(I'm not sure what is up with the formatting on this one, sorry :( My knowledge of computer code is lacking.)
I had such high hopes of starting off the year with a wonderfully insightful post, but here it is the end of January and it hasn't happened yet. I think I am expecting too much of myself (wanting everything to be in-depth and beautifully written) so I have done nothing. :( In my defense I have been pretty busy with house hunting, house finding, house paperwork, job, exercise, kids, husband, etc. So I am just going to put these ideas out there. I don't feel that I have completed the thoroughness that I wanted, but hopefully the important points are there.
What's not to love about Nephi? Every time I read about him I am astounded at his character. I have been thinking a lot about faith lately. I used to classify Nephi as being obedient, but then I started questioning why. It is his faith. The faith came first and the obedience is a by product.
I attended a relief society lesson a couple of years ago where the teacher used the phrase "what does it look like?" Not sure why this struck me and stuck with me, but it did. During this process of moving and looking for a house I felt stress, frustration and some despair. I had to remind myself to be faithful. Then I asked myself "what does faith look like?" It looks like Nephi, who had to have faith to get the brass plates. He had faith that he was on God's errand and that he could accomplish it. He had faith even when the path was difficult. I know Laman and Lemuel have a bad reputation, but would I be as faithful if it took us three tries to accomplish what I had been asked to do? Faith is resilient; it is hopeful; it is hard work. I am an ongoing work in progress, but I think I learned to be more faithful through all of this.
Nephi led by example. In 1 Nephi 4: 2 he uses a scriptural example and applies it to their situation-Therefore let us go up; let us be astrong like unto Moses; for he truly spake unto the waters of the Red bSea and they divided hither and thither, and our fathers came through, out of captivity, on dry ground, and the armies of Pharaoh did follow and were drowned in the waters of the Red Sea.
Later in 1 Nephi 19:23 And I did read many things unto them which were written in the abooks of Moses; but that I might more fully persuade them to believe in the Lord their Redeemer I did read unto them that which was written by the prophet bIsaiah; for I did cliken all scriptures unto us, that it might be for our dprofit and learning.
This is a famous scripture, but I had never made the connection with how he had taught this principle earlier.
I am impressed with how Nephi "frankly forgave" (1 Nephi 7:21) over and over. His life was threatened by his brothers multiple times and yet he forgave them and loved them unconditionally.
In the tree of life vision I have been interested in verses 5-8 of Chapter 8. Lehi sees an angel who bids him to follow him. Lehi does and finds himself in "a dark and dreary waste." After traveling for many hours in darkness he prays to the Lord and then the vision is opened to him. Why does he go through the darkness? I don't know that I have the answer(s), but I think the Lord gives us every opportunity to choose and grow. Sometimes we are stronger than we think. God knows this, but we don't so he provides ways for us to learn that. I also love that Nephi finds out for himself. Yes, he believes his father, but he takes it a step further and receives a spiritual confirmation of this own.
Time after time we see his faith, sometimes he understands other times he doesn't. When he is told to slay Laban he understands that it is better for one man to die than a nation to dwindle in unbelief. When he is told to make two sets of place he doesn't understand. 1 Nephi 9:6-"Wherefore, the Lord hath commanded me to make these plates for a wise purpose in him, which purpose I know not." In both cases his response is the same-obedience.
Nephi is also dilligent. 1 Nephi 10:19 says "For he that diligently seeketh shall find and the mysteries of God shall be unfolded unto them . . . " Nephi did the work to seek. His brothers did not and then whined and said they knew God wouldn't tell them. I wrote in my margin "You don't need to be brilliant, only diligent."
In all of the bad things that happen (even though Nephi is good) he responds the same way. He is temperate. He is the same before, during and after the trials. He is commanded to build a boat and the first thing he asks is where can I find ore? He lives in the desert; has no idea how to build a boat. Has he ever been on a boat I wonder? His fine steel bow breaks. And what does he do? Gets to work building a bow. He does everything in his own power then waits for directions and follows them. It seems so simple, yet I seem to struggle with it. I am making things harder than they need to be. I need to let my faith be my guide. What does it look like? Hard working, obedient, hopeful.
How grateful I am to Nephi for his example and righteousness. I am looking forward to studying the Book of Mormon this year. What have you learned from Nephi?
