1 Nephi 2:1-5

Once again we learn that Lehi has another dream where the Lord speaks to him. In this dream the Lord blesses Lehi for being obedient to the things the Lord asked him to do. Doing what the Lord asked him to do made him very unpopular and hated amongst the people of Jerusalem… to the point that they wanted to kill him. I ask again, how would we respond as members of the church today by someone other than THE prophet coming to us and telling us to repent; especially if it was based on his claiming revelation? If the Book of Mormon is written for our day, and I believe it is, why did the Lord include this? Will it happen again in our day?

Lehi is commanded in a dream to take his family into the wilderness. How do we respond when we receive dreams? What if Lehi had simply said “Sariah, I had the weirdest dream last night. I dreamed that I was supposed to leave all of our stuff and go into the wilderness. How weird is that?” I think it is significant that this story differs from the one found in the New Testament known as the Rich Young Man. In that story, the young man comes to the Savior and asks what he must do to inherit eternal life, where the Savior tells him to keep the commandments. The boy boasts that he has done that all his life. The savior then says “sell all you have, and give it to the poor and come follow me.” The boy went away sorrowfully because he was at that time unwilling to do that. (see Matthew 19;16-22).

Lehi isn’t asked to “sell all he has” but leave it all behind. This becomes evident when Nephi and his brothers go back to get their possessions for a trade of the Brass Plates. How would each of us respond to a dream to leave all we have and depart… especially when the directive didn’t come from church leadership or the living prophet? Would we have enough faith to do it? Do we have enough faith in our own ability to get revelation for us and our families?

Lehi was obedient to the Lord. He was indeed willing to sacrifice all that he had to be obedient.

And he left his house, and the land of his inheritance, and his gold, and his silver, and his precious things, and took nothing with him, save it were his family, and provisions, and tents, and departed into the wilderness. 1 Nephi 2:4

Verse 5 tells us that he took with him his family which consisted of “my mother Sariah, and my elder brothers Laman, Lemuel, and Sam.  Later, in 2 Nephi 5:6, as Nephi and those that will follow him separate themselves from the Lamanites, we read about Nephi’s sisters.

6 Wherefore, it came to pass that I, Nephi, did take my family, and also Zoram and his family, and Sam, mine elder brother and his family, and Jacob and Joseph, my younger brethren, and also my sisters, and all those who would go with me.       

It makes me wonder how old Lehi and Sariah were when they left Jerusalem? We know they had at least four children in the wilderness since we know of two additional sons, Jacob and Joseph and since “sisters” is plural. How old were Laman, Lemuel, Sam and Nephi? Interesting points to ponder.

1 Nephi 6 and 7

1 Nephi 6

Vs 4
“For the fulness of mine intent is that I may persuade men to come unto the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, and be saved.”

I am impressed that Nephi is always a missionary. His mission is always to bring others to Christ. This attribute is one of the primary reasons I admire Nephi and want to be like him; he is always trying to do the right thing.

1 Nephi 7

Vs 1
The Lord speaks to Lehi again. Is this face to face, in a dream, vision, or the still small voice? Once again the revelation comes to the presiding authority- Lehi. Although Nephi had received many revelations, this one didn’t come to him.

This verse is a great example of when we are obedient to one commandment… we will receive more.

Vs 2
Lehi once again sends his sons to fulfill a mission. How is this similar to the creation of the world where the Father commanded the Son(s) to go and fulfill a task?

Vs 4
Can you imagine this conversation between Lehi’s sons and the family of Ishmael? What could you say to persuade an entire family to leave all they have and follow a “dreamer?”

Vs 5-6
I’ve never understood why Laman and Lemuel just didn’t stay behind. If they didn’t want to go, why did they; especially when they now had a larger group to fuel their rebellion?

Vs. 12
“Yea, and how is it that ye have forgotten that the Lord is able to do all things according to his will, for the children of men, if it so be that they exercise faith in him? Wherefore, let us be faithful to him.”

This is a very powerful verse that we would be wise to follow.

