleasing unto God"), Nephi plans to inscribe on his gold plates. The full history, Nephi tells us, has already apparently been recorded by his father Lehi. Lehi passed down the larger plates that he used for this full history through his descendants, and those plates (after being abridged by the prophet Mormon nearly a thousand years later) become the basis for most of the last three-fourths of the book.

There's an interesting thing that I was taught at USC 20 years ago in a college institute class I began taking before I was baptized. When the term "these plates" is used in this first part of the book (all the way to the end of the Book of Omni), that is referring to the more selective record Nephi started, also known as the "small plates." When the term "plates of Nephi" is used, that is referring to the full history Lehi started, also known as the "large plates." This is actually explained three chapters later, but now that we've gotten this out of the way, we can have a different discussion when we come to that chapter (1 Nephi 9).

Further description of the small and large plates is provided in one of the book's introductory sections, the Brief Explanation (https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/scriptures/bofm/explanation?lang=eng):

The Plates of Nephi, which were of two kinds: the small plates and the large plates. The former were more particularly devoted to spiritual matters and the ministry and teachings of the prophets, while the latter were occupied mostly by a secular history of the peoples concerned (1 Nephi 9:2–4). From the time of Mosiah, however, the large plates also included items of major spiritual importance.

So what we find out from Nephi's explanation is that the first part of the Book of Mormon is jampacked with stories and teachings very specially selected for us to consider for our spiritual edification. Knowing this, we can think back to the first chapters about the adventures of Lehi's family with an even greater sense of seriousness. Additionally, we are now prepared to continue the adventures in the coming chapters with a new perspective. We can constantly ask in our minds as we read, "Why did Nephi want us to read this? What is he showing us?" I believe that essentially Nephi is helping us uncover mysteries about the nature of God's plan for our salvation by involving us in the process, inviting us to think more deeply about how the Lord can intervene and provide guidance to real people living in the world, whether to Nephi and his family or to you and me, through the saving and enlightening power of Jesus Christ.

You can read the chapter here: https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/scriptures/bofm/1-ne/6?lang=eng.

Obtaining a Land of Promise...and Family Unity - First Book of Nephi, Chapter Five (1 Nephi 5)

While Nephi and his brothers are away in Jerusalem, we learn a lot about the love and anxiety a mother feels through their mother Sariah. The scene shifts to Sariah and Lehi in the wilderness, presumably after a few weeks have passed with no word from the boys.

Now think of it from Sariah's point of view. Your husband has told you that you need to leave the only place you've known (with all your possessions and family ties and friends) immediately. You leave a comfortable house, spend two weeks wandering, and then end up camping in the desert--indefinitely. Then, your husband sends your sons back to where you came from on a dangerous mission, and your entire future depends on the success of that mission.

It seems as though Sariah has been extremely accommodating and patient throughout this entire process. But one day, it just all seems like a little too much, and she complains to Lehi about these visions of his.

Lehi's response is very interesting. He freely admits that yes, he's had all these visions, and explains in a way to his wife that seems much more tender and compassionate than defensive. What Sariah is concerned has become a burden is clearly seen by Lehi as a great blessing, because he has been powerfully convinced by what he has seen, heard and felt (what he seems to call the "goodness of the Lord") that had they not heeded the warning to leave Jerusalem they'd all be dead or soon be dead.

And what's even more astonishing is what he says in verse 5. Not only does he feel as though leaving Jerusalem was a blessing, he sees his family's current status as strangers in a strange land as something to rejoice in. He says that he has obtained a "land of promise," and insists that he knows that his boys will return. It's an amazing lesson in how everything depends on your perspective. It's instructive that Lehi does not say that he will obtain a land of promise in the future when they reach their final destination (even though that's true as well), but that he has already obtained it. For me, it's a great way to remember to appreciate whatever I have around me when I know that I am watched over by a Heavenly Father who loves me. If He truly does provide us with direction when we ask for it (and I'm convinced He does), then we too can rejoice that we have already obtained a land of promise, come what may, whether it is a real place or a state of mind about embracing what life gives us.  

To Sariah's credit, she hasn't had the direct benefit of these experiences, and so she's doing her best to rely on Lehi's word. It seems as though the great confidence he shows helps comfort her so she is able to endure the wait a little longer until her sons find their way home. Then, as Nephi records their joyful reunion, he also writes that Sariah has gained a certain knowledge that the Lord has warned and protected them. It's a touching way to show how two people who love each other find a way to work things out and grow closer through both adversity and joy. Their closeness as husband and wife will be critical as they face more challenges ahead.

The end of the chapter contains a nice segment where Lehi reads the record that his sons have brought from Jerusalem, traces the heritage of their family from Joseph in Egypt to the present, and prophesies about the important role the record will play in blessing future generations of their family. It shows how valuable it is to document special family experiences.

