Nephi's vision is unlike any other that I am aware of. It consists of a guided tour through a sweeping series of future events. Nephi is accompanied throughout the vision, first by the Spirit of the Lord, and then by an angel. These guides not only explain what he is seeing; they also teach him... Continue Reading →
1 Nephi 11-15: “Armed with Righteousness and with the Power of God” (January 20-26)
After hearing his father's dream and his father's prophecies, Nephi wanted to see the things his father had seen. As a result, he experienced an expansive, interactive vision, which enabled him to explain his father's words to his brothers. Nephi's Vision: The Life of Jesus Christ (1 Nephi 11) How does the birth of Jesus... Continue Reading →
What Are the Mysteries of God?
A knowledge of the mysteries of God was important to Nephi. He knew that he was "highly favored of the Lord" because he "had a great knowledge of the goodness and the mysteries of God" (1 Nephi 1:1). His first recorded spiritual experience came because he had "great desires to know of the mysteries of... Continue Reading →
Seeking the Lord Diligently – 1 Nephi 10:17-19
Moses prophesied that his people would eventually forget the Lord and would be scattered among all nations. But he made a promise about what would happen next: If from thence thou shalt seek the Lord thy God, thou shalt find him, if thou seek him with all thy heart and with all thy soul (Deuteronomy 4:29,... Continue Reading →
Lehi’s Prophecies – 1 Nephi 10:2-14
After describing a spiritual dream to his family and urging two of his sons to repent, Lehi went on to prophesy about a number of future events. Because he had recently obtained the brass plates, which contained the words of many prophets, it's likely that his awareness of these events was enhanced by his study... Continue Reading →
Uncertainty and Certainty in the Writings of Nephi
Nephi opens his writings with a statement of conviction: And I know that the record which I make is true; and I make it with mine own hand; and I make it according to my knowledge (1 Nephi 1:3). He is unafraid to declare what he knows. For example, here is his reason for accepting... Continue Reading →
Overcoming Dreariness
Lehi's dream opens with a depressing scene: a "dark and dreary wilderness" (1 Nephi 8:4). A heavenly messenger beckons him forward, and then for several hours he walks through "a dark and dreary waste" (1 Nephi 8:7-8). The concept of a "dreary" wilderness must have resonated with some members of Lehi's family, who had unfavorably... Continue Reading →
Lehi’s Dream
Not long after Lehi and his family left Jerusalem, he related to them a spiritual dream he had experienced. The central focus of the dream was "a tree, whose fruit was desirable to make one happy" (1 Nephi 8:10). This tree represents the love of God (1 Nephi 11:21-22), and every character in the dream... Continue Reading →
1 Nephi 8-10: “Come and Partake of the Fruit” (Jan 13-19)
This week, we're studying what Lehi taught his family after obtaining the brass plates and being joined by the family of Ishmael. Key Events Lehi's dream (1 Nephi 8) Nephi explains the purposes of his two sets of plates (1 Nephi 9) Lehi teaches his family about the Savior and about the scattering and gathering... Continue Reading →
Lehi and Sariah’s Family
The Book of Mormon begins with a family. Not a blissful, idyllic family, but a troubled one. A family with sibling rivalry, parent-child discord, and even marital conflict. In other words, a real family. With God's help, this family achieved miraculous things: they escaped certain destruction in Jerusalem, traveled through the wilderness and across the... Continue Reading →