Transcript Document 7304273

Nephi wrote this record thirty
years later after they left
Jerusalem for the promised
land (I Nephi 19:1-5, 2 Nephi
5:22-31)..
First Nephi is the doctrinal
foundation of the Book of
Mormon.
The heading to 1 Nephi is a summary of
the book and is part of the original text.
All headings in the Book of Mormon are part of
the original record given to the Prophet Joseph
Smith, including the inserts preceding individual
chapters (for example Mosiah 9 and Alma 21).
The brief summaries at the head of each
chapter are later additions to help the reader
better understand the chapter.
What evidence of Egyptian influence is
there in Ancient America?
Two Egyptian statuettes were discovered on the
Pacific coast of the border of El Salvador and
Guatemala, three meters below the surface. They
“clearly belong to a class of ancient Egyptian funerary
statuettes known as ushabti. Both are incised with
hieroglyphic Egyptian texts” (John Walsh, ed., Reexploring the Book of Mormon, 18-20).
I Nephi 1:2
What is the learning of the Jews and
the language of the Egyptians?
There were three basic writing systems for ancient
Egyptian:
1. Hieroglyphs that included
nearly four hundred picture
characters.
2. Hieratic
3. Demotic
Both the hieratic and demotic
writing systems were used in
Lehi’s time and can properly be
termed “Reformed Egyptian.”
(John W. Welch and Melvin J.
Thorne, Pressing Forward with the
Book of Mormon, 241).
1 Nephi 1:1
Laman and Lemuel are Arabic names.
Sam and Nephi are Egyptian names.
Jacob and Joseph are Hebrew names.
“Goodly Parents” means rich, education was
expensive and they could provide it for their
children.
I Nephi 1:2
“Language of the Egyptians”
Mosiah 1:1-4 teaches that the Brass
Plates were also in the “Language of
the Egyptians.”
Reformed Egyptian (Mormon 9:32)
1 Nephi 1:4
Why is the phrase “it came to pass” repeated so
often in the Book of Mormon?
“Instead of punctuation, the original manuscript of
the Book of Mormon divides up its phrases by
introducing each by an ‘and,’ ‘behold,’ ‘now,’ or ‘It
came to pass…’ Simply outrageous --- as English
literature, but it is standard Egyptian practice… In
Egyptian these expressions were not merely
adornments,… they are a grammatical necessity and
may not be omitted” (Hugh Nibley, Collect Works,
7:150).
Reign of Zedekiah
Zedekiah was 21 years old when he was made the King. He
seemed to be well meaning, but was very weak. He
participated in immorality and corruption. It was his first year
of his reign as King of Judah. Mulek would be his only
surviving son. The rest would be put to death when his
kingdom was conquered.
Many Prophets:
Jeremiah, Ezekiel, Nahum, Habakuk, Zephaniah, Obadiah, to
name a few.
They typically worked alone!
Babylonian world domination took control of the kingdom of
Judah about 605 B.C. when Jehoiakim was King of Judah.
Jehoiakim attempted a revolt against Babylon. Babylonian
forces put Jerusalem under siege. Jehoiakim was either killed
or captured. Zedekiah, the uncle of Jehoiakim, was appointed
by Babylon to the throne. It was a time of great wickedness
among the people of Judah --- immorality and corruption were
rampant. This was the setting of Lehi’s day. Shortly after
Lehi’s departure from the area, Zedekiah attempted another
revolt against Babylon, resulting in a much greater destruction
of Jerusalem in about 587 B.C. Many people were killed, and
most of the rest of the Jews were taken captive into Babylon
for the next 70 years. This fulfilled Lehi’s prophecies to Judah
that if they did not repent they would be destroyed.
I Nephi 1:8
How is this verse textual evidence of the authenticity of the
Book of Mormon?
In Alma 36:22 we read, “me thought I saw, even as our father Lehi saw,
God sitting upon his throne, surrounded with numberless concourses of
angels, in the attitude of singing and praising their God.” These words are a
twenty-one word quote from I Nephi 1:8. The impressive thing about these
verses is that they are separated by hundreds of pages and several weeks of
translating (CHFT, 58-59).
“Given the fact that Joseph dictated as he went, the record’s consistency
points to an inspired source for the translation’s accuracy. After all, can you
quote the twenty-one words of Lehi (after having read them)…without
looking?” (John Welch, ed., Re-exploring the Book of Mormon, 23).
