1 And it came to pass that the Lord commanded me, wherefore I did make plates of ore that I might engraven upon them the record of my people. And upon the plates which I made I did engraven the record of my father, and also our journeyings in the wilderness, and the prophecies of... Continue Reading →
Upon the Other Plates – 1 Nephi 9:2-4
2 And now, as I have spoken concerning these plates, behold they are not the plates upon which I make a full account of the history of my people; for the plates upon which I make a full account of my people I have given the name of Nephi; wherefore, they are called the plates... Continue Reading →
They Shall Not Occupy These Plates – 1 Nephi 6:6
6 Wherefore, I shall give commandment unto my seed, that they shall not occupy these plates with things which are not of worth unto the children of men. (1 Nephi 6:6) As the first author in the Book of Mormon, Nephi set the tone for the authors who followed. His instruction to them was that... Continue Reading →
Nephi Teaches His Brothers – 1 Nephi 7, 15, 17, 20-22
Setting On multiple occasions during their journey to the promised land, Nephi taught his brothers. Purpose Nephi's primary purposes in teaching his brothers were (1) to refute their negative perceptions about their journey, (2) to clarify some of their father's teachings, and (3) to encourage them to turn their hearts to God. Outline I. After recruiting Ishmael... Continue Reading →
A Marvelous Work – 1 Nephi 22:8-9
8 And after our seed is scattered the Lord God will proceed to do a marvelous work among the Gentiles, which shall be of great worth unto our seed; wherefore, it is likened unto their being nourished by the Gentiles and being carried in their arms and upon their shoulders. 9 And it shall also... Continue Reading →
In an Acceptable Time – 1 Nephi 21:8
8 Thus saith the Lord: In an acceptable time have I heard thee, O isles of the sea, and in a day of salvation have I helped thee; and I will preserve thee, and give thee my servant for a covenant of the people, to establish the earth, to cause to inherit the desolate heritages;... Continue Reading →
Peace…as a River, and…Righteousness as the Waves of the Sea – 1 Nephi 20:18
18 O that thou hadst hearkened to my commandments--then had thy peace been as a river, and thy righteousness as the waves of the sea. (1 Nephi 20:18, Isaiah 48:18) The imagery in this passage from Isaiah is compelling to me. I can easily imagine a calm, wide river, flowing powerfully but with no anxiety... Continue Reading →
In the Furnace of Affliction – 1 Nephi 20:10
10 For, behold, I have refined thee, I have chosen thee in the furnace of affliction. (1 Nephi 20:10, Isaiah 48:10) Why do we experience trials? Isaiah gives two reasons in the passage above. Speaking on behalf of the Lord, he tells Israel that they have been refined and chosen in the furnace of their... Continue Reading →
That Ye May Have Hope – 1 Nephi 19:22-24
22 Now it came to pass that I, Nephi, did teach my brethren these things; and it came to pass that I did read many things to them, which were engraven upon the plates of brass, that they might know concerning the doings of the Lord in other lands, among people of old. 23 And... Continue Reading →
How Is It That He Cannot Instruct Me? – 1 Nephi 17:50-51
50 And I said unto them: If God had commanded me to do all things I could do them. If he should command me that I should say unto this water, be thou earth, it should be earth; and if I should say it, it would be done. 51 And now, if the Lord has... Continue Reading →