1 Nephi

This book is by a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, which I will in the future call the LDS Church or LDS.

This book is not endorsed by the LDS Church nor does it represent official viewpoints thereof.

Faith is when you realize something is wrong, you suspend believing in what is unnecessary, you look for your new concept, and you discover a better explanation. If you want to know that the Book of Mormon is true, try Book of Mormon Central or Evidence Central . Or you can just examine the Book of Mormon with me at scriptures.lds.org . (From an orthodox LDS perspective).

THE BOOK OF MORMON ANOTHER TESTAMENT OF JESUS CHRIST

1 Nephi

1 Nephi 1

1  I, NEPHI, having been born of goodly parents, therefore I was taught somewhat in all the learning of my father; and having seen many afflictions in the course of my days, nevertheless, having been highly favored of the Lord in all my days; yea, having had a great knowledge of the goodness and the mysteries of God, therefore I make a record of my proceedings in my days.

This week (February 20th), I examine the phrase “having been born of Goodly Parents.”
People are supposed to love each other unconditionally, but this is automatic in almost all parenting. Parents see
their children as an automatic extension of themselves so that they automatically have this love for them. Sometimes
parents feel their failures have to be corrected through their children, or they want their line to live for ever.
Basically, as long as parents love themselves and do not fear death they will properly pass their line on to their children.
Nephi honored his parents; Lehi loved himself and was not afraid to go to the promised land. Sariah was afraid and thought
she had lost her children but Lehi comforted her.
Today (February 26), I examine “therefore I was taught somewhat in all the learning of my father.”
Fathers help children be comfortable in facing the problems of the world. When they cannot devote time to their family,
children suffer. Daddy-daughter relationships are especially important to be healthy.
Here is “and having seen many afflictions in the course of my day, nevertheless having been highly favored of the Lord” (March 7):
To be positive and objective are the same thing. The Universe is exactly what we want it to be. Think about it for a little while and see if you don’t all agree. We play a part in making it this way.
I think if you think of something bad, but then you think of the reason, things will be optimistic because either it will help you experience the opposite better or perhaps you are not yet ready to get beyond it or several other possible reasons.
I’m not trying to say there is some magical karma that just balances everything out for us. We can be contented in whatever circumstances we find ourselves.  And that is because of our knowledge and because we appreciate things because of how they influence us, for instance.  We deal with things as they are to make them positive.

March 16. “yea, having had a great knowledge of the goodness and the mysteries of God, therefore I make a record of my proceedings in my days.”
Because he had good parents and knew that things would work out. He also explained the mysteries of how things work out. The word proceedings is more legalistic than scientific. Therefore, he wanted to make a case that good parenting helps and that things turn out well. And he gave secrets as to why they work out well. We will examine this thesis throughout the Book of Mormon.
March 26. 1 Nephi 1:2 – “which consists of the learning of the Jews and the language of the Egyptians.” There is a picture of the pre-translated Book of Mormon on the cover.
Some examples of Egyptian are here. https://simple.wikipedia.org/wiki/Egyptian_language#/media/File:Papyrus_Ebers.png

Here is modern Orthodox Judaism. http://www.jewfaq.org/ Do your own comparison!
1 Nephi 1:3 – “I know that the record which I make is true; and I make it with mine own hand; and I make it according to my knowledge.” Why don’t Mormon missionaries quote this verse instead of Moroni 10:3-5? It says that you have to know for yourself and that you have to know both through religious means and research. To know that the record was true requires research. Thinking about how merciful the Lord has been since Adam is also research.
1 Nephi 1:4 – Zedekiah is an interesting word. Tzadik/Zadik/Sadiq [tsa’dik] (Hebrew: “righteous one”, pl. tzadikim [tsadi’kim] tsadiqim) is a title in Judaism given to people considered righteous , according to Wikipedia. Tzedek vs. Tzedakah: Justice vs. Charity . Tzedek is also the 18th letter of the Hebrew aleph bet. Tzedek is the Jewish priest; inside of him is equivalent to outside. Basically it means his name indicated that he was a righteous leader. This is in the same vein as the previous verses: The Bible teaches that God chooses good leaders, even if they are morally lacking but strong in governing. I think He might choose appropriate leaders too, not just fixing society’s problems for them but making them sweat. “Jerusalem must be destroyed.” Then they were taught somewhat by their Heavenly Father about death, this time collectively.
April 14. 1 Nephi 1:5 – “As he went forth” – I paraphrase this as according to all he was doing and thinking. The conditions were right for huge intervention.
1 Nephi 1:6 – This is similar to Moses’ burning bush and Joseph Smith’s vision (seeing the trees on fire without burning them).
May 11. 1 Nephi 1:7 – “being overcome with the Spirit and the things which he had seen.” – How nice that after such wonderful adventure, the Being who contacted him wanted to provide revelation and not death (death is a major part of 1 Nephi). Since Lehi was concerned about everyone, he learned that coming to Christ would lead a man not to perish, a revealed formula for life. He was even given trust to tell the Jews this thing. And when they rejected it, for learning the truth himself he got to have his own civilization. Perhaps since he couldn’t control the people, he couldn’t control all his children but there would be times when they would be helped with this Jesus.
May 12. 1 Nephi 1:8 – “he thought he saw God sitting upon his throne, surrounded with numberless concourses of angels” – Notice that it says he “thought he saw” and not “saw.” That is because they have bodies of flesh and bone.
1 Nephi 1:9-10 – “luster was above that of the sun at noon-day.” “did exceed that of the stars in the firmament.” The stars are not so bright, but knowing what they truly are reveals that they are maybe a lot more or a lot less brighter than the Sun but really bright. Anaxagorus discovered the brightness of the Stars in 450 B.C.E. This was about 600 B.C.E. Maybe they knew or maybe it was revealed to them. At any rate, saying they were bright seems like a repeat of the burning bush phenomenon in v. 6.
1 Nephi 1:11-12 – “and bade him that he should read.” Instead of using reinforcement, Lehi was given a book so he could think for himself. The Spirit of the Lord or the Holy Ghost revealed the book to him. So I think that he understood what was said and then had the proper confirmation. Notice the similarities to my comment on v. 3. Nobody receives confirmation before reading something. They have to accept it otherwise first.
1 Nephi 1:13 – “Jerusalem– that it should be destroyed, and the inhabitants thereof; many should perish by the sword, and many should be carried away captive into Babylon.” This tells us that the future is largely predicted. His preaching would only be able to go so far.
1 Nephi 1:14 – “because thou art merciful, thou wilt not suffer those who come unto thee that they shall perish!” And this tells exactly what would be necessary to avoid that destruction. We have already seen great power and goodness and mercy.
1 Nephi 1:15 – “his whole heart was filled.” Lehi’s loves for the Lord is the most any man can love something. What a wonderful reward for those who strive to improve the network.
1 Nephi 1:16 – “he also hath written many things which he prophesied and spake unto his children.” Lehi continued to receive great revelations and founded a civilization.
1 Nephi 1:17 – “after I have abridged the record of my father then will I make an account of mine own life.” Nephi recognizes the importance of fathers as mentioned in v. 1.
1 Nephi 1:18 – “after the Lord had shown so many marvelous things.” “and began to prophesy and to declare unto them concerning the things which he had both seen and heard.” After great knowledge we know what to do. And in this case it was to preach.
1 Nephi 1:19 – “the Jews did mock him because of the things which he testified of them; for he truly testified of their wickedness and their abominations; and he testified that the things which he saw and heard, and also the things which he read in the book, manifested plainly of the coming of a Messiah, and also the redemption of the world.” They were wicked and abominable. Mocking is not a high form of argument. They must have recognized that their behavior brought down their society. But they didn’t want a Messiah because they did not want to change their ways. They must have been sad, but they were not willing to change their behavior.
1 Nephi 1:20 – “they were angry with him; yea, even as with the prophets of old, whom they had cast out, and stoned, and slain; and they also sought his life, that they might take it away. But behold, I, Nephi, will show unto you that the tender mercies of the Lord are over all those whom he hath chosen, because of their faith, to make them mighty unto the power of deliverance.” The evil makes a pattern and the good makes a pattern. The evil seeks to destroy the light, but it is with everyone; and those who use it, because of their faith (see the intro about faith at the top), use it for safety and protection.

1 Nephi 2

1 Nephi 2:1 – “even in a dream,” “been faithful,” “commanded,” “take away thy life.” – Dreams are disconnected from reality. No matter how real a dream seems everyone knows it might not occur. That doesn’t mean you can’t learn from a dream and in Lehi’s case he thought he was being confronted again with this magnificient being. Since he was “faithful”, that means the dream could not have been unequivocally convincing. He still had to decide whether to believe in these things or not. It wasn’t one reality over the other and the risks of being a blind follower were real. The truth of the dream was independent from the truth of previous things. He had taken major risks already and was following his heart with faith! He yearned for greater things and wanted them badly enough to try, I think. I think that was why.
1 Nephi 2:2 – “even in a dream” – Still in a dream, in this way, he was commanded to leave behind everything and go into the wilderness.
1 Nephi 2:3 – “he was obedient.” This sets us up as if to say that we will know later that this was the word of the Lord. It falls in with his thesis in verses 1,3 and 20 of the last chapter.
1 Nephi 2:4 – “departed,” “he left his house, and the land of his inheritance, and his gold, and his silver, and his precious things,” – that means to not only leave but start out on a journey. Departed and giving up possessions goes hand in hand since you can’t give them up without departing and vice versa.
1 Nephi 2:5 – “he came down by the borders near the shore of the Red Sea; and he traveled in the wilderness in the borders which are nearer the Red Sea.” Water was important.
1 Nephi 2:6 – “he pitched his tent in a valley by the side of a river of water.” Water and valleys were important.
1 Nephi 2:7 – “he built an altar of stones, and made an offering unto the Lord, and gave thanks unto the Lord our God.” Other altar sacrifices were done by Adam and Noah, both at new beginnings. He may not have known he was going to a new continent, but Lehi wanted to start something with his family completely separate of Jerusalem, also exemplifying family love.
1 Nephi 2:8 – “he called the name of the river, Laman,” His possessions and heritage were not important. Besides water and land with animals and sacrificing to his Lord, keeping to his oldest son Laman was the most important thing. The Lord was before this; however loving the Lord in no way stops one from loving another. This was his way of showing maximum love for the Lord.
1 Nephi 2:9 – “he spake unto Laman, saying: O that thou mightest be like unto this river, continually running into the fountain of all righteousness!” We know the direction of the river was towards the Red Sea from the previous verse. The Red Sea was unified. It was unity he wanted Laman to have with him and his Lord. That is because if people are to be unified, it is better if they are unified to be right than wrong; and if one is right the other must be right as well.
1 Nephi 2:10 – “he also spake unto Lemuel: O that thou mightest be like unto this valley, firm and steadfast, and immovable in keeping the commandments of the Lord!” This is a lesser blessing. It is to be constant while the other one is to improve. Still, obedience is all that is asked of the Lord.
1 Nephi 2:11 – “he spake because of the stiffneckedness of Laman and Lemuel; for behold they did murmur in many things against their father, because he was a visionary man.” What is “stiffneckedness?” It is not being in the capacity to change, so he hoped he could get them in a good position with the blessings. He appealed to nature to impress them. Murmuring means they aren’t really strongly saying that; they just aren’t in the capacity to behave or believe. Since they couldn’t believe this would work, naturally they wanted to go back and not perish in the wilderness; and it was Lehi’s heart foolishness. The Church is few because people have to understand the benefits of joining and that they will achieve through the straight and narrow path. Many don’t believe in the afterlife either, and the promised land was a type of the afterlife.
1 Nephi 2:12 – “because they knew not the dealings of that God who had created them.” Again, they were not in a good position to believe. The Lord reveals nothing until after the trial of faith… (See 1 Nephi 1:3 – you don’t get a testimony before reading).
1 Nephi 2:13 – “And they were like unto the Jews who were at Jerusalem, who sought to take away the life of my father.” Naturally they were like the Jews too, and naturally then they wanted to kill their father, which was a problem with the Lord’s way.
1 Nephi 2:14 – “my father did speak unto them”. “And he did confound them.” So naturally the Lord allowed Lehi to confound them. It says they did as the Lord commanded them. Does that mean they were like the river and valley? If so, they were in a good position.
1 Nephi 2:15 – “And my father dwelt in a tent.” There was a rest in Lehi’s schedule, giving Nephi the opportunity to explore things with the Lord.
1 Nephi 2:16 – “I, Nephi.” “being large in stature.” “having great desires to know of the mysteries of God,” Stature does not mean a person’s natural height; for then we would not be able to copy Nephi in this crucial part. It means achievement by commitment. That is why Nephi was able to succeed. He had been doing things right. When we make correct commitments, we get help like Nephi did with his softened heart. Nephi was also young, and it can be hard to have a soft heart at a young age. Nephi was set up for success.
1 Nephi 2:17 – “And it came to pass that he believed in my words.” When we do things, it ripples into other people’s lives. That is how a correct thing can have great influence on humanity.
1 Nephi 2:18 – “being grieved because of the hardness of their hearts I cried unto the Lord for them.” The beatitudes contain principles like the Lord needed to have the atonement. Nephi also cried about them. We all can suffer from a bad example so it goes both ways, but the Lord is there for us giving us an advantage.
1 Nephi 2:19 – “the Lord spake unto me, saying: Blessed art thou, Nephi, because of thy faith, for thou hast sought me diligently, with lowliness of heart.” Many people do not seem to believe in God. Nephi had faith to see what was true. Diligence is careful and persistent work or effort. He would have to be careful that his bad desires didn’t preclude him from imagining the right thing. Since this was so important and we have our whole lives to live, persistence is reasonable. Lowliness of heart is the most important since, if we are not willing to do it, we will rebel worse. So, to truly find it we have to be ready first.
1 Nephi 2:20- “inasmuch as ye shall keep thy commandments, ye shall prosper, and shall be led to a land of promise;” “choice above all other lands.” Jesus said the two great commandments were to love God and one’s neighbor. He also said, “If you love me, keep my commandments” (John 14:15). Since He has everything to give, and since that is what He wants from us, He provides a way for everyone to keep the commandments. Then, He rewards them as much as He can. That helps them genuinely do it and feel it appropriately.
1 Nephi 2:21 – “inasmuch as thy brethren shall rebel against thee, they shall be cut off from the presence of the Lord.” Rebellion is not a casual mistake. Rebellion is deliberately refusing something that is possible. They cannot be blessed if they do this or there would be no motivation.
1 Nephi 2:22 – “inasmuch as thou shalt keep my commandments, thou shalt be made a ruler and a teacher over thy brethren.” Nephi has yet to receive the plates; but who knows whether he has heard the story of Joseph. Keeping the commandments would show that he didn’t reject the knowledge he had obtained through faith, diligence and lowliness of heart. Since Laman and Lemuel didn’t, God wants good government and would not suffer them to be a leader over Nephi. Instead, and since he knew what was going on, he would be a teacher over them.
1 Nephi 2:23 – “in that day that they shall rebel against me, I will curse them even with a sore curse, and they shall have no power over thy seed except they shall rebel against me also.” Why a sore curse? Because Nephi was greatly blessed and so his seed would be greatly blessed. It says in the ten commandments that God loves them that love him for 1,000 generations.
1 Nephi 2:24 – “if it so be that they rebel against me, they shall be a scourge unto thy seed, to stir them up in the ways of rememberance.” And yet, after all they had been given, if they rebelled they would need an even more sore cursing. What better way to curse them even more than to have Laman and Lemuel’s seed do it. But if they tried they would remember things, and so, like Nephi’s seed, would be a ruler and a teacher. Laman and Lemuel’s would be a reminder.

1 Nephi 3

1 Nephi 3:1 – “And it came to pass that I, Nephi, returned from speaking with the Lord, to the tent of my father.” This ties back to the fact that his father had to settle somewhere for a while for this to happen. Thus Lehi had to settle first so that they could get the plates, or Nephi might not have been strong enough to slay Laban.
1 Nephi 3:2 – “Behold I have dreamed a dream.” Again, it is a dream which God could control; but, you never know whether you’ve had a true dream. Lehi was accustomed to invisible things in his directory.
1 Nephi 3:3 – “For behold, Laban hath the record of the Jews and also a geneaology of my forefathers,” The record of the Jews would be very valuable since the head is the ancient and the tail is the modern false prophet. The head could keep God praying to them through the book. The genealogy, I think, may have had to do with Temple Work.
1 Nephi 3:4 – Thus, Nephi would understand, like Laman and Lemuel must have as well (in fact they cooperate quite a bit in 1 Nephi), the reason for doing this. That way they could all know it was a commandment beyond dispute.  Notice the similarities to Martin Luther… they wanted the Bible from one person to share with a civilization.  Also, Joseph Smith wanted to translate the Book of Mormon to help the whole human race.
1 Nephi 3:5 – Even though they must have known it was necessary, they loved their own skin. So, they acted like it was only their father commanding them, to try to get out of it, but they still went.
1 Nephi 3:6 – On the other hand, Nephi knew the truth, and that it was really hard. He must have been freaking out.
1 Nephi 3:7 – Nephi didn’t know yet that his seed would all die. He had been told he would inherit a land of promise. That is why he wanted to do it. This shows that extremely challenging situations can be attempted with the right precautions (being from God) and right motivation.
1 Nephi 3:8 – The Lord had to visit Nephi or he wouldn’t have seen the purpose either. Without a land of promise, it doesn’t much matter if you leave to go into the wilderness to try and survive. They didn’t know about Ishmael yet either. Since Nephi had the dream and Laman and Lemuel didn’t, we can see that, in a way, Laman and Lemuel were very righteous in order to do this blindly, without knowing about the land of promise. You can’t really blame them for much at this point. I mean, they didn’t know about the land of promise or Ishmael; and although they hadn’t sought out God as much as Nephi, they still didn’t know as much about him. We will keep track of Laman and Lemuel’s performance and try to treat it fairly.
1 Nephi 3:9 – There was no rush! They could use tents.
1 Nephi 3:10 – Up could mean north. Because they all were doing so well towards each other at this point they could consult with each other and actually wanted to do it.
1 Nephi 3:11 – “Laman went in unto the house of Laban, and he talked with him as he sat in his house.” Of course, Albert Einstein famously said that God does not throw dice. There must have been a reason Laman was chosen first. And Laman tried diplomacy.
1 Nephi 3:12 – It kind of leaves us clueless as to whether Laman tried to explain what his family was doing. We don’t even know if he did know what his family was doing. But we know he understood the need for having the Jewish record and the genealogies. They were after all Jewish.
1 Nephi 3:13 – “Behold thou art a robber, and I will slay thee.” Ironically, Laban robbed them and Nephi slew him.

1 Nephi 3:14 – Failure is a part of life.
1 Nephi 3:15- “As the Lord liveth”? Nephi was the teacher, and even though his brothers might not have known it, he followed it up with “And as we live” which at the time would mean they must have been created by the Lord, and then they would be properly instructed.

1 Nephi 3:16 – They were to the point where they had to choose between lifestyles – gold vs. wilderness. As mentioned at the top, part of faith is to suspend believing in what is unnecessary. They had to acknowledge that they could give up their gold.

1 Nephi 3:17 – Three ways to judge the political climate – open mind, team player and recognize significant events that cause change. Lehi’s children were smart enough to do this. They could see which way Jerusalem was headed. And that helped them choose wilderness instead of gold.

1 Nephi 3:18- When those who help are kicked out, the city spirals out of control.

1 Nephi 3:19 – “preserve unto our children the language of our fathers;” By preserving language, they could show that Lamanites were Israelites, if not in DNA, in lineage.

1 Nephi 3:20 – “may preserve unto them the words which have been spoken by the mouth of all the holy prophets,” If they had the words of those who have helped, that would help them not spiral out of control. The Lamanites would not have this record; but it would have been very hard to make copies for both races.

1 Nephi 3:21 – So we can see how this was persuasive.

1 Nephi 3:22 – So they got their gold to give up.

1 Nephi 3:23 – So they went up.

1 Nephi 3:24 – Because they were desirous, it would help Nephi to be motivated enough to get them later.

1 Nephi 3:25 – “he did lust after it” Lust for things breaks down integrity, which could have been why he was drunk later. He actually did get their property for real; but the integrity problem was that he didn’t earn it.

1 Nephi 3:26 – Bad people abuse good people, so they had to flee. But bad people first and foremost want to take their spirit in the process. It worked on Laman and Lemuel, but Nephi kept his spirit despite the abuse. Sometimes abuse is what brings out the worst or best in us.

1 Nephi 3:27 – Perhaps the servants of Laban were too armed to pursue them, symbolizing the eye of the needle. The eye of the needle was a gate to the city and a rich man couldn’t make it through with his riches on his camel because the gate was too small. Because they had performed giving their property to show singleness to God, they were prospered, whereas the guards of Laban, who were trained to kill, had not demonstrated such acts.

1 Nephi 3:28 – Abuse is repetitive. Because Laban successfully abused Laman and Lemuel, they passed it on with Nephi. Devoting their physical and intellectual efforts to pass on the torture when it could only be copied; and the only way to destroy it in themselves was to keep trying to get the plates.

