The Book of Mormon: 1 Nephi 7

Today’s scripture is 1 Nephi 7.

At twenty two verses, this chapter is the longest one so far.  It’s not the longest chapter in the Book of Mormon (Jacob 5), but it’s long enough that I want to try to summarize as much as possible.

So, after father Lehi has finished prophesying, the Lord tells him to send his boys back to Jerusalem, this time, to obtain wives.  After all, it’s tough to build a whole new nation with just four boys.  The family selected for this purpose is that of Ishmael, who has five daughters and two sons, who are probably already married and have kids of their own (v6).

Anyway, they’re on their way back to the Valley of Lemuel when Laman and Lemuel, two of Ishmael’s daughters and both his sons and their families decide that they don’t want to go back to the wilderness.  They want to return to Jerusalem.  Nephi, who must have loved his brothers deeply, feels compelled to speak to them.  His speech to them comprises a little less than eight verses (v 8-15).  Rather than recount the entire speech, I’ll try to give you a list of all the salient points.

• You’re older than me?  Why do you need to be so proud that I, your younger brother, must teach you and set a good example for you?
• Why haven’t you hearkened to the word of the Lord?
• Why have you forgotten all the wonderful things that have happened the last time we went to Jerusalem and how the Lord helped us?
• Why can’t you remember that the Lord can do anything for those who have faith in him?
• If we’re faithful, we’ve been promised a new land.
• The Lord’s prophecies concerning Jerusalem must eventually be fulfilled because of the wickedness of the people.
• If you go back to Jerusalem, you’ll die with them.
• It’s your choice.  Go ahead and go back if you want to.  Just remember, when Jerusalem is destroyed, that I said this to you.
• I’m saying all these things because God told me to.

This speech makes Laman and Lemuel so angry that they grab Nephi and tie him up, with the intention of leaving him out in the desert as dinner for wild animals.  At this point, Nephi has an opportunity to show his brothers the power his faith has granted him.  He asks the Lord for the strength to free himself and is instantly freed.  He speaks to them again, though we’re not told what Nephi said.  I imagine it was more of the previous.

Needless to say, Laman and Lemuel decide to grab Nephi again and would have done so except that one of the daughters of Ishmael and Ishmael’s wife and also one of his previously rebellious sons begged them to stop.  It is then that the two brothers come to realize just what they’re doing and begin to repent.  They even bow down and Nephi’s feet and beg him for forgiveness.  Needless to say, Nephi easily forgives them, but suggests that they should request forgiveness from the Lord.  They do this.  Then they complete their journey to the Valley of Lemuel, where they show their gratitude by offering burnt offerings on the family altar.

Applying the Scriptures to My Own Life

I know I’m not perfect.  In fact, I’ve got a temper on me that I’ve struggled to overcome for most of my life.  However, I know that I can’t complete my journey in this life unless I am repentant.  The Lord doesn’t expect perfection from me.  He expects repentance and for me to try to leave my temper behind each and every day.  He loves me and is willing to forgive my lapses of temper as long as I’m willing to work on changing and trying to forgive the people who hurt or offend me.  However, if I neglect repentance, eventually, such neglect will come back to bite me on the butt, just like it did for the people of Jerusalem, when the city was wiped out almost eleven years after Lehi left.