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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