1 Nephi 3:29 – “an angel of the Lord came and stood before them” “Know ye not that the Lord hath chosen him to be a ruler over you, and this because of your iniquities?” The angel was good for Nephi and bad for Laman and Lemuel, because they had to see it and Nephi wanted it.

1 Nephi 3:30 – After divine intervention, they were left in their reset state.

1 Nephi 3:31 – “yea, even he can slay fifty; then why not us?” Laman and Lemuel assumed there would be no more divine help, perhaps because they hadn’t wanted it.

1 Nephi 4

1 Nephi 4:1 – Nephi was a teacher of what he knew best – the powerfulness of God.

1 Nephi 4:2 – Nephi quoted scripture as evidence which was also motivation to get the brass plates in the first place.

1 Nephi 4:3 – “Now behold ye know that this is true; and ye also know that an angel hath spoken unto you;” Because they had seen an angel, they would be confounded if they tried to stop it.

1 Nephi 4:4 – I think the Jews in the desert didn’t like having to trust. I think Laman and Lemuel were the same. They were rational human beings.

1 Nephi 4:5 – He made it easy on them by going himself. Also, since they had all tried together, he went himself. Had he gone with someone else, that person would have no disguise with Zoram.

1 Nephi 4:6 – “And I was led by the Spirit, not knowing beforehand the things which I should do.” When you have that connection, you can just go about doing good.

1 Nephi 4:7 – “he was drunken with wine.” Making a statement about the Word of Wisdom.

1 Nephi 4:8 – “I found that it was Laban.” Even the rich have to play by the rules. Laban got drunk fair and square.

1 Nephi 4:9 – “And I beheld his sword.” The Holy Ghost led him to notice a man, that it was Laban, and a sword, in that order. The Holy Ghost is building up to get him to do it. Now that it’s possible, it’s a battle of conscience.

1 Nephi 4:10 – “And it came to pass that I was constrained by the Spirit that I should kill Laban; but I said in my heart: Never at any time have I shed the blood of man. And I shrunk and would that I might not slay him.” Nephi felt that he’d rather be unworthy than do it, but he didn’t excuse himself.

1 Nephi 4:11 – “he had sought to take away mine own life;” “he also had taken away our property.” If Laman and all of them hadn’t gone first, he wouldn’t have known that Laban tried to kill him and that he stole his property for a reason.

1 Nephi 4:12 – “the Spirit said unto me again: Slay him,” Now Nephi is told to do it, taking responsibility. If it works out, it will be either good or bad for Nephi. Imagine his thoughts about their future in the promised land. But he would have to kill Laban.

1 Nephi 4:13 – “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.” The Spirit tells him further so he’ll just have to choose to do it. It is clearly a commandment, excusing the ten commandments. I would be careful about killing in modern times. The Lord hasn’t told us its necessary. However, there are wars; and the LDS Church says you must love the person you go to battle against. In war you are not supposed to kill innocent people; we can do better than war IMO.

1 Nephi 4:14 – “I remembered” “Inasmuch as thy seed shall keep my commandments, they shall prosper in the land of promise.” Nephi knew it was a commandment and realized he would be blessed in the land of promise for it, which would help lead him to rationalize that it was a good thing.

1 Nephi 4:15 – “they could not keep the commandments” “save they should have the law.” They would have to have the plates for this blessing. He was commanded to kill and get the plates for the blessing.

1 Nephi 4:16 – And yes, the reason the plates were for it was that the law was written on it (and also the genealogy).

1 Nephi 4:17 – Recapping. One thing that may have worn down on Nephi was how Laban acted when he had the plates.

1 Nephi 4:18 – Concluded. Losing the head, he could wear his clothes and there would not be a struggle… Nephi did it humanely in other words. Laban felt nothing.

1 Nephi 4:19 – “I did gird on his armor about my loins.” Girding about your loins is to pull up your garment and tie it around your waste to prepare for a fight. (Eric A. Eliason). Nephi was anticipating more fighting.

1 Nephi 4:20 – “in the voice of Laban” It is unknown whether or not Nephi was helped to mimic Laban’s voice.

1 Nephi 4:21 – But of course it worked; it had to.

1 Nephi 4:22 – Laban was following religion for his own conscience; he just was corrupt.

1 Nephi 4:23 – “And I spake unto him as if it had been Laban.” Nephi was obliged to talk about them; I wonder how Nephi knew what relationship Laban had with the Jews.

1 Nephi 4:24 – “I should carry the engravings” “without the walls.” Then Nephi needed to explain what was going on so Zoram wouldn’t panic so much.

1 Nephi 4:25 – “bade him that he should follow me.” Nephi needed to encourage him to follow him for the same reason.

1 Nephi 4:26 – “supposing… that I was truly that Laban” Zoram anticipated the same old thing but had no problem following; the encouragement to follow might have been part of the disguise.

1 Nephi 4:27 – “he spake unto me many times concerning the elders of the Jews,” Again, they were devout religiously… they were pharisaic.

1 Nephi 4:28 – “when Laman saw me he was exceedingly frightened, and also Lemuel and Sam.” Laman and Lemuel didn’t even know what was going on in all of this… they assumed Laban got out of Nephi or somewhere else that they were outside the gate.

1 Nephi 4:29 – “And it came to pass that I called after them, and they did hear me; wherefore they did cease to flee from my presence.” Even though Zoram might try to bolt, Nephi called them in his own voice. Hopefully this helped a little in the grand continuous battle of the Book of Mormon story because he cared for them.

1 Nephi 4:30 – Then Zoram was the same way, but he didn’t immediately flee because of Nephi’s coaxing. That was good, because he could have sent guards after Lehi’s family.

1 Nephi 4:31 – “stature” Stature does not mean size or strength but training. In fact he had to receive strength from the Lord.

1 Nephi 4:32 – “if” “we would spare his life” Nephi was wise as a serpent and harmless as a dove. First he caught him, then he said he would spare his life if he’d listen to his proposition.

1 Nephi 4:33 – “And I spake unto him, even with an oath, that he need not fear; that he should be a free man like unto us if he would go down in the wilderness with us.” Then Nephi swore that he could go into the wilderness with them. Zoram might have still been motivated to flee after he was let go at this point.

1 Nephi 4:34 – Zoram probably had seen the earlier attempts to get the Book of Mormon and knew why Lehi’s family needed it. He may have liked their plan and to go on an adventure to the land of promise.

1 Nephi 4:35 – Zoram must have thought it was cool or he wouldn’t do it. Sometimes the Lord just has to do cool things.

1 Nephi 4:36 – “that the Jews might not know concerning our flight into the wilderness, lest they should pursue us and destroy us.” They didn’t want him turning on them and sending people after them. It didn’t matter if he were corrupt to them… he had to go with them. And perhaps some righteous preaching could help him since he still liked Judaism.

1 Nephi 4:37 – Jerusalem still believed in God; they just mocked the prophets because they wanted abomination.

1 Nephi 4:38 – Wrapping things up.

1 Nephi 5

1 Nephi 5:1 – “And it came to pass that after we had come down into the wilderness unto our father, behold, he was filled with joy, and also my mother, Sariah, was exceedingly glad, for she truly had mourned because of us.” Joy is intense happiness. Lehi not only verified a prophecy, but saw that his sons had grown. Mourning a loss helps you deal with it. So, Sariah would be even happier when she knew that they were alive anyway, because she had tasted what it would be like without them.

1 Nephi 5:2 – “For she had supposed that we had perished in the wilderness;” “telling him that he was a visionary man” It is easy to doubt the Lord apparently when it seems so mystical that He would exist, even if you see or hear Him. Much of this family was very practical that way.

1 Nephi 5:3 – She assumed that what seemed like was a fool’s errand was; she doubted because it was hard to believe it would work. Calling Lehi visionary and foolish and impractical were things that were easy to assume.

1 Nephi 5:4 – “if I had not seen the things of God in a vision I should not have known the goodness of God, but had tarried at Jerusalem, and had perished with my brethren.” Lehi countered that his visions were real because of what he learned from them. He explained the importance of getting out of Jerusalem. The stick.

1 Nephi 5:5 – “I have obtained a land of promise,” “the Lord will deliver my sons out of the hands of Laban,” He explained that not only would they make it to paradise, but they could prosper in it with the brass plates. The carrot.

1 Nephi 5:6 – And it worked.

1 Nephi 5:7 – “their joy was full,” Both had joy, intense happiness because they could see the hand of God. Sariah was comforted because she had mourned. Blessed are they that mourn, for they shall be comforted.

1 Nephi 5:8 – “And she spake, saying: Now I know of a surety that the Lord hath commanded my husband to flee into the wilderness; yea, and I also know of a surety that the Lord hath protected my sons, and delivered them out of the hands of Laban, and given them power whereby they could accomplish the thing which the Lord hath commanded them. And after this manner of language did she speak.” She learned from results what Nephi knew from vision. Now it would be up to her to do what’s right. She could repent.

1 Nephi 5:9 – “they” “did offer sacrifice and burnt offerings” They obeyed a commandment. If you love God, like they rejoiced in Him, keep his commandments.

1 Nephi 5:10 – “took the records which were engraven upon the plates of brass, and he did search them” “From the beginning” is actually considered a better translation of Genesis 1:1. “From the beginning God created the Heavens and the Earth.” – Samson Raphael Hirsch (pentateuch). They were safe so they wanted to educate themselves first before they moved their feet.

1 Nephi 5:11 – They got the Torah! How awesome to be able to have people be in the priestly class by studying it. And they didn’t have to succumb to pressure to be bad in Jerusalem.

1 Nephi 5:12 – “from the beginning, even down to the commencement of the reign of Zedekiah,” They could learn from the Jewish history, just as we can learn from the Book of Mormon history. It’s all one continuum of people doing right and wrong and we try to make it until an end.

1 Nephi 5:13 – Notice repeated use of “From the beginning” and the note on 1 Nephi 5:10. Jeremiah was about Jerusalem being destroyed. They would be able to learn from what was going to happen.

1 Nephi 5:14 – “he was a descendant of Joseph” Like I just mentioned. They were preserved by the hand of the Lord to see what good and bad members of society would be like in a whole new continuation. The Jewish race itself was preserved through Joseph.

1 Nephi 5:15 – “And they were also led out of captivity and out of the land of Egypt, by that same God who had preserved them.” The passover is so important to Judaism. They would get their own passover into the promised land. The Jews in Egypt were worked in slavery. Lehi’s family was threatened by Laban and could be a free people in the promised land, like Jerusalem could have been if it wasn’t going to be destroyed.

1 Nephi 5:16 – They also found that the records had been passed down properly.

1 Nephi 5:17 – As we know from 1 Nephi 1, this book has a lot to do with prophecy. Once they had learned everything, it was time for Lehi to use the prophecy in himself to create his own message.

1 Nephi 5:18 – The American Indians are considered his seed and the Bible has gone down among them. If he meant Abraham, that’s true too. Because of going “to every [country], [group], [language] and [kin],” they could always be kept in check and used in trust. However, Latter-day Saints believe there were mistranslations; but that’s later in 1 Nephi. The Book still stands as a testament.

1 Nephi 5:19 – Therefore, they would always be there for any such group, and they could always look at what text they had for modern translation. That is what many churches do to update the Bible from time to time. His seed mattered because the Book of Mormon and possibly other books mattered.

1 Nephi 5:20 – If they had kept the commandments thus far, they were worthy of anything they needed. This meant that they could continue towards the promised land and do the things suggested that they would do.

1 Nephi 5:21 – They all wanted those plates, which would help Laman and Lemuel get along. They were of great worth. Without plates they wouldn’t be able to remember all those commandments.

1 Nephi 5:22 – Wisdom is doing things right the first time; and they hadn’t sinned yet, so it was wisdom. Understanding is like pipes and wisdom is water flowing through them. Intelligence is learning from mistakes.

1 Nephi 6

1 Nephi 6:1 – “the genealogy” “is given in the record which has been kept by my father;” Since he thought there would be two sets of plates, it was sensible for him to only write his genealogy in one.

1 Nephi 6:2 – “For it sufficeth me to say that we are descendants of Joseph.” But in case someone only had this one, he mentioned that they were of Joseph. For they truly saved themselves from destruction and captivity, allowing them to prolong a line of their descendants.

1 Nephi 6:3 – “it mattereth not to me that I am particular to give a full account of all the things of my father,” “I desire the room that I may write of the things of God.” In the ten commandments, honoring God comes before honoring your parents, and Nephi had limited space.

1 Nephi 6:4 – “For the fulness of mine intent is that I may persuade men to come unto the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, and be saved.” He wants to write about the same God as in the Old Testament and to get people saved. Thus, people would be interested and be able to do their best.

1 Nephi 6:5 – “Wherefore, the things which are pleasing unto the world I do not write, but the things which are pleasing unto God and unto those who are not of the world.” The things which are pleasing to the world are not worthwhile because the world doesn’t save itself. The things of God are more about survival and salvation; and things that are not worldly can be motivational as well because they still seek to uplift, or else they’d be of the world.

1 Nephi 6:6 – “Wherefore, I shall give commandment unto my seed, that they shall not occupy these plates with things which are not of worth unto the children of men.” Then he commands that the whole Book of Mormon should be this way. What a great way to kick off the book of Mormon. The children of men are the descendants of Adam and Eve, which he hasn’t talked about yet.

1 Nephi 7

1 Nephi 7:1 – “the Lord spake unto him again, saying that it was not meet for him, Lehi, that he should take his family into the wilderness alone;” It might seem obvious that they would have to go back; but with a God of miracles, they might have met women in the desert. Obviously though, they had to reproduce.

1 Nephi 7:2 – “and bring down Ishmael and his family into the wilderness.” The Lord gave a shortcut by telling who.

1 Nephi 7:3 – So they went. I do not know why Lehi or Sariah didn’t go. Maybe they wanted to stop rebellion at Nephi and avoid rebellion against them as well.

1 Nephi 7:4 – “we did speak unto him the words of the Lord.” Notice that Laman and Lemuel were included in speaking the word of the Lord. They often did good things. They were popular to Ishmael’s family so they could convert them.

1 Nephi 7:5 – “the Lord did soften the heart of Ishmael, and also his household,” The Lord helped here too, this time softening Ishmael’s heart. Remember that Nephi had approached the Lord with diligence and lowliness of heart so that revelation to him would work.

1 Nephi 7:6 – “[some of them] did rebel against us;” Before they even went to Lehi’s tent, they already had a rebellion. There must not have been much choice for the Lord when He played matchmaker.

1 Nephi 7:7 – Those that knew better and were greedy convinced the ignorant, and just like the Jews in Moses’ day they always wanted to go back.

1 Nephi 7:8 – “that ye have need that I, your younger brother, should speak unto you, yea, and set an example for you?” Nephi had to be a great example out of necessity. Sometimes some people have to.

1 Nephi 7:9 – “How is it that ye have not hearkened unto the word of the Lord?” Nephi explained that they had been taught the word of the Lord. That is something people can transgress by because they know the scriptures since birth. (According to Judaism in the Jewish Book of Why, you are taught the Torah in the womb; then when you are born an angel kisses you on the septum, making the lines between your nose and mouth so you will forget, but you can still recognize the Torah).

1 Nephi 7:10 – “How is it that ye have forgotten that ye have seen an angel of the Lord?” Besides, he said, they knew anyhow; they had seen an angel.

1 Nephi 7:11 – “how is it that ye have forgotten what great things the Lord hath done for us, in delivering us out of the hands of Laban, and also that we should obtain the record?” Plus they had seen incredibly unlikely events such as surviving from Laban and getting the Torah. Statistics and reason are even more convincing than the other two.

1 Nephi 7:12 – “how is it that ye have forgotten that the Lord is able to do all things according to his will,” Then he applied a teaching from it that the Lord could do all things according to His will, which is like a conclusion and motivates absolute religious worship.

1 Nephi 7:13 – “And if it so be that we are faithful to him, we shall obtain the land of promise;” “the word of the Lord shall be fulfilled concerning the destruction of Jerusalem;” Therefore they could attain the Land of Promise and like they could read in Jeremiah escape destruction. It was like freedom or captivity. In fact, in a new land, the freedom is really good! It’s not like being the millionth customer but the first.

1 Nephi 7:14 – “For behold, the Spirit of the Lord ceaseth soon to strive with them; for behold, they have rejected the prophets, and Jeremiah have they cast into prison. And they have sought to take away the life of my father, insomuch that they have driven him out of the land.” When you abuse your covenants the spirit can gradually go away. I have experienced it; I was rebaptized and that helped it come a lot. They rejected prophets which speak for the Lord directly and non-directly depending on perspective. Having good motivation or no motivation was the key for the Jews. Jeremiah, according to the header of Ch. 20, said that Judaism would rise or fall with their kings. Rejecting prophets would lead to bad kings. Before Lehi’s sons, they had tried to kill their father too. He loved them and they knew it; see chapter 1:1 – he was not afraid of death or not loving himself.

1 Nephi 7:15 – “if ye have choice, go up to the land,” And lastly, Nephi wanted to teach them accountability so he offered to them that they could do what they wanted.

1 Nephi 7:16 – “they were exceedingly wroth, and they did bind me with cords, for they sought to take away my life,” But they were wroth… The New Testament says that if any man does the will of the Father he will know whether “I” speak of myself or of God. They probably did not want to live righteously, so they just got into a rage. Notice the similarity to Joseph in the pit, but then allowed to live, perpetuating the race.

1 Nephi 7:17 – “O Lord,” “wilt thou deliver me from the hands of my brethren; yea, even give me strength that I may burst these bands” Nephi, feeling that he had tried his hardest, and knowing the promises of the Lord, felt simply to ask to be saved.

1 Nephi 7:18 – “I spake unto them again.” It worked. He had the opportunity to speak again.

1 Nephi 7:19 – “one of the daughters of Ishmael, yea, and also her mother, and one of the sons of Ishmael, did plead with my brethren, insomuch that they did soften their hearts; and they did cease striving to take away my life.” Some of the family listened, reminding me of how we are in a network where everyone might matter. They allowed their teacher to live, but had solidified that they could reject him easily if it wasn’t easy. Oh the breaking of the bow must have been terrible for Nephi.

1 Nephi 7:20 – Binding him and him being free was even more motivation. Being wroth was being wound up. So they took this whole, great message from 7:8-18 and applied it. If they could obtain forgiveness, they might not have been perfect, but they would be completely on track.

1 Nephi 7:21 – Nephi had the power to forgive, an admirable and necessary trait to be this great teacher in the promised land. They just needed the Lord’s forgiveness. It doesn’t say whether they obtained forgiveness; but since they had done praying, I assume they were fine. After all, they were in the mood to be right with God and man and completely repent.

1 Nephi 7:22 – “they did offer sacrifice and burnt offerings unto him.” For doing another commandment that turned out to be hard, they did the necessary burnt offerings.

1 Nephi 8

1 Nephi 8:1 – “we had gathered together all manner of seeds of every kind, both” Since after the dreams they just went through the wilderness (with the Liahona), there is just this one verse about preparation.  They had plants and trees; and how they knew to expect animals would be beyond me.  But I guess they could eat vegetarian.  It’s important to get a good variety to be vegetarian.

1 Nephi 8:2 – Lehi claims he saw something in his mind again but then clarifies that it wasn’t made up.  He must have known that somehow.

1 Nephi 8:3 – “for I have reason to suppose that they, and also many of their seed, will be saved.” Besides Nephi’s seed dying out, it would never really die out at all with salvation and exaltation!

1 Nephi 8:4 – Now we are going to understand why Laman and Lemuel weren’t doing things right; and they’re going to hear it.  It hurt Lehi extremely bad.  He basically saw an empty field, like he could see things come in and out and look for the message.

1 Nephi 8:5 – “And it came to pass that I saw a man, and he was dressed in a white robe; and he came and stood before me.” First he saw a man, and a white robe would indicate purity.  Thus, logically, he would want people to be pure.  Although they had been forgiven, Laman and Lemuel were not pure; and Nephi and Sam and Sariah were.  Even though Sariah complained that wasn’t breaking a commandment.

1 Nephi 8:6 – “And it came to pass that he spake unto me, and bade me follow him.” He even said to follow him literally as well as indicating it figuratively.

1 Nephi 8:7 – “And it came to pass that as I followed him I beheld myself that I was in a dark and dreary waste.” Now not only was it empty, the word waste means that it was undesirable.

1 Nephi 8:8 – Dreams don’t usually take several hours. That could tip him off that it was a vision.  He felt like Joesph Smith praying for deliverance.  That would lead to some people getting saved and some not as well.  Nephi quoted the, “tender mercies,” statement in 1 Nephi 1:20.  Nephi wants to show right here what tender mercies the Lord has.

1 Nephi 8:9 – “I beheld a large and spacious field.” A field usually has plants and it’s not waste.  Now he could survive on plants.  Survival in this life and the next may be the tender mercies.

1 Nephi 8:10 – Sure enough, he found happiness; and he was going to see the nature of that happiness.

1 Nephi 8:11 – “above all” “to exceed” The fruit looked and tasted the best.  That means he thought it was right for happiness and that he felt it too.  The inside and outside of it, so to speak.

1 Nephi 8:12 – “I began to be desirious that my family should partake of it also;” He wanted to share in salvation, especially with his family whom he loved.  If you love yourself you want people in your image.

