Major themes in the Book of Mormon
In post #3 in this blog from last week, I talked about how the Book of Mormon is like a “beautiful tapestry created by weaving unique lovely threads together, each thread representing the answers to an inspired question that weaves its way through the Book of Mormon.” The same can be said for how major themes in the Book of Mormon are beautifully “woven” through the “tapestry” of the Book to create a lovely “picture” of the Gospel and Doctrine of Christ. Nephi, writing from the wisdom of 30 years perspective and by the power of inspiration as the prophet he is, introduces several of these themes early in the Book of Mormon. Watch for them. In the first chapter of 1st Nephi (see last post), several important themes are introduced that will be followed through the Book of Mormon. Some of those are:
1. The Messiah will come and redeem the world and His people.
2. Prophets receive revelation so they can speak for God and warn the people.
3. The tender mercies are over all those whom the Lord has chosen because of their faith and He will deliver them.
There are more themes that will be introduced in the chapter we will consider in this post. Nephi wants us to know early on what will be important in his writings (and in the whole Book of Mormon) so we can watch for and learn from them.
1st Nephi, Chapter 2
Helpful Links
As you read the Book of Mormon in the Gospel Library app, notice that some important links are provided for you.
First, there is a round circle with an icon of earphones in it in the right lower corner of the page. You can click on that and listen to the Book of Mormon being read to you. When you touch that icon, it opens a control box at the bottom of the page. On the right side of the control box, you’ll see three vertical lines with little hash marks on each, like the slider controls on the front of a radio or other speaker. If you touch that icon, you can control the speed at which the text is read to you, whether it will continuously go on to the next chapter, and whether you want the Main Voice to be male with a female reading the introduction to each chapter, or vice versa.
Second, you’ll noticed a small square icon with a tiny picture inside in the right hand margin adjacent to verse 1. When you tap that icon, it will show a small version of a picture of “Lehi’s Family Leaving Jerusalem” by Scott Snow. Tap on the picture to enlarge it. You will also see a link to a short video “Lehi Counsels with his Family to Leave Jerusalem.” This is a 2:27 minute “segment” (video clip) from a longer “episode” which covers two chapters (1 Nephi 1 and 2) and lasts 18:14 minutes. It is really convenient to be able to toggle from reading and/or listening to the text to these video clips from the excellent Book of Mormon Videos. There are several in this chapter and those that follow, especially chapters that carry the story line forward. It helps to have a good WiFi connection for streaming or downloading these videos, but most people have access to good broadband support these days. Obviously, they can also be viewed via a cellular connection but will consume data to do so and will load more slowly. If I just lost you, ask one of your kids. They get it.
2:1-3 Lehi was obedient!
The Lord speaks to prophets and to us in many different ways. This is neither the first, nor the last time, that the Lord will speak to Lehi in a dream. He spoke to other prophets in dreams, as well. The Lord first told Lehi that He was pleased with him because he had been faithful and declared to the people the things the Lord had commanded him. But now, the Lord commands Lehi to take his family into the wilderness. And Lehi was obedient to the Lord. He inconveniently took his family, left his home, many possessions and his life in Jerusalem and went into the wilderness never to return. That is obedience! We don’t read anything about Lehi delaying, arguing with the Lord, negotiating for a little extra time, asking why he had to go or just rolling over to go back to sleep.
Lehi was a good man and was probably called to be a prophet for many reasons, but one of them appears to be because the Lord knew he would be obedient. The Lord could trust Lehi to do what He asked him to do and to do it now. Joseph Smith once said, “When the Lord commands, do it!” (HC 2:170) Prophets are obedient.
Other fathers have been counseled to leave their home and take their family into the wilderness to protect them. A good example is that of Joseph, husband of Mary, and protector of Jesus. He was warned in a dream to go to Egypt and he promptly went, thus saving the life of her Child. Am I as faithful in listening to the voice of the Spirit and obeying it to guide and bless my family as were Lehi and Joseph? It’s a question for every father to ask himself.
Nephi clearly picked up on the example of his father. He was also obedient. It is definitely an important character trait for him. He first articulates his own desire to be obedient in the oft-quoted verse, 1 Nephi 3:7.
2:4 What do we treasure?
