1 Nephi 2:14

14 And it came to pass that my father did speak unto them in the valley of Lemuel, with power, being filled with the Spirit, until their frames did shake before him. And he did confound them, that they durst not utter against him; wherefore, they did as he commanded them.

I think the Lord will use as much “volume” as he needs to in order to get our attention. In 1 Nephi 17:45 we learn that He tried to get through to Laman and Lemuel by more subtle means (still, small voice, etc), but they were past feeling, so the Lord had to get “louder” so they could get the message. In this case, Lehi spoke with such force that Laman and Lemuel were visibly shaken. They had nothing to say; they dared not say anything against their father. He had spiritually beaten them into submission. And of course, they still didn’t learn their lesson, because they continued in rebellion. They were not converted. How much better it would have been for them to not be compelled to be humble, as Alma tells the poor Zoramites who were compelled to be humble (Alma 32:16). They would have been much better off to come willingly to the Lord.

• 1 Nephi 3:5
• Alma 32:13–16

1 Nephi 2:13

13 Neither did they believe that Jerusalem, that great city, could be destroyed according to the words of the prophets. And they were like unto the Jews who were at Jerusalem, who sought to take away the life of my father.

I wonder why Laman and Lemuel followed their father. They could have simply rebelled and stayed in Jerusalem. Surely they were old enough to take care of themselves. They obviously did not believe the things Lehi taught about the destruction of Jerusalem. This verse says they were like the other Jews in Jerusalem who tried to kill Lehi. And yet, to their credit, they followed their father, albeit grudgingly. They could have stayed home and kept all the gold and silver. Surely they had many opportunities to kill Lehi, if that’s what they wanted. Something must be going on here that is not recorded. Maybe those in Jerusalem who would have killed Lehi would have killed the whole family as well. It could be a fear of what would happen to them if they stayed. Sometimes they were repentant, apparently sincerely.

• Jeremiah chapter 52

1 Nephi 2:12

12 And thus Laman and Lemuel, being the eldest, did murmur against their father. And they did murmur because they knew not the dealings of that God who had created them.

Many righteous parents have had rebellious children. That is the risk of free agency. However, they rebel at their own risk if the parents have done all they can to teach them. The interesting thing about this verse to me is why they murmured. “They knew not the dealings of that God who had created them.” Why didn’t they know God’s dealings? Because they didn’t try to have personal experiences with Him. It was not a priority with them. John 17:3 tells us that knowing God is life eternal. And this comes from doing His will, according to John 7:17. Obviously Laman and Lemuel were not keeping the commandments, otherwise they would have understood them.

• John 7:17
• 1 Nephi 15:8–11

1 Nephi 2:8-11

8 And it came to pass that he called the name of the river, Laman, and it emptied into the Red Sea; and the valley was in the borders near the mouth thereof.

9 And when my father saw that the waters of the river emptied into the fountain of the Red Sea, he spake unto Laman, saying: O that thou mightest be like unto this river, continually running into the fountain of all righteousness!

10 And 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!

11 Now this 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, and had led them out of the land of Jerusalem, to leave the land of their inheritance, and their gold, and their silver, and their precious things, to perish in the wilderness. And this they said he had done because of the foolish imaginations of his heart.

Lehi, as a loving parent, really wants the best for his children. Good parents always seem to want this, even when the feeling is not mutual. In this case, Lehi compared his rebellious sons to how he would like them to be, righteous and steady. I don’t think he is just saying this so they will leave him alone. This is evident in 1 Nephi 8:37, when Lehi is preaching “with all the feeling of a tender parent.” He wants them to be righteous for their own sakes. Proverbs 20:20 says, “Whoso curseth his father or his mother, his lamp shall be put out in obscure darkness." This seems to refer to the light of Christ. Everyone begins life with the light of Christ (Moroni 7:8), which is how we discern good from evil, even without the Gift of the Holy Ghost. If a person will harden himself to the point of rebelling against his parents, those who have given him life, then he will eventually rebel against Him who gives spiritual and eternal life, Jesus Christ. The light goes out, and he (the rebel) puts it out himself. This grows into apostasy, rebellion, and stiffneckedness.

1 Nephi 2:7

7 And it came to pass that he built an altar of stones, and made an offering unto the Lord, and gave thanks unto the Lord our God.

