Redeemer of Israel, Nephi's and Isaiah's Delight (1 Nephi 20, Isaiah 48)

I don't have a picture of it, but, like this story of a man who was saved from a bullet by his Bible during the Civil War, there is a similar story of a man being shot in his Book of Mormon in World War 1.  The man had his BOM in his shirt pocket when the bullet struck it square in the middle.  The bullet's aim was for his heart.  It entered through the faux leather cover, sliced through the introduction, testimonies of the witnesses, and title page, and ripped through 1st Nephi.  Miraculously, it stopped at 1 Nephi chapter 20.  After recovering from the shock of his experience, the man examined his BOM closely, trying to understand.  When he saw where the bullet had come to a stop he figured it out immediately.  How many times had he started through the Book of Mormon, only to be stopped by Isaiah. 

Warning:  While the cool Civil War photo and story may be true, the story that follows it about World War 1 is fiction, and was completely made up by the author for the purpose of allegorical humor.  My apologies to those of you who swallowed it whole, and who so desperately wanted to believe it.  I'm sure something like this happened some time.  Let's just say that the BOM and The Bible have saved a lot of lives. 

College days.  In the common TV room watching Bonanza. Circa 1993

Note from Mr. John Barney, author, clown and noted relaxation expert!

1 Nephi 20 is the the first of many chapters in the BOM taken from the book of Isaiah, whose writings were a part of the brass plates Lehi's family brought with them.  Nephi loves Isaiah, but acknowledges that he is difficult to understand for those who never lived at Jerusalem, or who were not familiar with the culture there.  You might expect me to study and research the deep meanings of Isaiah for my blog so's I can write more intelectualler about him.  Well, I am not doing that for the following reasons:

1. I'm way too lazy for something like that.
2. This blog isn't supposed to be about deep scholarship, but about building a better understanding of the surface.
3. Even if I went and bought me a big Isaiah book by Hugh Nibley or somebody, I still don't think I would get the things that I don't get, at least, not with enough understanding to write about it.  So's anywayz.

On to Isaiah

1 Nephi 19: 23 (Nephi speaking)

23.  And I did read many things unto them which were written in the books of Moses; but that I might more fully persuade them to believe in The Lord their Redeemer I did read unto them that which was written by the prophet Isaiah; for I did liken all scriptures unto us, that it might be for our profit and learning.

Some chapters from Isaiah have plain and obvious prophecies and testimonies of Jesus Christ (like Isaiah 53 for example), while in others, the meaning is harder to see.  Let's take them one at a time...

In 1 Nephi 20 (Isaiah 48) the confusion starts right away.

1 Nephi 20: 1-5

1.  Hearken and hear this, O house of Jacob, who are called by the name of Israel, and are come forth out of the waters of Judah, or out of the waters of baptism, who swear by the name of The Lord, and make mention of The God of Israel, yet they swear not in truth nor in righteousness.

(Hypocrisy is something that really seems to get on The Lord's nerves) 

2.  Nevertheless, they call themselves of the holy city, but they do not stay themselves upon the God of Israel, who is The Lord of Hosts; yea, the Lord of Hosts is His name.

(main·stay/ˈmānˌstā/

Noun:

A stay that extends from the maintop to the foot of the foremast of a sailing ship. A thing on which something else is based or depends: "whitefish are the mainstay of the local industry".)

3.  Behold, I have declared the former things from the beginning; and they went forth out of my mouth, and I showed them, I did show them suddenly.

(I revealed the gospel to you quite plainly)

4.  And I did it because I knew that thou art obstinate, and thy neck is an iron sinew, and they brow brass.

(Iron sinew = stiff necks = pride = hard to teach)

5.  And I have even from the beginning declared to thee; before it came to pass I showed them thee; and I showed them for fear lest thou shouldst say -Mine idol hath done them, and my graven image, and my molten image hath commanded them.

( I like that verse 5 thing.  Prophets prophecy of things to come so that when they do come, you know for sure that the Prophet, whose real job is to testify of Christ and His gospel, is a prophet, and, therefore, inspired by The Lord)

I like this next part.  This is what I see in there.  If you see something else or different, feel free to add to or take away from in the comments...

1 Nephi 20: 8-11

8.  Yea, and thou heardest not; yea, thou knewest not; yea, from that time thine ear was not opened; for I knew that thou wouldst deal very treacherously, and was called a transgressor from the womb.

I believe this verse is talking about The Fall, and the effects of it that were a consequence of the righteous choice Adam & Eve made in the Garden of Eden.  "A transgressor from the womb", or subject to the weaknesses of the flesh.  The Lord knew of the difficulty His children would have remaining an obedient people.

 9.  Nevertheless, for my name's sake will I defer mine anger, and for my praise will I refrain from thee, that I cut thee not off.

OK, so He taught Israel what to do, but they tended to be disobedient.  He knew they were a weak people because He understands man's weaknesses.  He will be patient in His judgment for a while, and not pronounce them a lost cause.  He will continue to give them His word through His prophets.

10.  For, behold, I have refined thee, I have chosen thee in the furnace of affliction.

Hard times came upon them.  They were conquered, re-conquered, held as slaves in Egypt for 400 years, conquered again, etc., but this will make them a chosen people again, hopefully.

11.  For mine own sake, yea, for mine own sake will I do this, for I will not suffer my name to be polluted, and I will not give my glory unto another.  

The old testament just has a strange way of putting things sometimes.  For The Lord's sake (not ours?) will he be patient in judgment, but allow some pretty tough trials. For "His Name's sake" will He allow their world to be a challenge for them.  The Old Testament sometimes can make The Lord appear like He is saying something self-centered.  Since we KNOW that He is NOT self-centered, we examine the wording more closely.  And, "I will not give my glory unto another."  What comes to your mind when you read that?  To me, it is when Satan argues against Our Heavenly Father's Plan, and wants the glory for himself.  Christ's answer is:  "Glory be to The Father!"  So, I see this as a restatement of His victory over Satan and sin.  His glory is to bring us salvation and exhaltation.  He will not give up on us.

