3:8
Joseph Smith had to be humbled as he translated how Joseph, who was sold into Egypt, prophecied about him by name. It would have been humbling/stressful/exciting to read this verse. "And I will give unto him a commandment that he shall do none other work, save the work which I shall command him. And I will make him great in mine eyes; for he shall do my work." How would it be to know that you wouldn't be doing any other work except for the work that God commands you to do. My mind would be racing at that. I'd likely be asking questions:
So does that mean that I'll never have a regular job?
How am I going to provide for my family?
Is this for the rest of my life? How long am I going to live?
Current prophets and apostles face similar anxiety I'm sure. It's got to be big to consider that, until you die, you are going to be in the calling and be very busy. There is no retirement. Your life is now God's and you're completely in his hands. I'm impressed with these men and their wives who are willing to sacrifice so much.
I would also be thankful and humbled to hear that the Lord would make me great in God's eyes. That would be comforting in a way to know that the pressure wasn't 100% on me to be great. I just needed to have faith and trust that God will make me what he needs.
It would be truly wild to know that Joseph had prophesied about me and now Nephi was also writing about me. Personally, I would be filled with self doubt and that I didn't possess the strength to be what God was expecting. It would be hard. I do have a testimony that God can strengthen anyone and that he will prepare a way for all of us to be successful in whatever calling that we have.
3:12
The Book of Mormon has many purposes. "Wherefore, the fruit of thy loins shall write; and the fruit of the loins of Judah shall write; and that which shall be written by the fruit of thy loins, and also that which shall be written by the fruit of the loins of Judah, shall grow together; unto the:
"confounding of false doctrines" How much false doctrine exists in the world today based on what has been taken out of the Bible? We have churches baptizing babies and believing that God, Jesus and the Holy Ghost are all one and completely unknowable. We have churches who think that only 144,000 people will make it to heaven. We have churches that teach that the purpose of this life is to simply confess that you're saved by Jesus. There are literally hundreds of significant false doctrines among the thousands of Christian churches.
"laying down of contentions" This should be true. The Book of Mormon works as the authority. If there were any person in our own church who started believing that we ought to baptize babies, the Book of Mormon would straighten them out. We shouldn't assume that, because we all belong to the same church that there would never be contentions about doctrine. I'm grateful that this book keeps us all straight.
"establishing peace among the fruit of thy loins" There is no organization that does more to bring people of different races and countries together than the church. Members of the church, who don't know each other, have a common understanding and trust that begins with the Book of Mormon.
"bringing them to the knowledge of their fathers in the latter days" Those descendants of the Lamanites are learning who their ancestors are. Just last night, Marci and I were watching an old Survivor that was set in Central America among the ruins of the Mayan people. The host talked about how they were a big mystery of who they were and what led to their destruction. Marci and I looked at each other and said, "you could just read the Book of Mormon and know!"
"also to the knowledge of my covenants, saith the Lord." Knowing the promises that have been made between God and man are essential in knowing our rsponsiblities and the promised blessings that will come to all of us if we are faithful. The same covenant that was made to Abraham was also made to the Nephites and, at times, the Lamanites. Knowing what we should do and what God will do for us allows us to have the right perspective about what this life is all about. If you are familiar with the covenants that God has made with us, you know the purpose of life. That's a great advantage!
3:21
"Because of their faith their words shall proceed forth out of my mouth unto their brethren who are the fruit of thy loins; and the weakness of their words will I make strong in their faith, unto the remembering of my covenant which I made unto thy fathers." This is an interesting verse. I like the idea that weak words can build strong faith. I think, when I teach or testify, I am overly concerned that I say things in an extremely effective way. When I review lessons that I've taught on the way home, I consider how I said things. I'm going about it in the wrong way. I simply need to pay attention whether the Spirit was there.
The weakest of words can build faith if the Spirit is involved. As I prepare, I should think less about the impressiveness of the lesson and more about what will bring the Spirit.
4:5
"But behold, my sons and my daughters, I cannot go down to my grave save I should leave a blessing upon you; for behold, I know that if ye are brought up in the way ye should go ye will not depart from it." I've witnessed, firsthand, the opposite of what Lehi is saying. I think a lot of parents could make the counter argument. There are many children, who grow up in the church, who fall away in adulthood - or even as teenagers. They are brought up in a certain way and then "depart from it." What is Lehi saying?
