A depiction of Nephi’s vision from the Hill Cumorah Pageant
Nephi was inspired by his father’s words. He wanted to “see, and hear, and know” for himself the things which his father had experienced (1 Nephi 10:17).
As he pondered these things, he was “caught away by the Spirit of the Lord,” and saw far more than he could have anticipated, including the life of Jesus Christ, what would happen to his descendants, and the restoration of the gospel in our day.
While Nephi was having this experience, his brothers were “disputing one with another” about their father’s words, which was not helping them resolve their confusion. Fortunately, Nephi was able to share many of the things he had learned and to answer some of their questions.
Here are some highlights from these chapters with links to blog posts I’ve written:
Outline
- 1 Nephi 11 – Nephi sees scenes from the life of Jesus Christ.
- 1 Nephi 12 – Nephi sees the future of his people, including the ministry of Jesus Christ among them.
- 1 Nephi 13 – Nephi sees the colonization of America and learns about the relationship between the Bible and the Book of Mormon.
- 1 Nephi 14 – Nephi sees the power of God protecting His saints from the influence of the devil.
- 1 Nephi 15 – Nephi answers questions from his brothers about their father’s teachings.
Key Themes
- Pondering invites revelation. As we think carefully about specific things with an open mind, God will reveal truth to us.
- Temptation disrupts our thoughts and our feelings. Just as the Holy Ghost speaks to our minds and to our hearts (D&C 8:2), the devil seeks to blind our eyes and harden our hearts.
- It’s important to ask questions. Failing to ask because you don’t think you’ll be answered becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy.
- God watches over His people. As we prepare the world for the Savior’s return, He will be with us, and we will be armed with His power.
Connections
- When Nephi needed to understand God’s love, he saw Mary. Seeing the mother of the Son of God helped him to understand God’s love.
- Nephi saw that the power of God would descend upon the saints of the church. The Savior promised His disciples that they would be “endowed with power from on high.”
- The 95th psalm tells us not to harden our hearts if we want to hear God’s voice (Psalm 95:7-8). Nephi tells his brothers the same thing when he hears them arguing about the meaning of their father’s words
Applications
- Avoid “dwindling in unbelief” by studying the word of God regularly, by rooting out pride when it appears, and by exercising faith in Jesus Christ.
- Hold fast to the word of God, as contained in the scriptures and in the words of modern prophets.
- Lead others in a spirit of respect, humility, and openness.
- Be grateful for the freedoms you enjoy, and pray for the leaders of your country.
Recommended Posts
- Nephi’s Vision
- Learning How to Learn – Nephi’s Vision
- Knowest Thou the Meaning of the Tree? – 1 Nephi 11:20-23
Blog Posts: January 23-28
“Which Sheddeth Itself Abroad”
Nephi and Paul both testified that God’s love is “shed abroad in our hearts.” Like light from the sun, God’s love shines on all of His children. We can open our hearts to receive that love, and we can in turn share that love with others.
“With the Power of God in Great Glory”
Nephi saw that even though church members would be outnumbered in our day, God’s power would descend upon them. President Russell M. Nelson testified that we are the people from Nephi’s vision. God will bless us with His power as we exercise faith in Him.
Innovation vs. “Vain Imaginations”
An angel told Nephi that the great and spacious building represents “vain imaginations.” Innovation and imagination in the service of worthy goals are good. Innovation and imagination as distractions from our core goals are bad.
“These Last Records”
An angel taught Nephi that the Book of Mormon complements the Bible in at least three ways: 1. It affirms the veracity of the Bible. 2. It teaches interrelated principles. 3. It joins the Bible in testifying of Jesus Christ.
The Last Shall Be First
An angel taught Nephi, “The last shall be first.” One meaning of this sentence is that we take turns serving one another. We can’t all be first all the time. Another meaning is that activities which seem small may bring the greatest happiness in the end.
Q&A with Nephi
After experiencing a far-reaching vision, Nephi answered a series of questions from his brothers. In this post, I list those five questions, summarize his answers, and discuss the significance of each answer for us.
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