1 Nephi 7:13

13  And if it so be that we are faithful to him, we shall obtain the ^aland of promise; and ye shall know at some future period that the word of the Lord shall be fulfilled concerning the ^bdestruction of ^cJerusalem; for all things which the Lord hath spoken concerning the destruction of Jerusalem must be fulfilled.
            -In verse 12, Nephi preaches faith and faithfulness, verse 13 is evidence that he is faithful and lives with faith.  Look at the surety of his speech when speaking of things to come:  “if we… we shall obtain…” and “ye shall know… at a future time…” and “the word of the Lord shall be fulfilled…” and “all things which the Lord has spoken … must be fulfilled.”

1 Nephi 6:2

2  For it sufficeth me to say that we are descendants of ^aJoseph.

            -I am also of Joseph (through Ephraim).  Lehi’s descendants, hence a significant portion of the “native” population of the western world, are from the youngest tribe of Israel.  Those blessings we so readily assign to the Jews are bestowed upon more than double the amount of people we traditionally conceive of as being Israelites.  A book springs forth from Judah and one from Joseph; why these two?

1 Nephi 4:33

33  And I spake unto him, even with an ^aoath, that he need not fear; that he should be a ^bfree man like unto us if he would go down in the wilderness with us.

     “… need not fear…”

            -in other words, he could have faith in what Nephi said and promised.  Fear is the antithesis of faith.  It is interesting to compare this phrase to the fear that Laman felt just verses earlier.  To have a conscience free from fear is certainly a great blessing and a manifestation of faith!

        "should be a free man..."

            -this was a most desirable thing.

            -what a huge blessing for Zoram!  We often consider how blessed Lehi (and family) was to be brought out of Jerusalem and sent to the promised land, what manner of man must Zoram have been to be led by the Lord to this situation?  No greater thing could have happened to him. Were it not for Nephi (and God's plan), Zoram most likely would have been killed during the Babylonian conquest or, in the best case scenario, would have been captured and made a slave to a conquering army. Of all the thousands of inhabitants in Jerusalem, he was given a new life (in the promised land with a righteous people) which would be an unmeasured blessing for his posterity.

            -the freedom Zoram was given consisted of at least two dimensions:  his political/social freedom, but more importantly, his spiritual freedom.  His earlier choice to “follow me” as Nephi requested led to this point of increased freedom.  How desirable was it for Zoram, a servant, to be made free?

1 Nephi 4:14

14  And now, when I, Nephi, had heard these words, I remembered the words of the Lord which he spake unto me in the wilderness, saying that: ^aInasmuch as thy seed shall keep my ^bcommandments, they shall ^cprosper in the ^dland of promise.

     “I remembered the words of the Lord”

            -when we are in the midst of a difficult situation/trial, especially when the heat of the situation is at its highest intensity, the last thing we are often able to do is clear our minds to think.  It is one of the most powerful workings of the Spirit to come to our consciousness and “bring our minds to a remembrance of the things God” has spoken unto us or would have us do.  I don’t think that Nephi’s remembrance here as a careless process, but rather a spiritual one.  At this point “it all fit together”, things became clear.  The spirit spoke peace to his mind and heart and he knew which direction to go.

        “in the wilderness”

            -I think we may, safely, take this experience of Nephi’s and parabolically relate it to our lives.  It may serve us well as a parable –we can learn many things from it.  This phrase, for instance, lets us know that during times in our lives when we are in the “wilderness”/the wilderness of our lives –times of not knowing what to do, what course to take, when we feel we’re in unfamiliar circumstances, even when we are lost and don’t know which way to turn- the Lord will take the opportunity to teach and tutor us.  When we find ourselves in this kind of predicament the troubles of the wilderness might be handled easier if we knew why the Lord took us there.

       “inasmuch as they seed shall keep… they shall prosper in the land of promise.”

