1 Nephi 17: 4

4 And we did sojourn for the space of many years, yea, *even eight years in the wilderness. (*592 B.C.)

Eight years in the wilderness, living off the land and faith seems like an awful long time, especially considering it was just temporary. One obvious reason for them being out there so long is that periods of rebellion could have slowed things down because the Liahona only worked according to faith, diligence, and obedience (see 1 Nephi 16:28). This is why the children of Israel wandered in the wilderness for 40 years before being allowed to enter their promised land (see Numbers 14:26–35; Deuteronomy 8:2). It could have just been tough and slow, but eight years really seems an awful long time to travel straight through about 1500–2000 miles. We know they stopped and camped for periods of time, such as in the Valley of Lemuel. Whatever the reason, by the end, they were tough and prepared to settle a new land. In fact, after all they had been through and done without, they may have thought the Americas were easy by comparison. There they would have food in abundance, they would have wood for burning and building, there would be rain, and resources in general were more abundant. I think the Lord was preparing them in many ways, but not least of those was just learning how to survive off the land, and to establish a social order.

1 Nephi 17: 3

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 strengthen 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 is one of those verses that helps us draw conclusions. This happens throughout the Book of Mormon. The author (or editor—Mormon) records an experience, then says in effect, “This is what you should have learned from that.” In this case, Nephi is referring to the previous two verses about how even though there was a lot of hardship, they were able to handle it through the strength of the Lord. And those verses, especially in context of this verse and verse four, are a kind of brief summary of the whole journey. So the thing we are to learn is that the Lord takes care of you while on His errand. He won’t take away the problems, because that is how we learn and grow, but he will strengthen us to bear those trials. This happens again later on with Alma and his followers. They are being persecuted by Amulon, and the Lord strengthens them to bear it (Mosiah 24:14–15).

The Lord’s purposes will be accomplished (D&C 10:43), and one of our decisions in life is whether we will help or hinder that happening. Those who help, like Nephi, are rewarded with support and the means to accomplish the task. This is one of the blessings of being on the Lord’s side.

• 1 Nephi 3:7
• Mosiah 2:41
• Mosiah 24:14–15
• D&C 10:43
• D&C 98:3

1 Nephi 17: 2

2 And so great were the blessings of the Lord upon us, that while we did live upon raw meat in the wilderness, our women did give plenty of suck for their children, and were strong, yea, even like unto the men; and they began to bear their journeyings without murmurings.

First of all, it should be noted that the Lord has always strictly forbidden eating blood (see T.G., Blood, Eating of). So I am sure that Lehi’s company, while eating raw meat, would have drained the blood first, as required by the Mosaic Law. Even still, eating raw meat was not the norm for that culture, which is partially why Nephi is careful to mention the fact. I don’t think they would have done it if it were not a commandment from the Lord. It went against everything they understood about nutrition, not to mention their traditions, and especially concerning nursing mothers.

As to the reason they were not cooking their meat, over in verse 12 of this chapter, Nephi tells us that the Lord did not want them to have much fire in this journey. At least part of the reason for that could have been for safety. I’m sure there were roving outlaw bands even at that time, and it probably just made sense to not draw attention to themselves. Another reason could have to do with scarcity of fuel in the parts of the wilderness the Lord took them. Or it may have simply been an expression of faith. Whatever the reason, it didn’t seem to hurt their health at all. In fact, the women, even while producing plenty of milk for their children, became strong like the men. Remember that Lehi and Ishmael were probably wealthy, with servants to do much of the regular chores. The women in that situation may not have had to do too much. This may be the first time that strenuous physical exertion had been required of them.

• 1 Nephi 17:12
• 1 Nephi 17:20 (for contrast)

1 Nephi 17:1

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.

Nephi has two running threads of narration: one that describes the chronology of the trip, and one that describes the conditions of the trip. At least that’s how I see this verse. The first sentence tells what they did after they left Nahom. The second sentence describes the circumstances of the journey, which could apply to the whole journey, not just the next segment. The hardships the company waded through obviously had more to do with weather and terrain than with the rigorous speed of travel. If the pace they kept were very fast, it would not have taken them eight years to go from Jerusalem to Bountiful. The fact that their women bore children during the trip says that they stopped occasionally at least. Maybe they stopped in one place long enough to plant and harvest crops. Of course there is no written indication of this, but when they left the Valley of Lemuel they took “seed of every kind that [they] might carry into the wilderness” (1 NE 16:11). Was that only for the Promised Land, or did they plant some of those seeds along the way to supplement their diet of meat? On the other hand, the next verse makes it sound as if they only ate meat, raw meat at that, so the seeds could have been strictly for the Promised Land.

