BOM and Faith - 1 Nephi 17

After spending quite some time in the valley of Lemuel, Lehi’s party packed up and continued their journey. Nephi tells us they received “the blessings of the Lord upon us, that while we did live upon raw meat in the wilderness, our women did give plenty of suck for their children, and were strong, yea, even like unto the men; and they began to bear their journeyings without murmurings” (1 Nephi 17:2).

Nephi shared his observation with us. “[T]hus we see that the commandments of God must be fulfilled. And if it so be that the children of men keep the commandments of God he doth nourish them, and strengthen them, and provide means whereby they can accomplish the thing which he has commanded them; wherefore, he did provide means for us while we did sojourn in the wilderness” (1 Nephi 17:3).

Faith was an essential part of their journey. We learned the Liahona worked only through their faith. While Nephi did not mention this, we can assume they were using the Liahona and were following its directions.

Nephi sums up an eight-year period by simply stating they traveled through the wilderness for eight years. He states, “we had suffered many afflictions and much difficulty, yea, even so much that we cannot write them all” (1 Nephi 17:6). We can assume they travelled through the Rub’ Al Khali desert, which has been described as the biggest mass of sand on the planet.

They arrived at the land they called Bountiful. There was fruit and honey. It provided a much- needed respite from their journeys through the desert. Nephi explains, “we were exceedingly rejoiced when we came to the seashore; and we called the place Bountiful, because of its much fruit” (1 Nephi 17:6).

After a time, Nephi was told to go to a mountain, which he did. After much prayer, the Lord told him to “construct a ship, after the manner which I shall show thee” (1 Nephi 17:8). Knowing what he needed, he did not know where to find the supplies.

Through Nephi’s faith, he knew the Lord would provide a way for him to find the necessary material to construct the boat. He asked the Lord where he could go to find ore and the Lord guided him.

Nephi began building the boat, having faith the Lord would guide him in his efforts. Laman and Lemuel, being Laman and Lemuel, mocked him and his efforts. Once again, we see their total lack of faith.

Earlier, Nephi told us that, through their faith, they were able to bear the burdens of their time in the wilderness. Laman and Lemuel saw things differently.  “We have wandered in the wilderness for these many years; and our women have toiled, being big with child; and they have borne children in the wilderness and suffered all things, save it were death; and it would have been better that they had died before they came out of Jerusalem than to have suffered these afflictions” (1 Nephi 17:20). Nephi responded to them by reminding them of how the Lord dealt with their people in the past.

He used Moses as an example. The people were led from their bondage because the Lord commanded him to led them out of bondage. They were able to escape when Moses parted the Red Sea. They were fed mana in the wilderness.

Like Laman and Lemuel, the children of Israel “hardened their hearts and blinded their minds, and reviled against Moses and against the true and living God” (1 Nephi 17:30).

Nephi reminded them of the fiery serpents, which bit the people. Moses was commanded to make “a serpent of brass, and put it upon a pole, and it came to pass, that if a serpent had bitten any man, when he beheld the serpent of brass, he lived” (Numbers 21:9). Many lacked the faith to look at the serpent and perished because of the hardness of their hearts.

Nephi chastised them, reminding them they were “swift to do iniquity but slow to remember the Lord your God. Ye have seen an angel, and he spake unto you; yea, ye have heard his voice from time to time; and he hath spoken unto you in a still small voice, but ye were past feeling, that ye could not feel his words; wherefore, he has spoken unto you like unto the voice of thunder, which did cause the earth to shake as if it were to divide asunder”. (1 Nephi 17:45).

Nephi was commanded to “[s]tretch forth thine hand again unto thy brethren, and they shall not wither before thee, but I will shock them, saith the Lord, and this will I do, that they may know that I am the Lord their God” (1 Nephi 17:53).

Having faith in the Lord’s commands, he stretched his hand towards them and they were shocked by the power of the Lord.

For a time, Laman and Lemuel changed their ways.

BOM and Faith - 1 Nephi 15-16

Nephi returned to the camp and found Laman and Lemuel arguing about the meaning of Lehi’s vision. Nephi had been overcome by his vision. After he recovered his strength, he asked them what was causing their contentions.

“[W]e cannot understand the words which our father hath spoken concerning the natural branches of the olive tree, and also concerning the Gentiles” (1 Nephi 15:7).

Nephi asked them the key question, “Have ye inquired of the Lord?” (1 Nephi 15:8). “We have not; for the Lord maketh no such thing known unto us” (1 Nephi 15:9). The only way they could have received an answer from the Lord was through faith. Having none, they never could have received an answer.

They did not ask because they had hardened their hearts. He reminded them of the Lord’s words – if they did not harden their hearts, and asked in faith, “surely these things shall be made known unto you” (1 Nephi 15:11).

Nephi proceeded to explain Lehi’s vision.

The house of Israel was the olive tree. They are a branch of the house of Israel. By going to the promised land, they are broken off from the house of Israel.

