Book of Mormon Stories: Nephi Gets the Brass Plates

Le'ts start off this post with a video! Book of Mormon Stories that my teacher tells to me, Bum Bum Bum..... sing along! Recall some of the great Book of Mormon stories! Bum bum bum....

Chapter 4 gives us an awesome story. Nephi keeps God's commandment to retrieve the brass plates. There is a TON we can learn from this chapter.

1. Be faithful; God is mightier than all the earth. (1 Nephi 4:1). Nephi reminds his brothers to be faithful in keeping the commandants because God is mightier than their foe, Laban.

2. Be strong, and look to the greats. (1 Nephi 4:2) Nephi is giving another pep talk and he reminds his brother of Moses. We to can remember the greatest and strive to be like them.

3. "Wherefore can ye doubt?" Nephi asks his brothers. They have the scriptures, their father is a prophet, they've seen an angel. They know that God can and will provide a way if they keep the commandments, so wherefore can we doubt?

4. OK, now we are really getting into the story. Nephi takes off on his own. He convinced his brothers to stay right outside the wall of Jerusalem. Nephi went into the city and was "led by the Spirit, not knowing beforehand the things which I should do." (1 Nephi 4:6) Sometimes we are like Nephi, the spirit prompts us to do something, and we don't quite know what it is, but we go with it. The spirit knows, if we follow, everything will work out how it's suppose to.

Now, Nephi is led to the house of Laban. as he approaches, he sees Laban on the ground, drunk. Nephi takes a moment to admire his beautiful sword. "the hilt thereof was of pure gold, and the workmanship thereof was exceedingly fine, and I saw that the blade thereof was of the most precious steel". Next, he is prompted to kill Laban!

Nephi, in his heart, desires not to kill him. He had never killed a man before. "I shrunk and would that I might not slay him." (1 Nephi 4:10). Twice more the spirit tells him to slay Laban. The spirit whispered to Nephi " Slay him, for the Lord hath delivered him into thy hands; Behold the Lord slayeth the wicked to bring forth his righteous purposes. It is better that one man should perish than that a nation should dwindle and perish in unbelief." (1 Nephi 4: 12-13) That's pretty intense.

I think it's interesting that in vs 14-17, Nephi is reasoning it out in his heart. He remembers the commandments God has given him. He needs the brass plates so Nephi's posterity could keep a record of their language and have the gospel. He thought in his heart that his posterity can't keep the commandments if they didn't have them. He knew the commandments were on the brass plates. In Vs 18, he obeyed the spirit of the Lord and kills Laban.

Some people are unsettled about Nephi kills Laban. Please go and read this article. It's an excellent article that explains why Nephi's execution of Laban was honorable and just before the eyes of God. Yes, God have the commandment that "Thou shalt not kill." But her reasoning is interesting, and I agree. It'll only take you a moment and it'll change your whole view on the slaying of Laban.

5. The Law is engraven in our scriptures. (1 Nephi 4:16) Just as Nephi needed the brass plates, we need the scriptures in our day. The law and gospel is contained in it. For Nephi's time, it's better than a man die, (Laban), than an entire nation dwindle in unbelief (Nephi's posterity).

The story doesn't end there. After Laban's death, Nephi dresses in Labans clothes and heads to Laban's treasury to get the plates. He meets Zoram there. Zoram thinks that Nephi is Laban. Nephi's voice was disguised to sound like Laban, and remember that Nephi is large in stature. Zoram gives him the plates and follows him to the outer wall of Jerusalem.

Nephi meets his brothers there, who think he's Laban and begin to run, but Nephi calls out to them. Then, Zoram realizes his mistake and begins to flee, but Nephi "having received much strength of the Lord" was able to stop Zoram from leaving. Nephi promised to spare his life and that he would be a free man if he went with them. Zoram agreed and that was that. An oath back then was solid. No one dared to brake an oath. After Nephi and Zoram exchanged oaths, they went back to Lehi and Sariah in the wilderness.

The great stories don't end there! Read the Book of Mormon slow and thoughtfully to catch all the important good stuff! :)

- SamiMae

You Can Do It - 1 Nephi 3

This is a great chapter! We learn some important doctrine here. When the Lord commands, do it. It's that simple. Sometimes easier said then done. Let's dig in.

