Comments on 1 Nephi Ch. 2

1 Nephi Chapter 2

Some references to the Lord in this chapter:

The Lord speaks. The Lord commands prophets to speak His words. He may command people to change location. The Lord has dealings with mankind. God created man. Being filled with the Spirit gives one power. God has mysteries. He visits people through the Spirit and softens hearts to believe in His word. He manifests Himself through the Holy Spirit. He leads the obedient to "a land of promise" and prospers them. He blesses faithful people. He curses the rebellious.

Nephi had three brothers: Laman, Lemuel, and Sam. Nephi believed the words of their father Lehi, and when the Lord commanded Lehi to take his family away from Jerusalem, Nephi was supportive and obedient to his father. Even though Nephi believed his father's words, he deeply desired to understand the things of God for himself. He cried to the Lord to know, and his prayers were answered.

Verses 16-18 tell us alot about the four brothers.

16 "And it came to pass that I, Nephi, being exceedingly young, nevertheless being large in stature, and also having great desires to know of the mysteries of God, wherefore I did cry unto the Lord; and behold he did visit me, and did soften my heart that I did believe all the words which had been spoken by my father; wherefore, I did not rebel against him like unto my brothers.

17 "And I spake unto Sam, making known unto him the things which the Lord had manifested unto me by his Holy Spirit. And it came to pass that he believed in my words.

18 "But, behold, Laman and Lemuel would not hearken unto my words; and being grieved because of the hardness of their hearts I cried unto the Lord for them."

Nephi was spiritually in tune, able to accept and believe the word of the Lord through a prophet, who happened to be his own father. But he wasn't satisfied to just believe the prophet, he wanted to know for himself. No doubt it took much prayerful effort along with obedience to the Lord's commandments, but he was able to receive the knowledge he desired directly from the Lord through the Holy Spirit (Holy Ghost). Sam believed Nephi and was apparently faithful to the Lord. But Laman and Lemuel were hard-hearted and didn't want to have anything to do with spiritual matters. Because of their attitude, they couldn't recognize the truths that were being taught by Lehi and Nephi. They were angry and hateful because of the truth.

How well those verses point out different reactions people have when exposed to spiritual truths. Some hunger and thirst after the things of God and seek to be filled with knowledge and the Lord's Spirit. Others believe and obey but are content to learn from those who have greater spiritual experience than they. And others deny spiritual truths and even become angry when taught or confronted with them.

We all have freedom of choice and can choose what kind of person we want to be, spiritually.