1 Nephi 10:19

19  For he that diligently ^aseeketh shall find; and the ^bmysteries of God shall be unfolded unto them, by the power of the ^cHoly Ghost, as well in these times as in times of old, and as well in times of old as in times to come; wherefore, the ^dcourse of the Lord is one eternal round.

     “seeketh"

            -what is encompassed in this word?  What does it entail?  How can I most effectively and correctly “seek”?

     “seeketh shall find…”

            -please notice that there is no time frame applied here.  We, I think, are a bit overly concerned about this contraption called time, and it often is the one element that derails us from the correct track which we must follow.  We are so recently told, “diligently”!  The word “diligently” seems to indicate that a sizable amount of time must pass as part of our being proven worthy of “finding”.  Time appears to be an aggravation, if not an enemy, to man whereas to God it appears to be a major testing element.  We would be will to remember that God ahs never, nor will he ever be late!  The promise is sure:  such a one shall/will find.

            -and what shall he find?  An understanding of the mysteries of God.

    “the mysteries of God”

            -what are these mysteries? Instead of the word “mysteries” is it fair to substitute the words the “understandings, knowledge, plans, mind or thinking” of God?  There are many mysteries we may (and will eventually) come to know:

·         God’s purposes for us in our lives, the specific tasks he has for us to accomplish

·         An understanding of eternal principles and law from faith to nuclear fusion

·         The unfolding of his work on this earth (i.e. how He will gather Israel, the advent of the second coming, the progression of the conquest of the devil, etc.).

·         How it is that a Savior can pay for the sins of mankind and how that can take effect in our lives (the atonement).

·         How God thinks, decides, and acts.

     “…as well in these times as in times of old, and as well in times of old as in times to come”

-Times change but people, problems and patterns do not.

-growth, learning and salvation/exaltation of His children.

     “the course of the Lord is one eternal round”

            -this is a frequently spoken and oft repeated phrase but what does it really mean?  Is the connotation simply a repeating of cycles (i.e. of creating then testing and exhalting spirit children)?  Like a divine monopoly game where God’s course takes him along a path that leads back to “Go” every so often?  Is it the idea of time as experience by God as an continually eternal present? 

-Cross Reference:  Chapter 11:1   Nephi just told the reader that God would show the mysteries to people in days past, in the present day and in days to come… THEN in the next chapter he tells us how he sat thinking about these things (doing what he talked about in verse 19).

1 Nephi 10:6

6  Wherefore, all mankind were in a ^alost and in a ^bfallen state, and ever would be save they should rely on this Redeemer.

    “all mankind were in a lost and in a fallen state”

            -this condition, as a common element of the mortal existence, was brought about when Adam and Eve transgressed the law of God.  Since God and sin are incompatible, the two became disjointed and separate.  Man literally fell from a state of being in God’s presence which is obviously a higher “standard of existence/living” than we now navigate.  Hence the fallen state.  It is a state defined by temptation (rather than self-disciplined righteousness), death (rather than perpetual life), sorrow, pain, cruelty (rather than compassion/love), division (rather than unity).  The term “lost” describes our potential eternal standing at the moment of the fall.  We fell through the grasp of our heavenly parents.  It is “lost” in a sense of “lost control” or “lost the championship”.  It is not that they could not find us.  There is a sense, however, of our being unable to find the way by ourselves.  This is by virtue of the veil and our disobedience which further clouds our minds and leads to confusion rather than truth and additional revelation.  The veil prohibits our complete clarity of understanding and spiritual sight but our rebellion and disqualification from the Spirit –which teaches, clarifies and imbues with intelligence- blinds our minds and hearts much more.  Our lack of vision into heavenly things is much less a function of the veil and is a condition largely self-imposed by our own actions.  We could nearly see into heaven and mortality with heavenly eyes if we lived so that the Holy Spirit could teach us all things.

     "rely"

            -a curious verb to use, but what a beautiful picture it creates!  We must depend, trust, lean on the Savior.  We are helpless were it not for this person who will assist us.

            -we rely on different people for different things.  Nephi is quite specific on what and why we need to rely on the Savior:  because we are "lost" and "fallen".  Hence he will help us find the way, ourselves, home, etc. and he will lift us up to where we once were.

