• Even though Nephi “did cry much unto the Lord” on behalf of his brothers, they became very angry with him and desired to kill him. (v1-4)
• “And it came to pass that the Lord did warn me, that I, Nephi, should depart from them and flee into to wilderness…” (v5)
  • “Wherefore, it came to pass that I, Nephi, did take my family… and all those who would go with me. And all those who would go with me were those who believed in the warnings and the revelations of God…” (v6)
  • “And we did observe to keep the judgments, and the statutes, and the commandments of the Lord in all things, according to the law of Moses. (v10)
    “And the Lord was with us; and we did prosper exceedingly; for we did sow seed, and we did reap again in abundance. And we began to raise flocks, and herds, and animals of every kind.” (v11)
• Nephi built a temple “after the manner of the temple of Solomon” (v16)
  • Temple worship was obviously an important part of their religious life. They didn’t wait long to build a temple.

2 Nephi 3

• Lehi promises his last son, Joseph, that he’ll be blessed as a result of being a descendant of Joseph, son of Jacob. (v1-5)
• Lehi recounts a prophecy by Joseph about a prophet in the latter days (Joseph Smith) that will bring forth writings (the Book of Mormon) that will remind man of the covenants of the Lord and be a second witness of the gospel of Jesus Christ. (v6-21)
• Lehi invites Joseph to “hearken” unto Nephi and he’ll be blessed. (v25)

2 Nephi 4

• Lehi speaks to his grandchildren that belong to Laman. (v3)
• Remember: “For the Lord God hath said that: Inasmuch as ye shall keep my commandments ye shall prosper in the land; and inasmuch as ye will not keep my commandments ye shall be cut off from my presence.” (v4)
• Lehi blesses that children that if they are cursed, the responsibility will fall to their parents for raising them wrong. He also prophesies that their seed will not be destroyed, but the Lord will always have mercy on them. (v6-7)
• Lehi give Lemuels kids the same blessing. (v8-9)
• Lehi blesses Sam to inherit the land like Nephi. (v11)
• Lehi dies. It only takes a few days and Laman and Lemuel are angry with Nephi. (v13)
• Nephi’s feelings for the scriptures & spiritual things:
  • “For my soul delighteth in the scriptures, and my heart pondereth them,” (v15)
  • “Behold, my soul delighteth in the things of the Lord; and my heart pondereth continually upon the things which I have seen and heard.” (v16)
    • How do we make the scriptures and the things of the Lord a delight in our lives such that our hearts ponder them continually?
      • Pray for it?!
      • Spend time doing it regularly. Then, maybe, it will become continual?!
• Even though, Nephi has had incredible spiritual experiences, he still messes up. These mess-ups bring him grief, and temptations and sins beset him. (v17-19)
  • “Nevertheless, notwithstanding the great goodness of the Lord, in showing me his great and marvelous works, my heart exclaimeth:
  • “O wretched man that I am! Yea, my heart sorroweth because of my flesh; my soul grieveth because of mine iniquities.
  • “I am encompassed about, because of the temptations and the sins which do so easily beset me.”
    • Beset defined:
      • “trouble and threaten persistently” – Apple Dictionary App
      • “To press on all sides, so as to perplex; to entangle, so as to render escape difficult or impossible.” – http://www.webstersdictionary1828.com/Dictionary/beset
  • “And when I desire to rejoice, my heart groaneth because of my sins;”
• “…nevertheless, I know in whom I have trusted.” (v19)
  • “My God hath been my support:” (v20)
    1. “led me through mine afflictions in the wilderness” (v20)
    2. “preserved me upon the waters of the great deep” (v20)
    3. “filled me with his love” (v21)
    4. “confounded mine enemies” (v22)
    5. heard Nephi’s prayers (v23)
    6. “given me knowledge by visions” (v23)
    7. “angels came down and ministered unto me.” (v24)
    8. The Spirit has taken Nephi to “exceedingly high mountains” and shown him “great things, yea, even too great for man;” (v25)
• Why after seeing “so great things” and the Lord visiting men with “so much mercy”, does Nephi give “way to temptations” and let Satan “destroy [his] peace and afflict [his] soul?” (v26-27).
  • Because Nephi still human just like you and me.
  • Is Nephi feeling sorry for himself? Maybe a little pit?
• Nephi seems to gather enough mental strength to start to pull himself out of his sorrow and immediately turns to the Lord for help. (v28-30)
  • Nephi praises the Lord (v30)
  • Nephi asks
    • the Lord for forgiveness: “wilt thou redeem my soul?” (v31)
    • for deliverance from his enemies (v31)
    • that his body will have a natural warning signal when sin manifests itself. (v31)
    • for protection from hell (v32)
    • that the Lord help him to be righteous (v32)
    • that righteousness encircle him (v33)
    • for escape from enemies (v33)
    • to make his path straight (v33)
    • to remove stumbling blocks (v33)
    • to hedge up the way of his enemies (v33)
  • Nephi states what he knows and makes promises to the Lord:
    • “I have trusted in thee, and I will trust in thee forever. I will not put my trust in the arm of flesh;” (v34)
    • “I know that God will give liberally to him that asketh. Yea, my God will give me, if I ask not amiss;” (v35)
      • “therefore I will lift up my voice unto thee; yea, I will cry unto thee, my God, the rock of my righteousness.
      • “my voice shall forever ascend up unto thee, my rock and mine everlasting God” (v35)

