1 Nephi 16:14-16

We talked a little last time about the food situation of Lehi and his family. In verse 14, Nephi tells us that they used bows and arrows to slay food for their families, most likely meaning that they hunted the local game of the area. It seems that they all stopped in Shazer. The men went hunting for their families. Then they returned to Shazer where their families were and again commenced their journey in the nearly south-southeast direction. Of course the area around the Arabian desert is very arid. This is one of the reasons they needed the Liahona. The Lord could direct them through the most fertile parts of the wilderness at that time of the year, along or near the shores of the Red Sea. This is what He did. Nephi also adds that in addition to their bows and arrows, they used stones and slings to slay food.

To me, this sounds like a lot of hard work. I know that hard work will teach us many things, spiritual and physical, that nothing else can. I would have learned to rely on the Lord as I do now, but perhaps in a more direct and personal way. We shall see that they were very blessed. We shall also see that this journey was a large trial for them and their faith may waver. I couldn't exactly say what I would do in their situation. I would hope that I could bear the trials without complaint, like Nephi did, but I don't think anyone will know unless they would be called to go through the exact same thing.

However, we are called to go through trials, and this seems to be a common theme in this first book. We will see again examples of how we are supposed to handle trials and how we need to be stronger than some. This is quite easier said than done. One last thought. We can always call upon the Lord for help with our trials. He has given us the invitation and the promise (Matthew 11:28-30):

"Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light."

1 Nephi 16:11-13

In verse 11, we find our family gathering together what they plan to use on their long journey to keep them sustained. They gather short-term items for their journey to the sea and long-term items for their stay in the promised land. We shall see in the future exactly what those things were as they use them. They do mention that they were bringing seeds with them. Would they use seeds in the wilderness? I don't think so. Seeds would be for the promised land, to help them be sustained for the long-term. It is also worthy to note that all these things were given to them by the Lord. What a special experience. But, come to think about it, all that we have is given to us by the Lord, too. Here, Nephi acknowledges that. I wonder how often we acknowledge that hand of the Lord in our lives.

Then, Lehi and his family take up their tents and leave the Valley of Lemuel. They travel in a south-southeast direction for four days and pitch their tents in a place they called Shazer. The footnote on Shazer states that it comes from the Hebrew word for twisting or intertwining. This is interesting because it seems that they could have been winding through canyons, etc., on this leg of their journey.

Here is a proposed map outlining their journey with some of the scriptural references that were given by Nephi. What do you think about this map? Is it accurate from what you've read? We can verify our opinion based on the scriptures that we've read and those to come.

1 Nephi 16:10

Starting in verse 10, we are introduced to an object of curious workmanship. On the morning of their intended journey into the wilderness, Lehi finds this object on his tent door step. It says that he was greatly astonished. It was made of fine brass. There were two spindles in it and one pointed the way they should go in the wilderness. It is interesting to note that the actual word Liahona was only mentioned once in the Book of Mormon. It wasn't even at the time Lehi's family used it. In Alma 37:38, Alma is speaking to his son Helaman and gives more information about the Liahona than we see in this chapter (and we will be introduced to more of its characteristics later on). He says that the word liahona means compass. Alma relates the story of Lehi's family traveling in the wilderness, and that the compass guides them. He also says that this is a type of things spiritual. If we follow the commandments of God, we will be making our course towards heaven to live with Him. The Liahona worked by faith. If we do not use faith and follow the commandments, we will be just as if we are going around in circles here in life and not progress towards the kingdom of God. As a side note, Alma also said that the Liahona was prepared by God and the workmanship was so good, at a level too high for man to craft or produce. The Liahona was eventually passed down from father to son. Alma was probably giving this speech to his son Helaman when he was passing the Liahona to him, along with the charge to maintain their records.