1 Nephi 8:13 – “I beheld a river of water;” Before seeing his family he saw a river (the vision was not up to him).  A river separates those between this life and the afterlife in baptism.

1 Nephi 8:14 – For Nephi having done so much, he knew not where to go.  Neither did Sam or Sariah who had tried to be righteous.  The Torah doesn’t talk about the afterlife.

1 Nephi 8:15 – “I beckoned unto them; and I also did say unto them with a loud voice that they should come unto me,” He used figurative and verbal communication so they could feel his love and hear it too.

1 Nephi 8:16 – “they did” “partake” They took it!

1 Nephi 8:17 – “And it came to pass that I was desirous that Laman and Lemuel should come and partake of the fruit also; wherefore, I cast mine eyes towards the head of the river, that perhaps I might see them.” He looked for Laman and Lemuel by the river.

1 Nephi 8:18 – They didn’t want to be baptized or taste of salvation, which is why he feared for them; but they could still help in the promised land and modern times and eventually would be alright.  But Lehi had said he feared exceedingly for them, not their descendants.

1 Nephi 8:19 – Lehi beheld the rod of iron, probably the hardest metal they knew at the time, which led to the tree.  Thus, people could follow the rod and obtain salvation.  Believing in being saved would be the ultimate motivator to do what was right.

1 Nephi 8:20 – The fountain was the start of the river.  There was another field that was somewhere different, that could have been an entire world before.  Now I see that Laman and Lemuel could survive with descendants in the world; but that world won’t make it, so they still couldn’t.  Salvation was more desirable.

1 Nephi 8:21 – Who knows how many people there were, but suffice it to say that a great many people were trying to gain salvation.  How they knew it I don’t know, but they could see the fruit.  Mist is supposed to be somewhat see-through. The outside of it made it look good for happiness.

1 Nephi 8:22 – “they did come forth, and commence in the path which led to the tree.” They started their journey to the tree for reasons we understand.

1 Nephi 8:23 – “And it came to pass that there arose a mist of darkness; yea, even an exceedingly great mist of darkness, insomuch that they who had commenced in the path did lose their way, that they wandered off and were lost.” Why was there a mist of darkness?  Why did they wander off?  First of all, salvation must be deserved.  It has to genuinely be strived for.  People get distracted.  Laman and Lemuel knew it was salvation, but they had often not wanted to strive for it.  As for distraction, for instance, they got upset when they lost their riches to Laban.

1 Nephi 8:24 – Slowly but surely though, those who stuck to their desire for the fruit would remember and obey to keep hold of the rod.  If they are going to deserve it, they must obey the traffic signals so to speak.

1 Nephi 8:25 – “they were ashamed.” Why were they ashamed?

1 Nephi 8:26 – “a great and spacious building; and it stood as it were in the air, high above the earth.” There was a mysterious floating building.

1 Nephi 8:27 – “And it was filled with people, both old and young, both male and female; and their manner of dress was exceedingly fine; and they were in the attitude of mocking and pointing their fingers towards those who had come at and were partaking of the fruit.” These people dressed up.  That would make their living seem worthwhile.  They also used language to denigrate those by the fruit.  They also made it to seem like there was no more evidence but that they were in the right place (pointing the finger in Judaism).

1 Nephi 8:28 – Unfortunately if they had come to the tree and were now ashamed, they needed to go somewhere else; so there had to be somewhere else they could go.  Note that they didn’t go to the building.  They probably felt unwanted by that too.  They were unwanted in the world and didn’t want salvation.

1 Nephi 8:29 – This was a summary – what Nephi thought, hence trying to show the tender mercies.  He has shown that the great field would fall, that the people in the building were bad, and that those who partook of the fruit were ashamed, so there will have to be more.

1 Nephi 8:30 – He said that some partook of the fruit.

1 Nephi 8:31 – “And he also saw other multitudes feeling their way towards that great and spacious building.” He said that some went to the great and spacious building even if they did not have the fruit with them, meaning the floating building would fall.

1 Nephi 8:32 – I suppose drowned meant dying early, and strange roads were things that we do not talk about.

1 Nephi 8:33 – This repeats the situation, but says that some including Nephi, Sam, Lehi and Sariah continued towards salvation.  That would make life on Earth hard, being shunned by those in the great and spacious building; but that’s what the iron rod was for.  The mists of darkness might represent those in the great and spacious building as well.

1 Nephi 8:34 – “These are the words of my father: For as many as heeded them, had fallen away.” You have to give up this life for the next.  All that this life has to offer on its own was in that building.

1 Nephi 8:35 – He didn’t say that Laman and Lemuel went to the building.  That would lead them to another path.

1 Nephi 8:36 – “he exceedingly feared for Laman and Lemuel; yea, he feared lest they should be cast off from the presence of the Lord.” If they would obey by holding the rod of iron they could taste of the fruit.  He feared exceedingly that they would disobey, perhaps because of past behavior.

1 Nephi 8:37 – “And he did exhort them then with all the feeling of a tender parent, that they would hearken to his words, that perhaps the Lord would be merciful to them, and not cast them off; yea, my father did preach unto them.” He used all his love to get them to obey, knowing the fruit was best.  Reality won’t budge.

1 Nephi 8:38 – “he bade them to keep the commandments of the Lord; and he did cease speaking unto them.” He summarized it with the obedience part, the most important part.

So why was it a vision and not just a dream? It was obviously authoritative to make people happy and obedient.

1 Nephi 9

1 Nephi 9:1 – We missed out on more things (we don’t have all of the other plates translated). One might think we don’t know if they’d help or curse us.

1 Nephi 9:2 – Those things were probably historical. We get the preaching. Thus the start of the Book of Mormon is meant to be preaching and not proving. Is that the Lord’s wisdom? In the first verse of 1 Nephi, Nephi basically indicated that it was a legal document to persuade people to believe. Preaching is usually better than proving because people can rebel against proving; but people are helped in doing what’s right through preaching.

1 Nephi 9:3 – “I should make these plates, for the special purpose that there should be an account engraven of the ministry of my people.” The ministry is meant to be. They wanted to share how their civilization rose and fell with obedience to the Lord. And they wanted to convince people through reason that’s what could happen to them, again without so much proof. Of course, bookofmormoncentral.org has been cranking out evidence anyway, because of the success of the followers of the Church.

1 Nephi 9:4 – “the other plates are for the more part of the reign of the kings and the wars and contentions of my people.” Contentions would be nice to know to help people see how they were overcome. Kings and wars would help because the Old World would have their success based on the righteousness of their kings. However the Book of Mormon came up with a way to govern more closely with our Constitution. Moroni picked as well as he could, and these plates were 27% of the Book of Mormon that made it. Knowing the birth of a nation helps in understanding our own. By knowing how they are founded, and in later plates seeing how they progress, we can have a model for our well-being socially.

1 Nephi 9:5 – “the Lord hath commanded me to make these plates for a wise purpose in him, which purpose I know not.” Nephi could probably remember everything. He wouldn’t know what was to happen in the future though. Since we are told it was for a wise purpose, we should look for usefulness in the scriptures, which we’ve been doing already.

1 Nephi 9:6 – “From the beginning” again is how the Old Testament should start. (Samson Raphael Hirsch pentateuch). That means that God has already set up everything and we’re going through it. In addition to understanding these small plates, if we understand why everything is good and bad we can be like God. God can do anything except have two logical or in some way opposites exist simultaneously, which includes everything, even quantum mechanics.

1 Nephi 10

1 Nephi 10:1 – “I, Nephi, proceed to give an account upon these plates of my proceedings, and my reign and ministry; wherefore, to proceed with mine account, I must speak somewhat of the things of my father, and also of my brethren.” Did his family affect his reign and ministry?

1 Nephi 10:2 – “after my father had made an end of speaking the words of his dream, and also of exhorting them to all diligence, he spake unto them concerning the Jews” That dream that was perfect motivation for obedience and happiness was to be followed by something about the Jews.

1 Nephi 10:3 – There was still going to be a Jewish kingdom. It would be restored. But this is the third teaser: what was interesting about Lehi’s civilization and the Jewish civilization?

1 Nephi 10:4 – “the Lord God raise up among the Jews—even a Messiah, or, in other words, a Savior of the world.” Now we see that it was centered on Christ. Lehi had preached of this to those at Jerusalem.

1 Nephi 10:5 – So what about Christ? The Old Testament was full of witnesses. This would be evidence that the prophecies probably had a preaching dimension to them also. Perhaps some could be seen through the eye of faith.

1 Nephi 10:6 – “all mankind were in a lost and in a fallen state, and ever would be save they should rely on this Redeemer.” A lost and fallen state sounds like dreariness and a waste.  Perhaps the Savior was the tree in the dream. At any rate, he is now saying that Jesus was the only one who could recover his people to their purpose.

1 Nephi 10:7 – “And he spake also concerning a prophet who should come before the Messiah, to prepare the way of the Lord” This was John the Baptist, a man who lived in the wilderness and ate locusts and honey.

1 Nephi 10:8 – This John the Baptist used the word Lord to describe this very Messiah. Thus the creator from the beginning and the Messiah as a supreme being to control humanity were one and the same because they were both the maximum.

1 Nephi 10:9 – “he should baptize the Messiah with water.” The Messiah would be baptized so that he could descend below all things. By bearing them we’d know that we would be motivated to do as much right as we could and at the same time not give up hope.

1 Nephi 10:10 – “he had baptized the Lamb of God,” A lamb is like a sacrifice. Therefore, the meaning is literal. Jesus would be an offering to remove the world’s sins. But how to make that offering? How to use Jesus?

1 Nephi 10:11 – “the gospel which should be preached among the Jews, and also concerning the dwindling of the Jews in unbelief. And after they had slain the Messiah, who should come, and after he had been slain he should rise from the dead, and should make himself manifest, by the Holy Ghost, unto the Gentiles.” So, he would overcome death so that even if we are dying we can still motivate ourselves. The Holy Ghost, which has been introduced as the voice of the Lord, would tell the Gentiles, or non-Jews. This chapter is so puzzling. Why the non-Jews? Could it be that they had slaughtered Him when the gentiles wouldn’t, so that the gentiles could benefit in this supremacy and eventually share it back with the Jews when they were in a more prepared state?

1 Nephi 10:12 – I don’t know what the house of Israel is, but they would be all over the Earth, for the Bible teaches that through Abraham’s seed the world would be blessed. And also those who could utilize the sacrifice of the Lamb, the gentiles, would be blessed.

1 Nephi 10:13 – “Wherefore, he said it must needs be that we should be led with one accord into the land of promise, unto the fulfilling of the word of the Lord, that we should be scattered upon all the face of the earth.” Lehi’s mission was to spread into America and influence both through literal descendants and through the Book of Mormon.

1 Nephi 10:14 – “And after the house of Israel should be scattered they should be gathered together again;” Once the purpose of converting the gentiles is accomplished, then it is time for Jews to be next.

1 Nephi 10:15 – This is just a summary.

1 Nephi 10:16 – Being in one location helps you to prepare for revelation because you are not weary from traveling, but that doesn’t mean traveling is bad. The valley of Lemuel was about being firm and steadfast, and immovable in keeping the commandments of the Lord. That was what the motivation of Jesus was no matter what, whether a person had gone astray or not. They would always want to do what was right, although we have not yet covered how to “sacrifice Jesus” in our hearts.

1 Nephi 10:17 – The vision was real, so the commentary would have to be real also unless Lehi had suddenly rebelled. But it was by the Holy Ghost so this commentary was indeed real. He knew the truth through the Son of God who is Jesus Christ the Lamb, Savior and Messiah. It fits into the vision. Those who diligently seek the Holy Ghost receive it, like earlier when Nephi had faith and was diligent with lowliness of heart . Thus, no man can err.

1 Nephi 10:18 – Since God has all knowledge of good and evil, there is nothing for Him to change. And he was “From the beginning.”

1 Nephi 10:19 – No man can err and that man who looks shall find. Even the mysteries of God go to the diligent seeker through the Holy Ghost. The vision was free of time constraint. It doesn’t matter whether the human race is almost wiped out or on 12 planets. What is the meaning of the word “round?” It means it goes to itself and there is no time to God. Frequency is time. Everything is in one frequency.

1 Nephi 10:20 – Therefore we should be optimal all the time, for going out is bad and coming in is good. The one rule is that opposites cannot co-exist.

1 Nephi 10:21 – “Wherefore, if ye have sought to do wickedly in the days of your probation, then ye are found unclean before the judgment-seat of God; and no unclean thing can dwell with God; wherefore, ye must be cast off forever.” We mingle with each other. Therefore, if we harm ourselves we should not spread it to others; and if we harm others (wickedness) we have gone out which is never the Lord’s way. This behavior is never on God’s side. Probation is when we’re permitted to make our good decisions in life. That is where the judgment comes from: to ultimately see up close, the best gauge of your integrity.

1 Nephi 10:22 – “And the Holy Ghost giveth authority that I should speak these things, and deny them not.” I will not deny these words either.  What was interesting about Lehi’s civilization and the Jewish civilization?

1 Nephi 11

1 Nephi 11:1 – “as I sat pondering in mine heart I was caught away in the Spirit of the Lord, yea, into an exceedingly high mountain, which I never had before seen,” He pondered with his heart and maybe his mind, but specifically with his heart. I have heard that the heart has neurites that help it think like a heart would. By being more detached, the heart gets the bigger picture. He went into a very high mountain, perhaps to have a vantage point. He had never seen it, which just means it would require making up if it was his imagination.
1 Nephi 11:2 – “And the Spirit said unto me: Behold, what desireth thou?” He was offered the chance to ask first what he wanted to see. Would he ask for help with happiness and obedience?
1 Nephi 11:3 – “I desire to behold the things which my father saw.” He wanted to see the things his father saw, showing obedience and love to his father.
1 Nephi 11:4 – “Believest thou that thy father saw the tree of which he hath spoken?” The angel asked if he saw the tree, to see if he understood it.
1 Nephi 11:5 – But Nephi was clever. Lehi already saw Nephi tasting the fruit in the dream, so of course he did. Good answer.
1 Nephi 11:6 – “the Spirit cried with a loud voice, saying: Hosanna to the Lord,” Hosanna means surrender. Nephi would submit to the plan. He would submit to the highest possible plan, and the angel had guaranteed it. After all, no man can err. Because of the Son of God, the tree of life, believing was a requirement for knowledge. Since knowledge of good and evil is what makes us like God, therefore believing in the Son of God would lead to enabling the sacrifice; but along with obedience which starts with baptism.
1 Nephi 11:7 – The tree vision is understood; the Son of God is revealed. By Nephi being able to have the revelation, he should want to encourage others. If wickedness harms others and keeps us unclean, then righteousness and helping others makes us clean.
1 Nephi 11:8 – How did he know it looked like the tree his father had seen? He might simply not have recorded that part. Or the tree was described with perfect characteristics that Nephi could recognize. The beauty looks beyond all beauty, suggesting that the tree can take you as high as wanted, with knowledge being the ultimate happiness; and whiteness represents purity, meaning it would make you obedient.
1 Nephi 11:9 – “I behold thou hast shown unto me the tree which is precious above all.” He therefore could tell that the tree was the best thing of all.
1 Nephi 11:10 – The angel preceded in the same way, testing Nephi.
1 Nephi 11:11 – Nephi wanted to break down the meaning. When you see someone great, you do well to just talk to them as normal because it’s the best way of talking.
1 Nephi 11:12 – Now the man/angel/Spirit of the Lord disappeared, meaning that this was not somewhere for Nephi to follow.
1 Nephi 11:13 – “I beheld a virgin, and she was exceedingly fair and white.” He was educated about cities. A virgin exceedingly fair and white is the purest human being.
1 Nephi 11:14 – “I saw the heavens open; and an angel came down and stood before me; and” He saw the afterlife, and an angel came to him from it, meaning that he could follow into Heaven. This afterlife, as mentioned, motivates happiness and obedience. Things that happen after you act can be an afterlife too.
1 Nephi 11:15 – Nephi answered the question under the circumstances.
1 Nephi 11:16 – God would allow himself to go below His good nature to bring man up. Perhaps there is a lesson there of how we can help each other.
1 Nephi 11:17 – Nephi knew that God loved his children because of the vision of the tree of life being perfect, meaning God could be the author of it.
1 Nephi 11:18 – The Son of God would have a physical body that was born perfect, yet would suffer for all the things we did wrong to motivate us to do what was right.
1 Nephi 11:19 – When they are carried away, it’s not to follow. Perhaps controversially, this means that the Savior was more important to be noticing than his mother.
1 Nephi 11:20 – “And I looked and beheld the virgin again, bearing a child in her arms.” But then he saw the virgin with the baby, suggesting it is OK to look at the virgin if we look at Jesus Christ as well.
1 Nephi 11:21 – “Behold the Lamb of God, yea, even the Son of the Eternal Father!” The Lamb of God is what we can sacrifice through belief and obedience (which will later be seen as baptism). The eternal Father is the one who controls all good and bad automatically. The Son of the Eternal Father was a supreme being, so they could both be considered God, but would also be the sacrifice. This may be confusing.
1 Nephi 11:22 – “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.” Nephi knew that the Love of God enabled men to be obedient and happy. Or else it would be a waste.
1 Nephi 11:23 – “Yea, and the most joyous to the soul.” The soul is what obeys and joy is the most happiness possible.
1 Nephi 11:24 – “I saw many fall down at his feet and worship him.” Many worshiped the Son of God, falling at his feet. They would give everything for his motivation.
1 Nephi 11:25 – Life as food and water makes it very important. Because, “the beauty thereof was beyond, yea, exceeding of all beauty,” it would apply to everything. Jesus’ words apply every century and we can have more revelation.
1 Nephi 11:26 – “Look and behold the condescension of God!” Now it was time for the condescension of God to be revealed.
1 Nephi 11:27 – “and after he was baptized, I beheld the heavens open, and the Holy Ghost come down out of heaven and abide upon him in the form of a dove.” We knew this already up to the Holy Ghost as a dove. A dove is making peace, meaning that God’s message was one of peace. Sure Jesus would bring a sword to divide families; but Paul wrote that we wrestle not for the flesh but against principalities. The dove indicates that this plan must work! But hopefully with you and I!
1 Nephi 11:28 – Like Nephi and Lehi had experienced, Jesus was very motivational but I guess they were wroth. For some reason they cast him out.
1 Nephi 11:29 – Maybe Nephi wasn’t ready yet for the twelve.
1 Nephi 11:30 – Now for salvation angels were ministering to men. Perhaps these are spirits of the already dead who are participating. That would make the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints a lot bigger percentage of the world.
1 Nephi 11:31 – The Son of God would motivate removing the chaotic afflictions that people suffer at the same time as they remove the chaotic understanding of how they should behave.
1 Nephi 11:32 – “he was taken by the people; yea, the Son of the everlasting God was judged of the world;” Nephi bears record, which means it can be shown, that Jesus was judged by his inferiors, and that He allowed Himself to be crucified.
1 Nephi 11:33 – “I, Nephi, saw that he was lifted up upon the cross and slain for the sins of the world.” Because of the sinfulness of people, they killed Him. Yet by being perfect and suffering for all their sins, even to death, he would motivate us all to do our best.
1 Nephi 11:34 – “And after he was slain I saw the multitudes of the earth, that they were gathered together to fight against the apostles of the Lamb; for thus were the twelve called by the angel of the Lord.” The twelve apostles could now be seen as the ones who would fight for the Earth’s inhabitants to be saved and continue.
1 Nephi 11:35 – “And the multitude of the earth was gathered together; and I beheld that they were in a large and spacious building, like unto the building which my father saw. And the angel of the Lord spake unto me again, saying: Behold the world and the wisdom thereof; yea, behold the house of Israel hath gathered together to fight against the twelve apostles of the Lamb.” We know the building falls, but instead of just mocking and pointing the finger, they engage in actual fighting. This means that we must have a plan to be righteous. The house of Israel was to be reconverted because they had rejected the Lamb; so they would fight from where they were at but anyone could be reconverted.
1 Nephi 11:36 – “And it came to pass that I saw and bear record, that the great and spacious building was the pride of the world; and it fell, and the fall thereof was exceedingly great. And the angel of the Lord spake unto me again, saying: Thus shall be the destruction of all nations, kindreds, tongues, and people, that shall fight against the twelve apostles of the Lamb.” Any nation, kindred, tongue or people could be the ones who fight. That means it’s not some vague group that is non-identifiable. They could actually be picked out. And in the days of their probation they could change.

1 Nephi 12

1 Nephi 12:1 – “even as it were in number as many as the sand of the sea.” Nephi didn’t understand how many sand pieces are on the beach or the Lamanites would spread further, but in any case it was “even as.” There would be many of his and Sam’s seed and many of Laman and Lemuel’s. Zoram and Ishmael they haven’t said yet. We will see what the people that start a civilization can do to it.

1 Nephi 12:2 – “And it came to pass that I beheld multitudes gathered together to battle, one against the other; and I beheld wars, and rumors of wars, and great slaughters with the sword among my people.” People battled against each other but it didn’t say it was always between Nephi and Laman/Lemuel. There were entire wars and thinking that wars could start. Sadly, Nephi used a sword against Laban but there would be many deaths by sword in the land of promise.