2 Nephi 1

• After Nephi taught his brothers, Lehi spoke to them. He “rehearsed” or reminded them “how great things the Lord had done for them in bringing them out of the land of Jerusalem.” (v1)
  • Despite rebelling at sea, God has mercy on them and spared their lives. (v2)
  • God led them to the land of Promise so they weren’t destroyed in Jerusalem. (v3)
  • “Yea, the Lord hath covenanted this land unto me, and to my children forever, and also all those who should be led out of other countries by the hand of the Lord.” (v5)
    • The Lord has covenanted this land (all the Americas?) to Lehi’s descendants.
    • The Lord has also covenanted this land to “all those who should be led out of other countries by the hand of the Lord.” (v5)
      • I believe this covenant promise is still in place today!
      • Lehi testifies that everyone that comes to this land is led by the Lord. (v6)
    • This land is “consecrated” to those who are led here if:
      • “And if it so be that they shall serve him according to the commandments which he hath given, it shall be a land of liberty unto them; wherefore, they shall never be brought down into captivity;” (v7)
        • The promise of always enjoying freedom if we serve the Lord.
      • “for if iniquity shall abound cursed shall be the land for their sakes, but unto the righteous it shall be blessed forever.” (v7)
        • A curse will come upon those that do iniquity at the same time a blessing will come upon the righteous.
    • “And if it so be that they shall keep his commandments they shall be blessed upon the face of this land, and there shall be none to molest them, nor to take away the land of their inheritance; and they shall dwell safely forever.” (v9)
      • If the Lord’s commandments are kept, “none to molest them”, “take away the land”, and “they shall dwell safely forever.” What promises!?!
• Lehi warns that if they don’t keep the commandments the wrath of God will come upon them and they’ll be scattered. (v10)
• Lehi commands them to wake up the spiritual things and follow the Lord. (v14-16)
• Lehi reminds them again (it’s been so many times):
  • “And he hath said that: Inasmuch as ye shall keep my commandments ye shall prosper in the land; but inasmuch as ye will not keep my commandments ye shall be cut off from my presence.” (v20)
  • “That ye may not be cursed with a sore cursing; and also, that ye may not incur the displeasure of a just God upon you, unto the destruction, yea, the eternal destruction of both soul and body.” (v22)
    • Avoid curses and destruction.
• Lehi instructs his sons to quit fighting against Nephi, without him, they all would have died in the wilderness long ago. (v24-27)
• Lehi prophesies that Zoram’s seed, because he has been loyal to Nephi, will prosper in the land forever if they are righteous. (v30-32)

