BOM and Faith 2 Nephi 10-11

Jacob begins speaking about the promises made to them from the Lord. Many of their children will perish in unbelief; however, many will be restored to come to know Christ. He will come among the Jews. Jacob describes them as “the more wicked part of the world” (2 Nephi 10:3). The Jews will crucify Him. “[T]here is none other nation on earth that would crucify their God” (2 Nephi 10:3). Had Christ come to any other nation, they would have accepted Him and recognized Him as the Messiah.

Because of the wickedness of the Jews, “destructions, famines, pestilences, and bloodshed shall come upon them” (2 Nephi 10:5). The Jews will not be destroyed but will be scattered among all nations. But, the day will come when the covenants made with them will be fulfilled. They will be gathered and returned to the land of their inheritance.

Jacob began speaking about this land. This would be a land for the inheritance of Lehi’s family. It will be a land of where Gentiles would be blessed. There would be no kings upon the land. the land will be fortified “against all other nations” (2 Nephi 10:12).

Whomever will fight against Zion will perish. “[T]hey who are not for me are against me, saith our God” (2 Nephi 10:16). The Lord will fulfill His promises. The land is consecrated to the descendants of Lehi. This land “is a choice land, saith God unto me, above all other lands” (2 Nephi 10:19). Those who dwell in this land will worship God.

They had “been driven out of the land of our inheritance; but we have been led to a better land, for the Lord has made the sea our path, and we are upon an isle of the sea” (2 Nephi 10:20).

Jacob reminded them they are free to act for themselves. They can choose everlasting death or eternal life. They are to reunite to the will of God rather than “the will of the devil and the flesh” (2 Nephi 10:24). Only through God’s grace are they saved. “Wherefore, may God raise you from death by the power of the resurrection, and also from everlasting death by the power of the atonement, that ye may be received into the eternal kingdom of God, that ye may praise him through grace divine” (2 Nephi 10:25).

Nephi breaks into the record at this point. He spoke many more things, but Nephi felt what he had written was sufficient. He tells us that he, and Jacob, had seen Christ. Nephi “delighteth in proving unto my people the truth of the coming of Christ; for, for this end hath the law of Moses been given; and all things which have been given of God from the beginning of the world, unto man, are the typifying of him” (2 Nephi 11:4).

Nephi’s “soul delighteth in proving unto my people that save Christ should come all men must perish. For if there be no Christ there be no God; and if there be no God we are not, for there could have been no creation. But there is a God, and he is Christ, and he cometh in the fulness of his own time” (2 Nephi 11:6-7).

Jacob begins speaking about the promises made to them from the Lord. Many of their children will perish in unbelief; however, many will be restored to come to know Christ. He will come among the Jews. Jacob describes them as “the more wicked part of the world” (2 Nephi 10:3). The Jews will crucify Him. “[T]here is none other nation on earth that would crucify their God” (2 Nephi 10:3). Had Christ come to any other nation, they would have accepted Him and recognized Him as the Messiah.

Because of the wickedness of the Jews, “destructions, famines, pestilences, and bloodshed shall come upon them” (2 Nephi 10:5). The Jews will not be destroyed but will be scattered among all nations. But, the day will come when the covenants made with them will be fulfilled. They will be gathered and returned to the land of their inheritance.

Jacob began speaking about this land. This would be a land for the inheritance of Lehi’s family. It will be a land of where Gentiles would be blessed. There would be no kings upon the land. the land will be fortified “against all other nations” (2 Nephi 10:12).

Whomever will fight against Zion will perish. “[T]hey who are not for me are against me, saith our God” (2 Nephi 10:16). The Lord will fulfill His promises. The land is consecrated to the descendants of Lehi. This land “is a choice land, saith God unto me, above all other lands” (2 Nephi 10:19). Those who dwell in this land will worship God.

They had “been driven out of the land of our inheritance; but we have been led to a better land, for the Lord has made the sea our path, and we are upon an isle of the sea” (2 Nephi 10:20).

