Day 3
Read: 1 Nephi 3-5Mark: 1 Nephi 3:7
"I have learned not to put question marks but to use exclamation points when calls are issued through inspired channels of priesthood government." --Elder Russell M. Nelson
To ponder:
Why did Laman and Lemuel murmur? Why did Nephi support his father? What determines whether you are a murmurer or a supporter of the Lord's work and his prophets?
I downloaded the BOM on my kindle and have been reading while I feed Patrick. It works out great. I am almost done with todays reading.
ReplyDeleteI have a weird thought. I know that Lehi needed the plates to teach his family while they were in the wilderness and promise land but what about the people in Jerusalem. did they not need the scriptures as well? I have a vague remembrance of learning once that the brass plates were not the only scriptures of the time. Does anyone else have thoughts on this?
That is really interesting! I'm wondering if there were, in fact, multiple records kept. Chapter 5 talks a lot about the genealogy of Lehi, so maybe there was a record for each family. I know that in the beginning (like, Adam and Eve beginning) that the records were passed down through priesthood line from Adam to Seth and so forth that way to Seth's first born son, etc. But I'm wondering if after Jacob and his 12 sons if there were then multiple records kept. I think there were a lot of prophets in that time. I was just thinking about that because we know Lehi was a prophet, but was he "the" prophet? It was only his family (plus Zoram, then Ishmael) who went into the wilderness, not the entirety of the people. I'm sure there were other righteous people left behind, and probably other prophets! My thoughts were that perhaps it would be like Elder Bednar taking his family away somewhere today, not President Monson himself. Anyways, Laban and the Jewish elders had a whole library, so I'm pretty sure there were other records of scripture there.
DeleteKate, this is interesting! I have no idea what the answer might be. It just seems logical that there would have been other plates containing the genealogies of the different families. It seems that Lehi really wanted the plates so that he would have his family's genealogy preserved--but then when I went back and read Nephi 3:19-20, Nephi also explains that they needed the plates so that they could preserve the words of the prophets. Then in Nephi 5: 11-13, it tells us everything that was contained in the plates. So I think these were the special plates, especially since they eventually came forth as the Book of Mormon! Great discussion!!!! I am loving this!!
DeleteI'm not sure there were many records of genealogy, let alone of the scriptures.... It was not an easy thing to make records in brass or any kind of metal, and they easier ways of keeping record had not yet been formed - at least not any that would last. Many prophets and teachers had been to the people of Jerusalem and they had stoned the prophets. They drove them away and rejected the teachings of God. It is possible that the records were kept in Laban's (and the likes of Laban) vault and hidden away from the people. Many teachings in them might condemn Laban and his ancestors if they did not live by their teachings. But the people of Jerusalem were given many chances. The Lord did not choose to destroy the city lightly - He had given them opportunity and they rejected Him. There was hope in Lehi's seed and so they needed the record to put strength in that hope.
DeleteSo my thoughts while reading today were about how it's probably a lot harder to follow the prophet and support him when he's your husband or dad. Sariah was worried about her sons and about this whole journey into the wilderness and was less than supportive of Lehi before her sons came back. Laman and Lemuel never really stop the murmuring ever, because they just can't get over themselves. But I was thinking about this because I can't get Joseph to take the stupid trash out on a regular basis--how would I feel about him being a "visionary man" and leading our family out to the wilderness? It's almost easier to respect a person and follow them as a leader when you don't see and know all of their shortcomings. I think that's a special challenge that descendants and spouses of leaders face. But again, if we look at the difference between Nephi and his older brothers, we see that the answer lies in our Heavenly Father, who really does have everything under control, even if it seems a little crazy what he's asking us to do!
ReplyDeleteIn thinking of Nephi when he slayed Laban, it had to be so difficult for him to do. This is the only time when Nephi seriously considers disobeying the Lord, because like Adam and Eve he had an impossible choice between two sins. I think Nephi wouldn't have had a problem with it so much if he and Laban were fighting each other and he needed to protect himself, but it's a very cowardly thing to kill a man who's passed out! And Nephi isn't a violent person in the first place, so what God asked him to do was completely contrary to his nature. It made me think--what difficult things, contrary to what I am comfortable with, does God ask ME to do? Am I willing to do them?
Jenny, your post made me laugh because I so agree! If Gary told me that he wanted us to leave everything and head to the wilderness, I'm afraid I would think he had lost his mind! :) I need more faith!!! I do appreciate how Lehi responded to Sariah to comfort her through his faith (Nephi 5:5), and it worked! And more importantly, she listened. This makes me wonder if I would listen if in a similar situation! Yikes!
DeleteMom you bring up a great point about how Lehi responds to Sariah. He was so humble. This man had been blessed with visions from God - he could not deny what he knew and here was his wife pestering him. He could responded very unkindly, but instead he gently comforts her and encourages her. What an amazing example of humility! Even when we know we are right, we have no right to make another person feel small.
DeleteYou should put an option to subscribe to your blog, on your blog :)
ReplyDeleteWhy did Laman and Lemuel murmur? I have no idea, but I can tell you the reasons I murmur :) Maybe they share some of those reasons. I murmur because I have been blessed so much in my life that when life gets hard I choose to just not get it! I want to yell I've done nothing wrong! I've been doing everything You asked and now You want me to do WHAT? It's like this sense of entitlement that comes over me - pride, it's all pride. I have to remind myself that if it was easy and an even path all of the time I would have no opportunities to grow or learn. If I was told what to do all the time - or my kids did what I told them to do all the time - it would be just like the plan Satan had for me. He wanted to tell me what to do and when to do it and force me to follow. I would have landed back in Heaven for sure, but without any progress to speak of. It sounds great, but holds no purpose. I know this (as Laman and Lemuel surely did) and still murmur sometimes. I must be reminded, I must practice remembering and doing the things I know to be true - even in the face of ALL obstacles. I cannot only be reminded by others or blame others when I forget. I must be accountable for it all. I own my actions. - No idea if that made sense, or was a bit too revealing, but it helps me :)
ReplyDeleteLoved the quote by Elder Nelson today. Think it's applicable in so many ways.
ReplyDeleteI know, me too! I can't even think of the words to describe what I'm thinking, so I'll end here, LOL.... it's bedtime.
DeleteI would follow my husband into the wilderness. I'm very comfortable in nature.
ReplyDeleteI love Nephi and his journey and faith.
I wish that I had the faith of Nephi and the patience of Job, because I understand
ReplyDeletehow Laman and Lemuel murmured because it is easy to complain when things are
not going the way that you want them to go, but it take courage and effort on your part
to follow what Heavenly Father decides is best when you can't see what the future
holds and not complain when things get hard
I am so thankful for the example of others who have had to endure so much, so
that when I feel like I have more than I can handle, I can remind myself that I
really don't have anything to complain about, others have been through so much
more and made it, so so can I with Heavenly Fathers help