1 Nephi 22

Nephi gives a nice little summary of the Gospel in this chapter.

"But, behold, all nations, kindreds, tongues, and people shall dwell safely in the Holy One of Israel if it so be that they will repent.

And now I, Nephi, make an end; for I durst not speak further as yet concerning these things.

Wherefore, my brethren, I would that ye should consider that the things which have been written upon the plates of brass are true; and they testify that a man must be obedient to the commandments of God.

Wherefore, ye need not suppose that I and my father are the only ones that have testified, and also taught them. Wherefore, if ye shall be obedient to the commandments, and endure to the end, ye shall be saved at the last day. And thus it is. Amen." (1 Ne. 22:28-31)

Repent.  Be obedient.  Endure to the end.  Simple.  True.

1 Nephi 21

It's been a delightful Sabbath day.  It's been a difficult Sabbath day.  This is the section of chapter 21 that always stands out to me:

"But, behold, Zion hath said: The Lord hath forsaken me, and my Lord hath forgotten me—but he will show that he hath not.

For can a woman forget her sucking child, that she should not have compassion on the son of her womb? Yea, they may forget, yet will I not forget thee, O house of Israel.

Behold, I have graven thee upon the palms of my hands; thy walls are continually before me." (1 Ne. 21:14-16)

1 Nephi 20

The mercy of the Lord stands out to me:

"Nevertheless, for my name’s sake will I defer mine anger, and for my praise will I refrain from thee, that I cut thee not off.

For, behold, I have refined thee, I have chosen thee in the furnace of affliction.

For mine own sake, yea, for mine own sake will I do this, for I will not suffer my name to be polluted, and I will not give my glory unto another." (1 Ne. 20:10-12)

The furnace of affliction.  I think that most of us have felt the heat of that furnace to some degree in our lives.  It is my understanding that the heat will only intensify.  But the furnace is a blessing.  It refines us.  It burns away the dross.  This reminds me of a favorite hymn:

"When through fiery trials thy pathway shall lie,
My grace, all sufficient, shall be thy supply.
The flame shall not hurt thee; I only design
Thy dross to consume, thy dross to consume,
Thy dross to consume and thy gold to refine." (How Firm a Foundation, verse 5, Robert Keen)

As children of God, we are golden.  When trials and afflictions burn, when the flame intensifies, we can be grateful, for the Lord is consuming our dross, purifying us, and refining the gold within us.

1 Nephi 19

Nephi prophesies of the coming of Christ, His crucifixion, and the scattering and scourging of the Jews.  The Lord bears scourging, smiting, spitting, and suffering because of his loving-kindness and long-suffering towards the children of men.  Nephi's desire is to persuade  his people to remember the Lord their Redeemer, but he also speaks unto all the house of Israel.

Why does Nephi use the verb "speak" instead of "write"?  These words speak from the dust.  The words of prophets whose records we don't yet have access to: Zenos, Zenock, Neum.  Nephi teaches his brothers from the plates.  He teaches them of the doings of the Lord among people of old.  He teaches them from the books of Moses.  Remember verses 23 and 24:

"And I did read many things unto them which were written in the books of Moses; but that I might more fully persuade them to believe in the Lord their Redeemer I did read unto them that which was written by the prophet Isaiah; for I did liken all scriptures unto us, that it might be for our profit and learning.

Wherefore I spake unto them, saying: Hear ye the words of the prophet, ye who are a remnant of the house of Israel, a branch who have been broken off; hear ye the words of the prophet, which were written unto all the house of Israel, and liken them unto yourselves, that ye may have hope as well as your brethren from whom ye have been broken off; for after this manner has the prophet written." (1 Ne. 19:23-24)

"And I, Jesus Christ, your Lord and your God, have spoken it.

These words are not of men nor of man, but of me; wherefore, you shall testify they are of me and not of man;

For it is my voice which speaketh them unto you; for they are given by my Spirit unto you, and by my power you can read them one to another; and save it were by my power you could not have them;

Wherefore, you can testify that you have heard my voice, and know my words." (D&C 18:33-36)

1 Nephi 18

Three verses stood out to me:

3 And I, Nephi, did go into the mount oft, and I did pray oft unto the Lord; wherefore the Lord showed unto me great things.

16 Nevertheless, I did look unto my God, and I did praise him all the day long; and I did not murmur against the Lord because of mine afflictions.

21 And it came to pass after they had loosed me, behold, I took the compass, and it did work whither I desired it. And it came to pass that I prayed unto the Lord; and after I had prayed the winds did cease, and the storm did cease, and there was a great calm.

