monday: Book of Mormon, 1 Nephi, Chapters 3-13

I have been remiss in dedicating myself to this blog. In order to catch up a little, I am listing my favorite/most thought-provoking scripture from each chapter.

chapter 3 summary 
Nephi, Laman, Lemuel and Sam return to Jerusalem to get the brass plates from Laban.

3:7 And it came to pass that I, Nephi, said unto my father: I will go and do the things which the Lord hath commanded, for I know that the Lord giveth no commandments unto the children of men, save he shall prepare a way for them that they may accomplish the thing which he commandeth them.

Not only does this scripture show Nephi's obedience and faith, but it shows the mercy and love of God. The path of discipleship, of going and doing as God commands, is hard. But, God will always bless us in our efforts and provide a way for us to succeed in our righteous endeavors. 

chapter 4 summary

Nephi goes to Laban a second time. He is told by the Spirit to slay Laban. He obeys and thus retrieves the brass plates. 

4:12-18 12 And it came to pass that the Spirit said unto me again: Slay him, for the Lord hath delivered him into thy hands; 13 Behold the Lord slayeth the wicked to bring forth his righteous purposes. It is better that one man should perish than that a nation should dwindle and perish in unbelief. 14 And now, when I, Nephi, had heard these words, I remembered the words of the Lord which he spake unto me in the wilderness, saying that: Inasmuch as thy seed shall keep my commandments, they shall prosper in the land of promise. 15 Yea, and I also thought that they could not keep the commandments of the Lord according to the law of Moses, save they should have the law. 16 And I also knew that the law was engraven upon the plates of brass. 17 And again, I knew that the Lord had delivered Laban into my hands for this cause—that I might obtain the records according to his commandments. 18 Therefore I did obey the voice of the Spirit, and took Laban by the hair of the head, and I smote off his head with his own sword.

These scriptures are the fulfillment of Nephi and God's covenant. Nephi promised to "go and do" and obey. God promised to provide the way to help Nephi obey. God delivered Laban into Nephi's hands. It is sometimes hard for others to understand why Nephi killed Laban. Nephi himself was taken back when the spirit told him to do it. But he obeyed.

Elder Jeffrey R. Holland gives a great statement on this sometimes controversial topic for non-members.
Here is an excerpt:

"It would seem, finally, that obedience to divine revelation, not death, is the focal point of this story. God can restore life in time and eternity; he can do almost nothing with willful disobedience. The quality of our obedience to God’s commandments is still the clearest expression of the quality of our faith in him."

chapter 5 summary
Lehi's sons return with the plates. Lehi searches the plates (scriptures) and is filled with the Spirit.

5:21-22  21 And we had obtained the records which the Lord had commanded us, and searched them and found that they were desirable; yea, even of great worth unto us, insomuch that we could preserve the commandments of the Lord unto our children. 22 Wherefore, it was wisdom in the Lord that we should carry them with us, as we journeyed in the wilderness towards the land of promise.

I am so blessed to have the scriptures in my life to help me and guide me as I journey toward eternal life.

chapter 6 summary
"Nephi writes to encourage all people to come unto Jesus Christ and be saved." He counsels his future record keepers to write only things which are of worth and value to the children of men.


chapter 7 summary
Nephi and his brethren return to Jerusalem again (24-28 days roundtrip). They were commanded by the Lord to go and get Ishmael and his family.

Lehi and Nephi were "of the lineage of Manasseh; but that Ishmael was of the lineage of Ephraim, and that his sons married into Lehi's family, and Lehi's sons married Ishmael's daughters, thus fulfilling the words of Jacob upon Ephraim and Manasseh in the 48th chapter of Genesis, which says, 'And let my name be named on them, and the name of my fathers Abraham and Isaac; and let them grow into a multitude in the midst of the land.' Thus these descendants of Manasseh and Ephraim grew together upon this American continent..." (Book of Mormon Student Manual, 9).

chapter 8 summary
Lehi's Vision of the Tree of Life.

8:12 And as I partook of the fruit thereof it filled my soul with exceedingly great joy; wherefore, I began to be desirous that my family should partake of it also; for I knew that it was desirable above all other fruit.

When you love the gospel, you want to share it with everyone. I admire new converts to the church because their testimonies are always so strong. The goal is to be like new converts and have, like Lehi, the desire to spread the gospel with everyone. 

chapter 9 summary
By the Lord's command, nephi engraves and makes two sets of records.

chapter 10 summary
"Lehi and Nephi prophesy about the coming of the Messiah and His ministry, death, and Resurrection."
Lehi prophesies of the scattering of Israel and John the Baptist.

10:8 Yea, even he should go forth and cry in the wilderness: Prepare ye the way of the Lord, and make his paths straight; for there standeth one among you whom ye know not; and he is mightier than I, whose shoe’s latchet I am not worthy to unloose. And much spake my father concerning this thing.

chapter 11 summary
Nephi sees the vision of the tree of life and learns of the condescension of Jesus Christ.

"The condescension of God (meaning the Father) consists in the fact that though he is an exalted, perfected, glorified Personage, he became the personal and literal Father of a mortal Offspring born of mortal woman.


And the condescension of God (meaning the Son) consists in the fact that though he himself is the Lord Omnipotent, the very Being who created the earth and all things that in it are, yet being born of mortal woman, he submitted to all the trials of mortality, suffering 'temptations, and pain of body, hunger, thirst, and fatigue, even more than man can suffer, except it be unto death' (Mosiah 3:5-8), finally being put to death in a most ignominious manner" (Book of Mormon Student Manual, 12).

chapter 12 summary

Nephi's vision continued. He sees Jesus Christ descend from heaven.

12:18  And the large and spacious building, which thy father saw, is vain imaginations and the pride of the children of men. And a great and a terrible gulf divideth them; yea, even the word of the justice of the Eternal God, and the Messiah who is the Lamb of God, of whom the Holy Ghost beareth record, from the beginning of the world until this time, and from this time henceforth and forever.

Vain Imaginations--desires or thoughts with no lasting value.
We should only be concerned of things which uplift us. Worldly possessions, glory and pride contribute nothing to our spiritual growth. You cannot take your riches with you.

chapter 13 summary
Nephi sees in vision the destruction of his seed, the Nephites, by the seed of his brethren, the Lamanites. He also sees the gospel taken to the Gentiles, Christopher Columbus, the Pilgrims, the establishment of America, the Bible's plain and precious truths taken out, and the Restoration of the Gospel in the latter days.

Not all of Nephi's seed, or descendants, would be destroyed. Some would intermarry with the seed of his brothers.

This was something I had never considered. Interesting to think that Nephite blood may still exist in modern-day Native Americans Indians.

***

Family Home Evening

lesson: Hymns & Primary Songs 

activity: Learn sign language to song to be performed in primary program

treat: Brownies