1. Don't murmur. It's that simple. You'll be better off for it. (1 Nephi 3:6)

2. This is a GREAT verse, it's actually a scripture mastery.

"...I Nephi said unto my father: I will go and do the things which the Lord hath commanded, for I know that the Lord giveth no commandments unto the children of men, save he shall prepare a way for them that they may accomplish the thing which he commandeth them." (1 Nephi 3:7)

Just Do it. Here we learn that the Lord will not issue a commandment to us that we can't keep. In fact,
he'll provide a way for us to keep his commandments. For example, with tithing, if you pay an honest tithe, God will provide a way for things to work out. It can usually be a surprise, but if you keep that law, blessings based on that law will follow. It's the same with all of God's commandments.  If we strive to keep them, He'll provide a way for us to keep them.

This is such an important concept, that we even have a song about it! It's called Nephi's courage. LDS kids grow up singing this song. :)

3. Encourage others to keep the commandments. (1 Nephi 3:16) Here Nephi is encouraging his brothers to keep the commandments. 

4. God has wisdom in his commandments. (1 Nephi 3:19). God isn't going to issue a commandment that's unwise. He is perfect and wants us to become like him. So, his commandments are perfect and there is wisdom in them. 

5. Pep talks never hurt the discouraged. (1 Nephi 3:21) Nephi spends some time giving his brothers a pep talk and encouragement, eventually they agree to try again in getting the brass plates. 

6. God protects his chosen. (1 Nephi 3:29). Here, Laman and Lemuel are angry at Nephi. I think maybe part of their anger was because they were scared and just came out of a high-stress situation. Laban and his men were chasing after Laman, Lemual, Sam and Nephi to kill them. I think afterwards it'd be a little stressed and high strung too. But, Laman and Lemual take it to far. They find a rod and start hitting Nephi! They are so intense and focus on hitting him, that God sends an angel to break up their fight! (I can't imagine what Sam must have been thinking.) The angel was pretty bold with them. Nevertheless, Nephi is saved by an angel.

7. Visions, signs and angels don't change a person or gives someone faith. (1 Nephi 3:31) So, let's think about this. Laman and Lemuel were hitting Nephi, an angel comes and stops them while criticizing them at the same time. Then, after the angel leaves, Laman and Lemual murmur. Faith has to be present before a vision or a sign or it won't change a person. It won't matter. After the angel visits, Laman and Lemuel still doubt. 

These are just a few of the many lessons we can learn from 1 Nephi 3. Great lessons. Let us be faithful in keeping God's commandments. Just remember "YOU CAN DO IT!" :)

- SamiMae

Lessons I learned from 1 Nephi Ch 2

Continuing my previous post, I now look at chapter 2. There is some truly great stuff in this chapter. It's just full of things we can learn and apply to our lives.

In this chapter we learn quite a bit about Lehi and the kind of man he was. He was faithful (1 Nephi 2:1) and obedient unto the word of the Lord (1 Nephi 2:2). Lehi "built an alter of stones and made an offering unto the lord and gave thanks unto the Lord our God." (1 Nephi 2:7) At this point, Lehi had taken his family into the wilderness, they had left all their belongings in Jerusalem and left the land they loved, because the Lord commanded them. I'm sure this wasn't easy for them. But, Lehi didn't murmur. Instead he built an alter, gave an offering and thanks unto God. How remarkable! I'd like to think that if I was in that situation I wouldn't be belly-aching over my circumstances.

What can we learn from Lehi? Be faithful, be obedient, and give thanks to God in your trials.

Other lessons in Ch 2:

1. Let us be "firm and steadfast, and immovable in keeping the commandments of the Lord!" (1 Nephi 2:10)

2. Don't murmur when you don't know the dealings of God. (1 Nephi 2:12). Sometimes, we just don't know, and that's ok. Let us have faith in God and his timing. God is all powerful, and quite frankly, he's in charge. Just go with it.

3. You are never to young to desire to know the mysteries of God. (1 Nephi 2:16). Nephi was young, but desired to know the mysteries of God, so he went and asked! We can also learn that, if you have a question, take it to God. You might just get more than you'd expect. In my life I've learned that God wants us to come to him, he wants us to talk to him.