I suppose the type offering made was a peace offering. Lehi would have built the alter of whole stones, readily available from the river. These stones were not to be broken or worked in any way. Alters seem to be some sort of temple when no temple structure is available. In our own temples, our highest covenants are made at the alter, including the sealing of families. At Lehi’s time the offering would have probably been a ram or he-goat. When the Savior fulfilled the Law of Moses with His own personal sacrifice, blood sacrifice was done away with. So rather than offering a substitute animal, we are required to offer ourselves. We offer a broken heart and a contrite spirit. We offer, at an alter in the temple, all that we have, all that we are, to the Lord, for the building up of His Kingdom.

The Thank or Peace Offering offered by Lehi was entirely consistent with the Law of Moses and with the Lord’s later commandment to thank Him in all things (D&C 59:21). Lehi had just been allowed to save his family from certain destruction they faced in Jerusalem. Of course his gratitude was sincere. This alter building and offering were not just outward shows of worship. They were sincere, therefore accepted of the Lord.

1 Nephi 2:5-6

5. And 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; and he did travel in the wilderness with his family, which consisted of my mother, Sariah, and my elder brothers, who were Laman, Lemuel, and Sam.

6. And it came to pass that when he had traveled three days in the wilderness, he pitched his tent in a valley by the side of a river of water.

I think these verses are there to give a backdrop or setting for the next few chapters. Lehi received some pretty amazing revelations while staying in this location. I think that when the scriptures refer to “wilderness” they must mean something different than the picture that word brings up in my mind. I always picture desolation. The dictionary doesn’t imply that the landscape has to be desolate, and in fact it could be quite fertile. The deciding factor is whether the land is inhabited or cultivated. I think Lehi and family stay in this location for some time, which would indicate that there were some resources of wood, etc., since they would want fire for various reasons. Later on, we’ll read where the Lord didn’t want them to have much fire, but being near a river, there probably was vegetation, etc.

1 Nephi 2:3-4

3 And it came to pass that he was obedient unto the word of the Lord, wherefore he did as the Lord commanded him.

4 And it came to pass that he departed into the wilderness. And he left his house, and the land of his inheritance, and his gold, and his silver, and his precious things, and took nothing with him, save it were his family, and provisions, and tents, and departed into the wilderness.

Clearly Lehi sacrificed all of his worldly possessions to follow the commandment. Lehi was obviously a wealthy man of station in his community. He didn’t merely give up his possessions; he sacrificed them. This is a higher act than abandonment. The Latin roots of this word mean to make sacred. What Lehi did was a type or example of what we need to do to gain our “promised land,” even exaltation. We need to put the things of God at a higher priority than the things of the world. One of the most significant things we can sacrifice or give up for the Lord is our sins. King Lamoni’s father makes this clear as he is converted. He prays and says in all sincerity that he will “give away all [his] sins to know [God].” (Alma 22: 18) Who would he give them to? The Savior. If Lehi had not sacrificed his possessions for the Lord, or left the world behind him, he would have been destroyed along with the rest of “the world,” represented here by Jerusalem. I need to sacrifice my connections to the world (sin), or in the last day I will be destroyed with the world. Those who followed Lehi (the prophet) were spared that destruction. Even Laman and Lemuel were blessed to the extent that they followed the prophet, albeit reluctantly. They physically followed him and were spared a physical destruction. Because they did not follow the prophet spiritually, they could not be spared a spiritual destruction, and became cursed. (2 Nephi 5:21) This would be like establishing food storage, but not preparing spiritually for difficult times.

1 Nephi 2:2

2. And it came to pass that the Lord commanded my father, even in a dream, that he should take his family and depart into the wilderness.

The cross-references provided with this scripture show a history of the Lord taking care of His servants. At various times He has led these servants out of danger and/or to a “promised land.” The scriptural accounts referenced are Abraham, Lot, and the Brother of Jared. Lot was the only one of these not given a promised land to inherit, but his and his family’s lives were saved from the residents of Sodom.

Spiritually speaking, the Lord does the same for us today. If we are obedient to His commandments, He will deliver us from those who would harm us spiritually. It’s my job as head of my family to lead my family out of the way of spiritual harm. The Lord will help me if I let Him.

1 Nephi 2:1

For behold, it came to pass that the Lord spake unto my father, yea, even in a dream, and said unto him: Blessed art thou Lehi, because of the things which thou hast done; and because thou hast been faithful and declared unto this people the things which I commanded thee, behold, they seek to take away thy life.