Tolstoy Ploughing -by Ilya Repin

Back in Genesis where The Lord is dealing with Adam and Eve's decision to transgress His commandment, The Lord said, "...cursed is the ground for thy sake; in sorrow shalt thou eat of it all the days of thy life." (Gen 3:17).  We have an understanding that the consequences given to Adam and Eve were for "their sake", His efforts in helping them come back into His presence and receive Eternal Life.

So, in saying "For Mine Own sake" and "for My Name's sake", The Lord is really saying the same thing, isn't He?  The Lord's work and glory is to bring about our salvation, so if He's not successful, it was all for nothing.  His Name, Jesus Christ, is The Name given under heaven which will bring that salvation.  "For His Name's sake" is just that: for the sake of bringing us salvation.  Does that sound right to you.  That's just my thoughts on that.

Many parts of the Isaiah chapters are still beyond my level of the know.  Sometimes I'll read through a whole chapter and not really get most of it, but a couple of verses will stand out on their own and speak something to me.  If you are one of the trillions of us who don't understand Isaiah, read it anyway. 

Remember how we're supposed to be looking for principles as we read through the BOM?  Here's one from Isaiah:

1 Nephi 20: 18

18.  O that thou hadst hearkened to My commandments -then had thy peace been as a river, and thy righteousness as the waves of the sea.

Isn't that a cool way of putting it.  Righteousness as the waves of the sea.  Peace as a river.  That's the reward for obedience.  The consequence for disobedience:

1 Nephi 20: 22

22.  And notwithstanding he hath done all this, and greater also, there is no peace, saith The Lord, unto the wicked.

 

Christ reading from Isaiah -by Greg Olsen

1 Nephi 20: 20

20.  ... with a voice of singing declare ye, tell this, utter to the end of the earth; say ye: The Lord hath redeemed His servant Jacob.

I love this.  Over 700 years before Christ's birth, Isaiah declared the victory His, the victory Ours.

Peace like a river be with you...

Lost and scattered, gathered and loved (1 Nephi 19)

So, I went to Gospel Doctrine class last Sunday for the first time this year because of being involved in a Family History class.  When the teach says, "We're going to talk about 4 Josephs today", I knew my well intended intention of keeping ahead of the Sunday School curriculum was in a lost and fallen state.  I shoulda figured.  This BOM blog is going to take me a couple of years at least. They're already in 2nd Nephi.

I can't fight City Hall.  We are where we are...

...and we are in 1 Nephi 19. In this chapter we find out the reason we have this chapter.

1 Nephi 19: 1-3

1.  And it came to pass that The Lord commanded me, wherefore I did make plates of ore that I might engraven upon them the record of my people.  And upon the plates which I made I did engraven the record of my father, and also our journeyings in the wilderness, and the prophecies of my father; and also many of mine own prophecies have I engraven upon them.

2.  And I knew not at the time when I made them that I should be commanded of The Lord to make these plates; wherefore, the record of my father, and the genealogy of his fathers, and the more part of all our proceedings in the wilderness are engraven upon those first plates of which I have spoken; wherefore, the things which transpired before I made these plates are, of a truth, more particularly made mention upon the first plates.

3.  And after I had made these plates by way of commandment, I, Nephi, received a commandment that the ministry and the prophecies, the more plain and precious parts of them, should be written upon these plates; and that the things which were written should be kept for the instruction of my people, who should possess the land, and also for other wise purposes, which purposes are known unto The Lord.

I've never read this book.

Nephi made 2 sets of plates. One (the larger plates), Nephi says, gives a greater account of their experiences, and gives a record of Lehi's geneology.  All of that was in the Book of Lehi, which was lost by Joseph Smith and Martin Harris after the first 116 pages were translated.  The other (the smaller plates) were for the purpose of recording their gospel doings, their prophecies, and the plain and precious things that The Lord revealed to them.

Painting taken from this website

Here's an example of what Nephi was talking about when he said "the more plain and precious parts", which would be for the instruction of his people (his descendants) and for us:

1 Nephi 19: 8-10

8.  And behold He cometh, according to the words of the angel, in six hundred years from the time my father left Jerusalem.

9.  And the world, because of their iniquity, shall judge Him to be a thing of naught; wherefore they scourge Him, and He suffereth it; and they smite Him, and He suffereth it. Yea, they spit upon Him, and He suffereth it, because of His loving kindness and His long-suffering towards the children of men.

10.  And the God of our fathers, who were led out of Egypt, out of bondage, and also were preserved in the wilderness by Him, yea, the God of Abraham, and of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, yieldeth himself, according to the words of the angel, as a man, into the hands of wicked men, to be lifted up, according to the words of Zenock, and to be crucified, according to the words of Neum, and to be buried in a sepulchre, according to the words of Zenos, which he spake concerning the three days of darkness, which should be a sign given of his death unto those who should inhabit the isles of the sea, more especially given unto those who are of the house of Israel.

I love these verses and others like them that describe some of what the atonement did to The Savior, and I love the simple explanation as to why He was willing to suffereth such things: Because of His loving kindness towards the children of men.   Loving kindness.  I really like that.  If there is anything about The Savior that I would strive to emulate, it's His loving kindness.  My strivings, although they may yield some, small victories, fall flat on their face most of the time, but it's the very nature of His loving kindness that both helps me in my success and suffers long my inadequacies.  I love Jesus Christ very much.

I like looking words up that I think I know the meanings of, but may not fully get:

 naught/nôt/

Noun:	The digit 0; zero.
Pronoun:	Nothing: "he's naught but a worthless fool".
Adjective:	Worthless; useless.
Synonyms:	noun.  nil - nought - nothing - zero - cipher - nix - cypher adjective.  worthless - nugatory - useless - vain - valueless

 scourge/skərj/

Noun:	A whip used as an instrument of punishment.
Verb:	Whip (someone) as a punishment.
Synonyms:	noun.  whip - plague - lash - pest verb.  whip - flog - lash - flagellate - castigate - punish

	(these lines were brought to you by the inefficiencies of blogger)

Definition of SUFFER

transitive verb

1: to submit to or be forced to endure <suffer martyrdom> b : to feel keenly : labor under <suffer thirst

2: to put up with especially as inevitable or unavoidable

So, the reason we have 1 Nephi 19 is because The Lord commanded Nephi to make a 2nd set of plates just in case, sometime in the future, Joseph Smith and Martin Harris lose the Book of Lehi. Wow, I'm glad that worked out.