     “Redeemer”

                -redeem (verb): to make (something that is bad, unpleasant, etc.) better or more acceptable; to exchange (something, such as a coupon or lottery ticket) for money, an award, etc.;  to buy back (something, such as a stock or bond).

 

 

What would life be like without a Savior

 

1 Nephi 7:12

12  Yea, and how is it that ye have forgotten that the Lord is able to do all ^athings according to his will, for the children of men, if it so be that they exercise ^bfaith in him?  Wherefore, let us be faithful to him.

      “how is it that ye have forgotten"

            -three consecutive verses start with this interrogative.  It is a key insight to Laman and Lemuel’s spiritual lethargy.  Could it be that the reason they have forgotten is that they never learned it in the first place.  It is impossible to forget something if it was never within our mental repetoir to begin with.  Sure, they experienced the same events as Nephi –events that had profound spiritual impact on Nephi- but the lessons of those events seems to have entirely escaped Laman/Lemuel.  So, initially, they never had a conviction that “the Lord is able to do all things for the children of men”.  Hence, how could they forget something for which they never had a conviction?  This is not to make an excuse for them.  It is, in fact, a more desperate condition than to have had it and forgotten.  They have seen things and yet refuse to see them. How do you see an angel from heaven who instructs you as to the course you should be pursuing and not be changed?  What are the forces countering and minimizing such an experience?

     “the Lord is able to do all things…”

            -this is a spiritually universal theme that runs through all scripture and permeates God’s experience with man.  This is a fundamental divine truth that forms the foundation of our belief in, relationship to and dependence on God.  A person who does not have this personal conviction  walks through this life very differently than one with it.

            -the truth of this statement is contrasted against a related one:  man is not able to do all things.  Here, clear as day, is one of the great differences between God and man.  God is omnipotent; man is impotent. In moments of quiet reflection and absolute self-awareness we recognize that we can do nothing of merit without God.   He provides us the very air we need to breath, he is the architect of the marvelous heart that pushes life through our bodies.  Its perpetual beating is a mystery to us.  This is a source of much anger and vexation to many people.  The resent it and reject it.  In fact, if they were truthful they would admit that they hate God for it.  Mostly, however, their defense mechanism is to deny and dismiss its veracity.  The contrast ceases to exist if we dismiss God from the equation.  A being who is able to do all things can’t really do all things if He does not exist!

            -compare with Alma 26:12 --> “I can do all things”.  When we are in concert with the Lord there is nothing that is beyond our capabilities.

       “according to his will…”

            -the critic of God will ask “Can God do anything?” To which we must answer –to defend the omnipotence of God- “Yes!” The trap is tightened by the critic tempting something like, “Can he commit sin?”  or “Can he make a boulder so big that he cannot lift it?”  Well, the answer is “neither.”  He does what He does as that thing is according to His will.  It is good to realize that his will/work is to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man.  He does not trifle with “feats of strength” nor is he concerned with impressing mortal men.  To consider whether God can create a boulder big enough that he cannot lift is to manifest a logic of thinking that is so trivial and so far below godliness as to prove nothing but the natural man’s utter incongruity with diety.

            -this fundamental statement of truth can be broken down into two parts:
                                    “the Lord is able to do all things   according to his will”

                                                                 

Our problem with faith in God is often not in the first part of Nephi’s declaration.  Many of us believe that “the Lord is able to do all things”.  Our point of departure is in the second part, “according to his will” since that is often at odds with what we really want:  “the lord is able to do all things according to OUR will…”  That, in perfect honesty, is what drives our prayers and our faith.  And when our will is not realized we are more often likely to question the Lord’s ability rather than face the possibility that our will might not be His will.  To question the latter is to summon a level of humility and submissiveness that is more difficult and painful than the crisis of faith that is brough to bear when we think that God may not be able because he may not even be there.  If he is not really there then we are free to pursue our own will and desires.  The real “problem” is if He is there and expects something different of us than we want for ourself;  a situation that is not only a possibly but is an eternal verity. 

     “for the children of men”

            -like a good earthly parent, God does all with the motivation that it is for His children’s well being and happiness.  From the perspective of the child, however, there are certain lessons that, in their immaturity and lack of sophistication, appear to be painful or senseless.  A parent, not a child, is able to judge what is best in a perspective that contemplates the full course of life.  How much more this must be the case when considering eternal life.

