1 Nephi 18: 3

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

When there is no temple for people in the scriptures to worship at, they often go to the mountains to do it. The wording here would indicate that going to the mount oft was something more than merely praying oft. I’m sure that Nephi prayed many times a day for guidance, but going to mount was something different. We don’t know what is meant by “oft,” whether that was daily, weekly, or monthly, but it must have been special and important for Nephi to take time away from his shipbuilding to do it. If we compare going to the mount to attending the temple, Nephi is giving us a great model of putting the Lord first in his life. He took time away from his “job,” a job in fact given to him by the lord, to go to the “temple” oft. Consequently (the meaning of “wherefore”) the Lord revealed to Nephi how he could better do his job, among other things. Using that model, it’s possible that the Lord would reveal to me ways to do my job better in the temple, or at least as a result of my temple worship. This is true particularly for the jobs I do in the Lord’s employ (callings in the Church).

1 Nephi 18: 2

2 Now I, Nephi, did not work the timbers after the manner which was learned by men, neither did I build the ship after the manner of men; but I did build it after the manner which the Lord had shown unto me; wherefore, it was not after the manner of men.

It would be very interesting to see the Lord’s design for seagoing vessels, and how they are different from man’s designs. I wonder what the differences are, or if it’s just that since Nephi didn’t have any ship builders in the company to refer to, he relied on the Lord for the plans.

There are stories in Church history that the prophets have had temple designs, for example, revealed to them. And it’s not so much that the buildings look extremely different from what men would design, it’s just that these prophets had no training in architecture, so the designs didn’t exactly follow conventions. Joseph Smith and the Kirtland temple, Brigham Young and the Salt Lake Tabernacle, and Gordon B. Hinckley with the mini temples are three examples that come right to mind. They were not designed after the manner of men. They were designed after the manner that was shown them by the Lord. I’m sure the details followed tried and true design and working methods, but the design is the Lord’s.

1 Nephi 18: 1

1 And it came to pass that they did worship the Lord, and did go forth with me; 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.

I suppose Nephi probably received the plans for this ship back in 1 Nephi 17:8, but I’m sure there were details he had questions about. First, he had never built a ship before, and second, even if he had built ships, this one was not like any other ship he was familiar with (see verse 2). So Nephi was really dependent on the Lord for the design and construction.

As a type for our own lives and journey to our own Promised Land, we have not lived in mortality before our births. The source to which we should turn in order to successfully return to Heavenly Father is the Lord. He is the Grand Architect and can help us build our lives, if we let him. As for Laman and Lemuel and their crew, they stopped trying to worship Nephi, and turned to the Lord. Again. It won’t be long, however, before they turn away from Him. Again. These guys simply are not converted.

1 Nephi Chapter 18 Overview

The ship is finished—The births of Jacob and Joseph are mentioned—The company embarks for the promised land—The sons of Ishmael and their wives join in revelry and rebellion—Nephi is bound, and the ship is driven back by a terrible tempest—Nephi is freed, and by his prayer the storm ceases—The people arrive in the promised land. About 591–589 B.C.

Lehi’s band of travelers finish the ship, and cross the sea to the Promised Land, but not without some more foolish rebellion from Laman, Lemuel, and the sons of Ishmael. They really are slow learners. I hope to be able to make comparisons between this journey to the Promised Land and our own spiritual journey through life and on to our “Promised Land.”

Research indicates that they may have built this ship and launched from the southern coast of Oman, an area called Dhofar. I could find no information on where they may have landed in the Americas, but most scholars agree they apparently spent most of their lives in Central America.

1 Nephi 17: 55

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.

This verse shows a lack of faith on the parts of Laman and Lemuel. If they had possessed faith, they would have worshipped God as Nephi directed them to do. But rather than worship the source of the power they had just experienced (and acknowledged), they started to worship the conduit through which that power was expressed or channeled. They couldn’t see the source, God, but they could see His servant, Nephi. Fortunately, Nephi tries to set them straight by directing their devotion to the Lord instead of to himself. Nephi also takes this opportunity to remind them that his their younger brother, and he should be the one looking up to them instead of the other way around. He also takes this opportunity to reinforce their need to honor their parents, which is part of worshipping God. If Nephi had a desire to rule over them, as his brothers repeatedly accuse him of desiring, this would have been the time to set himself up. Instead, Nephi redirects their devotion to the Lord and to their parents. Not even a word about obeying him in building the ship. I think Nephi just really wanted his brothers to step up and act their part as leaders in the family. And they won’t do it, at least not in a way that honors and worships God.

1 Nephi 17: 54

54 And it came to pass that I stretched forth my hand unto my brethren, and they did not wither before me; but the Lord did shake them, even according to the word which he had spoken.

I just find this verse interesting. Usually when the Lord wants to show a sign or get someone’s attention he works through a prophet, as He did here, but this instance seems to be different. It seems like the Lord usually does these kinds of things in such a way that there is no question that it’s the Lord’s power showing forth. I just find it interesting that in this instance, by Nephi stretching forth his hand to do the shocking, the brothers could get the impression that the power came from Nephi instead of through Nephi from God. But again, I suppose the big goal here is cooperation, more than conversion, so it fills the Lord’s purpose to use his servants in that way.