27 Jan - 2 Feb

This weeks reading comprises of chapters 16 - 22 of 1 Nephi.

1 Nephi 16

v9-10 The Lord gives the Liahona.
v18-32 broken bow.
v34 Ishmael Dies. & contentions

1 Nephi 17

v1-5 wade through much affliction before arriving at bountiful.
v7-16 the lord commanded Nephi the go and build a boat.
Nephi Starts building a ship.
v17-22 His brothers oppose him.
v23 Nephi reminds them of the Lords power and is filled with the spirit.

1 Nephi 18
v1-4 Built the Ship
v5-8 Provisions & set sail
v9 Merryness
v10 Nephi reminds his brothers to not forget the blessings of the Lord
v11 they bind him and a storm rages
v15 Laman & Lemual repent, again
v16 Nephi praises the Lordv
v23 Arrival at the promised land

1 Nephi 19

v1-6 Nephi creates or develops the plates he's been commanded to keep.
v22-23 Nephi reads the scriptures to his family
v23 I did liken all scriptures unto us, that it might be for our profit & learning.

1 Nephi 20
Isiah 48

1 Nephi 21
Isiah 49

1 Nephi 22

v7-8 Sounds like colonisation of the Americas, followed by missionaries & the true gospel.

Because much of my study at the start of the week is done on my phone, I don't necessarily see until later that this weeks material wraps up 1 Nephi. As we come to the end of the 1st book of the Book of Mormon, are you struck by any overall message Nephi has for his audience, us?

Write down some suggestions

-Obedience, keep the commandments
-You need faith to obey
-Trust in the lord
-Why, because he will bless you.

Keep the commandments 2:20, 3:7, 3:15-21, 4:1, 4:14, 4:34, 16:4, 17:3, 17:13-15, 17:50, 22:30-31

This is what I want to explore this week as recommended by the manual. But with a little digression 1st which hopefully we will loop back to at the end.

1 Nephi 19:23

I did liken all scriptures unto us, that it might be for our profit & learning.

The children’s song Nephi’s Courage likens the scriptures to ourselves. V1: The Lord commanded Nephi to go and get the plates. V2: The Lord commanded Nephi to go and build a boat. V3: The lord gives us commandments and asks us to obey.

Hopefully we will be able to liken the scriptures to ourselves before we finish.

The manual says the following

If you ever wonder why bad things happen to good people like Nephi and his family, you may find insights in these chapters. But perhaps more important, you will see what good people do when bad things happen.

It then recommends record what you find in a table with headings like these: “Challenge,” “Nephi’s Response,” “Others’ Responses,” and “Results.” Why do you think Nephi was able to remain so faithful when others did not? Reflect on how the example of Nephi and his family can help you with your challenges.

I have provided a list of references but this is not necessarily complete comprehensive.

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/18_i8_TZoJf19nIKDcn9tCRJb8V5KcusmgTI5io4akPU/edit?usp=sharing

Spend the remainder of the time reviewing this then fill in 'what do we learn?'

Consider group work if time is passing quickly.

Maybe close with 22:30-31 if not already shared.

Liahona

Liahona, speculation it was a gift left by Ishmael before he died. An astrolabe or primitive form thereof.

Sons of Ishmael.
I feel bad for these guys, there is no mention of daughters of Lehi & Sariah. So they left with their family possibly knowing they will have had nobody to marry. No posterity. Or were they?

https://scholarsarchive.byu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1109&context=jbms

The book of Mormon makes no reference to daughters of Lehi, but that does not mean he had none. Nephi dies refer to having sisters in 2 Nephi 5:6. But these could have been referred to as sisters in a similar manner to brethren, rather than brothers. What are the odds of having 4 boys, with no daughters in between?

Initial thoughts for the week

It is easy to focus on the stories of the broken bow, and the building of the ship. Ishmael's death and the Liahona. However, there is more in these chapters if we are willing to dig. I was listening to chapters 21-22 in the car on Monday morning. I struggled to comprehend what Nephi was going on about. However, the thought did come to me, to set myself the challenge and try to understand some of this. After all, Nephi and the historian prophets Moroni decided to leave it in for a reason.