1 Nephi Chapter 17 Overview

Nephi is commanded to build a ship—His brethren oppose him—He exhorts them by recounting the history of God’s dealings with Israel—Nephi is filled with the power of God—His brethren are forbidden to touch him, lest they wither as a dried reed. About 592–591 B.C.

This chapter contains yet another example of the difference between Nephi and his brethren. He is obedient to the Lord, his brethren are obedient to him (Nephi), but only after some “divine persuasion.” I believe we also see a subtle change in the family dynamics. I don’t know if Lehi is at all diminished in his health or status as prophet, but it’s interesting to note that when it comes time to build the boat, the Lord comes directly to Nephi. Up through the last chapter it was always Lehi who received revelation for the family. The story of the broken bow is a good example of that. After Nephi fashioned the new bow, he went to his father for direction, even though Lehi had been one of the murmurers. In this chapter, the Lord reveals His will concerning the boat directly to Nephi. It seems the mantle has been passed on from Lehi to Nephi, even though there is no real mention of that happening. In the next chapter the revelation of when to leave comes to Lehi, but still, I think this chapter marks a subtle change in the order of things.

1 Nephi 16: 39

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.

As a result of Laman once again threatening to be the death of Lehi and Nephi, and doom this mission to failure, the Lord intervenes, this time not with an angel, but with his own voice. He personally chastened those trying to do harm to the prophets, His servants. I take away a few lessons from this.

First, the Lord supports his servants, as opposed to Satan, who does not (see Alma 30:60). He may not always save their mortal lives, but he at least strengthens them in difficult times. A second lesson is that the Lord keeps trying to gather His children, even when they don’t want to be gathered (see Matthew 23:37). When He stops trying, that’s when you know you are in real trouble. But in the case of Laman and Lemuel, how many times did the Lord intervene with a divine show of authority, all to no avail in the end? Which leads me to a third lesson: miracles don’t make converts. Miracles strengthen testimonies; they sometimes get a person’s attention, and as in this case, a miracle may even bring a person to repentance. But conversion must come from within. Occasionally a person will be brought to his senses, and the repentance will really make a difference, as in the cases of Paul, Alma, and the sons of Mosiah, but all too often the change is temporary, as with Laman and Lemuel. They saw an angel, heard the voice of the Lord, witnessed many miracles, and still turned away in the end.

Once again, pride seems to be the key. The Lehites had some serious motivation for staying humble and repentant: food. That Liahona only worked according to their righteousness, and in the wilderness they depended on revelation from the Lord for survival. How different is that from our situation today? Don’t we rely on revelation for our spiritual survival in our journey through this earth life (our wilderness) in search of our Promised Land (exaltation)?

Alma 30: 60 (58–60)

1 Nephi 16: 38

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 irony here is that Laman, in accusing Nephi of lying about angels ministering to him, is himself lying. I can cut him some slack in not being present when the Lord talked to Nephi; he had to take that on faith. But Laman was eyewitness to at least one instance of when an angel ministered to Nephi. In that case, the angel stopped Laman from beating his brothers, Sam and Nephi (1 Nephi 3:30–31). So in at least that instance, Laman is lying for the purpose of turning everyone against his brother. The other thing here is that Laman is attributing all the miracles they have witnessed to Nephi instead of God. That means that everything from breaking the bands that bound him (1 Nephi 7:18) to seeing messages on the Liahona (vs. 27), which were all witnessed by the whole company, were worked by Nephi’s “cunning arts.” In other words, magic. And the whole purpose of using that “magic” was to make himself a king or ruler over everyone, an idea that was given to Laman by an angel. This is Laman’s pride, plain and simple. He is the one who wants to be a king and ruler over everyone. This is just another power play to do exactly what he is accusing Nephi of doing.