Do we want the Lord to show us great things?  Do we want to praise God?  Do we want the winds and the storm to cease, and to have great calm?  If so, Nephi shows us a great pattern for obtaining these blessings.  Attend the temple.  Pray.  Look unto the Lord.  Be grateful and praise God.  Pray again.

1 Nephi 17

What a great chapter.  One verse in particular struck me:

"And I will also be your light in the wilderness; and I will prepare the way before you, if it so be that ye shall keep my commandments; wherefore, inasmuch as ye shall keep my commandments ye shall be led towards the promised land; and ye shall know that it is by me that ye are led." (1 Ne. 17:13)

The Lord is the light of the world.  He leads us to the promised land, and promised blessings.

1 Nephi 16

A couple of thoughts.  Why is it that Laman and Lemuel are continually rebelling, murmuring, and then humbling themselves before the Lord while Nephi does not murmur, rebel or complain?  This is Nephi's record, but there is a consistent pattern or theme with his brothers, and in this chapter, even with his dad.  They harden their hearts and murmur, but then they are humbled, as Nephi writes, they are humbled before the Lord.  The Lord chastens them continually, and Nephi suffers with them.  But Nephi understands the dealings of the Lord, and therefore does not murmur.

But Lehi understands the dealings of the Lord, so why does he murmur?  I don't think that there is any mortal who at one point or another has not murmured because of afflictions.  Afflictions are not fun.  They hurt.  I imagine that Lehi was murmuring more because of his sons' murmurings than because of their lack of food.

Another interesting thing.  When Nephi and his brothers marry the daughters of Ishmael, Nephi writes that thus his father had fulfilled all the commandments of the Lord, and that he had been exceedingly blessed.  In 1 Nephi 5:20 we read that "thus far" Nephi and his father had kept the commandments of the Lord.  But when Nephi and his brothers and Zoram marry, it is Lehi fulfilling of the commandments of the Lord.

When I read this chapter I wonder: could Joseph Smith have come up with these things on his own?  Words like Zoram, Shazer, Nahom?  A round ball?  Who talks like that?  A straight stick?  Who writes like that?

In any case, Nephi was exceedingly blessed of the Lord.  

1 Nephi 15

Nephi shows us a pattern of revelation.  Nephi received his own testimony through the Spirit and by a vision that his father spoke the truth, but Nephi's brothers did not understand the vision.  Because their hearts were hard, and because they had not asked of the Lord, they did not understand, and because they did not understand, they disputed with each other.  Nephi was grieved because of their wickedness, because he loved them and wanted them to enjoy the same blessings of revelation that he had received.  His question: Have ye inquired of the Lord? is a poignant one.  When his brothers answer in the negative, Nephi is more grieved, and he begins to teach and testify to them of the truth. How is it?  Do you not remember? Are we not a branch of the house of Israel?  Nephi explains the meaning of their father's vision because his brothers did not know the meaning for themselves.

But one interesting thing is the nature of Nephi's brothers' questions.  At first they are curious to know the meaning of the natural branches of the olive-tree and the Gentiles.  They are disputing about these symbols.  What do they mean?  It is important to understand what Lehi's dream symbolizes, but these symbols are not the central focus of Lehi's dream or vision.  In other words, Laman and Lemuel are squabbling over insubstantial things because of the hardened condition of their hearts, and their refusal to inquire of the Lord.  But as Nephi teaches them, and testifies to them, their hearts are softened, and they become more subdued.  At least, this is how Nephi describes these events.  If we had Laman and Lemuel's records, we might see a different picture.  In any event, Nephi explains the meaning of the different symbols in Lehi's dream, and he teaches and testifies to his brothers.  He rehearses unto them the words of Isaiah.  The words of Isaiah are powerful.  Nephi's words are spoken with such energy of heart and love that his brothers are "pacified" and "humble themselves before the Lord."

At this point, their questions change.  When they are humble they no longer dispute about inconsequential, ancillary ideas.  They begin to ask real, sincere, searching questions.  They want to know what the tree is all about.  They want to understand what the rod of iron is all about.  When they are humble, their focus shifts to things that matter most.  It is Nephi's love, and the Spirit of the Lord that moves upon them and softens their hearts.  Unlike Nephi who prayed for the Lord to soften his own heart so that he could believe, the softening of Laman and Lemuel's hearts came from exterior influences.  But it still came.  This shows that through faith in Christ, the Lord can soften our own hearts and the hearts of those around us.  Furthermore, it proves that the way in which we ask questions matters.  Nephi didn't just seek the truth.  He sought with lowliness of heart and sincerity.  As soon as Laman and Lemuel were humble enough to ask the right questions, the Lord enabled Nephi to answer their questions.  What is the meaning of the tree?  What is the meaning of the rod of iron?  These beautiful and powerful verses are a response to their good questions:

"And it came to pass that they did speak unto me again, saying: What meaneth this thing which our father saw in a dream? What meaneth the tree which he saw?