If I'm not mistaken, Laman & Lemuel were read the words of Isiah by Nephi (chapter 21) and they had the same question I have. What does this mean? If I remember right, Nephi explains how we can understand it. So I shall have a go.

Midweek thoughts

The book of 1 Nephi is full of examples right from the start of two different types of people. The unfaithful and the faithful. I don’t mean unfaithful in the way we often use it in society today, but literally in terms of having a lack of faith and trust in God and thus not being prepared to keep the commandments. The other group, Lehi & Nephi, constantly turning to the Lord and trusting in him.

Already we have seen Laman & Lemuel disbelieve, be proven wrong by Nephi, repent and after a period of time forget God and fail to keep the commandments again & again. The pride cycle. The obtaining of the plates, the bow & lack of food, the endless journeyings, the building of a boat, the storm on the seas.

What message have we learned from Nephi over and over again in the last 22 chapters. Variations of the same theme. The Lord gives us no commandment we cannot accomplish. Another way of saying the same thing, Trust in the Lord.

So maybe we can ask ourselves, what can we learn from Lehi & Nephi to avoid the pride cycle in our lives. The answer is not to remain prideful and avoid humbling ourselves. But how do we stay humble? How do we maintain our faith?

Joseph Smith History Insights

In accordance with the President's invitation I have added this page.

https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/blog/my-2020-invitation-to-you-share-the-message-of-the-restoration-of-the-saviors-gospel?lang=eng

You may wish to begin your preparation by reading afresh Joseph Smith’s account of the First Vision

I will update this page regularly with insights.

My 1st is as I think imagine the scene Joseph describes about the religious excitement, I can't help but picture Moroni's anticipation as he watches the time get closer to show someone, a true seeker, the plates. JSH 1:4ish

Joseph felt lost and didn't know where to turn. He didn't know which church to join. He needed help and guidance. So he prayed. This reminds me of Lehi feeling lost and after so long he too began to pray. 1 Nephi 8:8. JSH 1:13ish

In Joseph's account he refers to two prayers. The 1st lead to the 1st vision. The 2nd lead to Moroni's visit. But there was a difference between the two. The 1st he was seeking the truth. The 2nd he was again seeking the truth, but having previously been given knowledge, more was required of him. In JSH 1:27-29 he say I betook myself to prayer and supplication to Almighty God for forgiveness of all my sins and follies, and also for a manifestation to me, that I might know of my state and standing before him; for I had full confidence in obtaining a divine manifestation, as I previously had one. He repented and then received and answer to his prayer.

This one might come across a negative but I wonder why Moroni had to hide the plates for 1,000 years, but then rather than Joseph hiding them again when he was done, Moroni took the plates back.

This last dispensation has currently been about 200 years. I don't know if that is very long for a dispensation. There is a general feeling that the end could be soon. A significant portion of people that have ever lived, have lived in the last 200 years.

Verse 10 made me laugh...In the midst of this war of words and tumult of opinions, I often said to myself: What is to be done? Who of all these parties are right; or, are they all wrong together? If any one of them be right, which is it, and how shall I know it? It sounds like politics. We've just had a general election. Did you think to pray?

Interesting thought from Oliver Cowdery

On reflecting further it was as easy to be seen that amid the great strife and noise concerning religion, none had authority from God to administer the ordinances of the Gospel. For the question might be asked, have men authority to administer in the name of Christ, who deny revelations, when His testimony is no less than the spirit of prophecy and His religion based, built, and sustained by immediate revelations, in all ages of the world when He has had a people on earth?

Or in other words, how can one claim to have authority from God to perform ordinances, as if God were alive, yet, claim he is sleeping and suggest revelations are no more?

Jan 13 - 19

In no particular order.

1 Nephi 8

Lehi's vision (Dream)

What objects were in his vision (Dream)?

Dark & dreary waste v7
Large & spacious field v8
Tree v10
Fruit v11
Joy v12
River v13
Knew not where to go v14
Invitation v15
Acceptance of the invitation v16
Family v17
Rod of Iron v19
'Strait' & narrow path v20
Concourses of people v21
Pressing fwd v21
Mist of darkness v23
Lost v23
Shame v25
Great & Spacious Building v26
Fine clothes v27
Mocking v27
Falling Away v28
Forbidden Paths v28
Falling Down v30
Drowning in the depths of the fountain & Strange Roads v32
Enter into that building v33
Heeded them not v33

The manual only points out those in bold, but the list above is a list of the images I found in chapter 8. Some of these things are symbolic, others not so much. for example, mocking is mocking.