Warning:  No violations of D&C 89 were committed during the placement of this segway

The House of Israel

A major theme of the BOM and all scripturedom is the scattering and gathering of Israel.  At the time the BOM was written, the scattering is still in progress.  There were 2 kingdoms in Palastine when Lehi's family left, Judah in the south and Israel in the north.  Israel was a combination of a few tribes that were brought together by King Saul and then more so by King David.  Lehi lived in the Kingdom of Judah, but found that he was actually a part of the tribe of Joseph when he read the brass plates. 

Keep that in mind when we start getting into the Isaiah chapters (insert scream here).

This verse is a prophecy of Zenos Nephi writes about the future of the tribe of Judah, or Jews:

1 Nephi 19: 13-15

13.  And as for those who are at Jerusalem, saith the prophet, they shall be scourged by all people, because they crucify the God of Israel, and turn their hearts aside, rejecting signs and wonders, and the power and glory of The God of Israel.

14.  And because they turn their hearts aside, saith the prophet, and have despised the Holy One of Israel, they shall wander in the flesh, and perish, and become a hiss and a byword, and be hated among all nations.

15.  Nevertheless, when that day cometh, saith the prophet, that they no more turn aside their hearts against the Holy One of Israel, then will he remember the covenants which he made to their fathers.

I need to say something here that I feel very strongly about.  I feel strongly about it because of some people's beliefs expressed to me in the past regarding the Jews deserving what history has done to them.  I cannot believe and refuse to accept that there is any truth in that.  I believe what happened to the Jews was absolutely not inflicted upon them by God, but by man in his most wicked and sinful state.  To bring something about and to prophecy of something are two distinctly different things.  I guess I'll leave it at that, except to give you 2 words in opposition to the words "sin" and "wicked":

Loving Kindness

-Carl Bloch

Peace be with you...

Take from me this heart of stone (1 Nephi 15, part 1)

Nephi is sleepy.

This is a very common experience after a major spiritual experience.  Here's some examples...:

Moses 1: 9-10

9.  And the presence of God withdrew from Moses, that his glory was not upon Moses; and Moses was left unto himself.  And as he was left unto himself, he fell unto the earth.
10.  And it came to pass that it was for the space of many hours before Moses did again receive his natural strength like unto man...

Joseph Smith History: 20 and 48

20. ...When I came to myself again, I found myself lying on my back, looking up into heaven.  When the light had departed, I had no strength...

48.  ...I shortly after [Moroni's visit] arose from my bed, and, as usual, went to the necessary labors of the day; but, in attempting to work as at other times, I found my strength so exhausted as to render me entirely unable.  ... in attempting to cross the fence out of the field where we were, my strength entirely failed me, and I fell helpless on the ground, and for a time was quite unconscious of anything.

Aha!  This explains why I can't make it through my Sunday meet'ns without nodding off.

Anywayz, Nephi was tired when he came back to camp after his multi-chapter vision.  And, considering what the vision had shown him about his brothers and the difficulties these two knuckleheads would pass along to their kids, it must have been disheartening when he returned to find his brothers arguing again.  Don't worry, he took a nap before dealing with them.

1 Nephi 15: 6

6.  And it came to pass that after I had received strength I spake unto my brethren, desiring to know of them the cause of their disputations.

Turns out, they had the very same questions that Nephi had.  The difference was, Nephi prayed for answers while Laman and Lemuel tried to figure it out for themselves.  This brought about Nephi's infamous solution to all such problems:

1 Nephi 15: 8

8.  And I said unto them: Have ye inquired of The Lord?

Their answer really tried Nephi's patience:

1 Nephi 15: 9

9.  And they said unto me: We have not; for the Lord maketh no such thing known unto us.

What grieves Nephi about his brothers, and what I want to talk a little bit about, is the state of their hearts.  In scripture language, one who is sensitive to the Spirit or is charitable toward his fellows has a "soft heart", while one who is insensitive, disobedient, and/or mean is said to have a hard heart.  For example:  "Pharaoh did harden his heart, therefore he would not let the children of Israel go." 

Story Time!!!

I remember one time when this heart metaphor really struck me.  I was singing with this stake choir in Cincinnati, preparing for an Easter cantata.  Our music leader had composed and written all of our songs over a period of nearly 10 years.  These songs were steeped in the scriptures, and helped me see things that I'm not sure if I ever would have seen otherwise.  There was a song in there in which the bass line soloed:

"Take from me this heart of stone; make it flesh, even as Thine own."

You may wonder why this simple phrase would stir within me so much.  Well, I don't know if you've ever been involved in a choir that was learning all new and technical (for me) music, but it's a process.  You stumble through your part, trying to learn the words, the pitch, the cues, etc, and it's not for 5 or 6 practices that you finally start to listen to and internalize what you're singing.  Wow, those songs were so inspired.  She (Natalie McKasson) surely received them by revelation.

So ya see, the process of learning 9 songs for our performance brought a spiritual awakening to my own heart, making the above phrase very personal for me.  Singing with that choir remains one of my top 4 spiritual experiences ever.

So, let's get back to some scipturizing.  When reading the scriptures, I try to look for principles.  Remember, a principle is a formula from The Lord, which, if applied, will result in a promised blessing.  It can also be a formula from The Lord describing behavior contrary to His will, which, if not changed, will result in a heap of trouble.

1 Nephi 15: 3

3.  For he [Lehi] truly spake many great things unto them, which were hard to be understood, save a man should inquire of the Lord; and they being hard in their hearts, therefore they did not look unto The Lord as they ought.

