Lehi Commands Nephi to Obtain the Sacred Records
Book of Mormon Insights
The Lord knows his sheep and each one is numbered unto hum. His knowledge of us is personal and intimate. He knows our strengths, weaknesses, and our hearts most inner desires. He knows us at such depths because he 1st not only created us but, 2nd atoned for us. These two elements creation and the shedding of blood complete the atonement. Without first creating us there could be no atonement. But, he the Lord, even Jehovah, had to play an essential part in the creation, for only the creator can redeem, atone, and give of his blood and life for the creation.
There is not any other man or being except he whom is called the “Father of our Spirits” that could perform such a great and marvelous work! Now, since the Lord knows each of us personally and individually, at levels and depths that we don’t even comprehend of ourselves, when he calls us it is our responsibility to hearken and obey. It is in fact a commandment of the Lord, that we are to obey when he calls us to his work. Regardless of the assignment, the responsibility, no matter how much we want to or don’t want too for that matter it is our sacred responsibility to listen and obey.
Those who do so will grow in strength, spirit, wisdom, and knowledge of the Lord. Nephi, illustrates this principle beautifully in the opening chapters of the Book of Mormon. His example sets a precedence that is second to none throughout all the passages of scripture that are written. When his father Lehi asked him to return to Jerusalem to obtain the gold plates, Nephi’s answer shows just how much he loved the Loved the Lord and knew him personally.
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.
As each of us grow in the light of the Lord, our inner desire to follow and accept him likewise grows. However, it should be noted, that the Light of the Lord will not increase unless we are first willing to accept that which he assigns and calls us to. By deciding today that you will accept the Lords call and will for you; means that tomorrow will hold a brighter future for you.
Such was the case for Nephi, and as he determined in his heart to accept the Lords call before it even came. He was not only prepared, but greater knowledge and wisdom likewise awaited him as he accepted that call when it came from his father within the tent of his father. The tent for Lehi and Nephi represented a sacred, set apart edifice of the Lord. A place where revelation and the will of the Lord could be made known. Nephi knew this doctrine and it only further added to his conviction to the follow the Lord and accept the work which was assigned to him.
Likewise, even today your call from the Lord, will come within and from such a sacred structure. His meeting houses, offices, and temples all represent today anciently what the tent for Nephi represented. Understanding this further prepare one’s hearts and mind to accept the Lords will. Accepting the sacred call of the Lord when it comes as Nephi did will open up all things for the individual, both that which is temporal and spiritual.
It should be noted that Nephi gives us an exceptional example of faith, revelation, and action. He was commanded of the Lord and by the Lord to return to Jerusalem to obtain the plates. It was wisdom in God that they did not obtain the plates before their flight into the wilderness. Many reasons can be garnered as to why the Lord did not instruct Lehi’s party to obtain the plates before their exodus.
Regardless as to why, the main purpose was for Nephi to grow in experience, faith, and the knowledge of the Lord. Without this experience, perhaps Nephi’s conviction and dedication to keeping the commandments of the Lord could not have fostered to the heights it did. Nephi was resilient in not only keeping the commandments of the Lord but, executed full faith and action as it pertained to the Lords commandments.
The greatest sacrifice ever made was the sacrifice made by our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. His sacrifice was pure, holy, intimate, and infinite. His bowels were filled with mercy and compassion insomuch that it caused him to bleed from every pore. That eternal sacrifice filled his every pore with blood, likewise, fills not only time but, the immensity of space. His atonement is literally in all things and likewise gives light to all things. The stars, the planets, galaxies, even down to the very smallest cell that has yet to be discovered. His light and life is in all of us because of his sacrifice. That light and life extends beyond this mortal realm into the eternities that await us all. To live after death is what we all seek and is made possible only though Christ.