The Lord rewards and supports those who do His work. Although we are exalted by grace, it is clear that we are blessed for our efforts in the Lord’s behalf. In Helaman 10:4, Nephi (son of Helaman) is told word for word the same thing that Lehi is told here: “Blessed art thou…because of the things which thou hast done….” On the other hand, Lehi is told that his missionary effort is exactly the reason people were trying to take his life. In the end, we need to be more concerned with pleasing the Lord than pleasing the World around us.

• Helaman 10:4
• 3 Nephi 12:11–12

1 Nephi Chapter 2 Overview

Lehi takes his family into the wilderness by the Red Sea—They leave their property—Lehi offers a sacrifice to the Lord and teaches his sons to keep the commandments—Laman and Lemuel murmur against their father—Nephi is obedient and prays in faith; the Lord speaks to him, and he is chosen to rule over his brethren. Between 600 and 592 B.C.

This is where Lehi and his family begin their journey to the Promised Land. It obviously is a physical journey, but in so many ways parallels or is a type or shadow of our spiritual journey to the land of promise with our Heavenly Father. More about the comparison will come out, as I look at the journey chapter-by-chapter, verse-by-verse. This is how the Lord delivered Lehi physically and spiritually.

1 Nephi 1:20

And when the Jews heard these things 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 even unto the power of deliverance.

The verse starts off by talking about how the people rejected Lehi and tried to kill him. Then Nephi says he will show us that “the tender mercies of the Lord are over all those whom he hath chosen because of their faith, to make them mighty even unto the power of deliverance.” This is really meaty when you start to ponder it.

Consider: “mercies.” The Oxford Advanced Learner’s Dictionary of Current English defines mercy as “(capacity for) holding oneself back from punishment, or from causing suffering to [somebody] whom one has the right or power to punish.” If it weren’t for the tender mercies of the Lord, He would have every right to punish each one of us because of unrighteousness. I don’t think the Lord wants to punish anyone, but the laws of justice must be met. However, under certain conditions, the Lord can extend His mercy and protect us from most of the punishment. He extends this mercy to “those whom he hath chosen.” Faith seems to be the deciding factor in whether one is or is not chosen. D&C 121:34–40 gives some more insight into why people are not chosen. It says there, in effect, that many who are called are not chosen because they don’t understand the priesthood. The reason they don’t understand is because their hearts are “set so much on the things of this world, and aspire to the honors of men.” Those who fit this description are the proud ones who don’t have faith in God, so they seek the honors of men instead.

Then Nephi says the Lord makes these chosen ones “mighty even unto the power of deliverance.” It’s a bit unclear to me at what level this is meaning. The Topical Guide makes reference to deliverance from everything: physical danger to deliverance from Hell. I think the verse has application on an eternal salvation scale, but based on the context, I think Nephi must be thinking more temporal deliverance than spiritual at this time. He’s going to show now how the Lord protects one of His chosen servants—Lehi.

• D&C 121:34–40

1 Nephi 1:19

And it came to pass that 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.

I was interested in the cross references to this verse, especially 2 Chronicles 36:16 and Jeremiah 25:1–4. These verses made direct reference to what Lehi was doing in warning the people. Although the Bible does not name Lehi, we know through this verse that Lehi was one of the servants of the Lord referred to in these Bible verses. I also found it interesting that the verses in the Book of Mormon referred to Laman and Lemuel and seem to cement them in with the whole Jerusalem scene. They were rebelling and mocking prophets right along with the other Jews.

• Jeremiah 38:2–4

1 Nephi 1:18

Therefore, I would that ye should know, that after the Lord had shown so many marvelous things unto my father, Lehi, yea, concerning the destruction of Jerusalem, behold he went forth among the people, and began to prophesy and to declare unto them concerning the things which he had both seen and heard.

After Lehi saw everything the Lord showed him, including the warning of Jerusalem’s destruction, Lehi was obligated to share the message. In D&C 88:81 (81–82) it says that everyone who has been warned should warn his neighbor. We all have this responsibility, but the calling of a prophet gives one a specific stewardship. Amos 3:7 says the Lord won’t do anything without first telling His prophets.