The grafting in of the natural branches comes through the fulness of the Gentiles. At that time, their posterity will have dwindled in unbelief for many year and generations after the coming of the Messiah. At that time, the fulness of the gospel will come to and from the Gentiles to the remnants of their posterity.

When that happens, they will know they are a part of the house of Israel and a covenant people of the Lord.

On that day, they will rejoice and praise God. They will receive nourishment from the true vine and come unto the true fold of God. They will be grafted in, as they are a branch of the olive tree, to the true olive tree.

This will not come about until after they have been scattered by the Gentiles.

After Nephi exhorted them to keep the Lord’s commandments. For a time, Laman and Lemuel humbled themselves before the Lord.

The Lord spoke to Lehi during the night and commanded him to continue his journey. When he left his tent in the morning he saw “a round ball of curious workmanship; and it was of fine brass. And within the ball were two spindles; and the one pointed the way whither we should go into the wilderness” (1 Nephi 16:10).

Alma would describe this to his son, Helaman.

“And now, my son, I have somewhat to say concerning the thing which our fathers call a ball, or director—or our fathers called it Liahona, which is, being interpreted, a compass; and the Lord prepared it.

“And behold, there cannot any man work after the manner of so curious a workmanship. And behold, it was prepared to show unto our fathers the course which they should travel in the wilderness.

“And it did work for them according to their faith in God; therefore, if they had faith to believe that God could cause that those spindles should point the way they should go, behold, it was done; therefore they had this miracle, and also many other miracles wrought by the power of God, day by day” (Alma 37:38-40).

As we will see, the Liahona only worked through the faith of Lehi’s party. As long as they had faith in the Lord, they would be guided throughout their journey through the wilderness.

Having faith in God’s word, Lehi had his party pack up and journey for many days. They used the bows, arrows, stones, and slings to obtain food for the party. The Liahona guided them to fertile places in the wilderness.

One day, while hunting, Nephi broke his bow. They were not able to bring food home to their families. Nephi wrote, “we did return without food to our families, and being much fatigued, because of their journeying, they did suffer much for the want of food” (1 Nephi 16:19).

Laman, Lemuel, and the sons of Ishmael began to complain because of their sufferings and afflictions.

The complaining was not limited to Laman, Lemuel, and the sons of Ishmael. Nephi tells us “my father began to murmur against the Lord his God; yea, and they were all exceedingly sorrowful, even that they did murmur against the Lord” (1 Nephi 16:20).

Nephi made a bow from wood and used straight sticks as arrows. Despite Lehi’s complaining, Nephi went to his father and asked, “Whither shall I go to obtain food” (1 Nephi 16:23). Nephi honored his father in spite of his murmuring. He also had faith that his father would inquire of the Lord and receive an answer.

Lehi was chastised by the Lord for his lack of faith. He was told to look at the Liahona and read the writings on it. “[W]hen my father beheld the things which were written upon the ball, he did fear and tremble exceedingly, and also my brethren and the sons of Ishmael and our wives” (1 Nephi 16:28).

It was through this experience, “Nephi, beheld the pointers which were in the ball, that they did work according to the faith and diligence and heed which we did give unto them” (1 Nephi 16:28).

Nephi informs us the writing “changed from time to time, according to the faith and diligence which we gave unto it. And thus we see that by small means [faith] the Lord can bring about great things” (1 Nephi 16:29).

Nephi followed the instructions and was able to obtain for their families.

They continued their journey for many days, finding a place to pitch their tents and stay there for a while. Ishmael died while at this camping spot.

Ishmael’s daughter mourned and murmured against Lehi, blaming them for all their afflictions. They wanted to return to Jerusalem.

Laman, Lemuel, and the sons of Ishmael conspired to kill Nephi. They claimed he “has taken it upon him to be our ruler and our teacher, who are his elder brethren” (1 Nephi 16:37). They accused him of lying when he claimed the Lord spoke to him and angels had ministered to him.

“I have thought about the accounts of several individuals in the scriptures. Take, for example, Laman and Lemuel. Like Nephi, they were “born of goodly parents” and taught ‘in all the learning of [their] father.’ Yet they murmured because their father was a visionary man. From their point of view, his decisions defied logic, for they knew not the things of God, and therefore they would not believe.

“It is interesting to note that their choices allowed them access to potentially faith-building experiences. They left their home and their riches. They suffered through wanderings in the wilderness. They eventually helped build the boat, and they agreed to journey to an unknown land.

Nephi passed through these same experiences. But did these actions build their faith? Nephi’s faith was made strong, but Laman and Lemuel grew more cynical and angry. These brothers even saw and heard an angel, but alas, they continued to doubt.”[1]

They had forgotten an earlier experience. “And it came to pass as they smote us with a rod, behold, an angel of the Lord came and stood before them, and he spake unto them, saying: Why do ye smite your younger brother with a rod? Know ye not that the Lord hath chosen him to be a ruler over you, and this because of your iniquities? Behold ye shall go up to Jerusalem again, and the Lord will deliver Laban into your hands” (1 Nephi 3:29).

