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