And I said unto them: It was a representation of the tree of life.
And they said unto me: What meaneth the rod of iron which our father saw, that led to the tree?

And I said unto them that it was the word of God; and whoso would hearken unto the word of God, and would hold fast unto it, they would never perish; neither could the temptations and the fiery darts of the adversary overpower them unto blindness, to lead them away to destruction." (1 Ne. 15:21-24)

As Nephi's brothers humbled themselves, asked the right questions, and received an answer through the Spirit, Nephi then extended an invitation to them to act:

"Wherefore, I, Nephi, did exhort them to give heed unto the word of the Lord; yea, I did exhort them with all the energies of my soul, and with all the faculty which I possessed, that they would give heed to the word of God and remember to keep his commandments always in all things." (1 Ne. 15:25)

There is a lot more that could be written about this chapter, and verse 24 is only one of many verses worth ponderizing.

1 Nephi 14

Two things.  The first thing that stood out to me is that the numbers of the church of the Lamb of God are few.  Few.  Many are called, but few are chosen.  (D&C 121)

"Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it." (Matt. 7:14)

"Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it." (3 Ne. 14:14)

"And it came to pass that the Lord of the vineyard sent his servant; and the servant went and did as the Lord had commanded him, and brought other servants; and they were few." (Jacob 5:70)

"And yet, notwithstanding his mighty works, and miracles, and proclamation of the truth, in great power and authority, there were but few who hearkened to his voice, and rejoiced in his presence, and received salvation at his hands." (D&C 138:26)

Why were the numbers few?  Because of the wickedness and abominations of the whore who sat upon the many waters.  The dominions of the Church of the Lamb of God are small.

The second thing that caught my attention was that the angel told Nephi to look, and he beheld a man in a white robe, namely John the Beloved.  This reminds me of the man in the white robe who stood before Nephi's father Lehi.

1 Nephi 13

There is so much in this chapter. The great and abominable church, Columbus, the Bible, the Book of Mormon, Zion. Nephi's vision is remarkable. It is a revelation that spans far into the future. There are a lot of interesting verses that might give hints about Book of Mormon geography, and there are other interesting subjects that Nephi writes about. But this morning I was most inspired by verse 37. Through an angel, the Lord speaks directly to Nephi and to us, with a promise that He will manifest Himself to Nephi's seed. He promises to minister "plain and precious" things that will be recorded, hid up, and brought forth. Thus Nephi sees the coming forth of the Book of Mormon and other books that will contain the Gospel of Jesus Christ, His rock and His salvation. Verse 37 describes a blessing that is still in effect:

"And blessed are they who shall seek to bring forth my Zion at that day, for they shall have the gift and the power of the Holy Ghost; and if they endure unto the end they shall be lifted up at the last day, and shall be saved in the everlasting kingdom of the Lamb; and whoso shall publish peace, yea, tidings of great joy, how beautiful upon the mountains shall they be." (1 Ne. 13:37)

I love this verse.  It also reminds me of a tribute that Elder Holland recently paid to President Thomas S. Monson:

"In that regard, I pay a personal tribute to President Thomas Spencer Monson. I have been blessed by an association with this man for 47 years now, and the image of him I will cherish until I die is of him flying home from then–economically devastated East Germany in his house slippers because he had given away not only his second suit and his extra shirts but the very shoes from off his feet. “How beautiful upon the mountains [and shuffling through an airline terminal] are the feet of him that bringeth good tidings, that publisheth peace.”20 More than any man I know, President Monson has “done all he could” for the widow and the fatherless, the poor and the oppressed."

I love the Book of Mormon.  It is a true testament of Jesus Christ.  I am grateful for a living prophet, Thomas S. Monson, who has exemplified so well what it means to bring good tidings, and to publish peace.  

1 Nephi 12

Nephi's vision continues.  Again Nephi writes the phrase "And I saw the heavens open."  These chapters are deserving of more careful study, but in today's reading verses 16 and 17 stood out to me.

"And the angel spake unto me, saying: Behold the fountain of filthy water which thy father saw; yea, even the river of which he spake; and the depths thereof are the depths of hell.

And the mists of darkness are the temptations of the devil, which blindeth the eyes, and hardeneth the hearts of the children of men, and leadeth them away into broad roads, that they perish and are lost." (1 Ne. 12:16-17)

Nephi is shown in vision the things that his father saw in vision, but there are significant differences, either in what was shown or in what was reported.  Perhaps each was shown essentially the same vision but each noticed different things.  Nephi was Lehi's son, but he was still a different and a unique individual.

