Week of September 23rd I Nephi Chapters 1-18

[Nappaljarri]

LOL, I love your thoughts Wingnut about Laman and Lemuel etc.

It was me in another post about how the path = the family. Of couse, as you said, you may not believe that solidly, but you can see it. Remember that these visions and the scriptures as they reveal themselves to us, can symbolise different things at different stages of our lives. To me the iron rod = word of God and the path = the family. Makes lots of sense. And the point that you make about how Lehi makes his way to the tree with no vision impairment. Some people may disagree with me here, but I believe that is the symbol of spiritual vision. When one is so converted to the gospel of Jesus Christ that they are no longer distracted or "see" the temptations around them. It is not that the temptations disappear, but that they have "an eye single to the glory of God" and therefore recognise the temptations for what they are, which negates the tempation, because it has no power over them (ie: and the fiery darts of the adversary will have no power over you). So when we live the gospel with our family and see the pattern clearly that God has set forth for us to follow, we see to the tree very clearly and if we keep our eyes fixed on the tree, the path seems easier to follow.

[Wingnut]

Originally Posted by Nappaljarri

LOL, I love your thoughts Wingnut about Laman and Lemuel etc.

Haha, thanks. I'm glad someone else can appreciate the cynicism.

And the point that you make about how Lehi makes his way to the tree with no vision impairment. Some people may disagree with me here, but I believe that is the symbol of spiritual vision. When one is so converted to the gospel of Jesus Christ that they are no longer distracted or "see" the temptations around them. It is not that the temptations disappear, but that they have "an eye single to the glory of God" and therefore recognise the temptations for what they are, which negates the tempation, because it has no power over them (ie: and the fiery darts of the adversary will have no power over you). So when we live the gospel with our family and see the pattern clearly that God has set forth for us to follow, we see to the tree very clearly and if we keep our eyes fixed on the tree, the path seems easier to follow.

That's exactly the thought I'd had as I read it. For as many times and I've read 1 Nephi 1-12 in the past, and as much as I was just trying to "get through" these verses, that stood out to me this time. Perhaps I need to be working on my own spiritual vision?

[pam]

One thing I thought was interesting. While Nephi and his brothers had gone to get the records from Laban, Sariah murmured against her husband. One thing she mentioned was losing her sons to his "visions."

However, once they returned she rejoiced and found Lehi to be all that.

Do you think she really believed or that because her sons returned she just breathed a sigh of relief?

Perhaps playing a little devil's advocate here.

[Wingnut]

I should be getting a new "assignment" tomorrow morning. I thought it was goign to be today, but I haven't gotten it yet. I'll let you know when I do.

I just finished reading 1 Nephi 15, and I was tickled when I read verse 13:

13 And now, the thing which our father meaneth concerning the grafting in of the natural branches through the fulness of the Gentiles, is, that in the latter days, when our seed shall have dwindled in unbelief, yea, for the space of many years, and many generations after the Messiah shall be manifested in body unto the children of men, then shall the fulness of the gospel of the Messiah come unto the Gentiles, and from the Gentiles unto the remnant of our seed—

I served a Spanish speaking mission in California, and taught primarily Latin Americans. I was part of the fulfillment of that prophecy! That just tickled me when I read it.

[Wingnut]

I finally finished this reading assignment last night (a little behind schedule, but I'll over-compensate eventually).

As I read chapter 16, I just became increasingly annoyed with L&L. They're so whiny!! And why is Nephi the only one who can hunt? Why are they sitting around on their butts complaining, instead of out hunting or doing something? I did find it funny, though, in verse 21, that Nephi says "...I, Nephi, having been afflicted with my brethren..." And later (verses 37-38)...why is the only solution L&L can come up with always "let's kill dad, oh, and our brother while we're at it!"? Is that really the first thing that always came up? I suppose that technically, we're reading a biased account, because Nephi is writing it, not L&L, but still...

Okay, moving on (breathe...) to chapter 17 and ship building. First of all, I don't think I'd ever try to cross an ocean in a ship that I built. Let me just state that for the record. I'm impressed that when the Lord commands Nephi to build the ship, the first thing Nephi says is "where do I find ore to make tools with?" It's not "I don't know how" or even "but I don't have tools." It's part of the "go and do" mentality. In this chapter (at least in verses 17-18), I can sympathize with L&L. If my brother started to build a ship while we were all camping on the beach, I would definitely think he'd gone waaaay off the deep end (no pun intended). As I read the rest of chapter 17, I can't help thinking that Nephi must get really annoyed at having to stop an explain things to L&L all the time. He can't just start a job and finish it, because he's constantly having to put those two in their place. Verse 50 reminded me of a CD that I have that I absolutely love. It's right out of the Book of Mormon...it's called From Cumorah's Hill.

Chapter 18 -- again, what's with all the violence? And the stupidity?

[Lydia]

I'd like to join in, but it looks like I have a little bit of catching up to do.

On the thought of the representation of the path during Lehi's vision, I think that there are many possibilities. Personally, I like to think of it as the right path of choices. The iron rod leads from one choice to the next in a straight, narrow line. However, there are many other choices, and when your individual choices do not conform with the Word of God, you stray from the path. To me, the iron rod represents the guidance we have, and the path represents the choices we should make.