Jacob reminded them they are free to act for themselves. They can choose everlasting death or eternal life. They are to reunite to the will of God rather than “the will of the devil and the flesh” (2 Nephi 10:24). Only through God’s grace are they saved. “Wherefore, may God raise you from death by the power of the resurrection, and also from everlasting death by the power of the atonement, that ye may be received into the eternal kingdom of God, that ye may praise him through grace divine” (2 Nephi 10:25).

Nephi breaks into the record at this point. He spoke many more things, but Nephi felt what he had written was sufficient. He tells us that he, and Jacob, had seen Christ. Nephi “delighteth in proving unto my people the truth of the coming of Christ; for, for this end hath the law of Moses been given; and all things which have been given of God from the beginning of the world, unto man, are the typifying of him” (2 Nephi 11:4).

Nephi’s “soul delighteth in proving unto my people that save Christ should come all men must perish. For if there be no Christ there be no God; and if there be no God we are not, for there could have been no creation. But there is a God, and he is Christ, and he cometh in the fulness of his own time” (2 Nephi 11:6-7).

BOM and Faith 2 Nephi 9

Through the resurrection, we will be freed from the spiritual death, which is hell. Death and hell will deliver the dead. Hell must deliver its captive spirits; the grave must deliver its captive bodies. The spirit and body will be reunited and restored through the resurrection.

The paradise of God will deliver the spirits of the righteous and the grave deliver up the righteous. The spirit and body will be restored, having become incorruptible and immortal. At that time, the wicked will have a perfect knowledge of their guilt. The righteous will have a perfect knowledge of their righteousness, having been clothed in the robes or righteousness.

Then, we will appear before the judgment bar of God, being judged by the holy judgment of God. Those who are righteous will still be righteous; the filthy will remain filthy. They will pass into everlasting torment prepared for the wicked.

“But, behold, the righteous, the saints of the Holy One of Israel, they who have believed in the Holy One of Israel, they who have endured the crosses of the world, and despised the shame of it, they shall inherit the kingdom of God, which was prepared for them from the foundation of the world, and their joy shall be full forever” (2 Nephi 9:18).

The righteous will be delivered from that awful monster, the devil.

We are commanded to repent and be baptized in his name. We do this, having perfect faith the Christ. Without this faith, we cannot be saved in God’s kingdom.

Jacob reminds us how essential faith is for our salvation. He ensures we understand what is promised to us if we are righteous by the Lord. We obey Him and serve Him because of our faith in His words and promises. He promises us that, through our faith in his words, we will return to His presence.

God has given us law. If there were no law, there would be no punishment. If there is no punishment, there is no condemnation. If there is no condemnation, “the mercies of the Holy One of Israel have claim upon them, because of the atonement; for they are delivered by the power of him” (2 Nephi 9:25).

The atonement satisfies the demands of justice for those who have not received the law. They are delivered from death and hell.

For those who have received God’s law, having all His commandments will waste our days in the life if we disobey the law. “O that cunning plan of the evil one! O the vainness, and the frailties, and the foolishness of men! When they are learned they think they are wise, and they hearken not unto the counsel of God, for they set it aside, supposing they know of themselves, wherefore, their wisdom is foolishness and it profiteth them not. And they shall perish. But to be learned is good if they hearken unto the counsels of God” (2 Nephi 9:28-29).

Those who die in their sins will face God while they remain in their sins. “[R]emember the awfulness in transgressing against that Holy God, and also the awfulness of yielding to the enticings of that cunning one. Remember, to be carnally-minded is death, and to be spiritually-minded is life eternal” (2 Nephi 9:39).

Jacob tells us, “[d]o not say that I have spoken hard things against you; for if ye do, ye will revile against the truth; for I have spoken the words of your Maker” (2 Nephi 9:40).

The Lord’s paths are righteous. Our way is narrow, but it is a straight course. Christ is the gatekeeper. There is no other way to enter than through the gate. He will not be deceived.