D&C 88:82 says that warning people makes them responsible for their own sins. Jacob 1:19 makes it very clear that Jacob and Joseph took this responsibility seriously. They knew that if they didn’t do their best to teach the people and encourage their repentance that they (Jacob and Joseph) would answer “the sins of the people upon [their] own heads if [they] did not teach them the word of God with all diligence. The way this all works out is recorded quite at length in Ezekiel 3:17–21.

• 2 Nephi 25:9
• D&C 88:81
• Jacob 1:19

Question about light

Just a quick break from the scripture journal to ask a question that came to me yesterday. I have been reading Hearing the Voice of the Lord by Gerald N. Lund. It's a book about personal revelation, and the part I read yesterday had to do with light and how revelation enlightens our minds and brings light to our mind, etc. The scriptures have many references connecting revelation to light. The thought I had was a what if kind of question. What if revelation was literally light? We know that the visible light (white light) is just a small part of the whole spectrum that we can measure, from infrared on one end to ultraviolet on the other. But isn't it possible that there are frequencies beyond what we can measure? The scriptures tell us that spirit is a more pure form of matter (D&C 131:7-8), so why not a more pure form of light? So often in the scriptures we read prophecies and are surprised at how literally they are fulfilled. Why not this as well? When we are enlightened or "filled with light," couldn't it be literal light instead of just an expression? I don't have an answer to this right now, but it's an interesting thought. Along those same lines, sometimes we receive revelation as "voices" in our minds. I have had that experience, where I literally carried on a conversation in my mind, thinking thought that I know were not my own, and responding with thoughts that I know were. Is it possible that this was an example of more pure sound waves that can only be discerned by the spirit and mind? I don't know, but it doesn't seem all that strange to me. Maybe you guys out at BYU can bring it up with your religion professor. At any rate, I would be interested to hear your thoughts on my speculation.

1 Nephi 1:17

But I shall make an account of my proceedings in my days. Behold, I make an abridgment of the record of my father, upon plates which I have made with mine own hands; wherefore, after I have abridged the record of my father then will I make an account of mine own life.

Nephi is very concerned about record keeping. I wouldn’t be surprised if we found out he kept a personal journal as well as the official records that he kept. I believe the abridgement referred to here is the 116 pages of manuscript that Joseph Smith lost.

1 Nephi 1:16

And now I, Nephi, do not make a full account of the things which my father hath written, for he hath written many things which he saw in visions and in dreams; and he also hath written many things which he prophesied and spake unto his children, of which I shall not make a full account.

Lehi is not the only one to see visions and visions in dreams. The cross references (Ezekiel 1:1, JSH 1:24) refer to only two of the many visions seen by many people, prophets in particular.

1 Nephi 1:15

And after this manner was the language of my father in the praising of his God; for his soul did rejoice, and his whole heart was filled, because of the things which he had seen, yea, which the Lord had shown unto him.

Isn’t it interesting that after all the destruction Lehi saw, he still rejoiced after the vision was finished. Death truly is swallowed up in the atonement. This takes a long view at life to understand. Those who do not view life as being more than this mortal probation struggle with the ideas of death and destruction. Those who do take an eternal view of life understand that physical death is part of the plan. Spiritual death has much greater consequences than physical death. So Lehi rejoices in the Atonement and that he has been favored of the Lord to see these visions.

1 Nephi 1:14

And it came to pass that when my father had read and seen many great and marvelous things, he did exclaim many things unto the Lord; such as: Great and marvelous are thy works, O Lord God Almighty! Thy throne is high in the heavens, and thy power, and goodness, and mercy are over all the inhabitants of the earth; and, because thou art merciful, thou wilt not suffer those who come unto thee that they shall perish!

In this verse Lehi praises God. I’m especially interested in the end of the verse, the fact that the kingdom of God is open to literally anybody willing to conform his or her lives to the way Father would.

• 3 Nephi. 9:14 (13–14)

1 Nephi 1:13

And he read, saying: Wo, wo, unto Jerusalem, for I have seen thine abominations! Yea, and many things did my father read concerning 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.

It’s obvious that Lehi was one of the prophets the Lord sent to warn the inhabitants of Jerusalem. The things he saw in the book he was shown were about Jerusalem’s demise. That is all a matter of record in the Old Testament and other historical records.

