2 Nephi 21-22 I will trust, and not be afraid.

2 Nephi 21
Jesus Christ rules this earth and when the time is right he will come here and reign. “The cow and the bear will feed; their young ones shall lie down together.” V.7 Think of it! No more war or contention on the earth. No more fear of hurt or pain or any bad stuff happening. We can strive for this kind of peace in our hearts and lives right now by having faith in Christ. Stone family, have faith.
2 Nephi 22
Nephi and Jacob must have loved this chapter! Their hero Isaiah feels just the way they do about Christ. “I will trust and not be afraid; for the Lord JEHOVAH is my strength and my song; he also has become my salvation….Sing unto to the Lord; for he hath done excellent things.” As we look forward to changes in our lives we must look to God the Father and his son, Jesus Christ, and trust that they will walk beside us in our choices. Yes, it is appropriate to have our hopes about where we will live and what we will be doing. But don’t be afraid to give him the reigns and go where he wants us to go. Thy will, not mine, be done. Surprises are part of the journey.

2 Nephi 19-20 Isaiah reveals some of Christ's names

2 Nephi 19
“For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder; and hi s name shall be called, Wonderful, Counselor, The Mighty God, The Everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.” V.6

2 Nephi 20
When we know someone well, we get to know there nick names. In the previous chapter we learn many of Christ’s names. Isaiah knew the Lord intimately. As we read Isaiah it is fun to look for these names and ponder their meaning. In verse 27, Christ is referred to as “the anointing.” We know that anointing is a part of sacred ceremonies reserved for those who will become kings and queens, priests and priestesses. We are anointed in the process or receiving all that Christ has received from the Father.

2 Nephi 18 Waters of Shiloah

I have taken the name "Shiloah" to mean "Shiloh," the name found in Genesis 49:10 referring to the Messiah. It could also mean "Siloam" found in John 9:7, which was a pool of healing. Even if Shiloah and Shiloh are not the same thing/person, with a little poetic license the two nouns come together in their meanings: pool of healing/Messiah.

2 Nephi 18
Isaiah quotes the Lord as saying, “…waters of Shiloah that go softly,” in reference to the nourishment of the living waters of Christ’s words. Notice that the Lord tells Isaiah that his words come “softly” inferring that his voice is a still small voice. I hope Jon Stone will write a song about the waters of Shiloah going softly. As he writes, I hope Michelle will collaborate and sing with him. And as they sing together softly, I hope the words will find the ears of their little brothers and sister and their hearts also.

2 Nephi 17 Wading through Isaiah

2 Nephi 17
In the midst of a prophesy about impending war in his country, Isaiah gives the king of Judah a sign—“Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and shall bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.” It as if to say, don’t worry about the future of our nation; someday Christ will come here through the line of Judah to save his people.

2 Nephi 16 Clean through the ordinance of the sacrament

2 Nephi 16
Isaiah saw the Lord in the temple! He felt “undone.” The Lord understood his feelings and had an angel take a live coal from the altar of incense and touch it to Isaiah’s lips. It didn’t hurt! Isaiah’s feelings of guilt and inadequacy melted away under the fire of the Holy Ghost. In our setting, God sends young angels we call deacons with bread and water to touch to our unclean lips. When we partake we too are made clean through this holy ordinance and faith in the Atonement of Jesus Christ.

2 Nephi 12 through 15

2 Nephi 12
With his spiritual eyes focused on the latter-days, Isaiah sees temples being built in the mountains of Utah. “Come ye and let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the house of the God of Jacob….”

2 Nephi 13
Wimpey men, unwilling to use their priesthood v.6 and worldly women vs. 16-24, this is the scene Isaiah sees pertaining dualistically to the church members in his day and in the latter-days. It appears to me to be a description of what was in the past but also a warning to us in the latter-days to step up to our responsibilities and to avoid worldliness and pride along with the negative consequences.

2 Nephi 14
Those who abide the Lord’s second coming will be clean through the Atonement.

2 Nephi 15
If I planted a garden carefully and lovingly and nurtured it, water it, and diligently weeded it, then, when it was time to pick the vegetables I notice that the undersides of the leaves are covered with stink bugs and slugs who are destroying the plants; when I pick the vegetables and take my first bites, I find them to be bitter, pithy, and yucky tasting; how great would be my disappointment! What more could I have done to care for my garden? This is the point the Lord is making regarding the House of Israel at the time of Isaiah. Yet, looking forward to our day, there is hope! An “ensign” is posted. The Book of Mormon comes forth. Living prophets again walk the earth. The gospel will go to every kindred, tongue, and nation. Yet, we must still be careful to avoid those who “call evil good, and good evil.”