We are to turn away from our sins, shaking off the devil’s chains that bind us. We must prepare our souls for that day of judgment.

If the people were holy, Jacob would speak to them of holiness; as a teacher, he must teach them the consequences of sin. Jacob abhors sin and delights in righteousness. Remember God’s word by day; praise Him at night. We are to let our souls “delight in fatness” (2 Nephi 9:51).

BOM and Faith 2 Nephi 6, 9

Jacob had been consecrated by Nephi to teach his people. He began to teach the people.

We learn Jacob had been teaching the people many things (2 Nephi 6:2). He is speaking to them again, as he is concerned about their welfare.

He echoed Lehi’s words, telling them “the Lord has shown me that those who were at Jerusalem, from whence we came, have been slain and carried away captive” (2 Nephi 6:8). But, the Lord showed him they would return again.

He learned Christ would go among them in the flesh. Instead of accepting Him, they will scourge and crucify Him. They have “hardened their hearts and stiffened their necks against the Holy One of Israel” (2 Nephi 6:10). 

Because of this they will be smitten and afflicted. But, they will not perish because of the prayers of those who are faithful.

The Gentiles will be saved if they repent and not fight against Zion. The Lord’s covenants will be fulfilled.

The Messiah will come a second time and recover his people. His enemies will be destroyed by fire, tempest, earthquakes, bloodsheds, pestilence, and famine.

They know Christ will show himself to those in Jerusalem. He will subject Himself to man in the flesh, and die for all men that we might become subject to him.

We all face death through the fall and we were cut off from the presence of the Lord. There will be a resurrection from the dead. Because of the fall, there had to be an infinite atonement. Without the atonement, our corruption could not have put on incorruption.

If the flesh would not rise from the dead, we would be subject to the devil and cut off from the present of God. Our spirits would be like his, shut out from God’s presence. We would become like him.

Through God’s goodness, we have a way prepared for us to escape “from the grasp of this awful monster; yea, the monster, death and hell, which I call the death of the body, and also the death of the spirit” (2 Nephi 9:10).

Through the resurrection, temporal death will deliver up its dead.

BOM and Faith 2 Nephi 5

After Lehi’s death, Laman and Lemuel were fed up with Nephi. “Our younger brother thinks to rule over us; and we have had much trial because of him; wherefore, now let us slay him, that we may not be afflicted more because of his words” (2 Nephi 5:3). They never learned their lack of faith and commitment to the Lord was responsible for their situation. It was easier to blame someone else for all their problems.

Nephi was warned to take his family, as well as Zoram, Sam, Jacob, and Joseph and their families. We learn that, in addition to have brothers, Nephi had sisters. They departed with Nephi. He took anyone willing to go with him and fled his brothers.

After a journey of many days, they found a place to pitch their tents. Their land was called Nephi and those in the group were called the people of Nephi.

They began to cultivate and prosper in the land. They raised flocks and had herds of animals “of every king” (2 Nephi 5:11). 

Nephi also took the plates of brass, the Liahona, and the sword of Laban. The Lamanites would claim these were stolen from their fathers throughout Book of Mormon history.

Using the sword of Laban as a model, Nephi made swords for his people. The Lamanites made their hatred for Nephi and his people clear. The Nephites had to be prepared for a Lamanite attack.

The built buildings and worked with wood, iron, copper, brass, steel, gold, silver, and precious ores.

Nephi’s faith required him to build a temple, built after the manner of Solomon’s temple (2 Nephi 5:16).

The people wanted to make Nephi king, but he refused.

Nephi writes the words of the Lord had been fulfilled concerning Laman and Lemuel. Because of their lack of faith, as well as their wickedness, Nephi became a ruler and teacher.

The words of the Lord had also been fulfilled in that the Lamanites were cut off from the Lord and became a cursed people.

What was this curse? They became a loathsome people. They became an idle people. They also became a scourge to Nephi’s people when the failed to obey the Lord. (2 Nephi 5:22, 24-25).

