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.
Sunday, October 25, 2015
Monday, October 19, 2015
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.
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.
Monday, October 12, 2015
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
Sunday, October 4, 2015
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
Monday, September 28, 2015
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/
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/
Wednesday, September 23, 2015
Escaping Jerusalem - First Book of Nephi, Chapter Two (1 Nephi 2)
As we left our protagonist (Lehi, a prophet among the Jews) in the last chapter, he had received a vision which lent additional conviction to his calls for repentance among the people of Jerusalem in 600 BC.
Now, as we come into Chapter 2, we find the Lord speaking to Lehi in a dream. First, he provides words of comfort and reassurance that Lehi has been doing exactly as he should, even though he’s not getting a lot of love and smiles from the people of the city. In fact, in this dream, the Lord commands Lehi to take his family and leave Jerusalem.
Very matter of factly, the narrative tells us that Lehi did as he was told, and the story moves on to tell us about Lehi abandoning his home and possessions. He and his family depart with necessary supplies and provisions, and the story follows them into the wilderness and a completely new life.
Before we follow the narrative any further, though, it’s important to recognize the significance of what just took place. This faith of this man must have been enormous for him to simply pick up and leave. It appears he had accumulated some wealth, and he is willing to leave that behind without hesitation. Not only that, but all the comforts of the identity and status he and his family had spent their lives cultivating.
What’s even more astounding about Lehi’s faith is that after what appears to be a fairly arduous trek in one of the hotter areas on earth (probably about two weeks – scholars tell us about 12 days to get to the Red Sea from Jerusalem, and then verse 6 tells us 3 more days after that), the first thing Lehi does after arriving at their temporary home in a river valley is to build an altar to offer sacrifices in gratitude to the Lord.
(See the possible route Lehi and his family took here: https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/bc/content/shared/content/images/gospel-library/manual/32506/32506_000_057_04-possibleroute.pdf)
So he’s not only obeying. He’s joyfully and thankfully obeying despite great personal sacrifice. Of course, because of Lehi’s faith, he has a good reason to be thankful. What his sons Laman (lay-man) and Lemuel (lem-yoo-uhl) think is a terrible burden of leaving all that they had, Lehi knows is actually a huge blessing of being able to escape an impending catastrophe.
Which leads us to the very important distinction that we are introduced to in this chapter. Between those who “murmur” (Laman and Lemuel, in this case), and those who give Lehi the benefit of the doubt and decide to go directly to the Lord to find out for themselves. This is where Nephi (our narrator), is introduced as a character in the story. He is the youngest of four sons, but because of his desires to know more of God, we see that he is being prepared to become the family leader. This echoes some of the Old Testament accounts we have of younger brothers like Jacob and Joseph who were given greater responsibilities than their older brothers.
In fact, the tension between those who seek to keep the Lord’s commandments (Nephi and his brother Sam) and those who murmur (Laman and Lemuel) is one of the key threads that winds throughout the Book of Mormon and the account of the civilizations that will spring from this one family. The Lord is very clear up front that those who keep the commandments will prosper, and those who don’t won’t. “Prosperity” here is more about ultimate happiness through personal contentment and family togetherness than it is about material wealth.
Here's the link to the chapter: https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/scriptures/bofm/1-ne/2?lang=eng
Now, as we come into Chapter 2, we find the Lord speaking to Lehi in a dream. First, he provides words of comfort and reassurance that Lehi has been doing exactly as he should, even though he’s not getting a lot of love and smiles from the people of the city. In fact, in this dream, the Lord commands Lehi to take his family and leave Jerusalem.
Very matter of factly, the narrative tells us that Lehi did as he was told, and the story moves on to tell us about Lehi abandoning his home and possessions. He and his family depart with necessary supplies and provisions, and the story follows them into the wilderness and a completely new life.
Before we follow the narrative any further, though, it’s important to recognize the significance of what just took place. This faith of this man must have been enormous for him to simply pick up and leave. It appears he had accumulated some wealth, and he is willing to leave that behind without hesitation. Not only that, but all the comforts of the identity and status he and his family had spent their lives cultivating.
What’s even more astounding about Lehi’s faith is that after what appears to be a fairly arduous trek in one of the hotter areas on earth (probably about two weeks – scholars tell us about 12 days to get to the Red Sea from Jerusalem, and then verse 6 tells us 3 more days after that), the first thing Lehi does after arriving at their temporary home in a river valley is to build an altar to offer sacrifices in gratitude to the Lord.
(See the possible route Lehi and his family took here: https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/bc/content/shared/content/images/gospel-library/manual/32506/32506_000_057_04-possibleroute.pdf)
So he’s not only obeying. He’s joyfully and thankfully obeying despite great personal sacrifice. Of course, because of Lehi’s faith, he has a good reason to be thankful. What his sons Laman (lay-man) and Lemuel (lem-yoo-uhl) think is a terrible burden of leaving all that they had, Lehi knows is actually a huge blessing of being able to escape an impending catastrophe.
Which leads us to the very important distinction that we are introduced to in this chapter. Between those who “murmur” (Laman and Lemuel, in this case), and those who give Lehi the benefit of the doubt and decide to go directly to the Lord to find out for themselves. This is where Nephi (our narrator), is introduced as a character in the story. He is the youngest of four sons, but because of his desires to know more of God, we see that he is being prepared to become the family leader. This echoes some of the Old Testament accounts we have of younger brothers like Jacob and Joseph who were given greater responsibilities than their older brothers.