I learned this again a few weeks back. I was struggling with something, and one Sunday night, I felt prompted to ask Trevor for a blessing. I was unsure and hesitant about asking. I didn't think my problem was big enough to ask for a blessing. I always kind of had the idea that if I wasn't on my death bed sick, then it's not big enough. But, I listened to the spirit, and asked for one. Trevor willingly gave me a blessing, it was beautiful and exactly what I needed. In the blessing, I was reminded that nothing is to small to take to God. If it's important to us, it's important to him.

4. Pray for those who wander or stray. (1 Nephi 2:18). Here, Nephi is praying for his older brothers, who have strayed from God. Nephi "being grieved...cried unto the Lord for them". Them, meaning his brothers. In the never verse God gives him comfort. God is always there for us.

5. God blesses the faithful and those who seek him diligently. (1 Nephi 2:19)

6. Keep Commandments = Prosperity. (1 Nephi 2:20).

7. Rebel = cut off from the presence of the Lord, cursed. (1 Nephi 2:21, 23)

Pretty straight forward. I think there are some real admirable traits that Nephi and Lehi show. These were great men. I admire them and look up to them. I enjoy reading about them in the Book of Mormon. Lehi was wise and obedient. Nephi was righteous and desirous to know more of God. They both had such big hearts. Lehi worries he is often teaching them and he even names a river and valley after them. Nephi prays for them, he cried unto the Lord for them. These are both admirable men. We can apply the scriptures to us, by striving to become more like them and learn from their examples.


- SamiMae

Lessons I learned from 1 Nephi 1

So, I've been studying the New Testament. I've made it pretty far into Acts, which is as far as I've made it. I'm pretty proud of myself. But, I can't quite figure it out. I find, for me, that I can feel the spirit stronger in the Book of Mormon. For me, the Book of Mormon is more personal. (And, easier to read. lol)

I'm still going to continue reading the New Testament, but I've also begun reading the Book of Mormon again. It's been a while since I've read it. I've come up with my own scripture coding that's working pretty great so far.

Red - Jesus Christ/ God
Green - Knowledge/ Testimony
Purple - Be/Do (My list of things to become or do. Self-improvement)
Blue - Warnings/ Commandments
Yellow - Story information

So far, here is what I've learned.

1. The record of Nephi is true. He testifies of it. (1 Nephi 1:2)

2. Lehi has a vision. In his vision he sees "God sitting upon his throne, surrounded by numberless concourses of angles in the attitude of singing and praising their God". (1 Nephi 1:8) Wouldn't that be a sight to see!

3. "He saw One descending out of the midst of heaven, and he beheld that his luster was above that of the sun at noon-day." Lehi saw Christ! (1 Nephi 1:9)

4. We can sing and praise God, just like the angels did.

5. "He also saw twelve others following him". Lehi saw the 12 disciples as well. (1 Nephi 1:10). Isn't this a great start to the Book of Mormon? We get to see and learn about a Prophet's vision of the Heavens. He saw God, Christ and the 12 disciples in the very first chapter!

6. In the vision, he was given a book to read. In it he read some pretty intense things. He saw the destruction of Jerusalem and the people that dwelt there. He saw them perish by the sward and being carried away into Babylon. (1 Nephi 1:11-14) He saw many "great and marvelous things", as Nephi put it. Afterwards Lehi exclaims

"Great and marvelous are they works, O Lord God almighty! Thy throne is high in the heavens and they power and goodness and mercy are over all the inhabitants of the earth, and because, thou art merciful, thou wilt not suffer those who come unto thee that they shall perish!" (1 Nephi 1:14)

Wow. Remember, we are in the first chapter, there is no fluffy introduction, we just dive deep into great stuff. This is a Prophet, a righteous man of God. We learn some interesting things here. God's throne is high in the heavens. Lehi saw that in his vision. He also saw of God's power and goodness. That had to have been incredible. I can't even wrap my mind around that. We are starting to see the bigger picture. God's greatness - to our own nothingness. He is All Powerful, "Lord God almighty!"  But, God is merciful. He "wilt not suffer those who come unto [Him] that they shall perish!"

7. "But behold, I, Nephi, will show unto you that the tender mercies of the Lord are over all those whom he hath chosen, because of their faith, to make them mighty even unto the power of deliverance" (1 Nephi 1:20) This is probably one of my favorite verses in all of 1 Nephi. Nephi clearly states his purpose, and how great of a purpose it is! He is going to show us the tender mercies of the Lord in His day.

Can we look in our lives and see the tender mercies of the Lord?

- SamiMae