Nephi's Journey: The Lord Prepares a Way

In one section of my book " Nephi's Journey: The Lord Prepares a Way ," I ask this question: What was the purpose of the second spindle of the Liahona? For simplicity, I will dive right into the message of this post, but for more background on these events, feel free to visit the  About Page. The Liahona There are many theories regarding the functionality of the second spindle of the Liahona. One theory is that the second spindle always pointed the same direction (likely north). Another theory is that it would at times point to important resources, such as food and water. Another theory is that it would point the exact same way as the first spindle, but only if the group was exercising faith and the Liahona was working correctly. In other words, it served as an indicator to signal to the group when the Liahona had stopped functioning. Another theory is that the second spindle was “settable” by Lehi and his group to point in any direction they desired. If this was the case...

In my book " Nephi's Journey: The Lord Prepares a Way ," I discuss a powerful message that Nephi shared with his brothers while he was constructing a ship. For simplicity, I will dive right into the heart of this post, but for more background on these events, feel free to visit the  About Page. The Faith to Construct a Ship In 1 Nephi 17, Laman and Lemuel complained about having to construct a ship. They claimed that Nephi was a fool for even trying such a task. Yet how many thousands of people had constructed a ship before them? Or since? It was clearly not an impossible task. Still, Laman and Lemuel had plenty of excuses for why it would not work. In response to Laman and Lemuel's complaints, Nephi boldly declared: "If God had commanded me to do all things I could do them. If he should command me that I should say unto this water, be thou earth, it should be earth; and if I should say it, it would be done. And now, if the Lord has such great power, and has wrou...

In one section of my book " Nephi's Journey: The Lord Prepares a Way ," I discuss an enigma that has often confused me: Why do people let go of the iron rod at the very moment they need it the most? For simplicity, I will dive right into the message of this post, but for more background on these events, feel free to visit the  About Page. Numberless Concourses of People In Lehi's vision of the tree of life, Lehi saw numberless concourses of people.  Here is an outline of the four groups of people in this vision, specifically focusing on their level of connection to the iron rod . Group 1: No Commitment: No Path and No Iron Rod Lehi saw one group of people “feeling their way towards that great and spacious building” (1 Nephi 8:31). This group did not even bother seeking after the tree. They avoided both the path and the iron rod. Group 2: Low Commitment: Obtained the Path but Not the Iron Rod Lehi saw another group of people “commence in the path,” but when a ...

In one section of my book " Nephi's Journey: The Lord Prepares a Way ," I discuss a time when Nephi and his brothers were trying to obtain the brass plates from Laban. I discuss how, from a short-term perspective, Nephi and his group actually did a pretty terrible job at obtaining the plates. For simplicity, I will dive right into the message of this post, but for more background on these events, feel free to visit the About Page. A Poor Plan To be frank, Nephi and his brothers could have done a much better job of procuring the plates. If, from the beginning, they had simply offered Laban all of Lehi’s wealth in exchange for the brass plates (without bringing Lehi’s wealth with them), Laban probably would have accepted their offer. Why didn’t the Lord reveal this strategy to Nephi's group in the first place? It would have been a clean and simple solution. Instead, the group stumbled their way along in a seemingly naïve and even counterproductive manner. Still, th...

In one section of my book " Nephi's Journey: The Lord Prepares a Way ," I ask this question: Why did Laman deny seeing an angel? For simplicity, I will dive right into the message of this post, but for more background on these events, feel free to visit the  About Page. It’s Not Too Late to Go Back At one point while Lehi's group was traveling through the wilderness, Laman rebelled and tried to convince the group to return to Jerusalem.  He declared: "Let us slay our father, and also our brother Nephi," and return to Jerusalem (1 Nephi 16:37). Why did Laman want to kill Nephi as part of this rebellion? Was Nephi’s death really necessary for the group to be able to return to Jerusalem? Perhaps Laman was already anticipating that Nephi would speak the words of the Lord to convince the group to stay, as he had done so many times before. Laman was assuming the worst about the wilderness, and the best about Jerusalem. He was still envisioning life in Jeru...

In one section of my book " Nephi's Journey: The Lord Prepares a Way ," I discuss an extended period of righteous living for Laman and Lemuel which I call "Laman and Lemuel's Most Righteous Days." For simplicity, I will dive right into the message of this post, but for more background on these events, feel free to visit the  About Page. Laman and Lemuel’s Most Righteous Days I used to assume that Laman and Lemuel never had an extended period of righteous living, but this does not appear to be the case. While sojourning in the wilderness, Lehi received a marvelous vison known as the vision of the tree of life. Lehi shared this vision with Laman and Lemuel and exhorted them to obey God's commandments. Laman and Lemuel reacted positively to Lehi's exhortations. “They did humble themselves before the Lord; insomuch that [Nephi] had joy and great hopes of them” (1 Nephi 16:5). This was the beginning of a positive time of spirituality for Laman and Lemuel....

In one section of my book " Nephi's Journey: The Lord Prepares a Way ," I discuss a time when Nephi and his brothers were trying to obtain the brass plates from Laban. For simplicity, I will dive right into the message of this post, but for more background on these events, feel free to visit the  About Page. Nephi's group went into the house of Laban and offered all of their earthly possessions in exchange for the plates. Instead of trading for the plates, Laban stole their treasures and sent his guards to kill Nephi's group. The Foolishness of Anger Nephi and his brothers fled from Jerusalem and hid in the cavity of a rock. At this point, Laman and Lemuel were furious. They could tolerate failing to obtain the plates; they could tolerate being kicked out of Laban’s house; they could even tolerate Laban’s men trying to kill them. But losing their treasure? That was one thing they could not tolerate! And in their minds, it was Nephi’s fault. He had to pay. Laman an...

In one section of my book " Nephi's Journey: The Lord Prepares a Way ," I discuss a time when Nephi saw a vision of his descendants dwelling in the land of promise. In the course of his vision, Nephi saw the awful destructions among his people that would accompany the death of the Savior. He writes: I saw a mist of darkness on the face of the land of promise; and I saw lightnings, and I heard thunderings, and earthquakes, and all manner of tumultuous noises; and I saw the earth and the rocks, that they rent; and I saw mountains tumbling into pieces; and I saw the plains of the earth, that they were broken up; and I saw many cities that they were sunk; and I saw many that they were burned with fire; and I saw many that did tumble to the earth, because of the quaking thereof (1 Nephi 12:4). There are nearly a dozen different types of catastrophes recorded in this verse, and each of these prophecies came true, as recorded in 3 Nephi 8.  Consider also 1 Nephi 19:11–12, 2...