1 Nephi 17: Nephi is commanded to build a boat, and goes up into the mountains (symbolic temple) where the Lord instructs him in how to accomplish such an overwhelming task. And once again we find that when faced with a challenge Laman and Lemuel and those who have sided with them harden their hearts and start their IF ONLY crying and once again seek to murder Nephi. Nephi rehearses to them the parallel story of Moses and the children of Israel in the wilderness and he chastises them for being “swift to do iniquity and slow to remember the Lord” he accuses them of being murderers in their hearts. Then his indignation decreases and his sorrow and love for them overwhelm him. He is so overcome he can hardly stand. At this point his murderous brothers see that he looks weak and think “we can take him NOW” and rush to grab him. Nephi is filled with the power of the Holy Ghost and he rises up majestically and warns them that if they touch him they will ‘wither” (die) and he speaks to and confounds them. Then being commanded by the Lord to demonstrate The Lord’s power to them he stretches forth his arm at his brothers and gives them a great shock. Nephi’s power is so great that now his brothers seek to worship him, but he instructs them to “worship the Lord thy God and honor thy father and thy mother.” Only after Nephi’s demonstration of the Lord’s power do they cooperate and help to construct the ship.
Another interesting point in this chapter is how the Lord is their only source of light and heat. They were not allowed to make fires during the journey so the Lord was a piller of light at night and since they could not cook the meat that they hunted the Lord made “the meat sweet” so it did not require cooking. The Lord said that He did all that He did, so ALL would know that it was Him who lead them through the wilderness to the promised land. No one who was on this journey in the wilderness could ever be justified in thinking that they were the ones responsible for making the journey just by their own strength, craftiness or wisdom. .
Application: We can compare our journey here on earth to Lehi’s family’s journey in the wilderness. At every trial do we murmur and complain? Do we cower in fear if a life experience is threatening? Do we shrink and never attempt greatness because we fear failure and we “don’t know how to accomplish the task, or feel that we don’t have the skills necessary”? Or worst of all do we deny Christ and our Heavenly Father - refusing to acknowledge in gratitude their help and blessings, in effect “murdering” them by our relegating them out of existence in our lives. Do we give heed to our personal “Liahona” (the scriptures, Ensign, Prophets, Personal Revelation) do we check each day to see what message is written for us there? Do we let the Lord “light our way” or do we determinedly continue to stumble about in the darkness? The symbolism of the Liahona and the parallels between Moses and the children of Israel’s journey into the wilderness and how they apply and also parallel our journey through life should be a matter of continued personal reflection and study
1 Nephi 18: The ship is completed and the journey to the promised land is begun. This chapter shows how quickly a person can turn away from the Lord. The family begins the journey praising God but after just a couple of days, they had a party maybe some drinking was going on but they became more rude perhaps with loud, boisterous or foul language or with suggestive dancing or worse (it doesn’t specify) What ever was going on Nephi feared that they were offending the Lord and feared the Lord’s condemnation. He tries to tell everyone to calm down and remember who they are. Laman and Lemuel flair into a fit of anger at their younger brother, they’re “tired of their younger brother always telling them what to do” so they take him and tie him up, binding him tightly. Over the next three days, no amount of pleading or tears from their parents or Nephi’s wife will entice them to set him free. Lehi and Sariah are so disheartened, sick and brokenhearted they are brought “near unto death’. Only as God brings a great storm which threatens their very lives do Laman and Lemuel relent and free Nephi. Nephi refuses to be angry but rather praises God and continues on the journey.
Application: Do I forgive and forget like Nephi does or do I let my perceived injustices fester and canker? Am I ever watchful of my actions, and strive to stay close to the Lord at all times? It seems that Laman and Lemuel were always found pushing the line between righteousness and apostasy Only great physical events could keep them in the right. (an angel, a powerful shock, a great storm and it’s immediate calming etc.) They seem spiritually hardened, do I keep my spirit humble and my heart soft?
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
One of my FAVORITE scriptures of all time is found in these verses. It is probably the scripture that I repeat most in my mind. "Where do I go to find the tools to build the ship?"
ReplyDeleteIt isn't just how do I built the ship or find the ship already built...but where do I go to find the tools to accomplish what has been asked of me. Amazing!