-There are three qualifications Nephi puts here on the Lord’s ability to do “all things”:

            1.  it has to be according to His will.

            2.  it (as is His will) is for the children of men.

            3.  the children of men have to exercise faith in God.

      “if it so be that they exercise…”

            -here the Lord lets us “call some of the rules”.  We control, to some degree, the extent of His hand in our lives.  It is a blessing and a burden.  By being “partners” we are expected to learn what “all things” are (righteous vs. unrighteous desires) and the process of achieving all things.  In short, we are expected to become familiar with God’s ways.  Although this might appear intimidating, all we are asked to do in the beginning is to “have faith in him” –to believe that He can do what He says He can do.  Here we come full circle to the truth:  we cannot do anything of ourselves.  We are succored, leaning on His strength until we begin to grow in understanding, ability and righteousness.

      “exercise faith”

            -this is active, engaged faith.  It is not merely a cerebral or passive thing.  The faith required here and in all instances where great/high things are promised, is a moving thing.  It is shown in our actions. “Exercising faith” is spoken of here as being synonymous with “be(ing) faithful”.  “Be” is an action word!

    “exercise faith in him”

            -the exercise of our faith must always be based on, grounded in, built upon Jesus Christ.  It is not enough simply to have faith;  that faith must be in Him.  Who or what are the potential alternatives for our faith?  Ourselves:  we can easily rely upon our own strength especially against the backdrop of the doctrine of self-reliance.  We can have faith in science, in systems, in others… all of which are important but all these root back to Jesus Christ and can very easily grown inappropriately larger than faith in Christ.  Coincidentally, as we have greater faith in Christ our faith in others –so long as those things are based in truth- will also become greater.

      “Wherefore, let us be faithful to him”

-Now, you tell me, who has the power here?  Can we doubt that God can do all things?

-to be faithful to another is most oftenused in the context of a married couple, of one spouse being faithful to the other.  In that case we mean to be loyal, to be chaste, to be devoted particularly in the most intimate expression of love and affection.  It might be useful to consider our relationship to God in exactly the same way.  This being said, what does being faithful to a spouse have to do with the usual way we conceive of faith?  That is belief that moves us to action in something we cannot see but hope to be true.  To be faithful to a spouse is all about discipline of our own behaviors, thoughts and actions.  To have faith in God is usually about things exernal to us that we believe in but cannot see.  Perhaps we should internalize faith to be more like being faithful…

1 Nephi 4:21

21  And he supposed me to be his master, Laban, for he beheld the garments and also the sword girded about my loins.
                -God seems to be very committed to the principle of not doing for man what he can do for himself.  I don’t suppose the Lord needed Nephi to get the servant, to use the keys, even to kill Laban in order to get the brass plates.  By some supernatural (or very “natural”) power God could have unlocked the treasury, distracted the servants and led Nephi directly to the plates.  But he did not!  All events transpired with the least amount of direct heavenly intervention as possible (and with no heavenly usurpation of agency).  The Spirit led but Nephi did the physical work (slaying, dressing like Laban, imitating Laban’s voice, etc.).  When we are empowered and have been given abilities we should not expect “miraculous” interventions.

1 Nephi 4:15

15  Yea, and I also thought that they could not keep the commandments of the Lord according to the ^alaw of Moses, save they should have the law.

            -People are simply not able to keep the commandments, which brings happiness and joy, if they do not know what the commandments are.  Hence, people cannot be truly happy and at peace until they have the gospel.  We cannot be saved in ignorance (without a knowledge of and obedience to the law) neither can we have happiness in ignorance.  We are providing a GREAT blessing by making known to people the truths of the gospel; its laws and ordinances.  Giving the gift of eternal truth is the greatest gift we can give another person in this life.  This is not a single gift, it is composed of many parts (like various Lego kits).  We can, for example, give the gift of godly love to another person.  This is but one part of eternal truth but will bring tremendous happiness. We can then give the gift of a knowledge of modern prophets.  This is another part of eternal truth.  Giving scripture (i.e. the Book of Mormon), ordinances, doctrinal truths, laws and standards, etc. to our children, family and friends will each increase the happiness of those who embrace these gifts.  Many around us, however, do not even know what heavenly gifts are available to them and are living on only a portion of the larger happiness that is available.

