Day 1: 1 Nephi 1-3

Good Morning Everyone!

Today is the first day of the Book of Mormon Book Club.  Of course, you can join us at any time!  Still need a book?  Contact me by clicking on the button on the right side of the screen.  I'd be happy to get a copy in the mail for you.

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Let's get started!  I will share some of my thoughts and favorite scriptures.  I will also share some quotes from other Book of Mormon study guides that are available at www.lds.org.  Feel free to leave your thoughts and favorite scriptures below by clicking the comment link under this post.

1 Nephi 1

I love how the 1st chapter in Nephi starts. Nephi tells how he was born of Goodly Parents.  That touches my heart every time I read it.  In our church, the family is central to the Plan of Salvation.  We believe that we are in a partnership with God to rear and raise our children.  In the Proclamation to the World (click HERE) it reads...

"THE FAMILY is ordained of God. Happiness in family life is most likely to be achieved when founded upon the teachings of the Lord Jesus Christ. Successful marriages and families are established and maintained on principles of faith, prayer, repentance, forgiveness, respect, love, compassion, work, and wholesome recreational activities. By divine design, fathers are to preside over their families in love and righteousness and are responsible to provide the necessities of life and protection for their families. Mothers are primarily responsible for the nurture of their children. In these sacred responsibilities, fathers and mothers are obligated to help one another as equal partners. "

What a great and wonderful responsibility the Lord has given us.  

One of my favorite scriptures in 1 Nephi 1 is at the end of 1 Nephi 1:20
"...But behold, I, Nephi, will show unto you that the tender mercies of the Lord are over all those whom he had chosen, because of their faith, to make them mighty even unto the power of deliverance."

I love that phrase "tender mercies".  

"“… One of the ways whereby the Savior comes to each of us is through His abundant and tender mercies. For instance, as you and I face challenges and tests in our lives, the gift of faith and an appropriate sense of personal confidence that reaches beyond our own capacity are two examples of the tender mercies of the Lord. Repentance and forgiveness of sins and peace of conscience are examples of the tender mercies of the Lord. And the persistence and the fortitude that enable us to press forward with cheerfulness through physical limitations and spiritual difficulties are examples of the tender mercies of the Lord” (in Conference Report, Apr. 2005, 105; or Ensign, May 2005, 99–100).

1 Nephi 2

In chapter 2 Lehi takes his family and flees into the wilderness.  He is warned in a dream from the Lord that the people of Jerusalem seek to take away his life.  I know that this required much faith on the part of Lehi and his family.  I often wonder if I would have the same faith they had to pack only the necessities I needed and leave all my possessions behind.  I hope the answer would be a big YES!  That is right, that would mean leaving behind all of my scrapbook supplies, too!  

In verse 4 of Chapter 2 it reads...

"And it came to pass that he departed into the wilderness.  And he left his house, and the land of his inheritance, and his gold, and his silver, and his precious things, and took nothing with him, save it were his family, and provisions, and tents, and departed into the wilderness."

Once Lehi and his family journeyed 3 days in the wilderness and knew that they were safe, the first thing that Lehi did was offer thanks to the Lord.  In today's busy world, I know how easy it is to forget to show gratitude unto the Father for all that he has given us.  

1 Nephi 2:7

"And it came to pass that he build an altar of stones, and made an offering unto the Lord, and gave thanks unto the Lord our God."

Elder M. Russell Ballard of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles counseled us to make sure our prayers are filled with humility and thankfulness: “I often hear people say ‘I told the Lord’ this or ‘I told the Lord’ that. Be careful not to ‘tell’ Him but, rather, to humbly seek and ask your Heavenly Father for guidance and direction. Prayer should be yearning and filled with gratitude”.

We then go on to read about how Nephi's brothers, Laman and Lemuel started murmuring against their father.  I love what Nephi did!  Instead of joining in the murmuring, he went to the Lord and asked for himself.

In verse 16 of chapter 2 we read...

"And it came to pass that I, Nephi, being exceedingly young, nevertheless being large in stature, and also having great desires to know of the mysteries of God, wherefore, I did cry unto the Lord; and behold he did visit me, and did soften my heart that I did believe all the words which had been spoken by my father; wherefore, I did not rebel against him like unto my brothers."

I love that verse because it shows me that we can also find out for ourselves if what we hear or read about are true.  It really is between us and the Lord.  We have to know for ourselves.  What Nephi did was "cry unto the Lord" which is also known as praying.  

1 Nephi 3

For those of you who I sent a Book of Mormon to, you will see that I marked one of my favorite scriptures for you that is 1 Nephi 3:7.

"And it came to pass that 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."

President Henry B. Eyring of the First Presidency acknowledged the need for prayer and faith to obey the Lord’s commandments:

“Whoever we are, however difficult our circumstances, we can know that what our Father commands we do to qualify for the blessings of eternal life will not be beyond us. …

“We may have to pray with faith to know what we are to do and we must pray with a determination to obey, but we can know what to do and be sure that the way has been prepared for us by the Lord”.

We will read more tomorrow about what happens when Nephi, Sam, Laman, and Lemuel try to obtain the brass plates from Laban.  Until then, I want to leave you with my testimony along with this video on the tender mercies of the Lord. I know that what I have read today is true and I also know that as you pray you can come to know of these truths for yourselves.