1 Nephi 11 through 2 Nephi 11

1 Nephi 11
Nephi wanted to see the things his father, Lehi, had seen. He sat pondering those things and was caught away to a mountain top by the Spirit of the Lord—I assume either the Holy Ghost or Jehovah. The Spirit showed him the Tree which Lehi had seen. The Tree was Jesus. The Spirit showed Nephi the Tree’s mother, Mary. He showed him that Mary was beautiful and was a virgin. He showed him that Mary was caught away by the Spirit and conceived the Tree by way of the Father. God the Father is the father of Jesus; Mary is his mother. I believe this vision to be true. Jesus was given mortality and the ability to die from his mother. He was given immortality and the power to perform the Atonement from God the Father. He was privileged to see the Savior’s mortal ministry, his apostles, his healings. He was shown the sufferings of Christ on the cross.
1 Nephi 12
Nephi saw the land of promise. He saw that he had made it there safely. He saw his family down through time to the coming of the Savior among them. He saw the apostasy take place here in the Americas. When I first read that Christ had come to America, it changed my life forever. I was comforted at the start of my mission. With the knowledge that Christ had come here, I was able to go forth with confidence among the Children of Lehi teaching them about the gospel of Christ that he had preached while visiting the Native Americans.
1 Nephi 13
Nephi saw the history of the Bible, how it came from the Jews. He also saw the history of the Book of Mormon and other books of scripture coming forth in the last days. He saw Gentiles coming to the Americas and the great wars upon this continent. He saw Christopher Columbus. He saw that the gospel would come forth in the latter-days first to the Gentiles and then the Jews. Nephi was a prophet and a seer.
1 Nephi 14
Nephi is promised that millions of Gentiles will come to the Promised Land. Those who join the church will be adopted into the family of Lehi. What a huge role for Manasseh to play in the latter-days. A marvelous work will be done in the latter-days. The Spirit, who is revealing things to Nephi, frequently refers to the Savior as “the Lamb of God.” Nephi, himself, does it too. This is because Christ would be the sacrificial lamb of this world, vicariously dying for all of us so that we might live forever if we will repent. Nephi has all things revealed to him down to the end of the world but is forbidden to write all of these things. It is revealed to him that John was given that privilege. Other accounts would be sealed for now.



1 Nephi 15
Nephi asks the following question: Have ye inquired of the Lord?” I want to be diligent in calling upon my Father in Heaven. Nephi’s pattern for receiving answers is: (1) Don’t harden your heart, (2) ask the Lord in faith, (3) believe you will receive an answer, and (4) diligently keep the commandments. Notice how little Nephi tells his brothers when they ask the meaning of the dream. He has had a panoramic view of the world including the ministry of Christ and the latter-days. Yet, he gives very simple, concrete answers to his brothers. And, even with these very simple answers they can’t handle it. They don’t think the Lord will tell them anything so why ask. It makes me wonder what I could learn through revelation if I was willing to knock and seek.
1 Nephi 16
Laman was lazy and immoral. That is my opinion. Otherwise, why does he take Nephi’s admonitions as being so difficult? With the Spirit, life is hard enough; without it everything seems hard. Lehi receives the Liahona from the Lord. I have wondered: did Lehi or Nephi need a Liahona? I don’t think so. It was given to the family so Laman and Lemuel could have a more concrete, hands on experience: something to see and touch. It was a remarkable instrument. It had a pointer and a place where the Lord could text them with messages. It had no batteries: it ran off of the Spirit according to their faith. Breaking his bow, Nephi and his family were put through a severe test. Even Lehi murmured this time. But Nephi remained true. The lesson here is when you break down, don’t just sit there, do something to correct the situation asking for the Lord’s help as you go. “Nephi broke his bow,” are the words I heard from the Spirit when the moving van I was driving broke down just out of Mesquite, Nevada, when I was attempting to move our stuff to Las Vegas. I had to get off my duff and run up the hill and beg some motorists to help me by calling a tow truck when they came to the next town. Of course, there were no cell phones in those days and I didn’t have my Liahona handy. This is the only time I remember being given such a direct instruction. Usually the Spirit speaks to me in my feelings.
1 Nephi 17
I wish Nephi would have told us a little more detail about his 8 years in the desert. I think it would have been fascinating. However, he did not. He uses the words “nourish, “strengthen,” and “provide means” to describe what happened as they kept the Lord’s commandments. He does describe how happy they were to arrive at the beach; at a place they called “Bountiful.” Here are some more words from this chapter: “construct a ship,” “find ore,” “bellows,” “tools.” Laman and Lemuel thought Nephi was a fool.
He told them not to touch him or they would wither up. The Lord had him “shake” and “shock” them. They were humbled for a few days, long enough to get the ship built.
I loved this one liner: “He loveth those who will have him to be their God.” I want to be one of those. I am one of those.