I think, generally, what he is saying is true. Whatever we teach a child in his or her youth, they'll believe that. In this case, Lehi is talking to the children of Laman. He knows how they will get off course because he's seen the future. He knows that these children will be raised with the belief that they were somehow wronged by Nephi. They will grow up hating the Nephites because of what they were taught. For whatever reason, I believe that raising someone in wickedness is more "sticky" than raising someone in righteousness. I think it has to do with the constant reinforcement of the world. If you raise a child to be negative and cynical, there are a lot of conditions, events, people who will support that. If you raise a child to be faithful and righteous, the world is actively working against that.
4:15
"And upon these I write the things of my soul, and many of the scriptures which are engraven upon the plates of brass. For my soul delighteth in the scriptures, and my heart pondereth them, and writeth them for the learning and the profit of my children." I'm curious what it means that his heart pondered the scriptures. I ponder the scriptures in my brain - less so with my heart. I think it has something to do with "feeling" the words. The scriptures can make us feel something. I think it's those feelings that produce change. The intellectual bounty contained in the scriptures isn't enough to affect my behavior.
If I feel loved, if I feel inspired, if I feel chastened - those feelings will have impact. If I increase my understanding of a principle - you could say that the only benefit of that knowledge is the feelings the knowledge produces - and is that enough for me to repent and improve.
4:17-18, 26
There aren't many scriptures that cause FEELINGS of comfort and reassurance than these. "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. I am encompassed about, because of the temptations and the sins which do so easily beset me." Now, many might not find comfort in these words - they may think, "Wow, if Nephi feels this way then I must be REALLY bad."
I think the majority don't feel that when they read Nephi's exclamation. Instead, they see that even the great Nephi had weaknesses. Even Nephi felt inadequate. Even Nephi felt pressure to be better. Even Nephi felt pain and grief about his iniquities. We all feel the same way. He sees temptations and sins "besetting" him. Beset means covered or studded with or surrounded by. He's not upset about the occasional sin or giving into an infrequent temptation. He's surrounded. He's covered.
We all, since we have front row seats, can clearly see our weaknesses. We see our weaknesses before we see anyone else's. It is easy to be hard on ourselves. It's possible that Nephi was being hard on himself - I'm sure of it. But it really illustrates that the greatest among us also feels sorrow because of continual transgression. If it were up to us to earn salvation, we've lost already.
He continues: "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?" We know that the creator of the universe is the one who died for us. God and Jesus and the Holy Ghost are at the controls and they are very good at saving all those who WANT to be saved. We shouldn't feel anxiety that we're going to make it. If we were getting in a race car with the driver who had one the last 1,000 races in a row, how stressed would we be about winning the race. We should feel that same comfort in knowing who is on our side throughout this plan of salvation.
4:19-20, 34
"And when I desire to rejoice, my heart groaneth because of my sins; nevertheless, I know in whom I have trusted. 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." Nephi knows that his salvation isn't totally up to him. His trust in himself isn't what is comforting him. It's his trust in Jesus. He knows that Christ is mighty to save and we can all rely on His merits. We must not trust in the arm of flesh - whether it's ours or any other human.
"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." Exactly.
4:27-30
Nephi asks a few questions in a row:
"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?"
These are great questions! He's wondering why he ever allows these things to happen considering what he knows. Don't we all ask these same questions regularly? I know I do. Nephi understands that his mortal body causes him to yield to sin. He knows that Satan is allowed to tempt us and giving in to those temptations ruins our peace. He, like me, gets angry at others. Dude. I get it. I can be on a spiritual high after church and then get so angry when someone drives too slow up our road and doesn't pull over. Why do I allow that to happen?? I feel you Nephi.
"Awake, my soul! No longer droop in sin. Rejoice, O my heart, and give place no more for the enemy of my soul. Do not anger again because of mine enemies. Do not slacken my strength because of mine afflictions. 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." This is about perspective. Nephi shouldn't be exclaiming "O wretched man that I am!" He shouldn't let his thoughts be filled with this remorse.