You can read the chapter here: https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/scriptures/bofm/1-ne/5?lang=eng

The Lord's Way - First Book of Nephi, Chapter Four (1 Nephi 4)

In the two Star Trek movies The Wrath of Khan (1982) and The Search for Spock (1984), the main characters end up pursuing objectives in the different films that seem to be in complete opposition to one another. In the first movie, Mr. Spock sacrifices his life for the rest of his crew after saying, "The needs of the many outweigh the needs of the one. It's logical." In the second, Captain Kirk says, "The needs of the one outweigh the needs of the many," to explain to his crew why they are risking their lives to rescue a reborn Spock.

These moments are reflections of events found in the Bible. With regard to sacrificing one person for the greater good, God the Father sacrificed His own Son (Jesus) for all of humanity, and we see other examples of this, most notably with Abraham when he was willing to sacrifice the very son (Isaac) who had come miraculously in his wife Sarah's old age. (In Isaac's case, the Lord intervened by providing a ram to sacrifice so that his life was ultimately spared). With regard to the need sometimes to turn from a larger group to help save an individual soul, Jesus taught of the shepherd leaving his other 99 sheep in search for the one who was lost.

The lesson from these examples is that the Lord's plan for how we are to act can be different depending on the specific circumstances we face. It can deeply test our faith, because in certain situations, we may learn and feel very clearly what we are supposed to do, while knowing that following that course of action will be very hard to explain to those around us, in particular those we know and love.

This is Nephi's dilemma in a nutshell. When we left him and his brothers, the angel of the Lord had just promised them that the Lord would deliver Laban into their hands. Not knowing what exactly that meant, Nephi nevertheless relies on his faith in God. He scales the city wall and starts walking, claiming to be guided by the Holy Spirit. He is walking in the general direction of Laban's house when he comes upon Laban lying on the street in drunkenness. 

The Spirit then tells Nephi to kill Laban. At first, we recoil along with Nephi at this idea. The Spirit has to speak to Nephi twice more before he is willing to consider shedding Laban's blood. Essentially, the Spirit teaches Nephi's that this is the way for his family to have the records they need to establish their new civilization. To be honest, I'm still not sure I understand why this needed to happen the way it did, other than it teaches us the principle that faith and obedience are difficult in practice because they require us to act in reliance on something beyond our own preconceived notions of what makes sense.

   

It is important to note that our Church's leaders have been very clear that in our day, the Lord will not have us do something--like with Nephi--contrary to what He has already commanded. A previous Church president, Harold B. Lee, said, "When there is to be anything different from that which the Lord has told us already, He will reveal it to His prophet [the president of the Church] and no one else."

But in this very exceptional case, Nephi proves his faith by killing Laban and pretending to be him (using his voice, clothing, and armor) to get the brass plates (the all-important record) from Laban's treasury with the help of one of Laban's servants, who is named Zoram.

Presumably because Nephi realized that he couldn't leave Zoram behind as a witness to put the people of Jerusalem on his family's trail (after the inevitable discovery of Laban's body), Nephi has Zoram follow him out of the city to his brothers. When Zoram hears Nephi call to Laman, Lemuel and Sam in his own voice, he realizes that Nephi is not Laban, and thinks to run back to Jerusalem. 

Nephi is a very strong man, so he restrains Zoram from fleeing and calms him by promising that he and his brothers will not harm Zoram if Zoram is willing to come with them and join their family in the wilderness. I guess we might wonder at what Zoram might be leaving behind, but all we know is that Zoram quickly agreed to Nephi's terms, so it is likely that Zoram did not have much of possessions or prospects to motivate him to stay in Jerusalem, especially after realizing he had unknowingly helped his former master's killer and would probably have to answer for it if he stayed. Many of us in our day, who are used to deception and double crosses, may think it's extremely naive and unrealistic for Nephi and Zoram to trust each other in this situation. However, the long-held traditions of the Middle East put such value on a man's word or oath that it's perfectly natural to accept that once the two had exchanged oaths, they didn't give such matters a second thought. 

So, it didn't exactly go as planned, but ultimately the brothers find themselves heading back toward their family with the plates in hand, and an extra man at their side.

Read the chapter here: https://www.lds.org/scriptures/bofm/1-ne/4?lang=eng

Back to Jerusalem? - First Book of Nephi, Chapter Three (1 Nephi 3)

What do you do when you go on a trip, and then realize you've left something important behind?

Apparently, that question is not new in our day. When Lehi and his family left Jerusalem in a hurry, they did not have a record of their people with them. In this chapter, Lehi and Nephi emphasize that bringing such a record with them is supremely important to ensure that knowledge of the following three things does not fade from generation to generation:

1) Key teachings from the Lord (through prophets) about how to survive in a world full of temptations and distractions (verse 20)
2) Their language (verse 19)
3) Stories of their family history and heritage (verse 3)

Making sure records are kept, and kept properly, becomes another prevailing theme (along with the importance of families) that continues throughout the book.