• 2 Chronicles 36:14
• 2 Kings 24:2

1 Nephi 1:12

And it came to pass that as he read, he was filled with the Spirit of the Lord.

Lehi is filled with the Spirit of the Lord. This seems to involve either or both inspiration and revelation. The cross references cited in the footnotes for this verse are interesting. First, Genesis 41:38. Here, Joseph has interpreted Pharaoh’s dream of seven years of plenty followed by seven years of famine. This interpretation came by revelation.

The next cross-reference is where Ammon perceives the thoughts of Lamoni, the Lamanite king. This is again revealed to Ammon through being filled with the Spirit (see D&C 6:16).

The next reference is interesting, being apparently different from the others. Mosiah 27:24 is where Alma the Younger wakes up after his conversion, says he has repented, has been redeemed of the Lord, then he says he is “born of the Spirit.” He then teaches what he learned, by revelation, about being born of the Spirit and how everyone needs to do that (be spiritually reborn).

All three references have to do with revelation to one degree or another. When we are filled with the Spirit of the Lord, we are filled with the spirit of revelation. Revelation 19:10 says, “the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.” How does this relate to the relationship just described between revelation and the Spirit of the Lord?

1 Nephi 1:11

And they came down and went forth upon the face of the earth; and the first came and stood before my father, and gave unto him a book, and bade him that he should read.

The One who gave Lehi the book is the Lord. Verses 12–14 give some idea of what kind of prophesies were in the book.

1 Nephi 1:10

And he also saw twelve others following him, and their brightness did exceed that of the stars in the firmament.

The twelve apostles of Jerusalem.

1 Nephi 1:9

"And it came to pass that he saw One descending out of the midst of heaven, and he beheld that his luster was above that of the sun at noon-day."

The “One” who descended out of the midst of heaven was Jesus Christ.

1 Nephi 1:8

And being thus overcome with the Spirit, he was carried away in a vision, even that he saw the heavens open, and he thought he saw God sitting upon his throne, surrounded with numberless concourses of angels in the attitude of singing and praising their God.

Several places in the scriptures talk about the heavens being opened and someone seeing God. D&C 137 seems to have the descriptive account.

• D&C 137:1–5

1 Nephi 1:7

And it came to pass that he returned to his own house at Jerusalem; and he cast himself upon his bed, being overcome with the Spirit and the things which he had seen.

Lehi is left with no physical strength or energy after seeing his vision. Often throughout the scriptures, when someone has a vision or a deeply religious experience, they are left with no energy. Moses 1:9–11 says that after he saw God, Moses was left with no strength, that he was transfigured in order to see his vision. Joseph Smith reported also that after his First Vision he found himself lying on his back, looking up into heaven, and that he had no strength. This state of transfiguration must be taxing on the mortal body.

• Moses 1:10 (9–11); Joseph Smith—History 1:20

1 Nephi 1:1-5

I actually didn't start keeping the journal part of my scripture study until verse 6, but here are cross references to the first 5 verses, in case you are interested. verse 1

• D&C 68:25, 28

verse 4

• 2 Kin. 24:18; 17:13 (13–15)
• 1 Chr. 9:3; 36:15 (15–16)
• Jer. 26:18 (17–19)
• 2 Ne. 1:4

verse 5

• Jer. 29:13
• James 5:16
• 2 Ne. 4:24 (23–25)

1 Nephi 1:6

It looks to me like the Lord appeared to Lehi in the pillar of fire. In all of the cross references shown at the bottom of the page (except Helaman 5:24, 43), the Lord is in the pillar of fire (or, as Joseph Smith puts it, a pillar of light). In Helaman, the characters are encircled by a pillar of fire, but when a pillar of fire is recorded, usually the Lord is in it. Another clue that Lehi may have seen the Lord at this time is the reference in Isaiah, which clearly stated that Isaiah trembled (as did Lehi) because he saw God.

Welcome

Well, as promised a couple of months ago, I am starting a blog about my scripture study. This is intended for my family, who have expressed some interest in the contents of my scripture journal. Here's my disclaimer. The ideas and thoughts I will share here are my own (except where I give credit). I don't speak for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, but I am a member of that church. I don't set this out as official doctrine of the Church; I take all responsibility for the contents. It is, after all, a journal. I hope my family will join in the discussion and we can all be uplifted and gain greater insight and understanding of the Gospel of Jesus Christ through His scriptures.