“wherefore”
-this
word again connects two seemingly unrelated clauses/thoughts together to say
something important (usually indicates a cause-effect relationship): Lehi was obviously affected (worried,
confused, wanting directions, etc.) by the prophets preaching and he acted on
it à he went and prayed.
"...prayed
unto the Lord with all his heart, in behalf of his people."
-in light of what we know about the story, we should recognize that even Lehi’s sincere prayer was not realized. Maybe we should think twice about complaining to God when ours are not answered. Lehi’s desires (a prophet’s) were not realized.
-one
purpose of prophets is to turn us to the Lord.
Lehi is a model for us. He was
living his life, presumably a good and decent life, and then the prophets showed
up with a message that all is not well.
Instead of getting defensive or angry Lehi turned to God. Prophets facilitate our relationship with
God, like shepards they lead us (sometimes push us) to enter the fold and find
the safety there.
“in behalf of
his people”
-Lehi
seemed motivated by a concern for his neigbors and countrymen. He did not want the desperate conditions
foretold by the prophets to come upon them.
Interestingly, those who do not listen to the prophets do not care about
their own salvation but more telling, they do not care about the condition
(salvation, wellbeing, protection) of others.
They are, in this sense, very self-centered.
-in this
brief statement there is compelling evidence that Lehi is a very compassionate
man who was moved to pray for all his brethren.
It (the sincerity of Lehi) obviously impressed Nephi, who was quite
young at this point, so much so that he remembered this when making the account
many years later.
-how
fervently ought we to be praying for our disobedient brothers and sisters,
especially in the deteriorating society we are in? How often have our prayers been filled with
sincere pleadings for them?
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