1 Nephi 7:8-15

In this section of Chapter 7, Nephi is talking with his brothers and trying to help them know what is right and do it. They want to go back to Jerusalem. Nephi knows that the city will soon be destroyed and doesn't want them to be destroyed along with it. It is interesting here because Laman and Lemuel have not been very nice and supportive to Nephi. They've even beaten him with a rod. They always murmur against him. It is amazing to me, that Nephi has so much love for them to say at this time, don't go back and be destroyed. I think that it would be hard not to say to them, "Okay, fine, go back and live at Jerusalem and be destroyed. See you in the next life."

He reminds them that they need to have faith that the Lord is leading them to a better land. They need to be appreciative of the things the Lord has done for them. For example, in addition to being led to a great new land, being able to get the brass plates, and seeing an angel. I think that Nephi then thinks of the words the angel, that if Laman and Lemuel weren't obedient, Nephi would be the teacher and ruler over them. I think that this prompts him to say, "Why do I have to be this example for you?" I think that Nephi really wanted them to step up to the challenge and "be men," as he puts in a later, but similar speech. He then says that they should be faithful to the Lord and obey His commandments.

He reiterates that the people at Jerusalem are not righteous and will be destroyed. He also says that the Spirit does not dwell there and you do not want to go where the Spirit isn't. This is good advise for our day. We don't want to go to places where we know the Spirit never goes.

Nephi finished his words at this time by saying again if you go to Jerusalem you will be killed. (It seems like he said that a lot in this section. I hope that I've counted right about when he says not to go back and how often.) Then he ends with a statement that the Spirit was constraining him to speak these things to them. Just like Laman and Lemuel, we need to listen when our spiritual leaders speak to us under the guidance of the Spirit.