1st Nephi 21-22

There are just so many things to talk about in 1st Nephi...  I didn't mention a lot of what could have been brought up that would have made for great discussions!  As you have seen, I've gone on and on about what I did cover, so it's probably good that I skipped all that I did.  I do try to bring up some of the points I find that particularly strike my interest though.

I can't help wonder about the dynamics of Lehi's family.  Here is a family that is probably typical for their day, except that the father is a prophet and his 4th son is following in his footsteps.  There was probably bickering among them while they were growing up.  I can definitely see that, having grown up in a large family.  I can see Nephi being the favored son, since he tries to understand his father more than the others and ends up having the same experiences.  Would that rankle his older brothers?  In many families of our day I've seen the youngest child get preferential treatment (according to the siblings anyway).  Resentment, for sure! Wanting kill Nephi.... resentment to the extreme, I would think (not to excuse Laman and Lemuel, though).  At least Sam was on his side.

Nephi reads another chapter of Isaiah and the explains them to his brothers.  I find it interesting that Nephi's brothers respect him and believe him enough that they ask him for his interpretation, since they can't seem to understand what Isaiah had written.  Much of chapter 21 - what we know as Isaiah 49 - discusses the future of the house of Jacob.  Nephi picks up on how this affected their line, the line of Joseph.  Nephi tells his brothers about how in the last days the posterity of Jacob would be hunted and hated and eventually would become blessed, to the point kings and queens would be their nursing fathers and mothers.  He talked about our time. This makes me think about how the state of Israel has been hated and has also been supported by powerful nations which have enabled Israel's survival.  Isaiah truly prophesied and Nephi recognized and confirmed the prophecies.  Nephi was shown the fate of his people, and he discusses them at length in these chapters.  Who wouldn't be interested in what will happen to their children's children's children?

It is important to point out that Nephi indicates that the catalyst to this future revolves the coming of the Savior.  These things that were prophesied would come about because their posterity would come to know Jesus and would accept Him as their Messiah, their King, their Redeemer.  This would be true for Lehi's posterity and is true for us in this day.  We can only be saved in our Heavenly Father's kingdom if we embrace the Gospel of Jesus Christ and make him the focal point of our lives.

Don