1Nephi 2-5

There is so much in these chapters that I hate to skip any of it.  But in the interest of keeping up my reading, and in the necessity of not over-blogging, I am choosing a couple of salient points from each of the chapters, the points that jump out to me.

Obedience = blessings:  Lehi was obedient to the Lord's command to prophesy to the wicked of Jerusalem, even though he was mocked and derided.  He was blessed to be told to flee or be harmed.  Being obedient, he took his family and departed.  Blessings?  A nice family outing?  An extended vacation?  How about this?  He and his family were led to the chosen land, where his family prospered.

So what is the difference between Laman & Lemuel, and their youngest brother Nephi?  Laman and Lemuel resented having to leave their prosperous life in Jerusalem.  They were repeatedly chastised (by their father, their younger brother, and by an angel).  Many of their posterity were wicked and died ignorant of the Lord's goodness.  Nephi was comforted by the Lord.  He was shown a vision of the future of mankind and the coming of the Savior.  His words were recorded and are read by millions, who are inspired and spiritually moved by his writings.   How did they differ?

Desire.  Nephi words:  "And it came to pass that I, Nephi, .... .... also having great desires to know of the mysteries of God, wherefore, I did cry unto the Lord....".  Laman and Lemuel's attitude:  "for behold they did murmur in many things against their father, because he was a visionary man... ...And this they said he had done because of the foolish imaginations of his heart."  Laman and Lemuel desired the comfortable enjoyable life they left behind, no matter what the consequences.  Nephi desired to know the things of God.

One thing that strikes me:  If Laman and Lemuel recorded things from their perspective, what would they have written?  Probably a totally different version than what Nephi wrote, for sure.  Which one would have been more correct?  I think it is telling that Nephi's writings were preserved for us to read, not Laman's and Lemuel's (if they had one).  The Lord preserved the things that He did "for a wise purpose".

Don