Nephi, understood the Law of Sacrifice and regularly practiced this rite under the direction and priesthood of his father. He read of Christ and his sacrifice through the words of Isiah. Nephi’s favorite author was Isiah and he quoted from him extensively in his own writings. This law was not only important to Nephi as it helped point him towards Christ but, it likewise brought him closer to the Savior as he strived to live it. One of the first examples of Nephi not only living but, executing this law was when his father sent him and his brethren back for the Brass Plates.
During their quest, back to Jerusalem Nephi offered up all of his family’s gold, silver, and precious things for the word of the Lord. He was not told to nor even instructed by the Lord. It was of his own free will and accord. He saw his worldly possessions and knew that they held little value in comparison to the Word of the Lord. Nephi truly saw all things in their true and natural state. He was not distracted nor blinded by materialism, power, wealth, position, and prominence. The Lord came first for Nephi, and he put him first by doing as he would do – sacrifice all that he had.
When one sacrifices that which he has whether it be of time, money, or talents he inevitably brings himself closer to the Lord. The law of sacrifice is designed to bring one closer to the thing or person in which he is sacrificing for. For Christ, it was all of mankind. For Nephi, it was to move closer to Christ. That is exactly what this law does. It moves not just elements, light, and truth but, souls closer to him who offered himself up as the great and last eternal sacrifice. Thus, as we sacrifice that which is required and asked of us we will move closer to Christ who the source of all things. Nephi offered up the possession of all his worldly assets on his own free will of accord and consequently moved closer to Christ.
Yes, he was most likely moved upon by the spirit. But, the key was that he was not told do so. As followers of Christ we must learn to follow the example of Nephi and move and act on our own free will and accord. By so doing we learn to become agents unto ourselves – and this is exactly what the Lord wants for all his children. We must learn to put him first without being told to do so. Learning to sacrifice as Christ and as Nephi did without being compelled is essential for one’s spiritual growth.
Nephi like unto Christ was tested in all things regarding his faithfulness unto the Lord. Nephi’s continued test throughout his ministry only further showed just how much he Loved the Lord. That love enabled him to sacrifice all that he had for the Lord and unto the Lord. He demonstrated exactness in all things and in his commandments. Never once do we read of Nephi straying, murmuring, or deterring from the path of righteousness. At all times and in all places, Nephi executed exactness fulfilling that which was asked of him.
Likewise, the Savior Jesus Christ executed exactness in all things asked of him by the father, even in his hardest moment in Gethsemane, he still surrendered his will unto the Father. Perhaps this is the pivotal key that enabled not only Christ but, Nephi to move a great work forward. Christ paved the way for salvation and exaltation for all of mankind, redeeming us from the fall through his ministry. Nephi, likewise, brought a rebirth to an entire group of people, and established one of the greatest nations in history.
However, it should be noted that these great works were only possible because both executed exactness. Furthermore, one of Nephi’s greatest struggles and triumphs is seen when asked of his father to return to Jerusalem to obtain the Brass Plates. He gives up his families’ entire fortune for the word of the Lord and even then, it still wasn’t enough to obtain them. Stop and consider that for a minute. Nephi, left everything behind, his friends, life, comforts, wealth, position, and home and then sacrificed his families entire fortune to obtain the Brass Plates. One would think surely in his mind that such a sacrifice would be worthy to obtain the plates.
However, this was still not enough and he fell short in his work. There is a lot to learn from that exposition of faith and righteousness. We do not read of Nephi struggling in giving up his families fortune for the Brass Plates. His struggle is not manifested until he is asked by the Lord to take the life of Laban to obtain the brass plates. This is his test, and he spends several verses describing his personal struggle with such a task. Nevertheless, he obeys with exactness and does as he is commanded. Then and only then and in so doing is Nephi successful in obtaining the Brass Plates. The Lord tested Nephi to the greatest extremes in all things and when the decision to choose the Lord or the world he indefinitely chose the Lord – and took Laban’s life. What will be your test? And will you execute exactness as Nephi did when commanded by the Lord to fulfill that which is asked of you?