1 Nephi 4:11

11  And the Spirit said unto me again: Behold the ^aLord hath ^bdelivered him into thy hands. Yea, and I also knew that he had sought to take away mine own life; yea, and he would not hearken unto the commandments of the Lord; and he also had ^ctaken away our property.

       “the Spirit … said again”

            -in such an unusual situation we can feel secure that the Lord will be patient with us.  This is command number 2 (the second time Nephi is told to slay Laban).

      “Behold the Lord delivered him into thy hands.”

            -The Spirit didn’t simply say “slay him” but addressed Nephi’s concern by teaching him more.  It is significant that the Spirit, here, gave the command in almost exact words that he was told earlier by an angel (Chapter 3, verse 29).  Thus, he was told that this was the culmination of what had been promised to him previously.  In other words “this is what the Lord told you would happen.”  But it is obvious from Nephi’s surprise/resistance that these are not the events he expected.  Should we be so strict in our imaginations so to expect something to turn out in a particular fashion, according to our own expectations. We should not be surprised when the Lord takes our life in a direction other than what we expected.  There will come a time when hindsight proves that the Lord’s way was not only higher than our preconceived way but also a way that is more glorious, leads to greater happiness and exalts us more than our way ever had the capacity to.

      “yea, and I also knew”

            -Nephi’s reluctance is very understandable and not a sign of weakness.  He does, rather, by these words give us insight as to the strength of his obedience and righteousness.  In his deliberations with the Spirit he is not antagonistic or otherwise combative; he does not use his energy to prove the Spirit wrong or to persuade him to do otherwise but he argues in support of the Spirit’s command.  Instead of seeking to change God he seeks to change his views and bring himself into line with God.  There is great significance in this rather subtle point.  The little things that we think and do manifest the position of our heart.

     “he had sought to take away mine life, would not hearken unto (the commandments of) God, he also had taken our property.”

            -Why is Nephi weighing Laban’s character?  For one, he might be trying to muster, within him, evidence that supports the command of the Spirit.  We should also understand that God speaks to the wicked as He speaks to the righteous but they (of course) are unable to hear.  I don’t doubt that the Spirit directed Laban to give the plates to Nephi and his brothers but Laban refused to hear.  By so doing Laban became an enemy to God and declared war on God’s purposes.  If he complied with God’s directives he would have lived but he did not and we must confess that his punishment (death) was just and justly brought about by his own actions (does the word of the Lord not tell us that those who do not obey his commands will die?  That was the warning given to Adam and Eve and to every one of their children down through Laban’s day and to our own time).

10-17.    -Nephi contemplates the reasons for slaying Laban.  Usually Nephi obeys instantly, but

on this one he hesitates and needs to be convinced/persuaded by the Spirit of the Lord to do

something that appears contrary to everything he had been taught about God and how he

should behave.

1 Nephi 3:2

2  And it came to pass that he spake unto me, saying: Behold I have dreamed a ^adream, in the which the Lord hath commanded me that thou and thy brethren shall ^breturn to Jerusalem.

-The Lord commands Lehi to do things that affect/require Nephi but the Lord never commands Nephi to do things that affect/require Lehi.  It is the law of stewardship and right of revelations.

            “and thy brethren”

            -it is almost funny that the Lord commands the brothers to go back as well.  He knows that they are only going to be “unwanted baggage” during the trip, but by so commanding, two important circumstances are accomplished:

            1.  The brothers are given a chance to prove their worthiness or prove their condemnation. Isn’t this the same way life is structured?  The Lord knew how they would act and how we would act here but we must actually live out the situations and thereby provide actual evidence to merit our exaltation or damnation.  We must prove it to ourselves.

            2.  Although this is going to be a horrific experience for Nephi to endure (not only does he have to accomplish the goals of the journey but he has to fight Laman and Lemuel the whole way) it will give him great leadership experience in the face of opposition.