Below is an attempt at making sense of the symbols.

Dark & dreary waste -
Large & spacious field -
Tree - Love of God
Fruit - Blessings of the Atonement
Joy - Joy
River - Filthiness & Depths of Hell
Knew not where to go - Confusion or lack of sight/direction
Invitation -
Acceptance of the invitation -
Family -
Rod of Iron - The Word of God
'Strait' & narrow path - Our journey
Concourses of people - Everyone
Pressing fwd -
Mist of darkness - Temptations of the Devil
Lost - People who will not find their way back unless they keep looking or have some kind of intervention.
Shame - Shame
Great & Spacious Building - Pride & Vail Imaginations of the World
Fine clothes - Ancient symbol of those that place other things, like clothes before God & seek the praise or acceptance of man.
Mocking - There is no symbolism for this.
Falling Away - We use this term a lot in our faith. Represent someone who has lost their faith and has turned away from God and what He has to offer.
Forbidden Paths - Breaking commandments
Falling Down - Humility
Drowning in the depths of the fountain & Strange Roads - Drowning suggests being overwhelmed, strange roads is another suggestion of getting lost.
Enter into that building - Similar to falling away, but also making an active choice to being with another group of people.
Heeded them not - Faith

The rod of iron (iron rod) is the word of God. The last two weeks we have discussed the importance of the scriptures (the word of God). In Lehi's vision this is the only thing that leads to what makes Lehi happy.

Using the iron rod being the word of God idea. Lets explain this symbolism.

Where can we find the word of God these days? The Scriptures.
So what does clinging v24 or continually holding fast v30 to the scriptures look like? Me holding the scriptures in my hand?

It seems as though the journey to the tree is not an easy one. It is fraught with danger & difficulty. Great rivers, narrow paths, mists, persecution. Why couldn't/can't the journey be easy?

The obvious question is which group of people are you? Have you tasted the fruit & will you too listen to the scoffing and feel ashamed? What would be a good alternative attitude to take? What was Lehi's attitude. Sorrow for those that were not willing to try the fruit. Sorrow for those that decided other things were more important?

Four groups of people in Lehi’s dream. Who are they and can we relate to any of their behaviour? I suppose we like to think that we are the righteous group. But I suspect there is a bit of each group in each of us.

v34. As many as heeded them, did fall away. If you listen to those mocking, you will fall away. How do we hake sure we don't listen/heed?

Group 1 - People who pressed fwd but were lost in the dark mist.

“In 1 Nephi 8:21–23 we learn about the first group of people who pressed forward and commenced in the path that led to the tree of life. However, as the people encountered the mist of darkness, which represents ‘the temptations of the devil’ (1 Nephi 12:17), they lost their way, wandered off, and were lost. Notice that no mention is made in these verses of the rod of iron. Those who ignore or treat lightly the word of God do not have access to that divine compass which points the way to the Savior.”

Group 2 - People who pressed fwd through the mist of darkness clinging to the rod of iron and partook of the fruit. But felt mocked & ashamed and fell away.

“In 1 Nephi 8:24–28 we read about a second group of people who obtained the strait and narrow path that led to the tree of life. This group ‘did press forward through the mist of darkness, clinging to the rod of iron, even until they did come forth and partake of the fruit of the tree’ (verse 24). However, as the finely dressed occupants of the great and spacious building mocked this second group of people, ‘they were ashamed’ and ‘fell away into forbidden paths and were lost’ (verse 28). … Even with faith, commitment, and the word of God, this group eventually was lost—perhaps because they only periodically read or studied or searched the scriptures.”

Group 3 - Also pressed fwd through and partook of the fruit. No mention of falling away.

“In verse 30 we read about a third group of people who pressed forward ‘continually holding fast to the rod of iron, until they came forth and fell down and partook of the fruit of the tree.’ The key phrase in this verse is continually holding fast to the rod of iron. The third group also pressed forward with faith and conviction; however, there is no indication that they wandered off, fell into forbidden paths, or were lost. Perhaps this third group of people consistently read and studied and searched the scriptures. … This is the group you and I should strive to join.”

