LDSFF BOOK OF MORMON STUDY TIME AND COMMENTARY

[samizdat]

Here's the deal.

Some time back Coach Marc had a great thread which was here initially that had the idea of reading the Book of Mormon, chapter by chapter, daily. We had a good start but we started to falter around the start of the Book of Mosiah if I recall correctly.

It is my intention to resurrect this thread. Starting over, with 1 Nephi 1.

At the same time I have opened up a new blog that is called bofmversebyverse.blogspot.com which will be my commentaries of every VERSE of the Book of Mormon from 1 Nephi 1:1 to Moroni 10:34. I invite all to read it and comment on what I am putting either there or here.

I figure that this should be something that should unify and edify all that participate on this forum. I don't want snarky commentary from ANYONE (no name calling, no derision, nor ad hominem attacks) as they will be reported at the first instance to ensure a good flow of this thread topic.

This is ONLY to express the opinions of the Book of Mormon beginning with 1 Nephi 1 and going eventually to Moroni 10.

[Zathura]

So how does this work? Each day we comment on the next chapter?

[samizdat]

So how does this work? Each day we comment on the next chapter?

Yes, something like that.

As I am just starting this thread now, just for today and tomorrow, the content should be 1 Nephi 1. Then on Thursday, 1 Nephi 2, then on Friday, 1 Nephi 3, and so on.

[samizdat]

I will start:

As I am reading 1 Nephi 1, I am rather surprised at the things that Nephi chooses to show here, the calling of Lehi as a prophet, Lehi receiving his tender mercies from the Lord, etcetera.

When you look into verse 5 for example, we see that Lehi has heard the prophets (Jeremiah among them) saying that Jerusalem needs to repent or it will be destroyed. It shows a very clear key about what needs to be done in order to receive powerful responses to our prayers. We truly have to be fully invested in prayer and every word should come out of our hearts. Lehi receives a powerful response in vision, and begins to preach just as the other prophets were preaching. He is not changing the message here as he is reaffirming what the prophets are preaching.

Unfortunately he is with a stubborn people who were stoning the prophets and throwing them into prison...but the chapter ends with Nephi recollecting the tender mercies that the Lord has prepared for those that truly come unto Him with fullness of heart.

I would also like to add that in the Mayan languages of southern Mexico and northern Central America, it is one thing to do something. Anyone can wake up late, with ten minutes to go to work, and mumble out a quick prayer. But it really takes someone with a high spiritual capacity to literally pour out our heart in prayer to the Lord. And the responses to prayer, generally are reciprocated based on our willingness to really come closer to God (this is what true REAL INTENT is).

[Zathura]

I have a suggestion that can help keep this thread clean.

Each day make a new comment with the chapter of the day.

So tomorrow just make a comment that says 1 Nephi 2
Then anybody who comments on it that day will quote that comment during the day, that way it's easy to tell which chapter everybody is talking about and whether or not they are actually talking about the chapter.

[Zathura]

1 Nephi 2.

(Verses 12-14)

Like this

If it's well organized, it'll be easier to read through this thread and find verses that you want to understand better. It'll be like a living commentary

[samizdat]

1 Nephi 2.

(Verses 12-14)

Like this

If it's well organized, it'll be easier to read through this thread and find verses that you want to understand better. It'll be like a living commentary

Great idea Stahura!

[Zathura]

1 Nephi 2.

(Verses 12-14)

Like this

If it's well organized, it'll be easier to read through this thread and find verses that you want to understand better. It'll be like a living commentary

Great idea Stahura!

That way I can get on and look through the posts and right on the top of each and every comment I'll see

"1st Nephi 2"

(Verse x-y)

then I can see what others have said and their interpretations/revelations on that specific verse. That'd be super helpful for a lot of people. Imagine lurkers who can easily skim through this "living commentary" and find scriptures they want answers to

[samizdat]

1 Nephi 2.

(Verses 12-14)

Like this

If it's well organized, it'll be easier to read through this thread and find verses that you want to understand better. It'll be like a living commentary

Great idea Stahura!

That way I can get on and look through the posts and right on the top of each and every comment I'll see

"1st Nephi 2"

(Verse x-y)

then I can see what others have said and their interpretations/revelations on that specific verse. That'd be super helpful for a lot of people. Imagine lurkers who can easily skim through this "living commentary" and find scriptures they want answers to

For that reason I have started this thread, as well as my blog.

[Zathura]

For that reason I have started this thread, as well as my blog.

I can delete my posts to clean this thread up a bit if you want Have you officially started??

