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

Book of Mormon Commentary
1 Nephi Chapter 5
8:18-21). Similarly, divine direction was given to build Solomon's Temple (1 Kings 6:1-36) and
Kirtland Temple (D. and C. 91:1,2).
When Nephi said his ship “was not after the manner of men" he wished to convey the idea that it
was different in appearance from those commonly seen.
Although Nephi was directed to build, and was given the plans by God, he confesses, “I did pray
oft unto the Lord; wherefore the Lord showed unto me great things" (172). Nephi adds this
comment, "We did work timbers of curious workmanship" (168). This was his way of saying the
construction was not of the usual type.
1 Ne 5:173 And it came to pass that after I had finished the ship according to the word of the Lord, my
brethren beheld that it was good and that the workmanship thereof was exceeding fine;
5:173 While Nephi uses the first person singular in his reference to the work of building. always
he is quick to acknowledge that the plan and technical instructions came from God. A project of
such proportions is here described very briefly and casually. This should indicate, perhaps, that
there were no more rebellions and no major difficulties.
It should also be said that this account comes to us under the difficulties of constant travel, with
engraving on scarce metal, and it was abridged by another hand. Doubtless many interesting
incidents of their days and labors were passed over without mention or omitted by Mormon. Nephi
must have received much satisfaction when his brethren pronounced the ship good and praised its
workmanship.
THE EMBARKATION, VER. 175-181
1 Ne 5:176 And it came to pass that on the morrow, after we had prepared all things, much fruits and
meat from the wilderness, and honey in abundance, and provisions, according to that which the Lord had
commanded us,
1 Ne 5:177 We did go down into the ship with all our loading and our seeds, and whatsoever thing we
had brought with us, every one according to his age;
5:176, 177 This must have been a great day for the group. Can you imagine the excitement which
must have resulted from the announcement "On the morrow." Having prepared "all things" they
were happy to take their departure.
Just what kind of fruits they had we are not told. Palestine, anciently, produced a great variety of
trees, shrubs, and vegetables. Among many others, these are mentioned in the Scriptures:
Almonds, wild and cultivated; apple, probably the quince, or the lemon; calamus, a sweet cane
;figs, "husks" (Luke 15) , the pods of the carob-tree, also known as the St. John's tree, which pods
were often fed to pigs; the mandrake, the mulberry, which was a kind of fig; nuts of many
varieties; olives, pomegranates, sycamore, a kind of fig; beans, millet, a small grain; lentils, and
the grapevine, known in history ever since the days of Noah; also, cucumbers, garlic, leeks,
melons, onions, anise, or dill; bay-tree, cassia, a kind of cinnamon; coriander, yielding a fruit
(called "seed") the size of a peppercorn ; mustard, saffron, and flax.
All these are mentioned in the Scriptures. Lehi, undoubtedly, had been instructed to take with him
in the ship whatever fruit and vegetables were needed for food during the voyage, and for
agricultural purposes in the promised land.