It sounds like Lehi was a wealthy man! He left a lot behind. (His sons later used his wealth to try to get the Brass Plates from Laban.) He had great wealth, but his wealth was not his treasure. His “treasure”, as defined by where his heart was, was his family. He could only take with him what was most precious to him - his family (and a few provisions.) When we are forced to choose, the things of this world are only things. It reminds me of the saying that “He who dies with the most toys - wins!” Someone, much wiser, countered by the saying, “He who dies with the most toys - still dies!” People, especially our family members, are most important to us. They are our treasure. In the long run, all that we will take with us into the next life are our covenant relationships, the truths we have learned and our love for the Lord and many of His children. We won’t take any toys. Lehi is a good example of putting the first things first.
2:5 Lehi’s family
In this verse, Lehi names his wife (Sariah) and his four sons (Laman, Lemuel, Sam and Nephi). But later Nephi refers to his sisters (2 Nephi 5:6). Why didn’t Lehi mention his daughters? Doesn’t he love them, as well? Of course he does! It is the convention of those who wrote in the time of Lehi and Nephi to rarely mention women, perhaps to protect them from the “public eye.” There are only a few women specifically named in the Book of Mormon – Sariah, Abish (a Lamanite servant), and Isabel (a harlot). Three other women are named, but they are Biblical persons – Eve, Sarah and Mary.
We have seven daughters and one son. Without doubt, I love my each of my daughters every bit as much as my son. I’m sure that Lehi loved his daughters just as much as he loved his sons (maybe more, given the behavior of some of his sons – though a parent’s love shouldn’t be conditioned on the behavior of their child). Nephi and Lehi were following the convention of the time in not naming women.
I hope that none of our Father’s precious daughters who read the Book of Mormon feel less loved or cherished than His sons. From the Proclamation on the Family, “All human beings, male and female, are created in the image of God. Each is a beloved spirit son or daughter of heavenly parents.” Church leaders have recently taken important steps to help the sisters of the Church to feel more included. You’ve probably noticed that in General Conference talks recently the Brethren will often speak of “men and women” when previously reference to “men” was meant to infer reference to “women” as well. Some inspired, inclusive adjustments have been made in the sacred text and ordinances in holy temples to make women feel more loved and cherished. I’m sure Lehi, like our Father in Heaven, loved his daughters every bit as much as he loved his sons.
This verse also introduces another major theme of the Book of Mormon – families. In many ways, the Book of Mormon is a book about families – husbands and wives, parents and children, siblings. There are many meaningful family relationships in the Book of Mormon that teach us important lessons – Lehi and Sariah, Nephi and his brothers, Enos and his father Jacob, Alma and his father Alma, Alma the Younger and his sons, Nephi and Lehi, brothers who were prophets near the time of Christ, Mormon and his son Moroni, to name a few. The Book of Mormon teaches us a lot about families!
2:6 Three days in the wilderness
Keep in mind how far away from Jerusalem the Lehi colony was when they were sent back for the plates of Laban and again when they were sent back for the family of Ishmael. They were three days journey in the wilderness (in the desert). And desert travel was not easy! If they were making a journey in the car from Salt Lake City going east, a three day journey would mean they were driving to Chicago or farther each time they went back. And their journey was not air conditioned!
2:7 Why was Lehi grateful?
When they arrived in the valley by the river three days journey from Jerusalem, Lehi built an offering of stones and gave thanks. Lehi had left his home, his many possessions and the city he loved and traveled three difficult days in a barren wilderness with his family, some of whom didn’t want to go with him. Why is he grateful? Why did he build an alter and offer sacrifices?
There are several possible answers, but I believe he was grateful because he knew that the Lord had saved his family by warning them to leave Jerusalem. I suspect he was grateful because they got away without being followed and made it that far through the wilderness. And I suspect he was grateful because his older sons, though not excited about this journey, at least followed him. He was grateful because his family was together and, at least for now, they were safe. And that’s enough to make any father grateful!
2:8-10 Why did the river and the valley have different names?
Why did Lehi name the river Laman and the valley Lemuel? In our world, a valley is named for the river which runs through it. But in this Middle Eastern desert world, the rivers don’t run all year, only at certain times when there are rains. So the valley is always there and gets one name (Lemuel) and the river is sometimes there and gets a different name (Laman.)
This is another of the subtle but sure internal evidences of the truth of the Book of Mormon. If Joseph Smith (or anyone else) had “made up” the Book of Mormon, there is no way he would have known to give the river and the valley different names.