The angel teaches Nephi that his father saw "the fountain of filthy water."  The way that Nephi describes his father's vision and his own vision causes me to wonder if the tree of life, which is a fountain of living waters, and is pure at the source, is polluted down stream.  In other words, there are two different kinds of waters that are described, one water that is pure and clean, and another that is filthy.  By the way, who would write the phrase "a river of water"?  Doesn't that sound redundant?  What else can rivers be made of, if not water?  

In these visions there are descriptions of rivers and fountains.  In Lehi's vision, he sees people who feel their way toward the great and spacious building, and he sees people who are drowned in the depths of the fountain.  (1 Ne. 8:32)  This is the river of which Lehi spoke, but his mind was swallowed up in other things, so he did not notice the filthiness of the river.  (1 Ne. 16:26-29)  Lehi's mind was swallowed up in the vision of the tree of life.  He was focused on the tree of life, which is also like a fountain: 

"And it came to pass that I beheld that the rod of iron, which my father had seen, was the word of God, which led to the fountain of living waters, or to the tree of life; which waters are a representation of the love of God; and I also beheld that the tree of life was a representation of the love of God." (1 Ne. 11:25)

It seems to be that there are two fountains, one of pure water, or living water, and one of filthy water.  In Nephi's account of his father's vision, Lehi notices that Sariah, Sam and Nephi stood at the head of the river that was near the tree of life.  Nephi seems to write of the river and the fountain interchangeably, but Laman and Lemuel are not standing at the head of the river as are Sariah, Sam and Nephi.  The symbolism of the tree of life and the fountain of pure water seem to be connected with Sariah, who is the mother of Sam and Nephi.  Sam and Nephi are standing close to their mother, the source of their life, whereas Laman and Lemuel are not.  In any case, the fountain of filthy water that Lehi saw was representative of the depths of hell.  Whether it was a different river or the same river that was polluted down stream, I do not know.  The important thing is that the fountain of living waters is a representation of the love of God, and it is the most desirable above all things.

Someday we'll be able to read the text in the original reformed Egyptian, and we'll have Lehi's own account of his vision.  Until then, these are a few of the things that gave pause for reflection in this chapter.

1 Nephi 11

What is most joyous to the soul?

"And I answered him, saying: Yea, it is the love of God, which sheddeth itself abroad in the hearts of the children of men; wherefore, it is the most desirable above all things.

And he spake unto me, saying: Yea, and the most joyous to the soul." (1 Ne. 11:22-23)

This chapter, like chapter 8 of First Nephi, is rich with the Spirit and with plain and precious truths.  I can't possibly do justice to this chapter, let alone any chapter in the Book of Mormon, but I can remember that certain key phrases stand out to me or give me pause for reflection.  Of the many beautiful things in this chapter, it was impressed upon my mind that Nephi saw the heavens open.  He records three times that he saw the heavens open.  

This reminded me of the blessings of paying tithing:

"Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the Lord of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it." (Malachi 3:10)

Nephi had the windows of heaven opened unto him.  He saw the heavens open.  These are blessings that are available to everyone, not just Nephi.

1 Nephi 10

I really like this chapter. It is true. Nephi was immersed in the history of the Jews, and both he and his father prophesied of the coming of the Messiah. Nephi learned a lot from his righteous father, but he reached a point in his life when he wanted to know for himself, by the power of the Holy Ghost, the truth concerning God, Jesus Christ, and the vision of his father. I have always liked verse 19:

"For he that diligently seeketh shall find; and the mysteries of God shall be unfolded unto them, by the power of the Holy Ghost, as well in these times as in times of old, and as well in times of old as in times to come; wherefore, the course of the Lord is one eternal round."

The word "unfolded" strikes me as significant.  Revelation is not something that can be forced or demanded according to our own whims or time tables.  As we prepare ourselves spiritually, seek diligently, and keep the commandments, the Lord can unfold his mysteries to us.  While visions and dreams are more rare, revelation through the power of the Holy Ghost can be a daily experience.  God has not changed, and He does not cease to reveal truth to those who sincerely and diligently seek it, as the following chapters of Nephi's account attest.