Group 4 - Those who were well dressed in the building, having not sought the fruit at all.

“A fourth group did not seek after the tree, desiring instead the great and spacious building as their ultimate destination (see 1 Nephi 8:31–33).”

1 Nephi 9

Nephi creates two sets of plates. Jacob 4:1 talks about the difficulty of writing these things down. Maintaining two sets of plates would have been hard work. It's not like Nephi could just pop down to the shops to get some new gold leafs. Last weeks video had a short clip of Moroni (maybe) forging and forming some new plates. Gold isn't exactly east to come by either. So these plates will have been extremely precious in more ways than 1.

Nephi knew not the purpose the lord asked him to maintain two sets. This is now the second example of Nephi acting with great faith to do something without knowing what God had planned. The 1st being heading into Jerusalem after two failed (and almost deadly) attempts to obtain the plates. This the 2nd it is speculated, that the content of the smaller plates were the pages Martin Harris Lost. (Side note, I work with a guy called Martin Harris).

1 Nephi 10

The 1st chapter in the Book of Mormon to go into detail about Jesus Christ. What names are given to Him in this chapter? Prophet, Lord, Messiah, Saviour, Redeemer, Lamb of God, Son of God.

In summary, it goes into detail about where & when he lives, his predecessor John the Baptist & his role.

Nephi finishes with his pattern to know the truth.

More to follow

Jan 6 - 12

Just a couple of thoughts I can remember from last weeks study.

The main one being the significance of the word of God. The scriptures. So important Lehi sent his sons back to Jerusalem to get them.

Elder D Todd Christophersen said the following.

So many people have sacrificed so much for us to have the scriptures today...never in history has a people been so blessed with such a quantity of holy writ.

Consider the magnitude of our blessing to have the bible and some 900 additional pages of scripture...surely with this blessing the lord is telling us that our need for constant recourse to the scriptures is greater than in any previous time.

Dec 30 - Jan 5

I want to divide the lesson into 2. One half for come follow me in 2020 and the other half for this weeks material.

I figure this week is the best time to review some of the introductory content of the manual and quickly summarise it. Then we can start talking about the title page to the book of Mormon, the introduction, and the testimonies of Joseph Smith, the 3 and the 8.

Have you considered getting yourself a copy of the book of mormon specifically for this years study? Put your testimony in the front and date it Jan 2020. Then at the end of the year, put your testimony in the back and date it Dec 2020.

Study Manual Summary

Summarise all content

Conversion is our goal.
Using come follow me.
Ideas to improve personal study.
Ideas to improve family study.
Additional resources.
Teaching young children.
Note: the emphasis on music in this years manuals. New sections or moved section to the top of the list. plus appendix D.

Prophetic Promises


Studying the Book of Mormon will change you.

Joseph Smith: Abiding by its precepts = nearer to God
Ezra Taft Benson: Serious Study = power to resist temptation, power to avoid deception, power to stay of the straight & narrow.
Gordon B Hinckley: Prayerfully read = strength to obey the commandments, stronger testimony of Jesus.
Russell M Nelson: Prayerfully study = better decisions. Ponder = personal revelation. Immersion in the Book of Mormon = Immunisation against evils.

I'll repeat what I said at the start of last year. with this little bonus from D&C 84:85 the words of life. Read the scriptures like your life depended on it, you will find life in greater abundance.

Sunday School Lesson Material

Book of Mormon’s title page

-Written by Mormon, not Joseph Smith. Only translated by Joseph

-Abridgement=Summary, Synopses

-Why have the Book of Mormon at all ‘to show unto the remnant of the house of Israel what great things the Lord hath done for their fathers; and that they may know the covenants of the Lord, that they are not cast off forever—And also to the convincing of the Jew and Gentile that Jesus is the Christ, the Eternal God, manifesting himself unto all nations’.
-There is one other reason on the cover of the Book of Mormon. To act as another testimony of Jesus Christ.
-See Appendix B. To establish the truth of the Bible, to make known the plain & precious things & to make known that the Lamb of God is the Son of the Eternal Father & the saviour of the world.

-Errors/corrections: According to those in the know, the only corrections have been minor grammatical or typo corrections. No verse or section has been rewritten. Every word we read in the Book of Mormon is as it was dictated by Joseph Smith.