The voice of the Lord came to them, and He “did chasten them exceedingly; and after they were chastened by the voice of the Lord they did turn away their anger, and did repent of their sins, insomuch that the Lord did bless us again with food, that we did not perish” (1 Nephi 16:39).

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[1] Turn to Him and Answers Will Come, Elder James B. Martino, October 2015 General Conference.

BOM and Faith 1 Nephi 13-14

Moving into Chapter 13, Nephi’s vision continues.

• ·        He saw many nations and kingdoms (1 Nephi 13:2).
•        o   Among these nations and kingdoms, he saw a great church (1 Nephi 13:4).
• ·        The angel told him it was most abominable above all other churches (1 Nephi 13:5).
• ·        He saw the church torture, bind, and kill the saints of God (1 Nephi 13:5).
• ·        He saw the devil founded that church (1 Nephi 13:6).
• ·        He saw gold, silver, silks, all manner of precious clothing, and many harlots (1 Nephi 13:7-8).
• ·        He learned the church destroyed the saints and brought them into captivity for the praise of the world (1 Nephi 13:8-9).
• ·        He saw many come across the waters to the promised land (1 Nephi 11:12-13).
• ·        He saw the Spirit of God was with other Gentiles who left captivity behind to come to the promised land (1 Nephi 12:13).
• ·        He saw many come and the wrath of God was upon the Lamanites and they were scattered before the Gentiles (1 Nephi 13:13-14).
• ·        He saw the Gentiles humble themselves before the Lord and prosper in the promised land (1 Nephi 13:15-16).
• ·        He saw a book “carried forth among them” (1 Nephi 13:20).
• ·        He was asked if he knew the meaning of the book (1 Nephi 13:21).
• ·        He said he did not (1 Nephi 13:22).
• ·        He was told the book “proceedeth out of the mouth of a Jew” (1 Nephi 13:23).

o   It is a record which “which contains the covenants of the Lord, which he hath made unto the house of Israel; and it also containeth many of the prophecies of the holy prophets; and it is a record like unto the engravings which are upon the plates of brass, save there are not so many; nevertheless, they contain the covenants of the Lord, which he hath made unto the house of Israel; wherefore, they are of great worth unto the Gentiles” (1 Nephi 13:23).

§  The book contained the fulness of the gospel of the Lord and bears “record according to the truth which is in the Lamb of God” (1 Nephi 13:24).

• ·        He saw after the book went forth, the great and abominable church took away many plain and precious parts as well as many covenants of the Lord (1 Nephi 13:25).
• ·        As the Gentiles went forth, the Lord would not allow them to destroy the Lamanites (1 Nephi 13:31).
• ·        He saw the Lord will not allow the Gentiles to “remain in that awful state of blindness” having lost plain and precious things (1 Nephi 13:32).
• ·        He saw the Lord will bring forth much of the plain and precious parts of the gospel which had been withheld by the great and abominable church (1 Nephi 13:34).
• ·        He learned the Lord would show himself to his seed (1 Nephi 13:35).

o   They will write many plain and precious things which will be hid up and come from the Gentiles by the gift and power of the Lamb (1 Nephi 13:35).

o   “And in them shall be written my gospel, saith the Lamb, and my rock and my salvation” (1 Nephi 13:36).

• ·        The book of the Lamb of God will come forth from the Gentiles to the Lamanites (1 Nephi 13:38).
• ·        Other books will come forth to convince the Gentiles, Lamanites, and Jews that the records of the prophets and the twelve apostles are true (1 Nephi 13:39).

o   These records will establish the truth of the first and will reveal plain and precious things which were lost (1 Nephi 13:40).

o   They will “make known to all kindreds, tongues, and people, that the Lamb of God is the Son of the Eternal Father, and the Savior of the world; and that all men must come unto him, or they cannot be saved” (1 Nephi 13:40).

Speaking of the Gentiles, the angel said should they “harden not their hearts against the Lamb of God, they shall be numbered among the seed of thy father; yea, they shall be numbered among the house of Israel; and they shall be a blessed people upon the promised land forever; they shall be no more brought down into captivity; and the house of Israel shall no more be confounded” (1 Nephi 14:2).

It will not be well for the Gentiles who harden their hearts against the Lamb of God.

The day will come when He will work a great and marvelous work among them. The work will be everlasting either to convincing them unto peace and life eternal or the deliverance of them to the captivity of the devil (1 Nephi 14:7).

The angel showed Nephi the great and abominable church, telling him there are but two churches – the church of the Lamb of God and the church of the devil. Those who did not belong to the church of the Lamb belong to the church of the devil.

The church of the devil gathered together to fight against the Lamb of God. The power of the Lamb descended upon his covenant people who were scattered upon the face of the Earth. His people were armed with righteousness and the power of God.

The wrath of God was poured out on the devil’s church. There were wars and rumors of war throughout the nations of the Earth.