1 Nephi 12:3 – “And it came to pass that I beheld many generations pass away, after the manner of wars and contentions in the land; and I beheld many cities, yea, even that I did not number them.” Contentions would be like spiritual warfare vs. wars being physical. In the last chapter we were told that not only was there a spiritual plan in Lehi’s vision but also the twelve apostles would fight for it physically. It seemed that people overwhelmingly preferred cities so perhaps that is a statement that cities are wise to live in. However, there is a backlash that cities are sometimes called to repentance. Then again, the Gadianton robbers lived in the wilderness a lot.

1 Nephi 12:4 – “I saw a mist of darkness on the face of the land of promise;” “I saw the earth and the rocks, that they rent;” “I saw the plains of the earth, that they were broken up;” “I saw many cities that they were sunk;” The mist of darkness or the difficulty of obtaining salvation because it should be earned led to great destruction! God is a God of peace as mentioned in the dove coming down at Jesus Christ’s baptism. All manner of natural events resulted in great death. This meant that it had the signature of God statistically, being the most convincing, but also that someone might doubt. A side note is that, interestingly enough, breaking up rocks is like fracking and sunken cities are like cities with construction underground.

1 Nephi 12:5 – “I saw multitudes who had not fallen” Here we go. Many were not destroyed, showing the goodness and peace of God, because without the others many, many people could be saved for four generations. Sometimes I wonder if our addresses affect whether in some second coming we would survive or not, as well as other little factors. An earthquake is a wave motion for instance; it can kill and not kill like the crests and troughs in a sine wave. These people survived terrible judgments, which is positive. Apparently there was just a lot of really good people and a lot of really bad people.

1 Nephi 12:6 – “And I saw the heavens open, and the Lamb of God descending out of heaven; and he came down and showed himself unto them.” The Lamb shows himself unto the people that survived because they are the ones that can enter the Kingdom of God; and perhaps now we will know how sacrificing the Lamb or the Lamb’s sacrifice will work.

1 Nephi 12:7 – “And I also saw and bear record that the Holy Ghost fell upon twelve others; and they were ordained of God, and chosen.” 12 others received the gift of revelation, so that they could preach. These didn’t need to fight because the people on the land of promise were good for so long afterwards.

1 Nephi 12:8 – “Behold the twelve disciples of the Lamb, who are chosen to minister unto thy seed.” They are to minister because there is infinite knowledge to reveal.

1 Nephi 12:9 – “wherefore, the twelve ministers of thy seed shall be judged of them; for ye are of the house of Israel.” However, how well they do will be judged by the twelve apostles of Jesus in the middle east, or rather the restored twelve apostles. We need to cover the restoration and when the judgment is.

1 Nephi 12:10 – This covers that the judgment is at the end because Nephi’s seed will have passed. Since their garments are white in the Lamb of God’s blood, they will appear precious above all. You need to be precious to judge preciousness of a person just like you need to be good to judge goodness. It didn’t say they were perfect on their own however; but in the Lamb of God’s blood, which is getting us closer to this sacrifice or condescension.

1 Nephi 12:11 – “their garments were white even like unto the Lamb of God.” The ones who survived terrible judgment were also so white. That is good because the goodness of the apostles should be spreadable.

1 Nephi 12:12 – “And I, Nephi, also saw many of the fourth generation who passed away in righteousness.” But not everyone can be good just because of good parents. Like we’ve discussed in 1 Nephi 1:1, people fear death and don’t love themselves, which makes them have problems parenting. In this case it was class distinction. The people couldn’t err; but the desire to get rich, the root of all evil, crept in. We shouldn’t judge because they were probably exceedingly rich after four generations. Perhaps the scale of riches and revelation was tipped because they didn’t have all the words of Christ. The American disciples of Jesus Christ’s own understanding might have limited their teaching four generations out.

1 Nephi 12:13 – “And it came to pass that I saw the multitudes of the earth gathered together.” The whole earth was gathered together, or in other words aware of each other, and this message was available to many, including many more who had died already that were helping out on the other side.

1 Nephi 12:14 – “And the angel said unto me: Behold thy seed, and also the seed of thy brethren.” Nephi was to see his seed and Laman/Lemuel’s seed, whoever else belonging to them, in that context (of the whole earth).

1 Nephi 12:15 – “they were gathered together to battle.” They were gathered together or in other words, essentially having their body of people engaged, in battle.

1 Nephi 12:16 – “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.” Hell divides the great and spacious building from the tree, and why shouldn’t it? The tree is for all obedience and happiness. The building is for those who not only wear fancy clothes and mock and point fingers, but battle against the twelve who represent it (for surely the twelve apostles in the Old World would be pure like the apostles in the New World).

1 Nephi 12:17 – “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.” Here is more on the mists of darkness. The word devil is probably introduced. But it is clear that it is the goings out that make the comings in difficult but possible, so that God can be perfect with one eternal round as His course. Blinding eyes and hardening hearts distract us from the simple path at hand because we have to be vigilant.

1 Nephi 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.” Here is more about the large and spacious building, now not called great. The vain imagination and the pride of the children of men: Vain imagination leads them to think that status symbols like clothes are more important than how you earn them and what you do to help man to get them (although you can also earn things by hurting people). Mocking is like not thinking through and pointing the finger is like saying there is nothing else. These things can lead you to fight against what’s good, but really pride comes before the fall. Pride distracts you because you think you already have something and are not focused on what you don’t have. Vain imagination and pride are the evil side of things that are a complete going out from the presence of God. How can we compare them to obedience and happiness? Happiness is accepting whatever you have and always looking for what’s better, not pride. Vain imagination leads to disobedience because you imagine that you are doing well without getting better also. Not getting better is the problem, and always being motivated to be your best is the solution.

1 Nephi 12:19 – “because of the pride of my seed, and the temptations of the devil, I beheld that the seed of my brethren did overpower the people of my seed.” The temptations of the devil are foolish imagination (see last two verses). Nephi’s seed perished physically alongside their spiritual attributes. Why would Nephi’s descendants do this? Wars and contentions might have been necessary because of what Nephi did with Laban. What comes around goes around. Why did Nephi’s descendants lose touch? Nephi was promised that the Lamanties would “stir them up in rememberance” if they would rebel, and there was nothing to remember anymore. After Christ, there was eventually class distinction. “Money is the root of all evil.” When you know so much and rebel it is a deeper cliff. Also, when you know so much there is more responsibility and it is harder; but we follow the example of God. Also, before Christ the Nephites committed sins; even Nephi. Sins can be repented of but there are still consequences… even the loss of a civilization.

1 Nephi 12:20 – This is stating that it went through to fruition.

1 Nephi 12:21 – The many generations will soon be seen as between the Book of Mormon and the discovery of America in modern times. So we’ll look for that too.

1 Nephi 12:22 – They didn’t have the plates, which is exactly what the angel had said was necessary to keep people from losing potency by not believing anything.

1 Nephi 12:23 – “And it came to pass that I beheld, after they had dwindled in unbelief they became a dark, and loathsome, and a filthy people, full of idleness and all manner of abominations.” Without obedience from not having the plates they would not believe in the fruit because of vain imagination. There would be nothing to make them get better. They would not be able to stay white then, not following commandments. They would be hated because of their failure to even produce the things and ideas that those in the large and spacious builidng want. They would be going out and not coming in – unclean and even filthy with no check. They would waste time not knowing what to do, trying to be lazy. The wicked punish the wicked and no one would care. However, it is important to remember that this is from dwindling in unbelief, something that scripture can fix; and the ideas of the scriptures have been spread generally.

We still must cover the restoration and the Lamanites in modern times- chapter 13.

1 Nephi 13

1 Nephi 13:1 – “I looked and beheld many nations and kingdoms.” Next Nephi saw many nations and kingdoms. Could there be war between the Lamb plus the twelve apostles and the gentiles and house of Israel?

1 Nephi 13:2 – Nephi didn’t notice anything else.

1 Nephi 13:3 – “These are the nations and kingdoms of the Gentiles.” OK; they are the gentiles. Will they be going to war?

1 Nephi 13:4 – “I saw among the nations of the Gentiles the formation of a great church.” A great church; the same word used for the great and spacious building.

1 Nephi 13:5 – “and tortureth them and bindeth them down, and yoketh them with a yoke of iron, and bringeth them down into captivity.” This would have to be the devil’s church. If it kills Saints, that’s like 1 Nephi 1. In the first place, with Jerusalem killing prophets, with the same result to follow. It tortured them, hurt them and captivated them. In other words, it makes life hard on them so they have trouble finding happiness and must press to the rod all the harder.

1 Nephi 13:6 – “I beheld this great and abominable church;” The addition of the word abominable shows that it was not only prevailing but destroying life and things as well. The building spread on itself to get worse as it says in 1 Nephi 12:23 (hated).

1 Nephi 13:7 – “And I also saw gold, and silver, and silks, and scarlets, and fine-twined linen and all manner of precious clothing; and I saw many harlots.” Much of what money can buy. Comfort in things that just confuse you into pride. A harlot won’t satisfy anything because addictions never satisfy; and a harlot is missing the point of a family. Addictions also lead to false security, displeasure of friends and family, and loss of integrity.

1 Nephi 13:8 – “Behold the gold, and the silver, and the silks, and the scarlets, and the fine-twined linen, and the precious clothing, and the harlots, are the desires of this great and abominable church.” These are desired by the Church. (And note that this is not the Catholic Church). Why would they desire them?

1 Nephi 13:9 – This hints that perhaps the desire was so they can maintain themselves in the dog eat dog spacious building. For praise they destroy and captivate saints. Because of their foolish imagination, they imagine that this praise is more important than following God.

1 Nephi 13:10 – These Latter-day Saints know it is the Atlantic Ocean, so we could soon cover the Lamanites in modern times.

1 Nephi 13:11 – “Behold the wrath of God is upon the seed of thy brethren.” There was wrath of God on them just like they had showed wrath when they were returning to Lehi and Sariah with Ishmael and his family despite Nephi giving a great sermon. It was because they continued to be that way. They may have had some records.

1 Nephi 13:12 – “I beheld the Spirit of God, that it came down and wrought upon the man; and he went forth upon the many waters, even unto the seed of my brethren, who were in the promised land.” A man with the spirit of God. Since it is up to the Spirit of God to recognize the Spirit of God, I will leave this alone. But he came to America in modern times (many nations and kingdoms means modern times somewhat. There were different American visitations throughout those times).

1 Nephi 13:13 – “and they went forth out of captivity,” Since they came for freedom, I would historically say this could be Christopher Columbus and the Nina, Pinta and Santa Maria. Religious freedom is in the first amendment of the US Constitution as well.

1 Nephi 13:14 – “And it came to pass that I beheld many multitudes of the Gentiles upon the land of promise; and I beheld the wrath of God, that it was upon the seed of my brethren; and they were scattered before the Gentiles and were smitten.” The Gentiles scattered the Lamanites and smote them because of God’s wrath for them. They were warring with each other. They hadn’t progressed. You might say, “it’s not fair.” They didn’t have the plates for instance. But good is good and bad is bad. And so it is.

1 Nephi 13:15 – “And I beheld the Spirit of the Lord, that it was upon the Gentiles, and they did prosper and obtain the land for their inheritance; and I beheld that they were white, and exceedingly fair and beautiful, like unto my people before they were slain.” Not only did the new settlers live, they prospered. Because they worshiped freely and didn’t follow after riches like the great and abominable church it says they just left. Whiteness is purity; and fairness and beauty are a mystery as to how they come.

1 Nephi 13:16 – “And it came to pass that I, Nephi, beheld that the Gentiles who had gone forth out of captivity did humble themselves before the Lord; and the power of the Lord was with them.” Because of humility they were on the side of the tree of life with happiness and obedience; and they were on the side of using the lamb of God as a sacrifice for these things and salvation.

1 Nephi 13:17 – This would be the British Empire which was denounced at the time in the Declaration of Independence.

1 Nephi 13:18 – “And I beheld that the power of God was with them, and also that the wrath of God was upon all those that were gathered together against them to battle.” We know that this is a battle foretold already, but it is happening here in the past (but not globally). The wrath was on the church because they wanted class distinction (which leads to pride and imagining superiority, which leads to disobedience, confusion and being in a place where they punish each other). It also leads to torture, captivity and killing the saints (which leads to not being taught revelation to help make you obedient).

1 Nephi 13:19 – “[the Gentiles] were delivered by the power of God out of the hands of all other nations.” God showed his hand here. America is still independent although it always seems at a crossroads. They were delivered like the Jews. The spirit of the Lord was what did it (see 1 Nephi 13:13).

1 Nephi 13:20 – “I beheld a book, and it was carried forth among them.” They prospered again, even at the expense of having other nations against them. This shows that righteousness is possible and practical. They carried a book.

1 Nephi 13:21 – “And the angel said unto me: Knowest thou the meaning of the book?” The angel asked if Nephi knew about the book. Perhaps in visions you know what you know and angels can tell you more; but the angel is “finding out” what you know first to see what’s proper to share.

1 Nephi 13:22 – Nephi cannot think of anything.

1 Nephi 13:23 – “And he said: Behold it proceedeth out of the mouth of a Jew. And I, Nephi, beheld it; and he said unto me: The book that thou beholdest is a record of the Jews, which contains the covenants of the Lord, which he hath made unto the house of Israel; and it also containeth many of the prophecies of the holy prophets; and it is a record like unto the engravings which are upon the plates of brass, save there are not so many; nevertheless, they contain the covenants of the Lord, which he hath made unto the house of Israel; wherefore, they are of great worth unto the Gentiles.” It was the plates that he had which came from the Jews, thus making Jews a party worthwhile to the world, but one that could rise and fall. It contained the covenants and commandments we see in it. It had many prophecies to help minister to get people in the right direction. It was the Bible, but now it says there were removed parts. Great, another controversy, but the Book of Mormon has spoken well so far. The Bible says whoever adds or subtracts to it shall be cursed, so then some people were cursed. The Book of Mormon can tell some of the changes later to let someone decide what they thought; but again the ministry was the more important part of this book, and not establishing history which was the other book. But it says that they still contain the covenants of the Lord, meaning that we should be able to use the Bible to convince people of what’s necessary to gain salvation and let them gain it. Since it’s the Bible, the Jews were the promised people; but the gentiles could learn a lot from them. The Jews were wise but rejected God; the gentiles didn’t reject God, and could spread the truth to the Jews last after they were rewarded for their better behavior.

1 Nephi 13:24 – “And the angel of the Lord said unto me: Thou hast beheld that the book proceeded forth from the mouth of a Jew; and when it proceeded forth from the mouth of a Jew it contained the fulness of the gospel of the Lord, of whom the twelve apostles bear record; and they bear record according to the truth which is in the Lamb of God.” The Bible originally contained the fullness of the gospel of the Lord. We haven’t heard the word ‘gospel’ yet. It would be the teachings of Christ, meaning we should know how to apply the sacrifice of God or the atonement from the original Bible; but did the message stay? The apostles bear record who were fighting for the earth to have these things and continue. Since the truth is in the Lamb of God, understanding the Lamb of God would be enough to enable it.

1 Nephi 13:25 – The truth is evident just as it is from God if you can recognize it. Remember earlier in this book I talked about a septum. When we’re born we forget the Torah that we were taught in our wombs, but can recognize it still. Therefore, with the writing it could be shown but without it perhaps not (1 Nephi 7:9).

1 Nephi 13:26 – “thou seest the formation of that great and abominable church, which is most abominable above all other churches; for behold, they have taken away from the gospel of the Lamb many parts which are plain and most precious; and also many covenants of the Lord have they taken away.” The large and spacious building or the large and abominable church made it confusing, made it less glamourous, and even removed essential covenants. Those three things would increase or intensify the mists of darkness and even cover up the fruit with the covenants.

1 Nephi 13:27 – Corruption or perversion makes life harder. We can expect life to be really hard at this point. Blinding the eyes and hardening the hearts was in 1 Nephi 12:17 and means that they also caused distraction.

1 Nephi 13:28 – Nephi sees this because he knows that there is good and bad at all levels; so if there was good even in the very Bible there would be bad ways to make it malformed.

1 Nephi 13:29 – “because of these things which are taken away out of the gospel of the Lamb, an exceedingly great many do stumble, yea, insomuch that Satan hath great power over them.” The Gentiles now get what’s right so that they can earn eternal life. What I mean is, the reward is equal to the challenge. But it traveled accross the Atlantic. But this isn’t funny. They actually stumble and Satan has real power over them. That means that there cannot be perfection.

1 Nephi 13:30 – “and have been lifted up by the power of God above all other nations,” “the Lord God will not suffer that the Gentiles will utterly destroy the mixture of thy seed, which are among thy brethren.” Yet America is lifted up to be the greatest. And through kindness from righteousness they have decided to save some of Nephi’s seed (a remnant).

1 Nephi 13:31 – They would spare Laman and Lemuel and so on’s seed also. They would not be complete invaders because the Lamanites would have the spirit of God.

1 Nephi 13:32 – “Neither will the Lord God suffer that the Gentiles shall forever remain in that awful state of blindness,” The Lord had a plan for those who stumbled and had Satan rule over them, just like he knew what would happen four generations after Christ visited the Americas in ancient times.

1 Nephi 13:33 – “Wherefore saith the Lamb of God: I will be merciful unto the Gentiles, unto the visiting of the remnant of the house of Israel in great judgment.” He would visit the House of Israel and hold them responsible. They said they would have the blood of Jesus on their hands.

1 Nephi 13:34 – “I will be merciful unto the Gentiles in that day, insomuch that I will bring forth unto them, in mine own power, much of my gospel, which shall be plain and precious, saith the Lamb.” The gentiles would get more of the gospel back! Also, that would help them help Israel. Is it fair what time you live in and how you do? Perhaps. Perhaps it’s hard for everyone and everyone should be judged fairly in the end.

1 Nephi 13:35 – “which shall be plain and precious; and after thy seed shall be destroyed, and dwindle in unbelief, and also the seed of thy brethren, behold, these things shall be hid up, to come forth unto the Gentiles, by the gift and power of the Lamb.” Jesus would visit Nephi’s seed, have his gospel written in Nephi’s book, and have it sealed up to come to the gentiles. So Jesus could visit Nephi’s seed because he was a God of miracles (and if you have trouble believing in miracles, it is easier to believe in God than miracles). Nephi would be blessed to have his seed help out in the Latter-days (which is why he wanted to control the content to ministering). And, like Joseph Smith, it would have to be exceedingly well guarded!

1 Nephi 13:36 – “And in them shall be written my gospel, saith the Lamb, and my rock and my salvation.” So there it will tell us how to make the sacrifice of the Lamb of God for salvation. Plus His rock? That would be how to ensure staying on the rod of iron in its fulness since there surely would be new temptation.

1 Nephi 13:37 – “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.” Zayin is the 7th letter of the Hebrew alphabet. To most people it means sword (to Raelians it means penis because of its shape). The sword of peace is what will help with all this war. They get revelation for doing what’s right. No matter how hard; no matter how much it seems like they are losing – if they do right they get lifted up at the last day. That means they get to a higher state of coming in and going out. They can stay in the everlasting kingdom of the Lamb. There is room. Plus they will have utilized the Lamb to be in his kingdom. Whoever makes peace (obedience in the warlike world) or brings happiness that you want to spread when you get it, they will be beautiful on the mountains, or at the top. They will be at the top and look great for what they’ve done.

1 Nephi 13:38 – “that it came forth from the Gentiles unto the remnant of the seed of my brethren.” The Bible went to the Lamanties – note that their DNA was all but replaced (remnant).

1 Nephi 13:39 – “I beheld other books, which came forth by the power of the Lamb,” “unto the convincing of the Gentiles and the remnant of the seed of my brethren, and also the Jews who were scattered upon all the face of the earth, that the records of the prophets and of the twelve apostles of the Lamb are true.” There would be many books to help people believe in the prophets and apostles. My former religion’s book does not discuss apostles. I suppose these books have not come out yet, or else they were the separate books of the Book of Mormon.

1 Nephi 13:40 – “And the angel spake unto me, saying: These last records, which thou hast seen among the Gentiles, shall establish the truth of the first, which are of the twelve apostles of the Lamb, and shall make known the plain and precious things which have been taken away from them; and shall make known to all kindreds, tongues, and people, that the Lamb of God is the Son of the Eternal Father, and the Savior of the world; and that all men must come unto him, or they cannot be saved.” Since it says records here again and seems to be refering to the Book of Mormon, perhaps the records are the Book of Mormon. The Book of Mormon establishes the truth of the Bible, but not through proof like the plates Nephi wasn’t able to transmit, but through ministering. Nations don’t know things; but all kindreds, tongues and people would have this so that they might come unto Christ, which would be the only proper application of themselves.

1 Nephi 13:41 – “the words of the Lamb shall be made known in the records of thy seed, as well as inthe records of the twelve apostles of the Lamb; wherefore” Jesus shall establish these words through the Americas because they would be lost in the Old World. The Book of Mormon, the book Nephi starts, would contain them. Therefore both books would go together. Of course there is only one God over all the earth. And there is one perfect philosophy. So what do we get here? We get everything at all worthwhile against its opposite promised to us for what we do when we have the time to decide what we will do with our lives.