• One Indication of a hard heart:  Not looking unto The Lord as you ought.

1 Nephi 15: 10

10.  Behold, I said unto them: How is it that ye do not keep the commandments of The Lord? How is it that ye will perish, because of the hardness of your hearts?

• One Result of a not looking unto The Lord as you ought:  Not understanding the gospel.
• One Result of not understanding the gospel:  Not keeping the commandments of The Lord. 
• One Consequence of not keeping the commandments of The Lord:  Therefore, ye will perish.

1 Nephi 15: 11

11.  Do ye not remember the things which The Lord hath said? -If ye will not harden your hearts, and ask me in faith, believing that ye shall receive, with diligence in keeping my commandments, surely these things shall be made known unto you.

• One Indication of a soft heart:  You will pray to The Lord in faith, believe that you WILL receive an answer, and keep His commandments diligently.
• One Blessing of praying in faith, believing you WILL receive an answer, and keeping His commandments diligently:  He will reveal awesome things to you.

Personal observation and criticism: 
I have a heart of stone.  I think that way because of my quickness to anger, quickness to judge others, limited resources of patience that run out way too quickly, my lack of faith that I WILL receive an answer, and etc. etc.

Personal goal:
Join forces with The Lord in chiseling away the rocky ridges of my heart.  This must be a combined effort.  The choice of obedience is mine, but the ability to triumph over my own weaknesses comes from Him.  The effort to pray is mine.  The resulting increase in my faith comes from Him.  I can work on having more charity.  Only He can enable this process.  Ya see?  It's like this guy named Robert Millet said:  "Jesus is perfect.  I am imperfect.  Together, we are perfect."

Ezekiel 11: 19-20

19.  And I will give them one heart, and I will put a new spirit within you; and I will take the stony heart out of their flesh, and will give them an heart of flesh:
20.  That they may walk in my statues, and keep mine ordinances, and do them: and they shall be my people, and I will be their God.

Like I've said before, I hate it when I see how stupid Laman and Lemuel are and then realize I'm so much like them in many ways.

"Take from me this heart of stone; make it flesh, even as Thine own."

To be continued...
Peace be with you

Visions of Sugar Plums (1 Nephi 7-8)



We left off in chapter 7 where Nephi was lecturing Laman and them guys again because they were, once again, arguing about abandoning their cause and returning to live in Jerusalem.  Nephi's high and mighty lectures to his older brothers were often done at great peril to his own safety.  This time, Laman and those that listened to him decided to kill Nephi (again, yawn). 

1 Nephi 7: 16-20.

16.  And it came to pass that when I, Nephi, had spoken these words unto my brethren, they were angry with me.  And it came to pass that they did lay their hands upon me, for behold, they were exceedingly wroth, and they did bind me with cords, for they sought to take away my life, that they might leave me in the wilderness to be devoured by wild beasts.

17.  But it came to pass that I prayed unto The Lord, saying:  O Lord, according to my faith which is in thee, wilt thou deliver me from the hands of my brethren; yea, even give me strength that I may burst these bands with which I am bound.

18.  And it came to pass that when I had said these words, behold, the bands were loosed from off my hands and feet, and I stood before my brethren, and I spake unto them again.

19.  And it came to pass that they were angry with with me again, and sought to lay hands upon me; but behold, one of the daughters of Ishmael, yea, and also her mother and one of the sons of Ishmael, did plead with my brethren, insomuch that they did soften their hearts; and they did cease striving to take away my life.

You might remember a few posts back where I gave an opinion on the mental stability of Nephi's brother Laman.  I said something to the effect that, in my opinion, Laman may have been bi-polar or schizophrenic.  It's in verse 20 of chapter 7 that the idea first occurred to me.

20.  And it came to pass that they were sorrowful, because of their wickedness, insomuch that they did bow down before me, and did plead with me that I would forgive them of the thing that they had done against me.

This behavior may seem nice and not so nuts as I'm sayin', but Jiminy Cricket, is it normal to go from calm to angry to murderous to begging Nephi for forgiveness, only to repeat this pattern again and again.  "Do calm and murder go together?  Calm and murder!?  Murder!?" (That's a movie quote from Don Knotts in "The Ghost & Mr. Chicken")  Well, I'm kidding about the mental illness stuff, of course, but how flip floppy can you be and not be a politician?

 

But, Nephi's no fool, no sirree.  He's gonna live to be 103.  Well, maybe not 103, but he's no fool.  Did you see that faith?  "According to my faith in Thee, give me strength to burst these bands with which I am bound."  Is there a principle there?  Yup, and it's a meaty one:  If we have faith in The Lord, He will strengthen us so that we can have power over those things that bind us down, and be able to stand before any opposition.  Whatchya think?

Chapter 8 is Lehi's dream of the Tree of Life.  I was having a good dream this morning when my alarm went off at 7:35, blowing the characters to smitherines and grinding the details into powder.  I rarely remember my dreams.  I'm glad Lehi remembered this one, and wrote it down for us.  And, I'm glad that Nephi wrote it down again (for a reason he knew not). 

 LEHI'S DREAM

Lehi's dream has been talked about, told about, taught about, written about, thought about, read about, even dreamed about 6 billion times (give or take a few hundred).  I've been wondering how I should approach it.  What keeps coming to my mind is the fact that if you take a look at my life at some random moment of my past, you will find me in different places within this dream, taking part in the plot sometimes as one type of character, and other times as anudder.  The dream isn't divided merely into those who make it to the tree of life and those who don't.  I have said that I hope that I can be a Nephi and not a Laman, but there are many levels in between these two.  Maybe I should have said that I hope that I can be a man who is more like Nephi than Laman (a lot more), and I am.  I punched my brother in the chin once 'cause he was teasing me, but I've never bound him with strong cords and left him in the wilderness to be devoured by wild beasts.

I guess I'll talk about where I am (or have been) on the path, and you can think about where you are.  Also try to remember where you were 5 years ago, and where you are determined to be 5 years from now.