1 Nephi 18
“Work the timbers” is an interesting way of describing the process of building a ship. Nephi tells us that he went about building the ship as he was shown by the Lord. He went to the mountain to pray and receive revelation. When his brothers saw that he was succeeding, they helped out.
When they finished the ship they packed it with goods including honey. They entered the ship and were assigned their places and responsibilities. Think of it! Having never sailed before, they were now going to do it based on instructions from the Lord, trial and error, practice and patience. How thrilling it must have been to be upon the ocean sailing toward a far off land. They went by way of the Indian Ocean, around Australia and the through the islands of the Pacific landing somewhere on the west coast of the Americas, perhaps somewhere in Central America.
But the trip was not without its severe challenges. Nephi records being tied to the mast of the ship for four days by his brothers while they and their wives danced and partied. When Nephi confronted them about their “rudeness” they left him tied up. Not even Lehi or Sariah could convince them to free Nephi. Their tears and those of Nephi’s wife and children didn’t sway them. But a storm came upon them and they had to release Nephi or be drowned in the ocean. The Liahona had stopped working but resumed functioning when Nephi was released and the storm abated. He was then able to steer the ship to the Promised Land.
Nephi’s ability to pray and receive the needed revelation to build a ship gives me faith that I can learn to pray with faith and receive instructions from the Lord. The mountain where he prayed makes me think of the temple. I can receive needed revelation when I am there.
1 Nephi 19
Nephi explains the difference between “these” and “those” plates: “these plates” are the small plates which contain the sacred writing and “those plates” are the large plates that contain the history. But later writers included the sacred with the secular in their writing so that when Mormon did his editing, he chose to include a great deal of sacred material even though he was abridging the large plates.
Nephi also explains that he wants his people (and us) to liken the scriptures unto ourselves that we will obtain a hope in Christ. Don’t miss the reference to hope in verse 24. This is also the reason Nephi included so much of Isaiah’s writings in the small plates.
1 Nephi 20
Isaiah tells us that we have been chosen in the “furnace of affliction.” He points to Christ, the “Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel.” He says if we will keep the commandments we will have peace like a river and righteousness as the waves of the sea.



