I'm ashamed at how behind schedule I already am.
Chapter 7-9
Is anyone else amused by the fact that Laman and Lemuel murmur and complain when they have to go back to get the plates, but not when they have to go back to get the girls?
Okay, besides being hard-hearted (and sometimes hard-headed), and "past feeling" I can understand that Laman and Lemuel might have been frustrated by Nephi because of family dynamics. Think about Ch 7:8:
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8 And now I, Nephi, being grieved for the hardness of their hearts, therefore I spake unto them, saying, yea, even unto Laman and unto Lemuel: Behold ye are mine elder brethren, and how is it that ye are so hard in your hearts, and so blind in your minds, that ye have need that I, your younger brother, should speak unto you, yea, and set an example for you?
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L&L were supposed to be the big guys, but instead, all they got was "why can't you be more like your brother?" I can understand the frustration, but not to the point of rage and murder which they always seemed to go to. Which brings me to another point. Ch 7:19-20:
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19 And it came to pass that they were angry with me again, and sought to lay hands upon me; but behold, one of the daughters of Ishmael, yea, and also her mother, and one of the sons of Ishmael, did plead with my brethren, insomuch that they did soften their hearts; and they did cease striving to take away my life.
20 And it came to pass that they were sorrowful, because of their wickedness, insomuch that they did bow down before me, and did plead with me that I would forgive them of the thing that they had done against me.
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One second L&L are trying to kill Nephi, the next they are bowing before him pleading for his forgiveness. No one can convince me they weren't chemically imbalanced, quite possibly bi-polar. (Yes, I know these are not the most reverent thoughts with regard to the scriptures, but these are the musings that come to mind as I read.)
As I read chapter 8 (Lehi's vision of the tree of life), I thought about the idea that someone shared that the "path" was the family. I've never though that before...I always thought the path was just life...but I can see it. I don't necesarily agree with it, but I can see it. As I read this chapter this time, though, I noticed how quickly Lehi reached the tree. He saw it, went toward it, and was there. It was only after he partook of the fruit that he began to look around and see all the obstacles. While he walked, his vision was focused (see
Prov 29:18). I have a note in my scriptures from a sacrament meeting talk by a member of the Stake Presidency, who spoke about the vision. He said that the tree can = the temple, the fruit can = the ordinances, and that the vision is today. Interesting take.
Chapter 9 is pretty boring...not much to say.