Introduction

-Real simple. I found this east to read & understand. It goes downhill after this! i.e. it gets harder to understand.
-I told the brethren that the Book of Mormon was the most correct of any book on earth, and the keystone of our religion, and a man would get nearer to God by abiding by its precepts, than by any other book Joseph Smith
-Keystone of our religion, how so? Link to witnesses who were excommunicated, but never denied their testimony of the BoM. Not sure if they also maintained if the church was true.
-If the BoM is true then...
-We will get closer to God by abiding by its precepts, not by merely just reading it. Abide is a action word which requires faith. Faith is rewarded with knowledge.

The testimonies of the Three Witnesses

-Always intrigued me that they make a point of stating they are sober.

-See an angel who showed them the plates.

-Testify of the existence of the plates and they have been translated by the gift & power of God therefore the work is true.

-Oliver, David & Martin never denied their testimony of the Book of Mormon, though they did fall out with Joseph Smith. Which in a way, strengthens their testimony of the Book of Mormon.

-They saw an angel. I suspect it's kinda hard to deny something when an angel presents it to you. Consider who else saw an angel and what they did.
--Alma the younger and the sons of Mosiah became very powerful missionaries.
--Didn't work out quite so great for Laman & Lemual.
--Children at Bountiful during Christs ministry, generations of peace followed.
--...

See Appendix C - The 3 Witnesses

Oliver Cowdery - John the Baptist & Aaronic Priesthood.

David Whitmer

Martin Harris

Also consider, while Joseph Smith was a farm boy, Oliver Cowdery at least was educated and would not likely have been fooled by the uneducated young man of Joseph Smith (24yo in 1829).

The testimonies of the Eight Witnesses

-No angel but were given the plates to handle and inspect.

-Only testify that the plates are real. No mention of the content.

Have you met any other witnesses of the Book of Mormon?

In what ways can you be a witness to the Book of Mormon?

The testimony of the Prophet Joseph Smith

-Moroni’s visits, this account forgets to mention this was another answer to a prayer.

-Must have been important to act now rather than go to work and effectively ignore visits because he was visited again.

-Visit 2, judgements with desolations

-Visit 3, do not sell, only build up Gods kingdom

-Visit 4, tell his father

...

A Brief Explanation about the Book of Mormon

-This for me was actually the most complex part of the reading as it attempted to describe who wrote and abridged what from what plates.

-Worth noting it did not say the Nephites hadthe book of Isiah. They had writings of the prophets. The old & New testaments did not exist back then as we have them now.

-It looks like I have got rid of my old seminary BoM bookmark. However, Rachel has come through (as has the internet) and I have been able to find this.

-This help to explain the BoM. Sometimes a diagram says it better.

Other/Misc thoughts

-Where are the imitations of the Book of Mormon? The fabrications of the deceitful one? Books that claim to be translated from inspiration?

-How do these introductions to the Book of Mormon differ from the introduction of other book of scripture?
-I thought it was interesting to identify locations on the map of where the plates were hidden, and where translation took place. I find it interesting to note that where the plates were hidden, was 1,000's of miles from where the Book of Mormon stories take place, being near the narrow neck of land in south America, south Mexico. Have a look at your maps now.

I found 3 different maps of potential Book of Mormon geography. Can't verify if any is more accurate than any other. It is also worth noting, neither of these come from official church sources. The church does not seem to have published anything.

1. This one suggests that what is now the caribbean sea, was once land. Presumably sunken during the great earthquakes in 34AD. To suggest the whole of the caribbean sea was once dry land is a pretty big stretch, that's a lot of land to fall into the sea. The impact of such a transformation on life not just in the American continent would have been catastrophic & probably felt beyond.

2. This one concentrates the points of interest to central America. This has always been my understanding of BoM geography.

3. This one places the points on interest squarely in North America. I find it hardest to appreciate this map. However, it does explain the location of the hidden plates well.

My reason for looking into the geography was to justify why nobody found the plates before Joseph Smith (other than divine protection). I had assumed all BoM activity was in central America. Mormon & Moroni will have travelled a significant distance to keep the records safe & hidden. As far as I am aware, there are no ancient monuments in Cumorah or in most of the northern united states.