Interestingly, there is a video on the Book of Mormon Central website which shows pictures of a narrow valley which leads into the Gulf of Aqaba with a “perennial” river, i.e. one that apparently runs all year. This was discovered by some LDS researchers in 1995. Here is the link: https://youtu.be/v2_nNJ97Ohk
Maybe this is the river for which Laman was named and which prompted his father Lehi to encourage him to be “like unto this river, continually running into the fountain of all righteousness.” But Lehi could still have used the typical convention of the locale of giving different names to a river and the valley in which it runs.
2:10 Firm, steadfast and immovable
These are the three characteristics Lehi hoped his second son Lemuel would be inspired to have by comparing him to the valley in which they were camped. Unfortunately, Lemuel followed the pattern of his older brother, Laman, and was “none of the above.”
These same three attributes were applied to a small minority of the people who remained faithful a few years before the appearance of Christ. In 3 Nephi 6:14, we read that all had become wicked “save it were among a few of the Lamanites who were converted unto the true faith; and they would not depart from it, for they were firm, and steadfast, and immovable, willing with all diligence to keep the commandments of the Lord.”
Pres. Nelson has warned of difficult times to come and that we will not be able to make it through the coming times on borrowed light. Are we truly converted? Will we be firm, steadfast and immovable? Let’s hope so!
2:11-12 Why did they murmur?
Laman and Lemuel were the kings of murmuring! This is the introduction of another major theme in the Book of Mormon – the wicked murmur against the Lord. In the case of these two sons, it led to their eventually wanting to kill their father and their brother.
Why did they murmur? The next verse is the best explanation of why Laman and Lemuel murmured. They just didn’t get it! Their hearts were hard and they didn’t believe in God or understand His dealings with His children. “They knew not the dealings of that God who had created them.” So none of what was happening to them and their family made sense - the prophecies and visions of their father, the need to leave Jerusalem, the purpose of their journey in the wilderness, etc.
The best way for us to make sense of our lives and deal with the challenges we have is to see the hand of the Lord in our lives, in both the big things and the little things, and to recognized the pattern of how He teaches, leads and blesses us. He truly is in the details of our lives. He doesn’t take away our agency, but He micromanages His world by being intimately close to His children through the ministrations of the Spirit.
Our challenge is to learn to recognize His hand in our lives and follow His lead. If we will give our lives to Him, He’ll make much more of them than we can possibly do by trying to figure it out on our own. And life will make much more sense. When adversity comes, we won’t murmur, like Laman and Lemuel, but will accept, learn and go forward.
2:14 Their frames did shake
Count the times when Laman and Lemuel had dramatic spiritual experiences, like this one, when they felt the power of the Lord and the Spirit. Each time, they change their behavior briefly, but quickly lose focus and go back to doing what they do best – murmuring against the Lord. How quickly they forget!
2:15 Why is it significant that Lehi dwelt in a tent?
This is the shortest verse in the Book of Mormon. For those who have made a commitment to read at least one verse of the Book of Mormon every day, this verse is a life-saver. It can be read (or repeated from memory) in about 3 seconds.
So why did Nephi make such a big deal of the fact that his father “dwelt in a tent”? I don’t know for sure, but we can wonder.
Maybe it was because Lehi had been a relatively wealthy man back in Jerusalem with a lovely home and possessions. Maybe his father had never dwelt in a tent before so it was pretty amazing. It would be like our kids saying, “Dad went fishing” or “Dad went golfing.” It would be remarkable because I don’t fish or golf! In Lehi’s case, it would be evidence of his humility and willingness to do what the Lord commanded that he actually “dwelt in a tent.” Are we willing to leave our comfort zone to follow the commandments of the Lord and counsel of His prophets? Of course I am, unless He asks me to go fishing!
Another possibility is that there is some cultural significance to dwelling in a tent. Maybe Lehi was a trader and often traveled to buy and sell and he lived in a tent when he did. Maybe it is evidence that Lehi was prepared for this journey by previous experiences. Maybe it somehow relates to the Nomadic people of the region. Maybe it is saying that Lehi is now like the sheiks of the Nomadic people and that he is “king” of his “tent.” Someday, maybe we’ll get to ask Nephi about this little verse, then we’ll know for sure.
2:16 How did Nephi respond to the challenges in his family?