In days well before paper and printing presses, records like the one alluded to in this chapter were few and far between because of the difficulty and cost involved in producing them. It appears that Lehi himself may not have possessed a copy, which would explain why his family did not have one in their possession when they left Jerusalem. But the Lord thought the record important enough to command Lehi to send his sons back to Jersualem to get it (engraved on a set of brass plates) from a man named Laban (lay-bin) who probably had some association with them.

Why didn't the Lord tell Lehi to get the record on his way out of Jerusalem? That's anyone's guess. My sense is that He had a specific purpose in reserving this particular experience for Lehi's sons, and testing their character, as we find out in this and following chapters.

Laman and Lemuel were clearly not pleased at having to go all the way back (as mentioned in the previous chapter, it's about a 15-day journey between Jerusalem and their campsite), facing the uncertain prospect of how exactly to get the record from Laban, and then traveling another several days to return to their family. When put that way, it seems like we should probably be able to at least understand where their frustration was coming from.

Nephi's response was starkly different from that of his brothers. In fact, it stands as one of the most memorable scriptures in the Book of Mormon:

"I will go and do the things which the Lord hath commanded, for I know that the Lord giveth no commandments unto the children of men, save he shall prepare a way for them that they may accomplish the thing which he commandeth them."

Why was Nephi so willing to accept his dad's word about this new commandment? It seems that the effort Nephi put (during the last chapter) into confirming his father's earlier claims (about leaving Jerusalem) by approaching the Lord directly has convinced Nephi that his father is tapped into the right source.

But let's not give Laman and Lemuel too hard a time, at least not yet, because we learn that they are ultimately willing to give the expedition a try. And so Nephi unfolds to us the account of the four brothers making their way back to Jerusalem.

The brothers have a task, but really have no idea about how they plan to get the record from Laban. Laban is a prominent person, and pretty intimidating in manner, kind of like a rich guy from more modern times who knows how to succeed in a tough world, complete with his own security detail (or paid thugs). So the brothers do what anyone in over their heads might do. They flipped a coin. Or the equivalent of this--called in those days "casting lots," or a game of chance.

Apparently, the lots indicate that Laman (the oldest son) is "it," and, Laman just walks straight to Laban's house and asks for the record. The story says that Laban became angry and got Laman to leave quickly by threatening his life. Whether Laban was angry at Laman's impertinence ("that punk kid") or knew that he could get rid of him by making this threat, the effect was the same. Now Laman and Lemuel (and perhaps even Sam) want nothing more to do with this assignment, which apparently is not going to be easy.

But Nephi's steely determination takes over. As his quote from above indicates, he had committed to both his father and to God that he would carry out the task, and he tells his brothers that they're not going back to their family without the record.

The brothers have learned their lesson that leaving things to chance is a bad idea. Now Nephi has a plan. All the gold, silver and wealth his family left in their hasty flight out of Jerusalem is still at their old house. Why not take all this stuff and offer it to Laban in exchange for the plates?

Nephi is right about the wealth attracting Laban's interest, but seems not to have accounted for Laban's dishonesty and superior strength of force. When Laban sends his servants after the brothers to kill them, they're forced to abandon their wealth to Laban, and barely escape the city with their lives, finding refuge in a nearby rock cavity.

This appears to be the absolute last straw for Laman and Lemuel. They've listened to their gullible brother long enough. Not only are their lives in peril because of his simple faith, but now, with their wealth gone, they probably realize that any hope they nurtured of convincing their dad to return them to the comforts of Jerusalem had vanished. And, according to them, it's all Nephi's fault.

So, true to their character, they lose their temper and start cursing and hitting Nephi and Sam.

And then, at the precise moment where everything seems to be falling apart for Nephi, God steps in. An angel, or messenger of the Lord, intervenes, and tells the brothers two things. First, the angel rebukes Laman and Lemuel for turning against Nephi, and tells them what the Lord already had told Nephi in the previous chapter--that their younger brother would become a ruler over them because of their "iniquities."

And second, the angel tells them to go back to Jerusalem, where they have every reason to believe that people are on the lookout to kill them. But the angel promises that the Lord will deliver Laban into their hands.

After the angel communicates his messages, he departs, and then the chapter ends on a telling note. Instead of trusting in the power of an angel who miraculously appears right in front of them and promises heavenly help, Laman and Lemuel keep focusing on their own inability to stand against Laban's thugs. Seconds after being given a reason to suspend disbelief and count on a power beyond their own, they fall back into the same pattern of doubt and distrust.

But Nephi is slowly mounting the learning curve. From casting lots, to making his own plan, Nephi has done the best he could with what he had until the Lord steps in and just tells him to trust that everything will be OK. And sometimes that's the hardest part...(TO BE CONTINUED in chapter 4)

Read the chapter here: https://www.lds.org/scriptures/bofm/1-ne/3?lang=eng