"20 And he hath said that: aInasmuch as ye shall keep my bcommandments ye shall cprosper in the land; but inasmuch as ye will not keep my commandments ye shall be cut off from my presence."
Lehi does not want his sons and their posterity to be cursed and led by the devil for generations. He wishes them to be a choice and favored people of the Lord. These desires mirror what he has thought for many years. He has even dreamed about it. It is a part of Lehi's dream.
We turn for a moment to 1 Nephi 8. Lehi has seen his dream and is about to share it with his family. He begins by saying that he is happy for Nephi and Sam and has reason to believe that they and their posterity will be saved. In verse 4 we read, "4 But behold, aLaman and Lemuel, I fear exceedingly because of you..." He does not think this is the case for Laman and Lemuel. Lehi then sees the tree with the precious fruit, walks along the path to it, and partakes of the fruit. He wants to share it with his family. They all come and eat, except Laman and Lemuel. He does not find them at first. In verse 17, we read:
"17 And it came to pass that I was desirous that Laman and Lemuel should come and partake of the fruit also; wherefore, I cast mine eyes towards the head of the river, that perhaps I might see them.
Lehi does not want his sons and their posterity to be cursed and led by the devil for generations. He wishes them to be a choice and favored people of the Lord. These desires mirror what he has thought for many years. He has even dreamed about it. It is a part of Lehi's dream.
We turn for a moment to 1 Nephi 8. Lehi has seen his dream and is about to share it with his family. He begins by saying that he is happy for Nephi and Sam and has reason to believe that they and their posterity will be saved. In verse 4 we read, "4 But behold, aLaman and Lemuel, I fear exceedingly because of you..." He does not think this is the case for Laman and Lemuel. Lehi then sees the tree with the precious fruit, walks along the path to it, and partakes of the fruit. He wants to share it with his family. They all come and eat, except Laman and Lemuel. He does not find them at first. In verse 17, we read:
"17 And it came to pass that I was desirous that Laman and Lemuel should come and partake of the fruit also; wherefore, I cast mine eyes towards the head of the river, that perhaps I might see them.
"18 And it came to pass that I saw them, but they would anot come unto me and partake of the fruit."
Laman and Lemuel are discussed at the end of the chapter. In verses 35-38, we read:
"35 And aLaman and Lemuel partook not of the fruit, said my father.
Lehi has spoken with Laman and Lemuel many times like this. Such exhortation and prophesies require and are much labor in the Spirit. If we know someone is not following the commandments, how much do we testify to them and exhort them to follow the commandments?
We know that the fruit of the tree is the gospel and the love of God. Laman and Lemuel did not want to be a part of that. This is what worries Lehi. Their behavior indicates that they are not converted and won't anytime soon. Lehi is about to die and is pleading desperately with them to follow the commandments and be a part of the gospel. Lehi is pulling the last card in his deck. The ace. The clincher. However, it is still up to Laman and Lemuel to follow.
In verse 20 (of 2 Nephi 1), Lehi again quotes the Lord. Inasmuch as you follow the commandments you will prosper. If you do not, you will be cut off from His presence. I wonder if we are like Laman and Lemuel, in that the Lord has to sometimes tell is straight out and several times. We have Stake Conference this week. What messages will we hear?
Laman and Lemuel are discussed at the end of the chapter. In verses 35-38, we read:
"35 And aLaman and Lemuel partook not of the fruit, said my father.
"36 And it came to pass after my father had spoken all the words of his dream or vision, which were many, he said unto us, because of these things which he saw in a vision, he exceedingly feared for Laman and Lemuel; yea, he feared lest they should be cast off from the presence of the Lord.
"37 And he did aexhort them then with all the feeling of a tender parent, that they would hearken to his words, that perhaps the Lord would be merciful to them, and not cast them off; yea, my father did preach unto them.
"38 And after he had preached unto them, and also prophesied unto them of many things, he bade them to keep the commandments of the Lord; and he did cease speaking unto them."
Lehi has spoken with Laman and Lemuel many times like this. Such exhortation and prophesies require and are much labor in the Spirit. If we know someone is not following the commandments, how much do we testify to them and exhort them to follow the commandments?
We know that the fruit of the tree is the gospel and the love of God. Laman and Lemuel did not want to be a part of that. This is what worries Lehi. Their behavior indicates that they are not converted and won't anytime soon. Lehi is about to die and is pleading desperately with them to follow the commandments and be a part of the gospel. Lehi is pulling the last card in his deck. The ace. The clincher. However, it is still up to Laman and Lemuel to follow.
In verse 20 (of 2 Nephi 1), Lehi again quotes the Lord. Inasmuch as you follow the commandments you will prosper. If you do not, you will be cut off from His presence. I wonder if we are like Laman and Lemuel, in that the Lord has to sometimes tell is straight out and several times. We have Stake Conference this week. What messages will we hear?
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