About

About "Nephi's Journey: The Lord Prepares a Way"

"Nephi's Journey: The Lord Prepares a Way" was first published in 2020 by author Michael D Cook. This is Michael's first published book, and he is excited to share some excerpts from the book throughout this blog.

Each blog post provides very little background about Nephi and his family and instead dives right into the content of the book. To help provide some context for each of these blog posts, this page is dedicated to outlining the details of Nephi and his journey through the wilderness.

Nephi was an ancient prophet who lived in Jerusalem in 600 B.C. Nephi's family included his father Lehi, his mother Sariah, and his brothers Laman, Lemuel, and Sam. These events are recorded in "The Book of Mormon: Another Testament of Jesus Christ."

Lehi was commanded by the Lord to leave Jerusalem. Lehi took his family and traveled a short distance into the Arabian wilderness where he found a suitable living spot. Nephi then prayed to the Lord, and the Lord told Nephi that his group would be journeying to "the promised land."

Nephi and his brothers returned to Jerusalem to obtain an ancient record known as "the plates of brass" from a man named Laban. Nephi and his brothers failed multiple times to obtain these plates. After the second failed attempt, an angel appeared to the group and encouraged them to continue their quest. On the third attempt, the group was finally successful in obtaining the plates. Afterwards, they returned to Lehi in the wilderness.

Nephi and his brothers returned to Jerusalem a second time to enlist Ishmael and his family in their journey to the promised land. They successfully persuaded Ishmael's family to join them, and the group returned to Lehi in the wilderness.

While at this resting place in the wilderness, Lehi received a marvelous vision called the vision of the tree of life. This vision contained many symbols and images, including a tree of life with glorious fruit, an iron rod leading to the tree of life, a strait and narrow path, a great and spacious building, and a mist of darkness that caused many people to lose their way. Lehi shared this wonderful vision with his family and encouraged them to obey the Lord.

After some time, the Lord told Lehi to continue his journey toward the promised land. To help Lehi travel through the wilderness, the Lord gave him a unique compass called the Liahona. The Liahona was made of brass and had two spindles in it. The Liahona could also have new writings on it that were changed by the Lord from time to time.

Lehi's group traveled through the Arabian wilderness for nearly a decade until they reached the shoreline of a great ocean. Nephi then constructed a ship, and the group sailed the oceans to complete their journey to the promised land.

"Nephi's Journey: The Lord Prepares a Way" discusses the many ways in which Nephi's journey through the wilderness mirrors our own journey through mortality. The central message of the book is this: Through revelation, Nephi gained a vision that his group would be journeying to the promised land, and he remained true to that vision throughout his life, never murmuring or wavering. His teachings and preparations before journeying, his leadership and instruction while journeying, and his exhortations and pleadings after journeying, were all motivated by this powerful vision of the promised land. Because Nephi remained true to this vision—and to the Lord’s commandments—he was blessed with the faith, strength, courage, willpower, and understanding to be able to see his journey through to its end. Or, as Nephi’s descendants observed years later, "[because] Nephi was … faithful in keeping the commandments of the Lord … he took the lead of their journey in the wilderness" (Mosiah 10:13).

In all these things, there are powerful parallels and lessons for us. We too can gain a similar vision of the Lord’s purposes in our lives, which will enable us to face our own challenges better, and to lead our loved ones in truth and righteousness.

"Nephi's Journey: The Lord Prepares a Way" is definitely a hybrid creation; it includes sections of account-driven narrative, doctrinal exposition, scriptural commentary, and even a few thoughts regarding Joseph Smith, chiasms, and the divine evidences for the Book of Mormon. Hopefully this unique blend will help the reader gain fresh, new insights into the life of Nephi.

Click here to order a copy of "Nephi's Journey: The Lord Prepares a Way" in either printed or eBook format. Thanks.