We learn in verse 12 that Laman and Lemuel responded to the challenges to their family by murmuring because they didn’t understand the workings of the Lord in their lives. And because they didn’t ask to understand. In the Book of Mormon record, we are often given the opportunity to contrast Nephi’s response in different situations to that of his oldest two brothers. This is a good example of that comparison. By contrast, Nephi had “great desires” and “cried unto the Lord”. In response, the Lord “visited” him and softened his heart. We don’t know if he actually saw the Lord (Jehovah, the premortal Jesus Christ) at this time, but we know that the Lord somehow answered Nephi’s righteous prayer in a meaningful, personal way. The result was that Nephi believed and didn’t rebel. He also convinced his brother Sam to follow their father (v. 17).
If we have great desires for righteousness and cry unto the Lord in faith, He will “visit” us, usually by the power of His spirit, and will teach us in our minds and in our hearts (D&C 8:2) so that we will understand His doings in our lives and in the world around us and we will be comforted. We will also then be in a position to lead those around us in righteousness, as Nephi led his brother Sam.
2:17 We can be like Sam!
None of us is ever likely to become a prophet, like Lehi or Nephi, but we can be like Sam! We can follow those who are prophets, even if the prophet happens to be his father or his brother, as in Sam’s case. Sam believed in the words of his brother Nephi. We don’t hear much about Sam in the Book of Mormon. From the few references to Sam that we do have, it appears that he remained righteous and loyal to his brother, Nephi. Most of us will never be a Nephi, but we can all be a Sam!
2:18 Nephi prayed for his brethren
In distinction to Sam, Nephi’s brothers Laman and Lemuel didn’t believe him when he tried to tell them of the assurances he had received from the Lord. What was Nephi’s response? He “cried unto the Lord for them.” Many of us have family members whom we love but are making choices that we regret. We can follow Nephi’s example and pray for them. In his case, it didn’t seem to do much good, but it is a reflection of his heart that, at least, he tried.
Near the end of the Book of Mormon, Moroni, the last prophet-writer of the Book, includes a letter from his father Mormon which he treasured for over 20 years. In that letter, Mormon counsels his son Moroni about what their attitude ought to be regarding those who have rejected the Lord. He said:
And now, my beloved son, notwithstanding their hardness, let us labor diligently; for if we should cease to labor, we should be brought under condemnation; for we have a labor to perform whilst in this tabernacle of clay, that we may conquer the enemy of all righteousness, and rest our souls in the kingdom of God.
(Moroni 9:6)
We never give up on those we love regardless of their choices!
2:19-24 The Lord’s promises to Nephi
In response to his heart-felt pleadings for his brethren, Nephi says “the Lord spake unto me.” Nephi learned young in life (He was probably only between the ages of 15 and 18 - old enough to be large in stature but still be “exceedingly young”) and yet he had learned to listen to the voice of the Lord. He had learned the language of the Spirit.
Most of you reading this blog, including myself, have been confirmed a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints – many at age 8, some later in life. Each of us heard the words at the time of our confirmation, “receive the Holy Ghost.” We spend the rest of our lives trying to “receive the Holy Ghost”, i.e. to learn how to recognize and listen to the promptings, the warnings, the messages, the revelations and the companionship of the third member of the Godhead, the Holy Ghost. Nephi learned young. Young or old, it is the quest of a lifetime for each of us to learn the language of the Spirit so we can truly “receive” the Holy Ghost.
The Lord then goes on make powerful promises to Nephi that predict major themes of the Book of Mormon: (1) He will be led to a land of promise. (2) His brethren (Laman and Lemuel) will rebel and will be cut off from the presence of the Lord. (3) Nephi will be made a ruler and a teacher over his brethren. (4) His brethren will be cursed because of their rebellion. (5) His brethren will have no power over his seed (the Nephites) if they are righteous. But if his descendants become wicked, the descendants of his brethren (the Lamanites) will be a scourge to them. These promises of the Lord set the stage for much of the story and the drama of the Book of Mormon.
Final note:
Thanks for reading this far through just one chapter in the Book of Mormon, 1st Nephi Chapter 2. I won’t have time to write in this much detail about each chapter (you’ll be grateful for that!), but I wanted to illustrate how we can read these scriptures. They can come to life for us! These are real people! They are leading real lives! They didn’t have a script. They had never read the book. They were trying to figure it out for themselves and find their way through life and its challenges – just like we are. And we can learn so much from them. Later on, Nephi will admonish us to “liken all scriptures unto us, that it might be for our profit and learning.” (1 Nephi 19:23) The Book of Mormon was written for us by prophets who saw our day. Let’s let the stories of these people teach us by their lives how to better live our own.
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