1 Nephi 1

Lehi and a pillar of fire

I will only comment briefly on the first few chapters in First Nephi.  Even in the opening passages of The Book of Mormon, if a reader is alert and attentive, and if a reader pauses to listen with his or her heart, he or she will begin to feel the whisperings of the Holy Ghost.  And it really is a whisper.  It is quieter than quiet, and more still than stillness, but it pierces to the heart, enlightens the mind, and causes the soul to expand with a feeling of joy.

The things that stand out to me will differ from those that stand out to you, because of our different circumstances, but I invite anyone who would like to read along with me to comment on anything that speaks to them personally.  The Book of Mormon is much too rich and too complex to be able to expound upon everything, but one or two impressions or insights should suffice.

In the first place, I was impressed with Lehi's attitude in prayer.  Nephi's preface to his book and the first chapter make it clear that The Book of Mormon begins as a record that is focused on Jesus Christ and the family.  As soon as Lehi caught wind of prophetic exhortations to repentance, and as soon as he understood that the great city of Jerusalem was on the brink of destruction, he turned to the Lord.  

In verses 5 and 6 we learn that Lehi prayed unto the Lord, and that his prayer was earnest and sincere because he prayed "even with all his heart, in behalf of his people."  Lehi loved his people and did not wish for their destruction.  But no matter how strong was his love for his people, the pillar of fire that came and dwelt upon a rock before him brought news that caused him to "quake and tremble exceedingly."  And this was only the beginning of visions.  In another vision, while on his bed, he received a book, which, when he read it, filled him with the Holy Ghost and moved him to prophecy.  

This pattern reminds me of the way in which The Book of Mormon was brought to light through the instrumentality of the Prophet Joseph Smith.  Like Lehi, Joseph Smith prayed earnestly and sincerely.  Like Lehi he was troubled by rampant iniquity, or as he put it, he was living in the midst of a "war of words and a tumult of opinions."  Like Lehi, in response to his prayer, Joseph Smith saw God the Father and Jesus Christ, and like Lehi, he received a book (The Book of Mormon) that moved him to prophecy.  What is even more meta is that when we study The Book of Mormon, we can also be moved to prophecy, or in other words, we can receive revelation for our own personal circumstances and inspiration for the benefit of those within our stewardship or sphere of influence. 

Another thing that caught my attention is that Lehi and Nephi both emphasized faith and the mercy of God.  Nephi's thesis statement in verse 20 is that he will show us that "the tender mercies of the Lord are over all those whom he hath chosen, because of their faith, to make them mighty, even unto the power of deliverance."  Jesus Christ, family, faith, charity... these are central to the first chapter of First Nephi, and they are central to The Book of Mormon.

If I had more time, I would delve into other aspects of 1 Nephi 1, such as the relationship between Lehi and Nephi, Nephi's responsibilities as a political and a spiritual leader ("reign and ministry") or any number of interesting items, such as the pillar of fire.  But one last thing that stood out to me is that Nephi was a real person, and that his record is true, just as he testifies in verse 3.

Click here for more discussion on 1 Nephi 1.