This week we read 1 Nephi Chapter 1 which was 20 verses long-- about 2 pages in a paper copy of The Book of Mormon.
We met two members of Nephi's family: himself, and his father Lehi.
(Just so you know, in the USA most people will pronounce Nephi like this: Nee-ff-aye.
Lehi will be pronounced like this: Lee-High.
In other languages and places, the pronunciation will differ a little.)
1st Nephi is written in first person-- Nephi refers to himself as "I."
He's writing the story of his family.
They were reasonably-wealthy inhabitants of Jerusalem during 600BC.
(Those of you with a background in the Bible will perk up. Nephi and his family were contemporaries of Daniel, Jeremiah, and others who were conquered by King Nebuchadnezzar around 589 BC).
Nephi, however, didn't know that Jerusalem was just a decade away from total destruction. His father didn't know, either.
But Nephi records that prophets in Jerusalem were "prophesying until the people that they must repent, or the great city of Jerusalem must be destroyed." (1 Nephi 1:4).
Nephi's father, Lehi, heard these prophets and felt troubled. He prayed to the Lord and had his prayer answered in a miraculous way:
"...as he prayed unto the Lord, there came a pillar of fire and dwelt upon a rock before him; and he saw and heard much; and because of the things which he saw and heard he did quake and tremble exceedingly.
"And it came to pass that he returned to his own house at Jerusalem; and he cast himself upon his bed, being overcome with the Spirit and the things which he had seen." (1 Nephi 1:6-7)
After this vision where he 'saw and heard much', Lehi fell on his bed to rest. Then another vision opened up and he saw God the Father and Jesus Christ (referred to as 'One descending out of the midst of heaven'). He also saw Jesus's twelve disciples.
They came down and gave him a book and as he read, he was filled with the Spirit of the Lord, which means that he felt the Holy Ghost.
Lehi understood that Jerusalem would be destroyed and many people killed. He knew that others would be carried away captive.
After Lehi had these two visions, he was overcome with gratitude and praise for his incredible God, who was kind enough and merciful enough to give him these timely warnings.
The chapter ends with Nephi explaining that he won't make a "full account" of his father's writings, because his father had written them down himself. (Remember this, by the way. I'll tell you a fascinating story about the Book of Lehi in a later post about Joseph Smith.)
After his vision, Lehi goes into Jerusalem and tries to teach the people, but they try to kill him rather than let him preach.
The chapter ends with one of the most beautiful verses in the Book of Mormon and a testimony from Nephi:
"...but behold, I, Nephi, will show unto you that the tender mercies of the Lord are over all those whom he hath chosen, because of their faith, to make them mighty even unto the power of deliverance." (1 Nephi 1:20)
The tender mercies of the Lord are on all who have faith in Him.
A tender mercy is something that God does just to be kind, just because He loves us. We have had so many tender mercies from God. He gives them to us as we follow Him and as we have faith in Him.
Here's a great video released from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints dramatizing much of what you just read.
Next post will be 1 Nephi Chapter 2, which is 24 verses, about two pages in the paper copy of The Book of Mormon.
See you then!
-Jenna
(Just so you know, in the USA most people will pronounce Nephi like this: Nee-ff-aye.
Lehi will be pronounced like this: Lee-High.
In other languages and places, the pronunciation will differ a little.)
1st Nephi is written in first person-- Nephi refers to himself as "I."
He's writing the story of his family.
They were reasonably-wealthy inhabitants of Jerusalem during 600BC.
(Those of you with a background in the Bible will perk up. Nephi and his family were contemporaries of Daniel, Jeremiah, and others who were conquered by King Nebuchadnezzar around 589 BC).
Nephi, however, didn't know that Jerusalem was just a decade away from total destruction. His father didn't know, either.
But Nephi records that prophets in Jerusalem were "prophesying until the people that they must repent, or the great city of Jerusalem must be destroyed." (1 Nephi 1:4).
Nephi's father, Lehi, heard these prophets and felt troubled. He prayed to the Lord and had his prayer answered in a miraculous way:
"...as he prayed unto the Lord, there came a pillar of fire and dwelt upon a rock before him; and he saw and heard much; and because of the things which he saw and heard he did quake and tremble exceedingly.
"And it came to pass that he returned to his own house at Jerusalem; and he cast himself upon his bed, being overcome with the Spirit and the things which he had seen." (1 Nephi 1:6-7)
After this vision where he 'saw and heard much', Lehi fell on his bed to rest. Then another vision opened up and he saw God the Father and Jesus Christ (referred to as 'One descending out of the midst of heaven'). He also saw Jesus's twelve disciples.
They came down and gave him a book and as he read, he was filled with the Spirit of the Lord, which means that he felt the Holy Ghost.
Lehi understood that Jerusalem would be destroyed and many people killed. He knew that others would be carried away captive.
After Lehi had these two visions, he was overcome with gratitude and praise for his incredible God, who was kind enough and merciful enough to give him these timely warnings.
The chapter ends with Nephi explaining that he won't make a "full account" of his father's writings, because his father had written them down himself. (Remember this, by the way. I'll tell you a fascinating story about the Book of Lehi in a later post about Joseph Smith.)
After his vision, Lehi goes into Jerusalem and tries to teach the people, but they try to kill him rather than let him preach.
The chapter ends with one of the most beautiful verses in the Book of Mormon and a testimony from Nephi:
"...but behold, I, Nephi, will show unto you that the tender mercies of the Lord are over all those whom he hath chosen, because of their faith, to make them mighty even unto the power of deliverance." (1 Nephi 1:20)
The tender mercies of the Lord are on all who have faith in Him.
A tender mercy is something that God does just to be kind, just because He loves us. We have had so many tender mercies from God. He gives them to us as we follow Him and as we have faith in Him.
Here's a great video released from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints dramatizing much of what you just read.
Next post will be 1 Nephi Chapter 2, which is 24 verses, about two pages in the paper copy of The Book of Mormon.
See you then!
-Jenna
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