When God’s wrath is poured out on the devil’s church, He will prepare a way for the fulfilling of His covenants with the house of Israel.

The angel showed him John, the revelator. Nephi was commanded he should not write the rest of what he saw. It was ordained the he should write the remainder of the vision Nephi saw.

Nephi saw great and wonderful things in his vision. Much of what he saw was intended for us in our day.

All this came about because Nephi desired to see the things in his father’s visions. It was only through his faith he was able to see these things.

BOM and Faith 1 Nephi 10-12

Having explained the purpose of the small plates, Nephi continues his record.

Having heard his father’s words, Nephi was again “desirous also that I might see, and hear, and know of these things, by the power of the Holy Ghost … that I might see, and hear, and know of these things, by the power of the Holy Ghost, which is the gift of God unto all those who diligently seek him, as well in times of old as in the time that he should manifest himself unto the children of men” (1 Nephi 10:17). 

Nephi went off alone to a mountain he had never before seen. He began to pray, having faith the Lord would hear his prayer and answer his questions.

An angel appeared to him and began to ask him questions.

First, he was asked what he desired. Nephi responded he wanted “to behold the things which my father saw” (1 Nephi 11:3).

The angel could have answered his prayer, but he continued questioning Nephi. “Believest thou that thy father saw the tree of which he hath spoken” (1 Nephi 11:4).

Even though Nephi had shown great faith in the past, it was essential he still exercised that same faith. He simply replied, “thou knowest that I believe all the words of my father” (1 Nephi 11:5).

It was only after Nephi had shown the strength of his faith that the angel granted his request. It was through his faith his prayer was answered.

Here are some key points of Nephi’s vision.

• ·        He saw the son of God descending out of heaven (1 Nephi 11:7).
• ·        He saw Mary, the mother of Christ (1 Nephi 11:15-20).

o   He learned the meaning of the tree – “it is the love of God … most desirable above all things” (1 Nephi 11:21-22).

• ·        He saw Christ’s ministry (1 Nephi 11:24).

o   He learned the meaning of the iron rod – “which was the word of God” (1 Nephi 11:25).

o   He learned “the tree of life was a representation of the love of God” (1 Nephi 11:25).

• ·        He saw Christ’s baptism by John and he “beheld the heavens open, and the Holy Ghost come down out of heaven and abide upon him in the form of a dove” (1 Nephi 11:27).
• ·        He saw Christ ministering to the people, healing the sick and casting out unclean spirits (1 Nephi 11:31).
• ·        He saw Christ judged by the world (1 Nephi 11:32).
• ·        He saw Christ’s crucifixion (1 Nephi 11:33).
• ·        He saw multitudes fight against the apostles of the Lamb (1 Nephi 11:34).

o   The multitudes were found in the large and spacious building (1 Nephi 11:35).

§  The great and spacious building represented the pride of the world (1 Nephi 11:36).

• ·        He saw the land of promise (1 Nephi 12:1)
• ·        He saw wars and rumors of wars and great slaughters among his people (1 Nephi 12:2).

o   The wars went on for generations (1 Nephi 12:3).

• ·        He saw darkness come upon the face of the land and lightnings and thunderings and earthquakes and all form of destruction (1 Nephi 12:4).
• ·        Through the darkness, he saw Christ descending out of heaven, showing Himself to his people (1 Nephi 12:5-6).
• ·        He saw the calling of the Nephite twelve (1 Nephi 12:7).
• ·        He saw four generations pass in peace (1 Nephi 12:12).
• ·        He saw wars again throughout the land (1 Nephi 12:15).
• ·        He saw…
• ·        the fountain of filthy water represents the depths of hell (1 Nephi 12:16).
• ·        the mists of darkness represent the temptations of the devil (1 Nephi 12:17).
• ·        the gulf between the field and the spacious building is the “vain imaginations and the pride of the children of men” (1 Nephi 12:18).
• ·        He saw the destruction of his people (1 Nephi 12:19-21).

BOM and Faith 1 Nephi 5-9

Shortly after returning with the brass plates, the Lord told Lehi to send his sons back to Jerusalem to the house of Ishmael. The purpose was to convince Ishmael and his family to join with Lehi’s party. Ishmael had daughters, and Lehi’s sons needed wives. Ishmael’s heart was softened and he agreed to bring his family and join with Lehi’s.

Ishmael is another fine example of faith. It is reasonable to believe, at the least, the families knew each other. Even so, it still to believe Ishmael had to exercise faith that he was hearing the word of the Lord. That he packed up his family and left Jerusalem, joining Lehi’s party, shows his level of faith.

Once again, Nephi faced opposition from Laman and Lemuel as well as two of Ishmael’s sons and daughters. They wanted to return to Jerusalem.