2 Nephi 2

• Lehi talks to his son Jacob. (v1)
• Lehi describes Jocob in this way:
  • “thou knowest the greatness of God” (v2)
  • “I know that thou are redeemed” (v3)
  • “thou hast beheld in they youth his glory” (v4)
• Jacob is blessed “even as they unto whom he shall minister in the flesh.” (v4)
  • I want to be blessed as if the Savior ministered unto me in the flesh.
• Doctrine of Justice
  • Every man has a conscience and knows good from evil; no one has an excuse. (v5)
  • Break the law and you’re cut off from God.
  • This law is physical and spiritual.
• Doctrine of Mercy
  • The “Holy Messiah” (v6) “offereth himself a sacrifice for sin, to answer the ends of the law…” (v7)
  • There are conditions to receive this grace and mercy: broken heart and contrite spirit.
• It’s very important that everyone in the world know:
  • No one can live with God, “save it be through the merits, and mercy, and grace of the Holy Messiah…” (v8)
  • The Lord has power to die and rise from the dead “by the power of the Spirit”. (v8)
  • Jesus is the first to be resurrected and merits the power to save others. (v9)
  • Jesus also earns the right to judge everyone. (v10)
• Opposition is necessary to experience “righteousness”, “holiness”, and “good”. (v11-15)
• One of Heavenly Father’s objectives in sending His children to earth was to help them learn to think, speak, and act correctly. In order to learn those things, they need to be presented with good and evil, and learn to choose the good. (v16)
  • “Wherefore, the Lord God gave unto man that he should act for himself. Wherefore, man could not act for himself save it should be that he was enticed by the one or the other.”
• Lucifer fell from heaven and became Satan, “miserable forever, he sought also the misery of all mankind.” (v18)
  • He succeeded in getting Adam and Eve to eat the forbidden fruit which got them expelled from the garden of Eden and allowed them to have children. (v19-20)
• The Lord gave Adam and Eve the ability and opportunity to repent; this earthly experience became a probationary state. (v21)
• Adam and Eve needed to transgress to children could be born and they could learn to choose right from wrong. Otherwise, nothing would have ever changed in the garden of eden. (v22-23)
  • “And they would have had no children; wherefore they would have remained in a state of innocence, having no joy, for they knew no misery; doing no good, for they knew no sin.” (v23)
  • “Adam fell that men might be; and men are, that they might have joy.” (v25) We are meant to experience joy in this life; the Lord can help us find it.
• Jesus Christ the Messiah redeemed mankind from the fall making them “free forever… to act for themselves…” to choose a eternal life or death. (v26-27)
  • “Wherefore, men are free according to the flesh; and all things are given them which are expedient unto man. And they are free to choose liberty and eternal life, through the great Mediator of all men, or to choose captivity and death, according to the captivity and power of the devil;” (v27)
    • “…all things are given them…” Everyone is given a conscience that helps them recognize good and evil; no one has an excuse to be evil.

1 Nephi 17

• Lehi and his family continue “through much affliction” (having children in the wilderness, etc.) but “great were the blessings of the Lord upon us…” (v1-2)
  • Blessings:
    • The women were able to breast feed their children.
    • The women were made strong like the men.
    • They were strengthened to endure the journey without murmuring.
  • This is an example of the Lord asking that wildly impossible things be done and then strengthening the faithful in order that those things can be accomplished.
• “And thus we see that the commandments of God must be fulfilled.” (v3)
  • Whether we are among the faithful or not, the Lord will accomplish His work.
• “And if it so be that the children of men keep the commandments of God he doth nourish them, and strengthen them, and provide means whereby they can accomplish the thing which he has commanded them; wherefore, he did provide means for us while we did sojourn in the wilderness.” (v3)
  • If we are faithful in doing what the Lord asks us to do, He will:
    • “strengthen [us]”
    • “provide means where by [we] can accomplish the thing…”
  • Nephi states the gospel principle and then seals it with his testimony: “wherefore, he did provide means for us while we did sojourn in the wilderness.” (v3)

