chapter 16 summary
Nephi's explanation of Lehi's dream is hard for his brothers to fully comprehend, but they humble themselves and Nephi is relieved to say the least. Hopefully, they will continue in righteousness. Lehi's sons marry Ishmael's daughters. The Lord provides them with the Liahona, an compass-like instrument that will lead them to the promised land and that works only be faith and obedience. While hunting, Nephi breaks his bow and the family suffers without a means to get food. The family murmurs, including Lehi, but Nephi is faithful, makes a new bow and asks Lehi where he should go to get food. Lehi's faith and confidence is rallied, humbles himself before the Lord, Nephi finds food and all rejoice. Ishmael dies and part of the family rebels, of course led by Laman and Lemuel, plotting Lehi and Nephi's deaths. The Voice of the Lord rebukes the rebellious members of the family. They repent and are blessed again.
stand-out scriptures
16:7-8 7 And it came to pass that I, Nephi, took one of the daughters of Ishmael to wife; and also, my brethren took of the daughters of Ishmael to wife; and also Zoram took the eldest daughter of Ishmael to wife. 8 And thus my father had fulfilled all the commandments of the Lord which had been given unto him. And also, I, Nephi, had been blessed of the Lord exceedingly.I had never realized how sweet this scripture passage is, especially verse 8. It serves to remind us of the importance of eternal marriage and that it is central to Heavenly Father's plan. The Lord wanted them to go forward to the Promised Land two by two. Nephi rejoices in the blessing of a righteous wife and help-meet for their journey. What a blessing and support Nephi's wife must have been for him, just as Emma was a support to Joseph Smith and countless other couples in the scriptures and Church History.
16:23-25 23 And it came to pass that I, Nephi, did make out of wood a bow, and out of a straight stick, an arrow; wherefore, I did arm myself with a bow and an arrow, with a sling and with stones. And I said unto my father: Whither shall I go to obtain food? 24 And it came to pass that he did inquire of the Lord, for they had humbled themselves because of my words; for I did say many things unto them in the energy of my soul. 25 And it came to pass that the voice of the Lord came unto my father; and he was truly chastened because of his murmuring against the Lord, insomuch that he was brought down into the depths of sorrow.
This passage has always fascinated me and been my favorite insight into Nephi's character. We know from the beginning that Nephi is faithful and obedient. But here we learn that he is supportive, kind, understanding and humble. He could have easily chastised his father. He could have easily gone to the Lord himself. He could have easily assumed the role of leader of the family.
But he did not. Instead, he chose to bolster his father's faith by asking him where to go for food. He treated his father with reverence and respect and encouraged him to carry on the mantle of patriarch of the family.
Elder Marion D. Hanks commented on this saying, "It is a simple thing isn't it? This is what Goethe meant when he said, 'If you treat an individual as he is, he will stay as he is. But if you treat him as if he were what he could be and ought to be, he will become what he ought to be.'"
chapter 17 summary
Lehi's family continues to journey through the wilderness for EIGHT YEARS. (It is approx. 592 BC at the time.) They are strengthened and blessed, bear children, and are faithful in keeping the commandments of God. They reach the seashore which they name Bountiful. The Lord commands Nephi to construct a ship. Nephi asks for direction in making tools and begins the preparations. Nephi's brothers murmur and doubt Nephi's efforts to build a ship. Nephi parallels their own journey and miracles to that of Moses and the Children of Israel. Nephi tells his brothers that he sorrows for them and their wickedness. The brothers become angry and come toward Nephi to throw him in the sea to drown him. Nephi commands them to touch him not for he is filled with the power of God, and if they touch him they will wither as dried leaves. The brothers cower. The Lord tells Nephi to touch his brothers that He might shock them and show them the power of God. They are shocked and fall down to worship Nephi. Nephi tells them to worship only the Lord and to honor their father and mother.
stand-out scriptures
17:45 Ye are swift to do iniquity but slow to remember the Lord your God. Ye have seen an angel, and he spake unto you; yea, ye have heard his voice from time to time; and he hath spoken unto you in a still small voice, but ye were past feeling, that ye could not feel his words; wherefore, he has spoken unto you like unto the voice of thunder, which did cause the earth to shake as if it were to divide asunder.Nephi is continually heartbroken over his brothers wickedness. They do not adhere to the spirit and he tells them it is because they have hardened their hearts insomuch that they cannot hear/feel the Holy Ghost and its promptings. I worry sometimes that I do not hear that still, small voice/feeling when it is speaking to me. How many times has the spirit had to use "the voice of thunder" to get through to me? It is a sobering thought and presses upon me the vitality of standing in holy places, keeping the commandments and maintaining an open heart willing to receive communication from my Heavenly Father.
17: 55 And now, they said: We know of a surety that the Lord is with thee, for we know that it is the power of the Lord that has shaken us. And they fell down before me, and were about to worship me, but I would not suffer them, saying: I am thy brother, yea, even thy younger brother; wherefore, worship the Lord thy God, and honor thy father and thy mother, that thy days may be long in the land which the Lord thy God shall give thee.The brothers of Nephi further demonstrate that they are not truly converted when they begin to worship Nephi and not the Lord. It seems they act more out of fear than love and respect for God. They confuse the man with the power of God with God, the source of the power.
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Family Home Evening
activity: meet the neighbors!
treat: chocolate chip cookies
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