            -Why did God allow Lehi and the family to get so far from Jerusalem before he told them to turn around and retrieve the brass plates?  He could have instructed them to pick them up on the way out of town the first time…. Why didn’t he?  In the first place God’s main concern is not efficiency.  More than this however, consider what happened during the time of their departure and the present.  One tremendously important thing happened that would change the course of their lives:  Nephi received his testimony.  Nephi came to know that his father’s spiritual claims were accurate through first hand conversation with the heavens.  As soon as he has this experience, the family and the journey moves forward to the next step.  This is not altogether different than how each of us can grow through mortality.  We are elevated to the next level when we have qualified ourselves.  God is a master builder and gives us as we are ready to receive but this is not according to our own estimation but to his.  We sometimes think we are ready when we are not and we sometimes think we are not ready when we are.  We should never forget that God qualifies and He sees not as man sees.  With Nephi it is so obvious that he was not sent back to get the plates before his testimony allowed him to say, “I know that the Lord giveth no commandments except he prepares a way”.  To send Nephi before this time would have been to ensure failure and disaster.

1 Nephi 2:20

20  And inasmuch as ye shall keep my commandments, ye shall ^aprosper, and shall be led to a ^bland of promise; yea, even a land which I have prepared for you; yea, a land which is choice above all other lands.

            -this is a promise that is effective in both time (this life) and in eternity.  It applies to the land across the ocean but also to the eternal residence of the celestial kingdom.  God’s blessings span both worlds.  We should not forget that not all blessings are delivered in this life but are held for a time when they may not be bound by time.  Eternal blessings are, by definition, largely reserved for an eternal realm.  Blessings in this temporal world are also generously given, but there are also temporal privileges bestowed by Lucifer which may appear to confound terrestrial cause and effect.  We must keep an eye on those blessings that while they begin in time, extend to eternity:  eternal marriage, priesthood, knowledge, character.

     "...inasmuch as ye shall keep my commandments, ye shall prosper..."

            -this simple, straight forward, unambiguous promise  (encountered here for the first time in the record) is a continual theme throughout the Book of Mormon
 

1 Nephi 2:2

2  And it came to pass that the Lord ^acommanded my father, even in a ^bdream, that he should ^ctake his family and depart into the wilderness.

            -the migration of the righteous away from the wicked happens so frequently in the scriptures that this seems to be a pattern for how the Lord works to preserve his disciples and further His work.  Global real estate appears to be of very little concern to God.  We, however, have a value system that puts a premium on land.  Possession of property and territory is something for which we are ready and willing to go to war.  God, however, seems to have no problem commanding his followers to pick up and move.  And more than this, to go in to the unknown without having a knowledge of an end result, a master plan or an objective.

     "...the Lord commanded..."

            -of interest here is the verb Nephi chooses to use.  I don’t know that the Lord would necessarily have had to say to Lehi, “I command you to…”  I suppose that he probably told him to leave and even if He had suggested that Lehi leave I think he would have willingly gone, especially after being told that the people are looking to murder him.  So why the strong word “commanded”?  I suggest that this was a reflection of Nephi’s character.  Anything the Lord did, would or might say to him would be as good as law written in stone.  He was 100% committed to the Lord and viewed his communications as law or “commandments”.  There was no hesitation for Nephi, all from the Lord was a command to be strictly obeyed.

    “he should take his family”

            -the exact instructions to Lehi was to take his family.  Who was his family?  His wife and ALL his children.  We wonder why Lehi did not just leave Laman and Lemuel who resisted the whole way.  They appeared to be well beyond the age of accountability and might even have been young adults fully capable of setting out on their own course in life… but the exact instruction was to take his family.  The Lord had a plan in mind.

      “the wilderness”

            It would be good for us to remember that however frightening and uncertain this departure is for Lehi and the family (into unknown places and unfamiliar dangers), there is no wilderness to the Lord.  When He leads us into areas and activities that push beyond our personal frontiers we should take solid comfort knowing that He who guides us is intimately acquainted with the “terrain” we will cross.

Footnote:

   a.  1Nephi 3:16 and 4:34:  notice the impact of the father's example to his son.

    OBSERVATION:  So much of what Nephi did, so much of his greatness can, it seems, be traced to the unspoken but highly influential example set by his father.  For example;  1Nephi 3:7.  How could a boy have such a beautiful understanding?  Because his father had just (in leaving Jerusalem and the direction of the Lord) illustrated beautiful obedience.

    c:  1Nephi 1:18-20;  the scope of Lehi's stewardship focus: