2 Nephi 4 – Lehi Blesses His Grandchildren and Sam; Nephi’s Psalm

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After blessing and teaching Laman, Lemuel, Jacob, and Joseph, Lehi blesses his grandchildren and his son Sam. After his death, Nephi clashes with his older brothers again, then shares with us his sorrows and his prayers in the form of a psalm.

Chapter Outline

  1. The prophecies of Joseph are on the brass plates (v. 1-2)
  2. Lehi blesses Laman’s and Lemuel’s children and Sam. He dies and is buried (v. 3-12).
  3. Laman and Lemuel become angry with Nephi (v. 13-14)
  4. Nephi’s Psalm (v. 15-35)

My Takeaways

  1. Parents and leaders can help young people envision and work toward a positive future.
  2. Repentance can be hard work. It also requires us to humble ourselves and trust God.
  3. With God’s help, we can guide our thoughts, feelings, and actions in a positive direction and find joy.

Featured Blog Posts

❖ Lehi’s Final Blessings – 2 Nephi 4:3-12

Ye Shall Prosper in the Land – 2 Nephi 4:4

4 For the Lord God hath said that: Inasmuch as ye shall keep my commandments ye shall prosper in the land; and inasmuch as ye will not keep my commandments ye shall be cut off from my presence. (2 Nephi 4:4) One of the most frequently repeated promises in the Book of Mormon is that…

❖ Nephi’s Psalm – 2 Nephi 4:15-35

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.

Nephi’s Psalm – 2 Nephi 4:15-35

Setting After his father died, Nephi’s relationship with his oldest brothers, Laman and Lemuel deteriorated. They had never been very receptive to his admonitions, but now, their anger was increasing (2 Nephi 4:13). Nephi was frustrated, not only with them but also with his own response to them (2 Nephi 4:27, 29). Purpose Nephi’s purpose…

“My Heart Pondereth Continually” – 2 Nephi 4:15-16

When I read the Psalm of Nephi, I generally focus on his main message: He is discouraged by his sins and recognizes that only God can help him overcome them. But today, I’ve been thinking about how he begins the psalm: with pondering. “My soul delighteth in the scriptures,” he says, “and my heart pondereth…

If I Have Seen So Great Things – 2 Nephi 4:26-28

26 O then, if I have seen so great things, if the Lord in his condescension unto the children of men hath visited men in so much mercy, why should my heart weep and my soul linger in the valley of sorrow, and my flesh waste away, and my strength slacken, because of mine afflictions?…

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.

Rejoice, O My Heart – 2 Nephi 4:28-30

28 Awake, my soul! No longer droop in sin. Rejoice, O my heart, and give place no more for the enemy of my soul. 29 Do not anger again because of mine enemies. Do not slacken my strength because of mine afflictions. 30 Rejoice, O my heart, and cry unto the Lord, and say: O…

“I Will Praise Thee” – 2 Nephi 4:30

In the middle of Nephi’s psalm, after lamenting his susceptibility to temptation and after commanding himself to do better, Nephi begins to talk directly to God. To me, this is the turning point in the psalm—the moment when he acknowledges that he can’t do this on his own, that he needs help. Notice how his…

That I May Shake at the Appearance of Sin – 2 Nephi 4:31

31 O Lord, wilt thou redeem my soul? Wilt thou deliver me out of the hands of mine enemies? Wilt thou make me that I may shake at the appearance of sin? (2 Nephi 4:31) Temptation is part of our mortal experience: we all sometimes want to do things that we know we shouldn’t do.…

The Arm of Flesh – 2 Nephi 4:34

Cursed be the man that trusteth in man, and maketh flesh his arm, and whose heart departeth from the Lord…. Blessed is the man that trusteth in the Lord, and whose hope the Lord is (Jeremiah 17:5, 7). As Nephi lamented his own sins and weaknesses, he recognized the need to turn to God and…

Old Testament Foundations

Nephi’s Psalm and the Book of Psalms

There’s a passage in the Book of Mormon that is commonly called Nephi’s Psalm. Immediately after quoting his father’s final words to each of his children and then announcing the death of his father, Nephi becomes introspective. For twenty one verses, he expresses emotions ranging from despair to resolution before imploring God to help him…

