Near the end of his life, the prophet Lehi met with his children and grandchildren to give his final words of counsel. Here are my summaries of three of those interviews:
- Lehi Teaches Laman and Lemuel – 2 Nephi 1
- Lehi Teaches Jacob – 2 Nephi 2
- Lehi Teaches Joseph – 2 Nephi 3
After Lehi’s death, the contention in the family increased. Nephi wrote about his anguish during this time and his struggle to overcome his feelings of anger. Here is my summary of this passage:
Shortly after, the family split. Nephi and those who followed him traveled for many days, established a new city, and lived “after the manner of happiness.” Here are some of the keys to their success:
- I…Did Cause My People to Be Industrious – 2 Nephi 5:15-17
- They Should Have No King – 1 Nephi 5:18
- Priests and Teachers – 2 Nephi 5:26, Jacob 1:18
Key Questions
- How can I teach the gospel more effectively in my home?
- What is the purpose of suffering?
- What is the relationship between obedience and agency?
- What does the Book of Mormon teach about happiness?
- Which fruit in the Garden of Eden was bitter, and which was sweet?
- How did Lehi help Joseph see himself as a link in an intergenerational chain?
- How can the Savior bring me “out of darkness unto light?”
- What can we learn about repentance from Nephi’s psalm?
- What does the Book of Mormon teach about racism?
- What does the Book of Mormon teach about provident living?
Blog Posts: February 4-9
How Can I Make Wiser Choices?
As I’ve pondered 2 Nephi 2 today, I’ve had the following insights about how to make good decisions: Start by reframing your circumstances as opportunities instead of obstacles. Lehi told Jacob that God would consecrate his afflictions for his gain (2 Nephi 2:2) and that the Fall of Adam and Eve made happiness possible (2…
What Did Lehi Teach About Joseph Smith?
When Lehi met with his family shortly before his death, he spoke to his son Joseph about two other people who shared his name, one of whom lived many years earlier and one of whom would live many years later. The first of these was Joseph the son of Jacob, who was sold into slavery…
The Arm of Flesh – 2 Nephi 4:34
Cursed be the man that trusteth in man, and maketh flesh his arm, and whose heart departeth from the Lord…. Blessed is the man that trusteth in the Lord, and whose hope the Lord is (Jeremiah 17:5, 7). As Nephi lamented his own sins and weaknesses, he recognized the need to turn to God and…
Building a City (or a Company or a Family) – 2 Nephi 5
Today, I’ve been pondering what we can learn from Nephi and his people when they left a contentious situation, traveled in the wilderness, and established a new city. All of us have opportunities in our lives to start something new, such as a new organization, a new project, or a new family. What did Nephi and…
“My Heart Pondereth Continually” – 2 Nephi 4:15-16
When I read the Psalm of Nephi, I generally focus on his main message: He is discouraged by his sins and recognizes that only God can help him overcome them. But today, I’ve been thinking about how he begins the psalm: with pondering. “My soul delighteth in the scriptures,” he says, “and my heart pondereth…
Why Did Adam and Eve Have to Break a Commandment of God? – 2 Nephi 2:15-25
Lehi taught his son Jacob that the Fall of Adam and Eve was a necessary step for their happiness and for ours. He explained what would have happened if they had not eaten the forbidden fruit: Everything would have been stagnant, unchanging. Adam and Eve would not have had children. They would not have experienced joy…
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