Vs 13
If we are faithful, we too will obtain a land of promise! I know this is true, blessings come to those who are faithful. I have experienced this in my own life. Although I continue to make many mistakes, I am truly trying to be faithful. I feel once again like the “tree by the river” as spoken of in Jeremiah 17:7-8.
“7 Blessed is the man that trusteth in the LORD, and whose hope the LORD is.
8 For he shall be as a tree planted by the waters, and that spreadeth out her roots by the river, and shall not see when heat cometh, but her leaf shall be green; and shall not be careful in the year of drought, neither shall cease from yielding fruit.”

Vs. 17-18
I always have found it interesting that Nephi prays for the strength to burst the bands, however, the Lord sees fit to simply loosen them. Would giving Nephi the strength have boosted his pride and encouraged him to rely on his own strength? Loosing the bands made Nephi remember it was the Lord’s doing.

How can I apply this to my own life? How often do I ask the Lord for something that is righteous… but will make me “look good” rather than making people turn to Christ?

Vs. 19
Was the daughter that settled down those who were angry with Nephi the one he ultimately married? The fact that her mother also was part of the peace making points to the faithfulness of the mother. She was in support of going into the wilderness to be with Lehi.

Vs 21
I have always been impressed that Nephi “did frankly forgive them and all they had done.” He was willing to forget it and move on. This is a great example of forgiveness.

Vs 22
Once again they offer sacrifice as thanks to the Lord. How do we offer sacrifice in thanks? The Lord asks us to sacrifice our will to His!

1 Nephi 3

1 Nephi 3

I had a wonderful morning in the Salt Lake Temple this morning. A wonderful spirit was present and it was the perfect way to start a new day. I encourage all to attend as much as possible.

Because I was in the temple this morning, I am late in getting today’s thoughts posted. I welcome your comments.

Vs.1
Nephi returns from speaking with the Lord! Was this simply a prayer or was it a vision? Perhaps he simply heard His voice. Is this experience separate from the previous experience?

Vs 2
Lehi has another dream. He is commanded to have his sons return to Jerusalem. Why wasn’t Lehi commanded to go himself? Was his life in danger because of his previous preaching or was this some kind of lesson for his sons?

Vs. 3
I have heard several times in my life that Lehi and Laban were cousins. Is this something revealed by Joseph Smith or are we simply assuming this because Laban has the record of Lehi’s forefathers?

Vs. 5
This verse implies that Lehi has already spoken to Laman and Lemuel prior to speaking to Nephi. Lehi tells Nephi that they have already complained that it is too hard.

Vs. 7
This is one of the most beloved and quoted scriptures in the entire Book of Mormon. What a manifestation of Nephi’s faith! I have a cross reference of this scripture with Moroni 7:33 which reads; “33 And Christ hath said: If ye will have faith in me ye shall have power to do whatsoever thing is expedient in me. I hope to be able to develop this type of faith!

Vs. 8
I have experienced this type of joy that comes from my children exercising faith!

Vs. 10
I wonder what the population of Jerusalem was at this time? The current “old city” is about 1 square mile, however, the Bible maps found in our scriptures show the city at the time of Christ much smaller. This was even 600 years prior to Christ’s coming. Was it smaller or larger?

On a side note, some of the walls of the city that would have existed during this time have been excavated in Jerusalem. They are really remarkable to see.

Vs. 11
Why did they cast lots? Why didn’t they all go?

Vs. 14-16
They all became exceedingly sorrowful when their first attempt failed. Laman and Lemuel wanted to give up but Nephi was committed to keeping the commandments… and he considered getting the plates one of them.

Interestingly they go to plan B of their own. They didn’t seem to turn to the Lord to ask Him how to get the plates.

Vs. 19-20
Nephi seemed to really understand the importance of getting the plates. He outlines the consequences of not getting them. Did he receive this by revelation or was it told to him by his father as they were planning the trip?

Vs. 21
Nephi uses his testimony to try to persuade his brothers to keep the commandments.

Vs. 29
As Laman and Lemuel are beating their younger brothers, perhaps for having such “stupid” ideas as giving up all their gold and silver, an angel appears. Why did this not simply floor Laman and Lemuel?

Vs. 31
When the angel leaves, Laman and Lemuel go right back to murmuring. This is difficult for me to comprehend.

I wonder how many days this entire experience took? For most of my life I imagined it all happening in one night but I am now beginning to think that it was over a period of several days. It doesn’t say how long they were in the “cavity of a rock”.