1 Nephi 13:42 – “and the last shall be first, and the first shall be last.” The Jews were first but they are said to have crucified Him. Crucifixion was a Roman means of slaughter; but they said they would have His blood on their hands. The gentiles were not to be lost. The Jews would have to wait because what goes around comes around.

We have covered the restoration and Lamanties in modern times. We will eventually get the fullness of the gospel; but it will be obvious when it comes. You have to fight, because degeneracy just gets worse.

1 Nephi 14

1 Nephi 14:1 – “he shall manifest himself unto them in word, and also in power, in very deed, unto the taking away of their stumbling blocks” Word from the Book of Mormon would provide the proper gospel. Power would make it possible to follow. Deed would mean that their stumbling blocks would actually be taken away. Latter-day Saints cooperate with other churches. Then, if they hearken to the Lamb of God, see the next verse.

1 Nephi 14:2 – “And harden not their hearts against the Lamb of God,” “they shall be no more brought down into captivity; and the house of Israel shall no more be confounded.” They will have to love Him, the great commandment; so they will be obedient, which includes loving their neighbor (For if ye love me, keep my commandments). The Gentiles would then be counted as the house of Israel, receiving their blessings but especially the blessing to bless the world. They could be that way on the promised land forever. (That means people are going into the afterlife forever and there is no world destruction!) They would be free like the Jews were freed and it would work forever. They would not be lost in strange paths – they could not follow the stumbling blocks and make it to the tree. Being confounded is what makes a person err and miss the tree.

1 Nephi 14:3 – We have already discussed that the large and spacious building doesn’t sustain because of wickedness. These righteous gentiles would escape it as well on their quest for what’s right. By having no redeemable qualities the wicked would be out of the kingdom of Heaven, which means hell.

1 Nephi 14:4 – “this is according to the captivity of the devil, and also according to the justice of God,” The devil and God work in tandem because someone’s soul is indivisible. Notice “before Him.” They would have to work wickedness (which is the wrong way obviously) and abomination (remember that’s something nobody likes although the large and spacious building feeds off it) in the days of their probation.

1 Nephi 14:5 – Their stumbling was not their fault but they would still have to repent. They would have to be motivated towards all good. Then there’d be nothing wrong with them; but if they couldn’t bring themselves to right their acts because of their anguish at what they were they would be unclean as discussed. They have to be good in the probationary state, which is when they learn the truth and are corrected.

1 Nephi 14:6 – If they harden their hearts, they will not have the courage to recover themselves. Then they will not use the Lamb of God.

1 Nephi 14:7 – “The time cometh” – there would be a time when this would be possible. There would be a work that would always be able to test people for this condition. (“of which I have spoken”)

1 Nephi 14:8 – “Rememberest thou the covenants of the Father unto the house of Israel? I said unto him, Yea.” The Father promised things as well to the house of Israel, like freedom from captivity and bondage.

1 Nephi 14:9 – Lusting after possessions and casting out, torturing and destroying prophets makes you the mother of abomination because that is seeking what doesn’t matter in the Lord’s eyes. What’s important in your eyes should be the same as the Lord’s if you are to use the sacrifice. You want what the Lord wants for you. The love of God brings happiness.

1 Nephi 14:10 – We already have learned that there are just two directions. What do they mean by whore? They try to survive on destruction. (And that means that they try to destroy the good guys).

1 Nephi 14:11 – “the whore of all the earth, and she sat upon many waters; and she had dominion over all the earth, among all nations, kindreds, tongues, and people.” She was ruling everywhere, meaning that the good people would have to fight everywhere; but their stumbling blocks were removed so they could follow the rod of iron.

1 Nephi 14:12 – “And it came to pass that I beheld the church of the Lamb of God, and its numbers were few, because of the wickedness and abominations of the whore who sat upon many waters; nevertheless, I beheld that the church of the Lamb, who were the saints of God, were also upon all the face of the earth; and their dominions upon the face of the earth were small, because of the wickedness of the great whore whom I saw.” That means that those who remained Saints were few with small dominions, but they had power to succeed. It’s just to emphasize the enormity and severity of the problem so we realize how badly we have to fight. And if times are good, the chain of success or failure matters as well since it’s one long highway.

1 Nephi 14:13 – We already know this. It would be everywhere.

1 Nephi 14:14 – How would the Saints fight it? Armed with righteousness, what everyone was motivated to do, and with the power of God in great glory. Because the tree has unlimited power, they could derive as much power as they needed; but it would take effort. That effort was opposed all the more with the mists of darkness increasing for all the reasons we’ve stated.

1 Nephi 14:15 – The bad guys were wroth against God. He was wrathful against them. He would punish them by taking away the security which they were pretending to seek by making them not safe. Since then they couldn’t have what they thought they wanted, God’s wrath was still motivational towards repentance.

1 Nephi 14:16 – “the wrath of God is upon the mother of harlots;” They would also be afraid of potential wars. Harlots were those who wanted self-destruction of the human race; so God who had created it would use His power against them. But again, we know that the mists of darkness would have to be strong to deserve the kingdom of God.

1 Nephi 14:17 – What covenants has the Lord made with the house of Israel? That they would be free from captivity. The restoration would allow it.

1 Nephi 14:18 – Follow the following.

1 Nephi 14:19 – Jesus Christ was pure, helping him to be perfect motivation as well as suffering what we had.

1 Nephi 14:20 – “Behold one of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.” OK clothing that’s white means you are committed to purity – an apostle.

1 Nephi 14:21 – “he shall see and write the remainder of these things; yea, and also many things which have been.” He would conclude this wonderful discourse.

1 Nephi 14:22 – “he shall also write concerning the end of the world.” So there’s an end of the world, and the promised land is blessed to Lehi’s seed forever. We’ll have to figure that out. But it is probably in the account of the end of the world for now.

1 Nephi 14:23 – “at the time the book proceeded out of the mouth of the Jew, the things which were written were plain and pure, and most precious and easy to the understanding of all men.” Becuase he followed Christ He could be trusted and speak properly. This book was plain and pure and most precious and easy to understand at the beginning, with all the most desirable properties; but the mists of darkness can’t make it easy. The devil would have power over evil and there would always be a choice.

1 Nephi 14:24 – “the remainder shalt thou see.” Nephi would see the rest.

1 Nephi 14:25 – “the things which thou shalt see hereafter thou shalt not write;” Nephi couldn’t write them to give someone else a turn; different texts would be available to different people. The Book of Mormon is not as popular as the Bible.

1 Nephi 14:26 – The Lord directs the timetable of the stumbling blocks, to make a just test on planet Earth for humanity. He understands good and evil completely.

1 Nephi 14:27 – “And I, Nephi, heard and bear record, that the name of the apostle of the Lamb was John, according to the word of the angel.” It was John the revelator, and the book was Revelation in the Bible which is beyond the scope of this book; but it is available for free in the King James Version and on the Internet (if the Internet is not a trap).

1 Nephi 14:28 – “I have written but a small part of the things which I saw.” He said what he spoke here was a small fraction! There must be a lot to understand.  The human race can probably live on the promised land forever and have much more doctrine to help them into the future. There is a lot here and I’ve gone over it again to explain it better.

1 Nephi 14:29 – “And I bear record that I saw the things which my father saw, and the angel of the Lord did make them known unto me.” Through the Holy Ghost, or proper understanding with motivation to improve (Jesus Christ), and motivation to be perfect (God), we can understand that these things are true and that they match Lehi’s vision, which is so universal.

1 Nephi 14:30 – “if all the things which I saw are not written, the things which I have written are true. And thus it is. Amen.” He said that there was no clarification needed for what was already written to stand alone. Useful to know.

1 Nephi 15

1 Nephi 15:1 – The usual minimal narrative.

1 Nephi 15:2 – “they were disputing” He noticed they were trying but probably not comprehending.

1 Nephi 15:3 – “they being hard in their hearts,” They were without help from above because they did not have place in their hearts for it.

1 Nephi 15:4 – “[was grieved] because of the things which I had seen,” Nephi suffered so that he could accept reality after such a great dream.

1 Nephi 15:5 – “for I considered that mine afflictions were great above all, because of the destruction of my people, for I had beheld their fall.” He must have really loved his future descendants. Some people have no descendants. Therefore he must have felt afflicted because his race would have been able to do so much.

1 Nephi 15:6 – “after I had received strength I spake unto my brethren,” First, he sought help from the Lord to be strong himself, then he sought to pass along that strength to his brothers.

1 Nephi 15:7 – “And they said: Behold, we cannot understand the words which our father hath spoken concerning the natural branches of the olive tree, and also concerning the Gentiles.” They asked about the olive tree and the gentiles.

1 Nephi 15:8 – Nephi acted like the angels, allowing them to show what they saw themselves.

1 Nephi 15:9 – “And they said unto me: We have not; for the Lord maketh no such thing known unto us.” They truly spoke that the Lord didn’t make it known to them; but that doesn’t mean they couldn’t have worked harder for that blessing.

1 Nephi 15:10 – “How is it that ye do not keep the commandments of the Lord?” Nephi was reminded about obedience and happiness with the tree of life. Therefore, he asked them why they weren’t obedient and seeking happiness. Every time Nephi ministers it’s great.  This can help us see how to talk to ordinary people about these things.

1 Nephi 15:11 – “Do ye not remember the things which the Lord hath said?—If ye will not harden your hearts, and ask me in faith, believing that ye shall receive, with diligence in keeping my commandments, surely these things shall be made known unto you.” Another repeat of Moroni 10:3-5 or 1 Nephi 1:3. It tells clearly here how anyone can find the truth about obedience and happiness to motivate themselves. Not hardened hearts – be willing. Ask in faith – believe it makes sense and act accordingly. Believe that ye shall receive – because you ought to. Diligence in keeping the commandments – You have to be seeking ways to obey the scriptures… the iron rod. You can see the fruit and that the iron rod leads to it. The mist is not completely dark. Then you would know as you should!

1 Nephi 15:12 – “Behold, I say unto you, that the house of Israel was compared unto an olive tree, by the Spirit of the Lord which was in our father; and behold are we not broken off from the house of Israel, and are we not a branch of the house of Israel?” The Olive tree is simply the house of Israel. Olives are the most acquired taste and are useful for many things. The Jews were the most cherished, and all nations are blessed through Abraham’s seed. Then Lehi’s family is a branch that had been broken off. Useful for ministering – the blessings of Ephraim and Manasseh, the sons of Joseph.

1 Nephi 15:13 – By grafting in branches, the tree of the gentiles would support the house of Israel.

1 Nephi 15:14 – “And at that day shall the remnant of our seed know that they are of the house of Israel, and that they are the covenant people of the Lord; and then shall they know and come to the knowledge of their forefathers, and also to the knowledge of the gospel of their Redeemer, which was ministered unto their fathers by him; wherefore, they shall come to the knowledge of their Redeemer and the very points of his doctrine, that they may know how to come unto him and be saved.” They will know how special they are, and the covenants the Lord has made with them. Their stumbling blocks would be removed and they would know the way to salvation in the time of probation.

1 Nephi 15:15 – “will they not rejoice and give praise unto their everlasting God, their rock and their salvation?” A rock is a sure foundation (the wise man built his house upon a rock). They would receive the best knowledge from its source. They would be lambs themselves under God, which is the first time we have mentioned the sacrifice of God being utilized. Being lambs themselves would be like the Lamb.

1 Nephi 15:16 – “Behold, I say unto you, Yea; they shall be remembered again among the house of Israel; they shall be grafted in, being a natural branch of the olive tree, into the true olive tree.” The house of Israel would be remembered.

1 Nephi 15:17 – We’ve gone over this. The gentiles were not the chosen people; but because of the house of Israel rejecting their Lamb the gentiles were helped with it and then it.  Then would be time to show it to the house of Israel.

1 Nephi 15:18 – “In thy seed shall all the kindreds of the earth be blessed.” The house of Israel would be scattered in more ways than one. But this has a silver lining: they would bless everyone in their circumstances.

1 Nephi 15:19 – He would have to have told what wasn’t forbidden, so if there wasn’t enough information in the vision he would turn to the scriptures.

1 Nephi 15:20 – “and after they were restored they should no more be confounded, neither should they be scattered again.” The restoration would be permanent, I think because they had a way to overcome all the mists. This includes the great mists of the church of the devil like taking out information from the Bible.

1 Nephi 15:21 – “they did speak unto me again, saying:” “What meaneth the tree which he saw?” They didn’t even know what the tree was. That makes sense because if they did they would want to partake of it at least.

1 Nephi 15:22 – Obedience and Happiness are what leads to the life of individuals and society. Compare it to the great and spacious building, for instance, which feeds on itself. He said it was life; so they would surely be interested if they didn’t hate themselves in living (1 Nephi 1).

1 Nephi 15:23 – “And they said unto me: What meaneth the rod of iron which our father saw, that led to the tree?” They knew that the rod of iron led to the tree so they asked Nephi what it was.

1 Nephi 15:24 – Nephi said it was the word of God. How do you recognize the word of God? It’s self-evident, like the septum story in 1 Nephi 13:25. Following the iron rod would always work because there’s no better. We already know there is a way prepared because good beings get to dwell with God. We are maximally motivated by the tree of life.

1 Nephi 15:25 – Nephi wanted obedience from Laman and Lemuel just like Lehi in the valley and by the river. That would make everything easier. With the fact that the fruit was maximally effective (1 Nephi 11:25), Nephi used everything he had and everything he had learned to convince Laman and Lemuel to follow the iron rod, or to follow their own iron rod which the Lord provides, and to obedience.

1 Nephi 15:26 – “What meaneth the river of water which our father saw?” They wanted to know about the river, or what problems they would face.

1 Nephi 15:27 – “the water which my father saw was filthiness;” He said it was filthiness. Filthiness is maximal uncleanliness so that you can drown in the river. I mentioned in 1 Nephi 8:32 that you could die early in the river – perhaps because you’ve lost your chance with maximal uncleanliness, so that the Lord won’t suffer you to do even worse.

1 Nephi 15:28 – The wicked are those who harm others. They cannot live harming others because what goes around comes around (see 1 Nephi 1:1 on “having seen many afflictions”), though not magically. The Saints would also be free of this even though it was threatening them. They could get salvation if they were killed and the wicked couldn’t.

1 Nephi 15:29 – “it was a representation of that awful hell, which the angel said unto me was prepared for the wicked.” He mentioned hell. Everyone has to go somewhere and they cannot dwell with God.

1 Nephi 15:30 – “the justice of God did also divide the wicked from the righteous; and the brightness thereof was like unto the brightness of a flaming fire, which ascendeth up unto God forever and ever, and hath no end.” The righteous should seek to help others. Wicked and righteous are opposites since the wicked aren’t helping themselves in terms of the overall world picture. The justice of God, coming from knowledge of good and evil, covers everything (1 Nephi 11:25, 1 Nephi 15:15); therefore it divides them no matter how high they can get. Like in 4 Nephi you can always slip. But that doesn’t mean God is not merciful.

1 Nephi 15:31 – “And they said unto me: Doth this thing mean the torment of the body in the days of probation, or doth it mean the final state of the soul after the death of the temporal body, or doth it speak of the things which are temporal?” They asked whether it was suffering in the time when they need to make their crucial decision, or after the death of their bodies, or is it just about physical things.

1 Nephi 15:32 – “And it came to pass that I said unto them that it was a representation of things both temporal and spiritual; for the day should come that they must be judged of their works, yea, even the works which were done by the temporal body in their days of probation.” He said it was all three. They must be judged for when they were in probation. See next verse.

1 Nephi 15:33 – “Wherefore, if they should die in their wickedness they must be cast off also, as to the things which are spiritual, which are pertaining to righteousness; wherefore, they must be brought to stand before God, to be judged of their works; and if their works have been filthiness they must needs be filthy; and if they be filthy it must needs be that they cannot dwell in the kingdom of God; if so, the kingdom of God must be filthy also.” Spiritually then, they must be hurled down (cast off) when it is too late. The Kingdom of God cannot have them.

1 Nephi 15:34 – For God would have to choose their ways as well, and that would be defeating.

1 Nephi 15:35 – “And there is a place prepared, yea, even that awful hell of which I have spoken, and the devil is the preparator of it;” The devil is the most potent form of this evil at the time, making him the preparator.

1 Nephi 15:36 – “that tree of life,” “is the greatest of all the gifts of God.” The righteous cannot sustain wicked or it would be wicked to them. If someone is causing harm and the righteous help them to do it, they are wicked as well. Because they are not sustainable they cannot partake of the tree of life. This is the most precious fruit because it leads to maximal obedience. It is the most desirable because it makes you happy. It is the greatest of all the gifts of God because of why it is the most precious. Nephi explains that he told his brothers.

Laman and Lemuel never asked about the mists of darkness; perhaps they ignored that they would be tempted since they already had been, and since they had fallen for it, and chose not to face it; for falling away is only falling away if you don’t return.

So how do we preach to novices?

1. Seek help from the Lord.
2. Answer questions as directly and completely as possible, if you know the answer.
3. If you need to bring up topics, use simple concepts and simple explanations.
4. Exhort with all the energies of your soul and the faculty you possess.

1 Nephi 16

1 Nephi 16:1 – “Thou hast declared unto us hard things, more than we are able to bear.” Hard things vain imagination. More than can bare pride.

1 Nephi 16:2 – ” And it came to pass that I said unto them that I knew that I had spoken hard things against the wicked, according to the truth; and the righteous have I justified, and testified that they should be lifted up at the last day; wherefore, the guilty taketh the truth to be hard, for it cutteth them to the very center.” The wicked are in a tough spot. Sin can be repented of but the consequences remain. The righteous deserve everything for helping as much as they can. The guilty are in limbo.

1 Nephi 16:3 – “if ye were righteous and were willing to hearken to the truth, and give heed unto it, that ye might walk uprightly before God, then ye would not murmur because of the truth,” If they were righteous they would have the truth or the iron rod, and if they followed it and walked in God’s ways, they would have an easier time and not complain.

1 Nephi 16:4 – “I, Nephi, did exhort my brethren, with all diligence, to keep the commandments of the Lord.” He again wanted them to keep the commandments of God. Obedience is the most important thing. The tree of life provided for it.

1 Nephi 16:5 – “they did humble themselves before the Lord;” They humbled themselves. Even though this sermon was short, they did not think they were better than others and saw their situation. They would try to trust in God a lot more, following in His path without complaining.

1 Nephi 16:6 – Again, they were done at a temporary rest stop so they could fuel up spiritually, and Nephi is providing minimal narrative and maximal teaching.

1 Nephi 16:7 – “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.” They had to mention that they got married. Zoram married the oldest daughter maybe because of his status.

1 Nephi 16:8 – Lehi got things right with his family, and Nephi had been blessed that he could carry a great message to everyone in the future. Also his wife.

1 Nephi 16:9 – They needed to keep going now that things were pleasant.

1 Nephi 16:10 – “to his great astonishment he beheld upon the ground a round ball of curious workmanship;” Because of their faith that they could make it through the wilderness, a miracle helped guide them like with the Jews.

1 Nephi 16:11 – “we did gather together whatsoever things we should carry into the wilderness, and all the remainder of our provisions which the Lord had given unto us; and we did take seed of every kind that we might carry into the wilderness.” This is just like the first time they went into the wilderness. If they were in trouble, they could plant seeds if the ground was right.

1 Nephi 16:12 – “we did take our tents and depart into the wilderness, across the river Laman.” They were always going up into rigtheousness like the river of Laman. That makes Lehi’s naming the river somewhat prophetic.

1 Nephi 16:13 – “we traveled for the space of four days,” They traveled four days.

1 Nephi 16:14 – “keeping in the most fertile parts of the wilderness, which were in the borders near the Red Sea.” They went strategically to the areas where they could kill the most animals.

1 Nephi 16:15 – “we did travel for the space of many days,” They traveled many days. The four days was about the place Shazer, but I do not know what it means in Egyptian.

1 Nephi 16:16 – “we did follow the directions of the ball, which led us in the more fertile parts of the wilderness.” The Liahona actually guided them to kill the most animals.

1 Nephi 16:17 – “And after we had traveled for the space of many days, we did pitch our tents for the space of a time, that we might again rest ourselves and obtain food for our families.” They needed a rest.

1 Nephi 16:18 – “I did break my bow,” “for we did obtain no food.”Sadly, Laman and Lemuel would be exceedingly tested now. If only he hadn’t broken his bow! But the Lord has a plan. I assume the slings and stones weren’t enough.

1 Nephi 16:19 – “we did return without food to our families, and being much fatigued, because of their journeying, they did suffer much for the want of food.” Because they were tired, and therefore hungry as well, they suffered much.

1 Nephi 16:20 – I can’t even blame them.

1 Nephi 16:21 – “having been afflicted with my brethren because of the loss of my bow, and their bows having lost their springs, it began to be exceedingly difficult, yea, insomuch that we could obtain no food.” Nephi was afflicted with his brothers and obtaining food. He cared about his brothers.

1 Nephi 16:22 – “I, Nephi, did speak much unto my brethren,” Nephi preached first.

1 Nephi 16:23 – “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?” Nephi made an arrow and a sling and honored his father by asking where to go. In survival situations it is important to honor your father and mother because they contain experience with your genes so that they understand better than you.