Lehi talked of several different types of people in his dream, some walking on the path, others wandering away from it.  I used to question where I was on this path & how close was I getting to the tree, thinking in terms of FINALLY arriving at the goal of partaking of the fruit.  That was dumb.  I have already partaken of the fruit, and have done so many times, which is both a good thing and a bad thing.  But, let's discuss the players in the story...

Lehi:  He didn't see the path.  He was walking aimlessly through a dark and dreary wasteland.  Getting a little worried, he prayed for mercy.  After he prayed he found himself in a big field with a tree in it.  He went to the tree and picked some fruit and ate it.  It was delicious, and filled his entire soul (body and spirit -D & C 88: 15) with exceedingly great joy.  Wow!  That's a lot o' joy. 

Nephi, Sam & Sariah:  They were, as my brother Bob likes to say from his Navy days, milling about smartly, not knowing which way to go.  The Prophet of The Lord called to them and told them the way.  They followed him to the tree and ate 'em some yummy fruit.  And there was much rejoicing.

Laman and Lemuel:  Like their brothers and Mom, they didn't know where to go either.  The Prophet of The Lord called to them and told them the way.  They didn't follow.

I took this photo after Emilie and I had driven the very steep road (16% grade) out of Black Canyon National Park in the fog.  Scary.

Others A:  These came to the path and started following it toward the tree, but then it got all foggy and they lost their way.  When you get lost, you should stop where you are and call out for help.  They didn't do that.  They just kept walking into the fog and got more loster.

Others B:  These more savvy folks started following the path, but when it got foggy, they grabbed the handy guard rail that ran along the length of the path, and found the tree.  After tasting the fruit, however, because the world made fun of them, they got embarrassed and walked away.  It says they went into forbidden paths.  That seems to be a bigger deal to me, over just being lost.  The difference may be that they tasted the fruit, and so they knew what it was and where it was, and chose to leave it.  Having read and understood the scriptures (handy guard rail, or Iron Rod as Lehi likes to call it) they decided to follow forbidden paths knowing where they led.  Man, I don't ever want to be an Others B.  But, of course, I have, in a way.

Fine dressed people in the building:  Lehi noticed a huge building sort of near the tree, but floating up in the air.  It was filled with men, women, both old and young.  They pointed and laughed at people having a sweet lunch of fruit snacks under a nice tree.  Others B, for some reason, felt shame from being ridiculed, and up and left.  I wonder what the fruit tasted like to Others B?  Was it sweet above all that was sweet, and filled their souls with exceedingly great joy?  Was it easy for them to walk away because it didn't do much for them?  In my opinion, to those who tasted the fruit, it was sweet, it was delicious, and it made them happy.  Whatever influence it was that made them decide to leave, they most likely suffered from the dreaded syndrome I talked about in my last post (I forget the title).

Others C:   These guys followed much the same pattern as Others B did.  They held fast to the Iron Rod and followed it along the true path all the way to the tree.  Having made it, they fell down and had 'em some fruit.  What made Others C fare better than Others B?  Why did they stay?  It says they fell down and then ate the fruit.  I've always thought this was a metaphor for humility, and it is, but I was talking to my wife's son McKay last night about this stuff and he offered an insight that I feel good about.  His thought ran along this line.  Others C, after following the path, holding fast to the Iron Rod, all the way to the tree, recognized The Savior and his atoning sacrifice for them, and their falling down was, in effect, prayer.  I can totally see the truth in that.  Of course, the Spirit teaches different things to each of us according to The Lord's knowledge of us.  He knows our needs, and He knows that I need to pray more.  Definitely need to pray more.

Others D:  These idiots are feeling their way towards the building.  Things that stimulate the senses, like alcohol, drugs, exercise, movies, making out, food, soda, video games, pornography, fishing, reading, music, etc, etc, can be good, bad, great or horrible, or even a combination of good & bad when not moderated.  If the sensory input you seek after comes out of the big building, or what Nephi later calls "the pride of the world", then, as my Dad used to say, "you in a heap o' trouble, boy."  Some of these sight-impaired beloved children of God made it all the way into the building and started laughing at the people at the tree.  Others fell into a dirty river and were drowned, or wandered down "strange roads" with a downward slope of 16% grade. 

I like this:  1 Nephi 8: 33

33.  And great was the multitude that did enter into that strange building.  And after they did enter into that building they did point the finger of scorn at me and those that were partaking of the fruit also; but we heeded them not.

Have you ever had someone in the building point their finger of scorn at you?  I have.  And, I love it.  It means I'm doing something right for a change.  This brings me to how I have personalized this story.  I told you before that at certain times of my life I have fit into different character types in this vision.  I'll tell you a little more about the talk I had last night with McKay.  We were talking about the gospel, and I was telling him how I like scriptural references to light and darkness.  Like, "[Jesus is] the light and the life of the world, a light that shineth in darkness, and the darkness comprehendeth it not." (-D & C 34: 2)

Here goes one of my famous Bus Stories

I used to drive a city bus.  Many of our routes went through BYU campus.  This was the only connection for bus riders who lived in south Utah County.  I remember a kid coming out of the BYU Wilkinson center and getting on my bus.  It was my last trip of the night.  He had nails that had been hammered all over his head in place of hair.  He had piercings in many and divers places, and smelled like a chimney.  His shirt looked like a black t-shirt, but when he went by me after paying his fare, on the back of it in large print was, in the words of Ralph on "A Christmas Story", the queen mother of dirty words.  I didn't have the energy for throwing him off the bus for profanity, I just wanted to go home.  So, anywayz, I listened to his conversation with another guy.  He was going on and on about how much he hates BYU.  He hates being on BYU campus so much because of the way people look at him.  They stare at him, and they judge him, he says.  I heard that lots of times, people hating to be on BYU campus.  Besides the obvious "people look at you because you're begging them to" reply that I was thinking, I also thought, that's what that means:  "A light that shineth in darkness, and the darkness comprehendeth it not."  For some reason, this guy feels uncomfortable in a place that, ideally at least, is centered in the Gospel.  He doesn't like to stand directly in the light. 