Instead, his heart should be filled with rejoicing. If we have Jesus present in our minds more consistently, we will not ever be feeling despair. Instead, we will be filled with hope and faith and excitement about the future.
4:31
"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?" I feel you Nephi. I want that same thing. Instead of being tempted to sin, we could build a deep aversion to it. If we have the right perspective in the forefront of our mind, we will shake at the appearance of sin. If there was an opportunity to sin immediately after walking out the doors of the temple, would we be tempted or would we shake? I say we would feel so much aversion for that sin that it wouldn't be a temptation at all.
The truth is, we must make ourselves shake at the appearance of sin. God will not do that for us.
4:32
"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!" If we are humble and teachable, the gates of hell will be permanently closed and the gates of heaven will be permanently open.
If we our hearts are broken and our spirits are contrite, we don't have pride. We don't place our needs above anyone else's. We are teachable and humble. We see the universe as it is. We are willing to repent. Someone with a broken heart and contrite spirit NEVER rebels against the Lord. They, more or less, stay on the path that leads to the tree of life.
4:35
"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." God wants to grant us those things that will lead to an eternal life with Him. He won't give us everything that we ask for. We must try to "ask not amiss." I think, as we better align ourselves with God, we will have an instinct about what we should be asking for.
For example, if I ask to win the lottery, that is likely not aligned with God's will for us. If we ask to receive an increased measure of faith, God will grant that. If we ask for strength to resist temptation, God will give that to us. God grants answers to our prayers - if our prayers align with his will. I think life is a continual refinement in aligning our will with God's. You know what will help with that - a broken heart and a contrite spirit.
5:1-2, 5
"Behold, it came to pass that I, Nephi, did cry much unto the Lord my God, because of the anger of my brethren. But behold, their anger did increase against me, insomuch that they did seek to take away my life." It appears that what Nephi was praying for was not what happened. It almost reads like he prayed for their anger to decrease and it increased. I have two things to say about this.
What we pray for isn't always what we receive. It very well could be that Nephi was praying for his brothers' anger to dissipate. In this case, the opposite of what he was praying for happened. Does this happen to us all? Yes. Often actually. What we pray earnestly for is NOT granted. In these times, we must have the perspective that our will is not perfectly matched to God's will and he sees more than we do. We don't have all of the information and must trust that he is doing what is best for us in the long run.
It's possible that Nephi was praying for strength or comfort for himself in the face of his brothers' anger. In fact, I think this is likely. Nephi knew, better than anyone, that his brothers' anger was NOT going to disappear. He knew it because he knew his brothers' natures. He also knew it because he had seen a vision of the future! So, he was likely praying for strength and wisdom in dealing with his brothers' anger. In fact, we read in verse 5: "And it came to pass that the Lord did warn me, that I, Nephi, should depart from them and flee into the wilderness, and all those who would go with me." This is the kind of direction that Nephi was likely praying for.
5:3, 6, 11
What troubles was Nephi causing for his brothers? "Yea, they did murmur against me, saying: 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. For behold, we will not have him to be our ruler; for it belongs unto us, who are the elder brethren, to rule over this people." They say that they don't like him because he seeks to be their ruler. Apparently, this has caused them "much trials." They want to murder him so that they are no longer afflicted. Afflicted by what? "His words." How had his words been so powerful that it caused their affliction?
The truth is, his words were simply instruction and constructive criticism spoken out of concern for the welfare of their souls. Unfortuantely, Nephi's words caused much guilt and possible embarrassment and plain discomfort. Nephi was probably a constant buzzkill to their partying. He spoke with the authority of God and this constant guidance was stifling for these brothers. They wanted to do what they wanted to do. Their dad was now dead and they should be free but this meddling brother is attempting to be another father to them and tell them what to do.
It's confusing to me why they didn't simply leave. I think it was greed on their part. They wanted to live free AND they wanted it all. They wanted the help and support of Nephi's side of the family. Nephi's side included: "Zoram and his family, and Sam, mine elder brother and his family, and Jacob and Joseph, my younger brethren, and also my sisters, and all those who would go with me." Laman and Lemuel wanted to control everyone. They wanted to rule over the entire group...ironically. If they simply left, all of the industrious people would be with the other group. They couldn't have that!