1 Nephi 21
“Behold, I have engraven thee upon the palms of my hands.” Christ will never forget us. V.16
1 Nephi 22
The church will come out of obscurity and out of darkness; and they shall know that the Lord is their Savior and their Redeemer, the Mighty One of Israel.
2 Nephi 1
One of the main behavioral objectives of the Book of Mormon is stated by Nephi: “Wherefore, if ye shall be obedient to the commandments, and endure to the end, ye shall be saved at the last day.” Zoram was a true friend to Nephi. My wife, Jean, is my true friend.
2 Nephi 2
This chapter is full of meat. Jesus is the Christ. There must be opposition in all things. Satan is real. The Fall occurred when Adam and Eve transgressed the law of the Garden. Their fall allowed them to have children. If not, they would have stayed in the Garden and we would not have come to Earth. Christ redeemed all men and women from the Fall. We are free according to the Agency of God to choose between God or Satan, happiness or sadness, good or evil, eternal life or captivity.
2 Nephi 3
Lehi gives a blessing to Joseph, his youngest child, who was born “in the days of my greatest sorrow.” Lehi reads from the book of Joseph that was found in the Brass Plates (missing from our Bible). Joseph prophesies of a choice seer who would be raised up in the latter days to lead the church. This is Joseph Smith. He also says this seer’s father would be named Joseph. The name Joseph is especially sacred to members of the Church today. Joseph also prophesied of Moses and said Joseph Smith would be like him. He said Joseph Smith would write the inspired words written by the ancient prophets into a book. Lehi’s son is promised his seed will not be destroyed.
2 Nephi 4
Before he passes away, Lehi blesses and warns Laman, Lemuel , their children, and the sons of Ismael. But “not many days after” they are angry with Nephi because of the things he said. Boneheads. Nephi, no doubt pondering on their boneheadedness, laments in what is called “Nephi’s Psalm.” I love this moment of humanness that Nephi discloses to us. He captures the essence of the struggles of this life. We want to rejoice, but often we feel “wretched” because of our weakness. Nephi moves through his feelings of self doubt saying, “I know in whom I have trusted.” Then he cries out: “Awake my soul!”… “Do not anger”…”Do not slacken”…”Rejoice.” Then he resolves to trust in God forever, and cry unto the “rock of righteousness.”
2 Nephi 5
Nephi leads his people up into the mountains to place his family calls “Nephi.” There they build a temple and become prosperous. Nephi says, “And it came to pass that we lived after the manner of happiness.” Separation from his wicked brethren must have brought some relief, although it was temporary as Nephi tells us it isn’t long before they are at war with each other. It makes me wonder if Nephi had to actually defend his life to the death against Laman or Lemuel. I hope is that my own children and grand children will be united. The Lord cursed Laman and Lemuel with a skin of blackness. It could have actually been a change of skin color. Having lost the Spirit and the Priesthood would have been the true curse. Perhaps they put a colored mark on themselves (or God did it) to distinguish them from the Nephites when they went to battle.
2 Nephi 6
Juxtaposed to the Lamanite wickedness is Jacob and Nephi’s righteousness including their being called “after the manner of his holy order.” Priesthood authority gave the Nephites access to the ordinances and thus access to the Atonement of Christ. Priesthood holders are to be protectors: someone to be counted upon for safety. Jacob is speaking to his people regarding the scriptures from Adam down unto his time. He turns his focus to Isaiah because Isaiah’s words center on Christ and the House of Israel. For me and my family, Isaiah’s prophecy of the restoration of the Gospel to the people living in the Americas (Gentiles) is especially important because it is about Joseph Smith and the restoration in these the latter days. In our day, we are waiting for the coming of the Messiah. “He will manifest himself unto them in power and great glory….” Christ, in this prophesy, calls himself “…thy Redeemer, the Mighty One of Jacob.”
2 Nephi 7
One line stands out in 50th chapter of Isaiah, quoted here by Jacob: 2 Nephi 7:6: “I gave my back to the smiter, and my cheeks to them that plucked off the hair. I hid not my face from shame and spitting.” In this verse we hear the voice of Jehovah (through Isaiah) speaking of future events where he is given false and mocking trials by the Jewish and Roman leaders. We know of Christ being spit upon and coming under the cruel strokes of the lash, but we discover here in Isaiah’s words that Christ had the hair of his beard yanked out most likely by the Jewish leaders prior to Christ’s crucifixion.
2 Nephi 8
I was struck by the phrases “ye that follow after righteousness” and “ye that know righteousness” in verses one and seven. This is a message from God to his faithful followers and everyone else better look out! I felt that God has my back! So when God says “awake, awake” he is not reprehending, rather, he is encouraging: like a mother inviting her children wake up to a beautiful summer morning. (See verses 9, 17, and 24) As for the “two sons” mentioned in vs. 19, they are the warm up act in Jerusalem, setting the stage for Christ to come and deliver the Jews from their enemies. The “two sons” are most likely modern day apostles.
2 Nephi 9
Jacob, brother of Nephi, teaches of the fall of Adam and our complete dependence upon the “great Creator.” He speaks of His “infinite atonement” whereby we can overcome death and hell both of the body and the spirit. The resurrection is the glorious gift of the merciful Christ. Our “joy shall be full forever.” Our God is “holy” and “he knoweth all things.” Our job is to repent, be baptized in his name, and have perfect faith in “the Holy One of Israel.” S.M.I.L.E. (vs. 39) to be “spiritually minded is life eternal. “To be learned is good” if we “hearken unto the counsels of God.” “Shake of the chains of him that would bind you fast; come unto God who is the rock of your salvation.” “Pray unto him continually by day, and give thanks unto his holy name by night. Let your hearts rejoice.”
2 Nephi 10
The Americas are a choice land. God wants everyone who lives here to worship him. God has prepared this land as a place for the gospel to flourish in the latter-days. The gathering of Israel will begin here; God has covenanted with Israel that he will bless them and cause them to prosper if they will have him to be their God. I want to be patriotic in my heart and actions. I am proud to be an American citizen. God bless this great country. Greater things are ahead. I am optimistic.
2 Nephi 11
Nephi loved Isaiah. He shared with the prophet, Isaiah, his father, Lehi, and his brother, Jacob, the experience of seeing the Savior in person. Nephi loves the fact that “all things which have been given of God from the beginning of the world, unto man, are the typifying of him.” He also loves the covenants the Lord made to his people. He loves the Lord’s grace, his justice, his power, his mercy, and the plan of deliverance from death. He bears witness of the reality of the Living Christ, that without him all of us would perish both physically and spiritually. He tells us the words of Isaiah so we can rejoice with this same knowledge and testimony.

