1 Nephi 3:19

19  And behold, it is wisdom in God that we should obtain these ^arecords, that we may preserve unto our children the language of our fathers;

     “it is wisdom in God that we should obtain these records…”

            -There was a reason for doing what they were doing.  There always is at least one reason behind the things the Lord commands us.  Understanding that reason(s) further empowers us and drives us to be more faithful.  Besides knowing that they were engaged in a commandment of the Lord, which Laman and Lemuel did not know –their first error-, Nephi also by this point had discovered the reasons behind the command  (a position that Laman and Lemuel never could have come to because they were stuck back on problem #1).

      “that"

            -here we are explicitly told the reason and importance of their obtaining the plates of scripture:

            1.  “preserve unto the children the language of fathers”

                        -this could very easily mean much more than knowledge about the ability to speak or write the language –such ability would be passed down (although with changes and modifications) simply as a function of growing up, like walking.  What then could it mean?

               a.  “language” has a couple of meanings:   one would be what I have described above (a mechanism of social communication).  A second would be a more inclusive term for culture or learning or experience.  This would include covenants and laws, communication methods and a history of God’s interaction of the same with man.  In light of this definition, having a record that stands as a bona fide original record of the reality of such things would be vitally important.

               b.  the phraseology has a distinct familiarity with another meaningful verse of scripture:  “turn the hearts of the children to the fathers and the hearts of the fathers to the children.”  Perhaps this situation was as important to those of former dispensations as it is to us today.

               c. ? (more…

            2.  “preserve the words… of all the prophets… since the world began” (from verse 20)

                        -there must be something important in reading the words of the prophets… How much value do we put on the scriptures?  The Lord felt them valuable enough to put the lives of four of his children (including one of the greatest prophets to walk on earth, who incidentally has a most important role to fulfill in his future years) in jeopardy.

-CR:  Omni 1:18

     “unto our children”

            -at this point Nephi nor Laman or Lemuel had children.  In fact, they were not even married.  Nephi’s vision and understanding of the purpose behind this errand extended well into the future. In a sense, he, was ‘seeing’ as God sees:  where the present and future is an eternal “now”.  When we see things as they are to come, we are overcoming the limitation of time, a component that is so central and fundamental to the mortal experience.

1 Nephi 3:18

18  For behold, they have ^arejected the words of the prophets.  Wherefore, if my father should dwell in the land after he hath been ^bcommanded to flee out of the land, behold, he would also perish.  Wherefore, it must needs be that he flee out of the land.

            -interestingly, Jerusalem was still standing during this trip back.  Laman and Lemuel could see no sign of this supposed imminent demise.  To them it was still all speculation, and weak speculation at that.  They were the vagabonds while Laban, as an example, was living a life of comfort and ease.

    “they have rejected the words of the prophets”

            -rejecting the words of the prophets is a hallmark of a rebellious people on the verge of destruction. It is not that God gears up for vengeance against such a people but rather they have disqualified themselves from God’s protective care and placed themselves on the same level as other forces that surround them.  God withdraws and the wicked consume the wicked.  Once privledged to enjoy the prosperity and blessings of God, they now survive according to the strength of the creature in a world where the strongest survive.

    “if my father should dwell.. after he hath been commanded to flee… he would also perish”

            -the disciples of Christ and followers of God should always remember that there is nothing inherently special that priveledges them above Gods other children.  Lehi was no more chosen than any other man in Jerusalem EXCEPT through the level of his obedience to God.  Hewould also have perished if he had not obeyed God’s commands.  God honors those who honor Him.  The wicked are as privy to God’s discriminating treatment as anyone, the qualification is obedience.

     “Wherefore it must needs be that he flee out of the land.”

            -if we really think about consequences we would see that there is really no other option than to obey God.  “Itmust needs be” is a statement of one who sees the reality of the situation and recognizes that the way to life, happiness and long-term (i.e. eternal) blessings is to obey God.  The difficulties associated with obedience are really inconsequential:  there is really no other acceptable alternative than to do as God requires.  But this is a view where humility is a fundamental quality.

    “he flee out of the land.”

