Nephi is now in the promised land. The time is somewhere between 588 B.C. and 570 B.C. and will be until 2 Nephi 5. It is interesting that this is the time when he is commanded by the Lord to make a record of his life. The next time he mentions a specific year was when he was commanded by the Lord to make another record, one of his spiritual life.
So, in verse 1, we read that Nephi was commanded by the Lord to make a record of his people on plates of ore. Nephi shares with us that he engraved (1) the record of his father, (2) their journeyings in the wilderness, (3) the prophesies of his father, and (4) many of Nephi's own prophesies.
I thought a moment about the record that Lehi kept. He was probably commanded by the Lord to make a record, quite possibly at the time he was called to be a prophet. Like Nephi, Lehi probably wrote a lot of the important spiritual events up to that time in hindsight. But, who knows for sure. However, Nephi copied it down on his plate. We'll get more into this, but Nephi will share that his Large and Small Plates are for the prophets to hand them down from generation to generation. This would end up being Jacob's posterity for the rest of the Small Plates. But I wondered what happened to the actual record of Lehi. Nephi had made a copy of it and put it in his Large Plates (which were eventually translated by Joseph Smith taking up 116 pages of paper and such translation was stolen and/or lost while in the care of Martin Harris). I thought about this and I wonder if Lehi had given his copy of the record to Laman and Lemuel's posterity in hopes that it might convince them of the truth and to bring them to repentance. We can see Lehi's desire for such change in 2 Nephi 1:10-27 or thereabouts. But, who knows. : )
Wednesday, April 22, 2009
Tuesday, April 21, 2009
1 Nephi 18:23-EoC
In verse 23, we find our family sailing toward the promised land. After many days, they did arrive there. They went forth upon the land and pitched their tents and they called it the promised land. At the end of this verse, we can see that Nephi, and whoever else constitutes "we," were still drawing parallels to the Israelites and their journeyings in the wilderness to their own travels in the wilderness and the ocean. It is good to apply the scriptures to the present day.
Once they were there, they began to till the earth and plant seeds that they had brought from Jerusalem. Nephi shares that their crops grew abundantly and that they were blessed. This sentence shows his gratitude to the Lord for the things He had done for them at that time.
Nephi has also shared with us that they had found many useful things on this promised land. They had found (in verse 25) "that there were abeasts in the forests of every kind, both the cow and the ox, and the ass and the horse, and the goat and the wild goat, and all manner of wild animals, which were for the use of men. And we did find all manner of bore, both of cgold, and of silver, and of copper." They found these animals on explorations of their land.
They had landed on the promised land in about 589 B.C. Thus, it had been about 11 years since they left Jerusalem.
One of the curious animals named in the last verse of this chapter is horses. It has been contested that there were no horses in America at the time of the Book of Mormon. This comes from the idea that when the Spanish brought horses to the indigenous peoples of the Americas in the 16th and 17th centuries, they had never seen them before. The article "Evolution of Horses" from Wikipedia shows that about 50 years after Book of Mormon was translated to English, horse fossils and other remains were being discovered in the Americas.
Here is another excerpt from the Book of Mormon Institute Manual:
1 Nephi 18:24–25. Horses Before Columbus’s Time
“If Joseph Smith had been writing the Book of Mormon instead of translating it from ancient records, he would have been very foolish to have included references to horses on the American continent in Book of Mormon times. (1 Nephi 18:25; Enos [1:]21.) In 1830, nearly all the historians and scholars were convinced there had been no horses on the American continent before the coming of Columbus. After the Book of Mormon was published, however, archaeological discoveries were made that clearly indicate that horses were in the Americas before Columbus arrived. In the asphalt deposits of Rancho LaBrea in southern California, numerous fossil remains of horses have been found that antedate Book of Mormon times. Although these discoveries do not absolutely prove horses were in the Americas in the time period covered by the Book of Mormon (about 2600 B.C. to A.D. 421), they do prove horses were there before the coming of Columbus” (Daniel H. Ludlow, A Companion to Your Study of the Book of Mormon, p. 117).
Once they were there, they began to till the earth and plant seeds that they had brought from Jerusalem. Nephi shares that their crops grew abundantly and that they were blessed. This sentence shows his gratitude to the Lord for the things He had done for them at that time.
Nephi has also shared with us that they had found many useful things on this promised land. They had found (in verse 25) "that there were abeasts in the forests of every kind, both the cow and the ox, and the ass and the horse, and the goat and the wild goat, and all manner of wild animals, which were for the use of men. And we did find all manner of bore, both of cgold, and of silver, and of copper." They found these animals on explorations of their land.