We also read a skin of blackness came upon them. This was not part of the curse. We don’t know what Nephi meant by this.

Nephi consecrated Jacob and Joseph to be priests and teacher of his people.

We also learn that Nephi began making the small plates at this time. He was commanded by the Lord to “[m]ake Make other plates; and thou shalt engraven many things upon them which are good in my sight, for the profit of thy people” (2 Nephi 5:30).

BOM and Faith 2 Nephi 1-4

It would be appropriate to call 2 Nephi 1-4 Lehi’s farewell address. He speaks to his family, giving them fatherly counsel and advice. He was blunt in his words. Speaking to Laman and Lemuel, Nephi tells us Lehi spoke to “them in bringing them out of the land of Jerusalem. And he spake unto them concerning their rebellions upon the waters, and the mercies of God in sparing their lives, that they were not swallowed up in the sea” (2 Nephi 1:2-3).

The Lord had revealed to him Jerusalem had been destroyed (2 Nephi 1:4). When he was commanded to leave, Lehi placed his faith in the Lord. Learning of the destruction of Jerusalem validated his faith.

He speaks of this land as a land of promise, “a land for the inheritance of my seed” (2 Nephi 1:5). those that come to this land will “be led out of other countries by the hand of the Lord … there shall none come into this land save they shall be brought by the hand of the Lord” (2 Nephi 1:5-6).

“[W]hen the time cometh that they shall dwindle in unbelief, after they have received so great blessings from the hand of the Lord … having power given them to do all things by faith … if … they … reject the Holy One of Israel, the true Messiah, their Redeemer and their God, behold, the judgments of him that is just shall rest upon them” (2 Nephi 1:10).

Here Lehi again emphasizes the importance of faith. They will receive power from the Lord “to do all things by faith.” When the lose their faith, they lose this power.

Lehi blessed Zoram because he had been faithful. It would have taken faith to have gone with Nephi into the wilderness. It took faith throughout the journey. His reward was a blessing upon him from Lehi.

As a part of Jacob’s blessing, he was commended for his faithfulness. Dealing with the problems and rebellions of his older brothers must have led to a hard childhood. He was fortunate to have Nephi as his brother. He saw the blessing he received through his faith. He learned the importance of faith throughout his life. As we will see later, Jacob was a powerful prophet to his people after the death of his brother.

Jacob is a great example of what we can become through our faith.

Lehi blesses his youngest son, Joseph. As he did for his other sons, as well as Zoram, he consecrated the promised land as a land of inheritance for both him and his posterity.

He spoke of Joseph, he who was carried into Egypt. He said he saw their day. The Lord promised him “that out of the fruit of his loins the Lord God would raise up a righteous branch unto the house of Israel” (2 Nephi 3:5). They would be remembered in the Lord’s covenants “that the Messiah should be made manifest unto them in the latter days” (2 Nephi 3:5).

Lastly, he called together the children of Laman. He gave them a blessing, that, if they are cursed, the cursing would be taken off them and placed upon the heads of the parents. The children of Lemuel also received the same blessing.

Sam’s family was told they would be numbered among the posterity of Nephi.

After Lehi’s death, Laman, Lemuel, and the sons of Ishmael were angry with him again, because of the Lord’s admonitions. Nephi then writes his great psalm.

16 Behold, my soul delighteth in the things of the Lord; and my heart pondereth continually upon the things which I have seen and heard.

17 Nevertheless, notwithstanding the great goodness of the Lord, in showing me his great and marvelous works, my heart exclaimeth: O wretched man that I am! Yea, my heart sorroweth because of my flesh; my soul grieveth because of mine iniquities.

18 I am encompassed about, because of the temptations and the sins which do so easily beset me.

19 And when I desire to rejoice, my heart groaneth because of my sins; nevertheless, I know in whom I have trusted.

20 My God hath been my support; he hath led me through mine afflictions in the wilderness; and he hath preserved me upon the waters of the great deep.