[samizdat]

First of all my apologies for not posting. I am indeed serious about this:

1 Nephi 1

Verses 5 and onward

We read that Lehi prays to God very fervently after having heard the prophets proclaim that Jerusalem must repent or it will be destroyed.

This is no prayer that is done rapidly for a few seconds or even a minute done by someone that has overslept or someone that is "too tired to pray at the moment." This is the moment of truth for Lehi. Are these people right? Or are they wrong?

Lehi doesn't prejudge. As a child of Israel that had lived not too far ago when the righteous king Josiah ruled, he remembered that it was not a good idea to prejudge but to pray to find out the truth for himself.

And he gets a huge response. First a pillar of fire (God's symbol in the nighttime) surrounded by many angels singing praises. Then He sees Christ and His Twelve Apostles. Then he gets a book from the chief Apostle that talks of Jerusalem's destruction. It is here where he receives his calling as a Prophet.

He then talks about these things to the Jews. Not surprisingly the Jews don't give him a positive response.

His ministry was very short. In fact, the Jews try to make fun of him and some seek his life. But the Lord applies his tender mercies to him and his family.

I saw in this a parallel that happened 195 years ago with Joseph Smith. He wasn't praying for himself out of some sort of pride or egoism. He was praying for his well being and the well being of his family and friends. He too receives a glorious response--God and Christ came down and visited him.

He then talks about his vision to a few people who, like in Lehi's time, start making fun of him and start to threaten his life.

I can only imagine that their prayers were similar, nearly identical. Both received visions. Both received their prophetic calling. Both proclaimed the truth.

[marc]

I love this thread already.

[Rose Garden]

Quoting the chapter every day might get confusing. But samizdat, you could change the op topic every day to the new chapter and then everyone who comments that day will have the new chapter as the subject line.

[Rose Garden]

I find it interesting that Lehi rejoiced so greatly after reading the book, even though it contained so many terrible things. I wonder what he read that isn't specified in the Book of Mormon.

[Desert Roses]

Could we do a chapter a week instead of a day? I'm doing a very in-depth study, looking things up and spending usually a day on just one or two verses...I'm to 1 Nephi 1:18.

Some insights--Lehi's pillar of fire was very symbolic for an Israelite, given the pillar of fire that led Israel out of Egypt, and that fire is the form used to make sacrifices to the Lord. It clearly represents power and purity. I was very interested in the amount of symbolism all just in this first chapter. The twelve descending with the One, for instance. Twelve tribes of Israel, 10 of which were lost to Assyria just about 100 years prior to Lehi, for instance. For Lehi this must have had some deep significance.

Another insight--Nephi notes that despite a difficult life, he has been blessed with great knowledge of the "goodness of God," and "great knowledge of the mysteries of God," (v.1). For Nephi, this could only refer to his understanding of the Atonement of Christ. Lehi was persecuted, besides telling the Jews of their "iniquities" (v.18-19), for telling them that the Messiah will be a Redeemer from sin, not a political leader (a mistake being made even at this early date by the mainstream of Judaism). Nephi understood, as did only a small part of the Israelites left in Judah, that the role of the Messiah was to be to redeem "the world." For him, that is the "mysteries" and the "goodness of God."

[marc]

1 Nephi 1:8 And being thus overcome with the Spirit, he was carried away in a vision, even that he saw the heavens open, and he thought he saw God sitting upon his throne, surrounded with numberless concourses of angels in the attitude of singing and praising their God.

9 And it came to pass that he saw One descending out of the midst of heaven, and he beheld that his luster was above that of the sun at noon-day.

10 And he also saw twelve others following him, and their brightness did exceed that of the stars in the firmament.

This vision has held my attention for some time. Some things to note for future chapters. Lehi saw God. God was sitting on a throne, which is significant. He saw numberless concourses of angels, meaning numberless assemblies of angels. It's hard enough numbering numberless concourses, let alone numberless individuals. He saw God's luster was greater than celestial while the twelve others exceeded that of the telestial. We can easily discern the symbolism throughout. Anyway, it's interesting to note the differences in glory these beings possessed in this vision, which seem to indicate their glory at the time of the vision. And that brings up more questions to ponder. Anyway, that God descended to the earth to commune with Lehi and give him a book is significant--not necessarily the book, but the new covenant relationship between them.

[Desert Roses]

I find it interesting that Lehi rejoiced so greatly after reading the book, even though it contained so many terrible things. I wonder what he read that isn't specified in the Book of Mormon.