            -when the people of God come too a point of confrontation with those who oppose them, the pattern of the Lord has almost always been to concede the geography and maintain their integrity to spiritual principles and values.  God instructs is disciples to flee.  He then takes them to a comparatively poorer location (at least it is usualy undeveloped/uncultivated) where they create a little bit of heaven.  The work and sacrifice required in building up such places has a unifying and ennobling effect of its own.  In our democratic and capitalist orientation we view land as a sacred commodity.  We have made it a practice –over and over again- to die over certain parcels of land.  God does not view land in quite the same way.  He is cultivating his people, not the land.  All the earth is His and he is quite as happy to remove His people from a place they consider choice and move the to another location.  Consider the place Lehi fled as instructed by the Lord:  Jerusalem was the city of Peace, the sacred city, the center of Israel and yet Lehi is commanded to leave it.  How does that make sense?  The wicked are the ones who should be expelled…  And in another decade they would be.

1 Nephi 3:17

17  For he knew that Jerusalem must be ^adestroyed, because of the wickedness of the people.

            -Lehi abandoned his wordly wealth.  It was  part of the Jerusalem reality, a component and possibly a symbol of the wickedness of the people.  Lehi left all of it behind, he was able to disengage from an element of mortality that has such tremendous sway on our hearts:  money.  Are we equally willing to walk away from a value system that is so entrenched in us that it motivates so much of what we do (it significantly influences what we buy, what we wear, how we look at others, where we live, what we choose for a profession, what we spend so much time doing.  Money drives us like few other things.  Lehi tossed all the baggage associated with wealth (money) aside and freed himself.  Leaving his wealth at Jerusalem was a symbol of his new life free of the wicked influences of the world he knew.

     “he knew”

            -this definite knowledge was beyond the ability of man to see with or by his own power.  This is the privilege the Lord gives to his obedient followers.

    “must be”

            -wickedness is unsustainable.  It is as if Jerusalem had passed a point of no return.  Destruction was not simply a high probability event, it was a forgone conclusion.  Just as certainly as spring follows winter, Jerusalem, in its state of wickedness, would be destroyed.

1 Nephi 3:16

16  Wherefore, let us be faithful in keeping the commandments of the Lord; therefore let us go down to the land of our father's ^ainheritance, for behold he left gold and silver, and all manner of riches.  And all this he hath done because of the ^bcommandments of the Lord.

            -in formulating Plan B, Nephi is looking to find the mind and will of God.  He sees the Lord’s hand in the fact that Lehi was instructed to leave his gold and silver behind and simply take his family into the wilderness.  Nephi recognizes this as a possible opportunity to help them obtain the brass plates from a greedy and materialistic Laban.  This exercise of seeking to obtain the mind of God is part of the “homework” we are expected to do.  Both Oliver Cowdery and the brother of Jared were instructed to search things out, to use the power of their minds and seek solutions to their problems.  Nephi did exactly this in the formulation of Plan B… a plan which would fail miserably.  There was a greater lesson Nephi needed to learn than could be had if they obtained the plates through the employ of this strategy.

     “let us be faithful”

            -the invitation is extended to his brothers.  He lifts them up and elevates them to a higher level of obedience.

            -the problem is Laman and Lemuel had very little experience doing this and now, at a moment of great need, they were required to flex their spiritual muscles and dig in… It is an impossibility.  Just like physical muscles, spiritual strength is not developed in a moment.  It comes from sustained practice.  This is the essence of the oil in the bridesmaids lamps that was accumulated drop by drop over a time of consistent discipline.

            -if we could see into Laman and Lemeul’s heart we would hear them respond to Nephi’s rallying petition, “let us be faithful” with a reply, “I can’t, I do not possess the faith to be faithful.”  It is like asking a man to load up a heavy burden on a horse and transport it to some city fifty miles distant… but the man has no horse.  He cannot use a resource he does not have.

            -this is a great example of how faith is not just some ephemeral construct but it is a principle of action with very measurable, very real consequence.  Faith is a spiritual characteristic that leads to physical action.  Faith resides within the individual but has external manifestation (has effect outside the person).

        "let us be faithful in ....  And all this he hath done because of the ..."

            Nephi directly draws on his father's example for strength and direction as to how to proceed.

        “in keeping the commandments of the Lord.”

            -I have to wonder, because of these words and what was said in verse 5 (“… which I have required of them; but I have not required it of them, but it is a commandment of the Lord.”) if much of Laman and Lemuel’s resistance comes because they still do not recognize this as a command originating from God.  They have not put in the effort to find out if it has, in fact, come from God.  This is a situation which will resolve itself with a visit from one of God’s messengers.  Wether they want to know or not, Laman and Lemuel will come to find out that this quest is God’s design.  It then becomes a question of falling in with the Lord’s designs or not.

     “let us go down to the land of our fathers…”

            -where did Nephi come up with this plan?  What was his thought process:  was this a stroke of heavenly inspiration?  If it was, he is now able to lay claim on “doing it the Lord’s way” and therefore should expect success  -thus becoming all the more baffling, frustrating and trying in wake of the eventual failure of this course of action.

     “all this he hath done because of the commandments of the Lord.”

            -Nephi appeals to his brothers on the example set for them of obedience by their father.  From this we can suppose a source of Nephi’s incredible character:  his incredible father!  The power of example in the development of a righteous life is beyond measure.

            -the words “all this” reference the monumental sacrifice of Lehi in leaving his much gold, silver and other luxury and comforts of life in exchange for following the Lord.

            -Lehi could have drug all his riches with him, but what good would it have done him to withdraw all his money and carry his wallet full of currency into the wilderness?  A world without money would be a beautiful thing, how enabling and freeing it would be.  There would be no poor, no class divisions and none of the related strife.  God’s world is one without a human made relative currency.  There was no need for Lehi to take his silver and gold, it would have as much value as the sand or the bark of a tree.  The new world, the promised land was a place of infinite promise but had nothing to do with monetary measurements.

1 Nephi 3:15

PLAN 2

15  But behold I said unto them that: ^aAs the Lord liveth, and as we live, we will not go down unto our father in the wilderness until we have ^baccomplished the thing which the Lord hath commanded us.

            -Here Nephi makes an oath that the only way he will return to his father without the plates is in a coffin and this because God is no more.  He has so much confidence in what he said in verse 7 that he knows that if God is alive they will succeed.  And he will pursue the commandment which he has received until it is fulfilled or until he is killed in the process.  In other words, he would dedicate his whole life to the accomplishment of this thing and will only be withheld when or if his state of being (i.e. living or dead) prohibited its fulfillment.

-Determination and faith in the Lord's word:  Nephi would rather die than fail  -just like Abinadi.  This solid determination and commitment is a common thread in the character of Book of Mormon prophets (or prophets of any time):  Abinadi, Samuel the Lamanite, Alma, Mormon, etc.

            -Either the Lord is dead and not there and we will die doing this thing (which we know is wrong:  He does live) or we will do this, overcoming whatever obstacles may be in the way, because the Lord has called us to do it and He does not fail (D&C 1:38).

     “we will not… until we have accomplished…”

            -there is absolutely no deviation, give or compromise in Nephi’s words or character.

     “the thing which the Lord hath commanded us.”

            -here is the moment when the difference between Nephi’s reason and Laman/Lemuel’s reason for obedience to their father’s request makes ALL the difference.  All the sons complied with the assignment and traveled back to Jerusalem but the unseen commitment which sprang from their spiritual condition comes to be relevant.  To Laman and Lemuel the request only came from their dad while to Nephi the request came from the Lord.  This difference makes ALL the difference and it is something that cannot be fabricated or conjured in the moment.  This difference is played out in the lives of young full time missionaries every day.  The elder who goes on a mission to appease mother or father or because it is a Mormon cultural expectation is going to find himself like Laman and Lemuel.  A young elder who has a personal relationship with the Savior and has come to know that God is real and involved in the affairs of men will be unstoppable in the many trials he will encounter.

1 Nephi 3:14

14  But Laman fled out of his presence, and told the things which Laban had done, unto us.  And we began to be exceedingly sorrowful, and my brethren were about to return unto my father in the wilderness.

     “Laman fled…and told the things…unto us.”

            -well, here is the point of proving… what does Laman do now?  How does he react to defeat/setback in the face of a commandment (to succeed)?  Here is the great opportunity to develop spiritual character as well as trust in and from God.  It is easy to be an “archair disciple” and recognize this turning point for what it is.  But our situations are not so different.  How do we react when our righteous efforts are frustrated by men or circumstance?  Do we perservere through the “trial of faith” or do we surrender falling back to a self-excusing defense that at least we willingly engaged on the Lord’s errand…. Something must have come up, some plan must have changed, however, or else the Lord would have prospered our efforts.  We excuse ourselves from the task and put the responsitility on God for surely if he really wanted it done he would have made the way clear.

        “we began to be exceedingly sorrowful”

            -strange way to put it, I would have been confused and frustrated.  The Lord said to get the plates and we honestly tried. We traveled back many days journey and endured some difficulties and our efforts were not prospered when we know that if we follow and obey they should be… why?  What is going on?  What to do next?

            -what were they sorrowful about?  About the danger they were in… about failing to get the plates and possible failure of their objective? 

        “and my brethren were about to return unto my father in the wilderness"

            -how about us?  Are we as quick to claim our effort to do but when it doesn't succeed we head home and say "well we tried."

            -sometimes attempting to fulfill the commands of God once is not enough.  In the process God will stretch our soul and test our commitment/faith.

            -the brothers were about to go back in defeat, in failure.  How could they have faced their father?  This is an excellent example of the necessity of going the extra mile, of finishing the job we have been called to do.

            -this shows the great import of having a testimony before the work is engaged.  Nephi was not about to go back because he knew before the going got tough and the heat of the trial hit that God would prepare a way for their success.  Laman and Lemuel did not have this understanding and therefore when the trial came they could not succeed  -they had nothing to fall back on, no anchor to hold onto in tough times.

            -let’s pretend that they did return to their father here, what would have happened?  They would have had to go back all the way to Jerusalem once again  -the purposes of the Lord still need to be accomplished (D&C 3:1-3 tells us that God’s work will not be frustrated).

            -saying “we tried” or suggesting that we “did our part” in a calling or responsibility that was not fulfilled does not excuse us from being accountable.  The Lord expects it to be DONE! He does not accept excuses as to why it wasn’t done.

1 Nephi 3:13

13  And behold, it came to pass that Laban was angry, and thrust him out from his presence; and he would not that he should have the records.  Wherefore, he said unto him: Behold thou art a robber, and I will slay thee.

      “Laban was angry”

            -here we have another example of anger being related to a wicked man and wickedness.  (See 1Nephi 1:20 notes).

            -why does this request make Laban angry?  From the record we have, I don’t see anything that Laman did that would merit Laban’s anger like it was.  Sure Laban was a wicked man consumed with greed, pride, a bloated feeling of self-importance and drunk with the love of power and worldly things, but with all these characteristics we can guess that he did not esteem the scriptures to be important (surely he did not spend much time reading and pondering them) enough that Laman’s request centered around an object he valued highly.  So why, then did he  become so infuriated at Laman’s request?  Could it be that Laman actually had a backbone and approached Laban with words such as, “the Lord has sent me to claim the plates of brass and commands you to deliver them to me”… that would have sparked this kind of reply from Laban?

      “he would not that he should have the records”

            -as above, why did Laban not want Laman to have the records?  It is curious to me that Laban should put such a high priority on them when he did not use them for the intent for which they were written (to study and as a behavioral standard/guideline).

            -Laban, although mostlikely ignorant of his situation, is on the wrong side God.  He did not want to deliver the record to Lehi.  Contrast this with God’s objective and plan for things:  “the Lord hath commanded thou and thy brothers (to) seek the records, and bring them down hither”.  God wants the records with Lehi.  Laban wants the records to himself.  This is a tug of war not unlike the ones that frequently play out in the lives and hearts of men (you and I included).  God wants one thing, we want something else (we want what we want).  Too often we do not realize that we are standing in opposition to God.  In fact we may hardly give God a second thought, we are so occupied with our own wants, wills and desires.  And when someone does tell us that our way is divergent to Gods and that we had better shape up, we get mad, defiant and become ideal manifestations of the natural man.

    “thou art a robber and I will slay thee”

            -these two short accusations reveal much about Laban’s character and evidence what a wicked man he was.  In these declarations he breaks a number of God’s commandments and the moral code which is supposed to bind the people of God together:

       "thou art a robber"  =  lie/false witness;  violation of the 9th commandment

       "I will slay thee"  =  attempted murder;  violation of the 6th commandment

     (vs. 25: “he did lust after” our riches) = lust after riches, violation of the 1^st commandment

     (vs. 25: “he might obtain or property) = steal; violation of the 8^th commandment

            -here we gain a peek into Laban’s soul.  He commits two serious sins:  he bears false witness by saying that Laman was a thief and he attempts to murder him.  Those both reek of a dishonest, narcissistic soul who is not in tune with the Spirit (which would have, in fact may have been, whispering to him to deliver up the plates) We can safely discern Laban’s conniving and vicious nature.

            -projection is one of the most frequent and predictable qualities of the natural or carnal man.  Laban is a theif at heart; a condition which will manifest itself in 12 short verses (Nephi 3:25).  He is a robber and yet he accuses Laman of the exact same act.  His accusation alone is evidence that he knows robbery is wrong.  Yet he engages in the very same action he supposedly decries.  The truth is, in his moral relativity, robbery is only wrong when the wrong is committed against him.  Robbery is just fine when he is the one prospering from the action. 

1 Nephi 3:12

12  And he desired of Laban the records which were engraven upon the plates of brass, which contained the ^agenealogy of my father.

            -In defense of all the criticism heaped up on Laban, he did it!  He engaged in a very difficult task and went and did!

    “genealogy of my father.”

            -genealogy is a big thing to God.  This has an allusion to the temple, to our ancestors and to the sealing power.  It is important, obviously, for us to be connected to our past.  We know, also that the plates of brass also contained the teachings of the prophets to Isreal.  It was therefore a record of personal genealogy but also a record of a societal lineage.  Most importantly, it is a record describing our Heavenly Father’s dealings with his children.  In this way it is a record of eternal genealogy:  a record that establishes our heavenly or divine origin.

1 Nephi 3:11

11  And we ^acast lots—who of us should go in unto the house of Laban.  And it came to pass that the lot fell upon Laman; and Laman went in unto the house of Laban, and he talked with him as he sat in his house.

     “we cast lots”

            -they did devise an approach (mentioned in verse 10) but it seems like they couldn’t decide on who would carry it out.  It is also curious to note that they, for some reason, decided that only one should go to Laban’s house.  I wonder why?  It would seem that they might have better success based on the idea of “strength in numbers” especially going up against someone like Laban who had significant resources at his disposal.

     “should go to the house of Laban”

            -they obviously decided on a direct approach:  Go to Laban’s house and ask him for the plates.  Interesting.  Clearly it was the approach that made the most sense to them at the moment and with the knowledge that they had.  We approach our life’s challenges in much the same way.

      "...the lot fell upon Laman..."

            -isn't it interesting how the lot fell on Laman, the oldest, the one who -by the laws of

patriarchal authority- should have assumed righteous leadership.  It's as if the Lord is saying,

“here is your chance to claim or forfeit your birthright responsibility and privilege to be the

leader.  I’ll give you a chance to perform and step into the calling that is yours.  Let’s see how you do, its all up to you.”

     “he (Laman) talked with him (Laban) as he sat in his house.”

            -this first plan was the most civil, the most straightforward, the most rational:  simply ask Laban for the plates after laying out the merits of our request.  In our day we sit down and talk things out.  The problem for Laman and his brothers is that Laban was a man of the world, competent in the ways of “conspiring men”.  His position was one of opposition to the will of God.  Laman, interestingly, found himself on God’s side in this particular request and as one doing the Lord’s will, he was an enemy to Laban.

Here would be a good time to realize that the Lord knew this plan wouldn’t meet with success, why did He not then inspire them to proceed differently?  Several responses are potential answers to this question and similar scenarios we find ourselves in:

        1.  there were things that had to be learned in this failure.

        2.  this would be a time for testing, proving, and potentially, strengthening character/faith through the experience of failure that would not be available through instant success.

        3. perhaps the brothers did not approach the Lord and request his assistance in the mater. If they did not, the failure of the venture was a necessary lesson:  we need to inquire of the Lord for assistance and direction especially when engaged in HIS work in the first place.  (As Nephi said, it was not something he or his father wanted to do but it was something “the Lord had commanded”).

        4.  Hindsight tells us that all was not yet set up for the way in which the Lord desired things to work.  Had they succeeded here, they never would have brought Zoram into the wilderness and that would affect the later happenings of the group.

The failure of this (the first) plan proves that it is OK to fall short when engaged in the Lord’s work as long as we try again and learn from the mistakes and stay faithful to the Lord.  The Lord will allow us to fail but will protect us in the faltering.  This type of failure is a part of His plan, we needn’t condemn ourselves, but we need to continue and carry on.

1 Nephi 3:10

10  And it came to pass that when we had gone up to the land of Jerusalem, I and my brethren did consult one with another.

    “did consult with one another.”

            -four brothers trying to figure out how to accomplish a very difficult thing.  They looked to each other for strength –which any earthly parent would have been proud of.  This was a necessary step but they should have (and eventually would) consulted with God.  Even so, God lets us struggle through on our own until we discover that we are simply not up to the challenges.  The law of agency forbids His imposition in our affairs without our petitioning and even then, he is sometimes slow in order that we develop our capacity.  His role is not to provide constant and ready consultation but to facilitate growth, to allow us to go to the edge of our capabilities and then to make up for what we lack  -usually by increasing our capacity rather then minimizing the opposition. One essential lesson we learn in all of this is that we are more capable, more qualified to our challenges than we supposes; a second equally essential lesson we learn is that we are deficient without his prospering support.  Two truths that may appear to be contradictory but are completely harmonious and simultaneously effective.

 
          -Verse ten commences Nephi and brother’s efforts to obtain the plates.  They eventually attempt that goal three times, each time employing a slightly different strategy.  I will outline the plans and attempts here:

The Plan for Obtaining the Plates of Brass

	Reference	Summary	Plan Based on:
Plan 1	3:11-14	we cast lots -who of us should go in unto Laban	chance
Plan 2	3:22-29	we would give our gold, silver and precious things (in exchange for the plates)	reason/intellect
Plan 3	4:5-27	I was led by the Spirit, not knowing before hand	the Lord

 

PLAN 1

      “did consult one with another”

            -the planning and decision process was made in council with each other.  They talked it over, presumably presented several options and finally decided on one which they felt would have the best chances of achieving their desired ends.  Not a bad way to approach a problem.

 

1 Nephi 3:9

9  And I, Nephi, and my brethren took our journey in the wilderness, with our tents, to go up to the land of Jerusalem.

       “I, Nephi, and my brethren took….”

            -Wait a second, Laman and Lemuel are heading out to Jerusalem when just a few verses earlier (see verse 5) they were pretty much against the idea… What facilitated this change?  Something happened!  Sure, Nephi was a willing participant in his father’s plans but Laman and Lemuel were adamantly against the endeavor… what changed for them?  They could certainly have let their “over achieving, naïve” brother take on the foolhardy mission.  A couple of wonderful things happened that we can learn from:

            1.  There is a power and remarkable effects brought on by the example, obedience and determination of one person!  We each have tremendous power inherent in our example and voice if we will just use them.

                  -just like in the mission field:  One Elder who is strictly obedient and committed to the work can bring about a great change in his companion, who, while possibly being a slacker or struggling, will rise up and become something better and find some real substance in himself

The power of one can literally move the earth.

            2.  As bad as Laman and Lemuel were, we can see here one of the most powerful elements of a family.  Sometimes members get off track. Here the younger brother stepped forward and said, “we need to do this, it is the right thing” and the others fell into line.

            3.  Could it be that the task, which had been “a hard thing” became a bit easier in the minds of Laman and Lemuel because of the influence/attitude of one?  I suppose that they might have been a little more willing when they saw the faith and confidence of Nephi.  Everyone is elevated by the righteousness or good actions of one obedient person.  The whole world benefits when we do what is right.

      “with out tents”

            -why is that phrase in here?  Why the deliberate insertion of a qualifier of their journey.  They didn’t just journey back to Jerusalem but they took their tents…  What does this mean?

            -does this give an indication that the trip was significant in duration and distance.  In other words, it was not a simple overnighter.  The journey was lengthy which required provisions (i.e. a tent).

1 Nephi 3:8

8  And it came to pass that when my father had heard these words he was exceedingly glad, for he knew that I had been blessed of the Lord.

            -For a "thus we see" addendum to this classic scripture, see 1Nephi 17:3.

            -Lehi must also have known at this moment that the challenge to get the brass plates was all but accomplished.  The job was essentially accomplished even though his sons had not even left to begin the task. 

            -the primary (if not the only) way we can ascertain a person's commitment to the Lord is by how he responds to difficult assignments or requests.  This is mortality in microcosm.  One demonstrates their faith by their response both verbal and then in action.  It is the ONLY way we really demonstrate whose errand we are on:  our own or Gods.  This is the purpose of a mortal existence where faith is the operative constraint.  In our pre-mortal existence it was all words, intent and promises.  We could only partly prove our honor.  It is on earth where we prove to God, but mostly to ourselves, if our words really have traction in our character.  We are given opportunities to act! This is when we prove ourselves:  in the face of some very significant resistence.  We choose every day wheter we are going to live the life we want for ourselves or the life God want’s for us.  Whether it is a life preoccupied with “what do I want” or one that is preoccupied with “what does God want”.  The real trick is to align what I want with what God wants. At first this is a conscious, constant effort but eventually it can become second nature.  Then is when we will find that we are consumed with a Godly nature.

1 Nephi 3:7

7  And it came to pass that I, Nephi, said unto my father: I ^awill go and do the things which the Lord hath commanded, for I know that the Lord giveth no ^bcommandments unto the children of men, save he shall ^cprepare a way for them that they may accomplish the thing which he commandeth them.

            -Nephi’s answer addresses both of Laman/Lemuel’s objections:

·         “The things which the Lord hath commanded” = Nephi recognizes where the calling has come from.  It’s source is God even though it was conveyed through a man (a prophet/their father).

·         “the Lord giveth no commandment… save he shall prepare a way” = we remember that a primary objection to the job at hand was that it was a “difficult thing”.  Not only does Nephi know where the command originates, but he knows that however hard, improbable, irrational, unpopular, etc. the thing might be to accomplish, the Lord will raise him up and support him in the eventual succeed at the endeavor.  

"I will go and do"

            -these may be three of the most glorious words a father can hear from a son while at the same time the most difficult words for a son to speak to his father.  The willing obedience of a child is one of the highest joys for parents.  To hear a child say “yes, I will do that” in response to any request large or small brings joy and contentment that the child is on the path to happiness and accomplishment.  It denotes a humble and obedient heart even when the request concerns a small matter like taking out the trash, getting dressed, finishing homework.  If this is the answer for small things, it is likely to be the answer for large things like going on a mission, treating a young woman with respect and defending her purity, retaining integrity when fraud is the status quo.  From the perspective of a youth, however, to acquiesce willingly to so many requests feels like a surrender, like submission to a burden, it may be esteemed as humiliation or a threat to one’s individuality or sense of identity.  It is a reminder that he or she is not in charge, a constant evidence of not getting your own way.  Often resentment is the response to parental requests.  The impulse of the natural man is to resist and rebel.

 Footnote

     a:  1 Sam. 17:32, 1Kings 17:11-15

            “go and do”

            -it is one thing to “go” and still another, and harder, thing to “do”.  Hundreds of missionaries go but a precious minority “do”.  The great and honorable and chosen are the ones that “do”.

            -we should always remember that Laman and Lemuel both came around to the “go” part of this equation.  Many will go but it is in the subtleties or the “how” of the going that changes everything.  Yes, “go” is the essential first step and there are blessings associated with obedience to “go”.  But there is a deeper conviction that comes of faith that fuels our resolve to overcome the difficulties that are always faced in the second or “do” stage.  This is where Laman and Lemuel could not rise to the task.  This is where our own personal will power reaches its limits and dependence on God’s infinite power of will carries the day.  Perservereing into and through the “do” stage requires a genuine relationship with God.  It is where the partnership is consummated.  We become partners with diety.  This cannot be feigned or forged in an instant.  This is where our resevoirs of faith are required, where the oil in our lamps provides the energy to see us through the dark night.  There is no deception or fakery.  You have it or you do not.

      “I will go and do the things which the Lord hath commanded”

            -there is a critical pattern established throughout the scriptures but perhaps nowhere illustrated better than by Nephi here.  Nephi becomes an imitator of the Savior.  His words, expressing his commitment, are nearly exact replicas of the Savior’s.  What is more is how Nephi is mirroring words and behavior he and we have seen firsthand in the pre-mortal life.  Nephi’s own desires, his own   Did Nephi WANT to go back to Jerusalem and tackle a challenge that seemed almost unattainable?  Not in a million years, so what would make him do just that?  We can expect to find ourselves in just such a situation albeit the exact circumstances will be custom fit to our day, technology and context. 

fears, hopes and appetites are consciously placed behind his father’s.

"...the things which the Lord hath commanded..."