Here is an excerpt from the Book of Mormon Institute Manual:

Like the Urim and Thummim, the Liahona was a physical device that aided in the coming forth of revelation. Mechanically, it pointed the direction of travel for Lehi’s family (see 1 Nephi 16:10). The Liahona, however, had more than a mechanical function. The arrows or pointers only worked according to faith (see v. 28). Even more remarkable, on the ball appeared writing which instructed and exhorted Lehi’s family (see vv. 26–27, 29). Nephi indicated that the writings were “plain to be read” and gave “understanding concerning the ways of the
Lord” (v. 29). The Liahona was indeed a remarkable instrument. In it Alma saw a type or symbol of the word of God, or the gospel (see Alma 37:38-47). The Liahona was treasured by the writers of the Book of Mormon and seems to have been passed on with the plates. It, along with the plates, the Urim and Thummim, the breastplate, and the sword of Laban were shown to the Three Witnesses by Moroni (see Doctrine & Covenants 17:1).

So, let us be faithful, and not slothful, in following the commandments of the Lord and pay attention to the writings He has given through the mouths of His holy prophets in the scriptures and the conference issues of the Ensign. To help, here is a link to the latest conference issue of the Ensign. (Click on November.)

1 Nephi 16:7-9

Verse 7 is about the time when Nephi, his brothers, and Zoram take of the daughters of Ishmael to wife. Nephi takes one, Laman, Lemuel, and Sam take one, and Zoram took the oldest daughter. If we remember back to 1 Nephi 7, it says that Ishmael came with his wife, two sons and their families (which means that they probably already had wives and children), two daughters (that had the same disposition as Laman and Lemuel), and three other daughters (that had the same disposition as Nephi, Sam, and Zoram). It is neat to see that these two families were so complimentary. So, it was probably a happy occasion when they got married, because Laman and Lemuel were humble at this time.

In verse 8, Nephi mentions that up to this point, Lehi had followed all the commandments of the Lord, and that he, Nephi, had been blessed by the Lord exceedingly. He probably was thinking of a lot of things when he said that last part. Perhaps his new wife was foremost on his mind.

If you think about it, there was a lot that transpired in this place, the valley of Lemuel. I wonder how long they were there. Finally, in verse 9, the Lord tells Lehi that on the morrow they will be packing up their tents and continuing their journey in the wilderness.

It is apropos that we talk about the marriages of Lehi's sons and Zoram. Yesterday was my third year anniversary. I am happy and share in Nephi's comment, that I too have been blessed by the Lord exceedingly.

1 Nephi 16:4-6

Nephi is finishing up a long talk with his brothers about keeping the commandments. All he states about the end of their discussion, which included the meaning of Lehi's dream, is that he exhorted them with all diligence to keep the commandments of the Lord. Then Nephi's brothers humble themselves before the Lord. This is a great thing. Then, because of this, Nephi has great hopes for them, that they would keep the commandments and walk in the paths of righteousness.

I think of how this scripture applies today. We should always exhort our family to live the commandments, when the time is right, as prompted by the Holy Ghost. Nephi's brothers are teachable at this moment because the Spirit was in their conversation. An applicable cross-reference can be found in Matthew 18:20, which says, "For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them."

We now come to the end of the conversations, vision, and all the events surrounding Lehi's dream because verse 6 states that all these things were done while their father dwelt in a tent in the valley of Lemuel.

1 Nephi 16:1-3

After Nephi says all that he does to his brothers, Laman and Lemuel, they feel that he has declared hard things against them. This is true. Remember that he had just told them that if you are wicked and die in your sins, that you would go to hell, dwell with the devil forever, and not be in the kingdom of God and dwell with Him. That's pretty harsh to tell righteous people.

Then Nephi acknowledges that he has told them harsh things. His reason that they would take preaching repentance hard is that the wicked take the truth to be harsh and it cutteth them to the very center. They know that they are doing something that they shouldn't. They might even be prideful. But because the Spirit is not with them, they are not humble enough to accept correction when it is given to them. They react harshly because of it.

A good cross reference to this is 2 Nephi 9:40. A portion of the verse states (I believe that Jacob is speaking), " I know that the words of truth are hard against all uncleanness; but the righteous fear them not, for they love the truth and are not shaken." The part that I want to emphasize here is that the righteous love the truth when they are told to repent or follow the commandments, and they are not shaken at those times. For example, when you are paying a full tithing or living the law of chastity, and you hear a talk or lesson on following those laws, you are happy and love the truth about the law and the fact that you are living it, you aren't shaken or disturbed by them. So, in the future, if you hear something at church or in conference and seems harsh to your or cutteth to your center against you, then evaluate that topic and see if you are living the way you should. Then the Holy Ghost will help you know what to change and how.