I pondered that as well, and came to realize that the rejoicing was because the message was that by repentance, all the destruction could be avoided. Many prophets, as Nephi states, were given the message to share, and Lehi rejoiced over the Lord's "mercy and goodness" to all who come unto God. He sees this as very hopeful, exciting, and wonderful. What a gift! By simply turning around and going back to God, as they did for a time under King Josiah, only a few years earlier, the Lord's people, Lehi's people whom he had prayed so intensely in behalf of, could be saved, and have the favor of the Lord again! Unfortunately, as subsequent verses indicate, there was no desire to repent, and no willingness to accept the mercy and goodness of the Lord.

[samizdat]

I find it interesting that Lehi rejoiced so greatly after reading the book, even though it contained so many terrible things. I wonder what he read that isn't specified in the Book of Mormon.

I pondered that as well, and came to realize that the rejoicing was because the message was that by repentance, all the destruction could be avoided. Many prophets, as Nephi states, were given the message to share, and Lehi rejoiced over the Lord's "mercy and goodness" to all who come unto God. He sees this as very hopeful, exciting, and wonderful. What a gift! By simply turning around and going back to God, as they did for a time under King Josiah, only a few years earlier, the Lord's people, Lehi's people whom he had prayed so intensely in behalf of, could be saved, and have the favor of the Lord again! Unfortunately, as subsequent verses indicate, there was no desire to repent, and no willingness to accept the mercy and goodness of the Lord.

A complete concurring with this opinion, I have. God is described in all of the Abrahamic religions as compassionate and merciful. Those looking from outside would falsely accuse God of being judgmental and psychotic.

Given that I am in 1 Nephi 1:17 in my blog now, I consider that we could do a chapter a week (though when we get to Jacob 5 we might have to be there for a month. Fair warning for all!

[Rose Garden]

A chapter a week sounds good. It's best to go slowly with a large group. Plus, it gives people time to really ponder what they are reading.

[marc]

18 Therefore, I would that ye should know, that after the Lord had shown so many marvelous things unto my father, Lehi, yea, concerning the destruction of Jerusalem, behold he went forth among the people, and began to prophesy and to declare unto them concerning the things which he had both seen and heard.

Both seen and heard. I am also noting this for future references. Lehi was called as a prophet in Old Testament fashion. In vision, he saw and heard many things, and I'm betting all things as with Moses, the brother of Jared and others. To possess the key of knowledge as Lehi did, nothing could be withheld from him and so the Lord showed him all things, of which, we only have a glimpse.

19 And it came to pass that the Jews did mock him because of the things which he testified of them; for he truly testified of their wickedness and their abominations; and he testified that the things which he saw and heard, and also the things which he read in the book, manifested plainly of the coming of a Messiah, and also the redemption of the world.

As Jacob would later testify, the Jews had looked beyond the mark, looking for a messiah other than a lowly least of all human creatures. They were, after all, Abrahams children! Covenant people! Great and noble! Nothing less than a great God in power and majesty would suffice.

Nephi is writing all this much, much later (about 40 years later). So in retrospect, he writes in real time. The coming of a Messiah, even the concept of this Redeemer was news to Lehi and his family, even Nephi at the outset.

[marc]

I guess I'll move on to chapter two. Lehi has been redeemed from the Fall, has been endowed with power and understands the condescension of a Messiah. Jesus Christ now plays the central role in his life, though Lehi continues to live the Law of Moses, knowing its deadness, and having a perfect hope in his Savior. His only congregation now is his family, as was the case with Abraham. This was the church of Christ with the fullness of the gospel. It was Lehi's tiny flock, though some strayed from the truth. Laman and Lemuel were the names given to a river and a valley by their father who had great hopes for them. If they had only been as the four sons of Mosiah. Ultimately only one son wanted to know whether or not his dad was a crazy old man.

16 And it came to pass that I, Nephi, being exceedingly young, nevertheless being large in stature, and also having great desires to know of the mysteries of God, wherefore, I 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; wherefore, I did not rebel against him like unto my brothers.

Nephi had enough faith to seek the Lord as his father did. As a result, Nephi declares to us that the visit, which God paid to him was in the form of his heart being softened. That was it. That was all. And because Nephi's heart had been softened, he did believe what his father taught concerning a Messiah contrary to his traditions. Nephi is never the same again. The next visit by the Lord will be more than a softening of his heart and the third visit will be much, much greater.

[marc]

(Incidentally, I find it very interesting that in the opening scene of the Book of Mormon, in the opening page of the First Book of Nephi, he subtitles it, "His Reign and Ministry." This is indicative of his endowment and yet another clue that Nephi had begun his record long after he had departed Jerusalem. Truly he was a king and priest.)

[samizdat]

(Incidentally, I find it very interesting that in the opening scene of the Book of Mormon, in the opening page of the First Book of Nephi, he subtitles it, "His Reign and Ministry." This is indicative of his endowment and yet another clue that Nephi had begun his record long after he had departed Jerusalem. Truly he was a king and priest.)

