tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2846085216258230399.post3331902470936832733..comments2023-07-03T09:35:38.476-06:00Comments on The Book of Mormon Today: 1 Nephi - Chapter 16Myke Weberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13515375816353987662noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2846085216258230399.post-74939366286367724002009-11-02T06:15:13.235-07:002009-11-02T06:15:13.235-07:0039 And it came to pass that the Lord was with us, ...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.<br /><br />I thought about the extraordinary power of Satan. He was able to convince most of this people to distrust His leaders and His words, and even their own memories and experiences of Him. Then God actually speaks to them and turns them around. This work was not to be thwarted by Satan. I liken this to my life. When I get discouraged, jaded, and rebellious, I am reminded by the spirit that my work is vital and important. I cannot know the purposes, but I can feel them in my heart as prompted by the spiritdihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00020876556516072640noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2846085216258230399.post-58166101282721738682009-11-01T22:39:26.409-07:002009-11-01T22:39:26.409-07:00There is so much in this chapter. First we have N...There is so much in this chapter. First we have Nephi’s continuing admonition to Laman and Lemuel, which, in verse 2, gives us one of the great truths in the record: “the guilty taketh the truth to be hard, for it cutteth them to the very center.” Unfortunately, we see this all around us today!<br /><br />Also mentioned in this chapter are the marriages of the sons of Lehi and of Zoram to the daughters of Ishmael. When we think what even one marriage entails during our time, and probably entailed during that time period, we can appreciate what a busy season this was for the two extended families. (Merely weaving and sewing together tents for the new couples would have taken months, and I do believe they would have tried to have some kind of a marriage feast for each of the five couples!)<br /> <br />I think it is most revealing that only after the marriages are completed does Nephi record the following in verse 8: <br />“…and thus my father had fulfilled all the commandments of the Lord which had been given unto him.” Perhaps we can understand from that just how important to Lehi and to the Lord these unions were, and, by extension, how important the marriages of our children should be to us. <br /> It is also only after these marriages are completed that Lehi is told to take up his tents and continue on his journey to the Promised Land. The priceless gift of the Liahona gives the family greater confidence as they proceed on their journey and also allows them to quickly determine when they have gone astray. <br /><br />The next great trial they face comes when Nephi breaks his bow. I found it interesting here that only Nephi is blamed for their misfortune, even though the brother’s bows have “lost their spring, ” which, to me, indicates possible carelessness on their part.<br /><br />(Unfortunately, Laman and Lemuel and company so seem to have a chronic case of “beam in the eye” syndrome!)<br /> <br />It is startling to see that, during this time of hunger and distress for the family, even Lehi begins to murmur. After witnessing the heretofore faithful Lehi succumb to such behavior, Nephi’s eventual request that his father tell him where to go to find meat for the family tells us much about Nephi’s feelings of charity and respect for his Father. (What an example that is for all of us.)<br /><br />The Lord then speaks to Lehi, chastens him, and directs him to the message on the Liahona. (I believe it is at this time that the Lehi and his family truly begin to comprehend the value and power of the Liahona.) It is also at this time that Nephi writes another timeless message in his record: “And thus we see that by small means the Lord can bring about great things.”<br /><br />Still more trials, however, are to beset the family as Ishmael dies and is buried at Nahom. The mention of Nahom gives an internal witness of the truthfulness of The Book of Mormon since there is an actual place on the Saudi Arabian Peninsula called Nahom – which means a place of mourning – which is certainly what the families do while they are in this area. (Nahom was a known place, as well as a defined place of mourning, at the time of Lehi and still exists as a place name today, but was not a place that would have been known to Joseph Smith, Jr. during his translation of the Book of Mormon.)<br /> <br />Unfortunately, the other thing that occurs at Nahom is a very serious rebellion on the part of the daughters of Ishmael once they bury their father. Laman and Lemuel soon add to that and threaten to slay both Lehi and Nephi. Only the voice of the Lord – once again – is able to restore order and calm. Repentance restores their ability to obtain food, and they do not perish.<br /> <br />Fortunately, for these brothers and their families, at least at this point in time they are able to repent of their sins and go forward as an extended family once more. Once they reach the Promised Land and Lehi dies, that capacity will greatly diminish.D1Warblerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08510791618054567601noreply@blogger.com