-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.
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