Nephi confronted Laman and Lemuel. He reminded them they were the elder brothers in the family. They should be setting the example, not relying on their younger brother. He reminded them of their experiences, including seeing an angel. Had they forgotten all the ways the Lord had taken care of them in the wilderness? Did they forget the Lord had delivered them from Laban? Why, he asked, can they not exercise faith in the Lord? The time had come for them to put this behind them and exercise faith in Him.

If they are faithful, the Lord promised they will obtain a land of promise. If they are faithful, they will know all the Lord’s words concerning the destruction of Jerusalem will be fulfilled.

Laman and Lemuel promptly bound Nephi, tied him up, and were planning on leaving him behind to die in the wilderness.

Nephi prayed, “O Lord, according to my faith which is in thee, wilt thou deliver me from the hands of my brethren; yea, even give me strength that I may burst these bands with which I am bound” (1 Nephi 7:17).

No sooner had he prayed, then his bands were loosed from his hands and feet. He continued to speak to his brothers. Having no faith, they learned nothing from this experience. They attempted to lay hands on him, but a daughter and son of Ishmael, as well as Ishmael’s wife pleaded with them, calming Laman and Lemuel.

They asked for Nephi’s forgiveness, which he gave them.

Sometime after Ishmael’s family joined Lehi’s party, Lehi had the tree of life vision. In many ways, this dream is a reflection of the Parable of the Sower.

“Behold, a sower went forth to sow;

“And when he sowed, some seeds fell by the way side, and the fowls came and devoured them up:

“Some fell upon stony places [IE rocky land over which a thin layer of soil is spread], where they had not much earth: and forthwith they sprung up, because they had no deepness of earth:

“And when the sun was up, they were scorched; and because they had no root, they withered away.

“And some fell among thorns; and the thorns sprung up, and choked them:

“But other fell into good ground, and brought forth [GR began to bring forth] fruit, some an hundredfold, some sixtyfold, some thirtyfold.

“Who hath ears to hear, let him hear” (Matthew 13:3-9).

The seed represents the gospel. Our testimony and commitment to the gospel is based on our faith. The stronger our faith, the stronger our commitment. Let’s examine the four groups.

·        Seeds which fell by the way side. These are those who are without faith. They reject the words of Christ. These people are represented by those who make a beeline to the great and spacious building (1 Nephi 8:26-27, 31).

·        Seeds which fell upon the rocky ground, covered with thin soil. These are those who walk along the path, beginning to develop faith by holding to the iron rod. As the mists of darkness arise, their faith weakens and they get lost on different paths (1 Nephi 8:23).

·        Seeds which fell among thorns. These are those who pressed forward, passing through the mists of darkness by holding on to the iron rod. They have developed a faith. They partake of the fruit of the tree; however, those in the spacious building mocked them. The mocking causes them to lose their faith. They become ashamed and began to wander different paths (1 Nephi 8:24-28).

“As disciples of Christ, we stand apart from the world. There may be times we feel uncomfortable as the fingers of scorn mock and dismiss what is sacred to us. President Thomas S. Monson warned, ‘Unless the roots of your testimony are firmly planted, it will be difficult for you to withstand the ridicule of those who challenge your faith.’ Nephi said, ‘[Heed] them not.’ Paul admonished, ‘God hath not given us the spirit of fear; … Be not … ashamed of the testimony of our Lord.’ We never leave Him.”[1]

·        Seeds which fell into good ground, and brought forth fruit. These are those who find their way to the tree, partake of the fruit, and rejoice. Their faith consistently grows stronger. They ignore the mocking and other events going on around them. They have endured to the end (1 Nephi 8:10-12, 30).

“The great introductory vision in the Book of Mormon is Lehi’s prophetic dream of the tree of life. This vision starkly describes the challenges to faith that exist in our day and the great divide between those who love, worship, and feel accountable to God and those who do not. Lehi explains some of the conduct that destroys faith. Some are proud, vain, and foolish. They are interested only in the so-called wisdom of the world. Others have some interest in God but are lost in worldly mists of darkness and sin. Some have tasted of the love of God and His word but feel ashamed because of those mocking them and fall away into ‘forbidden paths.’”[2]

Nephi then breaks his narrative to discuss the two sets of plates. The larger plates contain a secular history, the smaller plates deal with sacred things.

Why did Nephi make the two sets of plates? Because of his faith. He was commanded by the Lord to make the second set.

“Wherefore, the Lord hath commanded me to make these plates for a wise purpose in him, which purpose I know not.

“But the Lord knoweth all things from the beginning; wherefore, he prepareth a way to accomplish all his works among the children of men; for behold, he hath all power unto the fulfilling of all his words. And thus it is. Amen” (1 Nephi 9:5-6).

We know why the Lord commanded Nephi to make two sets of plates. The Lord knew some two millennia later, Martin Harris would take the transcripts from Joseph’s translation of the large plates and would lose them. If enemies of Joseph Smith had the records, they could have altered them, significantly harming the Lord’s work.

Because of Nephi’s faith, Joseph was able to translate the small plates, undermining the enemies of the Lord. We are grateful Nephi had the faith to make two records.