21 He hath filled me with his love, even unto the consuming of my flesh.

22 He hath confounded mine enemies, unto the causing of them to quake before me.

23 Behold, he hath heard my cry by day, and he hath given me knowledge by visions in the night-time.

24 And by day have I waxed bold in mighty prayer before him; yea, my voice have I sent up on high; and angels came down and ministered unto me.

25 And upon the wings of his Spirit hath my body been carried away upon exceedingly high mountains. And mine eyes have beheld great things, yea, even too great for man; therefore I was bidden that I should not write them.

26 O then, if I have seen so great things, if the Lord in his condescension unto the children of men hath visited men in so much mercy, why should my heart weep and my soul linger in the valley of sorrow, and my flesh waste away, and my strength slacken, because of mine afflictions?

27 And why should I yield to sin, because of my flesh? Yea, why should I give way to temptations, that the evil one have place in my heart to destroy my peace and afflict my soul? Why am I angry because of mine enemy?

28 Awake, my soul! No longer droop in sin. Rejoice, O my heart, and give place no more for the enemy of my soul.

29 Do not anger again because of mine enemies. Do not slacken my strength because of mine afflictions.

30 Rejoice, O my heart, and cry unto the Lord, and say: O Lord, I will praise thee forever; yea, my soul will rejoice in thee, my God, and the rock of my salvation.

31 O Lord, wilt thou redeem my soul? Wilt thou deliver me out of the hands of mine enemies? Wilt thou make me that I may shake at the appearance of sin?

32 May the gates of hell be shut continually before me, because that my heart is broken and my spirit is contrite! O Lord, wilt thou not shut the gates of thy righteousness before me, that I may walk in the path of the low valley, that I may be strict in the plain road!

33 O Lord, wilt thou encircle me around in the robe of thy righteousness! O Lord, wilt thou make a way for mine escape before mine enemies! Wilt thou make my path straight before me! Wilt thou not place a stumbling block in my way—but that thou wouldst clear my way before me, and hedge not up my way, but the ways of mine enemy.

34 O Lord, I have trusted in thee, and I will trust in thee forever. I will not put my trust in the arm of flesh; for I know that cursed is he that putteth his trust in the arm of flesh. Yea, cursed is he that putteth his trust in man or maketh flesh his arm.

35 Yea, I know that God will give liberally to him that asketh. Yea, my God will give me, if I ask not amiss; therefore I will lift up my voice unto thee; yea, I will cry unto thee, my God, the rock of my righteousness. Behold, my voice shall forever ascend up unto thee, my rock and mine everlasting God. Amen.

BOM and Faith, 1 Nephi 19, 21

Nephi was commanded by the Lord to make plates of ore to make a record of his people. He made a set of plates containing the record of his father, containing their journey through the wilderness and prophecies made by Lehi. He also made a record of his prophecies.

Making the plates was an act of faith. At the time he made the plates, he wrote “I knew not at the time when I made them that I should be commanded of the Lord to make these plates” (1 Nephi 19:2). As we know from the history of the translation of the Book of Mormon, Martin Harris lost the 116 pages of the manuscript, which contained the Book of Lehi. Joseph was commanded not to re-translate the Book of Lehi.

After completing the translation of Mormon’s record, he found a set of plates attached to the record. These were the small plates of Nephi, containing “an account engraven of the ministry of my people” (1 Nephi 9:3).

Even though, at the time, he did not know why he was commanded to make the second set of plates, he did so through his faith. And, through Nephi’s faith, we have “the ministry and the prophecies, the more plain and precious parts of them, should be written upon these plates; and that the things which were written should be kept for the instruction of my people, who should possess the land, and also for other wise purposes, which purposes are known unto the Lord” (1 Nephi 19:3).

Nephi adds, “I do not write anything upon plates save it be that I think it be sacred” (1 Nephi 19:6).

Nephi read two chapters of Isaiah (48 & 49) to his brethren. They asked when these chapters meant. “[A]re they to be understood according to things which are spiritual, which shall come to pass according to the spirit and not the flesh” (1 Nephi 22:1).