We read of many miracles throughout the Bible and Book of Mormon. The most notable miracles were those appertaining unto the Lord Jesus Christ. He worked many great and marvelous miracles on account of his pure faith. They were and are not only spectacular in nature but, grand in their design. Each one taught us something more about he who was and was to become.
They point fallen man beyond this mortal world into and unto immortality and eternal life. Now, each miracle could only be brought to pass because of the Saviors abiding love, faith, trust, and assurance in his father in heaven. Because he lacked nothing and never wavered he simply asked and it came to pass. Nothing was withheld from him because of whom and what he had become. Yes, he was the Son of God, but, it still took faith, perseverance, determination, and complete assurance to move the work forward as he did.
Likewise, paralleling that faith to Nephi there are many similarities that can be crossed. Perhaps, the greatest is Nephi’s unshakeable faith and trust in the Lord that enabled him to move a mighty work and people forward. He is the founder of an entire people who now inhabit the Americas. How can one obtain this type of faith? The faith to move mountains, raise the dead, change water to wine, move a people, build a nation, and for Nephi alter his physical properties to emulate Laban? It is predicated upon faith and trust. As one moves beyond this world into the world of the Father and the Son all things become possible. There is nothing that can’t be achieved nor obtained. For Christ, it was endless miracles that all manifested of whom he was – the Son of God.
For Nephi, it was likewise great and mighty miracles that manifested of whom he served – the Son of God. The Miracle of Changing one’s physical properties performed by Nephi only came after he had performed his greatest work. That work was obtaining the Brass Plates. This work assigned unto him by his father, which came from the Lord, was Nephi’s greatest test. It tried him in all things and pushed him to the very limit of whom he was as a person. However, it was only this force exerting upon him from the Lord, that truly helped shape Nephi into the man who could lead a people across the desert, across the sea, into the Americas, and establish a nation unto the Lord. The Lord knew this and likewise used it as the means to prepare Nephi for his work.
Moreover, only after this experience do we read of Nephi’s first miracle – he through reassured and increase in faith was able to physically change not only his voice but, appearance to appear as Laban. This act was vital in helping him escape the house of Laban with the plates with no trace of him being there. There is not great detail regarding this physical change that took place upon Nephi. Nevertheless, it did happen and it was Nephi’s first recorded miracle, and it came to pass because of his unshakable faith and ability to accomplish the Lords work.
Laban was not only a man of great wealth, power, influence, and position, his heritage was likewise just as noble. He like Lehi was a descendent of Joseph, whom was sold into Egypt, and betrayed by his brothers. The same Joseph who gained favor with Pharaoh, interpreted his dreams, and rose to power and influence in his courts. The heritage of Laban was most noble and he himself not only knew this but, most likely used it to his advantage in Israel. His direct relationship most likely would of have been a direct decedent of Joseph most likely making him a great grandson of sum number.
Thus, we see why he was entrusted with these sacred brass plates, to keep them, cherish them, and to ensure that they were fulfilling their purpose in terms of enriching the people’s lives. This duty / charge was not only sacred but, significant as very few people at this time would / could have access to the sacred word of God. Nevertheless, it was the stewardship of Laban as he was entrusted with the plates and given that responsibility. Nevertheless, despite this he fell short in his responsibilities and corruption, power, and wealth strayed his eyes to that which was important – the Word of God.
Ultimately, Laban lost his life as a result of his failure to keep the word of God as he ought to. Likewise, those of us who have been entrusted with the truth, and the sacred word of God have a similar responsibility. We must keep the Lords word sacred, close to our hearts, and not let it slip away because of the distractions of the world. If we do let the word of God fade away into insignificant nothing than like Laban we to will likewise suffer death. This death might not necessary be physical death as Laban’s was but, we will suffer a spiritual death and as such the promises of the Lord will be no more. Those of us in and of the covenant hold a special and sacred heritage as we are the Lords, and he has marked as such. There is no greater heritage or blessing than this! Let us not be distracted and swayed by the things of the world as Laban was and as such lose our heritage, covenants, and suffer both physical and spiritual death.