In Nephi’s first book, he seems pretty perfect. He consistently obeys, he faces difficult challenges with faith and optimism, he seeks and receives help from God, and he provides correction to other family members as needed, including his own father.
But near the beginning of his second book, we start to see another side of this prophet. After his father’s death, as his conflict with his older brothers grows, he laments his inability to make things better. “Why should my heart weep?” he asks. “Why should I yield to sin?… Why am I angry because of my enemy?” (2 Nephi 4:26-27).
Fortunately, these feelings of remorse and sorrow did not lead to demobilizing despair. He did have to make some painful adjustments, including relocating to a more peaceful environment with those who were willing to join him. Together, they built a new home and established new patterns which enabled them to live “after the manner of happiness” (2 Nephi 5:27).
Here are some highlights from these chapters, with links to relevant blog posts:
Outline
- 2 Nephi 3 – Lehi teaches his son Joseph about two other men named Joseph: one of the sons of Jacob (who lived about a thousand years earlier) and the prophet Joseph Smith (who would live several thousand years later).
- 2 Nephi 4 – Lehi blesses his grandsons and his son Sam; Nephi laments his sins and weaknesses but expresses confidence in God.
- 2 Nephi 5 – Nephi separates himself from his brothers and settles in a new location with those who are willing to follow him.
Key Themes
- We make better decisions with a long-term perspective. Think about your ancestors and descendants as you set goals and choose your activities.
- Repentance includes awareness of our failings and trust that God can help us change. Acknowledge your sins and weaknesses, but don’t try to fix them alone.
- We can achieve happiness and success when we build on a foundation of true principles. Focus on meeting essential needs, managing risks, creating a stable infrastructure, and establishing meaningful roles and responsibilities.
Connections
- Lehi explained that just as God gave Moses a spokesman—his brother Aaron—to help him free Israel, He would also give Joseph Smith a helper—Oliver Cowdery—to help translate the Book of Mormon.
- Nephi’s psalm contains many phrases which also appear in the book of Psalms.
- The children of Israel built the tabernacle, and later the temple, following a pattern given by the Lord. Nephi and his people later built a temple “after the manner of the temple of Solomon” (2 Nephi 5:16).
Applications
- Fulfill your callings in spite of your weaknesses. God will bless you as He blessed Joseph Smith: He will provide fellow-laborers to complement your strengths, and as you work, He will help you grow and improve.
- Overcome negative emotions and choose joy. Happiness doesn’t always come easily, but it should be our goal.
- Work hard, and set high standards of excellence. Productivity is a key to happiness, which is why Nephi encouraged his people to be “industrious.”
Recommended Posts
- Out of the Dust – Our words may sometimes be ignored, but God can raise them from the dust in unexpected ways.
- What Does the Book of Mormon Teach About Racism? – Think about Nephi’s description of his older brothers in the broader context of discussions of race in the Book of Mormon. Learn to love others as God loves them, without labels and without prejudice.
A Fruitful Bough
Lehi’s words to his son Joseph were incredibly far-reaching, stretching generations into the past and future. I think he wanted Joseph to identify with these prophets and to recognize the intergenerational impact his life could have.
The Book of Mormon and the Bible: Growing Together and Establishing Peace
Lehi taught that the Bible and the Book of Mormon would “grow together” and establish peace. By recognizing the unity of God’s word to different people in different cultures, we learn to build strong relationships based on universal principles.
Wretched
Both Nephi and Paul lamented their shortcomings by describing themselves as “wretched.” But both of them recognized that Jesus can heal all the conflicts in our lives, including the rift between our expectations of ourselves and our actual behavior.
Patterns of Repentance in Nephi’s Psalm
Nephi’s psalm divides into 7 sections: 1. Expression of joy 2. Expression of sorrow 3. Expression of gratitude 4. Conflict 5. Rallying cry 6. Prayer 7. Commitment The last three sections are complementary strategies for dealing with the conflict.
Sacred Spaces
After Nephi arrived in the promised land, he and his people built a temple. I imagine him being inspired by King David’s deep desire to build a house of the Lord as expressed in some of his psalms. Sacred spaces can help us grow closer to God.
Living After the Manner of Happiness
Nephi listed a number of his people did which helped them to live “after the manner of happiness” (2 Nephi 5:27). Some of those activities involved family, work, and temple worship. God wants us to participate in activities which will bring us happiness.
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