So how does that relate to me and Lehi's Dream?  I have struggled my whole 45-year life to live the gospel principles that I believe in, and to be worthy to have the Spirit with me.  Many's the time I have failed at that.  Many's the time; that's why I use the word "struggle".  If I were to place myself in Lehi's Dream during a time when my struggle was getting the better of me, you might find me in the big building.  You might find me sitting down on the path, taking a break.  You might find me wandering out into the mists of darkness a little, just to see what's out there, thinking it will be easy to get back if I keep one eye on the trail.  Sometimes I have been on the trail holding onto the Iron Rod with both hands, making steady progress.  Other times I have been on the path, but maybe only having a finger or two on the Iron Rod, and my attention is directed away from the tree, and toward the misty underbrush, or toward the building.  I have made it to the tree and partaken of the fruit, and really felt that joy that Lehi talks about, only to walk away from it for a minute and lose my way.  But, I have always returned to the path and the Iron Rod, as many times as it has taken, and returned to the tree to eat once again of the joyous fruit. 

I like standing in the light.  I feel at home there.  I like feeling the Spirit of The Lord.  When I walk away from that light into the darkness that surrounds on all sides, I feel uncomfortable.  I feel and know that it's not the place I want to be, and my greatest desire becomes trying to get back into that light, to get back home.

I guess that's enough for today.  Nephi is going to go on for several chapters talking about his Dad's vision, his own vision, and the interpretation of his Dad's dream. 

Tune in next time when we try to reap what he sowed.

Peace be with you...

Don't forget to remember not to forget...(1st Nephi 6-7)

Sorry, forgot your sodas...

I have always been the forgetful sort, and it's only getting worse as my Dad's genes continue to turn my hair prematurely gray.  I'll forget to turn here, or not turn there.  I'll drive home from work looking very forward to quenching my addiction thirst by stopping at the gas station up the street from my house for a soda, only to forget 2 minutes later, and find myself pulling into my driveway empty soda holdered.  I have cursed my brain many times.  But usually, I only forget the small stuff:

• Replacing the trash bag in the kitchen after I take out the garbage, then Em throws gross stuff in there & has to dig it back out.
• Closing the window in the bathroom & going to bed with the thermostat set on 68, showering the bedroom with heat as the furnace tries to keep the hallway warm.
• What day it is.

Those kinds of things.  One time I put oil in my car before driving a 1/2-hour to work to find that I'd forgotten to replace the oil cap.  The engine was covered with oil while hardly a drop remained where it needed to be.  Luckily, I didn't ruin my car.  Before going home after work I borrowed 5 quarts of oil to replace what I'd lost for my drive home.  When I got home I discovered that I'd left the oil cap off again and all 5 quarts were gone.  This makes me appreciate my Mom, who long ago begged me never to get my pilot's license.  My wife gets mad when I call myself an idiot, so I won't do that.

Ruining my car may not have turned out to be a small thing compared to the trash bag thing, but it is when compared to not forgetting my Heavenly Father and the love He has heaped upon me all of my life.  I have never forgotten the time I prayed to see whether the BOM was true, and whether Joseph Smith had received a visitation from The Father and The Son.  The answer I received then, along with other spiritual experiences I've not forgotten, remains the foundation of everything I am and believe.  I know God lives.  I know Jesus is His Son.  I know God answers prayers.  I know the BOM is the word of God.  I know the Bible is the word of God.  I know that The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is the true gospel, restored to the earth after centuries of apostasy, and is God's Kingdom on earth.  I know my Heavenly Father loves me.  I know He loves you.  I know Jesus Christ suffered willingly and gave His life willingly to offer us salvation and Eternal Life.  I know all that because of the answer to that one prayer I uttered back on January 24th, 1987. 


Joseph Smith translating the BOM

Don't forget to remember all that remembering and forgetting stuff as we read chapters 6 and 7 of 1st Nephi.


Remember, Lehi is a prophet, and the patriarch of this family.  He is keeping a record at this time also, called the Book of Lehi.  The Book of Lehi doesn't appear in our BOM due to a major event that happened with Joseph Smith and Martin Harris during the translation of the plates in 1828 (see Doctrine and Covenants section 3) where the first 116 pages were lost.  We'll talk more about that later, but knowing that gives the following a little more "wow" to me...

1st Nephi 6: 1-2

1.  And now I, Nephi, do not give the genealogy of my fathers in this part of my record;  neither at any time shall I give it after upon these plates which I am writing; for it is given in the record which has been kept by my father; wherefore, I do not write it in this work.
2.  For it sufficeth me to say that we are descendants of Joseph.

And then there's this...

1st Nephi 1: 17

16.  And now I, Nephi, do not make a full account of the things which my father hath written, for he hath written many things which he saw in visions and in dreams; and he also hath written many things which he prophesied and spake unto his children, of which I shall not make a full account.
17.  But I shall make an account of my proceedings in my days.  Behold I make an abridgment of the record of my father, upon plates which I have made with mine own hands; wherefore, after I have abridged the record of my father then will I make an account of mine own life.

Everything that Nephi chooses to record in the first part of the BOM is a smaller retelling of the same things his father Lehi is also writing about.  In my next post I'll talk about Lehi's Dream in chapter 8.  Lehi must have written about it in his record.  Why does Nephi take the trouble to rewrite it?  The fact that we have Lehi's Dream in chapter 8 of Nephi's record is a testament to the wonderful love and omniscience of our Heavenly Father. 

After all, Nephi continues in chapter 6 to say he has very little room to write on his plates, and plans to reserve that space to only write the things of God, and to command his children to do the same, for the sole and complete purpose of bringing souls to Jesus Christ.

Before you forget what we were talking about earlier, about remembering to not forget, lets go to...

Chapter 7

My wife Emilie's ring

Lehi received instructions from The Lord to send the boys back to Jerusalem to get a guy named Ishmael and his wife, 2 sons and their families, and 5 unmarried daughters.  It's never good to be alone.  Oddly enough, there's no murmuring complaints from Laman and Lemuel about going back for women. 