Indeed a king and a priest.

Entering Chapter 2 now...

1 For behold, it came to pass that the Lord spake unto my father, yea, even in a dream, and said unto him: Blessed art thou Lehi, because of the things which thou hast done; and because thou hast been faithful and declared unto this people the things which I commanded thee, behold, they seek to take away thy life.

2 And it came to pass that the Lord commanded my father, even in a dream, that he should take his family and depart into the wilderness.

3 And it came to pass that he was obedient unto the word of the Lord, wherefore he did as the Lord commanded him.

4 And it came to pass that he departed into the wilderness. And he left his house, and the land of his inheritance, and his gold, and his silver, and his precious things, and took nothing with him, save it were his family, and provisions, and tents, and departed into the wilderness.

5 And he came down by the borders near the shore of the Red Sea; and he traveled in the wilderness in the borders which are nearer the Red Sea; and he did travel in the wilderness with his family, which consisted of my mother, Sariah, and my elder brothers, who were Laman, Lemuel, and Sam.

6 And it came to pass that when he had traveled three days in the wilderness, he pitched his tent in a valley by the side of a river of water.

We see a few things here. Lehi receives another couple of dreams where the Lord blesses Lehi's efforts and then tells Lehi in no uncertain terms to get out of dodge.

He was swift in obeying the commandment as Lehi is described as obeying the commandment and the only thing the family left with were their provisions. Even Laman and Lemuel are thinking at this moment: Cool, camping or hunting trip!

Last but not least is the comment of river of water. Though in the English vernacular this is redundant, this is not so in Hebrew, Egyptian, or Arabic, as there is a huge difference between a dry bed (known as a WADI in Arabic), and a river of water (where water runs all year round and is not dependent on rain. Interestingly, a river of water HAS been found precisely three days journey south of Ezion Geber where the Red Sea begins.

[marc]

After Nephi's heart had been softened, he did the only thing he could do: bear his testimony to the only congregation available. Sam believed him, but Laman and Lemuel did not. There was nobody else for Nephi to proselytize.

19 And it came to pass that the Lord spake unto me, saying: Blessed art thou, Nephi, because of thy faith, for thou hast sought me diligently, with lowliness of heart.

20 And inasmuch as ye shall keep my commandments, ye shall prosper, and shall be led to a land of promise; yea, even a land which I have prepared for you; yea, a land which is choice above all other lands.

21 And inasmuch as thy brethren shall rebel against thee, they shall be cut off from the presence of the Lord.

22 And inasmuch as thou shalt keep my commandments, thou shalt be made a ruler and a teacher over thy brethren.

Nephi receives the testimony of Jesus, imparts of it and is visited a second time by the Lord. This time, however, the Lord speaks to Nephi and by His own voice calls and elects him to become a king and a priest.

23 For behold, in that day that they shall rebel against me, I will curse them even with a sore curse, and they shall have no power over thy seed except they shall rebel against me also.

24 And if it so be that they rebel against me, they shall be a scourge unto thy seed, to stir them up in the ways of remembrance.

And so the story goes. Nephi was faithful and diligent. Joseph spoke often about diligently seeking the Lord. Nephi's actions from here on out illustrate what Joseph Smith outlined in his sixth Lecture on Faith.

Lecture 6.7 Let us here observe, that a religion that does not require the sacrifice of all things, never has power sufficient to produce the faith necessary unto life and salvation; for from the first existence of man, the faith necessary unto the enjoyment of life and salvation never could be obtained without the sacrifice of all earthly things: it was through this sacrifice, and this only, that God has ordained that men should enjoy eternal life; and it is through the medium of the sacrifice of all earthly things, that men do actually know that they are doing the things that are well pleasing in the sight of God. When a man has offered in sacrifice all that he has, for the truth's sake, not even withholding his life, and believing before God that he has been called to make this sacrifice, because he seeks to do his will, he does know most assuredly, that God does and will accept his sacrifice and offering, and that he has not nor will not seek his face in vain. Under these circumstances, then, he can obtain the faith necessary for him to lay hold on eternal life.

[davedan]

1. The Book of Mormon is a type of Christ: Buried in stone, came forth out of the ground, was in the custody of a Joseph, coming forth attended by angels, is the "word" of God.

2. Nephi praying for his own testimony is an example of spiritual self reliance. Unlike Laman and Lemual who went along but continuously complained and eventually fell away

Are there members of the LDS Church that similarly are going along on the journey but continuously complain and will eventually fall away like Laman and Lemuel?