More from the Book of Mormon: 1 Nephi 6-10

1 Nephi 6
Nephi’s father, Lehi, was from the tribe of Manasseh. He would have established this through is father’s line. Using the same method, Nephi could have said, “I am from Manasseh.” But both he and Lehi were content to say they were descended from Joseph (coat of many colors). A modern day application is for me to think about Joseph as my great ancestor. Ephraim is my tribe. But I know nothing of him except his tribe became very wicked and was eventually taken captive by Assyria and scattered. Like Nephi, I prefer to think of myself as from Joseph. The tribe of Ephraim is not superior in any way to his brother’s tribe, Manasseh. Just think to Lehi and Nephi and you will see this.
I love Nephi’s decision to keep his small plates simple and sacred. I think that “small” meant few. And I think “large” meant many. So, Nephi created the “Small Plates,” meaning few and the “Large Plates” meaning many. I don’t think that it means the size of the plates.
1 Nephir 7
Nobody complained when it was time to go back to Jerusalem and bring Ismael’s family back. Future wives and husbands sounded good to everyone. On the way back Laman and his wife to be and a few others rebelled and tied Nephi up. The Lord loosed him and finally the rebellious ones calmed down. I like that Nephi “frankly” forgave them.
1 Nephi 8
In some ways Lehi’s vision of the Tree of Life is similar to the story of Adam and Eve. Both are very symbolic, revealing God’s Plan of Happiness. In Lehi’s case, we must consider ourselves as if we were his children. Or we must put ourselves in his parental place and consider the situation of our children. Lehi tells of a tree with fruit. Eventually, he tells us the tree is the Tree of Life and bears fruit representing Eternal Life. Christ is symbolized by the tree; partaking of the fruit is partaking of His love. In the Garden of Eden version, Eve represents the bride, or in other words, the members of the Church. Adam represents the bridegroom, or in other words, Christ. More personally, Eve represents me. Adam represents Jesus. Eve partakes of the fruit and dies; Adam resists temptation, but must partake of physical and spiritual death like Eve in order to be able to save Eve (me). Eve (me) makes covenants through her husband (Christ), whereas, Adam (Christ) covenants directly with the Father. Because of his great love for us, Christ has atoned for our sins and has overcome physical and spiritual death so that we may live again with Him and our Father. If we hold on to Christ’s love, the iron rod, or to His words and his covenants, we can eventually be with Him again.
1 Nephi 9
Nephi explains the purpose of the Large and Small Plates. He explains that he has created the Small Plates “for a wise purpose in him (the Lord).” I think the words “large” and “small” in this context refer to the number of plates. Thus, there were a large number of plates (Large Plates of Nephi) and a small number of plates for the more sacred part of the record (Small Plates of Nephi).
1 Nephi 10
Nephi recalls the words of his father, Lehi, who saw in vision the Messiah. He saw that he was killed by the Jews and then was resurrected bringing to pass the resurrection for all mankind. He called Christ “the Redeemer,” indicating he paid for our sins. If we exercise faith in the Redeemer, we can know all things. Nephi wanted to see and know for himself the things his father had spoken. We must repent and come unto Christ. I want to know for myself these things. Therefore, I must repent and exercise faith in Christ.