            -this phrase has definite meaning in this context but to pull it out from the line or reasoning it means something just as powerful.  This phrase and command appears over and over again.  It is a promise made to almost every prophet and people.  Is the Lord trying to tell us something?  Obviously, but what?  First is the importance of the directive, the specific commandment to which this blessing is tied, secondly is the universality with which it seems to be offered.  The plain and simple primary message is clear:  keep the commandments and prosper in the land.  Live it and claim it!

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!

1 Nephi 3:6

6  Therefore go, my son, and thou shalt be favored of the Lord, because thou hast ^anot ^bmurmured.

            -I think we often overlook the amount of faith that Lehi had in keeping and fulfilling this commandment.  He knew that he was requesting (albeit in the name of the Lord –he was still the one physically asking) his sons to do a very difficult and dangerous thing.  He knew that Nephi would have to put up with a reluctant Laman and Lemuel.  He knew the power of Laban.  He didn’t know if the Lord might require the life of one or more of his sons in accomplishing this.  We need to remember that Nephi is a young man at this time.  I suppose that Lehi had serious anxieties about this trip and still he unhesitantly said “Go.”

            -There is absolutely no question that the Lord is not pleased with a task met, or commandment received with complaint.  Do we complain about doing our callings?  Are we often heard to say “I have to do my home teaching tonight”?  If we do complain when we are asked to perform a duty, to fulfill a calling, to render service we had better find a way to change our attitude fast!!!  Otherwise we are more like Laman and Lemuel than like Nephi.

1 Nephi 2:23

23  For behold, in that day that they shall ^arebel against me, I will ^bcurse them even with a sore curse, and they shall have no power over thy seed except they shall ^crebel against me also.

    “in that day that they shall rebel…”

            -words indicate a future tense.  Laman and Lemuel had not at this point rejected the Lord.  Yes, they were on the road, but the way was, and would still be, open for their change and form them to make correct choices.

    “I will curse them even with a sore curse”

            -on first reading this sounds like a harsh God.  We can never forget that he is a just God.  He cannot overlook the consequence of laws.  To curse is perhaps the best antonym of to bless.  The absence of blessings is sometimes a heavy curse.  He simply removes his prospering and/or protecting hand and allows eternal consequences to take effect.  Those who rebel against God are simply putting distance between them and Him.  They leave him.  They leave the source of all blessings, progress and power.  Of course Laman and Lemuel will not prosper against Nephi.  Of course their power will fall desperately short of the source of power Nephi is tapped into. 

            -in effect God is simply assuring Nephi that he will honor the consequences of eternal law.  When they rebel, Laman and Lemuel will experience the curse of leaving the prospering power of God.  They will not, they cannot have power of Nephi so long as he remains associated with God.

     “thy seed except they shall rebel against me also.”

            -Nephi’s diligent observance of God’s will was beyond reproach.  Most likely he was self-aware of this fact.  His concern, in light of these warnings from the Lord, must have centered, then, on what to do to help his children and future posterity avoid rebellion. 

1 Nephi 2:22

22  And inasmuch as thou shalt keep my commandments, thou shalt be made a ^aruler and a teacher over thy brethren.

            -Nephi’s preferred position is all dependent on his continual keeping the commandments.  This is the real trick:  to keep the commandments not only in our current situation of life but to continue along the disciple's trajectory and keep the commandments through all possible future scenarios:  in adversity, in prosperity, in our present social circles and in any social, political, financial or emotional context we might find ourselves in.  Unfortunately there are many stories of men and women who at one time were tremendously faithful in keeping the commandments but did not continue as they commenced.  Even the great David –one of the greatest youth this world has ever known—failed to achieve consistency.

      “a ruler” = “a teacher”

            -this comparison is very indicative of what a ruler is.  The modern social and political state of affairs evidence few rulers who are really teachers.  But from the Lord’s perspective –which accords with eternal truth much more than our cultural condition- a ruler is a teacher, a servant!   This relationship also identifies a great responsibility of knowledge and wisdom, else how can a teacher teach that which they do not know?

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