1 Nephi 16:24 – “hedid inquire of the Lord, for they had humbled themselves because of my words; for” Lehi humbled himself, fortunately because of the preaching and before the bow was constructed. Nephi tried very hard… he might have sensed the significance of this situation.

1 Nephi 16:25 – “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.” Lehi was sad because he didn’t care enough about his life to try a slim chance as he saw it, forgetting the Liahona. The Lord chastens who He loves.

1 Nephi 16:26 – “the voice of the Lord said unto him: Look upon the ball, and behold the things which are written.” The Lord told him even more miraculously that there was writing. Thus, sometimes we are tried and if we manage well having problems is not enough to keep the Lord from treating us even better.

1 Nephi 16:27 – “when my father beheld the things which were written upon the ball, he did fear and tremble exceedingly, and also my brethren and the sons of Ishmael and our wives.” Why would Lehi and everyone fear and tremble exceedingly at these words?

1 Nephi 16:28 – “I, Nephi, beheld the pointers which were in the ball, that they did work according to the faith and diligence and heed which we did give unto them.” Nephi could estimate his faith and see that their very survival required faith and diligence, using the tree of life vision and the Liahona as future information but having to grow.

1 Nephi 16:29 – Thus the Lord could micromanage Lehi’s family just like he macromanages the human race.

1 Nephi 16:30 – “I, Nephi, did go forth up into the top of the mountain, according to the directions which were given upon the ball.” The ball told him to go to the top of the mountain, perhaps to get visibility. If we keep the word of wisdom, we can expect to be provided with helpful ideas.

1 Nephi 16:31 – Hurray!

1 Nephi 16:32 – “And it came to pass that they did humble themselves before the Lord, and did give thanks unto him.” Even now they humbled thesmelves.

1 Nephi 16:33 – “after we had traveled for the space of many days we did pitch our tents again, that we might tarry for the space of a time.” They traveled even more and then rested again.

1 Nephi 16:34 – “And it came to pass that Ishmael died, and was buried in the place which was called Nahom.” Ishmael died and I do not know what Nahom means. But they were buried. Egyptians did that.

1 Nephi 16:35 – “And it came to pass that the daughters of Ishmael did mourn exceedingly, because of the loss of their father, and because of their afflictions in the wilderness; and they did murmur against my father, because he had brought them out of the land of Jerusalem, saying: Our father is dead; yea, and we have wandered much in the wilderness, and we have suffered much affliction, hunger, thirst, and fatigue; and after all these sufferings we must perish in the wilderness with hunger.” We don’t know how Ishmael died. They were yet sad about their afflictions. They said that they had wandered much or that the journey was tiresome. Affliction, hunger, thirst and fatigue are hard to deal with. Jesus dealt with them too. They always go back to, “We shall perish.” Because Ishmael died perhaps they felt they weren’t protected anymore.

1 Nephi 16:36 – This is just like before with Nephi’s brothers. It is like a day of probation.

1 Nephi 16:37 – “Behold, let us slay our father, and also our brother Nephi, who has taken it upon him to be our ruler and our teacher, who are his elder brethren.” Laman and Lemuel wanted to kill Lehi and Nephi and go back. Affliction makes or breaks you. They apparently didn’t take the opportunity to grow from it, as we’ve seen many times before. They clung to the iron rod instead of holding fast.

1 Nephi 16:38 – “Now, he says that the Lord has talked with him, and also that angels have ministered unto him. But behold, we know that he lies unto us; and he tells us these things, and he worketh many things by his cunning arts, that he may deceive our eyes, thinking, perhaps, that he may lead us away into some strange wilderness; and after he has led us away, he has thought to make himself a king and a ruler over us, that he may do with us according to his will and pleasure. And after this manner did my brother Laman stir up their hearts to anger.” The Lord did talk to him and I don’t know where it says angels ministered to him. They would not recognize it because of vain imagination and pride. They made up, “cunning arts.” That means that the tree of life vision was a trick and not self-evident. They complained that Nephi would be their ruler in some strange wilderness, that it was a power grab. Class distinction was the biggest problem for the Nephites after Christ and that’s what they were afraid of. They got angry about it because they didn’t believe what they were doing again.

1 Nephi 16:39 – “And it came to pass that the Lord was with us, yea, even the voice of the Lord came and did speak many words unto them, and did chasten them exceedingly; and after they were chastened by the voice of the Lord they did turn away their anger, and did repent of their sins, insomuch that the Lord did bless us again with food, that we did not perish.” The Lord had to be with them. The voice of the Lord had to approach them. They had to be chastened exceedingly because of the enormity of the situation. They had to not be angry. They had to repent of their sins, and then there was food for them that they were dependent on. The Lord was the ultimate ruler over them, not Nephi.

1 Nephi 17

1 Nephi 17:1 – “And it came to pass that we did again take our journey in the wilderness; and we did travel nearly eastward from that time forth. And we did travel and wade through much affliction in the wilderness; and our women did bear children in the wilderness.” They changed direction, which again I know nothing about. Wading through affliction would mean that it slowed them down. Their women were even pregnant during the journey. We will see how Laman and Lemuel respond. They have the Liahona that only works with faith and diligence to bless their journey spiritually while they have such a tough journey physically.
1 Nephi 17:2 – “we did live upon raw meat in the wilderness, our women did give plenty of suck for their children,” They were blessed with the Liahona. They ate raw meat – they got lucky – Raw meat may contain Salmonella, E. coli, Yersinia, and other bacteria. Their children weren’t malnourished. The women were strong and didn’t complain. How they got their strength is probably from being wise like I kept mentioning about the fruit with its infinite motivation.
1 Nephi 17:3 – “And thus we see that the commandments of God must be fulfilled. And if it so be that the children of men keep the commandments of God he doth nourish them, and strenthen them, and provide means whereby they can accomplish the thing which he has commanded them; wherefore, he did provide means for us while we did sojourn in the wilderness.” This was due to a covenant of God. They all kept the commandments, even Laman and Lemuel with all of these afflictions! We will have to see what turns Laman and Lemuel now. God nourishes His people with His word and work. He strengthens them overtime as they improve. He provides a way that can be seen, even if a little faith is helpful along the way.
1 Nephi 17:4 – “And we did sojourn for the space of many years, yea, even eight years in the wilderness.” This took place over 8 years… they were blessed, obedient, and didn’t murmur or revolt for 8 years! It’s like 8 years of peace in the promised land.
1 Nephi 17:5 – “And we did come to the land which we called Bountiful, because of its much fruit and also wild honey; and all these things were prepared of the Lord that we might not perish. And we beheld the sea, which we called Irreantum, which, being interpreted, is many waters.” Fruit and wild honey, along with their seeds and animals, would provide nutrition. These were prepared from the foundation of the world – the course of the Lord is one eternal round and He always is in management of the comings in and goings out. Irreantum, or many waters, was symbolic of crossing the waters to get to the promised land, or many baptisms for individuals to get to Heaven. Traveling through space fits too.
1 Nephi 17:6 – “and we called the place Bountiful, because of its much fruit.” The bounty was fruit, just like with the tree of life. It was symbolic of making it there. They loved it because their sorrow had been swallowed up in Christ along the way so they could rejoice.
1 Nephi 17:7 – “the voice of the Lord came unto me, saying Arise, and get thee into the mountain. And it came to pass that I arose and went up into the mountain, and cried unto the Lord.” Nephi was told to go into an actual physical mountain to see what was around him. He cried to the Lord because He didn’t know what He was doing.
1 Nephi 17:8 – This is a hard request… again, it might seem like more affliction than even before, but was Nephi up to the task?
1 Nephi 17:9 – Nephi asked practical questions according to his education.
1 Nephi 17:10 – The Lord answered his first question.
1 Nephi 17:11 – “I, Nephi, did make a bellows wherewith to blow the fire, of the skins of beasts; and after I had made a bellows, that I might have wherewith to blow the fire, I did smite two stones together that I might make fire.” Nephi set up fire. They had not cooked meat, so Nephi had to do this. The motivation of the tree of life is fitting in perfectly with needing science.
1 Nephi 17:12 – “For the Lord had not hitherto suffered that we should make much fire, as we journeyed in the wilderness; for he said: I will make thy food become sweet, that ye cook it not;” The Lord had even made their fruit sweet to help them feel comfortable in their afflictions.
1 Nephi 17:13 – “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.” The Lord was a light in the wilderness, like the tree of life was exceedingly bright showing His love. They would still have to follow Him to get to the promised land, because the promised land is kept from those who don’t obey Him (1 Nephi 14:2). That means that coming up in this chapter Laman and Lemuel could have ruined it for Nephi even if he had made a ship.
1 Nephi 17:14 – “ye shall know that I, the Lord, am God; and that I, the Lord, did deliver you from destruction; yea, that I did bring you out of the land of Jerusalem.” They would have to rebel to get cut off. They would know God and that He brought them out of Jerusalem to not be destroyed. That would make them feel very blessed indeed.
1 Nephi 17:15 – “Wherefore, I, Nephi, did strive to keep the commandments of the Lord, and I did exhort my brethren to faithfulness and diligence.” Therefore Nephi tried to be as good as possible. He wanted His brothers to seek more knowledge faithfully and to strive hard at what was right.
1 Nephi 17:16 – “I did make tools” Nephi made tools!
1 Nephi 17:17 – “they began to murmur against me, saying: Our brother is a fool, for he thinketh that he can build a ship; yea, and he also thinketh that he can cross these great waters.” Even eight years of affliction in the wilderness did not stop this harder trial and did not convince Laman and Lemuel that they were on their way. They did not believe he could build a ship or make it to the promised land.
1 Nephi 17:18 – “And thus my brethren did complain against me, and were desirous that they might not labor, for they did not believe that I could build a ship; neither would they believe that I was instructed of the Lord.” They would rather just stay in Bountiful because it was a nice place. This is the first time we hear about laziness, but it was because of their doubt. If they were diligent, they would have tried to help anyway just in case. They doubted the Lord helping Nephi also, a common excuse since people appear imperfect while the Lord doesn’t.
1 Nephi 17:19 – “I began to be sorrowful they were glad in their hearts, insomuch that they did rejoice over me, saying: We knew that ye could not construct a ship, for we knew that ye were lacking in judgment; wherefore, thou canst not accomplish so great a work.” Nephi must have felt sad because of how the situation impacted them. But they thought that sorrow was impacting Nephi’s own abilities.
1 Nephi 17:20 – “thou art like unto our father, led away by the foolish imagination of his heart;” They said it was foolishness of heart when actually the large and spacious building was vain imagination (1 Nephi 12:18).
1 Nephi 17:21 – “and we might have been happy.” They argued that they would have been happier in Jerusalem.
1 Nephi 17:22 – “And we know that the people who were in the land of Jerusalem were a righteous people; for they kept the statutes and judgments of the Lord, and all his commandments, according to the law of Moses; wherefore, we know that they are a righteous people; and our father hath judged them, and hath led us away because we would hearken unto his words; yea, and our brother is like unto him. And after this manner of language did my brethren murmur and complain against us.” They tried to argue that Jerusalem would not have been destroyed because the people were keeping the commandments, but Lehi was a prophet so that was for him to decide. They said that Nephi was similarly leading them out of Bountiful.
1 Nephi 17:23 – “Do ye believe that our fathers, who were the children of Israel, would have been led away out of the hands of the Egyptians if they had not hearkened unto the words of the Lord?” Even the Jews coming out of Egypt had to hearken to the Lord to cross the waters. Sure, the sea just parted – how do we know we can still make it across? That kind of argument. They were arguing about the past and not trying… he was arguing about continuing upward.
1 Nephi 17:24 – They needed a prophet too, like Lehi and Nephi were, to help communicate the message because the message doesn’t come out of thin air but has to be revealed.
1 Nephi 17:25 – Nephi said there was less affliction when the Israelites continued to trust and followed the prophet.
1 Nephi 17:26 – Moses was commanded too, just like Lehi was commanded and his sons were commanded to honor him.
1 Nephi 17:27 – “But ye know that the Egyptians were drowned in the Red Sea, who were the armies of Pharaoh.” The scriptures made it clear that Pharaoh and the Egyptians did not make it to them, or they couldn’t have had the rest of the Old Testament happen.
1 Nephi 17:28 – “And ye also know that they were fed with manna in the wilderness.” They were fed with manna in the wilderness to show that they would trust in the Lord. The Liahona provided physical nourishment also and motivated righteous behavior as much as it could be made to.
1 Nephi 17:29 – “Moses, by his word according to the power of God which was in him, smote the rock, and there came forth water, that the children of Israel might quench their thirst.” Moses also provided water. It says it was the power of God. A rock doesn’t normally contain water.
1 Nephi 17:30 – The Lord led them everywhere even more than the Liahona, providing everything. Yet they hardened their hearts, reviled against Moses and the true and living God. I don’t know why they did this. They rebelled. All I can think is that they didn’t like to be led. That would be pride and vain imagination, the only impediments we have discussed (1 Nephi 12:18).
1 Nephi 17:31 – His word was completely true, showing in the Bible how everything was laid out for a people, so we can actually judge God.
1 Nephi 17:32 – Furthermore He helped them militarily. Later in the Book of Mormon the people will have military victories from the Lord and boast in their own strength.
1 Nephi 17:33 – “And now, do ye suppose that the children of this land, who were in the land of promise, who were driven out by our fathers, do ye suppose that they were righteous? Behold, I say unto you, Nay.” The Lord didn’t suffer them to kill righteous people which would be murder, the 6th commandment. It says the Israelites conquered the wicked.
1 Nephi 17:34 – “Do ye suppose that our fathers would have been more choice than they if they had been righteous? I say unto you, Nay.” If those people were righteous the Jews had problems and would not have even deserved it.
1 Nephi 17:35 – “Behold, the Lord esteemeth all flesh in one; he that is righteous is favored of God. But behold, this people had rejected every word of God, and they were ripe in iniquity; and the fulness of the wrath of God was upon them; and the Lord did curse the land against them, and bless it unto our fathers; yea, he did curse it against them unto their destruction, and he did bless it unto our fathers unto their obtaining power over it.” The Lord looks at everything together obviously. Those who are righteous are favored because they have less bad consequence from sin. They had every word of God in the Bible that far out in its writing. They had rebelled against it. Ripe in iniquity means that you are not accidentally sinning but fully asking for punishment.
1 Nephi 17:36 – “Behold, the Lord hath created the earth that it should be inhabited; and he hath created his children that they should possess it.” The earth should be full of people because it is a probationary state for them. His children should own pieces of it to have responsibility.
1 Nephi 17:37 – “And he raiseth up a righteous nation, and destroyeth the nations of the wicked.” The Lord helps with the righteous surviving over the wicked, which is to help there be more good in it to Him. Of course, the Lord wants there to be as much righteousness as possible, but to be obedient must be difficult.
1 Nephi 17:38 – “And he leadeth away the righteous into precious lands, and the wicked he destroyeth, and curseth the land unto them for their sakes.” He separates people by nation, like he’s doing here with Nephi’s ship. That is one way to raise up good and destroy wickedness because of the populations they can have. Having children is an act of good if you are not afraid of death and love yourself (1 Nephi 1:1).
1 Nephi 17:39 – “He ruleth high in the heavens, for it is his throne, and this earth is his footstool.” The Lord must be very high to rule over all possible decisions of character of his people. The earth is His footstool means that it is easy for Him to rule over.
1 Nephi 17:40 – “And he loveth those who will have him to be their God. Behold, he loved our fathers, and he covenanted with them, yea, even Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob; and he remembered the covenants which he had made; wherefore, he did bring them out of the land of Egypt.” Those who accept His truth are loved indeed, since they have everything they need. If ye love me, keep my commandments, which is why He led Abraham, Isaac and Jacob out of Egypt.
1 Nephi 17:41 – “And he did straiten them in the wilderness with his rod; for they hardened their hearts, even as ye have; and the Lord straitened them because of their iniquity. He sent fiery flying serpents among them; and after they were bitten he prepared a way that they might be healed; and the labor which they had to perform was to look; and because of the simpleness of the way, or the easiness of it, there were many who perished.” He used affliction with the Israelites in the wilderness to chasten them… the Lord chastens who He loves. He wanted to help them with their hard hearts so He made them suffer through it to remember to be good. He used his own fiery darts so that all they had to do was look to God. If they wouldn’t even look to God for help, they perished. But in their tribulation if they would just think about God they would be helped. That was so simple, yet they couldn’t even do it. Again, perhaps it was that they didn’t want to be led.
1 Nephi 17:42 – Besides not wanting to be led, I guess, the power that was ultimately His, for the best things in the world are all God by definition, helped them because of His covenant to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.
1 Nephi 17:43 – “And now, after all these things, the time has come that they have become wicked, yea, nearly unto ripeness; and I know not but they are at this day about to be detroyed; for I know that the day must surely come that they must be destroyed, save a few only, who shall be led away into captivity.” A ripe fluit is plucked or falls. If it’s a bad fruit, it doesn’t get used. Because of increasing pressure on the good, Nephi supposed that only a few would be saved. I have heard that these might have gone to Great Britian.
1 Nephi 17:44 – “Wherefore, the Lord commanded my father that he should depart into the wilderness; and the Jews also sought to take away his life; yea, and ye also have sought to take away his life; wherefore, ye are murderers in your hearts and ye are like unto them.” Not only were they commanded to depart from Jerusalem, if they hadn’t Lehi could have been killed and then they’d be even more vulnerable to sin. They even knew that they were like those Jews for wanting to kill Lehi.
1 Nephi 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.” Iniquity is grossly immoral or unfair behavior. They would be unfair to the Lord. They’d seen and heard from an angel and the Lord, but they had put themselves beyond being sensitive by their actions. Nephi says because of that the Lord even had spoken to them like thunder! If only they could listen, and the Lamanites would be righteous sometimes.
1 Nephi 17:46 – “And ye also know that by the power of his almighty word he can cause the earth that it shall pass away; yea, and ye know that by his word he can cause the rough places to be made smooth, and smooth places shall be broken up. O, then, why is it, that ye can be so hard in your hearts?” The Earth can even lose the fight and perish in wickedness. He can make easy things hard and hard things easy when people just change their own moral alignment. Therefore, why so hard-hearted against loving the Lord back for all His righteousness?
1 Nephi 17:47 – “Behold, my soul is rent with anguish because of you, and my heart is pained; I fear lest ye shall be cast off forever. Behold, I am full of the Spirit of God, insomuch that my frame has no strength.” Nephi loved Laman and Lemuel so much that he was hurting because he empathized with them (see this chapter), although he couldn’t support them. He did not want them to be filthy and thus never make it back to the presence of their Heavenly Father. (1 Nephi 15:27). His body had no more strength because he was torn between wanting to obey the Lord and loving Laman and Lemuel though they weren’t.
1 Nephi 17:48 – “And now it came to pass that when I had spoken these words they were angry with me, and were desirous to throw me into the depths of the sea; and as they came forth to lay their hands upon me I spake unto them, saying: In the name of the Almighty God, I command you that ye touch me not, for I am filled with the power of God, even unto the consuming of my flesh; and whoso shall lay his hands upon me shall wither even as a dried reed; and he shall be as naught before the power of God, for God shall smite him.” So there goes his sermon. The longest yet. As usual they would be angry at him because they still didn’t want to do it, but we will see if a sign gets them to repent. It is better to repent before the sign, and that’s one of the things that’s been leading them down. They wanted to kill him now because that was their path of least resistance. Nephi felt the Spirit so strongly that his body was weak. He first told them that they could be dead if they didn’t want to help.
1 Nephi 17:49 – Nephi said they had heard enough to follow their father and to follow Moses’ guidance by helping Nephi build a ship.
1 Nephi 17:50 – There were many ways the Lord could do things; the Lord had commanded Nephi to build a ship and his brothers could see his progress already.
1 Nephi 17:51 – “And now, if the Lord has such great power, and has wrought so many miracles among the children of men, how is it that he cannot instruct me, that I should build a ship?” It is easy to believe the Lord has done so much already; why can’t they just construct a ship which is a smaller miracle?
1 Nephi 17:52 – ” And it came to pass that I, Nephi, said many things unto my brethren, insomuch that they were confounded and could not contend against me; neither durst they lay their hands upon me nor touch me with their fingers, even for the space of many days. Now they durst not do this lest they should wither before me, so powerful was the Spirit of God; and thus it had wrought upon them.” There was nothing they could even say, just as the Israelites could only rebel when the Lord had provided everything to them. They believed that they would die if they touched Nephi. They believed in the power of the Lord.
1 Nephi 17:53 – “Stretch forth thine hand again unto thy brethren, and they shall not wither before thee, but I will shock them,” The Lord wanted them to know that He was God since they were so past feeling but weren’t rebelling anymore and thus the Lord wanted to help them as they simply needed help. (1 Nephi 17:46).
1 Nephi 17:54 – “Even according to the word which was spoken” – His word continues to be fulfilled and since we know that He has all things in mind all the time His word will continue to be fulfilled today.
1 Nephi 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.” They knew for sure that the Lord was helping Nephi because there was no way a man can touch a man and shock them (we’re not talking walking around on the carpet and this was sand). If they had worshipped Nephi it might have helped them do what’s right but he loved them so much that he didn’t even esteem himself as higher (I am thy brother). He told them to worship the Lord their God and honor their father and mother that their days would be long upon the land. Their father was a prophet and if they obeyed their God they would be loved for thousands of generations! Honoring their parents would also make their own days longer so they could prepare their descendants.
Once again, Nephi has given a complete sermon. After a sign, they followed the sermon.

1 Nephi 18

1 Nephi 18:1 – “and we did work timbers of curious workmanship. And the Lord did show me from time to time after what manner I should work the timbers of the ship.” Even the ship itself showed evidence that it was made by the Lord.

1 Nephi 18:2 – “wherefore, it was not after the manner of men.” The wood and the ship were specially made, just like so many other water-crossing stories (Moses, Joshua, Ether).

1 Nephi 18:3 – Nephi was so blessed at this point that he could take on more trust with the Lord, and it rubbed off on Laman and Lemuel seeing what he could do.

1 Nephi 18:4 – “after I had finished the ship, according to the word of the Lord, my brethren beheld that it was good, and that the workmanship thereof was exceedingly fine; wherefore, they did humble themselves again before the Lord.” Laman and Lemuel humbled themselves even further even though it was a sign although it might have been a necessary sign for the Lord to do it that way.

1 Nephi 18:5 – “And it came to pass that the voice of the Lord came unto my father, that we should arise and go down into the ship.” Lehi was told that they should go into the ship. The Lord talks to fathers first to see if we are obedient in honoring parents. Lehi leads; his sons find the way.

1 Nephi 18:6 – “And it came to pass that on the morrow, after we had prepared all things, much fruits and meat from the wilderness, and honey in abundance, and provisions according to that which the Lord had commanded us, we did go down into the ship, with all our loading and our seeds, and whatsoever thing we had brought with us, every one according to his age; wherefore, we did all go down into the ship, with our wives and our children.” In one day, they had gathered all fruit and meat and honey, provisions, loading and seeds, and what they had brought with them for their age! Perhaps they had prepared early.  Having children is why they need stuff for different ages. Maybe they just got it ready and had it before.

1 Nephi 18:7 – “And now, my father had begat two sons in the wilderness; the elder was called Jacob and the younger Joseph.” Lehi named his sons after Old Testament characters. Jacob was the grandson of Abraham and likewise they would be a branch of Israel blessed. Joseph was the one who like Nephi provided for their survival and continuance in the promised land.

1 Nephi 18:8 – “we did put forth into the sea and were driven forth before the wind towards the promised land.” The wind helped them get to the promised land. They probably had to trust on this point for how could they know the trade winds?

1 Nephi 18:9 – “And after we had been driven forth before the wind for the space of many days, behold, my brethren and the sons of Ishmael and also their wives began to make themselves merry, insomuch that they began to dance, and to sing, and to speak with much rudeness, yea, even that they did forget by what power they had been brought thither; yea, they were lifted up unto exceeding rudeness.” This time instead of things failing and Laman and Lemuel giving up, they got tested with something harder – prosperity. Dancing and singing are not so bad. But they were exceedingly rude, probably to Nephi, because they thought they were already there. Again, they forgot the Lord’s command – he said that they would have to be obedient to make it all the way. (1 Nephi 17:13).

1 Nephi 18:10 – “We will not that our younger brother shall be a ruler over us.” They didn’t care any more about being ruled; as always they thought they had enough, just the opposite way.

1 Nephi 18:11 – “And it came to pass that Laman and Lemuel did take me and bind me with cords, and they did treat me with much harshness; nevertheless, the Lord did suffer it that he might show forth his power, unto the fulfilling of his word which he had spoken concerning the wicked.” He got bound with cords again and treated harshly, but he didn’t complain because he knew the Lord would work with them again.

1 Nephi 18:12 – “the compass, which had been prepared of the Lord, did cease to work.” So, then the Liahona didn’t work. What will happen next?

1 Nephi 18:13 – “Wherefore, they knew not whither they should steer the ship, insomuch that there arose a great storm, yea, a great and terrible tempest, and we were driven back upon the waters for the space of three days; and they began to be frightened exceedingly lest they should be drowned in the sea; nevertheless they did not loose me.” Without guidance, the wind did not simply carry them to the promised land. They were driven back for three days. But Nephi trusted. Even though they were afraid of being almost destroyed, they still needed more so they could grow.

1 Nephi 18:14 – “And on the fourth day, which we had been driven back, the tempest began to be exceedingly sore.” It was so sore that it couldn’t have affected them more.

1 Nephi 18:15 – “And it came to pass that we were about to be swallowed up in the depths of the sea. And after we had been driven back upon the waters for the space of four days, my brethren began to see that the judgments of God were upon them, and that they must perish save that they should repent of their iniquities; wherefore, they came unto me, and loosed the bands which were upon my wrists, and behold they had swollen exceedingly; and also mine ankles were much swollen, and great was the soreness thereof.” The Universe was set up correctly so they could repent. They didn’t want everyone to just die… they still loved their lives which is commendable. Nephi’s wrists and ankles were very swollen and sore after 4 days!

1 Nephi 18:16 – “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.” Nephi praised the Lord for a day. They were coming off of a low but not their bottom. They had tried to kill Lehi. Nephi was coming to his high.

1 Nephi 18:17 – “Now my father, Lehi, had said many things unto them, and also unto the sons of Ishmael; but, behold, they did breathe out much threatenings against anyone that should speak for me; and my parents being stricken in years, and having suffered much grief because of their children, they were brought down, yea, even upon their sick-beds.” They had tried mutiny and to be the leaders. Lehi and Sariah couldn’t handle it with their old age and were close to dying. A bad son can make parents die early and sadly… I know. I was rebaptised.

1 Nephi 18:18 – “out of this time” – perhaps that means like I think that there is no time to the Lord. They would only survive in Nephi’s stories and would be sorrowful for thinking they were bad parents.

1 Nephi 18:19 – Other people were affected as well. I’m sure the whole Earth is affected by nearly everyone in a continuum as I’ve talked about.

1 Nephi 18:20 – “when they saw that they were about to be swallowed up in the depths of the sea they repented of the thing which they had done, insomuch that they loosed me.” They were still able to repent. Just like Jesus suffered all things to motivate us, there was nothing they could do to not deserve His help.

1 Nephi 18:21 – “I took the compass, and it did work whither I desired it.” “the winds did cease, and the storm did cease, and there was a great calm.” The compass worked again! That means they repented! Prayer is important to get God in the loop. Then there was a great calm, showing the power of God.

1 Nephi 18:22 – “I, Nephi, did guide the ship, that we sailed again towards the promised land.” With the compass they could head towards the promised land again, with Laman and Lemuel having learned more.

1 Nephi 18:23 – They arrived! A great note in the narrative. They settled in America around 592 B.C.

1 Nephi 18:24 – “we did put all our seeds into the earth, which we had brought from the land of Jerusalem. And it came to pass that they did grow exceedingly;” The land was fertile. Just like the gospel could be fertile in it and also directly fertile.

1 Nephi 18:25 – “And it came to pass that we did find upon the land of promise, as we journeyed in the wilderness, that there were beasts 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 ore, both of gold, and of silver, and of copper.” There were lots of animals too for food. The cow, ox, donkey , horse, goat and wild goat. There were American equivalents to these animals, like for instance llamas maybe. There was a book about that. They also found ore, gold, silver and copper which we know were in America.  Note that iron and steel have been found in New York.  I think that they might have known about it in Jerusalem (Laban’s sword) or invented it because they saw iron in the vision of the tree of life.  If they could see Jesus Christ in the vision and that was the future, why not iron and how to make it as well?

1 Nephi 19

1 Nephi 19:1 – “And upon the plates which I made I did engraven the record of my father, and also our journeyings in the wilderness, and the prophecies of my father; and also many of mine own prophecies have I engraven upon them.” This is when Nephi was commanded to make both plates (see vs. 2). The physical things would be easy to remember and he must have had a great spiritual capacity to remember his sermons! The plates we don’t have contain a record of Lehi (1 Nephi 1:17), their journeyings in the wilderness (the 8 years were summarized), prophecies of Lehi (1 Nephi 1:17 also), and many of his own prophecies (like father like son).

1 Nephi 19:2 – This is more content than half so far in the story; or in other words 1 Nephi verses 1-19 are less than half of the total record up to this point.

1 Nephi 19:3 – “I, Nephi, received a commandment that the ministry and the prophecies, the more plain and precious parts of them, should be written upon these plates;” Spiritual guidance is what made it into the Book of Mormon. (1 Nephi 9:4). The Lord knew that they would be conveyed to people; and Nephi must have guessed that too although he didn’t know how or who necessarily.

1 Nephi 19:4 – “and that these plates should be handed down from one generation to another, or from one prophet to another, until further commandments of the Lord.” He told his people what to do after his death; a great example reaching beyond his own life. The prophets would write on the plates what came from God.

1 Nephi 19:5 – “and this I do that the more sacred things may be kept for the knowledge of my people.” He wanted sacred things for his people… he wanted them to be spiritually up high.

1 Nephi 19:6 – “Nevertheless, I do not write anything upon plates save it be that I think it be sacred. And now, if I do err, even did they err of old; not that I would excuse myself because of other men, but because of the weakness which is in me, according to the flesh, I would excuse myself.” He wanted only sacred things. Profane things were not welcomed. He says old prophets erred, but he didn’t excuse himself. He would only excuse himself for what he was unable to do in the text because of a weak body.

1 Nephi 19:7 – “For the things which some men esteem to be of great worth, both to the body and soul, others set at naught and trample under their feet. Yea, even the very God of Israel do men trample under their feet; I say, trample under their feet but I would speak in other words—they set him at naught, and hearken not to the voice of his counsels.” People want different things which is why it would be important to have the best things and not the worse things. People set the Lord at naught… that’s a good reason for the things that happened in the Book of Mormon. I thought they didn’t want to be led and maybe we’re both right. They don’t listen to the Lord’s counsel. These circumstances haven’t changed today.

1 Nephi 19:8 – 1 Nephi 10:4. Nephi relayed his message from an angel about sacred things.

1 Nephi 19:9 – “and he suffereth it,” “and he suffereth it,” “and he suffereth it,” Because they even set Him at naught in the flesh, they abused Him, but He suffered it because He loved them, instead of trying to stop them from doing it.

1 Nephi 19:10 – “And the God of our fathers, who were led out of Egypt, out of bondage, and also were preserved in the wilderness by him, yea, the God of Abraham, and of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, yieldeth himself, according to the words of the angel, as a man, into the hands of wicked men, to be lifted up, according to the words of Zenock, and to be crucified, according to the words of Neum, and to be buried in a sepulchre, according to the words of Zenos, which he spake concerning the three days of darkness, which should be a sign given of his death unto those who should inhabit the isles of the sea, more especially given unto those who are of the house of Israel.” Jesus was the God of their fathers. Well of course; he was the one who’s sacrifice could be used for them to be upright with the Lord. He rescued his people and was a tremendous God to the Jews which we can see today by how incredibly much they contribute to society. We don’t know Zenock, but being lifted up on a cross and lifted up to humanity is an interesting metaphor. Buried in a sepulchre is like being buried under everything and coming out so we could be motivated to. Everyone on Earth would know something was going on by 3 days of darkness.

1 Nephi 19:11 – “The Lord God surely shall visit all the house of Israel at that day, some with his voice, because of their righteousness, unto their great joy and salvation, and others with the thunderings and the lightnings of his power, by tempest, by fire, and by smoke, and vapor of darkness, and by the opening of the earth, and by mountains which shall be carried up.” Visiting with his voice is like His wonderful word which keeps helping; and visiting with destruction is like punishing the filthy who cannot help at all.

1 Nephi 19:12 – “many of the kings of the isles of the sea shall be wrought upon by the Spirit of God, to exclaim: The God of nature suffers.” The Island kings would even say, “The God of Nature suffers,” understanding what was going on. Nature itself was sorrowful as a condition of the Universe being wrapped up with God.

1 Nephi 19:13 – “And as for those who are at Jerusalem, saith the prophet, they shall be scourged by all people, because they crucify the God of Israel, and turn their hearts aside, rejecting signs and wonders, and the power and glory of the God of Israel.” For crucifying God, those at Jerusalem got scourged in return. They turned their hearts aside which we’ve discussed too many times. They rejected signs and wonders, worse than Laman and Lemuel. They rejected the power and glory of the God of Israel which means their hearts really were in the wrong place.

1 Nephi 19:14 – “because they turn their hearts aside, saith the prophet, and have despised the Holy One of Israel, they shall wander in the flesh, and perish, and become a hiss and a byword, and be hated among all nations. ” They would not know what to do physically. They would be disrespected and hated by the gentiles who did not reject Jesus this way and therefore learned about Him.

1 Nephi 19:15 – “Nevertheless, when that day cometh, saith the prophet, that they no more turn aside their hearts against the Holy One of Israel, then will he remember the covenants which he made to their fathers.” When they repent their covenants will be reinstated. It would be like coming back from apostasy.

1 Nephi 19:16 – “yea, and all the people who are of the house of Israel, will I gather in, saith the Lord, according to the words of the prophet Zenos, from the four quarters of the earth.” Then he would gather them in. Zenos mentioned four quarters of the earth, showing that prophets don’t always lack knowledge of modern physics. Four points would be OK as a tetrahedron, the minimal number of points to describe a 3-D object.

1 Nephi 19:17 – “Yea, and all the earth shall see the salvation of the Lord, saith the prophet; every nation, kindred, tongue and people shall be blessed.” The earth shall see the salvation of the Lord according to Zenos. Thus, his point is more important. Jesus would bless every nation, kindred, tongue and people for a long time.

1 Nephi 19:18 – “And I, Nephi, have written these things unto my people, that perhaps I might persuade them that they would remember the Lord their Redeemer.” Nephi wants them to remember their Lord and redeemer, like he wanted Laman and Lemuel to remember. The Lord would still be greater, but He would extend effort to help them rise and not fall whenever He could.

1 Nephi 19:19 – “Wherefore, I speak unto all the house of Israel, if it so be that they should obtain these things.” Nephi talks to all of Israel here, which is apparent. Was He wondering if this record would make it?

1 Nephi 19:20 – “I have workings in the spirit, which doth weary me even that all my joints are weak, for those who are at Jerusalem; for had not the Lord been merciful, to show unto me concerning them, even as he had prophets of old, I should have perished also.” If Nephi hadn’t had diligence, faith and lowliness of heart, perhaps he is saying he would have gone back to Jerusalem with his brothers and been destroyed. How important are these things! (1 Nephi 2:19). I’ve never felt the spirit so strong as to consume my flesh. That must be because he was a prophet.

1 Nephi 19:21 – “And he surely did show unto the prophets of old all things concerning them; and also he did show unto many concerning us; wherefore, it must needs be that we know concerning them for they are written upon the plates of brass.” The prophets must have known about Jerusalem and the promised land civilization. (Amos 3:7). Lehi and Ishmael’s family knew this because they had the plates.

1 Nephi 19:22 – “Now it came to pass that I, Nephi, did teach my brethren these things; and it came to pass that I did read many things to them, which were engraven upon the plates of brass, that they might know concerning the doings of the Lord in other lands, among people of old.” Nephi taught his family world history.

1 Nephi 19:23 – “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.” Isaiah was great for profit and learning. The scriptures were valuable to elevate someone financially because people weren’t harming each other. Also learning since the tree was exceedingly white (1 Nephi 8:11).

1 Nephi 19:24 – “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.” Nephi told them to hear the words of a prophet. They being a small part of Israel at the moment. A branch broken off should have a plan for it to survive. Again hear a prophet. This was to everyone so they could liken it to themselves. Then they could have hope for their seed and religion with them as with Jerusalem. Again, this is what the prophet wrote.

1 Nephi 20 (Isaiah 48 KJV)

We will compare 1 Nephi 20 to Isaiah 48.

1 Nephi 20:1 – Hearken is in the Book of Mormon; it means to think about.

“Hearken and hear this, O house of Jacob, who are called by the name of Israel, and are come forth out of the waters of Judah, or out of the waters of baptism, who swear by the name of the Lord, and make mention of the God of Israel, yet they swear not in truth nor in righteousness.” Judah was the tribe of Israel that Christ came out of. The waters of Jesus Christ are the waters of baptism. Often, the scriptures refer to people by their tribe. He is addressing bad people who lie.

1 Nephi 20:2 – ‘Nevertheless’ is in the Book of Mormon. He is continuing that they talk as though they are righteous. ‘Not’ is in the Book of Mormon. “but they do not stay themselves upon the God of Israel,” They don’t follow the God of Israel. ‘Who is’ is in the Book of Mormon. “who is the Lord of Hosts; yea, the Lord of Hosts is his name.” The Lord of Hosts is what He is and that is His name.

1 Nephi 20:3 – ‘Behold’ in the Book of Mormon indicates a new topic. “And they came to pass,” is in the Bible. The Lord had taught them these things.

“I have declared the former things from the beginning; and they went forth out of my mouth, and I showed them. I did show them suddenly.” What does suddenly mean?

1 Nephi 20:4 – “And I did it,” replaces ‘Because’ in the Book of Mormon. The Lord did that because they were unchanging, like Laman and Lemuel were stiffnecked but Israel was a little more so according to this verse. (1 Nephi 2:11).

1 Nephi 20:5 – ‘And’ in the Book of Mormon shows it is the same topic.

“And I have even from the beginning declared to thee; before it came to pass I showed them thee; and I showed them for fear lest thou shouldst say—Mine idol hath done them, and my graven image, and my molten image hath commanded them.” He told them swiftly and at the beginning so they couldn’t credit Idols. He wants to help them.

1 Nephi 20:6 – The Book of Mormon says, “Thou hast seen and heard all this; and will ye not declare them? And that.” The first phrase seems to clarify a mistranslation.

“Thou hast seen and heard all this; and will ye not declare them? And that I have showed thee new things from this time, even hidden things, and thou didst not know them.” The Lord asks why they don’t share with others to help each other out. The first thing to do after getting help is to help others. The Lord continues to try to help as we know. (1 Nephi 12:17). He showed them things that they couldn’t have known to prove His existence.

1 Nephi 20:7 – The Book of Mormon adds the phrase, “they were declared unto thee.” They were declared so that they would know they came from the Lord instead of just seeing them.

“even before the day when thou heardest them not they were declared unto thee, lest thou shouldst say—Behold I knew them.” There is new creation because the Lord again is unchanging so that if He has created, He will continue to create. (1 Nephi 12:17).

1 Nephi 20:8 – ‘and’ at the beginning is in the Book of Mormon.

“Yea, and thou heardest not; yea, thou knewest not; yea, from that time thine ear was not opened; for I knew that thou wouldst deal very treacherously, and wast called a trangressor from the womb.” They didn’t hear because they would deal treacherously if they knew. That would mean violating trust. It was even known when they were studying Torah in the womb that they would violate it. (1 Nephi 7:9).

1 Nephi 20:9 – ‘Nevertheless’ in the Book of Mormon. He still cares about them.

What does, “for my praise will I refrain from thee,” mean? To be a good God He would help them anyway. And how?

1 Nephi 20:10 – ‘For’ in the Book of Mormon means, “the reason is”. “but not with silver” is removed. Even though they would be afflicted for these problems He would yet help them. Again, for praise.

1 Nephi 20:11 – “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.” His name could be polluted in the translation difference, but He will prevent it; and He will not give glory to another. He does it Himself.

1 Nephi 20:12 – “for” added to, “I am he,” in the Book of Mormon.

They can tell He’s the Lord because they knew what they’d do and He would be the best for saving even rebellious people. Jacob was the House of Israel, who he’s talking to because they would violate their trust with Christ which was the worst thing. He is one eternal round, the first and the last, always doing this thing for our benefit. (1 Nephi 12:17).

The Book of Mormon verse says, “Hearken unto me, O Jacob, and Israel my called, for I am he; I am the first, and I am also the last.”

1 Nephi 20:13 – No “when” in the Book of Mormon. God calls the earth and heavens to stand up together at all times. He is always making righteous decisions to help humanity.

They must make righteous decisions also, and the higher the climb the more the opposition. “Mine hand hath also laid the foundation of the earth, and my right hand hath spanned the heavens. I call unto them and they stand up together.” He set up Earth for this purpose and already knows about all of outer space. Perhaps this means that we potentially do too because we can be sheep like He is a lamb. (1 Nephi 15:15).

1 Nephi 20:14 – “All ye, assemble yourselves, and hear; who among them hath declared these things unto them? The Lord hath loved him; yea, and he will fulfill his word which he hath declared by them; and he will do his pleasure on Babylon, and his arm shall come upon the Chaldeans.” Gather together to do what’s right. None of you taught this but Me. The Lord loves them, because He’s helping them. “And he will fulfill his word which he hath declared by them,” in the Book of Mormon. He can rescue them from Babylon after Jerusalem would be destroyed like this Book of Mormon has made clear and Jeremiah had prophesied. Chaldeans were in the cradle of civilization… the Lord was even willing to tip the scales on them for the House of Israel.

1 Nephi 20:15 – The Book of Mormon says, “Also, saith the Lord; I the Lord, yea, I have spoken; yea I have called him to declare.” Who has the Lord called to declare and make his way prosperous?

