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Book of Mormon Commentary
2 Nephi Chapter 1
LEHI ADMONISHES HIS SONS AND ZORAM, VER. 30-68
2 Ne 1:31 My heart hath been weighed down with sorrow from time to time; for I have feared, lest for
the hardness of your hearts, the Lord your God should come out in the fullness of his wrath upon you,
that ye be cut off and destroyed for ever;
1:31 The lamentations of a righteous father were poured out to his wayward sons. He knew that
their stubbornness might bring a curse upon their heads and on their children for many generations
(32). They were in danger of becoming captives of the devil, instead of a choice and favored
people as the Lord had promised (33).
2 Ne 1:36 Arise from the dust, my sons, and be men, and be determined in one mind, and in one heart
united in all things, that ye may not come down into captivity; that ye may not be cursed with a sore
cursing;
1:36 Man was created in God's image and was to hold his head and body erect. When he is taken
captive by Satan, he will grovel in the dust. When the serpent beguiled Eve in the Garden of Eden,
he was cursed forever. His penalty was above that of the cattle or beasts of the field. “Upon thy
belly shalt thou go, and dust shalt thou eat all the days of thy life" (Gen. 3:20; 6:50; Mos. 8:74,
75).
2 Ne 1:40 Rebel no more against your brother, whose views have been glorious, and who hath kept the
commandments from the time that we left Jerusalem, and who hath been an instrument in the hands of
God in bringing us forth into the land of promise;
1:40 Lehi did not hesitate to speak out against the real sins, which basically afflicted the colony
from the start. Because of pride, Laman could not bring himself to accept Nephi as his leader. His
rebellion and complaints had influenced others to become hostile. Lehi did not hesitate to throw
his support to Nephi, who had kept God's commandments from the time he had left Jerusalem and
had been used by God to bring the family to the promised land (40).
2 Ne 1:45 But I know that he hath not sought for power nor authority over you; but he hath sought the
glory of God, and your own eternal welfare.
1:45 As so often happens to men who become envious, Laman and Lemuel had accused Nephi of
the same evil which was troubling them (see II N. 4:1-4). “His sharpness was the sharpness of the
power of the word of God, which was in him" (48). When put to the test they confessed, "We
know of a surety that the Lord is with thee" (I N. 5:164-166).
2 Ne 1:50 And it must needs be that the power of God must be with him, even unto his commanding
you, that ye must obey.
1:50 Lehi was given a vision of things to be. Not only would Nephi need divine power, but under
its influence he would speak commandments "that ye must obey."
Lehi then spoke directly, calling out names. He left the impression that Laman, Lemuel, Sam, and
the sons of Ishmael were the rebellious ones. He charged them, "If ye will hearken unto the voice
of Nephi, ye shall not perish" (52). He promised them his blessing, "Yea, even my first blessing"