Build a Ship

• After many days in Bountiful, the Lord summons Nephi to a high mountain and asks him to build a ship so the family can sale to the promised land. (v7-8)
  • Nephi doesn’t appear to question the request despite not being a ship building, and immediately asks where ore can be found the make tools. (v9)
• It’s interesting that the Lord had asked Nephi and his family to not use fire until this point. That’s at least 8 years with out fire for cooking or light. During that time, the Lord provided… “I will make thy food become sweet, that ye cook it not…” (v12) and “I will also be your light in the wilderness…” (v13)
  • In general, the Lord said “I will prepare the way before you…” but there was one condition, “if it so be that ye shall keep my commandments…” He adds “inasmuch as ye shall keep my commandments ye shall be led towards the promised land; and ye shall know that it is by me that ye are led.” (v13) The Lord continued “After ye have arrived in the promised land, ye shall know that I, the Lord, am God; and that I, the Lord, did deliver you from destruction; yea, that I did bring you out of the land of Jerusalem.” (v14)
• Laman & Lemuel “murmur against” Nephi. (v17-22)
  • It’s interesting and incredible how they see the situation completely differently from Nephi.
• Nephi recounts the miracles that the Lord performed in delivering Moses and the Israelites from the Egyptians. (v23-35)
• Nephi lectures his brothers about being hard-hearted. They don’t like it and try to kill Nephi. (v36-27) Nephi has to warns them “… in the name of the Almighty God…” that if they touch him, they’ll be destroyed. (v48)
• Nephi testifies that if the Lord can perform so many miracles in the past, He can certainly show him how to build a ship; he could do anything the Lord commanded him. (v50-51)
  • Nephi had complete faith the the Lord could help accomplish anything.
• Nephi’s brothers stayed away from him for days; fearful of being struck down. (v52)
• Nephi is commanded by the Lord to touch his brothers. They are shocked and convinced the Lord is with Nephi. (v53-55)

1 Nephi 18

• The Lord continues to show Nephi how to build a ship; “I did build it after the manner which the Lord had shown unto me…” (v1-2)
  • What is the significance of emphasizing so much that the ship was built differently than man would do it?
• Nephi was shown “great things” because he often went into the mountains to pray to the Lord. (v3)
• Finishing the ship and seeing that it was high quality humbled Nephi’s brothers. (v4)
• Lehi then hears the voice of the Lord that tells them to sale away in the ship. (v5)
  • It’s interesting that when it was time for the family to move, the revelation always went to Lehi.
• While on the ship for many days, they “began to make themselves merry, insomuch that they began to dance, and to sing, and to speak with much rudeness, yea, eve that they did forget by what power they had been brought thither; yea, they were lifted up unto exceeding rudeness.” (v9)
  • I’m not sure what all this means, but it must have been in appropriate because Nephi “began to fear exceedingly lest the Lord should be angry with us, and smite us because of our iniquity.” (v10)
• Nephi speaks up about his concern about how the family is acting and Laman and Lemuel don’t like it. In fact, they tie up Nephi. (v11)
  • The compass stops working and a great storm comes up. (v13)
  • After 3 days of storm the family thinks they are going to drowned. (v13)
  • On day 4 of the storm when the weather was worse than ever before, “my brethren began to see that the judgements of God were upon them, and that they must perish save that they should repent of their iniquities;” so they untied Nephi. (v15)
    • Nephi immediately prayed to God all day, praising him and not murmur about being tied up with swollen ankles and sore body.
      • I wonder the impact this kind of attitude had on the compass working again? What would have happened if Nephi had complained a little bit? He was obviously smart/faithful enough to know complaining would do no good, so he didn’t.
  • “And there was nothing save it were the power of God, which threatened them with destruction, could soften their hearts; wherefore, when they saw that they were about to be swallowed up in the depths of the sea they repented of the thing which they had done, insomuch that they loosed me.” (v20)
    • Sometimes the Lord needs to let life get really hard before we turn to him and repent.
  • Nephi prayed and the storm stopped. (v21)
  • After several days, they arrived at the promised land. They immediately planted seeds to grow food; they were bless as the food grew “exceedingly.” (v24)
    • They were also blessed with many useful animals and metals. (v25)