The Book of Mormon verse says, “Also, saith the Lord; I the Lord, yea, I have spoken; yea, I have called him to declare, I have brought him, and he shall make his way prosperous “

1 Nephi 20:16 – “I have not spoken in secret,” in the Book of Mormon. He talks to the crowd. (1 Nephi 20:14). Therefore, it wasn’t at the beginning. But from the beginning or the time it was declared He had spoken. Not just, ‘There am I”; he was actually working with them. ‘Now’ removed because the Lord God and His Spirit always send Him. Perhaps we are talking about Jesus Christ since we have mentioned God and the Spirit.

The Book of Mormon verse says, “Come ye near unto me; I have not spoken in secret; from the beginning, from the time that it was declared have I spoken; and the Lord God, and his Spirit, hath sent me.”

1 Nephi 20:17 – ‘And’ in the Book of Mormon makes an obvious connection.

The Book of Mormon verse says, “And thus saith the Lord, thy Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel; I have sent him, the Lord thy God who teacheth thee to profit, who leadeth thee by the way thou shouldst go, hath done it.”

He says He sent Jesus who helps people to profit, for if profit wasn’t a good thing why would the righteous be blessed with it? He is like the iron rod and to most people they are led by His words which is the iron rod. And “hath done it” is in the Book of Mormon. We are referring back to vs. 3 of this chapter.

1 Nephi 20:18 – “O that thou hadst hearkened to my commandments—then had thy peace been as a river, and thy righteousness as the waves of the sea.” It is always better to obey because it carries momentum whereas disobedience gets you stuck. If you hearken to His commandments, you look for the good in doing them. Then peace would be pleasant like a river and righteousness pleasant like Ocean waves which are vast.

1 Nephi 20:19 – “Thy seed also had been as the sand;” The ten commandments said that (Exodus 20:6) those who keep God’s commandments and love Him are blessed for 1000 generations. That would cover the sand of the sea. It goes without saying that they would love Him. They should keep His name to properly worship Him.

1 Nephi 20:20 – “Go ye forth of Babylon, flee ye from the Chaldeans, with a voice of singing declare ye, tell this, utter to the end of the earth; say ye: The Lord hath redeemed his servant Jacob.” That way they could get out of the worldliness of Babylon and the treasures of the Chaldeans. They should sing to the end of the Earth that Jacob is redeemed. The Lord paid for the consequences of Jacob’s mistakes so Israel could be lifted up and they should poetically declare it to the rest of humanity to help each other.

1 Nephi 20:21 – A comma is removed after, “He clave the rock also.” They were prepared with water like at the beginning of this chapter. Hitting the rock and the water coming out were one event.

The Book of Mormon verse says, “And they thirsted not; he led them through the deserts; he caused the waters to flow out of the rock for them; he clave the rock also and the waters gushed out.”

1 Nephi 20:22 – “And notwithstanding he hath done all this, and greater also, there is…,” is in the Book of Mormon. It doesn’t matter how high He leads them; you can always rebel and it gets hard. The wicked harm other people and have no peace in their own hearts because they want to take the spirits out of people most of all; and if they do, they do it out of jealousy for the problems they face with their own spirits.

The Book of Mormon verse says, “And notwithstanding he hath done all this, and greater also, there is no peace, saith the Lord, unto the wicked.”

What a blessing that we can tell from comparison that the Book of Mormon is a lot more accurate.

1 Nephi 21 (Isaiah 49 KJV)

We will compare 1 Nephi 21 to Isaiah 49.

1 Nephi 21:1 – “And again: Hearken, O ye house of Israel, all ye that are broken off and are driven out because of the wickedness of the pastors of my people; yea, all ye that are broken off, that are scattered abroad, who are of my people, O house of Israel. Listen, O isles, unto me, and hearken ye people from far; the Lord hath called me from the womb; from the bowels of my mother hath he made mention of my name.” The pastors would have to be of the great and abominable church.  He’s talking to Israel in its state of being scattered, because of their rejecting Christ.  He says, “the Lord has called me from the womb; from the bowls of my mother hath he made mention of my name.”  In other words, Jesus Christ was set up beforehand because it is a practical manifestation of the tree of life vision.  Change:  It is addressing Israel which is not indicated in Isaiah.

1 Nephi 21:2 – “And he hath made my mouth like a sharp sword; in the shadow of his hand hath he hid me, and made me a polished shaft; in his quiver hath he hid me;” A sword distinguishes the righteous and the wicked and we have learned it is sharp.  Wickedness makes getting back harder and righteousness leads to more righteousness.  We don’t do good in this life to slack off in the next.  We do good in this life to do even more good in the next.  This is hidden.  Why is it hidden?  Because we have to press forward to win. 

1 Nephi 21:3 – “And said unto me: Thou art my servant, O Israel, in whom I will be glorified.” He would be glorified in how he treated Israel during the gathering, just like with Joseph, Moses, and many other Jews.  Plus, the 10 commandments, the 614 commandments, and other things that made it so that they would be admired. The Sabbath Day in particular sets them apart.

1 Nephi 21:4 – What happens if someone works for others and spends all their strength doing it and it is in vain?  Surely, says this person, they will have a bad judgement.  What happens to good people who don’t accomplish good?

1 Nephi 21:5 – “yet shall I be glorious in the eyes of the Lord, and my God shall be my strength.” The Lord prepared us to be good, so that we will be glorious in His eyes and that God shall be their strength.  Since He created us, we know He will not abandon our good efforts.  We will be glorious in His eyes so that we have reward, and will really be helping.  If we’re doing it like God, why should we worry if we succeed or not.  God being our strength is that He supervises our labor.

1 Nephi 21:6 – “I will also give thee for a light to the Gentiles, that thou mayest be my salvation unto the ends of the earth.” Being a servant to the Jews was light because they would reject the Messiah, so He would also serve gentiles.  (1 Nephi 10:11 for instance).  Then the whole Earth would see His salvation regardless of their actions, using people to pull each other up.  The Jews gave Gentiles a Bible and the Gentiles gave Jews knowledge of the Savior.

1 Nephi 21:7 – “Thus saith the Lord, the Redeemer of Israel, his Holy One, to him whom man despiseth, to him whom the nations abhorreth, to servant of rulers: Kings shall see and arise, princes also shall worship, because of the Lord that is faithful.” Someone who is despised of the great and spacious building (1 Nephi 8:27) shall have royalty worship them because the Lord runs everything.  Change:  The Book of Mormon says, “servant of rulers” instead of “a servant of rulers” to specify that Jesus is the only one.   The Lord and the Holy One of Israel are one and the same.

1 Nephi 21:8 – In time everyone would realize the truth, and those who had no heritage would get caught up in being righteous.  Changes:  Isle of the Sea shows that He’s talking about all of them.  Who would He give for a covenant?  This servant.

1 Nephi 21:9 – “thou mayest say to the prisoners: Go forth;” To release prisoners – the Lord runs everything (1 Nephi 21:7).  To those who feel under, come out and interact.  They will have fruit for themselves and others.  (Compare 1 Nephi 21:24).

1 Nephi 21:10 – “They shall not hunger nor thirst, neither shall the heat nor the sun smite them; for he that hath mercy on them shall lead them, even by the springs of water shall he guide them.” Just like the Jews in the wilderness had everything, so would the Lord give to them.

1 Nephi 21:11 – The Lord can make easy things hard and hard things easy.  (1 Nephi 17:46).  In this case hard things easy.

1 Nephi 21:12 – I have no clue who this is.  Change:  He is still addressing the House of Israel so in the next verse He will be having mercy on them.

1 Nephi 21:13 – “for the Lord hath comforted his people, and will have mercy upon his afflicted.” But regardless, we are learning about the Lord having mercy on all afflicted.  Change: “For the feet of those who are in the east shall be established.” – Specifically, those people.  Mercy would be about survival.

1 Nephi 21:14 – “But, behold, Zion hath said: The Lord hath forsaken me, and my Lord hath forgotten me—but he will show that he hath not.” The Jews in the Holy place have said that the Lord has forsaken them.  We know that if they care, that is one piece of righteousness to build off of.  Good behavior can motivate all good behavior.  They thought He had forgotten them.  They needed to be shown help all the time or they would rebel, figuring they were forgotten.  But the Lord will show them the truth.  Change – This is a case and the Lord is about to argue why He would not forget them.

1 Nephi 21:15 – “For can a woman forget her sucking child,” Even a woman can forget her breast-feeding child.  We know that sometimes babies get thrown in the trash.  But as in 1 Nephi 1:1, all that is required is that they fear not death and love themselves and for a father to manage the world.  Surely the Lord has these qualities.  Change: “For” here is the reason.  “O house of Israel” – clarifies who He’s talking to.

1 Nephi 21:16 – He is continually involved consciously.  That tells us something about God.

1 Nephi 21:17 – Gathered Israel, the children of scattered Israel, won in a miraculous fight against the Middle East.  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Six-Day_War .  Israel has always been protected.  I won’t cover the change.

1 Nephi 21:18 – “all these gather themselves together, and they shall come to thee. And as I live, saith the Lord, thou shalt surely clothe thee with them all, as with an ornament, and bind them on even as a bride.” Those that fought against Israel would be like Israel’s jewels, in other words being subservient.  That’s always the case since May 14, 1948 when Israel was established.  Change: “shall” – it’s a future prediction.  “And” combines the two statements.

1 Nephi 21:19 – Even their worst places would have no vacancy.  Those that go after them would be far away.

1 Nephi 21:20 – The descendants wanting to live in Israel, I think.  The path to living there against the whole world was to be very righteous or strait.  Change – ‘Other’ to ‘first’ is a clarification.

1 Nephi 21:21 – A person could complain not expecting themselves to be gathered back.

1 Nephi 21:22 – The gentiles will indeed lift them up and gather them back.  They even established Israel in May 14, 1948 after the Jewish holocaust.

1 Nephi 21:23 – “And kings shall be thy nursing fathers, and their queens thy nursing mothers; they shall bow down to thee with their face towards the earth, and lick up the dust of thy feet; and thou shalt know that I am the Lord; for they shall not be ashamed that wait for me.” Kings and Queens and nations would subject themselves to maintaining Israel… they would have a huge number of people on their side.

1 Nephi 21:24 – “For shall the prey be taken from the mighty, or the lawful captives delivered?” The mighty catches its prey.  The lawful captive stays in jail.  (Compare 1 Nephi 21:9).  “For” – he’s making an argument.

1 Nephi 21:25 – “But thus saith the Lord, even the captives of the mighty shall be taken away, and the prey of the terrible shall be delivered; for I will contend with him that contendeth with thee, and I will save thy children.” But if these things happen contending against Israel, then they are fighting against it and its God.

1 Nephi 21:26 – “And I will feed them that oppress thee with their own flesh; they shall be drunken with their own blood as with sweet wine; and all flesh shall know that I, the Lord, am thy Savior and thy Redeemer, the Mighty One of Jacob.” Those who fight Israel will be wicked.  Thus, they are in the self-destructive pattern mentioned earlier with wickedness. (1 Nephi 12:23).  But they will all know the truth so they can be judged.

1 Nephi 22

1 Nephi 22:1 – “Behold, are they to be understood according to things which are spiritual, which shall come to pass according to the spirit and not the flesh?” Laman and Lemuel wanted to know if these things were spiritual or to the flesh.  I think it is both.  Looking over Isaiah, it seems to be clearly and poetically writing about both at the same time.

1 Nephi 22:2 – “Behold they were manifest unto the prophet by the voice of the Spirit; for by the Spirit are all things made known unto the prophets, which shall come upon the children of men according to the flesh.” However, all things known to prophets are spiritual, because any man can lead physically and prophets are spiritual guides.  Because it is prophetic, it is utmost symbolism.

1 Nephi 22:3 – “Wherefore, the things of which I have read are things pertaining to things both temporal and spiritual; for it appears that the house of Israel, sooner or later, will be scattered upon all the face of the earth, and also among all nations.” Yet I was right.  And we have discussed plenty of times how Jews would be scattered.  Additional information is that they would be scattered everywhere on Earth and in every nation.  That way the Lord could show his hand in these two categories.  We don’t need people, kindred and tongue because we know that it is everywhere on Earth.  Every nation is indicated so we can realize that they are subjected to all law like Jesus was subjected to all spiritual law.  (1 Nephi 21:1)

1 Nephi 22:4 – “And behold, there are many who are already lost from the knowledge of those who are at Jerusalem. Yea, the more part of all the tribes have been led away; and they are scattered to and fro upon the isles of the sea; and whither they are none of us knoweth, save that we know that they have been led away.” Nephi says many have already been spread and that he doesn’t know where.  That is because, as we have seen in Isaiah for instance, prophets have already been preaching about Christ.  That way they could reject Him early and be scattered early.  (1 Nephi 21:1)

1 Nephi 22:5 – “confounded, because of the Holy One of Israel; for against him will they harden their hearts; wherefore, they shall be scattered among all nations and shall be hated of all men.” The scattering at any time is due to hardening hearts so they don’t want to obey.  They would be in all nations and hated of all men.  I suppose there was a sort of scattering after Christ too.  Why hated of all men?  Well the righteous shouldn’t hate.  But the wicked are never satisfied so they hate each other.

1 Nephi 22:6 – “and their children have been carried in their arms, and their daughters have been carried upon their shoulders,” Daughters are heavier so they go on shoulders which is also a social promotion.

1 Nephi 22:7 – “that the Lord God will raise up a mighty nation among the Gentiles, yea, even upon the face of this land; and by them shall our seed be scattered.” America would scatter the Lamanites too, a mighty nation.  The ways of the Lord are just.

1 Nephi 22:8 – “And after our seed is scattered the Lord God will proceed to do a marvelous work among the Gentiles, which shall be of great worth unto our seed; wherefore, it is likened unto their being nourished by the Gentiles and being carried in their arms and upon their shoulders.” A marvelous work and a wonder would be how they get carried by the gentiles.

1 Nephi 22:9 – “And it shall also be of worth unto the Gentiles; and not only unto the Gentiles but unto all the house of Israel, unto the making known of the covenants of the Father of heaven unto Abraham, saying: In thy seed shall all the kindreds of the earth be blessed.” An orthodox Jewish rabbi said on TV that the Book of Mormon was very important to them.  Catholics, Lutherans, Muslims, Scientologists and Raϵlians all have a great interest in the book.  Everyone would know that through Abraham’s seed the world would be blessed.  A quick Wikipedia search on accomplishments of Jews and Christians should be revealing.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lists_of_Jews

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Christian_Nobel_laureates

1 Nephi 22:10 – “the kindreds of the earth cannot be blessed unless he shall make bare his arm in the eyes of the nations.” It’s like since they can’t do it on their own, if it gets done, they can see that the Lord did it.

1 Nephi 22:11 – “in bringing about his covenants and his gospel unto those who are of the house of Israel.” The gospel should go to the Jews.

1 Nephi 22:12 – (1 Nephi 21:9).  “Wherefore, he will bring them again out of captivity, and they shall be gathered together to the lands of their inheritance; and they shall be brought out of obscurity and out of darkness; and they shall know that the Lord is their Savior and their Redeemer, the Mighty One of Israel.” Not only would they come out of darkness, but they would become prominent.  It says that differently in 1 Nephi 21:9.

1 Nephi 22:13 – “and the sword of their own hands shall fall upon their own heads, and they shall be drunken with their own blood.” We already know that with the large and spacious building the wicked punish the wicked.  (1 Nephi 21:26.).  It will come to the point where they harm themselves to fit in, drinking their own blood.

1 Nephi 22:14 – “that great and abominable church, shall tumble to the dust and great shall be the fall of it.” The Church would literally become dust.  People would be destroying each other just for the misery of it.  Also, spiritually dust.  (1 Nephi 12:5, 17:38).

1 Nephi 22:15 – When the righteous are left over they can progress as far as they are prepared to.

1 Nephi 22:16 – The Lord won’t suffer the wicked destroying the righteous, but the wicked can try to get them to turn.  Thus, when the twelve apostles fight the large and spacious building, they need to uphold their ministering.

1 Nephi 22:17 – He must be talking about the rapture, for there’s no way for the righteous to live separately from the wicked at all times… the wicked will come after them.  (1 Thesallonians 4:17).

1 Nephi 22:18 – If they harden their hearts, their hearts will quench things so that fire will quench them.

1 Nephi 22:19 – The time must come for this… the Lord needs to move on to the next phase… He can’t just micromanage everyone doing what they want forever.  That’s why the dinosaurs had limited consciousness – they didn’t accelerate in knowledge.

1 Nephi 22:20 – (Deuteronomy 18:15-22).  This is Jesus because those who wouldn’t listen to Him would be cut off.

1 Nephi 22:21 – “And now I, Nephi, declare unto you, that this prophet of whom Moses spake was the Holy One of Israel; wherefore, he shall execute judgment in righteousness.” This is the Holy One of Israel.  They are all the supreme being so there is one of them.  He would be perfect in judgement.  (1 Nephi 10:19-20).

1 Nephi 22:22 – “And the righteous need not fear, for they are those who shall not be confounded. But it is the kingdom of the devil, which shall be built up among the children of men, which kingdom is established among them which are in the flesh” The righteous need not fear, for they know they will be helped upward and not blocked.  But the Kingdom of the Devil provides no peace.  (1 Nephi 20:22).

1 Nephi 22:23 – Gain, power over the flesh, and popularity but not in righteousness.  Lusts of the flesh lead to uncleanliness.  Iniquity or gross wickedness.  These belong to the kingdom of the devil as we know.  They must have much of their essence erased to give chance to what little remains righteously.

1 Nephi 22:24 – “and the Holy One of Israel must reign in dominion, and might, and power, and great glory.” The righteous would be saved like living in a nice place.  The Lord, the supreme being of the gospel and Torah, would have dominion, might, power and great glory to help them to be better.

1 Nephi 22:25 – He knows everyone individually because He understands all good and bad and other qualities and knows where they all stack up.

1 Nephi 22:26 – “Satan has no power;” “for he hath no power over the hearts of the people, for they dwell in righteousness, and the Holy One of Israel reigneth.” With those who have been tolerated, now they are in a state of righteousness; and there is no power of the devil for many years as they rise and get helped to handle that rising.

1 Nephi 22:27 – Nephi says these things are physical.

1 Nephi 22:28 – Anyone that always tries to correct their behavior is considered good. It jumps back to spiritual.

1 Nephi 22:29 – Nephi had more knowledge in reserve.  There was the two-edged sword of helping and getting rebelled against for it being hard that he had to handle carefully.

1 Nephi 22:30 – He has shown these things to be true and that obedience to God’s commandments logically follows since it is part of that true framework.  We know what’s right because we were taught in our womb.  (1 Nephi 7:9)

1 Nephi 22:31 – “Wherefore, if ye shall be obedient to the commandments, and endure to the end, ye shall be saved at the last day.” Therefore. many people have taught these things in different ways as further evidence.  You must keep the commandments until the end of your probation.  Then you will be saved at the last day to dwell with God.

Scriptures quoted by their referring verse and the verse they refer to:

1 Nephi 13:19  to 1 Nephi 13:13.

1 Nephi 13:25 to 1 Nephi 7:9

1 Nephi 13:27 to 1 Nephi 12:17

1 Nephi 15:22 to 1 Nephi 1

1 Nephi 15:24 to 1 Nephi 13:25

1 Nephi 15:25 to 1 Nephi 11:25

1 Nephi 15:27 to 1 Nephi 8:32

1 Nephi 15:28 to 1 Nephi 1:1

1 Nephi 15:30 to 1 Nephi 11:25, 15:15

1 Nephi 17:13 to 1 Nephi 14:2

1 Nephi 17:20 to 1 Nephi 12:18

1 Nephi 17:30 to 1 Nephi 12:18

1 Nephi 17:38 to 1 Nephi 1:1

1 Nephi 17:53 to 1 Nephi 17:46

1 Nephi 18:9 to 1 Nephi 17:13

1 Nephi 19:1 to 1 Nephi 19:2, 1:17

1 Nephi 19:3 to 1 Nephi 9:4

1 Nephi 19:20 to 1 Nephi 2:19

1 Nephi 20:4 to 1 Nephi 2:11

1 Nephi 20:6 to 1 Nephi 12:17

1 Nephi 20:8 to 1 Nephi 7:9

1 Nephi 20:12 to 1 Nephi 12:17

1 Nephi 20:13 to 1 Nephi 15:15

1 Nephi 20:16 to 1 Nephi 20:14

1 Nephi 20:19 to Ex 20:6

1 Nephi 21:6 to 1 Nephi 10:11

1 Nephi 21:7 to 1 Nephi 8:27

1 Nephi 21:9 to 1 Nephi 21:7, 21:24

1 Nephi 21:11 to 1 Nephi 17:46

1 Nephi 21:24 to 1 Nephi 21:9

1 Nephi 21:26 to 1 Nephi 12:23

1 Nephi 22:4 to 1 Nephi 21:1

1 Nephi 22:14 to 1 Nephi 12:5, 17:38

1 Nephi 22:17 to 1 Thesallonians 4:17

1 Nephi 22:20 to Deuteronomy 18:15-22

1 Nephi 22:21 to 1 Nephi 10:19-20

The End