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[1] Never Leave Him, Elder Neil L. Andersen, October 2010 General Conference.

[2] In Tune with the Music of Faith, Elder Quentin L. Cook, April 2012 General Conference.

BOM and Faith 1 Nephi 3-4

After Nephi had received his vision, he returned to the camp.  Lehi told him he had been commanded to send his sons to Jerusalem to get the brass plates.

Laman and Lemuel complained and whined. This is too hard; why do we gotta do this? This is why he was giving Nephi the task of obtaining them.

Once again, we see the strong faith Nephi had in his father and the Lord. “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” (1 Nephi 3:7).

Nephi most likely had no idea how he would go about accomplishing this; however, this did not prevent him from obeying the Lord’s commandment. All Nephi need was his faith. His faith was his assurance he would accomplish the task. “Because Nephi first trusted in God, God put great trust in Nephi. The Lord blessed him with great outpourings of the Spirit that blessed his life, the lives of his family, and the lives of his people.”[1]

“Lehi receives a command from the Lord to send his sons back to Jerusalem for the plates of brass. How did Laman and Lemuel respond to this? They murmured! And so, Lehi sends for Nephi and says, ‘The Lord has given me a commandment, but your brothers have murmured’ … So, expressing faith and obedience, Nephi responds, and the brothers go back to Jerusalem.”[2]

Laman first goes and attempts to convince Laban to give him the plates. Laban became angry and threw him out, accusing him of being a robber. Under the Mosaic Law, robbery was a capital offense, so Laban’s execution would have been justified (if only the truth had not gotten in the way).

Nephi convinces his brothers to get their wealth and attempt to trade it for the brass plates. Laban lusted after this wealth. He again chased them out, but sent servants to kill them. Now Laban had become the robber and committed a capital offense.

Laban and Lemuel began beating Nephi and Sam. They were stopped by an angel.

He challenged Laman and Lemuel to exercise faith in the Lord. This is the only way they would accomplish their task.

Nephi returned to Jerusalem to attempt It was decided Nephi would go and attempt to obtain the plates. Nephi knew his life was at risk as he journeyed into Jerusalem. He wrote he did not know

“beforehand the things which I should do” (1 Nephi 4:6). Through his faith, Nephi placed his safety in the hands of the Lord. He had absolute faith he would be led by the Lord and know what to do when the time came.

This time, the Lord had prepared a way for Nephi to obtain the brass plates. He was able to accomplish his task and return with the plates.

Nephi understood the importance of the plates.

“And behold, it is wisdom in God that we should obtain these records, that we may preserve unto our children the language of our fathers;

“And also that we may preserve unto them the words which have been spoken by the mouth of all the holy prophets, which have been delivered unto them by the Spirit and power of God, since the world began, even down unto this present time” (1 Nephi 3:19-20).

The importance of the plates became clear when Mosiah₁ found the Mulekites. “[T]hey had had many wars and serious contentions, and had fallen by the sword from time to time; and their language had become corrupted; and they had brought no records with them; and they denied the being of their Creator” (Omni 1:17).

Some five centuries had passed since Nephi placed his faith in the Lord, knowing He would provide a way for him to obtain the records necessary for his people to know and follow the Lord’s law. His faith made the difference to his people.

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[1] Earning the Trust of the Lord and Your Family, Elder Richard J. Maynes, October 2017 General Conference.

[2] Nephi’s Teachings in the Book of Mormon, Noel B. Reynolds, Maxwell Institute website.

BOM and Faith 1 Nephi 1-2

In the last General Conference President Russell M. Nelson shared with us his list of gospel truths found in the Book of Mormon.

That got me thinking about what the Book of Mormon teaches us about principles of the gospel. I’ve found myself pondering faith lately, so I decided it was very appropriate to begin this study with what the Book of Mormon teaches about faith.

First, what is faith? The Guide to the Scriptures tells us faith is “[c]onfidence in something or someone. As most often used in the scriptures, faith is confidence and trust in Jesus Christ that lead a person to obey Him. Faith must be centered in Jesus Christ in order for it to lead a person to salvation. Latter-day Saints also have faith in God the Father, the Holy Ghost, priesthood power, and other important aspects of the restored gospel.

Using this definition, let’s begin our study of the Book of Mormon and faith.

Nephi begins his record sharing Lehi’s vision. In the vision, he saw the mission of Christ and the twelve apostles. He was given a book and told to read. This is how he learned about the pending destruction of Jerusalem.

He went among the people and warned them lest they repent, Jerusalem would be destroyed. He was rejected by the people.

Within the first few pages of the Book of Mormon, we see a remarkable act of faith of Lehi’s part. He received another vision.

“And it came to pass that the Lord commanded my father, even in a dream[1], that he should take his family and depart into the wilderness.

“And it came to pass that he was obedient unto the word of the Lord, wherefore he did as the Lord commanded him.

“And it came to pass that he departed into the wilderness. 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 2:2-4).

