Well, because I am so far into the semester, and I need to get this blog up to speed with where I currently am reading, I am going to give a more brief look at the chapters that I have read so far, and mention far fewer details than I will once I am doing this every week. To really understand what is going on in this chapter, and to see the parts that I am omitting in the interest of time, I suggest that you read this book and the whole Book of Mormon for yourself. I hope to be able to return and add to my thoughts on this section in more detail later. This is a great section of the Book of Mormon, and a lot happens that I unfortunately have to leave out.
THE FIRST BOOK OF NEPHI
Here is a summary of what happens in this book:
· Lehi, a man living with his family in Jerusalem around the time of Jeremiah in the Bible, and shortly before the destruction of Jerusalem by Babylon (circa 600 B.C), has a dream in which the Lord tells him to tell the people to repent or else they will be destroyed. Lehi might have been a community leader, as he was fairly wealthy, and he was concerned for his people. The Lord knew that Lehi would be an obedient instrument in His hands, despite the problems that arise because of this unpopular message
· When the people continue to refuse to listen, the Lord instructs Lehi to take his family – including his wife, Sariah, his sons (from oldest to youngest) Laman, Lemuel, Sam, and Nephi, and his daughters – and leave Jerusalem before it is destroyed. The oldest sons do not believe that Jerusalem will be destroyed, but (for some reason I have yet to discover, maybe they know deep down that it is right) they decide to come with the family anyways. Soon, they start complaining, but Lehi “did speak unto them… with power, being filled with the Spirit… that they durst not utter against him, wherefore, they did as he commanded them.” What a great example this is of the power that the Lord gives to His prophets, but it can also be applied to my life. If I am doing the things that the Lord wants me to do, I can have His Spirit to be with me, and I can be fortified and strengthened by it.
· Nephi, the youngest son, decides to find out for himself if the things that his father has been saying are true. He prays to the Lord, and is shown the same visions that his father saw. He tries to tell his brothers about the truth of their father’s words, but they refuse to listen. As I look at these verses, I wonder where was the disconnect between Laman and Lemuel, and Sam (who believes Nephi) and Nephi? They obviously had the same parents, and would have been raised the same way, but their response to spiritual matters, and matters beyond normal understanding is the polar opposite to Nephi’s. Did they choose bad friends? Are they just lazy? What caused such a dichotomy? In my life, I need to be like Nephi and look to the Lord when I have problems and questions, and not just sit around like Laman and Lemuel.
· In Chapter Three, the Lord commands Lehi to tell his sons that they need to go back to Jerusalem and bring back a record of Lehi’s ancestors that is in the possession of a (local?) Jewish leader named Laban, who is not the best person in the world. Laman and Lemuel whine and complain that the task that their father has given them is too hard, but Nephi recognizes that the commandment is from the Lord, not their father, and is meant to test their obedience. Nephi says, “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 commanded them.” What a response. If I can just apply that lesson in my life, that if I do the things which the Lord commands, no matter how hard they are, he will prepare a way for them to be accomplished, and I will be blessed for following his commandments.
· After a very difficult time (which includes Laban trying to kill all of them; and Laman and Lemuel being stopped by an angel from killing Nephi and Sam), they convince a servant of Laban to join them and bring the plates back to Lehi.
· The sons of Lehi are then commanded to turn around and convince Ishmael, presumably an old friend of Lehi’s, and his family to join then on their journey. Eventually, Ishmael’s daughters marry Lehi’s sons, and vice versa, but not before Laman and Lemuel and some of the sons of Ishmael try to leave Nephi in the wilderness and turn back to Jerusalem. Nephi, through the strength of the Lord, is able to get free of his bonds, and they all return to Lehi.
· Lehi has a vision in which he sees many different things. Later, Nephi asks the Lord to show him the same vision, and Nephi records the interpretations of the various aspects of the dream. Basically, Lehi sees a straight and narrow path leading to a brilliant tree, the tree of life. There is a rod of iron, which people hold to as they travel on the path. A great mist of darkness arises and obscures the path, but those who hold to the rod are secure, and make it to the tree to partake of its sweet fruit. Lehi also sees that the path runs parallel to a great chasm and swift river of water. On the other side of the river is a giant building floating in the air, with many people inside, pointing and laughing at those eating the fruit. Some people eating the fruit are embarrassed by the mocking of those in the building, and they wander away from the tree.
o The straight and narrow path represents the path to eternal life with God
o The Tree of Life represents the Love of God
o The fruit of the Tree represents eternal life, or partaking of the ordinances that will help men live with God forever
o The rod represents the Word of God, or the scriptures and words of the prophets
o The mist represents the temptations of the devil
o The river represents filthiness, and “the depths of hell”
o The building represents the “vain imaginations” and pride of the world
· During Nephi’s vision, he is shown the birth and life of Christ, and His crucifixion. He is also shown the future internal destruction of his people, the exploration and colonizing of the Americas, the American Revolutionary War, and many other events leading up to the Second Coming of the Savior. However, he is told not to share everything that he learns about the end of days because another will do so, this other person is John the Revelator, who wrote the Book of Revelations in the New Testament.
· After many afflictions and trials in the wilderness, Lehi’s family arrives at the edge of the ocean (Atlantic probably, but not for certain). Nephi is commanded by the Lord of build a ship to carry them across the great waters. In typical fashion, he immediately goes to work using the ideas that the Lord provides for him to accomplish the things which the Lord has commanded. Also true to form, Laman and Lemuel try to get out of working, but after the Lord works through Nephi to literally shake them (without touching them), they join in the project. In this section, we also learn that Lehi and Sariah have had two more sons, Jacob and Joseph.
· Eight years after leaving Jerusalem, the people of Lehi depart for the land that the Lord has given as a “promised land” for them and their descendents. While on the sea, an instrument, which Lehi found outside his tent door one morning (which came from the Lord and led them through the wilderness), called the Liahona, points the way in which they should steer the ship – as long as they are faithful. After spending a lot of time dancing and partying, Laman, Lemuel, and some of the sons of Ishmael decide to tie up Nephi and steer the ship themselves. Because they are not righteous, the Liahona does not work, and they do not know where to go. A giant storm arises, and they are about to be destroyed when Laman and Lemuel decide to let Nephi go. He instantly drops to his knees and thanks the Lord for his blessings and for the storm to abate. I hope that I can have the faith and strength of Nephi to remember to thank the Lord first, and praise Him while I am going through trials, and not complain when they are over.
· The people of Lehi land in the Promised Land, and start to settle into their new home. Nephi proceeds to record many great teachings on various aspects such as the scattering of Israel, and the eventual return of the lost tribes of Israel in the last days.
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