While Lehi powerfully preached to his elder sons, hoping for a change or softening in them, another son was listening. Lehi's words penetrated deeply, for Nephi wanted to know the truth. He describes that feeling as "great desires to know of the mysteries of God." He was not too proud to go straight to the source; he "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 . . ."
Was it a vision, like Lehi's first vision? Or was it some other assuring and comforting witness? I believe it was a vision, the first of many to come to Nephi.
Lehi's timing was good. When he broke the news to Nephi that he and his brothers were to return to Jerusalem for the brass plates, (scriptural records that were in the possession of man named Laban,) Nephi had just returned from this experience with God. He had not even had a chance to tell his father about it. His father, on the other hand, had just returned from telling Laman and Lemuel what was required. Did he wonder if Nephi would respond as they did, with doubt and resistance? (It's too hard!, they said.) He did not hold back, but told Nephi it was a commandment, and must be done, and assured him of God's help.
Nephi had humbled himself, had directly asked God his questions, and in response he was allowed to personally taste of God's love and power, and know God's awareness of him. If you and I were to know that, wouldn't we also do anything to retain that goodness? Nephi knows he can do whatever it takes, whatever the Lord requires. "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." The Apostle Paul stated it this way: "I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me." (Philllipians 4:13) Laman's right! We often can't do hard things by ourselves--they are too hard. But if God requires something hard, like a 3-day march back through the desert to Jerusalem to obtain a rare and valuable record from a greed-filled man who has no reason to respect you and no motive to give it up, you can still do the hard thing, because you know Who is asking it, and you can depend on Him. I call Nephi's response a declaration of dependence, as reminder that I can completely trust and depend on the Lord.A HABIT OF DOUBT
I hope you're keeping up with the story, because I am not filling in the blanks for you . . .The last words of 1 Nephi, chapter two, are the first words out Laman's mouth after a visit from an angel. Amazingly, they are words of doubt: "How is it possible that the Lord will deliver (don't miss that word deliver) Laban into our hands? Behold, he is a mighty man, and he can command fifty...even slay fifty; then why not us?" (1 Nephi 3:31)
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| Remember This Day, by David Linn Available at http://www.turnercarrollgallery.com/index.htm |
Human beings have an amazing capacity for belief and for doubt. Doubt is the default, I believe, and Laman had a deeply ingrained doubt habit at this point in his life, which he was not willing to even recognize, much less tackle and overcome. Poor Laman--I sympathize again. Old habits die hard, and the habit of doubt might be among the hardest to surmount. Because it shows up at the very root of action--in the thoughts. It isn't like biting fingernails, which is physical, and often managed with a simple physical solution. It isn't even like swearing, because swearing is a stand-out habit, right?--Draws attention to itself (or at least used to). But doubt is just thinking. No shocking words to call you up short, no bedraggled nails to regret for days afterwards. Just the slow painting of the canvas of life in muted, darker tones. It seems, in fact, that it's just like belief! So much so that I wonder if there's any difference, besides the fact that one is dark and the other is light.
I've struggled with habits of doubt, too--not much about big things like God's existence, nor the Bible's truth, or the Book of Mormon's. But what about the little insidious doubts that are part of every day life, that affect our understanding and actions? Such as, "I had better speed (break the law) or I won't arrive in time." We doubt we can abide by the law in a particular instance. "I knew he would leave his dirty clothes on the bathroom floor again." We doubt the potential of a loved one to change. "Nothing I do will help me succeed at -- (fill in the blank: losing weight, advancing in my career, perfecting my violin bow-hold, whatever the struggle may be.) These are the doubts that might keep us from ever believing something so pure as the Book of Mormon, or the words of prophet who dresses in a business suit rather than homespun flowing robes. Or even if we do believe those things, such doubts might prevent us from experiencing what Nephi and Lehi did in this world. If you struggle with doubts, great or small, play around with this for a few days. Try out believing in things that you usually doubt. I will, too. Let's see what happens.
Today I spent two or three hours catching up, reading through 1 Nephi 15. These are incredible chapters, full of richness, and full of themes that every reader of The Book of Mormon would do well to watch for. There is no way I can possibly write all that I feel inspired to write about them. But if i could, I would explore
The Lord is Able to Deliver Us
Constrained by the Spirit
Huge Risks: Obeying the Voice of the Spirit and How Did Nephi Do It? (1 Nephi 4)
Another Type of Deliverance: Loss of Protection and Sustenance
I HAVE Obtained a Land of Promise (Lehi was years away from it yet)
Now I Know! (Sariah's personal obedience)
Are You As Surprised As I Am That Lehi Did Not Know His Genealogy Before Getting the Brass Plates?
Things of Worth
Persuaded to Come Unto Christ
The World and How to Please and Displease It
Hard Hearts, Soft Hearts
Being Faithful (big topic here)
Fruit That Can Make One Happy
Straight Paths and Strait Paths
Strait Paths and Broad Paths
Clinging to the Iron Rod
Feelings of Tender Parents and Tender Prophets
God Will Accomplish His Work, whether we help Him or not
God Will Fulfill All His Words, whether we believe Him or not.
A Savior, Messiah, Redeemer
More About Doubt
The Power of the Holy Ghost
When We've Seen, Heard, and Known for Ourselves
He that Diligently Seeks Shall Find
What Desirest Thou?
What Beholdest Thou?
LOOK!
Knowest Thou the Condescension of God?
The Love of God which Sheddeth Itself Abroad in the Hearts of Men
Why I Don't Need to Know the Meaning of All Things (at least not right now)
Angels Minister unto the Children of Men
Why "the Children of Men" and not Just "Men"?
Healing by the Power of the Lamb of God
The Son of God: Judged of a World for whose Sins He was Slain
NEPHI BEHOLDS: What Didn't He Behold?
A Great and Terrible Gulf Dividing Men from the Tree of Life
Dwindling in Unbelief
Who are the Saints, and are they separate from the Covenant People?
Dealing with White, Fair, and Beautiful
America the Beautiful
The Other Church, Great and Abominable (there are only two and if we're not in one we're in the other)
Plain and Precious
The Power of an Idea that is True
The Gift and Power of the Holy Ghost
Brothers: The Bible and the Book of Mormon
Words that Bring Men to Christ and Salvation
The Great Pit
Armed with Righteousness and Power
Understanding What's Hard to be Understood
Have Ye Inquired of the Lord?
The Will to Perish
The House of Israel (in a blog entry? I don't think so . . .)
Tomorrow? The journey continues . . .
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