Sure enough, once Nephi's side left, their industrious group did experience abundance. "And the Lord was with us; and we did prosper exceedingly; for we did sow seed, and we did reap again in abundance. And we began to raise flocks, and herds, and animals of every kind."
5:10, 12-13
Why were they so successful? "And we did observe to keep the judgments, and the statutes, and the commandments of the Lord in all things, according to the law of Moses." They were obedient. They were faithful.
What aided them in their faithfulness is they turned to God for direction in how to live their lives. "And I, Nephi, had also brought the records which were engraven upon the plates of brass; and also the ball, or compass, which was prepared for my father by the hand of the Lord, according to that which is written." They had the scriptures. They had the Liahona. They were seeking direction from God through words written by prophets and direct revelation. It's a good system.
We have that same system. We have MORE scriptures than they did. We have the Book of Mormon. It didn't exist for the Nephites quite yet. We have the Holy Ghost to give us direction EXACTLY the same way as the Liahona did (our system is even wireless!). If we look upward for constant guidance about our lives, we will experience the same blessings as they did. "And it came to pass that we began to prosper exceedingly, and to multiply in the land."
5:17, 24
The Nephites didn't just exist. They didn't just provide food and then relax - which is exactly what Laman and Lemuel likely did. Instead, the Nephites worked to build a temple patterned after Solomon's. "And it came to pass that I, Nephi, did cause my people to be industrious, and to labor with their hands." Nephi wanted them to be busy doing productive things. Their industry would bless them but would also protect them from the sins that are always connected with idleness.
It is the same for us folks. We should all be anxiously engaged in something. Yesterday, I woke up and couldn't stand or move because of my back. It was random and very painful. I stayed in bed most of the day. Marci brought me food. I took a long nap. I was able to move to the couch but didn't feel like doing much more than watch TV. I must say that I'm not proud of yesterday. Nothing was accomplished. I didn't progress in any way. If I string together too many days like that, the sins of idleness will begin to manifest. I would digress as a human.
Fortunately, I feel better today and am back at it. :)
The Lamanites, however, strung together too many days of idleness. "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." It's interesting that it's because of the cursing that made them idle. I think if people thought it was a curse to be idle, they may be less likely to be idle.
Connected with idleness is "mischief and subtlety." I believe this to be true. With the constant pressure of the natural man and the temptations spinning around all of us, wickedness seeps into an idle mind. I wish it was the other way around - that, when you are idle, righteousness seeps into your being. But, alas, that's not how this works.
5:25
"And the Lord God said unto me: They shall be a scourge unto thy seed, to stir them up in remembrance of me; and inasmuch as they will not remember me, and hearken unto my words, they shall scourge them even unto destruction." The Lamanites are serving a good purpose in being a "scourge" for the Nephites. The Lamanites are creating opposition, affliction, violence, despair in the Nephites. When faced with affliction, the nature of good people is to turn towards God for help. So, the Lamanites are helping the Nephites look heavenward.
If the Nephites reach a point where their afflictions do not turn them to God, then destruction is the natural consequence. When this natural world, with it's trials and tribulations, is no longer helping us progress - then it may be better to be destroyed and see what happens in the next life...
5:27
I love what Nephi says about how they lived. "And it came to pass that we lived after the manner of happiness." What does it mean to live after the manner of happiness? I think that he's talking about joy. He's talking about peace. He's talking about contentment in the fact that you're on the right path doing the right thing at the right time. When we know this, we are feeling pure joy. The purest joy that there is.
The way to true peace and happiness is to live the gospel. So, Nephi is simply saying that they are following the gospel as they know it. They were obedient to the commandments of the Lord. This makes one happy. Plain and simple. If we look to other sources for happiness, we won't find it. We may think we have for a short time, but it's always temporary. Power, fame, riches may seem like they offer happiness but They. Do. Not.
By the way, we shouldn't take for granted that we know how to be truly happy. I think most of the world doesn't know. They are looking for cues about happiness and how to find it. Unfortunately, most TV shows and most advertisement suggests that happiness can be bought or drank or vacationed to. I don't see a ton of messaging in the media about how the path to true happiness is Jesus.
On a related note, if you haven't seen The Chosen, watch it. That show is all about how the path to happiness is Jesus.
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