The Book of Mormon: 1 Nephi 15

Today, we’ll be looking at 1 Nephi 15.

Nephi, having just completed the vision given in the previous few chapters, returns now to his father’s camp where his brothers are arguing about the meaning of some of the things Lehi has said to them.  Nephi says, “he truly spake many great things unto them, which are hard to be understood save a man should inquire of the Lord.”  Pride had prevented the brothers from doing this and, thus, gaining the understanding Nephi had just received.  Seeing this argument taking place added to Nephi’s troubles.  Nephi states he was “grieved” because of their state of stubborn pride.  Our old friend Merriam-Webster defines “grieve” as “to cause to suffer,” with the added synonym “distress,” a word which implies a certain amount of physical or emotional pain.  The word we use for this, today, is heartsick, or depressed.  To add to all this, Nephi was already feeling decidedly down after witnessing the destruction of his descendants.  He tells us that he thought his afflictions in this regard were worse than anyone else’s were.  Judging from his next comment, “…after I had received strength,” I’m guessing he probably prayed for help in dealing with the situation.  He may even have remembered that he’d been charged to be a leader and a teacher of his brothers.  If so, he seems to have taken this calling very seriously.  So, that being said, he laid aside his personal frustration with what he’d been shown and tried to handle the situation at hand.

Having received strength, Nephi then asked his brothers what they were arguing about.  Their response is telling.  They didn’t understand what their father had told them regarding the olive branches and the Gentiles (1 Nephi 10:14).  Nephi asks, “Did you ask God?”  Their, I think, rather sheepish reply is “No.  He doesn’t talk to us.”  Nephi then suggests that a more righteous life might be the answer to that situation.  In other words, “Well, if you kept the commandments.”  He reminds them of several of their more recent mistakes and quotes scripture to them.  Then he proceeds to answer their question.  I don’t want to rephrase the whole chapter, as it’s quite long. To sum up, he points out that they, the family of Lehi, as a branch of the house of Israel, have been broken off and, later, when their faith has dwindled to nothing, the fulness of the gospel will come to the Gentiles and they, in turn, will bring it to the descendants of Lehi’s family, grafting them back in place as children of Israel.  He also points out that Lehi’s vision didn’t just speak about their descendants, but all the house of Israel, a reference to the covenant of Abraham, by which all peoples on the earth are to be blessed.  Nephi says he spent a lot of time discussing these things with them and quoting to them from the book of Isaiah in the Old Testament. 

Then the brothers ask Nephi for an interpretation of the Tree of Life dream.  Here, again, is that interpretation.

• Tree – Represents the Tree of Life, love of God.
• Rod – Word of God
• River – Filthiness, gulf separating wicked from righteous, hell.

The brothers ask a number of other questions to clarify the meaning of the river explanation.  They initially wonder if the “hell” mentioned by Nephi represents the pain of the body in this life, the final state of the human soul following death, or anything of a temporal (relating to time as opposed to eternity [M-W]) nature.  Nephi clarifies that it represents things both temporal and spiritual. He then points out that, following death, we will all be judged by the works we did during this life.  So, if you lived a life filled with wicked works, you would be judged as wicked and cut off or damned, because nothing filthy can live in the presence of God. 

Let’s back up and consider this a bit.  First of all, I’m aware of the whole “faith vs. works” argument.  This is my personal interpretation of it.  Take it or leave it, it’s up to you.  The scriptures tell us that it is by faith in Jesus Christ that we are saved.  Our works do not save us.  This, to my mind, is a reference to the Atonement.  There is nothing we personally can do to obtain that Atonement.  Our works don’t make us worthy to accept it.  Our faith in Jesus Christ and our belief in His words is what enables us to accept and apply that free gift.  However, the scriptures also tell us that faith is nothing without actions to back it up.  You can say you believe in Jesus Christ all you want, but those are just words.  It is our actions, our fruits, our works that will show louder than words where our true faith and loyalty really lies.  People who truly have faith in Christ will act as He would act.  They will follow His ways and live as much of a righteous life as they can.  Then, when judgment time comes, they won’t have to say, “I have faith in Jesus Christ”.  Their Christ-like actions will say it for them. 

I note also that the scripture doesn’t say that God doesn’t want filth in his presence.  We’re His children and He loves us and wants us to be with Him.  Still, imagine doing lots of dirty, sweaty work, in your yard, maybe, or underneath your car, perhaps, and then, without changing clothes or taking a bath, going to visit the temple.  Can you imagine being comfortable sitting down on one of those pristine chairs or sofas or walking along that creamy white carpeting surrounded by people who are all clean and dressed in sparkling white clothing?  I don’t know about you, but I would be really unhappy being in that situation for very long, if at all.  I think this is what is meant when we are told that nothing unclean can enter the kingdom of God, which is not a place of filth. Nephi tells us that there is a place of filthiness prepared for the filthy.  God is a good father and he wants us to be comfortable.  He’s not going to insist that we join him in his pristine world if that wouldn’t make us happy.  Above all, He wants us to be happy.  That’s why we have the Gospel and the Atonement to help us.  We have the option, here in this life, to accept them and cleanse ourselves of all our worldly filthiness.  Now is the time.  Don’t wait.