Finally, Lehi had enough of Laman and Lemuel’s whining. Being filled with the Spirit, he confronted
them and confounded them. Their “frames did shake before him.” They no longer dared to complain and did what
Lehi commanded them (for a time).
After this powerful experience, Nephi suddenly writes, “my father dwelt in a tent” (1 Nephi
2:15). This statement almost seems out
of place as well as an obvious statement.
Why would Nephi write this? The
tent played an important role in family life.
“[The] tent is the official center of all administration and authority …
[T]o an Oriental that statement says everything. Since time immemorial the
whole population of the Near East have been either tent-dwellers or house-dwellers
… Not only has it been the custom for herdsmen and traders to spend part of the
year in tents and part in houses, but ‘persons of distinction’ in the East have
always enjoyed spending part of the year in tents for the pure pleasure of a
complete change … Lehi’s tent is the headquarters for all activities, all
discussion and decisions.”[1]
At this point, Nephi gives us a brief description of
himself. He says he is “exceedingly
young” and “large in stature” (1 Nephi 2:16).
Nephi was probably in his mid-teens at this time, being the youngest
son. This would mean Nephi is in his mid-40’s
to early 50’s as he writes this account (see 2 Nephi 5:28-34).
Having heard Lehi’s teachings, he desired to know the
truthfulness of his words and to learn about the mysteries of God. By turning to the Lord, and asking him, Nephi
would have the mysteries revealed to him.
“How that by revelation he made known unto me the mystery; (as I wrote
afore in few words, Whereby, when ye read, ye may understand my knowledge in
the mystery of Christ)” (Ephesians 3:3-4).
Nephi cried unto the Lord, asking for knowledge. “[A]nd behold, he did visit me and did soften
my heart” (1 Nephi 2:16). The Lord has
promised us “whosoever believeth on my words, them will I visit with the
manifestation of my Spirit; and they shall be born of me, even of water and of
the Spirit” (D&C 5:16).
His heart having been softened, Nephi received testimony
that the words of his father were truly the word of God. Unlike Laman and Lemuel, Nephi accepted his
father’s words and did not rebel against his father.
“It is significant … Nephi specifically says here that he
desired ‘to know of the mysteries of God’ (1 Nephi 2:16). While all are invited
to seek and all are promised knowledge (1 Nephi 15:8; Matthew 7:7; Moroni
10:4–5), this is not an open invitation for all men and women to seek ‘mysteries’
beyond the declarative words of the prophets. When Nephi said that he desired
to know of the ‘mysteries,’ he was most likely referring quite precisely to the
information that Lehi had just learned through his visions in 1 Nephi 1 … [W]hen
Nephi has great desires to ‘know of the mysteries of God’ … Nephi is similarly
seeking to know the sôd [divine council] and the decrees
and glories of that council, just as Lehi had known them and as Jeremiah speaks
of them. He is blessed with a visit of the Lord and a belief in “all the words”
which Lehi had spoken-the words which Lehi had delivered as he had received
them from the Lord (1 Nephi 2:16).”[2]
“Nephi had ‘great desires to know of the mysteries of God,
wherefore, [he] did cry unto the Lord, and his heart was softened. On the other
hand, Laman and Lemuel were distant from God—they did not know Him.
“Nephi accepted challenging assignments without complaint,
but Laman and Lemuel ‘did murmur in many things.’ Murmuring is the scriptural
equivalent of childish whining. The scripture records that ‘they did murmur
because they knew not the dealings of that God who had created them.’”[3]
The first person Nephi spoke to after this experience was
his brother, Sam. He told him all “things
which the Lord had manifested unto me by his Holy Spirit” (1 Nephi 2:17). Sam believed Nephi. “[I]t appears that Sam has made righteous
decisions early in life. This is further confirmed in 1 Nephi 2:16–17, where we
read of Nephi’s cry ‘unto the Lord; and behold he did visit me.’ Significantly,
Nephi first shares this experience with his brother Sam. From this one can
deduce a special relationship of trust between these two brothers.”[4] He also attempted to share with Laman and
Lemuel, but they would not listen to his words.
The word of the Lord came to Nephi, telling him that he was
blessed because of his faith, diligence, and humility. “[I]nasmuch 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 2:20).
As we will see throughout the Book of Mormon, when the
people keep the Lord’s commandments, they are prosperous, experience peace, and
are continuously blessed by the Lord.
When they don’t keep the commandments, they suffer famines, wars, lose
their riches, etc. Nephi learned and
taught this principle from this time forward.
It would also be taught by the Nephite prophets throughout their
history.
Nephi learns that his brother’s posterity will be a part of
the Nephite future. First, we are told
that, if Laman and Lemuel rebel against Nephi, they will be cut off from the
presence of the Lord. (When this
occurred, Nephi wrote, “Wherefore, the word of the Lord was fulfilled which he
spake unto me, saying that: Inasmuch as they will not hearken unto thy words
they shall be cut off from the presence of the Lord. And behold, they were cut
off from his presence” (2 Nephi 5:20).
Preaching to the people of Ammonihah, Alma2 reminded
them of the Lord’s promise and warning made to Nephi.
“Behold, do ye not remember the words which he spake unto
Lehi, saying that: Inasmuch as ye shall keep my commandments, ye shall prosper
in the land? And again it is said that:
Inasmuch as ye will not keep my commandments ye shall be cut off from the
presence of the Lord.
“Now I would that ye should remember, that inasmuch as the
Lamanites have not kept the commandments of God, they have been cut off from
the presence of the Lord. Now we see that
the word of the Lord has been verified in this thing, and the Lamanites have
been cut off from his presence, from the beginning of their transgressions in
the land” (Alma 9:13-14).
As we will see, Laman and Lemuel will not just be cut off
from the Lord. They will also be cut
off from family. Hugh Nibley explains
the consequences of this. “The family is
the basic social organization, civil and religious, with the father at its
head. To be without tribe or family is to forfeit one’s identity in the
earth; nothing is more terrible than to be ‘cut off,’ and that is exactly the
fate that is promised Laman and Lemuel if they rebel (1 Nephi 2:21). ‘Within
his own country,’ says an Arab proverb, ‘the Bedouin is a lion; outside of it
he is a dog.’”[5]
Should Laman and Lemuel not keep the commandments, Nephi
will be made a ruler and teacher over them.
If they do rebel, they will be cursed and have no power over the
Nephites.
That is, unless the Nephites rebel against God. Then Laman and Lemuel’s descendants will have
power over his people. They will be “a
scourge unto thy seed, to stir them up in the ways of remembrance” (1 Nephi
2:24).
[2] The Calling of
Lehi as a Prophet in the World of Jerusalem, John W. Welch, Provo, Utah: Maxwell Institute.
[4] Notes and
Communications: Sam: A Just and Holy Man, Ken Haubrock, Provo, Utah: Maxwell Institute.
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