Stages of Grief and Faith in the Third Lamentation and Nephi’s Psalm

Lamentations 3 traces the author’s journey through three emotional states, each of which elicits a different kind of exclamation and a different perspective on the author’s relationship with God. Stage 1: Dejection For the first seventeen verses, the author describes God as his or her enemy: The author is in distress and feels that this…

Trust in the Lord

One of the most frequently quoted scriptures in general conference is this one, from the book of Proverbs: Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths. Proverbs 3:5-6 The message is straightforward. It is also rich with implications. Consider some of the conclusions that general conference speakers…

“Doest Thou Well to Be Angry?”

Can our feelings be harmful? Absolutely. Like an undisciplined child, they may need to be trained, guided, and coaxed in the right direction. We need not be slaves to our emotions; we ought to be their master. Jonah was unhappy when God showed mercy to the people of Ninevah. Like the brother of the prodigal…

Compassed

As Jonah lay in the belly of a fish, he prayed to God, acknowledging his own distress but expressing faith that God hadn’t abandoned him: I cried by reason of mine affliction unto the Lord, and he heard me; out of the belly of hell cried I, and thou heardest my voice. For thou hadst cast me into the deep, in the…

We Have Sinned

It’s hard to admit when we’ve done something wrong. It’s so easy to make excuses, to blame other people, or to imagine that our actions have been misinterpreted. It’s so hard to say, “I messed up. I shouldn’t have done that, and I won’t do it again.” That’s why I was impressed when I read…

“O, My Soul”

Based on: Psalm 103:1-5 Core message: We can praise God collectively, but the choice to participate is an individual one which we must each make. Related Book of Mormon passage: 2 Nephi 4:28, 30

The Rock of Our Salvation

Based on: Psalm 89 Core message: When we focus more fully on Jesus Christ, we build on a secure foundation. Related Book of Mormon passages: 2 Nephi 4:30, 2 Nephi 9:45

“Be Not Grieved, Nor Angry with Yourselves”

Joseph’s brothers had plenty of reasons to be unhappy with themselves. They had treated Joseph badly—threatening him with death and selling him into slavery—and had never fully reckoned with the consequences of their actions. The guilt they carried with them colored their reaction to the adversity they were now experiencing in a time of famine.…

New Testament Parallels

Ask Not Amiss

Jesus promised that our prayers will be answered. James added a caution: we need to pray with the right motives. Bishop Keith B. McMullin taught that the Spirit can help us understand what to ask for, so that our prayers can be aligned with God’s will.

All Scripture Is Profitable

Why do you study the scriptures? Paul told Timothy that scriptures are profitable for doctrine, for correction, and to for instruction. We should study with an open mind, eager to learn what God would have us do and what adjustments we need to make.

Sin and Law

Law is good, because it helps us see what we should do. It can also be discouraging, as we recognize how far we fall short. But if that recognition leads us to reach out to the Savior and receive His mercy, then our awareness of the law has been fruitful.

Church History Connections

Feeling Condemned

Joseph Smith prayed because he felt inadequate to his divine calling. Nephi offered a similar prayer, detecting a contrast between his behavior and the miracles he had seen. Feelings of inadequacy can be helpful if they turn us toward the Source of grace.

“The Robe of Righteousness: The Savior’s Gifts in Isaiah 61”

Isaiah 61 describes the Messiah’s mission to heal, liberate, and uplift. He replaces mourning with joy and “the spirit of heaviness” with “the garment of praise.” Nephi referenced this chapter when he prayed, “Wilt thou encircle me around in the robe of thy righteousness!” The Savior can replace our sadness with a robe of righteousness.

Fearing Man vs. Relying on God

The Lord corrected David Whitmer for fearing man and prioritizing earthly over heavenly concerns. He offered David a path forward: solitude, simplicity, and service. These principles can guide us in realigning our focus from the world to God, reminding us to trust in divine strength rather than be unduly influenced by others.

All Posts Referencing 2 Nephi 4

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