1 NEPHI
“Several themes recur regularly in 1 Nephi, including prophecy, revelation, covenants, miraculous signs, obedience to commandments, and deliverance from danger. At a time of political and spiritual turmoil, when the status of God’s covenant with Israel was in question, Nephi sought greater understanding concerning the Lord’s faithfulness in keeping his promises, particularly with regard to the scattered remnants of his chosen people.
What began as a family drama would expand into a story with repercussions of the future history of the entire world, a development that would follow a path outlined by earlier prophets. The greatest disjunction in the Christian Bible is the divide between the Old and New Testaments, a difficulty that has challenged preachers and theologians for two millennia. In the Book of Mormon, however, beginning with 1 Nephi, the themes and concerns of the Hebrew Bible are thoroughly infused with Christian perspectives, through prophecy and revelation many centuries before the birth of Christ and the composition of the Christian canon. In particular, Nephi attempts to demonstrate that the God of the Old Testament salvation history is the same God who offers the plan of salvation that would one day characterize the New Testament. He further explains his prescient fusion of Judaism and Christianity as a restoration of the ‘plain and precious parts of the gospel’ that would be lost in the early Christian era.”
The Annotated Book of Mormon, Grant Hardy, pg 9-10
1 NEPHI
CHAPTERS 16-18: The account of the journey resumes with marriages, the discovery of the compass-like Liahona, and suffering in the wilderness. After eight years they reach a coastal campsite they call Bountiful, where they build a ship and sail to their designated promised land in the New World. Chapter 17 includes a speech of Nephi to his brothers recounting the Exodus and conquest of Canaan.
CHAPTER 19: Nephi again comments on his writing and editing then cites several prophecies from the Brass Plates that he believes validate his and his father’s revelations, particularly concerning a coming messiah and the eventual restoration of God’s covenant with Israel, including the ‘broken off’ remnants such as the Lehites.
CHAPTERS 20-21: Nephi reads Isaiah 48-49 to his brothers inviting them to compare their family’s situation to the words of the prophet.
CHAPTER 22: Nephi provides an interpretation in which he merges the just-cited words of Isaiah and Zenos with his own revelations. The book of 1 Nephi ends abruptly apparently in the middle of a family discussion. Second Nephi will pick up the story with Lehi speaking just a few moment afterword.
The books of 1-2 Nephi cover events from 600-546 BCE
THE STORY WE TELL OURSELVES
Circumstance—a fact or condition connected with or relevant to an event Response—our thoughts or the story we tell about the circumstance
Feelings—our response dictates our feeling
Actions—what we do because of the story we tell ourselves and the feelings that develop
Results—how our lives are affected by our actions
THE BROKEN BOW
“Although this story may seem rather unremarkable, it may actually be loaded with symbolic importance. In the ancient Near East, kingly status, military power, and the right to rule were all symbolized by the bow. Thus ‘to break the bow’ was a common idiom which meant to bring an enemy or ruler into submission. The broken bow appropriately brought their travel party into submission to the Lord. Nephi’s ability to create a new bow then shadows his future kingship and symbolizes that he was Lehi’s rightful prophetic successor.”
https://knowhy.bookofmormoncentral.org/knowhy/why-did-nephi-include-the-story-of-the-broken-bow
WHINING
“Please accept one of Elder Holland’s maxims: No misfortune is so bad that whining about it won’t make is worse!”
Elder Jeffrey R. Holland, “Tongue of Angels,” 2007
THE SPIRIT OF THE GOSPEL IS OPTIMISTIC
“I love what Elder Orson F. Whitney once said: ‘The spirit of the gospel is optimistic; it trusts in God and looks on the bright side of things. The opposite or pessimistic spirit drags men down and away from God, looks on the dark side, murmurs, complains, and is slow to yield obedience.’ We should honor the Savior’s declaration to ‘be of good cheer.’ (Indeed, it seems to me we may be more guilty of breaking that commandment than almost any other!) Speak hopefully. Speak encouragingly, including about yourself. Try not to complain and moan incessantly. As someone once said, ‘Even in the golden age of civilization someone undoubtedly grumbled that everything looked too yellow.’”
Elder Jeffrey R. Holland, “Tongue of Angels,” 2007
GROWTH
“Micheal Beckwith taught me a model which is really interesting. It’s called Kensho vs. Satori. When you are living a life moving towards a particular purpose there are two very important things to understand. Life helps us grow and correct and evolve through Kensho, which is growth by pain or Satori, which is growth by insight. Every now and then you will have a Satori moment, a sudden awakening, a eureka moment, an insight that helps you move forward. But for most people that isn’t really going to be easy. Most of us grow through Kensho. Kensho is growth from pain.
So when you see life as Satori moments, sudden awakenings, and Kensho, growth through pain fear dissolves because you know that even when something bad happens to you, it is simply a friendly universe giving you a lesson or fine tuning and tweaking your direction so you can get to your propose even faster.”
Vishen Lakhian, Transcendence Documentary
FIVE REASONS NEPHI QUOTES ISAIAH
1. That they might know concerning the doings of the Lord in other lands, among people of old
2. That he might more fully persuade them to believe in the Lord their Redeemer
3. That it might be for their profit and learning
4. That they might understand that they are a remnant of the house of Israel, a branch who has been broken off
5. That they may have hope like their brethren from whom they have been broken off
ISAIAH
“Chapter 48 focuses on God’s desire and ability to deliver His people. He uses a number of devices to highlight the covenant aspects of this salvation. He pleads with His people and humbles them if necessary, to get them to take advantage of the salvation and deliverance He promises.
Chapter 49 similarly focuses on deliverance and the covenant people. However, there is a shift. God focuses on the servant aspects of being His covenant people. Salvation will come to them, but only as they act as good servants of God and as they take advantage of the blessings offered to them by God’s servants. Though they have been humbled, God’s people/servants can and surely will find deliverance. Nothing can prevent that. Understanding this covenant-and-salvation-centered theme helps us make more sense of every other chapter in the chiasmus.”
Kerry Muhlestein, Learning to Love Isaiah
PROMISES TO THE RIGHTEOUS IN 1 NEPHI 22
he will not suffer that the wicked shall destroy the righteous
he will preserve the righteous by his power, even if it so be that the fullness of his wrath must come and the righteous be preserved, even unto the destruction of their enemies by fire
the righteous shall not perish
the righteous need not fear, for they are those who shall not be confounded the righteous must be led up as calves of the stall, and the Holy One of Israel must reign in dominion and might, and power and great glory
because of the righteousness of his people, Satan has no power; wherefore, he cannot be loosed for the space of many years
RIGHTEOUS
“But, behold, all nations, kindreds, tongues, and people shall dwell safely in the Holy One of Israel if it so be that they will repent.”
1 Nephi 22:28
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