1 Nephi 9

Nephi's faith in Christ is so strong that he deliberately trusts whatever it is that the Lord desires of him.  He doesn't question it, even when he doesn't know exactly why he is doing certain things.  He knew that he was commanded to engrave other plates for the purpose of the ministry, but he also knew that the Lord had greater purposes that were understood only to Him.  However, Nephi makes explicit the commandment that an account be engraved of the ministry of his people.  That is the phrase that caught my attention this morning: "the ministry of my people."  Nephi wasn't just engraving a record of his father's ministry, or even of his own ministry.  He was preparing a record of the ministry of his people throughout succeeding generations.  The difference between the large and the small plates of Nephi isn't just a difference between sacred and secular accounts.  The account of the reign of the kings also contained much that is of spiritual worth.  But this record is special.  Nephi knew that the Lord knows what He is doing.  All we really need to know is that God knows everything.  He is omniscient and He loves and blesses all of His children.

1 Nephi 8

Lehi partakes of the most desirable fruit and is filled with joy

This chapter deserves much more time, perhaps even a life time of study, but this morning a few things stood out to me.  First thing: if you find yourself in a dark and dreary wilderness, and you decide to pray, and a man dressed in a white robe appears to you and bids you to follow him, I can't help but suppose that it would be a good thing to do as he says.  There are probably a lot of speculations about who this man in a white robe was that appeared to Lehi.  I wonder if it was the Lord.  I wonder if it was the pre-mortal future author of the Book of Revelation.  Whoever it was, he asked Lehi to follow him, and Lehi obeyed.  Curiously, however, Lehi wasn't immediately led to something better after he prayed.  He was led, even with all of the tender mercies of the Lord, first to a dark and dreary waste.  Then after he prayed, he was led to a large and spacious field, after which he beheld a tree.  Answers to our prayers don't always come immediately.

If it was the Lord that led Lehi to the tree of life, it is an interesting parallel to Nephi's later vision in which the Spirit of the Lord leads Nephi for a time, and then delegates the rest of the vision to an angel.  The man in a white robe (think of Lehi's earlier vision of the twelve and the One), leads Lehi to the field (the world), and shows him the tree.  But then where is the man in the white robe?  Is this similar to Nephi's vision?  Once Lehi sees the tree, as far as I can tell, we read no more about the man in the white robe.  Maybe there is a reason for this.

Whatever the case, the tree, and the fruit thereof, are spectacularly white and beautiful.  The fruit is exceedingly delicious.  It is the most desirable fruit.

There is just too much in this vision, in this chapter.  Maybe I'll spend another day on it, or another couple of days.  Or a week.  It's just too good.

1 Nephi 7

Nephi and his brothers speak the words of the Lord to Ishmael and his family

Once again, the thing that stood out to me in this reading of 1 Nephi 7 is that Lehi and his family were quick to offer thanks unto the Lord.  In spite of all of their hardships, they were a grateful people.

Many have pointed out how Laman and Lemuel did not murmur this time on their way to Jerusalem, because they were going to get wives.  Getting them to leave Jerusalem was a chore, persuading them to go back to Jerusalem to get the plates was like pulling teeth, but as soon as they found out that they were to return again to Jerusalem for the women folk, they apparently had no problem with that.  They did have a problem on their return journey, however, because they began to wonder if it might not have been better to return to Jerusalem for good.  They had quickly forgotten everything that Lehi and Nephi had shown them.  Lehi and Nephi knew that Jerusalem was on the brink of destruction, and they did everything in their power to persuade their rebellious family members to hearken unto the Lord, and to high-tail it out of the wicked city of Jerusalem.  Once Ishmael and his family were ready, it was time to skedaddle, but Laman and Lemuel incited a rebellion because they thought they knew better than the prophet Lehi.  Or, perhaps, they just missed the comfortable living that they had enjoyed.  The Lord was trying to reveal unto them a better way, a promised land, and to save them from destruction, but they kept looking back on what they thought would make them happy.

But the thing that stood out most to me in this reading was the differences in conditions of the heart.  Nephi's heart was soft, pliable, receptive to the Lord's instructions.  The Lord softened the heart of Ishmael, so that he too was receptive to the Spirit.  Contrary to the mistranslation of the story of Pharaoh in the Old Testament, the Lord never hardens hearts.  He softens them.  He softens them with   gentleness, meekness, love unfeigned, and with his Spirit.  He softens the hearts of those who seek a change of heart through the Atonement of Jesus Christ.  This is one of the greatest miracles of the Gospel.

Lehi and Sariah had softened hearts as well, which is what led them to continually offer thanks for their blessings and to offer sacrifices unto the Lord.  Nephi's heart was soft, which enabled him to quickly and frankly forgive his offending brethren.  His soft heart is what enabled his faith to grow ever stronger.

This entire chapter gives example after example of how the Lord softens peoples hearts.  I like that.

When the link to the Patheos discussion of the same chapter appears, I will post it too.  Here it is.