1 Nephi 1:14, 20
=
Abrahamic
Covenant
I Nephi 1:17
=
“Journals”
“Those who keep a book of remembrance are
more likely to keep the Lord in remembrance in
their daily lives. Journals are a way of counting
our blessings” (Spencer W. Kimball, Ensign,
May 1978, 77).
I Nephi 1:20 “Tender Mercies of the Lord”
Elder Bednar testified that the tender mercies of the Lord are
real and that they do not occur randomly or merely by
coincidence. Often the Lord’s timing of His tender mercies
helps us to both discern and acknowledge them.
As you and I face challenges and tests in our lives, the gift of
faith and an appropriate sense of personal confidence that
reaches beyond our own capacity are two examples of the
tender mercies of the Lord.
Repentance and forgiveness of sins and peace of conscience
are examples of the tender mercies of the Lord. And the
persistence and the fortitude that enable us to press forward
with cheerfulness through physical limitations and spiritual
difficulties are examples of the tender mercies of the Lord”
(C.R., Apr. 2005, 105).
I Nephi 2:1
Can a dream be considered a vision?
“An inspired dream is a vision give to a person while
he sleeps….All inspired dreams are visions” (Bruce R.
McConkie, M.D., 208).
I Nephi 2:7
Leviticus 1,
I Nephi 2:15
“The Olah Offering,
“and my Father dwelt in a tent”
(total consecration)
The Task of Getting the Plates:
Lehi asked his sons to get the plates, but did not tell
them how to do it.
God
---
gives instruction to the
Priesthood (prophets, leaders).
Prophets ---
give instructions to men.
Men
must rely on revelation from God
to fulfill God’s instructions.
---
Getting the plates would be the
equivalent of stealing the Constitution of
the United States.
It would have been almost impossible.
Why?
There was no metal in Jerusalem, and it was difficult
to get.
Metal was mainly used for war and eating utensils.
“Lehi the Man”
Lehi was probably born between 650-640 B.C. This
estimate is based on the fact that Lehi and Sariah had
four sons of marriageable age --- Laman, Lemuel,
Sam, and Nephi --- when the family departed from
Jerusalem. They also had daughters who had
apparently already married, but there is no mention of
daughters leaving Jerusalem with the original
company (I Nephi 2:5). Thus we estimate that Lehi
would have been about forty or fifty years old.
Lehi was an educated man who was familiar with the
Egyptian language as well as his own Hebrew tongue.
He was also a wealthy man.
I Nephi 3:7
Lehi’s teachings were reflected in Nephi’s
answer.
Joseph Smith said, “I made this my rule,
when the Lord commands, do it!” (HC
2:170).
I Nephi 4:6
This was a trip of faith!
In 1867, President Brigham Young
declared to the people of the Church:
There is no doubt, if a person lives
according to the revelations given to
God’s people, he may have the Spirit of
the Lord to signify to him His will, and to
guide and to direct him in the discharge of
his duties, in his temporal as well as is
spiritual exercises. I am satisfied,
however, that in this respect, we live far
beneath our privileges (JD 12:104).
I Nephi 3:15
“As the Lord Liveth”
Elder Bruce R. McConkie said that Nephi
had made God his partner. If he failed to
get the plates, it meant God had failed.
And because God does not fail, it was
incumbent upon Nephi to get the plates or
lay down his life in the attempt” (C.R.,
Apr. 1982, 49-50).
1 Nephi 3:28
Righteousness Lead to Individuality!
Joy not only helps us do our gospel duties but it
also increases our individuality. It is sinners who
reflect such a stale sameness. Righteousness
lends itself to individuality. Think, in contrast, of
poor Lemuel, who “hearkened unto the words of
Laman.” He was Laman’s satellite. One wonders
if poor Lemuel ever had any thoughts of his own
(Neal A. Maxwell, “Brim with Joy,” 147).
I Nephi 4:10
The Law of Retaliation (D&C 98:28-32)
The Spirit pointed out that Laban had offended the
Lord three times, therefore the Lord delivered him.