They had landed on the promised land in about 589 B.C. Thus, it had been about 11 years since they left Jerusalem.
One of the curious animals named in the last verse of this chapter is horses. It has been contested that there were no horses in America at the time of the Book of Mormon. This comes from the idea that when the Spanish brought horses to the indigenous peoples of the Americas in the 16th and 17th centuries, they had never seen them before. The article "Evolution of Horses" from Wikipedia shows that about 50 years after Book of Mormon was translated to English, horse fossils and other remains were being discovered in the Americas.
Here is another excerpt from the Book of Mormon Institute Manual:
1 Nephi 18:24–25. Horses Before Columbus’s Time
“If Joseph Smith had been writing the Book of Mormon instead of translating it from ancient records, he would have been very foolish to have included references to horses on the American continent in Book of Mormon times. (1 Nephi 18:25; Enos [1:]21.) In 1830, nearly all the historians and scholars were convinced there had been no horses on the American continent before the coming of Columbus. After the Book of Mormon was published, however, archaeological discoveries were made that clearly indicate that horses were in the Americas before Columbus arrived. In the asphalt deposits of Rancho LaBrea in southern California, numerous fossil remains of horses have been found that antedate Book of Mormon times. Although these discoveries do not absolutely prove horses were in the Americas in the time period covered by the Book of Mormon (about 2600 B.C. to A.D. 421), they do prove horses were there before the coming of Columbus” (Daniel H. Ludlow, A Companion to Your Study of the Book of Mormon, p. 117).
Monday, April 20, 2009
1 Nephi 18:20-22
In verse 20, Nephi reiterates that his brethren were in such a state that there was only one thing that could get their attention and help them do what was right. And that thing was the power of God. He sent a storm in the ocean, which probably meant lots of waves, thunder, and lightening threatening to swallow them up in the sea. And when they realized that their very existence was at stake, then they tried following the pleadings of everyone else and untie Nephi.
When they did so, Nephi took the compass and it began to work. He then prayed to God and presumably plead with Him to calm the storm, because after he prayed the winds ceased, the storm ceased, and there was a great calm. Then Nephi guided the ship towards the promised land.
I want to think about the great calm that Nephi describes. It stands out to me because, if you think about it, the storm had been raging for four days, and then when things stopped you could sense the calm more so than usual. Sometimes it is like that with life for me. If you watch too much TV or radio, then when you turn it off, you notice the calm. Or, if you can't turn off the interruptions of life, you long for the calm and seek it. This is a good thing because in the calm you can perceive the Spirit and receive instructions from the Lord about your life, just as Nephi did in order to guide the boat to the promised land.
When they did so, Nephi took the compass and it began to work. He then prayed to God and presumably plead with Him to calm the storm, because after he prayed the winds ceased, the storm ceased, and there was a great calm. Then Nephi guided the ship towards the promised land.
I want to think about the great calm that Nephi describes. It stands out to me because, if you think about it, the storm had been raging for four days, and then when things stopped you could sense the calm more so than usual. Sometimes it is like that with life for me. If you watch too much TV or radio, then when you turn it off, you notice the calm. Or, if you can't turn off the interruptions of life, you long for the calm and seek it. This is a good thing because in the calm you can perceive the Spirit and receive instructions from the Lord about your life, just as Nephi did in order to guide the boat to the promised land.
Friday, April 17, 2009
1 Nephi 18:17-19
So, we come back to our story where Nephi is sharing with us the attempts of his family to free him. In verse 17, we learn that Lehi had tried to talk with Laman, Lemuel, and the sons of Ishmael many times to convince them to let Nephi go. Nephi says that they did breathe out many threatenings against those who spoke on behalf of Nephi. At that point, Lehi and Saraiah, who have now become elderly, had been so worried about their children doing things just like this for so many years, that it made them sick. They were so sick that they had become bed-ridden. Thus, because of their grief and the iniquity of Laman and Lemuel and the sons of Ishmael, they nearly perished. The language here is interesting. In verse 18, Nephi writes the scene as thus:
"...yea, their agrey hairs were about to be brought down to lie low in the dust; yea, even they were near to be cast with sorrow into a watery grave."
It is so sad! Nephi further mentions that Jacob and Joseph, the two youngest sons of Lehi and Sariah, who were born in the wilderness, were so sad to see that their mother was so sorrowful and afflicted. Nephi shares that they were at this time still very young and needed much nourishment.