1 Nephi 19

• It seems that one of the first instructions Nephi received from the Lord was to “make plates of ore that I might engraven upon them the record of my people.” (v1)
  • Nephi made two records:
    • a history “which gives a greater account of the wars and contentions and destructions of my people.” (v4)
    • A more religious book that was used in the Book of Mormon. It includes “the ministry and the prophecies, the more plain and precious parts of them…” (v3)
• Nephi said regarding this account: “I do not write anything upon plates save it be that I think it be sacred.” (v6)
• Nephi emphasizes that to some, these things will “be of great worth” but “others set at naught and trample under their feet” or “hearken not to the voice of his counsels.” (v7)
  • Jesus Christ is the first example of one set at naught. He will come and be crucified 600 years in the future. (v8)
  • Many prophets for a very long time have prophesied of the coming of Christ. (v9-10)

1 Nephi 20

• The Lord has prophesied of His coming through the prophets for many many years. Despite the advanced notice, the House of Israel does not recognize the Lord when he arrives. Despite all the miracles performed in the past for them, the House of Israel kills its king.
• So, the House of Isreal is punished for their wickedness.

1 Nephi 21

• In the last days, the Lord Jesus Christ will deliver and restore the House of Isreal.

1 Nephi 22

• After the crucifixion of Jesus Christ, the House of Israel will be scattered.
• The Gentiles will nurse the House of Israel back to a believing state. (v8)
• The Lord will “do a marvelous work among the Gentiles” (v8) that will establish His covenants and gospel, and bring them to all the world. (v11)
• “…all that fight against Zion shall be destroyed…” (v14)
• “For the time soon cometh that the fulness of the wrath of God shall be poured out upon all the children of men; for he will not suffer that the wicked shall destroy the righteous.”(v16)
• “Wherefore, he will preserve the righteous by his power, even if it so be that the fulness of his wrath must come, and the righteous be preserved, even unto the destruction of their enemies by fire. Wherefore, the righteous need not fear; for thus saith the prophet, they shall be saved, even if it so be as by fire.” (v17)

1 Nephi 15

• Nephi returns to the family camp to find his brothers arguing over what their father had share with them. (v1-2)
  • “For he 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.” (v3)
  • Understanding would only come with the help of the Lord. Laman and Lemeul were hard hearted and wouldn’t ask the Lord for help.
  • Definition: Hard Hearted… not turning to or looking to or inquiring of or going to the Lord.
• After resting and receiving strength, Nephi tries to resolve the dispute among his brothers. He learns they haven’t asked the Lord for help and asks why. The brothers give a dumb excuse. Nephi replies:
  • “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.” (v11)
    • Remember… go to the Lord, ask in faith, believe that you’ll get an answer, diligently keep the commandments, and understanding will be revealed to you.
• Nephi teaches Laman and Lemuel that the the House of Israel (including their people) will be scattered by the Gentiles and then eventually gathered. They will learn of Jesus Christ and the covenants that God made with their ancestors. Those convenants will be fulfilled in the latter days. (v12-19)
• Nephi taught those that listen and obey the word of God and are diligent would not be overpowered by the temptations of the devil that leads to destruction. (v24)
• Nephi warns that if done bad in this life we won’t be able to live with God. (v33)

1 Nephi 16

• Nephi finishes his talk with his brothers. The result was the brothers “did humble themselves before the Lord…” such that Nephi was optimistic that they would continue to be righteous. (v5)
• At this point, Lehi had “fulfilled all the commandments of the Lord which had been given unto him…” and Nephi felt extremely blessed. (v8)
• Lehi has a dream where the Lord tells him to “journey into the wilderness.” (v9) Then the next morning, the Lord provides “a round ball of curious workmanship…” that points “the way whither we should go into the wilderness.” (v10)
  • Lehi was asked directly to do something and the Lord provided a way for him to do it. In this case, the help was a physical object that was provided immediately. Remember the Lord is a deliverer.
• Lehi is obedient and the group leaves. (v12)
• Nephi’s bow breaks and many, even Lehi begin to “murmur against the Lord…” because they were so hungry. (v18-20)
  • While his brothers are hard-hearted and complaining, Nephi makes a new bow asks his father where to hunt? (v21-23)
  • Lehi, after humbling himself, prayed and the Lord said, “Look upon the ball, and behold the things which are written.” (v26)
    • Something is written on the ball that causes Lehi and others to “fear and tremble exceedingly…” (v27) It isn’t recorded what is written, but it must have been a strong warning.
    • Nephi and the family learns that “the pointers which were in the ball, that they did work according to the faith and diligence and heed which we did give unto them.” (v28) The ball only works if you have faith in and do what it tells you.
    • There was also writing on the pointers that changed from time to time “…which did give us understanding concerning the ways of the Lord;” (v29)
    • “And thus we see that by small means the Lord can bring about great things.” (v29)
  • Nephi obeys the message and and direction of the ball and is able to obtain food for his family. Everyone is humbled and gives thanks to the Lord. (v30-32)
• The death of Ishmael, triggers more murmuring such that Laman and Lemuel and many of Ishmael’s family contemplate killing Lehi and Nephi. (34-38)
  • The voice of the Lord spoke to everyone and chastened them. They all repented and the group was able to find food again. (39)
    • Why did the voice of the Lord come this time and last time the message/direction was on the ball? I don’t know and maybe the lesson is to be open to hear the voice of the Lord through any of the ways he speaks to us: scriptures, Holy Ghost, in person, etc.