Examples:
1. Elijah and the wicked priest of Baal (1 Kings 18).
2. Samuel slaying Agag (1 Samuel 15).
The Prophet Joseph Smith taught that it is
the Lord who sets the standard of right
and wrong: “God said, ‘Thou shalt not
kill;” at another time He said, ‘thou shalt
utterly destroy,’ This is the principle on
which the government of heaven in
conducted -- by revelation adapted to the
circumstances in which the children of the
kingdom are placed. Whatever God
requires is right, no matter what it is,
although we may not see the reason
thereof till long after the events transpire
(Teachings, 256).
The Justified Slaying of Laban?
There were three attempts to acquire the record known as the brass plates.
The first two being peaceful and reasonable.
Crime #1:
False Accusation
It is understandable that Laban might value the records and desire to not
just give them away, but in his anger he violates the law by accusing Laman
of robbery (an act of violent theft). Laman had not robbed or expressed
any intention to rob, yet Laban sought to falsely enforce the law by
attempting to murder Laman.
The Law of Moses had provisions for false accusation, which Laban as a
military man would have clearly understood (Deut. 19:18-19).
If you falsely accused someone of a crime, then your penalty was to receive
the punishment that you had intended to bring to the person you had falsely
accused. Laban had falsely accused Laman of being a robber and the
penalty for robbery was death.
Crime #2:
Robbery
Laban covets the property of Nephi and his
brothers and turns from being a military leader
to the leader of a band of robbers by forcibly
taking their property and then seeking to kill
them under false pretenses.
Had Laban been taken to court he would most
likely have been convicted and been put to
death for robbery.
Crime #3:
Attempted Murder
The crime of attempted murder by Laban was committed not once, but
twice.
Conclusion:
It is important to understand the Laban committed three grievous offenses,
false accusation, robbery and attempted murder and received an
appropriate punishment for his crimes according to the Law of Moses
The difficult thing for us to come with terms with is the individual who was
used to carry out the sentence. I sometimes think of Nephi as being in a
similar situation as young David when he justly slew and beheaded Goliath.
In both cases, Nephi and David were carrying out God’s justice and had his
authority to do so.
Thou Shalt Not Kill Unless…..
Exodus 21:12
He that smiteth a man, so
that he die, shall surely be
put to death.
Exodus 21:15
And he that smiteth his
father, or his mother,
shall surely be put to death.
Exodus 21:16
And he that stealeth a man,
and selleth him, or if he be
found in his hand, he shall
surely be put to death.
Exodus 21:17
And he that curseth his Father,
or his mother, shall surely be put
to death.
Exodus 21:19
Whosoever lieth with a beast
shall surely be put to death.
Exodus 31:15
Six days may work be done;
but in the seventh is the
Sabbath of rest, holy to the
Lord: whosoever doeth
any work in the Sabbath day,
he shall surely be put to
death.
I Nephi 4:20
Can the Lord change a person’s voice to suit his purposes?
“As Brigham Young rose in that assembly, his face was that of
Joseph Smith --- the mantle of Joseph had fallen upon him, the
power of God that was upon Joseph Smith was upon him, he
had the voice of Joseph….There was a reason for this in the
mind of God; it convinced the people” (Wilford Woodruff,
Discourses, 92-93).
I Nephi 4:32-33
So we see that the only way that Nephi could possibly have
pacified the struggling Zoram in an instant was to utter the one
oath that no man would dream of breaking, the most solemn of
all oaths to the Semite: “As the Lord liveth, and as I live!
(Hugh Nibley, An Approach to the Book of Mormon, 103-05).
I Nephi 4:37
The oath is the one thing that is most sacred
and inviolable among the desert people and
their descendants.
There is nothing stronger or more sacred.
I Nephi 5:5
Calling and Election?
I Nephi 5:11
The Pentateuch. There was obviously more on
them than there is in the Old Testament as we
now have it. The prophecies of Zenock, Neum,
Zenos, and Joseph the son of Jacob, and
probably many other prophets were preserved
by them, and many of those writings for told
matters pertaining to the Nephites.
I Nephi 5:9
Sacrifice
=
Burnt Offering =
sin offering
Olah
I Nephi 5:16
This record was probably kept in the tribe of Ephraim,
and thus Laban may well have been of that tribe.
Someday the Lord will raise up a prophet, who will
also be able to Seer and translate, to who he will give
the brass plates that they may be translated for the
benefit and blessing of those in all nations (Bruce R.
McConkie, Mormon Doctrine, 103).
In 722 BC the brass plates may well have been the
official scripture of the 10 tribes.