In fact, the tension between those who seek to keep the Lord’s commandments (Nephi and his brother Sam) and those who murmur (Laman and Lemuel) is one of the key threads that winds throughout the Book of Mormon and the account of the civilizations that will spring from this one family. The Lord is very clear up front that those who keep the commandments will prosper, and those who don’t won’t. “Prosperity” here is more about ultimate happiness through personal contentment and family togetherness than it is about material wealth.
Here's the link to the chapter: https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/scriptures/bofm/1-ne/2?lang=eng
Also see this video clip (starting from 7:28):
Epic Quest Begins - First Book of Nephi, Chapter One (1 Nephi 1)
The beginning of the Book of Mormon contains a story that is not unlike much of the "epic quest" literature and film that remains very popular with most cultures (i.e., Lord of the Rings, Star Wars, Harry Potter). A hero and those close to him find themselves in mortal danger and need to move quickly and over vast distances to save themselves and their civilization. Only in this case, the story is not fiction.
As our first chapter begins, we are introduced to our hero. His name is Lehi (pronounced lee-high), and he is one of the prophets who lived and taught in Jerusalem among the Jews just before the armies of Babylon raided the city and took most of those in the Kingdom of Judah captive (right around 600 BC or BCE). In fact, Lehi is a contemporary of the Old Testament prophet Jeremiah, and when the story opens, we find Lehi testifying to the people of Jerusalem that they needed to repent and turn back to the Lord or risk destruction (the classic prophetic "voice of warning"). After praying especially hard for his people to open their hearts, he receives a vision. In the vision, he apparently sees Jesus Christ and his 12 apostles descending in glory, and they provide him direct revelation about many things.
After his vision, it seems that Lehi now preaches repentance to the people with a much greater sense of certitude about what's at stake. If he doubted before, there is no equivocation anymore. He now shares some very specific things with his people about the dangers that await them, and is mocked for it. One of the key components of his teaching is that the Messiah will come to redeem the world.
As the chapter ends, the people appear to have some ominous things in mind for Lehi. But we are reassured that the "tender mercies" of the Lord are over those who follow him, even unto their deliverance.
This brings me to an important point. Our narrator is not Lehi himself, but his son Nephi (neef-eye). Nephi is telling the story from memory several years later. In hearing Lehi's story through Nephi, we sense that this father and son share a special bond, and anticipate learning more about how the quest Lehi will later start will involve Nephi.
The first line of the chapter reads, "I, Nephi, having been born of goodly parents..." and then begins the narrative. This teaches us how important our families are to our identities and our backgrounds. Right from the start, we learn that family will be a central theme of the Book of Mormon, and throughout the book we will trace how important (though not completely determinative) family interactions and traditions--especially how we record and share our family's stories of heritage--are to the fate of communities and civilizations.
The most important takeaways from this chapter, in my opinion, are the admirable qualities Lehi shows in humbling himself before the Lord and seeking knowledge from Him. Lehi is equally determined to help his people if there is any chance he can, and to find out key eternal truths and principles important to every person's understanding of their relationship to God and the world. Right from the very beginning, we are shown that this book testifies of Jesus Christ and the salvation offered through Him.
You can read the chapter here: https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/scriptures/bofm/1-ne/1?lang=eng
As our first chapter begins, we are introduced to our hero. His name is Lehi (pronounced lee-high), and he is one of the prophets who lived and taught in Jerusalem among the Jews just before the armies of Babylon raided the city and took most of those in the Kingdom of Judah captive (right around 600 BC or BCE). In fact, Lehi is a contemporary of the Old Testament prophet Jeremiah, and when the story opens, we find Lehi testifying to the people of Jerusalem that they needed to repent and turn back to the Lord or risk destruction (the classic prophetic "voice of warning"). After praying especially hard for his people to open their hearts, he receives a vision. In the vision, he apparently sees Jesus Christ and his 12 apostles descending in glory, and they provide him direct revelation about many things.
After his vision, it seems that Lehi now preaches repentance to the people with a much greater sense of certitude about what's at stake. If he doubted before, there is no equivocation anymore. He now shares some very specific things with his people about the dangers that await them, and is mocked for it. One of the key components of his teaching is that the Messiah will come to redeem the world.
As the chapter ends, the people appear to have some ominous things in mind for Lehi. But we are reassured that the "tender mercies" of the Lord are over those who follow him, even unto their deliverance.
This brings me to an important point. Our narrator is not Lehi himself, but his son Nephi (neef-eye). Nephi is telling the story from memory several years later. In hearing Lehi's story through Nephi, we sense that this father and son share a special bond, and anticipate learning more about how the quest Lehi will later start will involve Nephi.
The first line of the chapter reads, "I, Nephi, having been born of goodly parents..." and then begins the narrative. This teaches us how important our families are to our identities and our backgrounds. Right from the start, we learn that family will be a central theme of the Book of Mormon, and throughout the book we will trace how important (though not completely determinative) family interactions and traditions--especially how we record and share our family's stories of heritage--are to the fate of communities and civilizations.
The most important takeaways from this chapter, in my opinion, are the admirable qualities Lehi shows in humbling himself before the Lord and seeking knowledge from Him. Lehi is equally determined to help his people if there is any chance he can, and to find out key eternal truths and principles important to every person's understanding of their relationship to God and the world. Right from the very beginning, we are shown that this book testifies of Jesus Christ and the salvation offered through Him.
You can read the chapter here: https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/scriptures/bofm/1-ne/1?lang=eng
Also see the first 7:27 of this video clip:
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