Nephi makes sure we understand the family left everything behind: house, land, money, and possessions. He only took what was necessary to support his family in the wilderness.

We also see the consequences of a lack of faith through the actions of Laman and Lemuel. “Now this he spake because of the stiffneckedness of Laman and Lemuel; for behold they did murmur in many things against their father, because he was a visionary man, and had led them out of the land of Jerusalem, to leave the land of their inheritance, and their gold, and their silver, and their precious things, to perish in the wilderness. And this they said he had done because of the foolish imaginations of his heart” (2 Nephi 2:11).

Laman and Lemuel’s lack of faith will eventually lead to their being cut off from the Lord.

“And [the Lord] had caused the cursing to come upon them, yea, even a sore cursing, because of their iniquity. For behold, they had hardened their hearts against him, that they had become like unto a flint …

“And thus saith the Lord God: I will cause that they shall be loathsome unto thy people, save they shall repent of their iniquities…

“And because of their cursing which was upon them they did become an idle people, full of mischief and subtlety, and did seek in the wilderness for beasts of prey” (2 Nephi 5:21-22, 24).

Nephi, on the other hand, was a man of faith. He accepted his father’s words. He inquired of the Lord, having faith he would receive an answer to his prayers. “I, Nephi … having great desires to know of the mysteries of God, wherefore, I did cry unto the Lord; and behold he did visit me, and did soften my heart that I did believe all the words which had been spoken by my father; wherefore, I did not rebel against him like unto my brothers” (1 Nephi 2:16).

“The Lord Himself further explained that Nephi had exercised faith, sought diligently with lowliness of heart, and kept His commandments … Nephi’s example of seeking knowledge included (1) a sincere desire, (2) humility, (3) prayer, (4) trust in the prophet, and an exercise of (5) faith, (6) diligence, and (7) obedience.”[2]

The Lord would tell Nephi:

“And it came to pass that the Lord spake unto me, saying: Blessed art thou, Nephi, because of thy faith, for thou hast sought me diligently, with lowliness of heart.

“And inasmuch as ye shall keep my commandments, ye shall prosper, and shall be led to a land of promise; yea, even a land which I have prepared for you; yea, a land which is choice above all other lands” (1 Nephi 2:19-20).

Laman and Lemuel had opportunities to receive their own witness. Instead, they murmured and rejected the Lord, to their detriment.

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[1] Nephi will later clarify what he meant by saying his father had a dream. “And it came to pass that while my father tarried in the wilderness he spake unto us, saying: Behold, I have dreamed a dream; or, in other words, I have seen a vision” (1 Nephi 8:2).

[2] For Our Spiritual Development and Learning, Elder W. Mark Bassett, October 2016 General Conference.

1 Nephi 4:1-5

Chapter 4

Nephi slays Laban at the Lord’s command and then secures the plates of brass by stratagem-Zoram chooses to join Lehi’s family in the wilderness. About 600–592 B.C.

Nephi attempted to reassure Laman and Lemuel. We will go again to Jerusalem, keeping the Lord’s commandments. The Lord is mightier than Laban’s fifty or even his tens of thousands. The Lord is mightier than all the Earth.

“Yet even the older brothers, though they wish to emphasize Laban’s great power, mention only fifty (1 Nephi 3:31), and it is Nephi in answering them who says that the Lord is ‘mightier than Laban and his fifty,’ and adds, ‘or even than his tens of thousands’ (1 Nephi 4:1). As a high military commander Laban would have his tens of thousands in the field, but such an array is of no concern to Laman and Lemuel: it is the ‘fifty’ they must look out for, the regular, permanent garrison of Jerusalem.”[1]

Nephi encouraged them to be strong like Moses.

“If thou faint in the day of adversity, thy strength is small.

“If thou forbear to deliver them that are drawn unto death, and those that are ready to be slain;

“If thou sayest, Behold, we knew it not; doth not he that pondereth the heart consider it? and he that keepeth thy soul, doth not he know it? and shall not he render to every man according to his works?” (Proverbs 24:10-12).

He used the example of the dividing of the Red Sea and the destruction of Pharaoh’s army as an example of faith.

After being discovered by Ammon and his party, King Limhi called the people together and told them, “Therefore, lift up your heads, and rejoice, and put your trust in God, in that God who was the God of Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob; and also, that God who brought the children of Israel out of the land of Egypt, and caused that they should walk through the Red Sea on dry ground, and fed them with manna that they might not perish in the wilderness; and many more things did he do for them” (Mosiah 7:19).

They had seen an angel and he spoke to them. The Lord will deliver us and destroy Laban even as he did the Egyptians.