1 Nehi 15:36 (EoC)

The Book of Mormon institute manual has a quote from President Kimball based off the post from yesterday:

President Spencer W. Kimball made it clear that people cannot escape the consequences of unworthy acts: “Every soul must stand trial and pay the uttermost farthing in one way or another. Escape from the consequences of acts of free agency is an impossibility. No one, however clever, bypasses the ‘due reward of our deeds.’ There are dark, deep corners, locked rooms, isolated spots, but no act, good or bad; no thought, ugly or beautiful, ever escapes being seen or heard. Every one will make the imprint on the individual and be recorded, to be met and paid for. Hence, one only deceives himself to think he is ‘getting by’ with anything improper” (The Teachings of Spencer W. Kimball, p. 155).

Chapter 15 of 1 Nephi ends with this thought: after the judgment, the wicked are rejected from the righteous, from the tree of life whose fruit is the most precious and desirable thing, the greatest of the gifts of God.

It was interesting to think that when Lehi tasted of the fruit of the tree so prominent in the last few chapters, he immediately learned of its goodness and immediately wanted his family to partake of it and feel of that goodness, too. I thought about whether or not I have this same attitude that if I want to share with my family the ways that I have found to partake of the love of God. Going to church, praying, reading the scriptures, and pondering them are only a few of the ways that I have found that allow me to feel of His love. Have you shared these things with your family and loved ones?

1 Nephi 15:33-35

Here is proof that tomorrow may never come, and that putting things off until then may never get done by then or at all. : )

In verse 33, Nephi mentions some very deep doctrine. Continuing from verse 32, Nephi says that there will be a time when men are judged according to their works while in the temporal body. This means here on earth, we will be judged for the things that we do here. In the latter part of verse 33, Nephi testifies that if their works were filthiness the person must be filthy and they cannot dwell in the kingdom of God (or be saved) because then the kingdom of God will be filthy, and this cannot be. So, this is an action by the person's choice. Not everyone will be saved. In verse 35, Nephi states that God has prepared a place for them that do not choose to follow the commandments. This verse also mentions that this place is prepared for the final state of the souls of those that do not follow the commandments.

There is a time given to all men to prepare to meet God. The cross-reference from 1 Nephi 15:33a points to Mosiah 15:26. It says that those, "that have wilfully rebelled against God, that have known the commandments of God, and would not keep them; these are they that have no part in the first resurrection." This means that there is a level of knowledge that has to be gained before their judgement comes to pass. They have to know the commandments of God and not keep them. I believe that there are many that do not develop a full knowledge of the commandments of God here on the earth. We believe that they are learning these things or have a chance to learn them in the hereafter. Then they will have a chance to accept the knowledge and obey the commandments or reject it. If they reject it, then I believe they are likely to fall into the category of being cast out. However, I want to say that Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ are the judges of this. We cannot say for sure who will or will not be saved. Heavenly Father has laid down the law (given the commandments) and Jesus had made the atonement (interceding for us to offset the law and allow us to be save if we repent). What an amazing thing.

I know that we will be blessed if we accept the commandments and follow them as best we can here in our mortal existence. Just like gaining every bit of knowledge we can here on the earth before we die (see Doctrine and Covenants 130:18-19), so it will be better for us in the life to come the more we obey the commandments here and now.

1 Nephi 15:31-32

Nephi continues to talk about the meaning of the river of water in Lehi's dream. It is a representation of the justice of God. Nephi's brothers then ask if it refers to things that are temporal or spiritual. Did it refer to the mortal probation or the state of the soul after death? Nephi answers that it pertains to things both temporal and spiritual. The justice of God will be seen at the Day of Judgment, where men will be judged of their works while they were here in mortality. Their question produces a response from Nephi that clears up this important issue, which is one of the things the Book of Mormon has that the Bible is not clear on. We will talk more about this tomorrow. : )