1 Nephi 3-5

1 Nephi 3
Lehi received revelation from the Lord that his sons should return to Jerusalem to the house of their cousin Laban and obtain the Brass Plates which contained the scriptures from Adam down to Isaiah and also the genealogy of Lehi’s family. Evidently, families at this time didn’t have copies of the scriptures but relied on the family record keeper to guard them. Scriptures written on metal plates must have been extremely valuable. Scrolls containing the scriptures were used by the priests or rabbis within the synagogues, but again, individuals didn’t have copies. Lehi knew that his family would not be able to remember all the things written in the scriptures; therefore, he was not going to continue their journey without the Brass Plates as commanded by the Lord. My testimony is based on the knowledge I have that the Book of Mormon is the word of God. Therefore, Joseph Smith is a prophet, and the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is the true church of God on the earth. I hope all of my children and grandchildren will obtain their testimonies of the Book of Mormon by reading and praying to know it is true. I will go and do the things the Lord commands.
1 Nephi 4
Fresh from the experience of seeing an angel (and being beaten by Laman and Lemuel), Nephi exercised faith in the words of the angel. He told his brothers that they would be going back to Jerusalem to get the plates; the Lord would provide the way. When they arrived Nephi went alone into the city following the promptings of the Spirit. He didn’t know where those promptings would lead but he trusted them. When Nephi came upon Laban, drunk and passed out in the street, the Spirit told him to slay Laban saying that the Lord wanted it done now so that a whole nation would not perish in unbelief. Nephi wrestled with the instructions, but promptly drew Laban’s own sword and cut off his head. Then he took Laban’s robes and put them on. He then went to Laban’s home and, imitating Laban’s voice, told his servant to get the plates. Zoram was the servant’s name and he obeyed Nephi thinking it was his master. When they left the city with the plates and came upon his frightened brothers, Nephi called out to them, reassuring them of his identity. Then, Zoram panicked and tried to escape but Nephi grabbed him and held him. Into a frightened and struggling Zoram’s ear, Nephi spoke covenant words, promising Zoram’s safety and freedom. He must come with them or Lehi’s family would be discovered and killed. Zoram believed and accepted the words of the covenant Nephi made with him, covenanting to join the family and live out his life with them. He would prove to be a faithful friend to Nephi.
1 Nephi 5
While her sons were back at Jerusalem, Sariah, complained to her husband. She was afraid the boys had been killed and was uncertain her husband had received revelation regarding leaving Jerusalem. Lehi wisely agreed with his wife saying he was indeed a visionary man. Yet, he held firm speaking kindly and gently to her, demonstrating his tender love and compassion. When the boys returned, Sariah was overjoyed and rock solid in her faith in her husband’s revelations from the Lord. After giving thanks to the Lord and offering sacrifice, Lehi searched the plates finding the scriptures from Adam to Isaiah and a genealogy of the family. Notice that Lehi was a descendant of Joseph (sold into Egypt) and so was Laban, who Nephi slew. The plates had been kept in the family, most likely being passed from father to son.
I am sure that Jean, like Sariah, wondered what would come of our many moves. But she always showed support and never made me feel like we had made a mistake by going from place to place in our journey. I have always felt the deepest love and respect for Jean for her strength and courage, also her grace and common sense. Our years in Laramie were the most difficult for her. The cold and isolation were hard on her. But she loved our house and made the best of things. She was thrilled when she learned we could come back to Utah. This is our promised land. Many adventures still await us in our journey home.

Starting the Book of Mormon

1 Nephi 1
Nephi was raised by righteous parents who had sufficient means to provide him with an excellent education. Nephi lived in Jerusalem when Zedekiah was made king about 600 B.C. Many prophets, including Lehi and Jeremiah told the people to repent or the people and the city would be destroyed by the Babylonians. When Lehi prayed, he had a vision confirming the destruction would happen if the people didn’t repent. He saw Jesus Christ and his apostles in this vision. When he continued to testify to the people of their wickedness and the pending destruction of the city, they wanted to kill him. Yet, as Nephi’s record shows, many tender mercies of the Lord were extended to his family and are available to us as well if we exercise faith in Christ. Tender mercy of Christ and hope in Christ are central to Nephi’s message.
1 Nephi 2
Lehi took his family into the wilderness. We can relate to this experience. We traveled first to Las Vegas, then Tucson, Laramie, and then American Fork. Unlike Lehi’s children, we heard very little murmuring from Jon, Michelle, Nick, Eric, or Emily. We learned great lessons from each place we lived and loved the people in each place. They loved us too. We were able to take our stuff with us. Lehi left all of his riches behind. The thing that made Nephi not rebel like his brothers Laman and Lemuel was his testimony. The Lord truly softened his heart so he believed all of the things his father said. Here is a great key: to avoid the tendency we all have to rebel, cry unto the Lord in humble prayer and ask him to soften your heart.