He explained what he had read “are things pertaining to things both temporal and spiritual; for it appears that the house of Israel, sooner or later, will be scattered upon all the face of the earth, and also among all nations” (1 Nephi 22:3).

After a detailed explanation, he concluded by telling his brethren, “if ye shall be obedient to the commandments, and endure to the end, ye shall be saved at the last day. And thus it is. Amen” (1 Nephi 22:31).

We again see his brethren lacked faith. They had been told to inquire of the Lord to understand things of the Spirit. Had they had faith, and inquired of the Lord, He would have made the meaning clear to them.

BOM and Faith - 1 Nephi 18

Chapter 18

The ship is finished—The births of Jacob and Joseph are mentioned—The company embarks for the promised land—The sons of Ishmael and their wives join in revelry and rebellion—Nephi is bound, and the ship is driven back by a terrible tempest—Nephi is freed, and by his prayer the storm ceases—The people arrive in the promised land. About 591–589 B.C.

Laman and Lemuel got their acts together. They worshiped the Lord and worked with Nephi as he built the ship.

As he built the ship, he “did pray oft unto the Lord; wherefore the Lord showed unto me great things” (1 Nephi 18:3). The Lord had promised Nephi he would guide him as he built the ship. This whole process required Nephi’s faith in the Lord. Through his faith, he knew the Lord would guide him.

Once the ship was finished, the Lord told Lehi it was time to board the ship and leave for the promised land. Throughout their journey, Lehi had shown faith in the Lord. They had no idea where they were going. They had no idea how long it would take. They had no idea what challenges they would face; yet, Lehi had the faith to have his family board the ship and head to the promised land.

After telling us the party boarded the ship, Nephi tells us, in one brief sentence, while they were traveling in the wilderness, two brothers were born. Jacob was the oldest and Joseph was the youngest.

After they “had been driven forth before the wind for the space of many days” (1 Nephi 18:9), Laman, Lemuel, the sons of Ishmael and their wives returned to their sinful ways. “[T]hey began to dance[1], and to sing, and to speak with much rudeness, yea, even that they did forget by what power they had been brought thither; yea, they were lifted up unto exceeding rudeness” (1 Nephi 18:9).

What did Joseph mean when he used the word “rudeness”? Webster’s 1828 dictionary defines it as savage and barbarous.

Nephi feared “the Lord should be angry with us, and smite us because of our iniquity, that we should be swallowed up in the depths of the sea” (1 Nephi 18:10). Nephi spoke to them, most likely calling on them to repent and obey the Lord’s commandments.

Laman and Lemuel became angry with Nephi. Once again, they complained, “[w]e will not that our younger brother shall be a ruler over us” (1 Nephi 18:10). Once again, we see Laman and Lemuel didn’t get it. They had no faith in the Lord. They were more concerned about the things of the world.

Nephi was tied up and abused. The Liahona was their compass, guiding them on the journey. Since it would only work as long as they had faith in the Lord, it ceased to function. They had no idea how they should steer the ship to arrive at the promised land.

For three days, there were storms and horrific weather. They became concerned they would die at sea; yet, they refused to free Nephi. During this time, Nephi continued to praise God. He placed his faith in the Lord. He did not fear what was happening.

Lehi said many things to them. Instead of listening, they threatened him and anyone else who defended Nephi.

After four days of this, they realized the “judgments of God were upon them, and that they must perish save that they should repent of their iniquities” (1 Nephi 18:15). They untied Nephi.

No sooner was Nephi freed than the Liahona began to work again. He prayed to the Lord. The winds ceased, the storm ended, and things calmed down.

The only thing that saved them was Nephi’s faith in the Lord. He trusted the Lord even when their destruction was a real possibility. Through his faith, they were saved and arrived at the promised land many days later. 

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[1] If there was room enough for them to dance, this implies it must have been a large ship.

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.