As usual, here is the link to the scripture we are studying today, 2 Nephi 5. I apologize for letting things go for so long. Most of the rest of you write every day. I, on the other hand, have real life to contend with and, so, am finding the prospect of every day writing a bit daunting at present, especially with summer coming up in a couple of months.
Anyway, in chapter 5, apparently Laman and Lemuel, no longer restrained by the late Lehi to keep their brother alive, decided that they have had enough of him “bossing them around,” and want to kill him and take over the “rule of this people” themselves, which they believe to be their right as the eldest of Lehi’s children. Nephi notes here that he doesn’t say everything they told eachother about him, just that they wanted to kill him. However, apparently the Lord decided He’d had enough, too. Just like with Lehi, he warned Nephi in a dream to take his family and all those that would follow him and “flee into the wilderness.”
Here’s a list of everyone in Nephi’s group.
- Nephi and his family
- Zoram and his family
- Jacob
- Joseph
- the daughters of Lehi (v6)
- All others that would go with him.
I found the fact that, by the time Lehi died, there were sisters that Nephi had to worry about when the Lord said, gather your people and scoot. Anyway, Nephi states that they took their tents and whatever other things it was possible to bring and left, travelling for “many days.” That means, probably, more than three. When they finally came to a good place, they pitched their tents and the people decided that they wanted to call the place Nephi. What’s more, they decided they wanted to be called “the People of Nephi.” I can only imagine how pleased this must have made Nephi feel, and how daunted, given that it meant that they revered him for leading them out of danger.
Nephi tells us, as we read, the state of this new colony. They are keeping the commandments according to the Law of Moses, that means among the things Nephi brought away with the group were the Plates of Brass. They sowed seeds, which means they brought seeds with them, and began to reap in abundance. They raised flocks and herds, which means these, too, came with the group. Then Nephi says outright that he brought out the holy objects the Lord has given them: The Plates of Brass, the Liahona (or brass ball), and the sword of Laban.
Anyway, as the People of Nephi (or Nephites) are beginning to prosper, they spread out on the land and begin to have encounters with the People of Laman (or Lamanites). So Nephi takes the sword of Laban and uses it as a template to make more swords so his people can defend themselves if the Lamanites decide to attack them.
Nephi is a good teacher and a good father. He teaches his people all kinds of different crafts.
- Architecture
- Wood working
- Metallurgy
He builds a temple, constructing it using the Temple of Solomon as an example, but without as many precious things. Still, he says that the workmanship was “exceedingly fine.” So, he teaches them that temple work is important. He teaches his people to be industrious and work with their hands.
After a while, his people tell him they want him to be their king. Nephi is reluctant. His idea of a good civilization doesn’t include a king. Still, he says, “I did for them according to that which was in my power. (v18)” He notes that the prophecies of the Lord concerning him and his brothers have been brought to pass. Up to the point that his people left, Nephi had been his brothers’ ruler and teacher. Since they refused to listen to Nephi and desired to kill him, they were cut off from the presence of the Lord. What’s more, to distinguish the two people and so the Nephites couldn’t be tempted to comingle with them, the Lord caused them to develop a “skin of blackness” so they would “become loathsome unto thy people save they shall repent of their iniquities, (v22)” Because of this, they become rather lazy and also very tricky. The Lord reminds Nephi that they will be used to bring Nephi’s people back to a remembrance of their Lord.
Nephi consecrates his brothers, Jacob and Joseph, as priests and teachers to his people, who “lived after the manner of happiness” which I take to mean that they lived the law of consecration. Now, thirty years since Lehi left Jerusalem, is when Nephi mentions that the Lord commanded him to write the Small Plates, with the greater spiritual content. So Nephi, ever obedient, did this, in part to benefit his own people and, in part, for the benefit of people Nephi didn’t know. Us.
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