Here's the clincher, and Nephi waits to share these efforts from his family last, i.e., the efforts of his wife and children. I believe that this is the only time that he speaks of them in these plates. He says that not even his wife's tears and prayers, along with those of his children, could not soften the hearts of their brethren to loose Nephi's bands and let him free.
How could they be so hard? Well, in the past we've seen that only one being has been able to convince Laman and Lemuel to do what is right. It is interesting that He has helped them do what is right up to this point, because His plan for them is to get the whole family to the Americas, in order to prepare a place for many of His children to dwell with agency to choose right from wrong. Next time we shall discuss this more.
"...yea, their agrey hairs were about to be brought down to lie low in the dust; yea, even they were near to be cast with sorrow into a watery grave."
It is so sad! Nephi further mentions that Jacob and Joseph, the two youngest sons of Lehi and Sariah, who were born in the wilderness, were so sad to see that their mother was so sorrowful and afflicted. Nephi shares that they were at this time still very young and needed much nourishment.
Here's the clincher, and Nephi waits to share these efforts from his family last, i.e., the efforts of his wife and children. I believe that this is the only time that he speaks of them in these plates. He says that not even his wife's tears and prayers, along with those of his children, could not soften the hearts of their brethren to loose Nephi's bands and let him free.
How could they be so hard? Well, in the past we've seen that only one being has been able to convince Laman and Lemuel to do what is right. It is interesting that He has helped them do what is right up to this point, because His plan for them is to get the whole family to the Americas, in order to prepare a place for many of His children to dwell with agency to choose right from wrong. Next time we shall discuss this more.
Thursday, April 16, 2009
1 Nephi 18:16
Well, Nephi has been tied up on a boat for four days. What would you do if your brothers tied you up for four days? Possibly outside in a terrible storm? My first thoughts would be plans of getting them back somehow. I want to say that I would be like Nephi in verse 16. He says that he did look to his God all the day long. He did not murmur against Him because of his afflictions. This is incredible. We have our own set of afflictions. Do we murmur to God because of them? Or do we look to Him for help, guidance, and strength through them? Let's think about that until next time. I know that we can get help. This is because Jesus Christ has paid already for our pains and sins. Here is another scripture from Alma that conveys this message (Alma 7:11-12):
"11 And he shall go forth, suffering pains and aafflictions and btemptations of every kind; and this that the word might be fulfilled which saith he will ctake upon him the pains and the sicknesses of his people.
"11 And he shall go forth, suffering pains and aafflictions and btemptations of every kind; and this that the word might be fulfilled which saith he will ctake upon him the pains and the sicknesses of his people.
"12 And he will take upon him adeath, that he may bloose the bands of death which bind his people; and he will take upon him their infirmities, that his bowels may be filled with mercy, according to the flesh, that he may know according to the flesh how to csuccor his people according to their infirmities."
(Try searching more about these topics in the footnote links!)
(Try searching more about these topics in the footnote links!)
Wednesday, April 15, 2009
1 Nephi 18:13-15
Laman and Lemuel have just tied up their brother Nephi and in verse 13, they attempted to steer the ship towards the promised land. But, to no surprise, they did not know where to steer the ship, because the Liahona was not working. This will help tell you how hard-headed they were, because when Nephi was tied up, there arose a storm that threatened to drown them all into the sea. They were frightened for their lives, but they did not untie Nephi. This situation persisted for three days. For three days they were driven back upon the waters.
On the fourth day, the storm got even bigger.
Nephi shares that for the space of four days they had been driven back and nearly drowned, that it was then that Laman and Lemuel began to see that it was the judgments of God that were upon them, and that they must repent or perish. Well, when they realized that their lives were at stake, then they would rather untie Nephi than die. They loosened the bands around Nephi's wrists and ankles. They had swollen exceedingly, Nephi says, and great was the soreness.
Even though we have an outside perspective on how Laman and Lemuel's decisions affect their situations and we say, duh, after one day you two should have know that your actions caused this. I can tell you that when you have fallen into a snare by the evil one, you might not realize it. The carnal mind can be appeased so much that you don't realize what you're thinking. Even if the people on the outside looking in can easily see that you have been drawn in, you will think they do not know what they're talking about and you shun them. I have seen people in these situations. They are so stuck that you cannot get through to them. You just have to pray that something will happen to wake them out of it, that they can realize what they're doing.
Fortunately, Laman and Lemuel did realize what they were doing, but not due to the pleadings of others, which we'll talk about in the next few days.
On the fourth day, the storm got even bigger.