• If the Gentiles in the Americas will accept the Jesus Christ they will be adopted into the House of Israel and blessed forever. (v1-2)
• Gentiles be warned that if you don’t accept Jesus Christ you’ll be subject to the devil and be “brought down into captivity, and also into destruction, both temporally and spiritually, according to the captivity of the devil…” (v7)
• There are two churches: “the church of the Lamb of God” and the “church of the devil…” If one doesn’t below to the church of Jesus Christ, he belongs to the other. (v10)
• Compared to the great and abominable church, the membership of the church of Jesus Christ will be small. (v12)
• There will come a time when the “wrath of God” is poured out upon the “mother of harlots.” That will be a sign that the “work of the Father” has commenced and that all the covenants He’s made with the House of Israel will soon be fulfilled. (v16-17)
• Nephi sees the end of the world, but is told not to write about it since John already would in the bible. Unfortunately, the plain and precious truths John wrote were messed up over time. There are also others that have seen and written about all things. Eventually, their writings will be brought forth too. (v18-26)

1 Nephi 11

• Nephi “desired to know the thing that [his] father had seen,” “and believing that the Lord was able to make them known unto [him],” “as [he] sat pondering in [his] heart…” “[he] was caught away in the Spirit of the Lord…” (v1)
  • Nephi desired to know
  • Nephi believed the Lord could tell him what he wanted to know
  • Nephi pondered the subject
  • Nephi was given a vision through the Holy Ghost
• The Holy Ghost first asks Nephi what he desires. (v2)
• Nephi believed the words of his father. (v5)
• Nephi is granted what he desires “because thou believest in the Son of the most high God…” (v6)
  • The vision is to be a sign to Nephi and he’ll also see the Lord Jesus Christ and be expected to witness of Him. (v7)
• The Holy Ghost shows Nephi the tree, what when asked what it means, the Holy Ghost leaves Nephi and a vision of the Christ’s birth. A new angle appears to guide Nephi through this vision. (v8-21)
• After the vision of Christ, Nephi knows that the tree of life “is the Love of God, which sheddeth itself abroad in the hearts of the children of men…” (v22)
  • “…it is the most desirable above all things.”
  • How does the vision of Christ’s birth result in a “love of God” interpretation of the fruit on the tree?
    • The vision represents the greatest example of love that Heavenly Father has given each one of us. “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” (John 3:16)
• Nephi learns the rod of iron is the word of God. (v25)
• Nephi learns the waters at the base of the tree also represent the love of God. (v25)
• Nephi witnesses some of the Lord’s ministry:
  • Ministering among the people. (v24)
  • Being baptized. (v27)
  • Healing the sick and casting out unclean spirits. (v31)
  • Wrongly accused, sentenced, and crucified. (v32-33)
• The great and spacious building “was the pride of the world; and it fell…” (v36)
• Any entity that fights against the Apostles of Jesus Christ will fail.
  • “And the angel of the Lord spake unto me again, saying: Thus shall be the destruction of all nations, kindreds, tongues, and people, that shall fight against the twelve apostles of the Lamb.” (v36)

