Book of Mormon Feast
An Internet Tour of 1 Nephi 2
1. For behold, it came to pass that the Lord spake unto my father, yea, even in a dream, and said unto him: Blessed art thou Lehi, because of the things which thou hast done; and because thou hast been faithful and declared unto this people the things which I commanded thee, behold, they seek to take away thy life.
What were the implications for the family when the Lord revealed to Lehi that his
fellow-
“Scriptural Meanderings,” Ponderings by Nathaniel Givens
Times and Seasons – Truth Will Prevail
2. And it came to pass that the Lord commanded my father, even in a dream, that he should take his family and depart into the wilderness.
How is our journey through life like the journeys recorded in the scriptures?
“Today I want to focus on a particular kind of travel experience that we read about in the scriptures: a journey into the wilderness. While not all of you will have traveled in an area uninhabited by humans—the definition of wilderness—all of us travel into an unknown future, a figurative wilderness.
By considering our journeys into the wilderness—whether literal, such as a weekend camping trip, or figurative, such as our future—today I will draw upon scripture and my own experiences to discuss how we can prepare now to find our way through the unknown territory through which we will travel in our lives. I believe that by so doing we can derive greater meaning from our own journeys into the wilderness.”
“Our Journey into the Wilderness” -
BYU Devotional, 2009
3. And it came to pass that he was obedient unto the word of the Lord, wherefore he did as the Lord commanded him.
One might well ask: Why was father Lehi picked to lead this group to a promised land? What special qualifications did he have? What was his profession? How poor or wealthy was he? Many thoughtful considerations of the whole Book of Mormon, including 1 Nephi 2.
Learning to Love the Scriptures Series, prepared by Michael J. Preece, M.D.
4. And it came to pass that he departed into the wilderness. And he left his house, and the land of his inheritance, and his gold, and his silver, and his precious things, and took nothing with him, save it were his family, and provisions, and tents, and departed into the wilderness.
Legrand Baker.
5. And he came down by the borders near the shore of the Red Sea; and he traveled in the wilderness in the borders which are nearer the Red Sea; and he did travel in the wilderness with his family, which consisted of my mother, Sariah, and my elder brothers, who were Laman, Lemuel, and Sam.
Why does Nephi list his family members in precisely this spot in the narrative?
“Journey’s Two Phases” -
Hunter’s Castle
6. And it came to pass that when he had traveled three days in the wilderness, he pitched his tent in a valley by the side of a river of water.
7. And it came to pass that he built an altar of stones, and made an offering unto the Lord, and gave thanks unto the Lord our God.
What is the significance of the 3-
Three Days Journey for Sacrifice, by John A. Tvedtnes
Book of Mormon Research
8. And it came to pass that he called the name of the river, Laman, and it emptied into the Red Sea; and the valley was in the borders near the mouth thereof.
Where might the River Laman be?
“The Valley of Lemuel and the River Laman,” by George Potter
9. And when my father saw that the waters of the river emptied into the fountain of the Red Sea, he spake unto Laman, saying: O that thou mightest be like unto this river, continually running into the fountain of all righteousness!
What is the symbolism of the Red Sea in these verses?
Journey Through the Book of Mormon: 1 Nephi 2 (Fountain of All Righteousness)
Symphony of Dissent: The spiritual musings of a Mormon convert from Judaism
10. And he also spake unto Lemuel: O that thou mightest be like unto this valley, firm and steadfast, and immovable in keeping the commandments of the Lord!
KnoWhy #5: Did Lehi Use the Poetry of the Ancient Bedouin?
Book of Mormon Central
11. Now this he spake because of the stiffneckedness of Laman and Lemuel; for behold they did murmur in many things against their father, because he was a visionary man, and had led them out of the land of Jerusalem, to leave the land of their inheritance, and their gold, and their silver, and their precious things, to perish in the wilderness. And this they said he had done because of the foolish imaginations of his heart.
“One of the best-
Nephi and the Exodus, by Terrence L. Szink
12. And thus Laman and Lemuel, being the eldest, did murmur against their father. And they did murmur because they knew not the dealings of that God who had created them.
Lessons from Laman and Lemuel, by Neal L. Maxwell
13. Neither did they believe that Jerusalem, that great city, could be destroyed according to the words of the prophets. And they were like unto the Jews who were at Jerusalem, who sought to take away the life of my father.
14. And it came to pass that my father did speak unto them in the valley of Lemuel, with power, being filled with the Spirit, until their frames did shake before him. And he did confound them, that they durst not utter against him; wherefore, they did as he commanded them.
The Holliedays
15. And my father dwelt in a tent.
BoM Groupies – perusing, pondering, and pattering about the Book of Mormon
16. And it came to pass that I, Nephi, being exceedingly young, nevertheless being large in stature, and also having great desires to know of the mysteries of God, wherefore, I did cry unto the Lord; and behold he did visit me, and did soften my heart that I did believe all the words which had been spoken by my father; wherefore, I did not rebel against him like unto my brothers.
That We Might Know, Elder M. Russell Ballard
Devotional Talk Given at Brigham Young University – Hawaii. 2001
17. And I spake unto Sam, making known unto him the things which the Lord had manifested unto me by his Holy Spirit. And it came to pass that he believed in my words.
Nephi’s Teachings in the Book of Mormon, Noel B. Reynolds
18. But, behold, Laman and Lemuel would not hearken unto my words; and being grieved because of the hardness of their hearts I cried unto the Lord for them.
19. And it came to pass that the Lord spake unto me, saying: Blessed art thou, Nephi, because of thy faith, for thou hast sought me diligently, with lowliness of heart.
20. And inasmuch as ye shall keep my commandments, ye shall prosper, and shall be led to a land of promise; yea, even a land which I have prepared for you; yea, a land which is choice above all other lands.
Just a Mormon
21. And inasmuch as thy brethren shall rebel against thee, they shall be cut off from the presence of the Lord.
“The Presence of the Lord” – Jennifer C. Lane
An examination of “the presence of the Lord” and being “cast off” in the Bible and the Book of Mormon
Religious Studies Center
22. And inasmuch as thou shalt keep my commandments, thou shalt be made a ruler and a teacher over thy brethren.
Becoming a Man of God Like Nephi. Taylor Halverson
Deseret News
23. For behold, in that day that they shall rebel against me, I will curse them even with a sore curse, and they shall have no power over thy seed except they shall rebel against me also.
24. And if it so be that they rebel against me, they shall be a scourge unto thy seed, to stir them up in the ways of remembrance.
“To Stir Them Up in the Ways of Remembrance”: Lamanites and Memory in the Book of Mormon, J.B. Haws
Religious Studies Center