Nephi shares that for the space of four days they had been driven back and nearly drowned, that it was then that Laman and Lemuel began to see that it was the judgments of God that were upon them, and that they must repent or perish. Well, when they realized that their lives were at stake, then they would rather untie Nephi than die. They loosened the bands around Nephi's wrists and ankles. They had swollen exceedingly, Nephi says, and great was the soreness.
Even though we have an outside perspective on how Laman and Lemuel's decisions affect their situations and we say, duh, after one day you two should have know that your actions caused this. I can tell you that when you have fallen into a snare by the evil one, you might not realize it. The carnal mind can be appeased so much that you don't realize what you're thinking. Even if the people on the outside looking in can easily see that you have been drawn in, you will think they do not know what they're talking about and you shun them. I have seen people in these situations. They are so stuck that you cannot get through to them. You just have to pray that something will happen to wake them out of it, that they can realize what they're doing.
Fortunately, Laman and Lemuel did realize what they were doing, but not due to the pleadings of others, which we'll talk about in the next few days.
Tuesday, April 14, 2009
1 Nephi 18:12
We come back into the story of our family crossing the ocean to the Americas. Nephi's brothers and the sons of Ishmael do not like being told what to do. Especially because their behavior was wicked and they are in a state of aversion to truth and correction. In verse 12, they tie Nephi up. Nephi makes two good connections here in the second part of the verse. He says that the Liahona which had been prepared by the Lord ceased to work. He is showing us that when they were not righteous, they did not have direction from the Lord with the compass. And since Nephi says that it was prepared by the Lord, then when it ceased to work, it was a manifestation that the Lord did not approve of their actions. Laman and Lemuel have seen the power of God already manifest in their lives. They have seen the commandments of God fulfilled, e.g. getting the brass plates, angels, Laban delivered to their hands, getting Ishmael and his family to come with them, wives to marry, being shocked by Nephi using the power of God, and the list goes on. They should know by now that when the Liahona ceases to work, then the power can be manifest. Why would they tempt Him again?
Last night in family scripture study, we read more about the Liahona when Alma passed it down to his son Helaman, a tradition that has happened from generation to generation since Nephi, about 520 years later. In Alma 37:38, Alma begins his connection from Lehi's family following the Liahona to get to the promised land to us following Christ to get to heaven. His comment in verses 41-42 is the connection to what just happened on the boat that I wanted to mention:
"41 Nevertheless, because those miracles were worked by small means it did show unto them marvelous works. They were slothful, and forgot to exercise their faith and diligence and then those marvelous works ceased, and they did not progress in their journey;
Last night in family scripture study, we read more about the Liahona when Alma passed it down to his son Helaman, a tradition that has happened from generation to generation since Nephi, about 520 years later. In Alma 37:38, Alma begins his connection from Lehi's family following the Liahona to get to the promised land to us following Christ to get to heaven. His comment in verses 41-42 is the connection to what just happened on the boat that I wanted to mention:
"41 Nevertheless, because those miracles were worked by small means it did show unto them marvelous works. They were slothful, and forgot to exercise their faith and diligence and then those marvelous works ceased, and they did not progress in their journey;
"42 Therefore, they tarried in the wilderness, or did not travel a direct course, and were afflicted with hunger and thirst, because of their transgressions."
From these verses, it seems that there were some times that the Liahona did not work for them during their travels in the wilderness. This connects to the boat situation, because I believe that this is the first time that Nephi mentions the Liahona ceasing to work for them because of their wickedness, even though in the beginning when they found it he said that the spindles worked according to their faith and diligence. I find that it is interesting that Mormon, the abridger of Nephi's recordings on the small plates or possibly Nephi himself, only shared the account of the broken bow as one of the trials in the wilderness. It is likely then, that the other trials and activities did not have much importance for our day. They could have, but I find it interesting that this is what we have. Let us study them and draw conclusions for our lives with the aid of the Spirit.
From these verses, it seems that there were some times that the Liahona did not work for them during their travels in the wilderness. This connects to the boat situation, because I believe that this is the first time that Nephi mentions the Liahona ceasing to work for them because of their wickedness, even though in the beginning when they found it he said that the spindles worked according to their faith and diligence. I find that it is interesting that Mormon, the abridger of Nephi's recordings on the small plates or possibly Nephi himself, only shared the account of the broken bow as one of the trials in the wilderness. It is likely then, that the other trials and activities did not have much importance for our day. They could have, but I find it interesting that this is what we have. Let us study them and draw conclusions for our lives with the aid of the Spirit.
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