Nephi testified that when God commands us to do something, he prepares a way for us to fulfill the commandment. (See 1 Nephi 3:7.) As Lehi’s and Ishmael’s family embarked on a journey to their promised land, they must have been flooded with questions, beginning with, “Which way should we go?” I think it’s significant that the Lord told Lehi during the night to strike camp in the morning and begin their journey, and he found the Liahona outside his tent the next morning. The commandment came first, and the means to fulfill it followed after.
“I will prepare the way before you,” the Lord told them. “Wherefore, inasmuch as ye shall keep my commandments ye shall be led towards the promised land; and ye shall know that it is by me that ye are led” (1 Nephi 17:13). The Liahona led them “in the more fertile parts of the wilderness” (1 Nephi 16:16). It guided them to food. (See 1 Nephi 16:30-31.) It helped them navigate on the sea. (See 1 Nephi 18:21-22.) Sometimes, it provided written instructions (See 1 Nephi 16:26-27.) It only worked when they were obedient to God. (See 1 Nephi 16:28, 1 Nephi 18:12.) They knew that God was leading them.
And as Nephi explained to his brothers, the Lord’s preparations even extend across generations. For example, in our day, the Restoration of the Gospel has enabled us to participate in the gathering of Israel.
Here are some highlights from the final chapters of 1 Nephi, with links to blog posts I’ve written about them:
Outline
- 1 Nephi 16 – The family receives the Liahona and begins their journey. Nephi breaks his bow but makes a new one and finds food.
- 1 Nephi 17 – They build a ship, following instructions given by the Lord.
- 1 Nephi 18 – They sail to the promised land.
- 1 Nephi 19 – Nephi teaches his brothers, using the scriptures.
- 1 Nephi 20 (Isaiah 48) – God refines us through our afflictions.
- 1 Nephi 21 (Isaiah 49) – God will not abandon us.
- 1 Nephi 22 – God will overcome the devil and deliver the righteous by His power.
Key Themes
- God provides help as we follow Him. Even if you can’t see where your current steps will lead, trust that God will send help along the way.
- We need quiet places to pray and hear God’s voice. Nephi went often to a mountain to pray. We may find a similar setting in the temple.
- Jesus suffered for us because He loves us. The prints of the nails on His hands and feet are evidence of His love. We can likewise show our love for other people by learning to be “long-suffering.”
- Temporal things can have spiritual value. The seemingly temporary aspects of our lives are interconnected with our eternal journey.
Connections
- Just as Lehi and his family received divine help with navigation, the children of Israel received divinely provided nourishment, which they called manna, during their journey to the promised land.
- A Roman centurion learned to follow Paul’s guidance when their ship was in danger. Laman and Lemuel likewise learned that they needed Nephi’s leadership to arrive safely at their promised land.
- Moses prophesied that a prophet would come, and that we would be accountable for our response to His words. Nephi explained that this prophet is Christ.
Applications
- Be proactive. Take ownership of your responsibilities and assignments.
- Liken the scriptures to your own life. You will derive benefit from them as you apply their principles to your challenges and goals.
- Follow the guidance you receive from God. His commandments will bring us peace and joy, but it is up to us to receive and obey them.
- When you are blessed with advantages, use them to nourish those who lack. We can be like the kings and queens Isaiah saw carrying the children of Israel “in their arms and upon their shoulders” (1 Nephi 21:22-23, Isaiah 49:22-23, 1 Nephi 22:6-8).
Recommended Posts
- What Is the Liahona?
- How Did Nephi Deal with Adversity?
- What Is the Role of Isaiah’s “Servant Songs” in the Book of Mormon?
By Small Means
After describing the operation of the Liahona, Nephi tells us that God can accomplish great things by small means. In the same way, small but consistent interactions with our children can have an extraordinary positive impact in their lives.
My Liahona
Like the pointers on the Liahona, the Holy Ghost can point us in the right direction. Like the writing on those pointers, the Holy Ghost can also provide specific messages. The Holy Ghost will guide us according to our faith, diligence and heed.
Springless Bows and the Blame Game
Nephi’s brothers blamed him for breaking his bow, but their own bows had previously “lost their springs.” Blaming and complaining may have come naturally, but they were not helpful. We need to override those thought patterns and engage in positive action.
“That I May Make Tools”
God prepares a way for us to fulfill His commandments. That way becomes clear as we move forward. Nephi knew that he would have to build a ship. He asked for help with the first step: finding ore to forge the tools
Motivating Laman and Lemuel
Laman and Lemuel experienced a series of escalating wake-up calls before the fear of death finally persuaded them to untie their brother on the ship. We can often save ourselves a lot of grief by responding to early warnings before things get worse.
About Isaiah and Plainness
Nephi was extremely careful about the content he included in his record. A large amount of that content comes from the book of Isaiah. Isaiah’s writings are difficult but with some effort can be extremely rewarding. Here are some ideas to help.
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