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

Book of Mormon Commentary
1 Nephi Chapter 4
4:16 Paul used the figure of the two kinds of olive trees in his letter to the Roman saints (11:17).
Like Lehi (3:16) and Nephi, he first spoke of branches being broken off and then of restoring the
tree to fruitfulness by grafting in live branches. Olive trees are found all over Palestine. When
cultivated their fruit is an important item of commerce. When neglected the berries are small and
worthless. The trees go back to their wild state. Jacob also writes about the planting of olive
branches (Jb. 3:31-153).
1 Ne 4:17 And at that day shall the remnant of our seed know that they are of the house of Israel, and
that they are the covenant people of the Lord;
4: 17 This was to happen after "many years and many generations." The descendants of Lehi were
a branch broken off the olive tree. The Roman saints were branches from the ”wild olive tree”
(Gentiles), but the remnants of Lehi's stock were "a natural branch of the olive tree grafted into the
true olive tree" (4:24). This restoration not only refers to Lehi's posterity but also to the Jews
(4:31). The beginnings of these two movements are plainly evident today. Nephi closed his
explanation by saying that after this restoration, the house of Israel should no more be confounded
nor scattered (4:33). Isaiah said, "The Lord shall set his hand again the second time to ...assemble
the outcasts of Israel" (Isa. 11:11,12).
Nephi's words pacified his brethren, and they humbled themselves before the Lord (4:34).
THE ROD OF IRON, VER. 35-42
1 Ne 4:38 And they said unto me, What meaneth the rod of iron which our father saw, that led to the
tree?
4:38 Nephi's brethren inquired about their father's vision (2:49, 62). The rod was the word of God
that led to the tree of life. Nephi says he used this occasion to exhort them "with all the energies of
my soul ...that they would give heed to the word of God, and remember to keep his
commandments always" (4:42).
THE RIVER, VER. 43-64
1 Ne 4:43 And they said unto me, What meaneth the river of water which our father saw?
4:43 Lehi had told his family about his vision soon after receiving it (2:86). He preached and
prophesied to them and "bade them keep the commandments of the Lord" (2:90). However, after
they gave way to the leading of Satan, these spiritual things left them. Now in their repentant state
they wanted to hear again the details and interpretation of the vision. Nephi pointed out that the
water in this river meant:
1. Filthiness (44)
2. An awful gulf (46) or separation of the righteous and the wicked (H. 2:26, 75; A. 14:101). The
time will come when there will be "entire separation" (D. and C. 63:13 g).
3. That awful hell prepared for the wicked (47). The love of God is shown in the preparation of a
place for those unwilling to qualify for a kingdom which is not a kingdom of glory (D. and C.
85:5c; Mn. 4:63).