After convincing Ishmael and his family of the truth of their mission, they agree to follow Lehi's family into the wilderness.  Things get a little out of hand on the way back to Lehi's camp at the Red Sea, however.

1st Nephi 7: 5-7

5.  And it came to pass that The Lord did soften the heart of Ishmael, and also his household, insomuch that they took their journey with us down into the wilderness to the tent of our father.
6.  And it came to pass that as we journeyed in the wilderness, behold Laman and Lemuel, and two of the daughters of Ishmael, and the two sons of Ishmael and their families, did rebel against us; yea against me, and Sam, and their father, Ishmael, and his wife, and his three other daughters.
7.  And it came to pass in the which rebellion, they were desirous to return to Jerusalem.

I italicised "his household" to show that all of Ishmael's family had received a spiritual confirmation of His will concerning them.  I italicised "his 3 other daughters" to point out how cool the numbers turned out to be.  2 of Ishmael's daughters rebelled (lovely wives for Laman and Lemuel), while 3 of Ishmael's daughters were true to the faith (let's see, who would they be a good match for?  Hmm...Nephi, Sam, and... hmm.., Oh Yeah!  Zoram.)  The Lord didn't forget about Zoram.  I just think that's cool. The Lord doesn't forget any of us.  Whether we remember Him, well, that's another thing.

It's time for Nephi to give a lecture again. 

1st Nephi 7: 9-13

9.  How is it that ye have not hearkened unto the word of The Lord?
10.  How is it that ye have forgotten that ye have seen an angel of The Lord?
11.  Yea, and how is it that ye have forgotten what great things The Lord hath done for us, in delivering us out of the hands of Laban, and also that we should obtain the record (brass plates)?
12.  Yea, and how is it that ye have forgotten that The Lord is able to do all things according to his will, for the children of men, if it so be that they exercise faith in him?  Wherefore, let us be faithful to Him.
13.  And if it so be that we are faithful to him, we shall obtain the land of promise...

First, verse 13:  Remember when I talked about principles?  This is a principle.  If we are faithful to The Lord, we shall obtain the land of promise, the land of promise being Eternal Life.

Second, remembering not to forget:  Have you ever had some issue in your life that Heavenly Father helped you with, and then have had another issue in your life and wondered if Heavenly Father would help you with that one?  Have you ever been lifted into the rafters by the Spirit of God, crying with joy, and then 5 years later wondered if you wanted to continue going to church, or even pray?  Have you ever received a sure answer to a prayer, and then a short time goes by and you find yourself wondering if that's really the answer? 

One time while reading the BOM through I decided to start highlighting all the places where it says "remember", or some variation of it.  Turns out, there are few chapters in the BOM without the word "remember" in it somewheres. 

Like Helaman 5: 6, nearly 600 years later

6.  Behold, my sons, I desire that ye should remember to keep the commandments of God; and I would that ye should declare unto the people these words.  Behold, I have given unto you the names of our first parents who came out of the land of Jerusalem; and this I have done that when you remember your names ye may remember them; and when ye remember them ye may remember their works; and when ye remember their works ye may know how it is said, and also written, that they were good. 

I don't remember now, but there's about 250 times the word "remember" is used in the BOM (out of 531 pages) in some form or another.  I should have written it down so I wouldn't forget.  Anywayz, I think it's important.  I'm going to mention this again and again in later blogs, if I don't forget.  But, if I do forget to bring it up again, please remember this one thing:

Helaman 5: 9

9.  O remember, remember, my sons, the words which king Benjamin spake unto his people; yea, remember that there is no other way nor means whereby man can be saved, only through the atoning blood of Jesus Christ, who shall come; yea, remember that he cometh to redeem the world.

And Helaman 5: 14

14.  And they did remember his words;  and therefore they went forth, keeping the commandments of God...

Oh, we've got teachings, right here in the BOM, with a capital T, and that rhymes with P, and that stands for principle:  If you remember the words of the prophets, it is easier to follow the commandments.

And Helaman 5: 12

12.  And now, my sons, remember, remember, that it is upon the rock of our Redeemer, who is Christ, the Son of God, that ye must build your foundation.

I guess we're out of time.  Tune in next time as people point and laugh at you while you eat.

Peace be with you...

Uh oh, Dad’s dreaming again... (1st Nephi 3)

Chapter 3 of 1^st Nephi is home to one of the most beloved verses of scripture in all Latter-day Saintdom.  It is spoken about, taught about and sung about in thousands of LDS chapels around the world, in hundreds of languages.  Ask any member of the church anywhere in the world, “What is a good scripture about having faith to be obedient?”  9.4087 times out of 10 the answer will probably be 1^st Nephi 3: 7.  Before we read it, I’d like to talk about principles.

You can find 3 basic things in the scriptures:  Facts, truths and principles.  All three are important, but of those things that we can apply to our lives, these are listed in ascending order of importance.

Fact

A fact is a detail in the storyline that adds to our understanding, but is not essential to know. 

Example:  1^st Nephi 3: 1 

1.  And it came to pass that I, Nephi, returned from speaking with The Lord, to the tent of my father.

Truth

A statement of truth about something of eternal significance, which, for one thing, allows the Spirit of the Lord to testify to us of the truths of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

This verse helps the story flow, gives context to what follows, and is even spiritually edifying, but isn't as necessary to know as other things.

Example:  1^st Nephi 3: 20

19.  And behold, it is wisdom in God that we should obtain these records, that we may preserve unto our children the language of our fathers;

20.  And also that we may preserve unto them the words which have been spoken by the mouth of all the holy prophets, which have been delivered unto them by the Spirit and power of God, since the world began, even down unto this present time.

These verses teach us that the words uttered by the prophets from the beginning even down to now has been given to them by the Spirit of The Lord, and by His power.  The Holy Ghost is able to bear witness to us that this is true, that the scriptures are the Word of God, thus deepening our faith and our testimonies.