1^st Nephi and the Exodus^[2]

Lehi’s group saw themselves as reenacting the exodus of the Israelites from Egypt. Just as God had called Moses and Joshua to lead the children of Israel out of oppressive conditions across a sea and the river Jordan, and into the promised land, so he called Lehi to lead his group out of Jerusalem, across the ocean, and to a new land of promise. Nephi thought of Moses when he exhorted his brothers to be “strong like unto Moses,” who had delivered his people out of captivity (1 Nephi 4:2). As a typology, that first exodus, mainly in the Old Testament book of Exodus, became a pattern whose motifs may be found throughout Nephi’s story of this second exodus. By extension, many of these themes can also be found in accounts of other Book of Mormon groups who were likewise delivered from captivity and fled into the wilderness. It is a pattern that still holds today in the personal conversion of individuals who flee evil and seek the Lord.

1 Nephi	Exodus	Motifs Common to Both Accounts
1:6	3:2	fire present at the calling of Lehi and Moses
1:6, 16:16	13:21	Lord’s guidance
1:20	1:11-16	oppressive conditions
2:2	3:7-18	Lord’s command to depart
2:6-7	3:18; 15:22; 20:25	sacrifice to the Lord after three days’ journey
2:11-12; 5:2; 16:20	15:24; 16:2-3	murmuring against the Lord
2:15; 3:9; 10:16	18:7; 3:8	dwelling in tents
2:20	3:17	promise of a new land of inheritance
4:12	17:8-13	victory over enemies
7:6-7	14:12	rebellious desire to return
9:1-4	17:14	a record of the journey
11:1-14:27	19:19-31:18	instruction from God on a high mountain
15:6-16:5	19:3-25	prophet who teaches with divine instruction
16:10	7:9-21; 8:16; 14:16	miraculous objects (Liahona, rod)
16:34	Josh. 24:32	a burial
17:2-5	16:11-18	Lord’s provision of ready-to-eat food
17:4	16:35; Deut. 8:2	prolonged wandering in the wilderness
17:6	16:3, 17:1	afflictions in the wilderness
17:26; 18:8-23	17:21-22, 29; 15:19	crossing a sea
17:52	34:30	a transfiguration
17:55	14:31; 20:12	acknowledgement of the Lord’s power
18:7	18:3-4	two sons born in the wilderness
18:8	14:21	Lord’s providential wind
18:9	32:18-19	wicked revelry
18:20	32:10	death warning from the Lord
18:23-25	Josh 11:23	inheritance of a promised land
19:11	20:18	thunderings and lightnings at God’s presence

Having heard this, Laman and Lemuel were still angry and continued to murmur. Even so, they did follow Nephi to the walls outside of Jerusalem.

Here we see Nephi is the only one who has a divine perspective. Laman and Lemuel were seeing through their own glasses and they couldn’t see how the four off them can take on all of Laban. Nephi has clearly learned from their previous failures, the only way they will succeed is through the Lord’s intervention.[3]

Laman, Lemuel, and Sam waited outside the city walls as Nephi entered the city. As he went forward, he was led by the Spirit. He had no idea what he was going to do. Hugh Nibley wrote, “Nephi goes on. He was led by the spirit. This passage reassures anybody. ‘And I was led by the Spirit, not knowing beforehand the things which I should do’ (1 Nephi 4:6). This is a very popular passage in the Book of Mormon because inside of all of us there comes that time when you are led by the Spirit not knowing what you should do. Yet you are willing to be led. What does your own judgment have to do with it?”[4]

“The gradual increase of light radiating from the rising sun is like receiving a message from God ‘line upon line, precept upon precept’ (2 Nephi 28:30). Most frequently, revelation comes in small increments over time and is granted according to our desire, worthiness, and preparation. Such communications from Heavenly Father gradually and gently ‘distil upon [our souls] as the dews from heaven’ (D&C 121:45). This pattern of revelation tends to be more common than rare and is evident in the experiences of Nephi as he tried several different approaches before successfully obtaining the plates of brass from Laban (see 1 Nephi 3–4). Ultimately, he was led by the Spirit to Jerusalem, ‘not knowing beforehand the things which [he] should do’ (1 Nephi 4:6). And he did not learn how to build a ship of curious workmanship all at one time; rather, Nephi was shown by the Lord ‘from time to time after what manner [he] should work the timbers of the ship’ (1 Nephi 18:1).”[5]

The Lord is teaching Nephi. Coming into the wilderness, Nephi needed to know Lehi was a prophet. He needed to learn it is critical to have a testimony of a prophet. In our lives, we learn there are things which we need to receive to have a personal witness from the Lord.[6]

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[1] The City and the Sand, Hugh W. Nibley, Provo, Utah: Maxwell Institute.

[2] Charting the Book of Mormon, John W. Welch and J. Gregory Welch, Chart 94.

[3] Discussions on the Book of Mormon, 1 Nephi 3-7, KBYU, Dr. Clyde Williams.

[4] Lecture 11: 1 Nephi 4-7, Hugh W. Nibley, Provo, Utah: Maxwell Institute.

[5] The Spirit of Revelation, Elder David A. Bednar, April 2011 General Conference.

[6] Discussions on the Book of Mormon, 1 Nephi 3-7, KBYU, Dr. Gaye Stratheran.