            -Nephi understands the source of the instruction, these are the things the Lord commands, not the things man commands.  And this difference is at the heart of why Nephi could press forward and why Laman and Lemuel failed.  This same difference is why any venture that includes God can prevail and why those that exclude him will ultimately fail.  This is true of individuals, governments, families, marriages, civilizations, as well as the ideas and principles that lie at the foundation of each of these.  This is why secularism and its manifestations, laws, concepts and embodiments eventually fall apart.  Anything lasting –the ultimate manifestation of which is “eternal”- must be connected into the source of lasting, of being, of integrity.  Secularism which is based on man and man’s best ideas has no integrity.  It must fall apart because man is temporal.  Its very basis is limited, temporary and transient.  In the eyes of man it may appear to have some permanence but a couple generations or a couple hundred years, even a couple millennia is a moment when compared to ages, eons and eternity.  Our point of view is so incredibly myopic and puny. 

            -the things the Lord commands will all be done whether it be sooner or later or whether we or another be the one to accomplish them.  The objectives of God will come about.   Why then should we resist being the subject that brings these things about when we are invited?

      “for I know”

            -Nephi is willing to “go and do” while Laman and Lemuel are not and it boils down to this statement:  Nephi knows God –about God, that this is His work/will, that God will prosper his efforts, that God is, in fact, real and involved in this adventure- and Lamand and Lemuel do not. 

            -how did Nephi know?  Because he just had a personal experience with God (see chapter 2, verses 16, 19-24.

            "I know that the Lord giveth ..."

            -we should be careful in the placement of our faith, it is true -absolutely and unequivocally- that the Lord giveth no commandments except that they are proper, achievable, etc.  but sometimes man, your parents, your spouse, etc. will request things that are not proper or achievable.  It is important, especially for the youth to distinguish the always appropriate requests of the Lord and recognize the sometimes errant actions of parents.  Nephi understood the source of this request whereas Laman and Lemuel did not. 

     “he shall prepare”

            -the preparation for the promised accomplishment is in God’s hands, not ours.  We are simply to be goers and doers.  It is not for us to be concerned with the how, although that question will drive us crazy.  The natural man wants to have a grasp on the “how” before he commences.  We want to have a plan and we want to know what it is. That is the way of the rational mind.   In fact, we frequently fail to start along the way of accomplishment until we “see” the way, until we know how something is to come about.  Our knowing the how is obviously not of primary concern to God, he is much more concerned with our trusting him.  The drive for understanding the “how” is to trust in the arm of flesh.  When we strike out “not knowing beforehand”, that is an expression of faith and submission.

            “shall prepare”

            -the avenue to a thing’s accomplishment is not always clear.  The Lord will make possible a path that had been, will be, or at all other times would have been closed or impossible.  Don’t faint because the way to accomplishing something is impossible at the moment or had been just a few moments earlier.  After all, the Red Sea did not have a permanent part in it.  It was made to divide for only a few moments in the history of its existence.

            "he shall prepare a way"

            -the use of future tense "shall" signifies that the way is not currently prepared but in due time it will be.  This signifies a great need to exercise faith and carry on expending all energy and means within your power and then counting on divine assistance at the moment (after we have done all that we can) when things are beyond your power and now in the hands of God.  This is faith at its finest.  In the tense and meaning of the word “shall” is the need for the exercise of faith.

            -this is a promise from God to those who obey him:  He shall prepare a way for them.  God makes a path for those who abide and pursue his will.  He will straighten and clear the way which to us seems impassable and strewn with obstacles.  Even if the barrier is a sea or an army or a host of social, psychological or physiological impediments.  The path of deliverance cuts through tight places and narrow passages, it is, afer all, straight and narrow.

            -we have a full capability to achieve all the commandments we have been given.  There is not one that we cannot fulfill.

            “a way”

            -this little word is very important.  It is not singular.  We are not taught that there is one way.  If there were one way of accomplishment it would read:  “save he shall prepare the way…”  Sometimes if we knew the one and only way of accomplishing a thing we would be more enthused to do it.  But there is not one way to activate a less active family neither is there one way to be a missionary.  There is not one method that will gain the attention of all and touch everyone’s heart.

            Neither does it read “my way”.  The Lord will do the work as he sees fit.  Too often we want to do His work the way we see fit.  The brothers were about to learn this first hand.

            “they may accomplish”

            -the Lord is an accomplisher.  He does not fail.  His is a work of success.  He is assured of success but without forcing anyone to do anything against their wills  Think about that!  Remarkable!