Principle

A formula from The Lord, which, if applied, will result in a promised blessing.

And the scripture we've all been waiting for:  1^st Nephi 3: 6-7

6.  Therefore, go, my son, and thou shalt be favored of the Lord, because thou hast not murmured.

7.  And it came to pass that I, Nephi, said unto my father:  I will go and do the things which The Lord hath commanded, for I know that The Lord giveth no commandments unto the children of men, save he shall prepare a way for them that they may accomplish the thing which he commandeth them.

A principle is a very important part of scripture.  They are recipes for blessings and true happiness.  The Prophet Joseph Smith said about the BOM, "...a man would get nearer to God by abiding by its precepts than by any other book." The Lord’s message to us in these verses, or one of His messages at least, is that if we are willing to obey His commandments without bellyaching about it, He will favor us, and provide the means to obey, even if we don’t know what we’re doing.

Well, what does it mean to be ‘favored’?

Verse 1 of 1^st Nephi says, “…having seen many afflictions in the course of my days, nevertheless, having been highly favored of The Lord in all my days; yea, having had a great knowledge of the goodness and the mysteries of God…”  What a great promise for being willing to obey.  It doesn’t matter how many afflictions you may have in the course of your life, when all is done, you will feel and know that you were blessed.



(not actual photo)

Anywayz, back along the borders of the Red Sea, Lehi had a dream in which he is told that he needs to send his boys back to Jerusalem to get some plates made of brass that are currently in the possession of a fellow named Laban.  Laban is probably Lehi’s cousin, or at least a relative.  Laman thinks it sounds like a real drag, man, and Lemuel always thinks what his mentor Laman thinks, but Nephi and Sam believe that this task was given to them, not by their dad, but by The Lord.  And, whatever The Lord asks Nephi to do, he will, come heck or high water, do. 

That's me dreaming, not Lehi.  Now this is camping.

Turns out Laban doesn’t want to give the brass plates up.  Laman and Lemuel immediately throw in the towel and start back toward the campsite at the Red Sea, but Nephi suggests that they go to their old house and gather up their gold and silver and stuff, and make a trade for the plates.  This idea didn’t pan out either.  When Laban saw their property he saw nothing wrong with taking it and keeping the brass plates too, so he sent his servants after the Lehi brothers to kill them and steal their property. 

1^st Nephi 3: 26

25.  And it came to pass that when Laban saw our property, and that it was exceedingly great, he did lust after it, insomuch that he thrust us out, and sent his servants to slay us, that he might obtain our property.
26.  And it came to pass that we did flee before the servants of Laban, and we were obliged to leave behind our property, and it fell into the hands of Laban. 

Ain’t that Laban a stinker?  Well, don’t worry; he gets his in the next chapter.  I would like to point out a lesson we could all learn from these guys.  Sometimes you need to let go of your hold on the world in order to save yourself.  How’s that for a gleaned profundity, you like it?  I knew you would.

Well, of course, ol’ Laman and Lemuel are more than ready to, again, book it for home at this point.  Nephi lectures them again, & tells them they ain’t goin’ back without the plates.  So, of course, they try to wack him (and I do mean wack).  They get a stick and beat him with intent to kill.  

There are some terrible acts of violence committed in this world of ours.  People do actually hurt others, even their own brother.  The Lord gave us, in the beginning, the choice of whether or not to follow him, and whether or not to sin.  He said to Adam, “…nevertheless thou mayest choose for thyself, for it is given unto thee, but remember that I forbid it…” (Genesis 2: 16-17, or Moses 3: 16-17).  In some cases, however, there are events that are of such high importance, He must intervene.  The Lord had a work for Nephi to do, therefore he must live.  And, the descendants of Lehi and others that will join the story later must have those brass plates.  It was vital that these records were kept and preserved and used for the benefit of the peoples of the BOM, and, in turn, us.  The Lord sent his messenger to stop Laman and Lemuel from beating Nephi and Sam to death, and to help them know that The Lord will help them get the plates from Laban. 

1 Nephi 3: 28-31

28.  And it came to pass that Laman was angry with me, and also with my father; and also was Lemuel, for he hearkened unto the words of Laman.  Wherefore Laman and Lemuel did speak many hard words unto us, their younger brothers, and they did smite us even with a rod.

29.  And it came to pass as they smote us with a rod, behold, an angel of The Lord came and stood before them, and he spake unto them, saying:  Why do ye smite your younger brother with a rod?  Know ye not that The Lord has chosen him to be a ruler over you, and this because of your iniquitities?  Behold ye shall go up to Jerusalem again, and The Lord will deliver Laban into your hands.

30.  And after the angel had spoken unto us, he departed.

And the Pièce de résistance…

31.  And after the angel had departed, Laman and Lemuel again began to murmur, saying:  How is it possible that The Lord will deliver Laban into our hands?  Behold, he is a mighty man, and he can command fifty, yea, even he can slay fifty; then why not us?

And that’s chapter 3 of 1^st Nephi.  I must apologize for being so long winded.  I love the BOM.  I do.  Several years ago this fellow in my ward in Ohio was speaking in church when he referenced me while talking about the BOM.  It was such high praise.  He said, “That’s one of the reasons I love it when John Barney teaches about the Book of Mormon, because he’s been there.”  I hesitate to write that, because it sounds like I’m tooting my own horn, but that made me feel so good when he said that.  The Book of Mormon has given me a closeness to and an understanding of The Savior Jesus Christ that I would never have known without it.  When I say I love the BOM, I’m really saying I love my Savior, because that is what the BOM has done for me, and that is why I love it.  I just hope that when I am told to do something by The Lord (or His servants), and given the assurance that I can do it even when I’m not sure how, that I can be a Nephi and not a Laman.  I can think of way too many examples of when I was a Laman. 

Nephi



Laman



Don’t be a Laman.  Be a Nephi.  Go and do the things which The Lord has commanded you, for He gives no commandment unto you that he does not provide a way for you to do it.

Peace be with you…