1 Nephi 12

• Nephi’s vision continues with the angel. (v1)
• Nephi sees his people in the promised land fighting over generations. (v1-3)
• Nephi sees a “mist of darkness” over the promised land and the great destruction that comes due to the “great and terrible judgements of the Lord.” (v4-5)
• Nephi sees Jesus Christ visit those in America that were not destroyed. (v6-10)
  • Jesus Christ visits.
  • Twelve apostles are chosen and receive the Holy Ghost.
• Nephi sees the final battle between the Nephites & Lamanites. (v15)
• The account seems to quickly pivot to:
  • The “fountain of filthy water” or “river” being explained to be the “depths of hell.” (v16)
  • The “mists of darkness are the temptations of the devil…” (v17)
    • “blindeth the eyes”
    • “hardeneth the hearts”
    • “leadeth them away to broad roads”
    • resulting in “they perish and are lost.”
  • The “large and spacious building” is the “vain imaginations and the pride of the children of men.” (v18)
  • The “great and terrible gulf” that is between the tree and the building is “the word of justice of the Eternal God, and the Messiah who is the Lamb of God…” (v18)
• The account then pivots back to the great battle. (v19)
  • Nephi highlights that it’s the “pride of my seed” and the “temptations of the devil” that cause the Nephites to fall. (v19)

1 Nephi 13

• Nephi’s vision with the angle continues. (v1)
• Nephi sees a great church formed among the nations and kingdoms of the gentiles. (v1-4)
  • The church is “abominable above all other churches…” that was founded by the devil (v5-6)
• Nephi sees Gentile explorers, inspired by the Spirit of God, be led to the promised land. (v12-13)
  • “I beheld the wrath of God, that it was upon the seed of my brethren; and they were scattered before the Gentiles and were smitten.” (v14) The Lord used the Gentile explorers to punish the wicked Lamanites.
  • The Gentiles inherit the promised land and are blessed by the Lord. (v15-16)
  • Nephi sees the Gentiles in America win their freedom from the Gentiles from Europe. (v17-19)
• Nephi sees the Gentiles with the bible. (v20)
  • The book goes forth in purity from the Jews (containing the covenants of the Lord) to the Gentiles, but the great and abominable church “have taken away from the gospel of the Lamb many parts which are plain and most precious; and also many covenants of the Lord…” (v20-26)
  • The deletions were done on purpose. (v27)
  • Many “plain and precious things were taken away” from the bible as it went “through the hands of the great and abominable church” and the result has been that “an exceedingly great many do stumble, stumble, yea, insomuch that Satan hath great power over them.” (v28-29)
  • After some chastening, the Lord will be merciful to Lehi’s descendants and the Gentile and bring forth the Book of Mormon and restore the Church of Jesus Christ.
  • The Book of Mormon will “establish the truth of the [bible]… and shall make known the plain and precious things which have been taken away from them;” (v40)

Nephi talks about all the revelations his father is getting. Lehi talks about the coming Messiah (he knew it was about 600 years in the future), John the Baptist baptizing Him, and the scattering and gathering of Israel.

Nephi then states:

17 And it came to pass after I, Nephi, having heard all the words of my father, concerning the things which he saw in a vision, and also the things which he spake by the power of the Holy Ghost, which power he received by faith on the Son of God—and the Son of God was the Messiah who should come—I, Nephi, was desirous also that I might see, and hear, and know of these things, by the power of the Holy Ghost, which is the gift of God unto all those who diligently seek him, as well in times of old as in the time that he should manifest himself unto the children of men.
18 For he is the same yesterday, today, and forever; and the way is prepared for all men from the foundation of the world, if it so be that they repent and come unto him.
19 For he that diligently seeketh shall find; and the mysteries of God shall be unfolded unto them, by the power of the Holy Ghost, as well in these times as in times of old, and as well in times of old as in times to come; wherefore, the course of the Lord is one eternal round.

The bolded phrases of these verses always strikes me. I believe that Nephi is inviting each one of us to have the desire to see, hear, and know the thing Lehi experienced; and promises that if we diligently seek these mysteries, they will be revealed to us through the power of the Holy Ghost. I’ve expressed my desire to know these things. Now I must figure out how to adequately seek.