Book of Mormon Commentary CofC - Odessa, Missouri Community ...

Book of Mormon Commentary
1 Nephi Chapter 1
1:58 The Lord often permits adversity to come upon people that they shall be made aware of their
human limitations. “Whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he
receiveth" (Heb. 12:6; II N. 4:40, 41; H. 4:48-56).
LEHI DIRECTED IN A DREAM, VER. 59-67
1 Ne 1:60 And it came to pass that he spake unto me, saying: Behold I have dreamed a dream, in the
which the Lord hath commanded me that thou and thy brethren shall return to Jerusalem.
1:60 Lehi's family had gone at least three days' journey into the wilderness (1:33). Lehi was
directed in a spiritual dream to send his sons back for the records of genealogy and scriptures
which were in the possession of the Israelite, Laban. Lehi gave his directions to his youngest son.
Doubtless he knew that it was Nephi, of all his sons, who was the most trustworthy.
1 Ne 1:65 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.
1:65 The older brothers murmured that this journey was a hard thing to require. The real trouble
was that they thought their father was visionary and that this was a foolish and dangerous mission.
Nephi had faith in his father and in God who directed him, so he answered in a most remarkable
declaration of loyalty and faith, "1 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." (See also I N. 5:59; D. and C. 5:6d.)
1 Ne 1:67 And I, Nephi, and my brethren took our journey in the wilderness with our tents, to go up to
the land of Jerusalem.
1:67 This means the city which was in Judea. Some of the things which occurred were outside the
walls of the city, and therefore a term which would include the environs of the city is quite
accurate (see notes on 1:3).
RETURN TO JERUSALEM FOR RECORDS, VER. 68-74
1 Ne 1:68 And it came to pass that when we had come up to the land of Jerusalem, I and my brethren
did consult one with another; and we cast lots who of us should go in unto the house of Laban.
1:68 This method of deciding was common in Palestine. The Bible tells of its use in deciding
inheritances (Num. 26:55, 56), the courses of the priests (I Chron. 6:54), discovery of the one
guilty of sin (Jonah 1:7), the choosing of an apostle (Acts 1:26).
1 Ne 1:70 And he desired of Laban the records which were engraven upon the plates of brass, which
contained the genealogy of my father.